Skin Cancer on the Rise Despite Historically High Sunscreen Use

I recently authored a post titled Another Reason to Not Use Sunscreen, in which discussed some research suggesting that the increased use of sunscreen is resulting in inadequate Vitamin D levels in populations around the world. In that post, I further stated that the data concerning skin cancer rates didn’t really support the use of sunscreens. Despite ever increasing SPFs, the rough quantification of a sunscreen’s protective capabilities, incidence of skin cancer hasn’t decreased, but is in fact on the rise.

This post can be considered a companion to my previous offering. Published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Incidence and Trends of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, reports that the incidences of both basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are increasing, and that there is a disproportionate increase in cSCC relative to BCC. For those who don’t recall, BCC is considered the least dangerous form of skin cancer and cSCC is considered more dangerous than BCC, but less dangerous than malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Though not noted in this study, other studies confirm that rates of malignant melanoma are on the rise as well. The authors further noted a disproportionate increase in the incidence of both tumors in women, and a shift of anatomical distributions of skin cancers.

E. coli Outbreak: Update #7 – It’s Over!

For all intents and purposes, the European E. coli O104:H4 outbreak is over. After nearly a month of investigation, German officials have announced that sprouts were in fact the source of the deadly strain of E. coli that killed at least 36 and sickened more than 3600. While the evidence is not entirely definitive, having identified the hypervirulent strain of E. coli on sprout samples obtained from the trash of an infected family. This represents the first identification of the bacteria on a food source in the nearly month long, botched investigation.

As has been the case with previous E. coli updates, I have graphed the WHO’s data and provided them for you here.

As the data contained in Figure 1 demonstrate, while the total number of cases continues to climb, the final data point has skewed the trendline downward and is clearly less than the number of cases predicted by the graph, assuming the outbreak continues.

Figure 2 shows the same trend in the change in number of cases relative to the previous day; the number of new cases continues to decline. Over the next several days, this number is likely to decline precipitously, provided that no new source of pathogenic E. coli enters the food supply.

With any luck, this will The Reactionary Researcher’s last E. coli update.

E. coli Outbreak: Update #4

“A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing” – Samuel Johnson

As the number of cases of both Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome continues to climb in Europe, and with new cases seen the United States and Canada, German health authorities continue to scratch their heads, grasp at straws, and blunder through their inept, incompetent, and botched-from-the-beginning epidemiological investigation, with renewed interest in cucumbers as the suspected source of deadly E. coli O104:H4 being piqued by the discovery of a single cucumber that has tested positive for EHEH O104:H4 in a sickened families compost heap:

Now, suspicions have fallen on a cucumber of an unknown country origin that sickened a family in eastern Germany. The cucumber — the first food found to be contaminated with the strain that has sickened thousands — was in the family’s compost, but there is no conclusive evidence that it’s the source.

“It’s unclear whether the cucumber infected the people, or the people the cucumber,” said Holger Paech, the spokesman for Saxony Anhalt state’s health ministry.

However, sprouts, have not been given a clean bill of health; indeed, the German warning against eating cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and sprouts is still in place.

In other words, despite being at least two, and probably three weeks into this particular investigation, the German authorities are really no closer than they were on day one with respect to actually identifying the source of the outbreak. Despite the early implications regarding Spanish cucumbers as the possible source, the distribution of EHEC infection and HUS clearly suggest that Germany is the source of the outbreak. This can be visualized quite effectively on the map below:

E. coli Outbreak: Update #3

As the total number of cases of infection with Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O104:H4 continues to climb, German authorities continue to in their efforts to pull together the remnants of their incompetent, inadequate, ill-conceived, and belated investigation in order to pinpoint the source of the deadly bacteria that has sickened more than 2400 and killed at least 22. Though epidemiology can be a dodgy practice, certainly past similar outbreaks have been successfully sorted out and the source of the outbreak determined in much less time. Confounding the German efforts is their lack of an immediate response — interviewing affected persons, etc — when the outbreak was first noted. Despite the fact that tests for E. coli O104:H4 at the organic farm once thought to be the source of the sprouts harboring the deadly bacteria were negative, the Germans may be right; the sprouts may in fact be the source. Unfortunately, the shelf life of sprouts is such that the German’s lackadaisical response to the outbreak most probably resulted in the source of contamination having long since been wilted and disposed of.

In other words, the Germans will most probably never sort out the source of this particular outbreak.

While the number of cases continues to grow (see Figure 1 below), and another nation — Luxembourg — has confirmed the presence of EHEC O104:H4, the total number of new cases continues in the downward trend (see Figure 2 below) noted by The Reactionary Researcher (TRR) in yesterday’s E. coli Update #2.

E. coli Outbreak: Update #2

Initial reports implicating bean sprouts as the likely source of E. coli O104:H4 that has sickened more 2300 people and resulted in the deaths of at least 22, predominantly in Europe, are now in doubt. Once confident that sprouts from an organic farm in Lower Saxony were the source of this particularly virulent strain of E. coli, German officials now report that 23/40 samples from this particular farm have tested negative for E. coli. The search for the source of the outbreak is likely confounded by the limited shelf life of the produce that harbors the bacterium. Indeed, it’s a possibility that the source of this particular outbreak will never be confirmed.

