EndNote X7 to be Released May 20
News from The Libraries – May 2013
A report from the American Cancer Society provides a new profile for cancer among Hispanics. Although less likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from cancer, Hispanics have higher rates of cancers associated with infections including stomach, liver and cervical cancer.
A multracial study conducted by researchers from the Northern California Cancer Institute at Stanford University has discovered that a genetic mutation in the BRCA1 gene, known to increase the risk of cancer in certain Jewish women of Eastern European ancestry, is found in significant numbers in Hispanic women who develop the disease. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of Hispanic women with breast cancer also have a mutation of this gene. In women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 35, the prevalence of the mutation is 8.9 percent. Since minority women are less likely to be tested for the BRCA1 mutation, the chance of detecting any possible cancer at an early stage is lower.
The BRCA1 gene makes a protein that helps cells repair DNA, but a mutation of this gene makes them less able to fix DNA and the accumulated mutations can lead to cancer.
Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month was celebrated from September 15 – October 15. In a “CDC Feature,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that despite the fact that more than 50 million Hispanics represent the largest ethnic minority in the United States, striking health disparities remain for this population. The disparities include the following:
The complete CDC Feature, including links to additional information about Hispanic health, is available at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HispanicHeritageMonth/.
A recent report by the CDC, available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/200706_07.pdf, indicates that only 22.6% of Hispanic adults engages in regular leisure-time physical activity. Physical activity is one of the Leading Health Indicators for the Healthy People 2010 project, which has as its primary goal to help to help individuals of all ages increase life expectancy and improve their quality of life. Read more about the Healthy People 2010 project at http://www.healthypeople.gov/.
From the press release:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Spanish”l anguage Web site, CDC en Español, has been re”launched with a new look and new features that will make it more usable and functional.”
“The redesigned CDC en Español represents a vital source of health promotion and information for Spanish speakers,” said Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Director of CDC. “CDC’s ongoing commitment to public health worldwide is expressed through our efforts to provide translation of vital information into Spanish to better serve all of our audiences for information. About half of the 16 million Hispanics online in the United States have expressed preference for Spanish”language Web sites and we are pleased to offer this improved tool.”
[Thanks to Siobhan Champ-Blackwell at Bringing Health Information to the Community.]
A study involving Los Angeles teens was recently completed in which nutrition classes were offered to some of the teens in hopes of reducing their sugar intake and increasing their consumption of fiber. Results of the 16-week study showed a decrease in sugar consumption among all the teens, which in turn was responsible for a significant decrease in insulin secretion. It is hoped that with this change in diet, Hispanic teens will reduce their chances of developing risk factors that might make them more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes.
Results of the study can be found in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Links provided from UT HSC Libraries pages to other web sites do not constitute or imply an endorsement of those sites, their content, or products and services associated with those sites.
