Does Coffee Drinking Lower the Risk of Melanoma?

A study published recently by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Institute of Health (NIH), reported the consumption of coffee was associated with a reduced risk of melanoma.

It is estimated that approximately one in five Americans will develop skin cancer.  Melanoma is currently the leading cause of skin cancer death in the U.S. with an increasing incidence.   Nearly 5000 Floridians are diagnosed with Melanoma annually.

Estimates of coffee consumption reveal that that Americans drink an average of 3.1 cups of coffee daily (NCA Drinking Trends Survey).  Furthermore, 83% of U.S. adults drink coffee.

The recent study looked at 447,357 non-Hispanic whites who were cancer free during at baseline.  They were followed for an average of 10.5 years. During the study period, 2904 developed melanoma.  Using statistical methods to determine risk, those who were in the group with the highest coffee consumption had the lowest risks of developing melanoma. Even after controlling for confounding variables including sex, age, BMI, alcohol intake, smoking status, and ultraviolet radiation exposure, the results held true.

Prior studies looking at the association between coffee consumption and melanoma have had mixed results. In a 2012, published data derived from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study found that those women who consumed the most caffeine had an 18% lower risk of basal cell cancer (Song F, Qureshi AA, and Han J.  Cancer Research 2012 Jul 1; 72(13) 3282-3289).  However, caffeine intake was not associated with a lower risk of melanoma. Contrary to this, a prior case control study based out of Italy did show a protective effect of daily coffee consumption on the development of melanoma.

Studies have shown that the components of coffee may protect against oxidative stress and damage to DNA. There is belief that coffee may suppress Ultraviolet (UVB) induced skin cancers. Animal models have shown that caffeine helps to eliminate damaged skill cells before they have a chance to develop into tumors.

Caution should be exercised in considering these results as conclusive.   More research is needed to look at this association.   Differences in populations, possible measurement errors, and other confounding variables must be considered. Furthermore, while the lowest risk of developing melanoma in this study was associated with those who consumed the most coffee, there are known side effects of excessive coffee consumption.

The ‘Kissing Bug’ Disease: What You Need To Know

Chagas disease, also known as the ‘kissing bug’ disease, is an infection that is affecting more and more Americans every year. Since this disease has primarily been found in places like Mexico as well as South and Central America, many people in the United States, including physicians, are unfamiliar with it. However, the last few years have seen cases turning up in the United States. Most people are believed to have been infected abroad, but recently more of these infections have been contracted locally.

The kissing bug (also known as the triatomine bug, reduviid bug, assassin bug, cone-nosed bug, or blood sucker) includes many different species that can all carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease. These insects can be found both indoors and outdoors, particularly in the cracks and holes found in substandard housing. They are found across the southern two-thirds of the United States, but the parasite is generally found in the triatomine bugs from Latin America. There are other bugs that resemble this insect (like the assassin bug or the wheel bug), so if one is found it can be taken to an entomologist for positive identification.

Fortunately, contracting Chagas disease from kissing bugs is rather difficult – an individual needs to contact the insect’s feces through a wound (like the bite wound that the insect makes, often on the face) or a mucous membrane (like the mouth or the eyes.) Some people are allergic to the insect’s saliva, but this does not mean that they have contracted the disease. Signs of an allergic reaction include redness, itching, swelling, and welts or hives. In rarer cases this reaction can cause anaphylactic shock.

In the event that someone does contract Chagas disease there may be a mild swelling at the site where the parasite entered the body – this is known as a chagoma. Romaña’s sign is swelling around the eye if the eye was the parasite’s inoculation point. The chagoma or Romaña’s sign both last longer than an allergic reaction and are not nearly as itchy. Other than the potential swelling and fever, there are very few early signs for Chagas disease. In rare cases there may be severe inflammation around the heart muscle, brain, and lining of the brain.

If a person remains untreated they can enter a chronic phase of disease where very few or no parasites are found in their blood, making diagnosis difficult. Many people will remain symptom free and never know they have the disease, but 20-30% can develop symptoms. These symptoms include heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause sudden death, a dilated heart that doesn’t pump well, and a dilated esophagus or colon that makes it difficult to eat or to pass stool.

Chagas disease can be spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and congenitally from mother to child. Many people have been notified that they test positive for the parasite after donating blood, despite not being aware that they had it. Two drugs can be used to treat the disease if it is caught early enough – nifurtimox and benznidazole. Due to the more “exotic” nature of this disease many physicians aren’t familiar with it. If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to or contracted Chagas disease you can talk to your physician or seek one familiar with the disease here: http://www.astmh.org/source/ClinicalDirectory/

Beware of Poisonous Caterpillar in Florida

Recently there have been countless news stories about a spectacular caterpillar – the puss caterpillar. Children from Florida to Virginia have been stung and the excruciating pain has been landing them in the hospital. Some of these children had actively sought out to pet the caterpillar due to its “cute” fuzzy appearance. In fact, the caterpillar gets its name due to the fact that it resembles a “fluffy house cat” or even a “tiny Persian cat.” Other children came into contact when the insect fell from a tree and landed on them.

These caterpillars are generally an inch long at the largest and are covered in a thick coat of fur that can range from greyish-white to orangey-brown to charcoal. In addition to the fur their body tapers at the end, which can give it the appearance of having a tail. The fluffy hairs that cover the puss caterpillar hide a series of tiny, venomous spines that can stick in your skin.

The feeling is said to be similar to a bee sting, except worse, and immediately starts increasing to the point where it can even “make your bones hurt.” The degree of pain depends on where you’re stung, but it has been reported to take as many as 12 hours to begin to subside. On top of the intense pain, contact with the caterpillar’s bristles can cause fever, vomiting, convulsions, rashes, swelling, abdominal distress, blisters, and even chest pain, numbness, and difficulty breathing. However, each individual reacts to a different extent – some require medical treatment and other report only a mild itching or burning.

It may seem like more and more people are being stung recently, which is partly true. Like many other insect species, the puss caterpillar populations go through a “boom-and-bust” cycle. This means that the population can increase or decrease quite dramatically as environmental conditions change. Right now these conditions appear to be ideal for the caterpillars so the population has been on the rise.

The Poison Center of Tampa recommends that you use cellophane tape over the affected area and remove repeatedly to strip the spines from your skin. In addition, you can apply ice packs to reduce the stinging sensation and follow it up with applying a paste made of baking soda and water. Oral antihistamines, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and juice from the stems of comfrey plants can also be used to treat symptoms. It is recommended to watch for the caterpillars around trees like oak, elm, and citrus. They even tend to be found around common garden plants like rose bushes or ivy. Additionally, teach children what they look like and why they need to avoid touching them since the puss caterpillar’s fluff-ball appearance can be quite appealing.