What's the oldest known case of cancer in humans?
What's the oldest known case of cancer in humans?
Cancer may seem like a modern disease, but it has affected humans for eons. Scientists have discovered numerous prehistoric human remains indicating the presence of cancer. So, what's the earliest case of cancer on record? And what's the first time that humans wrote about it in medical texts?
The earliest evidence of human cancer comes from an early human relative who lived around 1.7 million years ago. This individual, likely of the species Paranthropus robustus or Homo ergaster, lived with a malignant tumor in their left toe bone. Archaeologists discovered the skeletal remains inside Swartkrans cave, a limestone deposit in South Africa that's often called the Cradle of Humankind for being home to the largest concentration of human relative remains in the world.
When researchers compared computed tomography (CT) scans of the toe bone fossil with images of modern-day cases of osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer that begins in the cells that form bones, they immediately recognized the distinctive cauliflower-like appearance of an osteosarcoma, according to a 2016 study about the case published in the South African Journal of Science.
Nowadays, osteosarcoma is one of the most common bone cancers in humans and can occur at any age, although it is most frequently seen in children, teenagers and young adults who are still growing, according to the American Cancer Society. However, while this prehistoric individual's age is unknown, it appears that they were an adult, the researchers said.
An even older benign tumor was found in a 1.9 million-year-old human relative known as Australopithecus sediba found in South Africa, according to a separate 2016 study in the South African Journal of Science.
It's not surprising that the oldest known cancer case was in a bone, since organs, skin and other soft tissues are more prone to decay than bones are.
"Bone is one of the few tissues that can survive in the fossil record," Bruce Rothschild, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh who was not involved in the study, told Live Science.
However, even if cancer is present in a fossil, it often isn't visible to the naked eye and takes further examination to find — which was the case for the toe bone.
"About one-third of cancers will show themselves," Rothschild said. "But you would need to perform an X-ray to determine if something was hidden inside the bone. Most pathologists [today] look at an X-ray before coming up with a diagnosis of a tumor when it involves the bone."
First written record of cancer
Although the 1.7-million-year-old toe bone is the earliest known case of cancer in a hominin, a group that includes modern humans, the first written record of cancer doesn't show up until much, much later.
In 3000 B.C. Imhotep — an ancient Egyptian mathematician, physician and architect — wrote what came to be known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus, a textbook about bodily trauma and surgical procedures. In the text, he detailed 48 medical cases, including several case studies on breast cancer.
The text was written in hieratic, an ancient Egyptian writing system, and was later translated into a two-volume English text by American archaeologist James Henry Breasted. In it, Imhotep described characteristics of different types of tumors, including "oily tumors" and "solid tumors." He also included descriptions of a breast tumor — describing it as "bulging mass in the breast" that is cool, hard and as dense as an "unripe hemat fruit" that spreads under the skin, according to the book "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" (Scribner, 2010).
While Imhotep gives a number of treatments for the other medical conditions in the text, under "therapy" for the breast tumor he wrote, "There is none." However, he did note the best practices for binding other types of tumors, which involved creating an ointment made of grease, honey and lint, according to The Cancer Letter, which published an excerpt of the historical text.
The papyrus not only offers a glimpse of how surgical medicine was practiced thousands of years ago by ancient Egyptians, arguably some of the world's first surgeons, but also provides some of the earliest evidence of cancer ever recorded, according to a 2016 study published in the journal Cancer.
It's unclear how these cases of prehistoric cancer developed. Just like the humans who came before us, we're still trying to figure out what causes many cancers and the best ways to treat them.
The Top 8 Health Benefits of Cauliflower
The Top 8 Health Benefits of Cauliflower
Cauliflower contains many nutrients and plant compounds that may reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Cauliflower is an extremely healthy vegetable that’s a significant source of nutrients.
Additionally, it’s weight loss-friendly and incredibly easy to add to your diet.
Here are 8 science-based health benefits of cauliflower.
The nutrition profile of cauliflower is quite impressive.
Cauliflower is very low in calories yet rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals (1Trusted Source).
