Half of men may have HPV infections: study

CHICAGO – Half of men in the general population may be infected with human papillomavirus or HPV, the human wart virus that causes cervical and other cancers, strengthening the case for vaccinating boys against HPV, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

U.S. vaccine advisers have been weighing whether boys and young men should be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, as they already recommend for girls and young women, but some worry the vaccine is too costly to justify its use.

HPV infection is best known as the primary cause of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. But various strains of HPV also cause anal, penile, head and neck cancers. Vaccinating men and boys would prevent some of these cancers.

Anna Giuliano of the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and colleagues studied infection rates among more than 1,100 men aged 18 to 70 in the United States, Brazil and Mexico to get a snapshot of the natural progression of HPV infection in men.

"We found that there is a high proportion of men who have genital HPV infections. At enrollment, it was 50 percent," said Giuliano, whose study appears online in the journal Lancet.

The team also found that the rate at which men acquire new HPV infections is very similar to women.

And they found that about 6 percent of men per year will get a new HPV 16 infection, the strain that is known for causing cervical cancer in women and other cancers in men.

Vaccines made by Merck & Co and GlaxoSmithKline both offer protection against this strain of HPV.

"The biology seems to be very similar (to women)," Giuliano said in a telephone interview.

"What is different is men seem to have high prevalence of genital HPV infections throughout their lifespans."

She said it appears that women are better able to clear an HPV infection, especially as they age, but men do not appear to have this same ability.

Vaccine experts said the study builds momentum for widespread HPV vaccination among boys.

Currently, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends Gardasil vaccinations for girls and women between the ages of 11 and 26. Gardasil had sales of more than $1 billion last year.

And while doctors are free to use the vaccine in boys and men ages 9 through 26, U.S. health officials so far have declined to recommend routine vaccination for males.

"This study highlights the high incidence of HPV infection in men, which emphasizes their role in transmission of HPV to women," Dr. Anne Szarewski of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London said in a statement.

"It must surely strengthen the argument for vaccination of men, both for their own protection, and that of their partners."

In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Merck's Gardasil HPV vaccine for prevention of anal cancers in both men and women, based on studies showing Gardasil was effective in men who have sex with men, a group that has a higher incidence of anal cancer.

Anal cancer is one of the less common types of cancer, with an estimated 5,300 new U.S. cases diagnosed each year, but the incidence is increasing.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Source: reuters)

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Creating A Healthy Relationship With Food

Many of us have a rocky relationship with food - at one moment you are in control and the next moment, you find yourself, five biscuits later, consumed with guilt and too many kilojoules. Learning how to respect food and understand why you are eating and what you are eating can help.

Accredited practising dietician and member of the medical advisory board for Jenny Craig, Karen Inge, and Jenny Craig consultant Adele Gerali weigh in on five factors that help develop a healthy relationship.

1. Eat the Foods You Love When people go on a diet they often ban foods they love. Instead of polarizing foods, just eat smaller portions. For example, if your favourite foods are high in kilojoules and low in nutrients, make them 'sometimes foods' instead of 'every day' foods. Diets that are well balanced and don't exclude food are easier to follow and most often achieve better results.

When you make the decision to change your eating habits, it's important to embark on a plan that ultimately teaches you to respect food. Adele knows members have an easier time changing their eating habits when still allowed to eat the foods they love. "Our members can still have foods such as lasagne, pizza and even pavlova on the program, but we teach correct portion size," said Adele.

2. Be a Mindful Eater Many people use food as a comfort or a reward. If you learn to eat only when hungry and stop when satisfied, you will begin to understand when you are full and therefore will not overeat. Quite often, people feel guilty after consuming an entire bag of lollies or block of chocolate - you won't have to beat yourself up emotionally if you learn to recognize when your hunger is satisfied.

3. Record your food intake Adele says recording food intake is an important and easy way to monitor what goes into your body and helps avoid overeating, "At weekly Jenny Craig consultations, we go over food journals and many members say seeing what they consumed in a day helped them eat correct portions and not indulge."

4. Respect the Food You Eat Take time to think about what you are eating. Understand how it was produced and grown and learn the nutritional value. When served attractively on the plate, you will appreciate the nutritious meal in front of you and be sure to eat slowly, enjoying every taste, texture and flavour of the dish.

"Helping people understand how to manage weight by focusing on self-awareness, nutrition, activity and gradual behaviour change, without deprivation is the best way to ensure that they hit a goal weight, and more importantly, stay there," Karen said.

5. Enjoy the Social Aspects of Eating So much of our interaction with people is based around eating. Don't deny yourself these experiences because you may start to resent your diet; instead, adapt your eating style to your social life. "Dining out doesn't mean you have to order only veggies or a salad. Jenny Craig's 'Dining Out Success Guide' helps members choose meals while out. Make smart decisions while out; stop when you're full, savor the food, enjoy the company and you can walk away from the table without feeling guilty," concluded Karen.

By utilizing these tips, you will begin to develop a healthy and respectful relationship with food. Having a constructive and healthy relationship will help you reach your ideal body weight and maintain a healthy weight. Focus on food, body and mind and look at weight loss as a holistic lifestyle change.[Arf/Voxy]

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