By Katherine Hobson

More Cantaloupe Deaths: Eighteen people have now died from listeriosis linked to eating tainted cantaloupes, and the number of illnesses associated with the outbreak rose to 100, the WSJ reports. more illnesses are expected to emerge because it can take up to two months for symptoms to appear after infection, FDA head Margaret Hamburg said yesterday.

Additional Warning: the FDA said Roche’s cancer drug Avastin may cause ovarian failure in some women, the WSJ reports. A warning about the fertility problem was added to the drug’s label, as was updated information about the risk of blood clots and bleeding risk and new information about reports of jaw-bone decay.

Projected TB Deaths: Research published in the BMJ suggests that 40 million smokers could die from tuberculosis by 2050, most of them in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asian areas of the world, BBC News reports. People who smoke are more vulnerable to TB.

Posted on: Wednesday, 2 March 2011, 07:38 CST

Psychiatrists warn that economic and social changes could cause male self-esteem to erode, bringing an increase in the number of men with depression.

Reporting in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the authors say men will struggle with the shift from traditional male and female roles in Western society.

“Women are almost twice as likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime as men, but we believe this difference may well change in the coming decades,” Dr. Boadie Dunlop of Emory University School of Medicine, told BBC News.

He argues that traditional male jobs such as manufacturing or physical labor are either being overtaken by improved technology or going overseas where labor rates are cheaper. And with an increase in the number of women attending universities, now more than men, the number of households where the female is the breadwinner is also increasing.

Research shows that since the onset of the recession in 2007, almost three quarters of the jobs lost in the US were held by men. And women are increasingly becoming the primary earners in 22 percent of households in 2007, compared to only 4 percent in 1970. Experts predict that even as the economy recovers there is little chance that traditional male jobs will also recover.

“Men’s failure to fulfill the role of breadwinner is associated with greater depression and martial conflict,” the authors write.

“Western men will face a difficult road in the 21st century, particularly those with low levels of education. we believe economic and societal changes will have significant implications for men’s mental health,” said Dunlop.

“This really confirms what we already know about unemployment and that it has a much bigger impact on men, mainly because male identity is bound up as a worker,” added Peter Baker, chief executive of Men’s Health Forum.

“Male social networks are based around work so losing a job can lead to isolation and depression,” he told BBC News.

“Men in the changing economy will face the same risks for depression that women faced in older economies: trapped in a family role from which they cannot escape because of an inability to find employment,” Dunlop said.

Men once were expected to be tough, stoic and unemotional in society, but that is eroding fast. The growing awareness of mental health through education, and hearing prominent male figures talk about their depression, has had a significant impact in allowing other men to validate symptoms of depression.

One of the most well established findings in the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders is that women have nearly twice the lifetime risk of developing major depressive disorder than men.

“The changing socioeconomic positions of the West could lead to prevalence in the rates of depression in men increasing, while rates in women decrease … practitioners need to be aware of these forces of life, and be prepared to explore with their patients the meaning of these changes and interventions that might be helpful,” Dunlop warns.

Men do not typically seek help when they have depression and are “more likely to self medicate” at a bar or pub than to seek professional care, Baker told BBC News. “As we see more men affected we need to think about how to support and get them back to work.” ?—

• British Journal of Psychiatry

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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9 February 2011 last updated at 02:38 ET Share this page By Sanjiv Buttoo BBC Asian Network Sultan Mahmood fought Hepatitis C with the support of his wife Shakila

Sultan Mahmood was born in Pakistan and came to live in Bradford in 1993. he was married and had two healthy children, but he started to feel ill in 2001.

He had flu-like symptoms, suffered from nausea, started losing weight and then had jaundice.

"I did not know what was happening to me. every week another new problem started and I was getting worried."

After months of tests he was diagnosed as having hepatitis C.

"When they told me what was wrong I turned to my wife, but we both had no idea of this condition and that I could eventually die if I did not get treatment."

‘Serious condition’

Sulleman Moreea is a consultant hepatologist with the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

He estimates that around two-thirds of people born in South Asia and living in Bradford do not know they have the condition. That's currently around 2,000 people in Bradford.

