* Health Briefs

Trans fats linked to pre-cancerous colon growths

AHIGH intake of trans fats could increase colon cancer risk, according to new research published in the ‘American Journal of Epidemiology’. People who ate the most trans fatty acids were more likely to have pre-cancerous growths or polyps in their colons than those who consumed the least, Dr Lisa C Vinikoor of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and colleagues found. “These results provide further support for recommendations to limit consumption of trans-fatty acids,” they conclude.

Activity key to breast cancer patients’ survival

WOMEN who stay active after being diagnosed with breast cancer – and even those who take up exercise for the first time after diagnosis – have a better chance of surviving the disease, a new study shows. “Anything is better than nothing,” Dr Melinda L Irwin of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, one of the researchers on the study, said. “We actually observed benefits with just doing a little bit of exercise.”

Many return to sports after getting a new shoulder

MANY physically-active people will return to recreational sports after having shoulder replacement surgery, research shows. In fact, most of the people who had
the surgery in order to continue to participate in sports reported that their ability had actually improved, Dr Eric C McCarty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver and colleagues found.

Severe stress in pregnancy may affect foetal growth

WOMEN who go through a traumatic event during or soon before pregnancy may be at increased risk of having an underweight baby, a large study suggests. Researchers found that of more than 1mn Danish women who gave birth over 24 years, those who dealt with the death or serious illness of a loved one shortly before or during pregnancy were more likely to have a low-birthweight baby.

Weight loss may cut risk of colorectal growths

OBESITY is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomas – growths or polyps that can become cancerous – but weight loss might reduce the risk, a study hints. “Colorectal cancer is known to be associated with obesity,” Dr Yutaka Yamaji from University of Tokyo, Japan said. “Our data, together with previous reports, shows pre-cancerous lesions are also associated with obesity.”

Weight-loss surgery won’t ‘cure’ sleep apnea

IN PEOPLE who are obese, weight-loss surgery will likely lead to an improvement in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but it won’t eliminate the nighttime breathing disorder. Many patients will have residual OSA one year after weight-loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery), results of a study indicate. “There are numerous benefits to weight loss by any means, (including) a reduction in the severity of OSA,” study leader Dr Christopher Lettieri of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, said. “However, patients and their physicians should understand that OSA can occur in the absence of obesity, and losing weight, even if substantial, may not resolve OSA.”