Research news this week covered a wide variety of topics. One found that a drug some high-risk women take to prevent breast cancer may also weaken bones. Other studies found that people in first class don't have fewer blood clots on long flights and that tai chi may help people with Parkinson's disease. Two surveys dealt with topics related to smoking. One showed that many kids ride in cars with smokers. The other found that smokers go to the dentist less than other people and have more dental problems.

A breast cancer foundation caused an uproar this week when it announced that a new policy would bar Planned Parenthood from grants. Later in the week, the policy was changed again. Research released this week found that a new pill may help to control fibroids and that a newer type of radiation for prostate cancer treatment may have more side effects. A senator's recent stroke led to an article on the rise of strokes in younger adults. Pfizer recalled 1 million faulty packets of birth control pills this week. And the Carter Center announced $40 million in grants to help wipe out Guinea worm disease.

Researchers said this week that a stem cell treatment apparently improved vision in two women who are legally blind. The treatment used stem cells from embryos. Another new study estimated that 16 million Americans have human papilloma virus infections in the mouth. U.S. health officials said this week that amputations have dropped by more than half for people with diabetes. The government also released new rules for school lunches. The changes are intended to improve nutrition and reduce fat and calories.

New research suggests that women with a low risk of fragile bones don't need frequent bone density tests. The study was released this week. The Obama administration released a summary of a new program to improve treatment and care of Alzheimer's disease. Chef Paula Deen announced on the "Today" show that she has diabetes. Her announcement drew criticism from health activists because her TV shows promote fatty foods. In Los Angeles, the city council gave final approval this week to a law requiring condoms on porn movie sets.

Researchers released a study this week that looked at multiple embryo transfers for in vitro fertilization. They found that transferring a third embryo does not improve the odds of having a baby. Other new studies found that marathon deaths are rare but increasing and that women who take statin drugs may have a higher risk of diabetes. A fourth study lasted 20 years. It found that people who smoked up to a joint of pot a week had no increased risk of lung damage.

Twin births have jumped in the United States since 1980, health officials said this week. In other government news, advisers urged U.S. health officials to change the definition of lead poisoning. They said the current threshold for blood lead in children should be cut in half. This could lead to diagnosis of many thousands more children. Also this week, drug regulators issued their first rules limiting the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food.

The U.S. government this week issued its first rules limiting toxic emissions from power plants. Congress authorized the rules in 1990. The Department of Health and Human Services this week sought to limit release of details on a new, lab-engineered bird flu virus. The virus spreads easily between mammals. The officials said details on how it was made could help terrorists. French officials this week advised women with one type of breast implant to have them removed as a precaution. About 1,000 implants have ruptured.

A conference this week produced news about breast cancer treatment using both drugs and radiation. Two studies reported promising results on new treatments for advanced breast cancer. Another study showed lower survival with a more limited type of radiation treatment. A fourth study found that a gene test may predict which women with very early breast cancers need radiation. A U.S. cabinet official decided this week to block over-the-counter sales of the "morning-after pill" to girls under age 17. That's the current rule. However, drug regulators had wanted to remove it. A report released this week said that low-risk prostate cancers may need a new name. A less-scary name might encourage men to avoid treatment they probably don't need. The expert panel that wrote the report said more research is needed on monitoring these men to figure out when or if they need treatment.

Only about 1 in 4 Americans infected with HIV has the virus under control, a report released this week says. The New York City health department said treatment should start earlier, and President Obama called for more funding. Lipitor, the popular cholesterol medicine, lost patent protection this week. But it's taking aggressive steps to keep sales high. More parents are refusing vaccines, the Associated Press says. Rates now exceed 5% in 8 states. A new study suggests that doctors who own MRI machines are more likely to order tests for patients who don't need them. And the governors of two states this week asked U.S. drug enforcement officials to change the legal status of marijuana. The change would allow doctors to prescribe it and pharmacies to dispense it legally.

The U.S. Supreme Court said this week that it will consider a challenge to the health care reform law adopted in 2010. Among other things, the law requires people to buy health insurance. A lower court said that this violates the Constitution. Congress prepared this week to vote on a bill that would cancel some changes to school lunch nutrition rules. The Agriculture Department proposed the changes in the spring. A study released this week found that stroke risk varies for people of different blood types. Another study found that 1 out of 5 U.S. adults takes a drug related to mental health or behavior.

A human rights group filed a claim against the United Nations this week on behalf of Haitians harmed by the cholera epidemic. The group blames the UN for the epidemic. It says that peacekeeping troops caused it through poor sanitation. A study released this week found that babies who grow very quickly are more likely to become obese. Another study suggests that children with autism have extra cells in parts of their brain. A third study published this week supports a change in rules for liver transplants given to alcoholics. It suggests that carefully selected patients should not have to wait six months before a transplant to prove they can stay sober.

