Shelf Help

        Eight easy pieces: The Woman's Guide to Total Self-Esteem: The Eight Secrets You Need to Know (New Harbinger; $13.95) by Dr. Stephanie Dillon and Dr. M. Christina Benson. Dr. Dillon, a psychologist, and Dr. Benson, a psychiatrist, team up to teach women the secrets of self-empowerment through a series of exercises and examples.

Sitings

        All the news: If you're addicted to news about medicine and health care developments, check out (worldhealthnews.harvard.edu) for headlines from publications all over the world.

Research

        Risk factor: Unprotected sex with multiple partners can leave men at risk for more than HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, say researchers: It might also increase their risk of prostate cancer in middle age.

        Data showed that men who had had 30 or more sexual partners had more than twice the risk of developing prostate cancer. The data figured in age at first intercourse, patient's age, family history and the number of prostate specific antigen tests the respondent had undergone.

        Researchers found no relationship between prostate cancer and the frequency of intercourse.

        The findings were consistent with previous studies, said Karin Rosenblatt, a professor of community health at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She co-wrote the study with Janet Stanford and Kristine Wicklund, researchers at the Program in Epidemiology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

        More research is needed, Ms. Rosenblatt said.

        “I'm not sure we've figured out the mechanism with this, and also some studies don't show any association and some studies do, so I think there needs to be a little more research in this area,” she said.

        Similar studies on other cancers, such as cervical cancer, do show a link between the number of sexual partners and increased risk of cancer.

        The study appeared in the June 15 edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Just In

        Be aware: Two-thirds of Americans over 50 are unaware of peripheral arterial disease which affects more than 10 million Americans. And half who have symptoms associated with the disease aren't being screened for it by their health care providers, a survey by the National Council on the Aging shows.

        In peripheral arterial disease, arteries in the legs (and sometimes the arms) become blocked by plaque, and blood flow to the extremities is reduced. Blood clots can form over time, leading to blocked arteries, ischemic stroke, heart attack and death of vascular tissues.

        Patients and doctors need more education about identifying and treating the disease, says Dr. James Firman, president and CEO of the council.

        Warning signs include cramping in the extremities during physical activity. Doctors can screen for peripheral arterial disease by comparing blood pressure readings in the arms and legs.

        For more information on peripheral arterial disease, check the Vascular Disease Foundation Web site, (www.vdf.org) or call toll-free, 1-866-723-4636.

Resource

       Help available: Medicare now helps cover the cost of diabetes self-testing equipment and supplies. For more information, call (800) 633-4227 or log on to (www.medicare.gov).

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