Effects of Vitamin C on Chemotherapy Outcome | Claim Review

Effects of Vitamin C on Chemotherapy Outcome | Claim Review Media Claim on ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ The headline ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ suggested by a US scientist was a misleading and inaccurate statement as the study was looking specific at late stage ovarian cancer. From the study, scientists did not find high dosage of vitamin C help with cancer survival nor reducing the risk of cancer (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). Yet, the study did show that there was a slight chance of reducing minor chemotherapy side effect. Therefore, the study has been oversimplified and misinterprets results and statements which can lead to assumptions from general public misunderstanding this article resulting in toxicity of vitamin C when overdosed. Overdose of vitamin C can lead to other problems and health disease such as indigestion, diarrhea and iron poisoning which only occurs in people who have rare iron overload disorders – hemochromatosis (Zobel, 1976), lack of vitamin C in the diet can also cause scurvy (Naidu,2003). ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ was published in BBC Health website on 9th February 2014, written by Helen Briggs and science editor. Comments were from Dr Jeanne Drisko, lead researcher Qi Chen and Dr Kat Arnet – science communications manager for Cancer Research UK. The claim is based on a study that was carried out by researchers from University of Kansas in the US and world cancer research fund (WCRF) and American Institute for cancer research (AICR). The article itself was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Science Translation Medicine. Cancer is a condition where specific cells in parts of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably and forming tumours. Cancer cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue and organs (King and Rotter et al., 1992). Cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream (Mendelsohn, 2008). Many factors have been identified which can increase risk of cancer such as tobacco use, dietary intake, certain infections, environmental radiation, lack of physical exercise, obesity and genetics which potentially can damage genes and causes mutation in cells (Kushi and Byers et al., 2006). Many researchers have found that there are over 200 different types of cancer cells (Schram and Ng, 2012). However, according to Jemal and Bray et al., 2011, many cancers can be prevented by living healthier life styles, one of the factors is reducing excess smoking which can preclude the risk of getting lungs cancer, plus eating plenty of fresh vegetable and fruits, and reducing the intake of meat and carbohydrates can prevent other health factors such as obesity. Ovarian cancer is where cancer cells are found in ovaries. However, the exact causes of cancer still remain unknown (Hunn and Rodriguez, 2012). Women who have had menopause and have not had any children would have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer (Vo and Carney, 2007). However, ovarian cancer can affect all ages. There are three types of ovarian cancer – epithelial ovarian cancer; germ cell tumours and stromal tumours (Bandera and Era, 2005). The best and effective treatment for ovarian cancer are the combination of surgery and chemotherapy, all treatments are depending on the stages of cancer (Ehrlich and Teitelbaum et al., 2007). Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant; an oxidative stress; an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis, also most importantly vitamin C acts an electron donor for enzymes (Vobecky and Shapcott et al., 1975). Acting as an antioxidant prevents free radicals during oxidation reaction to form chain reactions in cells which can damage or kill cells. Instead, antioxidant interacts with those chain reactions by removing free radicals and inhibits other oxidation reactions in the cells, protecting against lip peroxidation, reducing nitrates and stimulating the immune system (Bender, 1993). Vitamin C has also shown to inhibit formation of carcinogens and protects DNA from mutagenic attack and most vitamin C is found in critic fruits (Combs, 2012). Furthermore, Ma and Chapman et al., 2014 stated that the study was looking if vitamin C could potentially be a cancer treatment and the study was mainly looking into women who are in their late stage ovarian cancer. BBC’s report on this study was miscellaneous as there were some bias comments towards the study, but BBC did include some accurate quotes from the study such as the sample size only 22 patients were participated which showed that the study was not reliable as the sample size was too small to prove whether vitamin C helped to kill cancer cells or increase survival rate (Park, 2013). Moreover, the title ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ was misleading as the study found no supportive evidences that vitamin C can prevent cancer, only can inhibit some mechanisms and reduce the risk of cancer development (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). However, the study did show that vitamin C may reduce side effects from treatment for women, yet, the sample s ize was too small which was unable to support the outcome. However, the expert from the study quoted that in order to find out if high-dose vitamin C has an effect on cancer cells, further studies and large clinical trials are needed to ensure safety and effectiveness (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). Additionally, BBC may have been over analysed the press release from the University itself, as it claimed that ‘Researchers establish benefits of high-dose vitamin C for ovarian cancer patients’. This statement was supported via Park, 1985‘s research which stated that ‘vitamin c is involved in the mechanism of action of the intracellular oxidation state changes which is an identification of genes or protein synthesis.’