Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Pfizer's Avastin biosimilar wins FDA approval
Pfizer Inc said on Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved its biosimilar to Roche Holding AG's blockbuster cancer treatment Avastin. Pfizer's Zirabev received approval for the treatment of five types of cancer, including colorectal and lung cancers, it said.
Burnout in firefighters linked to sleep issues, mental health concerns
Firefighters who feel burned out often experience sleep issues, which also increases their risk of emotional fatigue, exhaustion and health problems, researchers say. Nearly half of U.S. firefighters are likely experiencing burnout and associated health problems, the study authors report in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Study shows major real-world impact of cervical cancer vaccines
Vaccination against the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer is having a major impact on stopping infections and should significantly reduce cases of the disease within a decade, researchers said on Wednesday. Presenting results of an international analysis covering 60 million people in high-income countries, scientists from Britain and Canada said they found "strong evidence" that vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) works "to prevent cervical cancer in real-world settings".
U.S. 'gag rule' linked to 40% jump in abortions in parts of Africa
A decades-old U.S. government policy reinstated by President Donald Trump in 2017 that restricts international aid to NGOs that support abortion is linked to a 40% rise in abortions in some parts of sub-Saharan African, a study showed on Thursday. The "Mexico City Policy", also known as the "global gag rule", also led to more pregnancies and lower contraceptive use among women in African countries reliant on U.S. foreign aid, the study in the Lancet Global Health journal showed.
Missouri's sole abortion clinic awaits ruling on whether it can stay open
Missouri's only abortion clinic awaited a decision on Friday whether it can stay open until August, when an arbiter will hear Planned Parenthood's challenge of the state health department's refusal to renew the clinic's license. Planned Parenthood, the women's healthcare and abortion provider that operates the clinic, filed a petition with Missouri's Administrative Hearing Commission on Tuesday after the group challenged the state health department's denial in state court and a judge referred the matter to the commission.
Sitting in front of TV may be worse for health than desk job
Working at a desk all day may not be as bad for heart health and longevity as sitting in front of a television after hours, according to a U.S. study that suggests not all types of sitting are equally harmful. "We've been hearing more and more about how sitting is the new smoking, and there is evidence to suggest that there are many adverse health risks associated with prolonged sedentary time," said Jeanette Garcia, a researcher at the University of Central Florida in Orlando who led the research.
U.S. states unsure how to halt online sales of abortion pills amid clinic crackdown
American women faced with new restrictions on abortions passed by a dozen U.S. states this year are turning to abortion pills from foreign online suppliers, and the states say there is little they can do to stop it. In the year before many of these new restrictions passed Republican-controlled state legislatures, over 20,000 U.S. women sought the pills online from providers willing to defy U.S. federal rules over sale of the drugs that induce miscarriage.
Over-the-counter painkillers often suffice after minor surgery
Surgery patients who were taught to manage their pain with acetaminophen and ibuprofen ended up using few or no opioid pills, a recent study found. Volunteers in the study underwent one of six minor surgeries: laparoscopic gallbladder removal, laparoscopic repair of a groin hernia, removal of the thyroid or parathyroid gland, robot-assisted removal of the prostate, endoscopic sinus surgery, and a type of weight-loss surgery called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Lung cancer screening guidelines may miss more African Americans at risk
Current lung cancer screening guidelines may need to be less restrictive when it comes to African American smokers, a new study suggests. Researchers found that cutoff criteria that work for white smokers may lead to missed cancers in blacks, according to the report in JAMA Oncology.
Democrats clash on healthcare, border in scrappy first U.S. presidential debate
Democratic presidential contenders battled over healthcare coverage and border policy on Wednesday during a surprisingly heated first debate that laid bare the party's divisions on whether to abolish private insurance and shift to a Medicare-for-All system. In the first round of back-to-back debates, several of the lesser-known candidates vied for attention in the crowded race to take on President Donald Trump, shouting over one another to grab the spotlight and prove they are capable of standing up to the Republican in the November 2020 election.