Here is an overview of the nutrients found in 1 cup, or 107 grams (g), of raw cauliflower (1Trusted Source):
- Calories: 27
- Fiber: 2 g
- Vitamin C: 58% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin K: 14% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 12% of the DV
- Folate: 15% of the DV
- Pantothenic acid: 14% of the DV
- Potassium: 7% of the DV
- Manganese: 9% of the DV
- Choline: 8% of the DV
- Magnesium: 4% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 4% of the DV
SUMMARYCauliflower is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K.
Cauliflower is quite high in fiber, which is beneficial for overall health.
There are 2 g of fiber in 1 cup (107 g) of raw cauliflower, which is 7% of your daily needs (1Trusted Source).
Fiber is important because it feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut that help reduce inflammation and promote digestive health (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
Consuming enough fiber may help lower the risk of digestive conditions like constipation, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
Moreover, studies show that a diet high in fiber-rich vegetables like cauliflower is linked with a lower risk of several illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
Fiber may also play a role in obesity prevention, due to its ability to promote fullness and reduce overall calorie intake (2Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
SUMMARYCauliflower contains a high amount of fiber, which is important for digestive health and may reduce the risk of several chronic diseases.
3. Good sou rce of antioxidants
Cauliflower is a great source of antioxidants, which protect your cells from harmful free radicals and inflammation (10Trusted Source).
Similar to other cruciferous vegetables, cauliflower is particularly high in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, two groups of antioxidants that have been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Cauliflower contains carotenoid and flavonoid antioxidants as well, which have anti-cancer effects and may reduce the risk of several other illnesses, including heart disease (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
What’s more, cauliflower contains high amounts of vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin C is also well-known for its anti-inflammatory effects that may boost immune health and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
SUMMARYCauliflower provides a significant amount of antioxidants, which are beneficial for reducing inflammation and protecting against several chronic diseases.
4. May aid weight loss
Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss.
First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake (1Trusted Source).
It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.
As a good source of fiber, cauliflower slows digestion and promotes feelings of fullness. This may help reduce the number of calories you eat throughout the day, an important factor in weight control (2Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
High water content is another weight loss-friendly aspect of cauliflower. In fact, 92% of its weight is made up of water. Consuming lots of water-dense, low calorie foods is associated with weight loss (1Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).
SUMMARYCauliflower is low in calories but high in fiber and water — all properties that may assist in weight loss.
5. High in choline
Cauliflower is high in choline, an essential nutrient that many people don’t consume enough of (23Trusted Source).
One cup (107 g) of cauliflower contains 44 milligrams of choline, which is about 10% of the adequate intake for females and 8% for males (1Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).
Choline has several important functions in the body.
To begin with, it plays a major role in maintaining the integrity of cell membranes, synthesizing DNA, and supporting metabolism (25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).
Choline is also involved in brain development and the production of neurotransmitters that are necessary for a healthy nervous system. What’s more, it helps prevent cholesterol from accumulating in the liver (26Trusted Source).
Animal studies suggest choline deficiency may increase the risk of liver disease and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s (27Trusted Source, 28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).
SUMMARYCauliflower is a good source of choline, a nutrient many people are lacking. It is involved in many processes in the body and works to prevent several diseases.
Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, an antioxidant that has been studied extensively (30Trusted Source).
Many test-tube and animal studies have found sulforaphane to be particularly helpful for suppressing cancer development by inhibiting enzymes that are involved in cancer and tumor growth (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).
Research shows that sulforaphane may also help reduce high blood pressure and keep arteries healthy — both major factors in preventing heart disease (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
Finally, animal studies suggest that sulforaphane may also play a role in diabetes prevention and reducing the risk of diabetes-induced complications, such as kidney disease (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source).
While more research is necessary to determine the extent of sulforaphane’s effects in humans, its potential health benefits are promising.
SUMMARYCauliflower is rich is sulforaphane, a plant compound with many beneficial effects, such as reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Cauliflower is incredibly versatile and can be used to replace grains and legumes in your diet.
Not only is this a fantastic way to increase your veggie intake, but it is also especially helpful for those who follow low carb diets.
This is because cauliflower is significantly lower in carbs than grains and legumes.
