June 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Letter Highlights Probiotics, Carotid Artery and Breast...

June 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Letter Highlights Probiotics, Carotid Artery and
Breast Cancer Treatments

ROCHESTER, Minn., July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Here are highlights from
the June issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as
often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter
attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as
your editorial policies permit: Visit www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com or call
toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771.

Probiotics: Bacteria That Offer Health Benefits

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Not all bacteria are bad. Human digestive tracts are
loaded with trillions of bacteria that aren't harmful and can be beneficial or
even crucial to health.

The June issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter delves into probiotics -- foods
and supplements that contain so-called friendly bacteria and what's known
about how they might benefit health.

Probiotics seem to change how the immune system reacts to invading
microorganisms. They may compete with harmful bacteria or enhance the immune
system. Also, they may help calm the immune system's overreaction in ways not
fully understood. And they may help restore or maintain proper bacteria
balance in the intestines, which can be upset by antibiotics or invading
microorganisms.

Well-done studies suggest that probiotics are effective in treating and
possibly preventing diarrhea, caused by antibiotics or certain infections, or
that occurs during travel. Strains of lactobacillus and Saccharomyces
boulardii seem to be the most effective bacteria to treat diarrhea.

The evidence is less conclusive in other areas, such as whether probiotics
might reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or prevent vaginal or
bladder infections. But studies haven't shown any harm in taking probiotics.

Probiotic supplements come in capsules, tablets and powders. While exact doses
haven't been determined, the general consensus is that a daily dose of about
10 billion colony-forming units is needed to provide benefits. Some foods
contain probiotics, such as Dannon's Activia, Yoplait's YoPlus, fermented milk
products such as Dannon's DanActive, miso, tempeh, some juices, soy products
and those containing kefir. While some foods naturally contain probiotics, the
amounts probably don't reach therapeutic levels.

Consulting a physician before starting probiotics is always a good idea. The
care provider can offer recommendations on appropriate probiotic strains for
specific health conditions as well as recommendations on reputable suppliers.

Multiple Treatments Available When Carotid Arteries Are Blocked

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- The brain needs blood to function, and any blockage in the
carotid arteries -- blood's primary pathway to the brain -- requires medical
treatment.

Carotid artery blockages are serious. More than half of the strokes in the
United States are attributed to carotid artery disease. But, according to an
overview of carotid artery stenosis in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Health
Letter, not all people with carotid artery disease need surgery or stents to
open blocked arteries. The best treatment option depends on the extent of the
blockage and whether patients have experienced symptoms as a result.

The carotid arteries run up both sides of the neck. With age, they become more
prone to damage and less elastic. Damage that occurs on the inner layers of
the arteries allows plaque to build up in a process call atherosclerosis. The
changes result in narrowing of the arteries, restricting blood to the brain.
Symptoms of a blockage -- and warning signs of stroke -- can include:

-- Sudden weakness, numbness or paralysis on one side of the body that
affects the face, arm or leg
-- Sudden blindness in one eye
-- Slurred or garbled speech or difficulty understanding others
-- Loss of balance or dizziness

Any of these conditions indicate a possible stroke and warrant immediate
medical attention, even if the symptoms disappear. A doctor can evaluate the
health of the carotid arteries with imaging studies and by listening to the
blood flow, which has a swooshing sound when there's a partial blockage.
Treatment options include:

Lifestyle changes and medications: This is typically the approach when
blockage is less than 60 percent, and no symptoms of stroke are apparent. The
goal is to slow the atherosclerosis through exercise, stopping smoking, losing
weight if needed, and eating a healthful diet.

In addition, aspirin or blood-thinning medication can reduce the risk of blood
clots.

Carotid endarterectomy: This procedure is the most common surgical treatment
for severe carotid artery disease. The surgeon makes an incision in the neck,
opens the carotid artery and removes the buildup of plaque. When this
procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon, the risks are low, even for
otherwise healthy patients age 80 or older.

Balloon angioplasty and stent placement: This procedure is an option for
patients at high risk for carotid endarterectory. Patients may be precluded
from surgery because of the location of the blockage, severe heart or lung
disease or kidney disease.

During angioplasty, the surgeon threads a long, hollow tube through the groin
artery up to the narrowed carotid artery. A tiny balloon is inflated to open
the blockage, and a stent is placed there to keep it open. Large studies are
under way to determine if angioplasty might be safe and effective for a larger
percentage of people with carotid artery stenosis -- not just those at high
risk for carotid endarterectomy.

Researchers Finding New Ways to Prevent, Diagnose and Treat Breast Cancer

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Breast cancer is the most common cancer specific to women.
An eight-page "Special Report" on breast cancer in the June issue of Mayo
Clinic Health Letter covers recent advancements in prevention, detection and
treatment.

Overall, breast cancer survival rates are among the highest of all cancers,
and the number of deaths is declining. Nearly 89 percent of women diagnosed
with breast cancer live for at least five years after treatment. Still, 40,000
Americans died from this cancer last year. Here are some advancements making a
difference in breast cancer outcomes:

Prevention: Healthy lifestyles reduce the risk of breast cancer. Studies have
shown that women who exercise about 30 minutes three or four times a week can
decrease their breast cancer risk by about 26 percent. A study published in
the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that women who lost
22 pounds after menopause reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by 45
percent.

Other studies have shown that women who drink one to two alcoholic drinks a
day increase their risk of breast cancer by 10 percent. That risk jumps to 30
percent when women consume three or more alcoholic beverages a day.

Screening: Mammography is still the standard of care for screening and remains
the only screening test shown to decrease the chance of dying of breast
cancer. But recently, several cancer organizations have recommended that women
who are at very high risk of developing breast cancer also undergo magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) annually. This technique uses a magnet and radio waves
to create detailed two-dimensional images. It's especially helpful in
evaluating abnormalities in women with dense breast tissue and for those who
have other risk factors, including:

-- Known carriers of the gene mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2
-- A lifetime risk of 20 percent or higher, based on family history of
breast cancer and other health factors. Doctors work with women to
determine this risk rating.
-- Chest radiation before age 30 for other cancers

However, MRIs aren't for everyone and are not recommended for routine
screening. They are expensive, require an intravenous injection of a contrast
agent, and have a high rate of anxiety-producing false-positives.

Treatment: Testing the genetic makeup of a tumor can help determine which
women are at the highest risk of recurrence and which of those are more likely
to benefit from chemotherapy. Conversely, women at lower risk can avoid
unneeded treatment.

Researchers are looking at changes in radiation, too. They are finding that
shorter-course radiation may be effective for patients with early-stage cancer
and no lymph node involvement.

Post-cancer treatment: For some breast tumors, patients typically take the
estrogen blocker tamoxifen after treatment. It reduces the risk of recurrence
by about 50 percent. But this therapy doesn't work well for 8 to 10 percent of
women -- those who have an inactive variant of the CYP2D6 enzyme. Now, genetic
markers from the blood can determine which women most likely would -- or
wouldn't -- benefit from tamoxifen. Other effective treatment options are
available for women with the variant CYP2D6 enzyme.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable,
accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To
subscribe, please call 1-800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit
www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com.

SOURCE Mayo Clinic

Ginger Plumbo, +1-507-284-5005 (days), or +1- 507-284-2511 (evenings),
newsbureau@mayo.edu