Though the number of global cases continues to increase, it is the opinion of the The Reactionary Researcher (TRR) that this outbreak has peaked, and a decline in the number of new cases will likely occur over the next few days, provided that no new source of E. coli O104:H4 is introduced in the food supply. Using data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the form of multiple updates, which have been released daily since May 31, 2011, TRR has monitored this outbreak since it was first reported by the WHO, and has graphed the progress of the outbreak with respect to infection with Enterohemorrhagic E. coli(EHEC) and occurrence of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). This graph is shown below:

Weighing in on the European Superbug Outbreak

An extremely virulent, previously unrecognized strain of E. coli is reportedly causing severe illness in at least 12 countries, including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) initially reported an outbreak of Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS) secondary to infection with enterohemorrhagic E. coli; preliminary cases of infection and associated HUS were reported to have occurred as early as the second week of May, with all affected persons recently having visited Northern Germany. This initial reported further noted that the outbreak was unusual in that

• An unusually large number of cases were in adults (86% were 18 or older)
• More females (67%) than males are affected
• Normally “high-risk” demographics (young children & the elderly) were not significantly represented
• An unusual E. coli serogroup (O104) was reported as being the likely pathogen

A bit more about enterohemorrhagic E. coli:

William Lane Craig Debates Lawrence Krauss – Is There (Sufficient) Evidence for God? A Comprehensive Review

Christian Apologist Dr. William Lane Craig recently debated Arizona State University based theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss in North Carolina in an attempt to address the question: “Is there (sufficient) evidence for God?” You’ll note that The Reactionary Researcher (TRR) has included the word “sufficient” parenthetically, as there seems to be some question as to which question was originally proposed to the debaters. The debate moderator introduced the topic as “Is there sufficient evidence for God?”, though in his post-mortem analysis, Dr. Craig claims the debate question as proposed to him did not include the word “sufficient”. The debate can be viewed in six separate but linked sections below:

Another Blow to Embryonic Stem Cell Based Research

Perhaps one of the most controversial areas within the field of biomedical research are embryonic stem cell (ES) based therapies. Once thought to be candidates for a wide variety of therapies, from replacement of damaged or diseased tissues, to growing replacement organs in vitro, ES are likely on their way out the door in terms of being a source of potential therapeutics.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from blastocysts, an early form of nascent human life present a few days post-fertilization. Blastocysts are comprised of an inner and outer layer of cells; it is this inner layer of cells that can be harvested and grown in culture ES. This destruction of nascent human life presents serious ethical controversies. I’ve blogged somewhat extensively about this topic in the past; these posts can be viewed here.

However, the ethical controversy may be resolving itself; the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), is rapidly eliminating the need to destroy human embryos to obtain pluripotent cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell derived artificially, from non-pluripotent cells, by inducing expression of certain genes. It is believed – and there is plenty of evidence supporting the idea – that iPS are identical to naturally pluripotent stem cells, such as ES in a variety of pertinent ways, and are in essence functionally equivalent to ES. One example of such evidence is generation of an entire mouse from skin cells. Interestingly – perhaps strangely – the article reports that it is unknown whether or not the iPS utilized in this experiment are capable of truly becoming any type of cell.

Jack Chick Prophet? Islam brings England to her Knees

clipped from www.chick.com

I have to admit that I love Chick Tracts. I probably should immediately qualify that statement by writing that I don’t find them theologically persuasive or accurate, and that they are in no way responsible for my conversion to Christianity.

I’ve been collecting ChickTracts for probably nearly 25 years now. I used to come across them more often than I do now… perhaps the disappearance of the payphone has something to do with it; I used to find them on payphones quite regularly.

The best places to score Chick Tracts – other than buying them that is – is on college campuses, or occasionally in public restrooms. It’s been a while since I’ve found one.

Jack Chick, the founder and at least one of the artists who illustrates the tracts (though allegedly not the more talented – or most talented – artist Chick employs) is apparently quite elusive, and is not easily photographed.

One might speculate that the author of tracts such as Bad Bob, That Crazy Guy, and Soul Story, three of my personal favorites, is probably a bit of an eccentric.

And not likely to be a prophet.

I suppose one correct prediction doesn’t make Chick a prophet… though the image was a fitting beginning to this blog entry.

Appendix has a Function; Goodbye to Human Vestigial Organs

Popular science has confirmed what I’ve been saying for years: The appendix is not a vestigial organ. The report published on ScienceDaily.com details the findings of a collaborative effort between researchers at Duke University, The University of Arizona, and my graduate alma mater, Arizona State University:

Writing in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Duke scientists and collaborators from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University conclude that Charles Darwin was wrong: The appendix is a whole lot more than an evolutionary remnant. Not only does it appear in nature much more frequently than previously acknowledged, but it has been around much longer than anyone had suspected.”Maybe it’s time to correct the textbooks,” says William Parker, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgical sciences at Duke and the senior author of the study. “Many biology texts today still refer to the appendix as a ‘vestigial organ.'”