In "Personal Health," the New York Times (D7, Brody, Subscription Publication) reports that some mysterious summertime rashes may "result from a photosensitivity reaction, a combination of the sun's UVA radiation and exposure to a drug, perfume or another substance." Some "commonly used drugs can cause such a reaction, including antibiotics like the tetracyclines (doxycycline is one), ciprofloxacin, and the sulfa drugs," along with "the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide; and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen." Some sunscreens containing "benzophenones, the retinoids used to treat acne and sun-induced wrinkles, and fragrances like musk and coumarins" may also cause photosensitivity reactions.
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The Wall Street Journal (7/21, Stovall, Subscription Publication) reports, reports that for every four inches above five feet a woman is, she has a 16% increase risk of developing cancer, according to a study in The Lancet Oncology Bloomberg News (7/21, Mead) reports that the researchers "studied more than 1 million women in the UK who reported an average height of 161 centimeters to the state-run National Health Service between 1996 and 2001." They found more than "97,000 incidents of cancer by June 2008"; and every "10 centimeters of height translated to an 17-percent increase for incidents of breast cancer, which comprised more than a third of all the observed malignancies." BBC News (7/21, Gallagher) reports that the researchers found that the tallest women in the group, those "over 5ft 9in, were 37% more likely to have developed a tumour than those in the shortest group, under 5ft." They study authors linked 10 cancers to height: "colon, rectal, malignant melanoma, breast, endometrial (uterus), ovarian, kidney, lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukaemia." Although the study looked "only at women, the researchers said the height link was also present in men."
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Medscape (7/18, Kling) reported, "Among Latinos in the United States, the relationships between acculturation and sun-safe behaviors are mediated by education level, health-related social networks, and perceived health status," according to a study published in the July issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after analyzing "data from the National Cancer Institute's 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey, focusing on 496 respondents who self-identified as Latino." Medscape also pointed out that "sun-safe behaviors are an important health factor for Latinos, who develop melanoma at a rate of 4.5 per 100,000, which represents a 28.6% increase since 1992." Reuters (7/19, Pittman) also covers the story.
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On the front of its Science Times section, the New York Times (7/12, D1, Span, Subscription Publication) reports, "A combination of factors has dissuaded many physicians' offices and clinics from carrying Zostavax," the vaccine for shingles. At the same time, "its manufacturer, Merck, has been unable to produce sufficient quantities to meet even modest demand." As a result, "intermittent shortages that last months have kept the company from consistently marketing the vaccine and have forestalled public health campaigns that could have built awareness of the need for it." The article quoted epidemiologist Rafael Harpaz, MD, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as saying, "There hasn't been a single year since the vaccine was licensed in 2006 that there's been no problem with supply." Accordingly, only about 10% of people 60 years of age and older have received a shingles vaccination. The New York Times (7/11, Span, Subscription Publication) "The New Old Age" blog pointed out that the "Food and Drug Administration has since approved Zostavax for people aged 50 to 59." However, "the vaccine remains hard to find, cumbersome to get reimbursed for, and not nearly as widely used as researchers had hoped."
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The Star-Ledger (7/19, Livio) reports that "even high-risk patients have a better chance of beating skin cancer the sooner they see a dermatologist. While the researchers noted many people know enough about the dangers of skin cancer to check their skin periodically, physicians are much better at noticing subtle changes." HealthDay (7/18, Dallas) reported, "Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, can be found by patients themselves, but new research reveals that self-detection is not as effective as screenings performed by doctors," according to a study published online July 18 in the Archives of Dermatology. For the study, researchers "found that in addition to higher rates of physician-detected melanomas, doctors also are more likely to detect thinner lesions, or cancers in the earliest stages." MedPage Today (7/18, Bankhead) reported that, in a review identifying 527 melanomas detected in 394 patients over the course of a decade, "dermatologists identified 76% of more than 500 primary melanomas, including 84% of lesions in established patients." Notably, "dermatologists detected almost 80% of in-situ lesions, and the clinician-identified lesions were 40% thinner than patient-detected melanomas." Nevertheless, the study authors emphasized that self-examination by patients is critical to diagnosing melanomas early. They concluded that "educating patients on recognizing melanoma signs and symptoms by performing skin self-examination can have a notable impact on early diagnosis of melanoma."
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MedWire (7/8, Albert) reported, "Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to reduce the risk for cutaneous melanoma," according to a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. In a study involving "400 cutaneous-melanoma patients, aged 60 years on average, and 600 age- and gender-matched controls," researchers discovered that people "who regularly used NSAIDs for over five years had a significant 43% decreased risk for developing cutaneous [melanoma], compared with those who used NSAIDs for less than two years or not at all." Those who used aspirin for more than five years had a 49% decreased risk for melanoma.
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Bloomberg News (7/11, Mead) reports that a study in BMJ Open suggests that "people with adverse reactions to common metals and chemicals were less likely to get skin and breast cancers," a result that "backs up a theory known as immunosurveillance hypothesis, which says people with allergies have immune systems that are more vigilant at patrolling the body and eliminating transformed cells, reducing the risk of cancer." However, "the scientists also observed a higher incidence of bladder cancer in those with allergies, possibly because more chemical remains accumulated in their blood."
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