. This suggested that vitamin C has the ability to regulate specific cellular phenotypes which potentially could improve the efficacy of cancer therapies. Nevertheless, the report stated that the vitamin C treatment worked along with standard chemotherapy drugs which slow down tumour growth in mouse studies, not human. Therefore, the benefits of high-dose vitamin C for cancer cells cannot be taken into account due to the fact that human and mouse have different types of genes and intracellular mechanism (Park, 1985). As a result, there ar e not any beneficial effects on human, but there are beneficial effects on mouse. In addition, within the small group of patients that were tested on, they have found fewer side-effects when vitamin C was given out along with the chemotherapy. According to WCRF and AICR‘s report on diet and ovarian cancers, it showed that vitamin C has no effect on ovarian cancer which do not decrease nor increase the risk of cancer. However, according to Part 2 evidence and judgements and Part three Recommendations chapter twelve- public health goals and personal recommendations from WCRF and AICR, it suggested that the population should consumption an average of non-starchy vegetables and of fruits to be at least 600g (21 oz) daily. This is because there are evidences that diets high in vegetable and fruits could protect against oesophagus cancer not ovarian cancer (Mikirova and Casciari et al., 2012). According to BBC, the researcher’s injected vitamin C into human ovarian cancer cells as well as mice in the laboratory conditions. BBC stated that ‘researchers found ovarian cancer cells were to be sensitive to vitamin C treatment, but normal cells were unharmed (De Laurenzi and Melino et al., 1995). High dosage of vitamin C could prevent cancer was originally suggested by chemist and double Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling in 1970s in which the clinical trial was abandoned due to failed to replicate the expected results to the theory behind vitamin C and cancer (Cameron and Pauling, 1979). The method used in the study was by injecting vitamin C straight into the bloodstream as it is safer, can be effective, low-cost (Head, 1998). The rate at which human body excrete vitamin C through oral ingestion is a lot faster than by injection through bloodstream (Cameron and Pauling, 1979). Furthermore, patients were not completely blind tested as most of them knew what they were given vitamin C and placebo, therefore, many physiological effects have been taken into account toward the analysis of results. In conclusion, due to lack of supportive evidences, vitamin C has no significant back story in supporting the evidence of beneficial effect on ovarian cancer even though from the study some beneficial effects did show on mice. Furthermore, the clinical trial was tested unfairly as participants knew about the comparison test with placebo, which might have had effected the results, in which the results are not accurate and reliable as the sample size was consisting of 22 participants. Nevertheless, the study did find moderate result from patients who have taken parts in the vitamin C trials; as a result, vitamin C might reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. References Bandera and Era, C. A. 2005. Advances in the understanding of risk factors for ovarian cancer. The Journal of reproductive medicine, 50 (6), pp. 399406. Bender, D. A. 1993. An introduction to nutrition and metabolism. London: UCL Press. Cameron, E. and Pauling, L. 1979. Cancer and vitamin C. Combs, G. F. 2012. The vitamins. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. De Laurenzi, V., Melino, G., Savini, I., Annicchiarico-Petruzzelli, M., Finazzi-Agro, A. and Avigliano, L. 1995. Cell death by oxidative stress and ascorbic acid regeneration in human neuroectodermal cell lines. European Journal of Cancer, 31 (4), pp. 463466. Ehrlich, P. F., Teitelbaum, D. H., Hirschl, R. B. and Rescorla, F. 2007. Excision of large cystic ovarian tumors: combining minimal invasive surgery techniques and cancer surgery—the best of both worlds. Journal of pediatric surgery, 42 (5), pp. 890893. Head, K. 1998. Ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic, 3 (3), pp. 174186. Hunn, J. and Rodriguez, G. C. 2012. Ovarian cancer: etiology, risk factors, and epidemiology. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology, 55 (1), pp. 323. Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E. and Forman, D. 2011. Global cancer statistics. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 61 (2), pp. 6990. King, R. A., Rotter, J. I. and Motulsky, A. G. 1992. The Genetic basis of common diseases. New York: Oxford University Press. Kushi, L. H., Byers, T., Doyle, C., B, Era, E. V., Mccullough, M., Gansler, T., Andrews, K. S. and Thun, M. J. 2006. American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 56 (5), pp. 254281. Ma, Y., Chapman, J., Levine, M., Polireddy, K., Drisko, J. and Chen, Q. 2014. High-Dose Parenteral Ascorbate Enhanced Chemosensitivity of Ovarian Cancer and Reduced Toxicity of Chemotherapy. Science translational medicine, 6 (222), pp. 2221822218. Mendelsohn, J. 2008. The molecular basis of cancer. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. Mikirova, N., Casciari, J., Rogers, A., Taylor, P. and Others. 2012. Effect of high-dose intravenous vitamin C on inflammation in cancer patients. J Transl Med, 10 p. 189. Naidu, K. A. 2003. Vitamin C in human health and disease is still a mystery? An overview. Nutrition Journal, 2 (1), p. 7. Park, C. H. 1985. Biological nature of the effect of ascorbic acids on the growth of human leukemic cells. Cancer research, 45 (8), pp. 39693973. Park, S. 2013. The effects of high concentrations of vitamin C on cancer cells. Nutrients, 5 (9), pp. 34963505. Schram, F. R. and Ng, P. K. 2012. What is Cancer?. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 32 (4), pp. 665672. Vo, C. and Carney, M. E. 2007. Ovarian cancer hormonal and environmental risk effect. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America, 34 (4), pp. 687700. Vobecky, J., Vobecky, J., Shapcott, D., Cloutier, D., Lafond, R. and Blanchard, R. 1975. Vitamins C and E in spontaneous abortion. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin-und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition, 46 (3), pp. 291296. WCRF- AICR Diet and Cancer Report. 2014. [online] Available at: http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/cancer_resource_center/downloads/chapters/chapter_12.pdf [Accessed: 10 Mar 2014]. Zobel, M. 1976. Toxicological Evaluation of Some Food Additives Including Anticaking Agents, Antimicrobials, Antioxidants, Emulsifiers and Thickening Agents. Who Food Additives Series, No. 5. 520 Seiten. Geneva 1974. Preis: Sw. fr. 23,—. Food/Nahrung, 20 (6), pp. 681682.

