Health Behavior News ServiceA resource for the news media and public to find the best and most recent evidence-based scientific research to help people make decisions about their health and health care.Minority Smokers Less Likely to Try Nicotine Patch, Gum- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Hispanic and African-American smokers are less likely than white smokers to try nicotine replacement therapies when they want to quit smoking, according to a new study of men receiving care from the Veterans Health Administration. 1103http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1166 No Good Evidence That Cholesterol Drugs Lower Melanoma Risk- (Found June 19, 2008 ) No clear evidence exists that some widely-prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs can decrease the risk of melanoma, a deadly and malignant skin cancer, according to a new review of recent studies. 1107http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1167 Traction Not Beneficial for Low Back Pain, Studies Find- (Found June 19, 2008 ) The use of traction to help treat low back pain has no benefit, despite its widespread use, a new review of studies has found. 1110http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1169 Anabolic Steroids Help People With HIV Gain Weight- (Found June 19, 2008 ) People with HIV who are treated with anabolic steroids to prevent AIDS wasting may realize modest gains in weight and muscle mass, a new review shows. 1110http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1170 Socioeconomic Status Doesn't Explain Racial Gap in Vaccine Rates- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Elderly blacks and Hispanics are vaccinated against flu and pneumonia at levels 15 percent to 22 percent below whites, but the reason is not simply due to income, education or access to health care, two new studies reveal. 1220http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1185 Preschoolers Can Be Weaned from TV Screens, Study Finds- (Found June 19, 2008 ) An anti obesity campaign to get low income preschoolers to watch less television can be successful, according to a study in Washington State reported in the current American Journal of Health Promotion. 630http://www.hbns.org/news/preschoolers06-30-05.cfm Hepatitis C Responds Best to Combo of Ribavirin and Interferon, Study Concludes- (Found June 19, 2008 ) A combination of the drugs ribavirin and interferon is more effective in treating hepatitis C than using interferon alone, but it also increases the risk of side effects, according to a new systematic review of recent evidence. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/hepatitisC07-19-05.cfm Diabetes Drug Controls Blood Glucose, Cardiac Risk- (Found June 19, 2008 ) FA new review of studies confirms that the drug metformin should be in the first line of defense against type 2 diabetes. Using metformin alone can improve control of blood glucose, while also reducing risk factors for heart disease such as excess body weight, cholesterol levels and hypertension, the review found. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/glucose07-19-05.cfm Calcium May Prevent Polyps, But Effect on Cancer Still Not Known, Study Finds- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Although calcium supplements might prevent development of polyps that sometimes lead to colon cancer, there is not enough evidence that the mineral can prevent colorectal cancer itself, according to a new study. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/polyps07-19-05.cfm Bone Protecting Drugs Reduce Pain and Fractures in Metastatic Breast Cancer- (Found June 19, 2008 ) When breast cancer spreads to bones, relatively new protective drugs called bisphosphonates can reduce skeletal damage, says a new systematic review of previous studies. While the new treatment approach does not improve survival rates, it can minimize disabling fractures, spinal cord compression and pain. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/breastcancer07-19-05.cfm |