The study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, investigated the effect of EGCG and NS-398 COX-2 inhibitor both alone and in combination on prostate cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin treated three cultured human prostate cancer cell lines with EGCG and NS-398. The scientists also administered EGCG and NS-398 to mice implanted with human prostate cancer cells. The in vitro and in vivo cell responses were analyzed.

The researchers found that in vitro, the combination treatment with EGCG and NS-398 significantly decreased cancer cell growth and cancer-promoting proteins. In vitro findings revealed that EGCG and NS-398 decreased tumor volume from 1,300 to 350 cubic millimeters in mice. Furthermore, EGCG and NS-398 combined significantly decreased the cancer marker prostate specific antigen (PSA) in mice. The study authors suggest that EGCG and NS-398 have a synergistic effect that is more powerful combined than either agent alone.

"These data suggest synergistic and/or additive effects of combinatorial chemopreventive agents and underscore the need for rational design of human clinical trials," the study authors conclude.

REFERENCES:
1. Adhami VM et al. Combined inhibitory effects of green tea polyphenols and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors on the growth of human prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Clin Cancer Res 2007 Mar 1;13(5):1611-9.

The study looked at levels of bone mineral density in young males age over a period of 8 years. A total of 78 men took part in the study that measured bone mineral density on three different occasions. Serum levels of omega 3 fatty acids were taken once, at age 22.

Young men with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, especially DHA, had greater bone mineral density compared to those with lower levels.

The authors believe that omega 3 fatty acids may increase bone mineral density either by affecting calcium metabolism or by improving collagen production. More studies are needed to determine the interaction between bones and fatty acids in the blood.

Omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for reducing inflammation, lowering heart disease risk, and improving allergies and skin conditions. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in plants such as flax seed and fish.

The study, published in the Journal of Urology, investigated if a test detecting JM-27 could differentiate between the two different forms of BPH. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University obtained tissue and blood samples from 29 men with asymptomatic BPH, 39 men with symptomatic BPH and 17 men with prostate cancer. The samples were tested for JM-27 protein levels.

The researchers found a significant difference in the JM-27 protein levels between the three groups. Findings revealed that JM-27 tissue levels were raised and JM-27 blood levels were lowered in the symptomatic group, compared to the asymptomatic group. The presence of prostate cancer did not alter JM-27 levels. These results suggest that tissue levels of the JM-27 marker can help differentiate between the two forms of BPH.

"The present study is believed to represent the first characterization of a serum based marker for severe benign prostatic hyperplasia," the study authors conclude.

REFERENCES:
1. Cannon GW et al. A preliminary study of JM-27: a serum marker that can specifically identify men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2007 Feb;177(2):610-4; discussion 614.

The review, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analyzed current literature to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in men. The review supplemented previous guidelines published in 2002 by Osteoporosis Canada. The review found that those at highest risk for osteoporosis and fracture include men aged 65 years or older, men 50 or older with previous fragility fracture, men receiving glucocorticoid therapy for more than 3 months and men with clinical hypogonadism (impaired function of the testes). Other risk factors include hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, and increased urinary excretion of calcium. Height loss and back pain can also be considered a risk factor as it may reflect underlying vertebral compression fractures.

The review recommends bone mineral density testing for all men over 65 and for younger men with other risk factors for fracture. Men and women have similar lifestyle and nutritional treatment recommendations for osteoporosis. Treatment with bisphosphonate drugs and 800 IU of vitamin D are recommended. Testosterone therapy is also recommended for men with symptoms of hypogonadism.

"Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed in older men, despite its significant association with disability and death," the study authors write. "With appropriate management, the fracture burden can now be reduced."

REFERENCES:
1. Khan AA et al. Management of osteoporosis in men: an update and case example. CMAJ 2007 Jan 30;176(3):345-8.

The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, investigated the association between testosterone depletion and AD. Researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, administered dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or a placebo to castrated mice that were genetically modified to develop AD, for four months. A control group of the mice received sham surgeries to deplete testosterone and were then administered DHT or a placebo for four months.

The researchers found that the castrated mice receiving a placebo had impaired memory and increased levels of amyloid beta, a protein that accumulates in the brain and causes AD. Findings also revealed that DHT treatment prevented amyloid beta accumulation and memory deficits in the castrated mice.

