Harvard Health Content API

Annual screening tests would reduce deaths from ovarian cancer by about 11%, a new study finds. Researchers created a computer model to show the growth of ovarian cancer. Some types grow faster and others more slowly. The model accounted for this difference. Researchers also estimated how many cancers could be detected with current screening tests, and at what stages. They said the decrease in death rates with annual screening would be “modest.” Current tests are more likely to detect slow-growing cancers than fast-growing ones. That’s one reason the death reduction would not be greater, researchers said. The journal Cancer published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it December 13.

Three drugs that were developed to fight a certain type of breast cancer on their own may work even better when combined, according to a report presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Friday. The drugs interfere with the growth of cancers that test positive for HER-2, a cancer marker. In one study, more than half of the women who took a two-drug combination — along with standard chemotherapy — went into remission before they had breast surgery. This allowed the surgeon to remove only a small area of tissue (lumpectomy) rather that the whole breast (mastectomy).

U.S. life expectancy dropped slightly in 2008, a new report says. It fell from 77.9 years in 2007 to 77.8. The National Center for Health Statistics released the new report December 9, the Associated Press (AP) said. The center also reported that stroke, for the first time in 50 years, is no longer the No. 3 cause of death in the United States. It’s now fourth, behind chronic (long-term) lung diseases. This category includes asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Heart disease and cancer remained the top 2. The death rate from stroke dropped 4%. The death rate from lung diseases increased 8%. AP said the increase is partly related to a change in definition. The lung disease category now is broader.

Gay and bisexual teens are more likely to be punished for their crimes or other offenses than straight teens, a new study finds. The study was based on two national surveys. The first one included more than 15,000 teens. They were surveyed again 7 years later, as young adults. About 13% of males and 17% of females said they had been attracted to someone of the same sex. About 5% to 6% had ever had a romantic relationship with the same sex. In the whole survey group, 3 out of 4 said they had committed some minor offense. These included running away, graffiti or shoplifting. Nearly 1 out of 3 admitted a more serious offense, such as burglary or driving a car without permission. About 4 out of 10 admitted to a violent offense. But gays and bisexuals were 25% more likely to 3 times more likely to be punished for the same offenses.

Stool tests are more effective in detecting colon tumors for people who take low-dose aspirin, new research finds. Many people take low-dose (baby) aspirin to help prevent heart attacks. But aspirin increases the risk of bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Fecal occult blood tests measure hidden blood in the stool, which can be caused by colon cancer. The study included 1,979 people. Their average age was 62. Of these, 233 took low-dose aspirin on a regular basis. The others never used it. Everyone was given two types of fecal occult blood test. Everyone also had a colonoscopy, which uses a tube attached to a camera to look for tumors inside the colon. The colonoscopy found an advanced tumor in about 1 out of 10 people. Some tumors were not cancerous. The rate was the same for people who did and did not take aspirin.

Even low levels of a protein in the blood are linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death, a new study finds. The study used a new test for the protein, cardiac troponin T. The test detects much lower levels than the current test. Researchers used the new test and the current test on about 3,500 adults, ages 30 to 65. Doctors also looked at people’s heart function using an MRI. The new test found troponin T in 25% of the people. The current test found it in fewer than 1%. The current test did not detect troponin T in 2 out of 3 people who had the highest levels according to the new test. People with higher levels of troponin T were more likely to have heart enlargement, heart failure or other heart or artery disease. They were also more likely to have diabetes or high blood pressure. They were much more likely than others to die during a 6-year follow-up period.

U.S. regulators should allow use of Lap-Band weight loss surgery for more people, a group of experts says. The group provides advice to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Allergan Inc. makes the Lap-Band device. It is wrapped around the top part of the stomach to restrict how much food a person can eat. It’s now approved for use in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40. This is someone who is severely obese. It’s also allowed if someone has a BMI of 35 and a related medical condition, such as diabetes. The expert panel voted December 3 to recommend approval for anyone with a BMI of at least 35. Someone with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 plus a related medical condition also could get the surgery. Supporters told the Associated Press that using the surgery earlier might help to prevent health problems.

A daily baby aspirin may lower people’s risk of dying of some cancers, a study suggests. But doctors said the results were not strong enough to advise aspirin for people at average risk. Aspirin can cause side effects, such as bleeding. Researchers looked at 8 previous studies. They included more than 25,000 people. Most of the studies compared men who took a daily baby aspirin to those who took a placebo (fake pill). The studies lasted an average of 4 years. Researchers followed up further by looking at national cancer registries. Then they estimated people’s risk of cancer death in the next 20 years. They said people who took aspirin would be 20% less likely to die of cancer than people who took the placebo. Only one-third of those in the study were women. Therefore, researchers could not estimate the risk of breast cancer death.