Marriage and Social Class Essay

Many cultures categorize their society according to wealth, power, education, religion, ethnicity and occupation. These differences usually draw the lines that not all are willing to cross for different reasons. In America, the consequences when crossing classes are usually implemented by an individual’s family and peers. If a person decides to date or marry someone of a lower class, the immediate concern would be if the person of a lower class is interested for monetary gain whereas, the person of a lower class may be concerned if they would be treated as an equal in the relationship. With these problems present the courtship or marriage could be domed from the beginning or made to work harder at leveling the playing field. I believe love in lower class groups build their foundation on love where relationships are concerned simply because high expectations are not placed upon them and they are free to love whomever their hearts desire. In the marriage market, characteristics such as income, education and occupation are key definitive qualities when looking for a perspective life long companion. In addition, the tendency of individuals to marry others with similar traits has important implications for social inequality, income redistribution and education. However, there is still little understanding about what generates this assertive matching. One possibility is that people like to follow horizontal preferences when choosing a spouse to share similar characteristics of their own. This approach is believed to provide the security of longevity in love. However, sometimes people will experience an attraction to someone outside their social class whether it’s above or below but not always follow through due to fear of failure or rejection from family and peers. According to Karl Marx, one percent of the population is considered upper class and their wealth is generally inherited. Members of this particular class are perceived as snobs by the lower classes because they tend to look down at anyone outside their circle. This group does not have to work but often serve as board of directors of major companies and they are careful to only socialize with peers of an elite group. In most cases, parents with young children are thinking ahead as to who would be a good match and what social events to come would provide excellent choices of companionship. Their expectations would be for their children to select a person of equal or greater than the wealth of their own. In many cases, if a selection of a lower class is the choice of an immediate family member there would be great consequences including releasing them from all or most of the family’s wealth. Some would perceive the choice as rebellious and some may feel that it’s simply true love. If a person is made to feel that options are limited it may be an act of rebellious. However, if they stumble across a person they feel a connection with and is able to communicate on a level of satisfaction than the ability to proceed should be encouraged. Too often, members of the upper class enter the union of marriage because it meet or exceed the expectation of family and peers and later become unhappy with their choice. When this happens, they are reluctant to free themselves in fear of what others would think. Women in most marriages of the upper class are unhappy because the husband is usually away from the home on extended stays for multiple reasons. To fill the void of their husbands’ temporary absenteeism, they will keep themselves busy with charities, hobbies and the children if they are not away in boarding school. Although the divorce rate is low for this class infidelity is high. Because this class is very much secluded from the others, persons on the outside believe they must be happy in love assuming the problems of the lower class would not be an issue due to their wealth. In fact, many of the same problems exist such as communication, loneliness and loyalty to name a few. However, the upper middle class makes up approximately ten percent of the U. S. population and are successful business people, executives and high ranking civil and military officials (Long 2010). This group acquires their wealth from investments, savings and little of their wealth is inherited. The possibility of marriage within these groups is very likely to have longevity, mostly because it is expected of them although happiness with their spouse may not last the duration of the union.

