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| HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY: Prempro tablets |
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HERBS
The multimillion-dollar herbal-remedy market took a hit when new studies questioned the efficacy of two of its top sellers. A six-week trial of ginkgo biloba, used to enhance memory, found that ginkgo was no better than a placebo at improving memory, learning or concentration. St.-John's-wort, which is supposed to lift your mood, didn't fare much better in a trial sponsored by the NIH. It concluded that a placebo was as effective as the herb for the treatment of moderately severe depression. (See Dr. Andrew Weil's rebuttal earlier in this issue.) A separate study found that St.-John's-wort interferes with the effects of irinotecan, a widely prescribed chemotherapy drug.
Related Sources:
Journal of the American Medical Association (Aug. 21, 2002)
Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Aug. 21, 2002)
Journal of the American Medical Association (Apr. 10, 2002)
HORMONE-REPLACEMENT THERAPY
For millions of women of a certain age, the news struck like a hot flash. A huge, federally funded study of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) involving more than 16,000 women was abruptly halted when researchers discovered that long-term use of estrogen and progestin was not lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke in postmenopausal women, as had been promised, but raising it, along with the risk of invasive breast cancer and blood clots. What women taking hormones to treat acute symptoms of menopause should do now is unclear. The study showed that there are real risks from long-term hormone replacement, but it didn't say anything about going on HRT for a few years to get over the most acute symptoms of menopause. HRT is still the best treatment available for relief of night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings, and for many women the benefits of short-term treatment will continue to outweigh any uncertainty about the risks.
Related Sources:
Journal of the American Medical Association (July 3, 2002)
HYPERACTIVITY
Nobody knows what causes the impulsivity and fidgetiness of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but a brain-imaging study provided further evidence that the disorder is biologically hard-wired. A federally funded 10-year study of nearly 300 children ages 4 to 19 found that the brains of kids diagnosed with ADHD were 3% to 4% smaller in volume than those of normal children. While smaller brains don't necessarily mean lower IQs, brain size does appear to affect the severity of ADHD. In general, the smaller the brain, the greater the symptoms.
Related Sources:
Journal of the American Medical Association (Oct. 9, 2002)
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NATION
 Can This War Be Avoided?
Many push for alternatives. But those who know Bush say, Don't bet on it
NATION
Get Ready for Class Warfare
Critics say Bush's plan outrageously favors the rich. The President says nonsense, everyone gets a break. But here's the question worth exploring:
Does the economy win or lose in all this
arm wrestling?
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BUSINESS
Tight Skivvies
They're what everyone's wearing this season. Here's why
ARTS
What They Really Want Is to Direct
Big-name stars like George Clooney, Nicolas Cage and Denzel Washington are using their box-office clout to get their shot behind the camera
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