Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
9 Million in U.S. Say They're Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or
Transgendered: Study
New research finds that about nine million people in the United
States identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
(LGBT).
About 1.8 percent of adults identify themselves as bisexual, 1.7
percent as gay or lesbian, and .03 percent as transgender, said the
researchers at UCLA's School of Law, the
Los Angeles Times reported.
The analysis of nine surveys conducted over the last seven years
also revealed that about 8.2 percent of Americans said they
participated in same-sex sexual activity and about 11 percent said
they had some same-sex sexual attraction, but neither of these
groups necessarily identified themselves as LGBT.
The researchers noted that insufficient and inconsistent
national surveys make it difficult to get an estimate of the LGBT
population in the U.S., the
Times reported.
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FDA Will Not OK Gardasil for Women Over 26
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will not widen the
indication for the Gardasil vaccine to prevent human
papillomavirus-related cancers in women ages 27 to 45, says Merck
& Co.
Instead, the agency said Gardasil's label must be updated to say
the vaccine hasn't been shown to prevent cervical dysplasia or more
serious problems in women in that age group, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
Gardasil is approved in the U.S. for use in females ages nine to
26 to prevent cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers, as well
as genital warts and lesions, caused by HPV.
It's also approved for males in the same age group to prevent
anal cancer and lesions and genital warts, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
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Triad Antiseptic Products Seized: FDA
Concerns about possible contamination led to the seizure of more
than $6 million worth of antiseptic products made by Triad Group
and H&P Industries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
announced Wednesday.
The items confiscated from Triad's facility in Hartland, Wis.
included cough and cold products, antiseptic creams, suppositories,
nasal sprays, antifungal creams, medicated wipes and raw materials,
the
Associated Press reported.
The products were used in medical facilities across the United
States and sold under a variety of product names at a number of
chain stores. Various kinds of bacterial contamination in the
products have prompted three recalls since December.
The FDA said the action comes after the "continued failure" of
Triad Group and H&P Industries to comply with good
manufacturing practice regulations. The companies are owned and
managed by the same parties, the
AP reported.
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Genetic Change Increases Risk of Lung Cancer Spread: Study
Scientists have identified a genetic change that increases the
risk that lung cancer will spread to other parts of the body, a
finding that could lead to improved treatments.
The U.S. team found that reduced activity of a gene called
NKX2-1 was associated with higher lung cancer death rates. The
discovery was made in mice but confirmed in human lung tumor
samples,
BBC News reported.
The study appears in the journal
Nature.
"Lung cancer is a huge problem worldwide, and understanding why some lung cancers are more likely to spread is vital for developing better, more personalized treatments," Neil Barrie, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, told BBC News. "Research like this is helping to unravel the genetic 'signatures' of different cancers, and will spark ideas for new ways to tackle the disease," he added.
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