Exercise Helps Immune System Protect Against Future Cancers

After completing chemotherapy, cancer survivors who exercise for several weeks are helping their immune systems become more effective, which in turn, prevents cancer from developing in the future.

The finding, which came from a preliminary study that is being presented at The Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting from October 10th to 13th, may help scientists understand why exercise can greatly decrease the risk of secondary cancers in survivors, or in the case where individuals have never been diagnosed, why it can decrease the risk of cancer altogether.

A team of experts, led by Laura Bilek, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, had a group of 16 cancer survivors participate in a twelve week exercise program for their study. The T cells in the volunteers' blood was examined before the exercise course, and after it was completed.

Analysis showed that a large portion of the immune cells changed from a senescent form to a naïve form. This means that they went from a form that is not as efficient in fighting against cancer to a form that is prepared to protect against disease and infections.

Exercise Benefits the Immune System

Prior studies have found many associations between exercise and cancer, including:

• that exercise can decrease the chance of developing several different cancers
• that it can improve prognosis in people with cancer
• that it can decrease the chance of recurrence and secondary cancers from developing

However, since the cause of these links has been unknown, and some reports have implied that exercise can improve the immune system's ability to protect against disease, the experts in the current study set out to determine how it specifically impacts the immune system of cancer patients.

T cells, a type of immune cell that protects against infectious agents and cancer cells, were the focal point in the investigation of the cancer survivors who had just finished chemotherapy.

Past trials have shown that T cells become senescent after chemotherapy, leaving the patient less able to fight disease and infections.

However, Bilek explained, reconstructing the population of naïve T cells is important for the immune system to function properly and be able to fight cancer.

In order to identify the number of senescent and naïve T cells each person had, blood samples were taken, and analyzed, from all participants.

They then took part in an exercise program at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute which lasted twelve weeks.

The programs were individually made for the subjects, consisting of strength and endurance training, cardiovascular exercise, and exercises for posture, flexibility and balance, with extra work in areas where they were weakest.

The experts took blood from the subjects after the 12 weeks, and performed another test to examine their T cells.

Working Out Increases "Cancer Surveillance"

The second analysis revealed that the proportion of senescent to naïve T cells changed for the better in most of the patients, showing more naïve forms.

Bilek explained, "What we're suggesting is that with exercise, you might be getting rid of T cells that aren't helpful and making room for T cells that might be helpful."

This research is important because it not only emphasizes the advantages of exercise for cancer patients and cancer survivors, but it also demonstrates how it can benefit healthy individuals.

However, the increased "cancer surveillance", or the power of the immune system to stop emerging cancers, is particularly beneficial for those struggling with cancer, or who have just survived it.

Bilek concluded:

"There's a litany of positive benefits from exercise. If exercise indeed strengthens the immune system and potentially improves cancer surveillance, it's one more thing we should educate patients about as a reason they should schedule regular activity throughout their day and make it a priority in their lives."

Is Chest Hair in Men Sexy?

For all those men who thought chest hair added to their sex appeal, this news may just come as a shock.

Apparently, close to 80 per cent women find a man with a smooth chest attractive.

During a study, when women were asked to rate the attractiveness of men with hairy and hairless chests - only 20 per cent of women found the hairy chest appealing.

Scientists’ reason out that woman from time immemorial preferred less hairy guys as a good way to keep lice and other dangerous parasite away.

Black mamba venom makes a great painkiller

ONE bite from a black mamba can kill a person within half an hour. Strangely though, venom from what's arguably the world's deadliest snake could actually be a painkiller on a par with morphine.

In search of a new analgesic, Anne Baron at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology in Valbonne, France, and her colleagues, hunted through hundreds of compounds for one that blocks acid-sensing ion channels in nerves. These are key in a common pain pathway. The successful compound turned out to be venom from a black mamba.

Baron's team then identified which proteins in the venom blocked the ion channels, before naming them mambalgins and purifying them to produce a drug.

Mice injected with the drug appeared to be significantly more resilient to pain compared with those given a sham treatment (Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature11494).

The drug did not affect the opioid receptors that are targeted by morphine but was just as effective in relieving pain.

Anyone taking the new drug might therefore avoid side effects associated with morphine, which include addiction and breathing problems, says Baron.