Our weekly round up of the latest news in the world of health. This week we learn that treating herpes doesn't lower the risk of HIV. The week also brings news about the FDA's crackdown on fake cancer treatments, about the risks of certain psychiatric drugs for dementia patients, and about why doctors should discuss end-of-life issues with dying patients.
Stay well.
This Issue:
Herpes Treatment and HIV Prevention Crackdown on Fake Cancer Treatments Psychiatric Drugs and Seniors' Death Risk Discussing End-of-Life Care In the News:
Herpes Treatment and HIV Prevention Treating genital herpes doesn't lower the risk of contracting HIV. That's the disappointing finding of a study published in the British medical journal The Lancet. In the study, researchers looked at more than 3,000 men and women with herpes in Africa, Peru and the United States. About half of them were treated with the antiviral aciclovir. The participants were surveyed monthly about their risky sexual behaviors. After a year and a half, researchers found similar rates of HIV infection in both groups. The findings support results of an earlier, smaller study in Tanzania, the Associated Press reports. However, the researchers are not ready to give up on this approach to HIV prevention; they say a different dose or more powerful drug might work, the AP says.
Crackdown on Fake Cancer Treatments
Twenty-five companies -- 23 domestic and two foreign -- received warning letters from the Food and Drug Administration this week for marketing products such as teas, supplements, and creams that falsely claim to cure, treat or prevent cancer. The FDA says people using the products might delay seeking proper care for cancer. If the companies do not stop making these claims the FDA could seize the products and initiate criminal proceedings against them, the Associated Press reports.
Psychiatric Drugs and Seniors' Death Risk
Antipsychotic drugs could raise the risk of death for people with dementia, the Food and Drug Administration warned this week. The agency said there was an increased risk of heart attacks and pneumonia for dementia patients taking atypical antipsychotics, the Associated Press reports. These drug types now will carry black-box warning labels on the risk. A study of 65,000 seniors showed that those taking antipsychotics were more likely to die than those not on the drugs, although they could not say why.
Discussing End-of-Life Care
Most doctors shy away from discussing end-of-life care with terminally ill patients, a new study found. The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Conference in Chicago this month, also found that having these discussions did not lead to more depression for dying patients. Only a third of 603 terminally ill cancer patients discussed end-of-life care with their doctors. Those who did were three times less likely to spend their final week in intensive care, four times less likely to be on breathing machines, and six times less likely to be resuscitated.
Used with the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The above summaries are not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor are they intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician.
