Download Webquest - Indiana University Bloomington

Webquest
Unit 4
Click here to download a printable page of questions for your WebQuest activity. Using
the links in this unit find the correct answers to the questions listed. You will notice that
the selections under each question are labeled differently (i.e. not a, b, c, d). Once you
answer the questions you will be able to compile all of the letters of the correct answers
and spell out the secret word. Once you know the secret word email it to your professor
using Oncourse email. Do NOT tell anyone else what the secret word is! Be sure to get it
mailed by Sunday at midnight (EST).
1. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_1986/SGR1986-Chapter2.PDF a review
of epidemiological studies on the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS), or second hand smoke. On page 15 of the pdf document, in the section on
“Methodological Considerations on Epidemiological Studies,” the report outlines
problems with assessing ETS, or second hand smoke. In this case, is ETS (second
hand smoke) the
d. Independent variable
e. Dependent variable
Answer: a
Feedback: Second hand smoke is speculated to affect such health issues as lung
cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
2. Visit http://www.in.gov/isdh/dataandstats/mch/smoking_during_pregnancy.pdf, a
report by the Indiana Health Department on trends in smoking during pregnancy
and birth outcomes. Is low birth weight the
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
Answer: b
Feedback: Low birth weigh, Small for Gestational Age, and pre-term babies are expected
to be the consequences of smoking. Since this was not an experimental study, we can’t
say smoking CAUSES these outcomes, but we can say these poor birth outcomes are
correlated with smoking.
3. Visit http://www.in.gov/isdh/dataandstats/mch/smoking_during_pregnancy.pdf,
the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation website. At the top of the page is
the statement, “About 90% of all lung cancer deaths among US women are
attributable to smoking.” Is this statement, smoking is the
t. independent variable
b. dependent variable
Answer: a
Feedback: Smoking is speculated to affect the likelihood of getting lung cancer
4. Read this article on green tea and prostrate cancer (link to article at end). What is
the independent variable?
a. green tea
b. prostrate cancer
Answer: a
Feedback: The researchers manipulated how much green tea catechins subjects received.
Prostrate cancer was the dependent variable, and those who received the catechins were
less likely to get prostrate cancer than those that did not receive the catechins.
SECRET WORD: _____
1
_____
_____
2
3
_____
4
Answer: DATA
Link this article to article in question 4.
Public release date: 20-Apr-2005
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/aafc-gts041205.php
Contact: Warren R. Froelich
[email protected]
215-440-9300
American Association for Cancer Research
Green tea shown to prevent prostate cancer
First clinical study shows 90 percent efficacy in men with pre-malignant lesions
Anaheim, Calif. – After a year's oral administration of green tea catechins (GTCs), only
one man in a group of 32 at high risk for prostate cancer developed the disease, compared
to nine out of 30 in a control, according to a team of Italian researchers from the
University of Parma and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia led by Saverio
Bettuzzi, Ph.D.
Their results were reported here today at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American
Association for Cancer Research.
"Numerous earlier studies, including ours, have demonstrated that green tea catechins, or
pure EGCG (a major component of GTCs), inhibited cancer cell growth in laboratory
models," Bettuzzi explained. "We wanted to conduct a clinical trial to find out whether
catechins could prevent cancer in men. The answer clearly is yes."
Earlier research demonstrated primarily that green tea catechins were safe for use in
humans. Bettuzzi and his colleagues had found that EGCG targets prostate cancer cells
specifically for death, without damaging the benign controls. They identified Clusterin,
the most important gene involved in apoptosis, or programmed cell death in the prostate,
as a possible mediator of catechins action. "EGCG induced death in cancer cells, not
normal cells, inducing Clusterin expression" said Bettuzzi.
To gauge susceptibility for prostate cancer among their research subjects, the team of
Italian scientists recruited men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia –
premalignant lesions that presage invasive prostate cancer within one year in nearly a
third of cases and for which no treatment was given.
Eligible men were between 45 and 75 years of age. Vegetarians and men consuming
green tea or derived products, or those taking anti-oxidants or following anti-androgenic
therapy were excluded.
Of the 62 volunteers, 32 received three tablets per day of 200 mg each GTCs; the
remainder were given a placebo. Follow-up biopsies were administered after six months
and again at one year. Only one case of prostate cancer was diagnosed among those
receiving 600 mg daily of GTCs, while nine cases were found in the untreated group. The
30 percent incidence rate among controls is consistent with previous findings, as was the
absence of significant side effects or adverse reactions.
The interest in green tea catechins and other polyphenols – antioxidants found in many
plants that give some flowers, fruits and vegetables their coloring – derives from
traditional Chinese medicine, and the observation of lower cancer rates among Asian
populations.
Bettuzzi observed that the Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, and lower rates of
prostate cancer are found in that region, as well.
The 600 mg-per-day dosage of caffeine-free, total catechins (50 percent of which is
EGCG) given to participants in the Italian study is one or two times the amount of green
tea consumed daily in China, where ten to 20 cups a day is normal.
"We still don't know enough about the biological processes leading to prostate cancer,"
Bettuzzi noted. "The only thing we know for sure is that prostate cancer is diffuse, related
to age and more prevalent in the West. Thus, prevention could be the best way to fight it.
Although our follow-up will continue for up to five years, a larger, confirmatory study is
needed."
Even so, Bettuzzi hints at the exciting prospect of using green tea catechins as a
prophylactic against prostate cancer in men believed to be at higher risk, such as the
elderly, African-Americans, and those with a family history of prostate cancer.