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."
Check yours!!!!
Oh, gosh, let me see....well, 50 cents right off the bat goes to the tithe, a blanket at Good Will would be a dollar or two, and the rest on food.
Why?
Bravo!!! Bravo!!!!
I'm not one to be sacreligious - but some of the sanctimonious pontificating on this thread has been positively appalling to me.
I have my relationship with God, I don't need scripture quoted AT me by those I don't know. I also know I do not care to associate with those who find it necessary to do so.
Of course, it happens to most anyone, but a large percentage of smokers seem to get lung problems more often.
Yes, otherwise there is no way to stop the takeovers. If nonsmokers had to pay cold hard cash, they would think twice.
Because smokers spend an increasing percentage of their income as income levels decrease. This means smokers tend to give up other things before giving uop cigs. In particular, you claim you would give up smoking if you didn't have the cash. That is unussual for a smoker.
"Of course, it happens to most anyone, but a large percentage of smokers seem to get lung problems more often."
Yea well, I figure if smoking takes me out early I will be lucky. I've been to nursing homes to see folks who took care of themselves...and so, I haven't the least desire to take care of myself that I might join them in that condition. Fact is, I'd rather go sooner than later. Can this be my personal choice or is it yours?
Do you have any idea how you sound, when you make one of those pronouncements? Smokers aren't bugs under your personal microscope, so you can study our nasty little habits and make generalizations and edicts. We are children of God, saved by the grace and mercy of Christ, to do His will as He may make it known to us. YOU have no authority here.
You are so offensive. You owe us an apology.
You should see what the tithes have built in my community. It's a mammoth monstrous building costing millions. Sadly I don't see it as dedicated to God. I see it as tithes wasted that could have been better spent on charity to the world's poor and needy.
Course, that's just me...and there's probably something wrong with me for thinking that way.
There's absolutley nothing wrong with tithing so long as it goes to God's work...just be sure it does.
You still have that, "Humbler than thou" problem, I see...
"You still have that, "Humbler than thou" problem, I see..."
I'm no Jesus for sure, since Jesus was much more humble than me...
Of course you are. Are you saying that it is God's will that smokers shall be forever addicted to cigarettes, be constantly coughing up phlem in the morning, smell like an old dirty ashtray and die prematurely from smoking illnesses ? I don't think those are God's will for his children, do you ?
Finally, something we can agree upon.
852 posted on 06/05/2004 4:16:15 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
How do the scriptures read? Hmmmmm....let's see...
"Go ye therefore and boss everybody around, baptizing them in criticism and calling them names, making up regulations about how they can use their property. and deciding how they can live there lives, and lo, act like you think you are their boss always, until you intimidate anyone you can." ----VRWC_minion 15:10-11
Do I have that right?
Or is it "Lo, I shall wipe away every cigarette from their mouth..." That's another nice one.
I know! I know! "Blessed are the non-smokers, for they shall bully the smokers. Blessed are the regulation passers, for they shall tell people how to use their own property."
That's how YOUR Bible reads, isn't it?
Witness Judith bearing false witness. Again.
Right. Don't you believe in representative government? That was what our country was founded on.
President Ronald Reagan just died. Go bother somebody else, I'm busy grieving.
Classic denial that is used by addicts. Instead of addressing the comments I actually made, you create strawmen.
Nope, I have no "early" death wish. I like it here and enjoy my life in spite of temporary health problems, none of which is linked to smoking. I have outlived my dad and step-mother by several years now and want to continue. I often wonder if they regretted that their lives were cut short in their early 60's after years of anguish and pain from lung and heart diseases. They missed seeing their grand kids.
A minor, by definition is someone who lacks the functioning capabilities of an adult. There is no tyranny when rights are constitutionally abridged as, say, with a felon -- or a minor.
What reason makes it ok to allow a person born one day before another to be able to buy alchohol?
If you have a better method of separating minors from adults, by all means propose it now.
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