Month: October 2013

Many doctors are ignoring guidelines to steer clear of PSA testing for older men, says a study. Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston reviewed Medicare records for more than 61,000 patients and more than 2,000 doctors. More than 40% of men ages 75 and older had prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests, which screen for prostate cancer. None of these men had a history of prostate cancer. The researchers found that certain doctors ordered the test more than 10 times as often as other doctors did. The PSA test is not recommended for men ages 75 and older, because most prostate cancers grow so slowly that men this age would die of another cause before the cancer became a threat. The researchers also note that diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in elderly men can carry health risks.

Children with regular bedtimes are likely to be better behaved, too, a new study suggests. The research was part of a large study of 10,000 children in the United Kingdom. Researchers asked parents questions about their children’s bedtimes when they were ages 3, 5 and 7. Both parents and teachers were asked about the kids’ behavior. Both gave lower ratings for behavior to children who did not have regular bedtimes. The longer the varied bedtimes continued, the greater the behavior problems. But behavior improved for kids who started having regular bedtimes. The study author said not having a regular bedtime may interfere with the body’s circadian rhythms. This produces a state similar to jet lag. It may also affect maturing of the brain. Another expert interviewed by HealthDay News said that lack of routine produces anxiety in small children. This can lead to behavior problems.

When William Howard Taft’s weight hit almost 315 pounds, he sought advice from a leading diet guru of his day. The advice of Dr. Nathaniel Yorke-Davies would be familiar today: Eat right and exercise more. On that program, a new medical journal article reports, Taft shed 60 pounds. The article, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, sheds light on obesity treatment in the early 1900s. The condition was rare then. So Taft, then secretary of war, consulted an expert. The British doctor advised him to cut out sugar and most carbohydrates. The diet included lean meats, fish, fruit, vegetables and “gluten biscuits.” Taft was told to weigh himself daily. He was supposed to keep detailed records of what he ate and how much he exercised. All of this was shared with Dr. Yorke-Davies in frequent letters. But Taft, like many dieters, backslid.