Red meat is back under the spotlight as a possible cause of cancer with a U.S. study finding the chemicals that paint hot dogs pink and preserve cold cuts could also raise the risk of bladder cancer.

Researchers led by Dr Amanda Cross of the National Cancer Institute point a tentative finger at nitrites and nitrates -- compounds added to meat for preservation, color and flavor -- but note that more research is needed to confirm the blame.

They said during the cooking process, nitrites and nitrates combine with other chemicals that are naturally present in meat to form potentially cancer-causing N-nitroso compounds, which may then be excreted through the urinary tract where they can contact the lining of the bladder.

"We investigated whether compounds found in meat, formed either during the meat cooking process -- heterocyclic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- or during meat preservation -- nitrates and nitrites -- were associated with bladder cancer," Cross told Reuters Health.

For the study, Cross and her colleagues used information from a study begun in 1995 which followed 300,933 older men and women from across the United States.

Participants filled out questionnaires on the meat they consumed as well as how it was prepared and cooked. The researchers then matched this data to laboratory-measured meat components.

During the 7-year study, a total of 854 participants (less than 0.3 percent) were diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The team researchers found the top fifth of participants in terms of processed red meat consumption had about a 30 percent greater risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer than those whose consumption ranked in the bottom fifth.

Further, people whose diets included the most nitrites from all sources (not just meat), and those whose diets had the largest amount of nitrate plus nitrite from processed meats, were also nearly a third more likely to develop bladder cancer than people in the bottom fifth for consumption of these compounds.

The study, published in the journal Cancer (link.reuters.com/kem82n), also found that people who ate the most red meat tended to be younger, less educated, less active and have lower intake of fruit and vegetables and vitamins C and E than people eating the least red meat.

Each year, about 70,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer, and more than 2 percent of the population will eventually develop the disease during their lifetime.

Several risk factors, including smoking and exposure to arsenic, have already been linked with the cancer, Cross told Reuters Health.

"However, other exposures are likely involved," she added.

She said while these findings are not conclusive and can't lead to any direct health advice, meat intake is thought to be a risk factor for other cancers.

She pointed to a 2007 World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research report, which concluded that individuals should "limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meat (ham, bacon, salami)."

                                                                                                                                                              2010-08-11

cervical erosion, gynecological diseases, the most common type. As the secretion of inflammatory stimulation, neck outside the mouth mucosa squamous cell loss was covered by hyperplastic columnar epithelium, the surface color of bright red, smooth or rugged, this change is called "cervical erosion."

 Different stages of cervical erosion common symptoms

After suffering from cervical erosion, there will be increased vaginal discharge, thick, occasionally may be purulent, bloody vaginal discharge, backache, abdominal pain and lower abdominal weight is often accompanied by a sense of falling, sex lives may also cause contact bleeding, odor appearance is quite possible.

Mild cervical erosion, generally no obvious symptoms in patients may be conscious only slightly increased vaginal discharge, it is easily ignored. Experts say, many patients with cervical erosion were the line or other gynecological examination gynecological visits was found, generally they are not found in patients with cervical erosion symptoms.

Moderate, severe cervical erosion were the most obvious symptoms are: increased vaginal discharge, yellow viscous mass, or a blood stained vaginal discharge in the folder, a few patients have access to bleeding. One patient with severe cervical erosion accompanied by urinary frequency, urgency and other symptoms. Long-term stimulation of inflammatory genital secretions can also cause genital pruritus. In addition, because of cervical lymph node and parametrial connective tissue directly connected, follow inflammation spread to pelvic lymph circulation, resulting in pelvic connective tissue inflammation, there lumbosacral pain, abdominal bulge and other symptoms.  In addition, thick purulent cervical discharge, is not conducive to sperm through, can cause infertility.Once women the symptoms of cervical erosion, we should promptly go to the hospital for treatment.

Prevention of cervical erosion should note the following:

1. Pay attention to sexual health, appropriate controlled life, and resolutely put an end to extra-marital sex and to avoid sexual intercourse during menstruation.

2. To take timely and effective contraceptive measures to reduce abortion. The incidence of induced abortion to reduce the human trauma and bacterial infection.

3. Where a short menstrual cycle, menstrual period will last quite a long time and should be actively treated.

4. To prevent cervical injury during delivery devices.

5. Postpartum cervical laceration was found to be timely closure.

6. Regular gynecological examinations in order to detect cervical inflammation, and timely treatment.

7. Do not use disinfectants or various cleaning agents frequently washing vulva and vagina.

The treatment of cervical erosion

1.Ddrug treatment: side effects is litter, more suitable for women not using birth, treatment of cervical erosion of foreign drugs most commonly  as well as topical consumer Mi bolt effect is good, the price bias high.

