Men's Health News Roundup
December 2, 2015

Welcome to the ASMH's News Roundup, a new source of information that focuses on the science and practice of men's health. Every other week we highlight the most notable and important developments in men's health, keeping you informed about this emerging and fast-moving area of practice.

Dennis J. Barbour, JD, Editor

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Welcome to the American Society for Men's Health Men's Health News Roundup, a new membership benefit. On a biweekly basis, the Roundup brings you the latest information you need to know about men's health.

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Martin Miner, MD
President, ASMH

Men's and women's brains not so different, new research shows
New research shows the brain only sometimes has solely male or female traits, with most brains likely to be a mixed bag of both.

Are the brains of men and women truly different? Not if you look at the overall structure, a new study says. While specific parts show sex differences, an individual brain only rarely has all "male" traits or all "female" traits, researchers report. It's more likely to be a mixed bag: some things are more common in women, some more common in men, and some are common in both. That argues against the idea that brains can be neatly divided into two sex-based categories, Daphna Joel of Tel-Aviv University and co-authors conclude. They published their work in a paper released on Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
SBS, December 1, 2015

New research suggests that men at risk for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can benefit from a preventive medication taken before and after sex instead of every day.
The findings offer more support for so-called pre-exposure prophylaxis, better known as PrEP, which has become popular in the gay male community.
Healthfinder, December 1, 2015
Men More Likely to Take Paternity Leave for a Son, Research Shows

Newly published research   suggests that men are more likely to take time off when they're having a boy than a girl. They are also more likely to take time off when they work in female-dominated occupations (which tech is most certainly not).
NBC, December 1, 2015
The New STD Epidemic You Haven't Heard Of
Remember this next time you feel tempted to have sex without a rubber

STD rates are at historic highs, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There were more cases of chlamydia reported in 2014 than ever before, and syphilis and gonorrhea rates are also surging. The CDC isn't sure what's behind the rise, but evidence suggests that condom use has dropped in recent years, says Sarah Kidd, M.D., an epidemiologist for the CDC. 
Men's Health, December 1, 2015
A pharmacy initiative to tackle men's health

Men are not usually aware that some prostate cancer treatments can put them at higher risk of cardiovascular complications and increase their risk of diabetes and stroke. Physical inactivity and being overweight can worsen side effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. The True NTH Exercise and Diet project works with community pharmacists to help men who have completed treatment to make lifestyle changes to improve their outlook. The intervention will provide men with information about their personal lifestyle risks, as well as individually tailored advice on changes to make to their diet and exercise.
Pharmaceutical Journal, November 30, 2015


Men Wear Underwear At Least Twice Before Washing

A study conducted by  Glotech , a domestic appliance retailer, found that more than 25 percent of men will wear a pair of underpants more than once before they feel the need to wash them. About 8 percent of them admitted to wearing their boxers or briefs three times before chucking it into the washing machine. Some people even admitted to wearing a pair for more than five days without washing, Complex reported
University Herald, November 30, 2015

T he healthcare experts cite some shocking statistics. Because many men never flag up their health concerns until it may be too late, one in five British males don't live past the age of 65. But if this problem is so ingrained into our culture and societal expectations, is there any way we can realistically hope to change men's attitudes towards medical assistance?
Telegraph, November 30, 2015
GAO: NIH needs to do more to ensure research evaluates gender differences

First, the good news: Twenty-two years after Congress ordered the National Institutes of Health to include all women in the clinical trials it funds, women make up more than half the participants. Now the bad news: According to  a new report from the Government Accountability Office, NIH still isn't able to tell Congress - or anyone else - whether researchers are examining outcomes by sex to see whether men and women are affected differently by what's being tested. Scientists are required to analyze results by sex in most cases, but NIH has no central process for collecting the information or making it available.
Washington Post, November 28, 2015
Sweat to Help Reduce Your Risk for Prostate Cancer

Vigorous exercise, a healthy diet and not smoking may dramatically reduce a man's risk for aggressive prostate cancer, new research suggests. Nearly half of lethal prostate cancer cases in the United States would be prevented if men over 60 followed five or more healthy habits, lead author Stacey Kenfield, an assistant professor in the urology department at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, said in a university news release. The findings were published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Health Day, November 27, 2015
New research highlights the rising number of middle-aged white men taking their own lives-and being ignored

Recent reports on  a dramatic spike in middle-aged white male suicides   has thrown a spotlight on a trend that has been years in the making but long remained in the shadows as a taboo subject.
Salon, November 27, 2015

If women are prone to "eat like a bird" when men are watching, men may be similarly programmed to "eat like a horse" when women are around, suggests a small U.S. study by behavioural scientists. Researchers observed diners at an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet and found men who dined with at least one woman at the table ate 93 per cent more pizza than their peers who had only male dining companions.
The Globe and Mail, November 27, 2015

