Our weekly roundup of the latest news in the world of health.

The United States is likely to face a shortage of cancer care specialists, a report published this week says. Other new research looked at hormone levels related to symptoms of so-called male menopause. It found that declines in estrogen as well as testosterone may cause some of these symptoms. U.S. drug regulators issued new labeling rules this week for opiate medicines. The labels restrict use of extended-release formulas, such as Oxycontin. They would be limited to people who need long-term pain control and have not been able to get it from other medicines. A new study published this week looked at alcohol use in early pregnancy. It found no increase in low birth weight or early birth when women drank moderate amounts during the first trimester.

Stay well.

This Issue:

Cancer Care Shortage Ahead, Report Says
'Male Menopause' Not as Simple as 'Low T'
FDA to Require New Warnings on Opiate Labels
Study Finds No Birth Problems after Drinking

In the News:

Cancer Care Shortage Ahead, Report Says
Growth in the population over 65 will strain cancer-care resources in the future, a new report says. Institute of Medicine released the report this week. The institute advises the U.S. government on health issues. The current 1.6 million new cases per year are expected to rise to 2.3 million by 2030. The cost of care also is growing rapidly. At the current rate, it may rise another 39% by 2030, the Institute of Medicine says. The report recommends several steps to help cope with expanded need. One is greater use of team-based care. Another idea is to make better use of evidence about the benefits and harms of treatment. This information would help to guide doctors as they recommend treatments. It also should be provided to patients to help them decide what's best for their needs and what's important to them. The report also offered suggestions for making better use of technology and improving access to care. HealthDay News wrote about the report.

'Male Menopause' Not as Simple as 'Low T'
"Low T," or testosterone, may not cause all of the symptoms of so-called male menopause, a new study suggests. In fact, low levels of the female hormone estrogen may play a role as well, the study finds. And there was no clear cutoff for "low" testosterone. The study included 400 healthy young and middle-aged men. They were given a drug to suppress natural production of both testosterone and estrogen. Then they were given either testosterone gel (in different doses) or a placebo (fake) gel to apply for 16 weeks. In men, some testosterone is converted to an estrogen called estradiol. Half of the men also were given a medicine that blocked this from happening. After 16 weeks, the loss of either hormone was linked with reduced sexual function. Men with lower levels of testosterone had more loss of muscle mass and strength. Low estradiol was linked with increases in body fat. The drop in testosterone that caused symptoms varied a great deal among men. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study this week. HealthDay News wrote about it.

FDA to Require New Warnings on Opiate Labels
Some narcotic painkillers must begin carrying new warning labels, U.S. regulators said this week. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the changes. The "black box" warnings will apply to extended-release medicines such as Oxycontin, Opana ER and Palladone. They contain narcotics such as oxycodone or morphine. The new labels will say that these painkillers should be given only to people who need around-the-clock pain management for a long time. They also should be reserved for people who have not been able to control pain with non-narcotic drugs. A second warning will apply to pregnant women. It will describe the danger of narcotic withdrawal syndrome in their newborns. The FDA said the new labels are intended to help reduce the risk of abuse when these drugs are prescribed. Deaths from opiate drug abuse increased 300% in the last decade. Much of that abuse occurred with illegal use. However, the FDA acknowledged that even prescription use at standard doses carries risk. The warnings attempt to balance that risk with the benefits of pain control for appropriate patients. HealthDay News wrote about the announcement this week.

Study Finds No Birth Problems after Drinking
A new study suggests that moderate alcohol use in early pregnancy may not cause early birth or low birth weight for babies. But the authors say it's still unclear whether any level of drinking during pregnancy can be defined as safe. The study included more than 5,600 women. They were interviewed between the 14^th and 16^th weeks of pregnancy. About 60% said they drank some amount of alcohol during pregnancy. This included only 5% who drank heavily. This was defined as more than 14 drinks a week. About 20% had 1 or 2 drinks a week. About 25% had 3 to 7 drinks and 10% had 8 to 14 drinks per week. More than one-third of all the women had 6 or more drinks in a single session before becoming pregnant. In this study, that was defined as binge drinking. Nearly one-quarter of the same women also binged during pregnancy. The authors compared drinking levels with the status of the women's babies at birth. Drinking any amount before or during pregnancy did not appear to affect the risk of early birth or very small babies. The journal Obstetrics & Gynecology published the study online this week. HealthDay News wrote about it.

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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.