"These data demonstrate that androgen depletion accelerates the development of AD-like neuropathology, suggesting that a similar mechanism may underlie the increased risk for AD in men with low testosterone," the study authors write. "In addition, our finding that DHT protects against acceleration of AD-like neuropathology predicts that androgen-based hormone therapy may be a useful strategy for the prevention and treatment of AD in aging men."

REFERENCES:
1. Rosario ER et al. Androgens regulate the development of neuropathology in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurosci. 2006 Dec 20;26(51):13384-9.

Researchers from both the US and Netherlands gathered information on more than 11,000 men with high blood pressure over a period of 16 years. Dietary and lifestyle habits on each of the participants as well as other health measurements were recorded numerous times over the study period.

Men who regularly had one or two drinks per day lowered their risk for fatal heart attacks significantly compared to men who did not have alcohol or those who consumed higher amounts.

Interestingly there was not a difference in the death rate between moderate drinkers and non-drinkers or heavy drinkers.

The authors attribute the effect to two factors. First, HDL, the good cholesterol, was higher in men who consumed one or two drinks per day. HDL is associated with decreased risk for heart attack and coronary artery disease. Second, alcohol lowers the ability of platelets to clot, lowering the viscosity of the blood. This action is similar to that of taking a baby aspirin a day to lower heart attack risk.

This study has its limits because the population was primarily male healthcare professionals with high blood pressure, and the researchers state the effects may not cross over to the general population. Drinking alcohol in high amounts can have a negative effect on blood pressure, and in some cases cause an extreme elevation. Each person should consult their healthcare provider before making any dramatic changes to their daily habits, especially when negative consequences can be dangerous to one's health.

The study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, investigated the prevalence of low testosterone in middle-aged men. Researchers at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida analyzed the blood samples of 2,162 men aged 45 or older, visiting their primary care physicians in the U.S, as part of the Hypogonadism in Males study. The researchers assayed the participants' blood for testosterone levels. Symptoms of hypogonadism and reason for visit were also obtained from the participants.

The researchers found that 867 participants, or 38.7 percent, had low levels of testosterone. Findings also revealed that participants with high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate disease and asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significantly more likely to have low testosterone. Obese subjects had the highest risk of low testosterone. They were more than twice as likely to have low testosterone levels.

"The prevalence of hypogonadism was 38.7% in men aged > or = 45 years presenting to primary care offices," the study authors write.

REFERENCES:
1. Mulligan T et al. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract 2006 Jul;60(7):762-9.

In the study 75 men were randomized to drink a caffeinated tea or a non-caffeinated tea for a total of 6 weeks while avoiding any other caffeinated beverages, coffees, or teas.

After the 6 week period each of the men were given a series of tests that were designed to raise their stress levels. Variables such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol in their blood were measured several times following the tests.

They found that the acute reaction to stress was similar in both groups. There was no immediate difference in heart rate, blood pressure, or blood cortisol levels between the men. However, after just 50 minutes the men who drank the caffeinated tea had much lower cortisol levels. On average cortisol fell almost 50 percent compared to just over 25 percent in the non-caffeinated tea group.

The authors concluded that men who drink a caffeinated beverage on a regular basis may respond to stressful situations better, especially in terms of recovery. They also noted that the men in the caffeine group reported feeling more relaxed after the tasks than their counterparts.

A prolonged reaction to acute stress, seen as chronically elevated cortisol levels, can be a factor in the development of many chronic conditions including diabetes and heart disease. If follow-up studies can repeat these results, tea may be able to reduce the occurance of the above mentioned conditions.

The study looked at dietary intake of more than 42,000 men in the US over a 16 year period. Dietary intake was assessed a total of 4 times over the study period. Intake of fruits and vegetables was assessed to determine any effect on the occurance of pre-malignant oral lesions such as leukoplakia.

Pre-malignant lesions in the mouth are not uncommon and between 16-40 percent may become malignant. Most malignant lesions (squamous cell carcinoma) are easily treated with surgery, but some can metastasize to other parts of the body and become deadly.

