Beating the winter blues

Health in Focus

Two-thirds of cancer cases may due to "bad luck"

The majority of cancer cases can be explained by "bad luck" rather than the result of environmental factors and inherited genes, a United States study has claimed. The study, published in the US journal Science, found that two-thirds of adult cancer incidences across tissues might be caused by random mutations that occur in dividing healthy stem cells. Changing lifestyle and habits will be a huge help in preventing certain cancers, but this may not be as effective for a variety of others. The best way to eradicate these cancers will be through early detection, when they are still curable by surgery.

Racing video games may influence later behavior

Playing an intense racing game makes players more likely to take risks like speeding, passing on the wrong side, running red lights or using a cell phone in a simulated driving task shortly afterwards, according to a new study by researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China. People with more adventurous personalities were more inclined to take risks, and more intense games led to greater risk taking, the researchers write in the journal, Injury Prevention.

Fruits offer new hope for inflammatory ailments

Feijoas and blackberries stood out among 12 fruits for their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, said University of Auckland researchers. They could provide a breakthrough in treating inflammatory diseases, particularly in the bowel. The study identified fruit compounds with an anti-inflammatory effect through certain chemical pathways that could be tested further to develop them as complementary therapies for inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory disorders. The study also showed that the anti-oxidant action of the feijoa compounds was not a direct effect, but was mediated through inhibitory effects on the enzyme, and kinase.