For example, 1 cup (107 g) of cauliflower contains 5 g of carbs. At the same time, 1 cup (158 g) of rice contains 44 g of carbs — almost nine times the amount in cauliflower (1Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).
Here are some examples of recipes that can be made with cauliflower instead of grains and legumes:
- Cauliflower rice: Replace white or brown rice with cauliflower that has been grated and then cooked.
- Cauliflower pizza crust: By pulsing cauliflower in a food processor and then making it into a dough, you can make a delicious pizza.
- Cauliflower hummus: Chickpeas can be replaced with cauliflower in hummus recipes.
- Cauliflower mash: Instead of making mashed potatoes, try making a low carb cauliflower mash.
- Cauliflower tortillas: Combine pulsed cauliflower with eggs to make low carb tortillas that can be used for wraps, taco shells, or burritos.
- Cauliflower mac and cheese: Cooked cauliflower can be combined with milk, cheese, and spices to make mac and cheese.
SUMMARYCauliflower can replace grains and legumes in many recipes, which is a great way to eat more veggies or follow a low carb diet.
8. Easy to add to your diet
Not only is cauliflower versatile, but it’s also very easy to add to your diet.
To begin with, you can consume it raw, which requires very little preparation. You can enjoy raw cauliflower florets as a snack dipped in hummus or another healthy vegetable dip.
Cauliflower can also be cooked in a variety of ways, such as steaming, roasting, or sautéing. It makes an excellent side dish or can be combined with dishes like soups, salads, stir-fries, and casseroles.
Not to mention, it’s fairly cheap and widely available at most grocery stores.
SUMMARYThere are many ways to add cauliflower to your diet. It can be consumed cooked or raw and makes a fantastic addition to just about any dish.
The bottom line
Cauliflower provides some powerful health benefits.
It is a great source of nutrients, including a few that many people need more of.
Plus, cauliflower contains unique antioxidants that may reduce inflammation and protect against several diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
What’s more, cauliflower is easy to add your diet. It’s tasty, easy to prepare, and can replace high carb foods in several recipes.
Reference: Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD, Nutrition — By Brianna Elliott, RD — Updated on February 21, 2023
Diverticular Disease : What Is It & Treatments
Diverticular Disease : What Is It & Treatments
A group of diseases that causes development of small sacs in the wall of colon (large intestine). Mild cases may not show any symptoms and it may cause pain in the lower abdomen as the condition progresses.
Symptoms
It usually does not show any symptoms but sometimes inflammation of diverticula results in pain in the lower abdomen or fever.
Causes
Diverticular disease includes a group of conditions (diverticulosis, diverticular bleeding, and diverticulitis) affecting the colon. These conditions cause herniation or out-pouching of the walls of colon, creating small pouches.
Diagnosis
Diverticulosis is generally diagnosed when tests are done for other medical conditions.
Highlights
- Treatable by a medical professional
- Diagnosed by medical professional
- Requires lab test or imaging
- Can last several days or weeks
- Common for ages 60 and older
- Urgent medical attention recommended in severe cases
Medications
Antibiotics: To treat infections.
Amoxicillin . Clavulanic acid . Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
Fiber supplements: It is helpful in normalizing bowel function and preventing constipation.
Methylcellulose . Psyllium
Story by Dr. Karthikeya T M, MD Internal Medicine: Microsoft Health
Are Raisins Good for You?
Are Raisins Good for You?
Raisins are naturally sweet and high in sugar and calories, but they also contain fiber, antioxidants, and important minerals like iron.
The shriveled yellow, brown, or purple morsels known as raisins are actually grapes that have been dried in the sun or in a food dehydrator.
Raisins are commonly used:
- as a salad topping
- mixed into oatmeal
- in yogurt
- in granola or cereal
You also may have eaten them baked into delicious cookies, breads, and muffins. Despite their small size, raisins are packed with energy and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Raisins are naturally sweet and high in sugar and calories, but they’re beneficial to our health when eaten in moderation. In fact, raisins can aid digestion, boost iron levels, and keep your bones strong.
So the next time you’re craving candy or sweets, consider munching on some raisins to satisfy your yearning. Your body will reap the healthy benefits.
