They recruited 210 marathon runners ranging in age from 19 to 71 years for the study, matching them by age and sex with a control group of non-marathoners.

Even though men and women in the control group had more signs of sun sensitivity, such as light eye and skin color and more birthmarks, the marathoners were more likely to have changes in the skin that signal an increased malignant melanoma risk.

And just 56.2 percent of the runners reported using sunscreen regularly, even though nearly all said they ran in shorts and sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts.

While the jury is still out on the role of immunosuppression in boosting melanoma risk, Ambros-Rudolph and her colleagues write, "runners should be alerted to the crucial role of UV radiation in the development of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

In particular, they should be advised to reduce UV exposure during exercising by choosing training and competition schedules with low sun exposure, wearing adequate clothing, and regularly using water-resistant sunscreens."

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, November 2006.

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Statins and fibrates no help against melanoma

Annan warns of "catastrophic" biotech danger

Last Updated: 2006-11-20 11:34:02 -0400 (Reuters Health)

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that potential dangers from the rapidly growing biotechnology industry were increasing exponentially and urged creating global safeguards.

Annan, speaking on Saturday in the Swiss university town, warned of "catastrophic" results if recent advances in biotechnology, including gene manipulation and work with viruses, fell into the wrong hands.

"As biological research expands, and technologies become increasingly accessible, this potential for accidental or intentional harm grows exponentially," he said in the text of a speech.

"Even novices working in small laboratories will be able to carry out gene manipulation."

Annan's warning comes after he called in May for a global forum on biological terrorism, saying current treaties were too weak and governmental and commercial initiatives too scattered.

Annan likened the current consensus-building phase over life-sciences rules to the debate around nuclear technology in the 1950s that preceded the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"We lack an international system of safeguards to manage those risks. Scientists may do their best to follow rules for responsible conduct of research. But efforts to harmonize these rules on a global level are outpaced by the galloping advance of science itself," he said.

Annan was speaking at an event where he received the Max Schmidheiny Freedom Prize.

Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.