During the follow-up period a total of 207 cases of pre-malignant oral lesions were found. There was a negative coorelation between consumption of citrus fruits and juice and oral pre-malignant lesions. There was no coorelation between vegetables and antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lycopene.

In men who consumed the highest amounts of citrus fruits and juices risk of oral pre-malignant lesions was 30-40 percent lower than men who consumed the lowest amounts.

The authors conclude that a diet high in fruits, especially those citrus in origin, can protect against the development of pre-cancer and cancer.

Connecticut led the pack with a perfect score of 100, while Kansas, California and New York all received As. Unfortunately, five states received failing grades: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi and Wisconsin. One of the biggest problems with prostate cancer screening is the low number of states not mandating insurance coverage for these simple tests. Only 28 states currently have insurance mandates for prostate cancer screening, while 49 states have mandates for breast cancer screening coverage. Not allowing coverage for prostate cancer screening is completely irresponsible and makes no sense. Early detection of prostate cancer is essential and significantly reduces death rates from this disease.

Besides screening tests, there are measures every man can take to lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. The NPCC states, "growing evidence says changing your diet and behavior could lower your risk. Studies show a strong connection between consumption of saturated fat and red meat and increased rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and mortality. A number of food nutrients appear to reduce likelihood of getting cancer, including vitamin E, selenium, soy, green tea, and tomatoes. Large studies are underway to confirm these findings, and more cancer fighting nutrients are being discovered and studied all the time."

To find out how your state scored, check out the NPCC website at www.fightprostatecancer.org.
Connecticut Scores 100% on Prostate Cancer Report Card

Autism is a disorder of the brain that affects1 in 2,000 children in the United States. Rates of autism and other autistic spectrum disorders have been increasing and research has been focused on finding a direct cause as well as factors that increase risk.

Researchers from New York and London examined data from thousands of young adult males and females taken at age 17 by the Israeli draft officials. The data included demographic information such as parental age and assessed a variety of health conditions including psychiatric disorders.

Rates of autism were compared to a variety of variables including maternal and paternal age to find correlations that may yield more information about the complex condition.

They found that men over the age of 40 at time of conception were more likely to have a child with autism when compared to men less than 30 years old at time of conception.

They did not find any association with maternal age, which is usually the case in genetic conditions.

Women are born with all their eggs, while men continue to produce sperm over their lifetime. As the eggs age, there is an increased risk for genetic damage. It is thought that little damage occurs in sperm because they do not age. However, some believe that damage to the specific cells responsible for making sperm can occur and that damage can carry over to the sperm cell.

There will most likely be follow-up studies that look at the association between paternal age and autism to determine the exact relationship, including how age affects the sperm.

For those individuals stuck in a rut, not feeling happy in their marriage, feeling complacent or even considering divorce, you may want to pick up a copy of a life-changing book. Carol Tuttle, author of the best-selling book, "Remembering Wholeness: A Personal Handbook for Living in the 21st Century" presents a revolutionary approach to improving life partnerships. She states these simple steps can help bring freshness back into a marriage:

1. Make a commitment to go on a "date-night" once a week. Spending time alone together on a regular basis will rejuvenate your marriage

2. Tell your spouse all the wonderful things you wish they would say to you.

3. Create a new script for them by writing in detail what you believe your ideal companion would be like. Live by that script yourself.

4. Ask each other what one thing you say or do that hurts them deeply. Choose never to say or do it again.

5. Stop talking about what's not working or what you don't want. Start talking about what's working and what you want more of.

6. Choose to say only positive things to others about your spouse.

7. If you find you create conflict at the same time or place in your home, start clearing the patterns by noticing it and stopping it. For example, if you always fight about money in the evening in the bedroom, agree not to recreate that again. Talk about money Saturday morning as you go for a walk together. Set an intention. It will be a harmonious, successful experience.

8. For husbands, offer to take the kids for a few hours next Saturday, and give your wife a gift certificate to her favorite place to be pampered.

9. For wives, take your sexual experience off your to-do list. In my therapy practice I have worked with many wives who feel having sex with their husband is a chore and just one more thing "to-do" like making dinner, or bathing the kids, etc. If you choose to participate in sex, do it first for yourself and choose to really enjoy it. You will offer more to your husband in a positive experience with this fresh mindset.

