Posted on 06/02/2004 4:43:14 AM PDT by Colosis
LONDON (Reuters) - Smoking destroys protective molecules in saliva and transforms it into a dangerous cocktail of chemicals that increases the risk of mouth cancer, scientists say.
"Cigarette smoke is not only damaging on its own, it can turn the body against itself," said Dr Rafi Nagler, of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.
Saliva contains antioxidants, molecules that normally protect the body against cancer, but Nagler and his colleagues have discovered that cigarette smoke destroys the molecules and turns saliva into a dangerous compound.
"Our study shows that once exposed to cigarette smoke, our normally healthy saliva not only loses its beneficial qualities but it turns traitor and actually aids in destroying the cells of the mouth and oral cavity," he added.
In research reported in the British Journal of Cancer on Wednesday, Nagler and his team studied the impact of cigarette smoke on cancerous cells in the laboratory.
Half of the cells were exposed to saliva exposed to cigarette smoke and the other half just to the smoke. Cells exposed to the saliva mixture had more damage and it increased along with the time of exposure.
"Most people will find it very shocking that the mixture of saliva and smoke is actually more lethal to cells in the mouth than cigarette smoke alone," Nagler added in a statement.
Smoking and drinking are the leading causes of head and neck or oral cancers, which includes cancer of the lip, mouth, tongue, gums, larynx and pharynx. Nearly 400,000 new cases of the illness are diagnosed worldwide each year with the majority in developing countries. The five-year survival rates are less than 50 percent.
Nagler and his colleagues believe the research could open up new avenues to develop better treatments to prevent oral cancer.
"This insight into how mouth cancer can develop offers more reasons for smokers to try and quit," said Jean King, of Cancer Research UK, which publishes the journal. "People know the link with lung cancer and this research adds compelling evidence about the damage smoking can do to the mouth."
She was complaining about being offended. I am offended by your smear post on the Vietnam Service Medal.
Keep twisting.
What obesity threads?
Gov. Granholm warns schools of cuts without cigarette, liquor tax increases
That's the thread about the governor...have fun!
There are too many obesity threads here to pick just one. I guess you just don't notice them. Helps to take your blinders off.
Just like CSM. Loaded with blanks.
Extreme Obesity Among Americans Alarming... Not to say there's not been a serious increase in obesity- but this fraud is as obscenely transparent as any ... 48 posted on 10/31/2003 7:39:13 PM PST by cinFLA. ... beta.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1000582/posts
Thanks, Joe. ;-D I wonder how some posters missed it....
Por Nada.
Okay...obesity related illness is a fraud, but smoking related illness isn't?
Don't you get it? Gnatzies are hipocrits expecting the government to use force to make the rest of the world cater to their preferences.......
(I know you do, just pointing it out.)
Not to mention second hand fat. Disgusting.
;-D
You know, if we were to use statistics, we'd count the number of comments some posters put on the obesity related threads, and the number of comments some posters put on the smoking related threads, and draw some sort of scientific conclusion about a poster's ideology, priorities and pre-judgements...
I have personally witnessed medical workers injured by other people's fat.
Not to mention the increased costs of medical care for obese people, used to justify across the board raises in premiums.
Now I see why you wanted me over there. I refuse to respond to there attacks on me over there.
Huh? Please stay on topic.
Yeah, but you haven't told us what you think of the governor's actions yet? Do you approve? Disapprove? Which is it?
We need a seperate section in the restraunt for them.
You want me to stay on topic? Answer the question about the governor's actions, then. Tell us about your reliance on statistics as science...after all, why do we need experimentation if statistic are the answer?
What is, by the way, the minimum safe level of exposure to second hand smoke? Any idea?
Or do you just want to keep posting statistical arguments in place of science?
Which posts?
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