American Health is an all volunteer civilian task force doing community service for community good. We're looking for a volunteer grant writer presently with experience in proposal writing. We're in our 14th year of service with chapters nation-wide and in 47 countries.

If you are interested please call 561 361 9091 and ask for Mimi. Do YOU have the volunteer spirit?

Metformin may slow prostate cancer growth

Metformin May Slow Prostate Cancer Growth

(American Health Newswire) -- A new study shows that men with prostate cancer may be able to reduce the growth rate of cancer with the help of a commonly prescribed diabetes medication known as metformin.

Although metformin is most commonly prescribed to treat diabetes, previous studies have shown that it is capable of slowing down cancerous cells in patients with prostate cancer.

Anthony M. Joshua and colleagues, of Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, evaluated 22 men with confirmed prostate cancer that had been assigned up to 500 mg of metformin three times a day prior to undergoing prostatectomy.

"This gave us the ability to compare what the prostate cancer looked like when it was first diagnosed to what it looked like when the prostate cancer was removed from the body," Joshua was quoted as saying.

"We were able to directly measure the effect of metformin on the prostate cancer."

Prostate cancer patients were assigned metformin for an average of 41 days. During that time, none of the men reported grade 3 adverse events, and all of them underwent prostatectomy with no adverse effect related to use of metformin.

What the team found was that metformin greatly reduced fasting glucose, insulin growth factor-1, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.

In addition, "although these are preliminary results, metformin appeared to reduce the growth rate of prostate cancer in a proportion of men," Joshua said.

"Also, it appeared to reduce one of the main growth pathways that may have contributed to the overall growth of the tumor."

These results may have implications for men with prostate cancer who also have diabetes or early undiagnosed diabetes and for men with prostate cancer whose tumors have characteristics that make them sensitive to metformin, according to Joshua.

"This research builds on the hypothesis that metformin has a role in prostate cancer," Joshua said.

"Exactly what that role will be will depend on the results of the analysis currently being completed by our study team and others worldwide."

SOURCE: AACR Annual Meeting 2012, March 31, 2012

Dental x-rays linked to brain tumors

Dental X-Rays Linked to Brain Tumors

(American Health Newswire) -- When you have throbbing pain due to your teeth, the last thing you think about is the danger of the dental x-ray. A new study reveals that individuals who have received frequent dental x-rays have an increased risk of developing the most commonly diagnosed brain tumor in the United Sates, meningioma.

Meningioma is mostly caused by ionizing radiation. Dental x-rays are the most common artificial source of exposure to ionizing radiation for people living in the United States.

The study involved 1,433 patients who were diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 20 and 79 years and were either residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, the San Francisco Bay Area, and eight counties in Houston, Texas. The control group consisted of 1,350 people who had similar characteristics but who had not yet been diagnosed with meningioma.

Patients with meningioma were more than twice as likely as those in the control group to report having ever had a bitewing exam (an x-ray film held in place by a tab between the teeth). Patients who reported bitewing exams on a yearly basis were 1.4 to 1.9 times more likely to develop meningioma. An increased risk of meningioma was also linked to individuals who at a young age or on a yearly basis were exposed to panorex exams (exams taken outside the mouth and shows all of the teeth on one film). Patients who received panorex exams who were younger than ten years old were 4.9 times more likely to develop meningioma. Those who reported receiving the exams on a yearly basis were 2.7 to 3 times as likely to develop meningioma as the controls.

"The study presents an ideal opportunity in public health to increase awareness regarding the optimal use of dental x-rays, which unlike many risk factors is modifiable. Specifically, the American Dental Association's guidelines for healthy persons suggest that children receive 1 x-ray every 1-2 years, teens receive 1 x-ray every 1.5-3 years, and adults receive 1 x-ray every 2-3 years. Widespread dissemination of this information allows for increased dialogue between patients and their health care providers," Elizabeth Claus, M.D., Ph.D., of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, was quoted as saying.

