The American Council on Science and Health, 2011: Week 40

The presence of linked articles here are merely a way of showing what is going on, whether I agree or disagree with the positions presented. Rich Kozlovich

CANCER

Rise in HPV-related throat cancers: Another reason for vaccinating boys too The results of a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology reveal a worrisome trend: Throat cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) are on the rise, especially among men.

LA Times resorts to scare tactics on breast cancer and chemicals  A recent Los Angeles Times headline reads, "Breast cancer: Pollution link remains hazy" - but upon reading the whole article, readers will soon realize that no actual link exists, says Dr. Ross.

DIET

Something is rotten in Denmark: New food tax In an article for The New York Times, columnist Mark Bittman lauds the Danish government for its most recent implementation: an excise tax on foods high in saturated fat.

Diet defects may lead to birth defects A healthful diet may actually lower a woman's risk of having a child with serious birth defects, reports a study now online in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Debate over sugar not so sweet At last week's American Dietetic Association conference, two prominent professors of nutrition debated the link between consumption of sugary beverages and the rising obesity rate.

HIV

Unwanted surprise: Hormonal contraception facilitates HIV transmission
 Public health officials in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV remains prevalent, may soon find themselves in another predicament: The results of a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases warns that women who use injectable hormone contraceptives double their risk of becoming infected with HIV.

HEART

Coronary angioplasties might not require an overnight stay Typically, a patient who undergoes a coronary angioplasty is monitored overnight at the hospital - just in case of complications. However, a study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that this may not be necessary for many low-risk patients.

JUNK SCIENCE

Louisiana hospital wages quixotic battle against “third-hand smoke”  Lisa R. Lauve is the new sheriff at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, and her first order of business is to cut down on "third-hand smoke."

MEN’S ISSUES

PSA to go away? You read it here years ago Screening healthy men for prostate cancer with a PSA blood test does more harm than good, a major government health panel has decided.

High testosterone may reflect better heart health Elderly men with naturally high levels of testosterone seem to be less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than their peers with lower levels of the hormone, reports a study just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

PHARMA

A campaign against counterfeit drugs  Counterfeit prescription medications have become a major problem and, in response, Pfizer Inc. and a pharmacy standards group have joined forces to warn consumers of the risks.

RISKS

Drive, then drink — not the other way around About four million Americans admitted to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol at least once in 2010, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Take good care of your brain while at play The number of children visiting the emergency room (ER) with a sports-related concussion has jumped by nearly 60 percent over the last decade, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.

Childhood vaccination rates fall as unfounded fears rise To the dismay of ACSH and others devoted to public health, childhood vaccination rates fell significantly in 2009, and the latest National Public Radio-Thomson Reuters Health Poll indicates that unfounded fear is the major source of this decline.

STROKES

Victims of mild strokes need more attention New guidelines for follow-up to mild strokes may be needed, according to data presented by researchers at the Canadian Stroke Congress in Ottawa.

THIS AND THAT

NYC Department of Education fails PE If the New York City Department of Education were graded on its provision of proper physical education for city students, it would receive a big fat F.

A victory for harm reduction in Canada  North America's only safe-injection site for drug addicts will be allowed to continue its services, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Friday.

If there is a health scare today, the American Council on Science and Health will most likely have the answer by tomorrow; and for members it will appear in your e-mail. No effort on your part, except to read the answer. All that the ACSH is interested in are the facts and they are prepared to follow them wherever they lead. Who can ask for more?  Please Donate Now!

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