Posts Tagged ‘hormones’

In 2007, 1.4 million prescriptions for AndroGel—the most commonly dispensed gel form of testosterone—were dispensed by U.S. retail pharmacies. Testim is the other prescription topical testosterone gel, both of which are used in men who either produce low levels of testosterone or no longer produce testosterone. They are also prescribed for some off-label uses in women. Safety concerns have arisen over adverse affects from children who were inadvertently exposed to testosterone through contact with another person being treated with these products. Currently, the FDA has received eight reports of secondary exposure in children with more reports being reviewed. Adverse events reported in these children included inappropriate enlargement of the genitalia (penis or clitoris), premature development of pubic hair, advanced bone age, increased libido, and aggressive behavior. Labels on current testosterone gel products caution the user to thoroughly wash their hands after applying the product and to cover the treated skin area with clothing. Failure to do so could result in exposure of the testosterone to others with whom they physically contact. The FDA is responding to the situation by requiring manufacturers to include these new warnings on their product labels.

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Did you know that of the past six US presidents, four were left-handed? Make that five out of seven – Barack Obama is also left-handed. (Perhaps Al Gore would have won in 2000 if he publicized that he, too, is a lefty.) So do left-handers have some sort of presidential edge over the rest of us? Perhaps. For nearly all right-handers, language abilities reside exclusively on one side of the brain – usually the left, which controls the right hand. But one in seven lefties process language on both sides of the brain, which some think enhances their language abilities (think Ronald Regan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama). Read more.

Left-handedness was also suggested to be a risk factor for breast cancer in women. A Dutch study that examined over 12,000 women found that lefties were more than twice as likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer. Researchers believe that exposure to high levels of sex hormones during fetal development may induce left-handedness and can trigger changes in breast tissue that predispose to cancer growth later in life. However, scientists are quick to remind us that breast cancer is an extremely complex disease with various potential causes, and simply being left-handed will not single-handedly (no pun intended) cause breast cancer.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for babies during the first 6 months of life. Despite this, only an estimated 11% of infants receive breast milk during this period. Why are so many women not breast-feeding? Some believe that free formula samples given to mothers as they leave the hospital are to blame. For years producers of baby formulas have donated samples to hospitals as an advertising tactic. The practice of giving free formula and discount coupons to mothers undermines what we know about the importance of breast milk – that in addition to nutrition, it provides antibodies, hormones, and enzymes beyond what formulas can provide. In a new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 94% of hospitals surveyed confirmed the practice of distributing formula samples. However, according to the report, the number of hospitals which are banning the practice is increasing. Full story.