Health Highlights: Aug. 12, 2008

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Insufficient Therapy May Have Been Given to Vets With Prostate Cancer

The Philadelphia VA Medical Center says it may have given insufficient radiation therapy to as many as 114 veterans with prostate cancer during the past six years, theAssociated Pressreported.

Two of the veterans have died, and a hospital spokeswoman said the facility hadn't determined whether their deaths were related to the possible error.

The veterans had radioactive "rods" or "seeds" implanted that were designed to destroy nearby cancer cells. Most men who undergo that procedure as their only treatment have low-risk prostate cancer, theAPsaid.

The hospital said it has suspended the program until it concludes an investigation, the wire service reported.

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Vitamin D Levels May Affect Chronic Pain in Women

Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to chronic pain in women, suggests a study that looked at 7,000 women and men in England, Scotland and Wales.

Higher rates of chronic pain were reported by smokers, non-drinkers, and overweight and underweight people. Among women, vitamin D levels also seemed to be a major factor,BBC Newsreported.

Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/liter -- a range believed necessary for good bone health -- had the lowest rates of chronic pain (8 percent), while women with vitamin D levels less than 25 mmol/liter had the highest rates of chronic pain (14.4 percent).

No link between vitamin D and chronic pain was seen in men, which suggests female hormones may be a factor, said the researchers from the Institute of Child Health in London. They said further research is needed to determine if vitamin D supplements can protect women against chronic pain,BBC Newsreported.