Having less than a drink a day of alcohol can increase women's risk of breast cancer. So says a study released this week. Another study offered good news for children with an attention disorder. It found that medicines for this condition do not increase the risk of heart problems. U.S. officials said this week that overdose deaths caused by prescription painkillers have tripled in the last decade. Other officials this week approved a new device to help doctors detect melanoma. And President Obama issued an order to increase government efforts to prevent shortages of some medicines.

Hormone levels change after a large weight loss and stay that way for at least a year, a study released this week found. The net effect is to increase hunger, researchers said. Other research this week found that BPA exposure may affect girls' behavior. Girls who were exposed to bisphenol-A before birth had less control of feelings and behavior. An expert panel that advises the U.S. government said this week that boys also should get a vaccine now given to girls. The shots protect against human papilloma virus. In other vaccine news, researchers said that seasonal flu shots protect only 59% of adults who get them from flu infection. As Occupy Wall Street protests continue, sanitation issues were reported this week in several cities.

A new vaccine reduces the risk of malaria in young children by about half, researchers announced this week. No vaccine is available now against the deadly disease. In other world health news, China said it has vaccinated 9 million people against polio. The campaign was launched to fight an outbreak in one region. Annual cancer screenings drew more criticism this week. An expert task force said Pap tests are needed only every three years. These tests are used to screen women for cervical cancer. And new research found that women were more likely to have a false alarm from test results if they got mammograms every year. Abnormal test results that did not turn out to be breast cancer were less common when the tests occurred every two years. Other researchers said this week that hospital stays for heart failure fell by nearly one-third in the last decade.

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An expert panel said this week that the PSA test should no longer be used to screen healthy men for prostate cancer. The new advice came from the U.S.. Preventive Services Task Force. It said the test does not save lives and can cause harm. Research published this week says that about 13% of parents don't follow the recommended schedule for children's vaccines. Some delayed or skipped shots, believing this was safer. Another study focused on human papilloma virus, which causes most cervical cancer. Now it's also causing more cancers of the upper throat, the study found. Other research calculated much higher risks of some health and pregnancy problems for women exposed to the drug DES in their mother's wombs. Another report concluded that hospitals with low quality and high costs also often have many old, poor and uninsured patients. Finally, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died this week. He had been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas 7 years ago.

The White House filed an appeal this week of a court decision that struck down part of the 2010 health care reform law. U.S. health officials said this week that an outbreak of illness caused by Listeria bacteria is the worst in at least a decade. At least 13 people have died. The outbreak has been traced to cantaloupe from a Colorado farm. A study released this week said that nursing homes send dementia patients to the hospital more often than necessary. Other research found an increased risk of stroke among people whose blood pressure is just under the level considered high.

World health leaders spoke out this week about the need to control long-term (chronic) diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The United Nations is holding a summit next week on the growth of these illnesses worldwide. Drug-resistant tuberculosis is spreading in Europe, a new report says. A study released this week says that teens are having fatal car wrecks at older ages. This trend follows adoption of tighter rules for young drivers. Another study found that kids do poorly on certain brain tests after watching fast-paced cartoons. And a survey suggests that people favor newer drugs, even if older ones may be safer.

This week, the United Nations warned that bird flu, or H5N1, is spreading and mutating. Women's health also was in the news this week: a doctor's group recommends that women who have cesarean sections use inflatable boots or stockings during the surgery, to reduce the risk of blood clots. A study also found that fewer women are taking hormone replacement drugs, but fewer also are getting mammograms. The two trends are probably linked, say experts. It may come as no surprise that Americans take in too much sugar, but a study confirms that some of us get more than 550 calories a day from sugary drinks. Finally, a large North American study showed that performing CPR for 3 minutes instead of 1 was probably not necessary. The longer CPR didn't improve the chances of a defibrillator getting the heart started again.

Nearly 5,000 U.S. children are hurt each year in falls from windows, researchers said this week. Almost all falls are from the first or second story. Two other studies offered good news. Heart attack patients are getting treated faster at U.S. hospitals, and eating certain foods can lower LDL cholesterol. Another study released this week found that memory and thinking decline more slowly in people who eat less salt and exercise more. U.S. drug regulators issued a warning this week about citalopram (Celexa), a drug for depression. The maximum dose is now 40 milligrams per day. The Food and Drug Administration said higher doses can disrupt heart function.

U.S. regulators approved a new drug to treat melanoma this week. The drug, vemurafenib (Zelboraf), blocks a protein involved in cell growth. Other research released this week found a higher family risk of autism than previous studies. The new study found that nearly 1 out of 5 babies with siblings who have autism will be diagnosed with autism themselves. Drug shortages have continued to grow in the United States, U.S. officials said this week. Many of the shortages are in cancer drugs with few alternatives. The American Society for Addiction Medicine says that addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease. The new definition was published this week. It applies to compulsive eating and gambling addiction as well as substance abuse.

