Men over age 60 who have low levels of testosterone may be more likely to break a bone, a study has found. Researchers in Australia studied 609 older men for up to 16 years. In that time, 113 men broke bones in falls from standing height or less. This occurred more often among men who had low levels of testosterone in their blood. The study was published January 14 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
A newer drug to reduce cholesterol does not slow the growth of plaque in arteries, a new study has found. The study used the newer drug Zetia as part of a two-drug pill called Vytorin. Vytorin contains Zetia and an older drug, a statin called Zocor. Both Zetia and Zocor reduce LDL cholesterol. The two-year study included 720 people. They were given either Vytorin (the two-pill combo) or Zocor alone. People actually had slightly more plaque growth with Vytorin than with Zocor. Merck and Schering-Plough sell the drug. They announced the study results January 14. The New York Times and USA Today reported on the story.
People should wear a helmet for winter sports. So says the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Helmets can help prevent head injuries, the group says. It also offers other safety tips. Winter sports caused more than 20,000 head injuries in 2006. Skiing and snowmobiling caused the worst injuries. They also caused the most deaths. HealthDay News wrote about the issue January 12.
Three elderly men have died of an infection linked to tainted milk from a small Massachusetts dairy. A pregnant woman who got sick lost her baby. The infection was listeriosis. It is caused by bacteria. State health officials said they had traced the infection to pasteurized milk from Whittier Farms in central Massachusetts. The New York Times News Service reported on the story January 8.
One type of abnormal heartbeat may raise the risk of severe heart disease later, a study suggests. The Italian study used data on 12,550 athletes. In Italy, athletes are screened for potential heart problems. Of the large group, 81 had an abnormal heart pattern called “diffusely distributed and deeply inverted T waves.” Five of them developed severe heart disease before age 50. One died suddenly at age 24. HealthDay News reported on the study January 9. It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Child vaccines used to have a preservative called thimerosol. It contains mercury. It was removed from vaccines in 2001. But autism cases in California have kept growing, a study has found. Researchers said this is more evidence that vaccines don’t cause autism. The Associated Press wrote about the study January 8. It is in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
The nation’s largest group of children’s doctors has changed its advice on preventing food allergies in babies. It now says there’s no good evidence that pregnant women should avoid certain foods. Using soy formula also doesn’t prevent allergies. Nor does it help to delay solid foods beyond six months. That’s the latest word from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The new report reverses advice from 2000. The group says breastfeeding does help to prevent allergies. The new guidelines are in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics. The Associated Press wrote about it January 7.
A consumer group has sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to seek stronger warning labels on certain antibiotics. The drugs include Cipro and Levaquin. They are part of a group called fluoroquinolones. These drugs may cause serious tendon injuries. Their labels warn about this possible side effect, but it’s part of a longer list. The group Public Citizen wants a prominent “black box” warning instead. The Associated Press wrote about the suit January 4.