2. Physical therapy: for moderate and severe cervical erosion and cervicitis. The methods commonly used electrical iron, laser therapy, cryotherapy. Drawback is that side effects, which may result in reduced sensitivity of the vaginal wall nerve, affecting the quality of sexual life.  Also easy to relapse after the cure.

3. Surgical treatment: If the treatment fails, or cervical hypertrophy, or face a deep and extensive erosion, and those involving the cervical, consider cervical conization or hysterectomy.  However, surgery is now rarely used. However, the most negative consequences of surgery can cause infertility a woman! Need to carefully choose!

                                                                                                                                                           2010-08-11

Genital itching is genital lesions caused by a variety of a symptom, but may also occur in the vulva were normal, as itchy increase, the patient is more restless and may affect life and work.

Ten causes of genital itching

1. Fungal vaginitis: the vulva, vaginal itching, redness of the vulva, with residue-like vaginal discharge, smelly, scratching can induce sex changes in vulva dermatitis and eczema.

2. Vaginal trichomoniasis: vulva, vaginal itching, a foam-like vaginal discharge, often accompanied by special odor, scratching, after the same genital dermatitis and eczema in different degrees. Do vaginal smears of patients with the above distinction between samples.

3. Crabs disease: crabs often appressed to the skin surface or attached to pubic hair roots, crabs eggs are pale, needle size.Crab louse bites and venom, waste can lead to itchy skin can produce scaling, and secondary eczematous changes, and folliculitis.

4. Pinworm infection: major violation of young girls, adult women can also be infected, when the night anal relaxation, the pinworm climbed from the rectum to the genitals mating spawning swimming, and stimulate the external genital skin, mucous membranes, causing local itching.

5. Scabies mites infection: cause scabies, the external skin lesions of the most serious, there is also the most obvious local itching.

6. Local skin dirty: some women to improper use of toilet paper, genital skin by blood, vaginal secretions, or urine, faeces and sweat soaking Ershi local skin, chronic inflammation, causing genital itching.

7. Drug allergy: allergic women taking sulfa or other drugs caused a "fixed drug eruption", often occur outside the genital mucosa at the junction of skin, in addition to local itching, the available concurrent erosion, exudate.Vaginal douching or using vaginal medicines do built-in, such as allergic reactions and contact dermatitis may also occur genital itching.

8. Genital skin disease: jock itch of the skin lesions often extend to the genital area, lead to local severe itching. Eczema and neurodermatitis vulva caused more severe local itching, the former showed ill-defined local skin blisters and erosions exudative papules, which often occur due to scratching with moss moss thickening of the skin. Genital itching white only cause the Board of foreign, often accompanied by vulvar dystrophy and skin atrophy.

9. The virus infected: Condyloma mostly in the female vaginal wall, cervix mouth and the genital area, also appeared with the odor of vaginal discharge. Occurred outside the molluscum contagiosum genital symptoms were central nest-like depression with umbilical round papules, also can cause genital itching. Genital herpes symptoms were urethral and vaginal wall appears bright blisters grain size and, in addition to a local itching outside.

10. Sexual intercourse allergy: gender life is reflected during the allergy. Were allergic to the semen, condoms allergy, allergic friction.

Top 8 note prevention of genital itching 

1. Note that menstrual hygiene, menstrual periods during the Qinhuan pad, ground clean.

2. To maintain genital cleansing dry, not hot water wash, no soap scrub.

3.Avoid indiscriminate use, bad drugs, avoid scratching and friction for grasping.

4,Don't drink wine and eat spicy food, do not eat seafood, and apt to cause allergic drugs.

5. Do not wear tight-fitting pocket crotch trousers, underwear more to loose, breathable, and suitable to cotton products.

6.Llocal if it is damaged, infection can be used 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution (in warm water to include trace of potassium permanganate powder, so you can light red, not too thick) dip, 2 times a day 20 to 30 minutes each time.  Best after visiting the doctor as directed.

7. Medical check for mold or trichomoniasis, if treated in time, instead of their applications, "itching water" treatment.

8. Long treatment should be blood glucose testing.

If symptoms of severe itching, and associated with abnormal vaginal discharge, abdominal pain and other symptoms, it is most likely inflammation and infection, need to go to the hospital in time associated gynecological examination, specific treatment.

                                                                                                                                                              2010-08-10