Kiva Instead

Instead, informal systems and relationships, including loans from neighbors or relatives, and rotating savings/ credit clubs, have filled this gap. While such solutions have worked for some and are often the only option available, they can be inconsistent and unreliable during times of tremendous need. In addition, poor entrepreneurs can become trapped in vicious cycles of borrowing from local moneylenders, who may demand exorbitant interest rates.Traditionally, banks were unwilling to provide loans to poor entrepreneurs due to the perceived risk. Common concerns included the fact that the unbanked were often illiterate, had no collateral, no prior credit history, and were not employed by anyone other than themselves. However, in 1976, Muhammad Yunus, seen by many s the visionary behind the microfinance movement, bucked conventional wisdom and loaned the equivalent of $27 of his own money to 1 This section is excerpted and modified from the Stanford 6SB case: Equity Bank (A), case no .E-260. Bethany Coates prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Garth Saloner as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, e-mail the Case Writing Office at: [email  protected] stanford. du or write: Case Writing Office, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5015. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means † electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or 0th the Stantord Graduate School of Business. Kiva E-288 erwise wit hout the permission ot some poor craftsmen in Jobra, Bangladesh.After all of the borrowers repaid, he repeated the experiment with more villages, and over the years, grew his series of xperiments into a multibillion dollar bank that has provided small loans to over 5 million people worldwide. Years later, Yunus noted, â€Å"At Grameen, we don't have any legal instrument between the lender and the borrower†¦. Everybody asks, What will happen if nobody pays back? I say, ‘But everybody pays back, so why should I worry about Grameen Bank charged 20 percent interest and reinvested all but 10 percent of earnings back into its operations.As Grameen grew, other leading microfinance institutions (MFIs), including ACCION International and Opportunity International, began to emerge and based their work on the same old ideas as Yunus: that the poor could reliably repay their loans, with interest, and could use the profits to grow their businesses. Mission-driven, nonprofit MFIs also entered the market. These organizations tended to pursue very rural or otherwise unreachable clients, even at great cost. They were ab le to provide financial services, including credit, tailored to the unique needs and limitations of the poor.

5 Disadvantages of Bad Time Management

Poor planning and bad time management are often part of the learning experience for many new students in college. For others, however, poor planning becomes a habit. The consequences of putting that paper off, not turning in your work on time, and missing key deadlines, however, can be much more of a problem than you might initially think. Things May Get Expensive If you miss housing deadlines, incur late registration fees, or apply too late to get priority when your school is allocating financial aid, things can quickly become even more expensive than normal. Having good time management skills can help you avoid costly mistakes later. Things Can Become Harder Logistically If you think studying for your Spanish final is a pain in the brain, wait until you see what happens if you dont pass it/sleep through it/generally dont plan for it. You May Miss out on Opportunities Because You're Too Late That amazing study abroad program, Spring Break trip, and summer internship all have deadlines for a reason. If you apply too late or dont have everything you need ready in time, youll miss out on what could have been the experience of a lifetime. You May Miss out on Opportunities Because People Notice Your Pattern of Lateness and Disorganization People who you think dont notice your frequent lack of planning and lateness may, in fact, notice more than you realize. When your favorite professor is trying to think of students for an awesome summer research gig, you might get passed over because she knows you wont have your stuff together when needed. Keeping your schedule balanced and your time managed may open doors you dont even realize are there. You Will Always Feel Behind Not sure if you have poor planning skills? Ask yourself to remember the last time you felt ahead of the game. If it wasnt recently, chances are youre constantly feeling behind—because you are. Bad time management skills mean you are always playing catch-up and experiencing stress. And with all thats going on in your college life, why add more stress to the mix?