Health News

Health Week in Review -- Dec. 15, 2006

Dec. 15, 2006 -- A downside to dieting without exercise, progress on birth control without periods, and why fewer women may be getting breast cancer. From the benefits of male circumcision to the possible source of the recent E. coli outbreak, catch up on the week's biggest headlines.

Breast Cancer Rates Fall Sharply
In a stunning shift, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer fell sharply in the U.S. in 2003 -- a decline researchers attributed to a parallel drop in the number of women taking hormone replacement therapy. Read more.

Male Circumcision May Halve HIV Risk Male Circumcision May Halve HIV Risk
Male circumcision may cut HIV risk in half, according to two studies of adult males in Kenya and Uganda. Because of the promising results, the studies were halted early to give all participants the option of getting circumcised. Read moreRead more.

Taco Bell E. coli Outbreak Is Over Taco Bell E. coli Outbreak Is Over
The E. coli outbreak linked to Taco Bell restaurants in four Northeastern states "appears to be over," says the CDC. Health experts haven't identified the source of the outbreak, but the FDA is focusing on shredded iceberg lettuce. Read more.

New Oral Contraceptive May End Periods
If approved, the continuous oral contraceptive Lybrel may make menstrual periods a lifestyle choice for American women. Are there long-term safety risks? Read more.

Moderate Drinking May Lengthen Life
Moderate drinking may lengthen life, but heavy drinking raises the risk of death, Italian researchers say. Just what is "moderate drinking"? Read more.

Weight Loss Can Mean Bone Loss
Overweight dieters who cut calories but don't exercise lose more than weight -- they lose bone mass, a new study shows. And they may lose it in the areas where elderly people are most likely to suffer fractures: their spines, hips, and upper legs. Read more.

Treat Prostate Cancer in Older Men?
To treat or not to treat? That is the question for older men with early-stage prostate cancer. The jury is still out, but new research suggests a survival advantage for older prostate cancer patients with localized disease who choose active treatment over watchful waiting. Read more.

FDA May Expand Antidepressant Warning
The FDA plans to expand warnings on up to a dozen antidepressant medications following studies suggesting the drugs raise the risk of suicidal behavior in a wider range of patients than previously thought. Some experts, however, are afraid expanding the warnings could increase the number of suicides. Read more.

Sound of Laughter Tickles the Brain
The sound of laughter may make you smile and laugh. Researchers took a look at how the brain responds. Read more.

Protein Test for Alzheimer's Disease?
Scientists have identified 23 proteins in spinal fluid that may lead to a new test for Alzheimer's disease. Currently, there are no definitive Alzheimer's tests for living patients. Read more.

Longer Colonoscopy Time Ups Detection
Doctors who spend more time performing a colonoscopy tend to find more abnormal growths, new research shows. How long should it take? Read more.

Flu Vaccines Compared
The flu shot worked better than the nasal-spray flu vaccine during the 2004-2005 flu season, a new study shows. But don't jump to conclusions about which type of flu vaccine is better. Read more.