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."
Questioning your credibility is not a personal attack, instead it is prudent.
Ironic? Please go to your dictionary.
A truly sincere good luck to you.
Notice that it points out that a medal does not give a person all knowing truth and command and control of the definition of liberty. Kerry has a few medals, and I still think he is a liar.
7 out of the 10 oldest people in the world smoked. Shouldn't we use that statistice to force people to smoke?
Congratulations! I know how hard it can be.
But I have to admit, these last few years it's been SO much more nicer to enjoy a dinner or have a beer without the stench of the weed assaulting me (and getting on my clothes - F'n GROSS [You smokers can't even smell how vile it is]).
And I often mention my pleasure to the owners of these establishments.
Maybe I have right quickly kill you eh? How you like 'dat?
This is the same as mother's milk. Just ask me how much I had to watch my own diet extremely carefully while nursing my allergic-to-cows-dairy child! The cows milk protein ended up in my milk, which caused problems for my child. And yes, I would believe this about saliva. C'mon. What goes in comes out, yes?
Yes, as does everyone that served in the Army during these time frames:
27 Jun 1950 to 27 Jul 1954
01 Jan 1961 to 14 Aug 1974
02 Aug 1990 to 30 Nov 1995
11 Sep 2001 to Date to be Anncd
What's a wus-af?
That picture of those medals came from here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/viet.gif
It wasn't meant to. Someone took a cheap shot at me while we were discussing veterans not realizing that I am a veteran. That is all to the post. Nothing else except that CSM dismissed the value of the medal since JFK also had one.
Do you know how many of the 'seven' were reformed smokers that had given up smoking?
Wow,Judith Anne,you are GOOD!!!!!!!
Seven of the 10 oldest people in the world smoked?
So did all of my grandparents, both sets of whom lived to be over 80 and several over 90.
My mother didn't smoke. She died at 44 from ovarian cancer. No doubt from my father's second-hand smoke. /extreme dripping sarcasm. My father died at 72 from complications from a hip and shoulder fracture, which got infected.
This post makes an excellent point. How do those who want to prevent others from harming themselves differentiate such prohibitions from requiring others to act beneficially?
I know, where this can be found:
"The service medal was awarded to all members of the armed forces who service in Vietnam and contiguous waters and airspace between 3 July 1965 and 28 March 1973."
You have a VSM?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
