Health Highlights: Jan. 25, 2007

Queen Elizabeth 2 Cruise Ship Hit by Norovirus

More than 300 passengers and crew on the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship became ill during a recent cruise. It's believed that the highly infectious norovirus, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, was the cause.

The outbreak occurred after the ship completed a voyage from Southampton, England and docked in New York City on January 8. It's believed that the norovirus was brought on the ship by a passenger who boarded in New York,BBC Newreported.

In total, 17 percent of the people (276 passengers and 28 crew members) on the luxury ship were affected -- an unusually large outbreak, health officials said.

After stopping in New York, the ship sailed down the U.S. east coast before heading to the west coast and docking in San Francisco. Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boarded the Queen Elizabeth 2 in Acapulco, Mexico,BBC Newsreported.

"The whole cleansing regime has been upgraded. People have been advised on measures they should take," a Cunard spokesman said. "We have encouraged handwashing. Where people display symptoms they are kept confined in their cabin until the symptoms subside."

After stopping in San Francisco, the ship departed for Hawaii.

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Prostate Cancer Treatments Can Cause Penis Shrinkage

Hormone and radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause penis shrinkage, notes a study in theJournal of Urology.

Turkish researchers studied 47 prostate cancer patients who received the treatments. They found that the average stretched length of their penises decreased from 14.2 to 8.6 centimeters over 18 months,BBC Newsreported.

It's not clear how hormone and radiation therapy affect penis length, but the treatments may have an effect on penis tissue, the researchers said. They recommended that patients should be warned before they receive these treatments that they may experience penis shortening.

Dr. Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the Prostate Cancer Charity in the U.K., said it's vital for prostate cancer patients to be alerted about this possible side effect.

"Men can be caused needless worry by unexpected changes in their body which impact on their quality of life. These must always be taken seriously," Hiley toldBBC News.

"We would urge men not to be put off seeking treatment or advice about prostate cancer because of this, but to make sure they talk to their doctors in detail about all the possible side effects of a particular treatment," Hiley said.

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Heart Meds Costliest Class of Drugs in 2004: U.S. Report

American adults spent $32 billion on cardiovascular drugs in 2004, making them the costliest class of prescription drugs for people age 18 and over, according to a U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report released Wednesday.

The other classes of drugs in the top five were: hormones ($25 billion); central nervous system drugs used to treat pain and control seizures ($24 billion); cholesterol-lowering medications ($22 billion); antidepressants and other psychotherapeutic drugs ($18 billion).

In total, these five classes of drugs accounted for two-thirds of the $181 billion spent by American adults on outpatient prescription drugs in 2004.

The AHRQ also found that the top five classes of drugs prescribed for Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older in 2004 were: cardiovascular drugs ($17 billion); cholesterol-lowering drugs ($10 billion); hormones ($8 billion); central nervous system drugs ($7 billion); gastrointestinal drugs ($6 billion).

Spending on these drugs accounted for about 75 percent of the $65 billion spent on all prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older in 2004.

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