SOURCE: Cancer, April 2012

Stop aging in its tracks: Beauty tips to try today

Stop Aging In Its Tracks: Beauty Tips To Try Today

WINTER PARK, FL (American Health Newswire) -- As we age, our skin begins to sag, under eye circles become more apparent, our faces can look tired, even when we're not.

Like most women approaching 40, Kelly Steinhorn wants to looks as young as she can for as long as she can.

"You live once. It's not a dress rehearsal. I try to look the best that I can look," Steinhorn explained.

What is her biggest complaint?

"I have dark circles under my eyes which make you look tired," Steinhorn explained.

To turn back the clock, cosmetic surgeon Craig Vander Kolk at Mercy Medical Center says to look for a skin care cream with retinoic acid to help produce collagen.

"Retin-A allows you to get products inside and it carries in, into the deeper layers," Vander Kolk told American Health.

You can also try some natural ways like Pycnogenol. A recent study shows supplementing with 75 milligrams of the pine bark extract a day for 12 weeks increased production of a compound that makes your skin smooth by 44%.

Take a cue from Popeye and eat spinach! The lutein in four ounces of the green stuff can boost skin elasticity by 38 percent. Finally, spinach isn't the only go to food. Research shows eating fruits and vegetables will get your skin glowing better than a suntan can. Try eating more veggies like tomatoes and carrots.

Also, don't forget the sunscreen! It should be applied to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, even in the winter!

Nomination: Veteran of the Year for 2012

What is the American Military Organization?

Since 2003, the American Military Organization, or AMO for short, has conducted various operations including the Orphans of War Campaign.

see orphansofwarcampaign.org) where we've shipped 1.5 million Teddy Bears or beanie babies to our troops in Iraq and now Afghanistan, more than any other charity.

We've been honored with citations and medals by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, including the Distinguished Gold Medal for Community Service.

Since 2003 AMO has also sponsored the Palm Beach County Veterans Luncheon on each Veterans Day with distinguished speakers from Congress and the military and have awarded special citations for the Veteran of the Year for Palm Beach County. Now the program has grown to include Broward and Martin Counties. Nominations for this years " Veteran of the Year for 2012" for Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties are enclosed now.

Nomination Application here

These programs are part of the American Health Association which is a 501 (c)-3 charity.

American military organization: Application Form

AMERICAN MILITARY ORGANIZATION

(Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties)

NOMINATION APPLICATION

(Submit between June 1, 2012 and October 31, 2012)

NOMINEE NAME:_________________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

MILITARY RANK: __________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ________________________________ STATE: _____________ ZIP CODE:____________

COUNTY (Check): _______Broward County ______Palm Beach County ______ Martin County

CELL TELEPHONE: ________________EMAIL:____________________________________________

NOMINATED BY: __________________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ________________________________ STATE: ______________ ZIP CODE:_____________

CELL TELEPHONE: ________________EMAIL:___________________________________________

Please describe your nominee's volunteer efforts and why he/she should be honored with

this award (You may use an extra sheet of paper if necessary for your comments):

___________________________________________________________________

MAIL OR FAX TO:

American Military Organization

P. O. Box 1772

Boca Raton, FL 33429

(Fax) 561-368-7184

(Ph. #) 561-361-9091

100% of every dollar goes to service the charities programs and services here in Palm Beach County and around the globe Not one cent in 8 years has ever gone to salaries, of any kind, to anyone. We are, from top to bottom all volunteers in service to the community.

MISSION STATEMENT

The American Health Society is a distinguished 13 year old multi-award winning preventative public health & wellness 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is in preventative healthcare, mental wellness, health education, literacy and advocacy aimed at preventing lifestyle based illnesses, diseases and the frailties of aging.

We have a strong "Social Green Philosophy" of Humanitarian Service through our American Volunteer Corps which has a global outreach in 46 countries with members in 37 US States.

J. Robert Gordon - CEO and Founder
American Health Association

561-361-9091

Newsletter Editor and Communications Manager:
Suzanne Parent - suzanne@americanhealthfoundation.com