He also believes that large numbers of Asian people in other parts of the country are walking around not knowing they may have the disease.

"Hepatitis C is a very serious condition. it attacks the liver and causes cirrhosis, liver failure, cancer and even death."

Dr Moreea says he is trying to convince the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to set up a pilot project in Bradford, London and Cambridge, to screen people born in high risk areas such as Pakistan, India and Africa.

"we know this will be good because we can prevent people from becoming seriously ill with this condition."

"The longer you leave it the harder it is to cure, and for some that cure is not certain. The success rate is currently around 60 to 70%."

‘Amazing support’

Mr Mahmood had to endure a 48-week programme to try and clear his body of the hepatitis C virus.

"I had to take six tablets a day and weekly injections and I was in pain for most of that time. I only came through it because of my wife's amazing support."

Mr Mahmood's wife Shakila says taking such strong medication meant her husband suffered many side effects.

"The minute he'd have his drugs he would start getting a fever. For him every day was a painful day, every day brought a new symptom."

"he was continually sick and he would have no appetite. he was losing his hair, and where he was being injected, his skin turned black as if it was burnt."

Mr Mahmood finally beat his battle with hepatitis C. His doctors say he is now on the road to recovery, with his body showing no signs of the disease returning.

Holiday risks

But it's not only those born in South Asia and Africa who are at risk.

Soma Khan, who is from Bradford, has just returned from a holiday in Pakistan. Whilst there she fell ill and was given an injection by a doctor. She is now worried that the needle used may not have been sterilised properly.

"In Pakistan when you are ill the first thing a doctor will do is give you an injection. I was given mine through my clothing, and a few hours later I suddenly thought, 'Oh my God, what have I done'."

Ms Khan was aware that hepatitis C could be contracted from needles, and was unsure the doctor's equipment had been sterilised.

The first thing she did on returning home was to get a blood test. She is now eagerly awaiting those results.

"I am sure I will be ok, but you never know."

Simple blood test

Dr Moreea says having a simple blood test is all you need and urges everyone who was born in South Asia to go to their GP and ask for one to be carried out.

"The most serious effects of hepatitis C only start to show after 20 to 30 years from infection. So the fact that we are now starting to see South Asians coming to our clinics in greater numbers with the late stages of hepatitis C is very worrying."

"once the liver is badly scarred by this condition, you may need a transplant or you could get liver cancer. In these cases there's not a lot we can then do to help. but if it's diagnosed early enough then you could have a good outcome."

18 January 2011 Last updated at 17:03 ET Share this page By Mike Tighe BBC Scotland The adverts are targeted at people in middle age

We're used to seeing sexual health messages aimed at young people.

The 16-24 market is regularly targeted, being urged to discuss contraception, sexual health and sexual habits openly and honestly.

What we're not used to seeing, however, are messages geared towards older people.

Last year, the Family planning Association (FPA) launched the first campaign aimed at the middle-aged.

Featuring pictures of people dressed in 70s clothes, and an image of a condom, it aimed to get older generations to think about protection.

Julie Bentley, the chief executive of FPA, said at the time: "There is very little sexual health information and services for the over 50s, and current campaigns, however good, are exclusively for the young."

So is she right – particularly with regard to sexual health in this age group in Scotland?

There is certainly reason to be concerned about the growth of STIs in this age group.

According to figures from a National Services Scotland (NSS) report, genital warts almost doubled in the over 50s from 1999-2008.

Herpes and chlamydia are also on the increase. But the number of diagnoses is low, especially compared with those among the younger population.

Lesley Wallace, of Health Protection Scotland, gives a possible explanation for the increase.

‘Intimidating place’

She said: "There's a combination of increased amount of testing [and] so increased diagnosis. It's something we want to keep a watchful eye on."

"People need to understand this is a growing problem," said NHS Fife's Dr Indranil Banarjee, a consultant who sees older patients regularly at his clinic.

He said that although the patients were older, they could also be much more naive.

"We've had instances where parents have been nudged into the clinic by their children", he said.