New statistics from the Huffington Post UK, in conjunction with OnePoll, reveal that 42% of men in the UK have suffered from depression. The research shows that 46% of men between 45 and 54 have suffered from the disorder, compared with 45% of 35 to 44-year-olds and 39% of men under the age of 35. The topic of depression was high on the media agenda last week, with Thursday's International Men's Day focusing on the rate of male suicide in Britain, which is now so severe it is being termed a "national emergency".
Huffington Post UK, November 26, 2015

Experts say men are more susceptible to depression in retirement, in part because their identity is more closely tied to their careers compared to women. "For a lot of men it really is a loss of a sense of identity - something that we get from work," said clinical psychologist Marnin Heisel, director of research and associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. He and his colleagues are doing research on men struggling in their transition to retirement, and are developing a program to reduce the risk for the onset of depression, hopelessness and suicide.
The Globe and Mail, November 26, 2150

Like the 'man in the moon', it's often men, more than women, who can feel the most lonely, according to the Movember Foundation, which has just released new statistics showing how few friends men have, including 19 per cent of over-55s saying they lacked a close friend. The survey also found that 12 per cent of men do not have a friend they would discuss a serious topic with - such as work worries, a health problem or money worries - while just over half of men (51 per cent) have two friends or less that they would open up to about a serious problem. In addition, 9 per cent admitted they don't remember the last time they made contact with their friends; 26 per cent say they make contact with their mates less than once a month, and almost half (43 per cent) of men have NEVER told a friend that they love them.
The Scotsman, November 26, 2015
Medication can prevent infection with the virus in people at high risk

Too few Americans who are at risk for HIV infection are taking Truvada -- a daily pill that could protect them against the virus that causes AIDS, federal health officials report.
Health care providers must help boost patient awareness and use of the drug, health experts stressed.  About 25 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual adult men, 20 percent of injection drug users, and less than 1 percent of sexually active heterosexuals are at high risk for HIV infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vital Signs report. People in these groups need to know about Truvada, which is also known as the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pill, the government experts said.
Medline Plus, November 24, 2015

A new brain-imaging study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior has made a small but important contribution to the debate over brain aging, by showing that subcortical (deep) structures in the brain appear to age more quickly in men's brains than women's, possibly helping to explain why men are more susceptible to neurological illnesses that involve these structures, such as Parkinson's.
Science of Us, November 24, 2015

A small study suggests that yoga may help men who are undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer to alleviate some side effects of their treatment and maintain their quality of life.
Youth Health, November 22, 2015

One in 10 US adults has a problem with drug use at some point during their lives, but it typically goes untreated, according to a survey reported today from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Contrary to the stereotype, today's person with a drug use disorder is more likely to be a young, white male, who is single and marginally employed. The study said problems with drugs are common and often occur alongside a mental health problem, such as depression. The study, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, found 4% met the criteria for "drug use disorder" in the past year and 10% had met it at some point. 
American Journal of Managed Care, November 18, 2015  
Fewer Men Are Getting Prostate Cancer Blood Tests, And That May Not Be a Good Thing

In two studies published in JAMA, researchers document the consequences of the USPSTF prostate careening recommendation. They found that rates of PSA testing have declined, in  one study from a high of 40.6% in 2008 to 30.8% in 2013 and in  another study from 36% in 2010 to 31% in 2013. In line with that decrease in screening, there was a drop in incidence of prostate cancer, which wasn't surprising since if you screen less, you'll find less cancer. In one of the studies, cases of prostate cancer declined by 33,519 from 2011 to 2012.
Time, November 17, 2015

Men with reduced fertility could be at increased risk for testicular cancer, according to a new study. Researchers looked at over 20,000 men who underwent semen analysis as part of infertility treatment between 1996 and 2011. They were compared to a control group with the same number of men known to be fertile. Overall, 421 cases of cancer were diagnosed. The most common cancers were melanoma skin cancer, testicular and prostate cancers.
Health Day, November 16, 2015
WHY A SOCIETY FOR MEN'S HEALTH?

Men's health is a multidisciplinary area of medical and health care practice, spanning a wide range of medical specialties and health disciplines. Yet, in 2012, no one national professional organization existed to promote men's health in clinical practice. 

The American Society for Men's Health was founded in 2012 in response to that need and is dedicated to the rapidly growing field of men's health. The mission of ASMH is to promote education, research and teaching related to the unique health care needs of males from adolescence to the end of life.  ASMH is dedicated to identifying and promoting collaboration amongst health specialties and disciplines. This mission is accomplished through public and health care provider education, promotion of research, and advocating for public policies that address the unique health care needs of males.


Visit us at  www.ASMHnet.org

The  Men's Health News Roundup  is produced by the American Society for Men's Health and is released every other week.  For more information contact Dennis J. Barbour, Esq. Men's Health News Roundup editor and President/CEO of the Partnership for Male Youth, at  dbarbour@partnershipformaleyouth.org
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