There are several factors to consider about the nutritional benefits of raisins. Read on for a breakdown of what raisins have to offer, both good and bad, to determine if the benefits outweigh any risks.
Sugar and calories
One-half cup of raisins has about 217 caloriesTrusted Source and 47 grams of sugar. For reference, a 12-ounce can of soda has about 150 calories and 33 grams of sugar, depending on the brand.
For this reason, raisins aren’t exactly a low-calorie, or low-sugar treat. It’s no wonder they are sometimes referred to as “nature’s candy.”
High amounts of sugar and calories are pretty typical of dried fruit, which is why keeping an eye on how many raisins you are eating in one sitting is key.
Raisins are often sold in small, single serving boxes, each containing roughly 100 calories. If you have problems with portion control, try purchasing these prepackaged raisins to keep your intake in check.
For endurance athletes, raisins are a great alternative for expensive sports chews and gels. They offer a quick source of much-needed carbohydrates and can help improve your performance.
A 2011 studyTrusted Source found that raisins were just as effective as a brand of sports jelly beans in improving performance for athletes engaging in moderate- to high-intensity endurance exercise.
Fiber
One-half cup of raisins will give you 3.3 grams of fiberTrusted Source, or roughly 10 to 24 percent of your daily needs, depending on your age and gender.
Fiber helps aid your digestion by softening and increasing the weight and size of your stool. Bulkier stools are easier to pass and can help prevent constipation.
Fiber also helps keep you full for longer because it slows down the emptying of your stomach. If you’re trying to lose weight, eating fibrous foods may help.
Fiber also plays a role in cholesterol levels. Dietary fiber is known to decrease levels of the “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) type of cholesterol.
Iron
Raisins are a good source of iron. One-half cup of raisins contains 1.3 milligrams of iron. That’s about 7 percent of the recommended daily amountTrusted Source for most adult females, and 16 percent for adult men.
Iron is important for making red blood cells and helping them carry oxygen to the cells of your body. You need to eat enough iron in order to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Calcium and boron
Raisins have about 45 milligrams of calcium per 1/2-cup serving. This translates to about 4 percent of your daily needs. Calcium is essential for healthy and strong bones and teeth.
If you’re a postmenopausal woman, raisins are a great snack for you because the calcium helps prevent the development of osteoporosis, a disorder characterized by bone loss that usually occurs as you age.
To add to that, raisins contain a high amount of the trace element boron. Boron works with vitamin D and calcium to keep your bones and joints healthy. It also plays a role in treating osteoporosis.
Antioxidants
Raisins are an exceptional source of naturally occurring chemicals called phytonutrients, such as phenols and polyphenols. These types of nutrients are considered antioxidants.
Antioxidants help remove free radicals from your blood and may prevent damage to your cells and DNA. This can lead to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Antimicrobial compounds
A 2009 studyTrusted Source noted that raisins contain phytochemicals that could promote healthy teeth and gums. Phytochemicals present in raisins, including oleanolic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, fight the bacteria in your mouth that lead to cavities.
In other words, eating raisins in place of sugary snack foods can actually keep your smile healthy.
How to eat raisins
Raisins can be enjoyed right from the box, or they can be thrown into a variety of dishes. From breakfasts to desserts to savory dinners, there are countless possibilities. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate more raisins in your diet:
- For a healthy take on classic oatmeal raisin cookies, try this flourless version. View the recipe.
- Raisins add excellent flavor to just about any type of sweet spread. Try making this cinnamon raisin cashew butter if you’re in the mood to try something new. If cashews aren’t your favorite, you can substitute another nut. View the recipe.
- Spice up chicken salad with raisins and sweet apples. View the recipe.
- Contrary to popular belief, granola is easy to make at home. Raisins are always an excellent addition to your standard granola recipe. This recipe for cinnamon raisin granola can also be made vegan or gluten-free. View the recipe.
- Pumpkin, raisin, and flaxseed muffins are full of healthy fiber. View the recipe.
- It may seem strange to add raisins to your pasta. This pasta dish from the staff at the Mayo Clinic includes spinach, garbanzo beans, and raisins. It’s high in iron, protein, and fiber. View the recipe.
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