10. Play together often. Take a trip for just the two of you once a year.

1. Maintaining a body mass index (BMI) under 25. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight which governmental agencies and health care providers use to classify individuals as normal weight, under weight, over weight, obese and morbidly obese. The normal BMI is between 20-25.

2. Regular exercise defined as at least 30 minutes of continuous activity daily. Exercise has been shown to be a foundational building block of health maintenance, reducing the incidence of many chronic diseases.

3. Moderate alcohol consumption in the range of half a drink to two drinks daily. The bulk of data now shows that the type of alcoholic beverage makes no difference to heart health.

4. Consuming a diet rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and healthy protein sources like chicken and fish. Also limiting trans fats and saturated fats is part of this healthy dietary approach.

5. Taking a multi-nutrient supplement for at least 5 years.

Researchers found that the men who adhered to all five healthy habits, experienced an 87% lower incidence of developing coronary heart disease when compared to men who followed none of these steps. In men taking high blood pressure and high cholesterol medications who have elevated risk for heart attacks, following the five healthy habits reduced their risk by 57%.

This study was conducted by the Harvard Public Health Department and was very well designed and executed. These findings suggest that 62% of coronary events in men can be prevented with these 5 simple steps.

The Sex & Smoking study, commissioned by No Smoking Day, examined the gender differences in men and women who smoke. The researchers analyzed data from two surveys, including the European Union (EU) survey of a random sample of smokers in the UK, and the Health Education Authority (HEA) survey of a random sample of smokers in England. They found that there are about the same number of male smokers (29%) as female smokers (28%). However, men and women have different psychological and physical smoking dependencies.

The researchers found that 48% of women smokers reported they were unable to cope without a cigarette, compared to 35% of male smokers. Findings also revealed that 48 percent of women smokers say smoking gave them confidence and 44 percent consider smoking their main source of pleasure. Furthermore, 61 percent of women who smoke reported they would find it difficult to get through the day without smoking. However, 47 percent of male smokers said they wanted to stop smoking to improve their health and improve their fitness, compared to 39 percent of women smokers. Men also smoke more cigarettes daily than women.

"What this report shows is that men and women smoke for different reasons and this impacts their attempts to quit," says study author Robert West, Professor of Psychology at St George's Hospital Medical School. "Family pressures and worries about stress and weight gain are at the forefront of women's minds. Men seem more self-motivated, quitting for their health and more personal reasons, and making quit attempts on their own."

REFERENCES:
1. West R and McEwen A. Sex & Smoking: Comparisons Between Male & Female Smokers. No Smoking Day, March, 1999: http://www.ash.org.uk/html/health/html/nsdr99.html

2. Women emotionally addicted to smoking. BBCNews, March 8, 1999:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/291300.stm

Postpartum depression is most often attributed to by the swift decline in estrogen and progesterone following the delivery combined with lack of sleep and increased stress of a newborn. Because men do not have a rapid hormonal change, or any for that matter, they are often seen as immune to postpartum depression.

But men can suffer from sleep deprivation and increased stress after the delivery, and just these two factors alone may be significant enough to cause some degree of depression. The primary factor may be sleep deprivation, because many men go back to work with in the first few weeks, but are also still awoke in the night by the new infant.

In the study more than 5,000 couples were surveyed about depressive symptoms following the birth. Most of the couples had been new parents for some time, with infants about 9 months of age.

In this study 14 percent of women and 10 percent of men surveyed suffered from some degree of postpartum depression. Men in the study who reported depressive symptoms were less likely to play or interact with the new infant and mother’s ability to interact with the newborn was also affected by father’s depression.

The study brought to light an important aspect of new parenthood that may not be addressed enough: dads can have postpartum depression too and should be screened along with women. Women are usually screened by their healthcare provider for postpartum depression in the first weeks after delivery, whereas men usually do not have healthcare follow-up and significant symptoms may be missed.

The lead author recommends that any new parent that either recognized themselves or their spouse acting differently, not handling stress well, or over tired for more than two weeks should seek help with a healthcare provider.