Gene therapy apparently has wiped out a form of leukemia in two men, researchers said this week. A third man had a partial response to the treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, they said. A review of research has found that a DNA test of a pregnant woman's blood can predict the sex of the baby. The tests are accurate after the seventh week of pregnancy, the study found. A large group of children's doctors issued guidelines this week for keeping kids safe while playing sports in hot weather. Previous guidelines had said kids should avoid sports when it gets hot. The state of Massachusetts has announced a new campaign to reduce the spread of chlamydia infection. People diagnosed with the disease now will get antibiotics prescriptions for their sex partners, too.

A major U.S. meat packer recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey this week. The action by Cargill came as U.S. officials look for the exact source of a salmonella outbreak. U.S. rules released this week say that health insurance plans must offer birth control at no charge under the new health care law. The 2010 law requires that preventive care be covered with no copayment by patients. Johnson & Johnson, maker of Tylenol, said this week that it will lower the drug's recommended daily dose limit. Labels for Tylenol Extra Strength will carry the change in the fall. Also this week, a review of research found that almost any amount of exercise helps. Even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day can help reduce a person's odds of getting heart disease, the study found.

Alzheimer's disease research filled the news this week. Studies were presented at a major conference in France. One study reported that a blood test may be a good way to screen large numbers of people for Alzheimer's. Other research showed a higher risk of dementia among people with certain eye changes, falls or head injuries. A poll released this week showed that baby boomers are heavier than people older or younger. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced grants totaling $42 million. They are all for projects to improve sanitation in poor countries. Another study released this week reported on a rare lung disease found in veterans.

Taking a daily pill can help to prevent HIV infection for heterosexuals. That's the main finding of a study released this week. Another study found that people who have low potassium and high sodium in their diets are more likely to have heart attacks. A group of chain restaurants announced this week that they are making changes to their children's menus. The menus will offer healthier foods, they said. U.S. regulators warned this week about a risk related to surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in women. Surgical mesh sometimes is used instead of traditional surgery to support the pelvic organs. But the Food and Drug Administration said this approach can lead to more serious side effects.

U.S. obesity rates have climbed a great deal in the last 15 years, a report released this week shows. Two new studies suggest a strong link between the environment and autism. One study showed high rates of autism among fraternal as well as identical twins. The other found a greater chance of autism among children whose mothers took certain kinds of depression drugs while pregnant. Swedish researchers said this week that they had given a man a new trachea made from his own stem cells. The man has advanced cancer of the trachea. He is expected to recover completely. A report released this week shows that U.S. colon cancer deaths keep going down. Officials gave credit to better screening programs to find cancer early.

Having regular mammograms reduces breast cancer deaths, and the benefit is greater as time passes, researchers said this week. They were releasing long-term follow-up results from a large Swedish study. Another study about cancer screening also was published this week. It found that low-radiation CT scans of people at high risk for lung cancer reduced deaths more than X-ray screening. But most of the abnormal test results were false alarms that required more tests. At least 116 million U.S. adults have long-term pain, and it's poorly treated, a report issued this week said. Results of an experimental treatment also were released this week. Three people on dialysis received replacement blood vessels made from cells given by a single donor. The cells were grown in the laboratory into sheets of cells that were rolled to make blood vessels.

New cigarette-pack images unveiled this week include graphic images of damage caused by smoking. The industry is suing to try to avoid having to use them. Scientists said this week that the E. coli outbreak in Europe is caused by a strain that combines traits of two other strains. Together, they have made the illness especially severe. Researchers reported this week that a new drug improves treatment of hepatitis C. The drug is called telaprevir (Incivek). A review of studies has found that potato chips are linked to the largest long-term weight gain of all foods. In San Francisco, a coalition of Jews and Muslims filed suit this week to block a vote planned for November. The vote would decide whether to ban circumcision of male children. In child health news, researchers said this week that drownings are common in small backyard pools and that 8% of U.S. children have food allergies.

U.S. drug officials released new sunscreen regulations this week. They require more tests for a product to say it offers "broad spectrum" protection. They also change other rules on labeling. Governments and private groups this week pledged $4 billion to buy vaccines. They will be given to children in low-income countries. Research released this week found problems getting specialty appointments for children with Medicaid insurance. A new analysis concluded that in some U.S. counties, life expectancy is down. It has risen steadily for the nation as a whole.

Developments related to drug treatments made news this week. U.S. drug regulators issued a warning about high-dose simvastatin. This statin drug is sold as a generic and under the brand name Zocor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said only a restricted group should take the 80-milligram dose. This dose can increase the risk of muscle damage. Researchers reported this week about a new way for women at high risk of developing breast cancer to lower their risk. The drug exemestane (Aromasin) cut their risk by two-thirds. Another drug, vemurafenib, increased survival for people with advanced melanoma. This is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. German doctors made news by using antibiotics to treat people with severe infections caused by E. coli bacteria. The usual treatment is just fluids. Finally, researchers said this week that vigorous exercise may help to prevent so-called silent strokes.