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The Top 10 Health Stories of 2006, From the Harvard Health Letter |
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From U.S. Newswire Releases: Editors of the Harvard Health Letter, in consultation with the doctors on its editorial board, have chosen the top 10 health stories of 2006. The newly approved HPV vaccine represents a different approach to fighting cancer. Instead of just screening patients to spot cancer early, doctors can use this vaccine to actively prevent it. This year it became easier to avoid trans fats after the FDA required food manufacturers to list trans fat content in the Nutrition Facts portion of food labels, the first major change to the label in over a decade. The FDA approved Lucentis, an anti-angiogenic drug aimed at the blood vessels that cause wet macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. Germ warfare --- and the germs are winning some battles. "Getting your shots" is becoming a bigger part of adult preventive medicine. The FDA allowed the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri back on the market, with careful restrictions to ensure patients are closely monitored. These actions show a shift to modified approvals by the FDA rather than only the traditional yes-or-no rulings. The report says that more funding for the FDA should come from government funds rather than user fees. Several new studies suggest that the so-called sunshine vitamin (because it's produced in skin exposed to sunlight) may protect against cancer.
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