Red Hair and Cancer
- Red hair, fair skin and freckles have long been known to increase a person’s risk for sunburn and eventually skin cancer. But new studies suggest just being a redhead may be enough to put someone at greater risk of melanoma even without the sun.
Writings in the journal Nature suggest the same reddish-yellow pigment that gives a person red hair and the inability to tan can be a trigger for the development of the deadliest form of skin cancer. This may explain why those with darker skin have a much lower risk of melanoma than lighter-skinned people.
Findings suggest even if you avoid the sun and apply plenty of high-SPF sunscreen when you are at the beach, it’s still possible to get skin cancer just because you have red hair.
The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 76-thousand people will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2012, and more than nine thousand will die from it.
Hurricane Sandy
- When counting the casualties of Hurricane Sandy, researchers at New York University Medical Center include the thousands of lab rodents lost in the floods.
According to the New York Times, the collection of rats was considered one of the largest and most valuable of its kind in the U-S. They had been genetically altered for use in the study of heart disease, cancer and mental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The animals were the culmination of ten years of work.
NYU medical and research staff first worked to protect human patients. And while most of the animals at the center were unharmed, the staff was unable to save the animals in one of the facilities.
At the Neuroscience Institute, 25-hundred mice were lost. Another 75-hundred more mice and rats were lost in other labs. Scientists from two other researcher centers have pledged to donate animals to help restart the colonies. That’s kind of a big deal since typically, individuals in the research community compete with one another, but in this case have been eager to help.
Meningitis Outbreak
- When it comes to the meningitis outbreak, the numbers keep climbing. Nine more people have been diagnosed with the rare fungal meningitis infection linked to tainted steroid injections.
The Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC) says there are now 386 cases in 19 states. The death toll for the outbreak has moved down -- from 29 to 28 because Virginia is now reporting two deaths instead of three.
CDC officials report longest duration from the time of injection to the onset of symptoms is six weeks. The steroids were recalled five weeks ago.
- Joe gives you 2 min wrap of the sounds from todays news. (click-to-listen)
Helping The Red Cross
- If you'd like to become a volunteer providing aid and comfort to people downstate affected by Superstorm Sandy. The CNY chapter of the Red Cross will hold special training Saturday from 8am to 5pm, but, you've gotta be ready to pack up and leave immediately following the class. Volunteers need to commit to a 2 week minimum stay, and, be prepared to hardship conditions. The training class on saturday takes place at the CNY chapter of the Red Cross, 220 Herald Place, in Syracuse.
Sylvan Beach Home Invasion
- State police say a Sylvan Beach home was invaded by four men dressed in "Scream" -style Hollywood masks yesterday evening at about 5:20 pm. The four attacked the homeowner according to police, who say he managed to get away and run across the street for help while the suspects ran off. They are described as four white males with gray sweatpants and gray hoodies. The victim was taken to Oneida City Hospital for evaluation, and had non-life threatening injuries.
Apartment Fire
- A fire at about 5pm last night at the Ballantyne Apartments in Syracuse caused some extensive damage but no one was hurt and only two people were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire began on the first floor of the three-story building and then spread to the second and third floors. Several occupants panicked due to the smoke, but were helped out of windows and through hallways by firefighters. Syracuse Fire Chief Mark McLees says it could have been much worse if the fire had started a few hours later when most of the residents would have been sleeping.
SU
- The number 9-ranked Syracuse Orange kicked off their basketball season in a pretty predictable way last night, beating Division two Pace 99-63 in an exhibition game at the Dome. SU had 6 players in double figures, including James Southerland with 18...
Football
- San Diego won big last night with two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers and two more off turnovers to beat Kansas City 31-13.
Baseball
- The Tampa Bay Rays announced that Don Zimmer will return next season as a senior advisor. That's his 10th year with the Rays, 55th in the majors, and 65th in professional baseball. The 81-year-old Zim said he couldn't be happier.