"They [the children] know, through all the information they get through the media, schools and colleges, that the rule of thumb is, if you're with a new partner, you should get yourself checked out."

a quarter of the over 55s think they have zero chance of catching an STI

Someone who wasn't aware about the need to keep themselves checked out was Mary – whose name has been changed to preserve her anonymity.

Mary contracted HIV aged 67 after having unprotected sex in her 40s and 50s.

Having caught a strain of pneumonia since, she now has to live with AIDS, and described how a lack of knowledge about condoms prevented her from using one.

"Condoms were for contraception. And because I was sterilised, I thought I didn't need one. I never thought anything could happen to me – and it's scary", she said.

It's easy to see why the over 45s may be reluctant to get checked out – a clinic can be an intimidating place if you've never been to one.

But there's nothing to be intimidated by, according to Hilda Smith, senior nurse at the genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic in Kirkcaldy.

"a woman can go behind the curtain on her own and take her own swab," she explained.

"And that will test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, so long as they don't have any symptoms."

The clinic also offers blood tests for syphilis and HIV.

For Hilda, it is just part of maintaining good health.

"You go to the dentist to get your teeth checked out, if you're having sex, you should come to the clinic and have your sexual health checked out. It's as simple as that," she said.

‘Emotional issues’

According to a 2009 Royal Pharmaceutical Society survey of the over 55s, 25% believed their chances of acquiring an STI were next to zero, compared with 13% of those aged 18-24.

So why are older generations so complacent?

Professor Sue Scott, pro-vice chancellor for Research at Glasgow Caledonian University, has a study background in sexuality and gender.

She points to an increase in relationship breakdown, as well as sexual liberalisation and easier access to partners through the internet as factors which lead more people in middle-age to be seeking new sexual relationships, which in turn can create new problems.

Importantly, Professor Scott claims it is also a matter of having sexual confidence and negotiation skills.

Her advice is: "Find somebody you can talk to, a friend, whatever works."

Sue Maxwell, of Relationships Scotland, agrees. "Generally, in Scotland, we don't talk enough about our sexual lives.

"we might chat about them, we might gossip about them, but we don't talk enough to our partners enough about what we need."

So increasing awareness, developing confidence and talking about sexual concerns all seem key to defusing the middle-aged sex bomb.

For Dr Banarjee, it is a simple question of looking after yourself.

"Especially [use a condom] if it's with a new partner," he said.

"It's also very important to negotiate, and to be sensible, and to a certain extent, be practical with these things."

"There are emotional issues attached to it," Dr Banarjee said, "but then, at the end of the day, your health is your responsibility."

Medical Matters: The Middle-Aged Sex Bomb airs on Wednesday 19 January at 1530 GMT on BBC Radio Scotland.

3 January 2011 Last updated at 12:44 ET Share this page Clare Balding recently presented BBC four programme Britain by Bike

BBC presenter Clare Balding has been given the all-clear for thyroid cancer.

She told BBC Radio 2's French and Saunders programme she needed no more treatment since having a lymph node removed before Christmas.

She said she was "very happy" and looking forward to 2011 after receiving the news by letter from her oncologist.

The 39-year-old has been receiving radioactive iodine treatment since having a cyst and her thyroid gland removed in 2009.

Thyroid cancer is a rare form of the disease that affects about 1,750 people every year in the UK.

Lump on throat

Symptoms include a lump in the neck, a hoarse voice, a sore throat and difficulty swallowing that does not get better.

Ms Balding told French and Saunders: "I had to have a little operation just before Christmas to take out a nasty little lymph node and there was a worry that I might have to have more treatment.

"But I had a lovely letter from my oncologist just after Christmas saying, 'Hurrah, no more treatment', so I'm very happy about that."

She added: "2011 is going to be a good one."

Balding first became aware of a problem after spotting a lump on her throat while watching herself on TV.

The broadcaster, who has a background in horse racing and sports programmes, broke news of the all-clear to her followers on Twitter – the micro-blogging website.

One tweet read: "not taking too much for granted but very, very relieved and can sing into 2011 with glee."

She also thanked her followers for their messages of support.

Comedienne Jennifer Saunders has herself been battling breast cancer after finding a lump in October 2009.

Doctors have told her she is in remission after completing treatment for the illness.