Health Buzz: Black AIDS Epidemic and Other Health News

Report: Black Americans Neglected in HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The United States isn't doing enough to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community, according to a new report from the Black AIDS Institute, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS disparities. In places such as Detroit, Newark, N.J., New York City, Washington, and the Deep South, HIV prevalence in parts of the black community are near the levels found in severely affected African countries, the report says. For instance, the prevalence of HIV among middle-aged black men in Manhattan is nearly as high as the overall prevalence in South Africa, which has the world's largest population of HIV-positive people.

In June, after the CDC reported an increase in false positives on certain oral fluid tests, U.S. News offered a caution about rapid HIV tests.

McCain's Biopsy Negative for Skin Cancer

A biopsy of skin removed from Republican presidential candidate John McCain's face was negative for skin cancer, doctors announced yesterday. McCain, who will be 72 in August, had a spot removed from his face Monday in Arizona during a routine checkup, Reuters reports. McCain has had four malignant melanomas removed since 1993—three noninvasive and one invasive.

In June, U.S. News provided advice from an expert on how to get enough vitamin D, explored the safety of tanning, and described the host of health benefits attributed to sunlight.

Strong Bones Linked to Breast Cancer

A new study links having strong bones to an elevated risk of breast cancer, independent of how high the woman's risk is on the Gail model—which is a statistical measure calculated by using a woman's medical history, reproductive history, and family history of breast cancer among first-degree relatives to estimate her risk of developing breast cancer over specific periods of time. The study, published online yesterday in the journal Cancer, involved nearly 10,000 women. With an average of almost nine years of follow-up, women with a high Gail score were about 35 percent more likely to end up with breast cancer. And for each unit of increase in total hipbone mineral density, a woman's risk of developing breast cancer rose 25 percent.

Deborah Kotz explains that this study shouldn't deter women from taking steps to maintain strong bones. Earlier this month, Katherine Hobson reported that women shouldn't let the news that monthly breast self-exams don't cut cancer deaths confuse them.

5 Great Health Applications for Your iPhone—And 1 Lousy One

The release this month of Apple's iPhone 3G, the sleeker, faster, cheaper version of the original iPhone, was met with cheers and long lines across the country. But the star that stole the show was the introduction at the same time of the App Store, which features hundreds of downloadable programs—some free, some not—for both new and old iPhones as well as the iPod Touch. The App Store features a number of useful health, nutrition, and fitness programs. U.S. News's Matthew Shulman reviewed several applications, including ones that help users keep a food and exercise diary, stop smoking, list emergency contacts, and track personal health and wellness data. He also tested one less-than-effective program that is supposed to act as a pedometer.

Previously, U.S. News's David LaGesse listed five alternatives to the new iPhone.

—January W. Payne