Abstract：
:The paper discusses the unifying concept that cell hydration is the primary factor in the mechanism of carcinogenesis. The concept includes the following hypotheses: (1) Increased cell hydration causes cancer not only by promoting cell division and oncogene expression, but also by inactivating genes inducing cell differentiation, and by preventing apoptosis. Conversely, factors that reduce cell hydration prevent cancer by inhibiting cell division and oncogene expression, while activating genes inducing cell differentiation, and by promoting apoptosis. The unique ability of cell hydration to have these opposite effects on cell behavior and gene expression can account for its postulated role as the primary factor in both the promotion and prevention of cancer. (2) A progressive increase in cell hydration, induced by successive mutations and/or epigenetic changes, is the basic mechanism of multi-step carcinogenesis, the degree of malignancy increasing with the degree of cell hydration. (3) The increased hydration of cancer cells accelerates their respiration rate, thereby enhancing their ability to compete for nutrients with their normal counterparts. This effect may play a major role in promoting tumor growth and in the postulated mechanism of multi-step carcinogenesis. (4) Increased cell hydration is also proposed as an alternative or additional explanation of the carcinogenetic effect of inflammatory agents and of hormones. A survey of the literature provides evidence consistent with these hypotheses, but suggestions are included for further investigations to test their validity and their implications. From a clinical perspective, the abnormally high water content of cancer cells permits the use of microwave technology for tumor detection and treatment. Also of considerable therapeutic significance is the increased sensitivity if cancer cells to desiccation, postulated to result from genetic changes induced by increased hydration. This may well be the achilles heel of cancer, and recent investigations indicate that it may be exploited very effectively in the treatment of the disease. In conclusion, I suggest that the need for studies on the molecular biology of cancer to be supplemented by more information on environmental effects on gene expression and on the biochemical and physiological factors that mediate genetic effects at the cellular level. This approach might also be used to assess the validity of the postulated role of cell hydration as a factor of particular significance.
journal_name
Med Hypothesesjournal_title
Medical hypothesesauthors
McIntyre GIdoi
10.1016/j.mehy.2005.09.022keywords:
subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2006-01-01 00:00:00pages
518-26issue
3eissn
0306-9877issn
1532-2777pii
S0306-9877(05)00504-9journal_volume
66pub_type
杂志文章abstract：:In the AKR strain of mice a high incidence of spontaneous lymphoid leukemia develops before 12 months of age. Genetic, viral, and endocrine factors interact during development to produce the syndrome. Many of the deficiencies of AKR mice are associated with gene action in chromosome 17, at or near the major histocompa...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/s0306-9877(76)80005-9
更新日期：1976-11-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Aspirin, today, is an established drug in the regime for the prevention of myocardial infarction, especially in high-risk groups. This use of aspirin has given it a new lease of life in its tenth decade of clinical use. Aspirin is probably the oldest synthetic drug in the Pharmacopoeias today; thus one would have imag...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(95)90073-x
更新日期：1995-02-01 00:00:00
abstract：:It is suggested that apart from aflatoxins, plant medicinal preparations containing active compounds imperatorin, dictamine, marmesin and heraclenin may be responsible for some human cancers in Nigeria and perhaps other parts of Africa. Therefore, in this paper, a hypothesis is put forward that these compounds or thei...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(83)90096-8
更新日期：1983-07-01 00:00:00
abstract：:COVID-19 due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection is a multi-systemic immune syndrome affecting mainly the lungs, oropharyngeal region, and other vascular endothelial beds. There are tremendous ongoing efforts for the aim of developing drugs against the COVID-19 syndrome-associated inflammation. However, currently no specific ...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110150
更新日期：2020-10-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The artificial pancreas requires fast and reliable glucose measurements. The peritoneal space has shown promising results, and in one of our studies we detected glucose changes in the peritoneal space already at the same time as in the femoral artery. The peritoneal lining is highly vascularised, covered by a single l...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109318
更新日期：2019-11-01 00:00:00
abstract：:It is proposed that, in addition to genetic factors involved in immune attack on myelin, higher concentrations of nerve growth factor in certain tissues during development determine susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. High early nerve growth factor in some vasculature of spontaneously hypertensive rats increases sym...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/s0306-9877(98)90071-8
更新日期：1998-12-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Medical Hypotheses exists to give ideas and speculations in medicine a fair hearing. Doing this is not easy. Most conventional journals would regard some of what is published here as questionable, most referees would reject it as 'unproven'. We have more liberal standards, for reasons we have presented before. But we ...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 社论
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2004.10.003
更新日期：2005-01-01 00:00:00
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journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2004.09.007
更新日期：2005-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The three events, viz. schizophrenia, dissociative anaesthesia and Near-Death Experience, despite their seemingly unrelated manifestation to each other, have nevertheless similar functional basis. All three events are linked to the glutamate sensitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, which serves as their...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00307-4
更新日期：2004-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:In UK educational circles it has long been regarded as a platitude that a good scientific education at school and undergraduate level should aim to teach critical thinking and encourage students to challenge mainstream science, debate scientific issues and express their personal opinions. However, I believe that this ...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 社论
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2009.07.050
更新日期：2010-02-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating, widespread pain disorder that is assumed to originate from inappropriate pain processing in the central nervous system. Psychological and behavioral factors are both believed to underlie the pathogenesis and complicate the treatment. This hypothesis, however, has not yet been suffi...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2017.12.006
更新日期：2018-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Damaged DNA can lead to aneuploidy and/or chromosomal instability, which is believed to be major contributor to tumor progression. Genotoxic and oncogenic stresses-induced DNA damage activate the tumor suppressor pathways initiate DNA damage response (DDR). One of the cellular fates in response to DDR is permanent gro...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2010.01.001
