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Sunburn
Early in Life May Be Harmful
Excerpt By Keith Mulvihill, Reuters
Health
NEW
YORK (Reuters Health) - Baby mice that suffer sunburns are at
an increased risk of developing a deadly form of skin cancer called
malignant melanoma as adults, study findings suggest.
While the
researchers are reluctant to apply their findings to humans, lead
investigator Dr. Glenn Merlino notes that the current findings
support evidence that sunburns during childhood in humans ``pose
a significant risk for developing this potentially fatal disease.''
Their findings
are published in the September 20th issue of the journal Nature.
The study
reinforces the message that ``it is important for parents to take
steps to prevent harmful sun exposure,'' Merlino, who is with
the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said in an
interview with Reuters Health.
Merlino and
his colleagues exposed mice to ultraviolet (UV) radiation when
they were 3.5-days-old or 6-weeks-old. Some mice were exposed
to UV radiation at both ages.
``The amount
of sun that the mice were exposed to roughly corresponds to the
sunburning dose of natural sunlight at mid-altitudes in midsummer,''
the researchers write.
The mice,
genetically engineered to have human-like skin, were monitored
for more than a year. As early as 2 to 3 months after the sunburn,
the mice started showing early signs of melanoma. By the time
these mice were a year old they had developed melanoma tumors.
Mice given
sunburns at 3.5-days-old developed malignant melanoma that resembled
the human form of the disease, Merlino told Reuters Health.
He stressed
that even though ``mice are not humans,'' the researchers believe
``the (mouse) model is solid'' because the melanoma seen in the
mice progresses in stages similar to those seen in humans. The
tumors also resemble those found in humans.
Merlino recommends
that parents use sunscreen on children; keep them out of the sun
between 10 AM and 2 PM, when UV radiation is strongest; and get
them into the habit of wearing protective clothing including hats.
One issue
that continues to worry healthcare professionals is that too many
young Americans continue to disregard health messages about the
dangers of sunbathing and tanning bed use.
Earlier this
month, research presented at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) 2001 Cancer Conference found that two thirds
of US teens routinely go without sunscreen while outside, while
10% say they have used a tanning booth in the previous year--a
practice experts say is just as dangerous as sunbathing.
SOURCE:
Nature 2001;413:271-272.
Reference
Source 89
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