更新日期：2010-06-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Metastases from unknown primary tumours (MUP) are not an uncommon clinical problem. A hypothesis that discusses the plausible role of neoangiogenesis, as a central theme in the development of MUPs, is presented. Invasive cancers, which cannot or do not switch to the angiogenic phenotype, remain subclinical. In situati...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/s0306-9877(02)00221-9
更新日期：2002-09-01 00:00:00
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journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章,评审
doi：10.1054/mehy.2000.1094
更新日期：2001-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The authors present an extended version of Clark's and Ariëns's classical theory that enables the interpretation and quantitative characterization of dose-response curves which are not in accordance with classical theory. Being supported by the chemical receptor theory, the new model expands its applicability to two o...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(85)90063-5
更新日期：1985-04-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Educational expansion in western countries has been achieved mainly by adding years to full-time education; however, this process has probably reduced efficiency. Sooner or later, efficiency must improve, with a greater educational attainment per year. Future societies will probably wish more people to study science t...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 社论
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.011
更新日期：2006-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The hypothesis is put forward that coronary heart disease (CHD) arises from a chronic imbalance between anabolism and catabolism in the body, induced by the psychosocial environment and mediated through the central nervous system (CNS) and neuroendocrine system. Psychosocial demands increase periods of waking arousal ...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(83)90044-0
更新日期：1983-11-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The natural tibiofemoral joint (TFJ) functions according to the asymmetrical joint surfaces and the rolling-gliding mechanism. In the sagittal section, the human TFG is the tibial plateau on the medial concave side and curved on the lateral convex. With the asymmetrical joint surfaces, the flexion of the knee consists...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2014.04.015
更新日期：2014-09-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Oral water irrigation devices (WIDs) are widely used for oral physiotherapy in homes and dental clinics throughout the world. A major area of concern in the use of WIDs has been the possibility of injury to the sulcular epithelium and underlying tissue. There are several documented clinical cases of tissue injury with...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(85)90110-0
更新日期：1985-12-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Evidence is reviewed supporting a hypothesis of an anticarcinogenic effect of magnesium. Animal studies reported increased cancer in rodents maintained on magnesium deficient diets and a preventive effect for rodents fed excess levels of magnesium. Epidemiologic evidence is presented that magnesium levels in water, fo...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(80)90010-9
更新日期：1980-08-01 00:00:00
abstract：:The non-invasive assessment of chronic tissue hypoxia is difficult. Pulse oximetry only allows the peripheral oxygen saturation to be measured, while the detection of hyperlactataemia needs to take into account the fact that the accumulation of lactic acid may result from several causes other than prolonged tissue hyp...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2018.01.014
更新日期：2018-03-01 00:00:00
abstract：OBJECTIVES:Results from a recent study showed that the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was higher in patients who received febuxostat, a potent urate-lowering agent, than that in patients who received allopurinol. Therefore, we hypothesized that an abrupt change in serum urate levels caused by urate-lowe...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109740
更新日期：2020-08-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is defined as a multifocal, monophasic, demyelinating, and inflammatory disease involving the central nervous system. It typically begins within 6 weeks of an antigenic challenge such as infection or immunization. Perivenous inflammation, edema and demyelination are the path...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2006.10.061
更新日期：2007-01-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in tumor-bearing hosts and play an essential role in tumor-associated immunosuppression, which hampers effective immunotherapeutic approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate target gene expression at the posttranscriptional level...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2014.05.006
更新日期：2014-08-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Cancer is caused by a combination of factors, genetic, epigenetics and environmental. Among the latter, environmental pollutants absorbed by contact, inhalation, or ingestion are major proven or suspected culprits. Depleted uranium (DU) is one of them directly pertinent to the military and civilians working in militar...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 信件
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2019.01.018
更新日期：2019-03-01 00:00:00
abstract：:This article presents a novel view on the diabetes aetiology from the standpoint of a single epidemiological factor. It has been observed that, irrespective of the type of diabetes, sufferers have a stable, persistent behavioural habit: to take a rest or to have a nap within two hours of a meal. Such habitual behaviou...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2010.01.016
更新日期：2010-06-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Contralateral central nervous control may be an evolutionary consequence of dependence on the image-forming eye, especially in large organisms. As a result of the topological transformation of the visual stimulus in the pupillary eye, the external environmental hemispace impinges directly upon the contralateral intern...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/0306-9877(95)90225-2
更新日期：1995-11-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic progressive degenerative disorder that affects over 6 million people worldwide. It is manifested by motor and psychiatric signs. The latter inflicts up to 88% of PD patients. With the prolongation of life expectancy, it is presumed that the prevalence of PD will further rise, togeth...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2010.07.024
更新日期：2010-12-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Infection of the lymphatic system by Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria is the most common cause of elephantiasis, a disease that affects over 100 million people. The nightly release of microfilaria into the circulation coincides with the feeding activity of its mosquito vector, a synchronization that is presumably an ...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1016/j.mehy.2009.02.034
更新日期：2009-08-01 00:00:00
abstract：:Lithium is a naturally occurring alkali metal, which living organisms ingest from dietary sources and which is also present in trace amounts in the human body. In much higher concentrations, lithium is effective as a medication for mania and mood swings including manic depressive disorders. Many studies have shown tha...
journal_title：Medical hypotheses
pub_type： 杂志文章
doi：10.1054/mehy.2001.1375
更新日期：2001-10-01 00:00:00
