USA Today reports, “Eighteen states are considering measures banning the use of indoor tanning devices for those under 18, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures,” while “five more are weighing increased regulation, such as requiring parental consent.

The New York Times reports that in Idaho, “lawmakers and public health experts…are confronting a problem that they say has developed in one of its newer panoramas: suburban strip malls dotted with salons like Beach Club, Jamaca Me Tan, Planet Beach and Tan du Soleil.”

USA Today reports that “many pediatricians … are taking tougher stands with parents who refuse vaccinations.”

The New York Times reports, “According to the National Institutes of Health, more than half of adults ages 60 and over have trouble sleeping.”

CBS reports that the Food and Drug Administration has warned that some “skin creams, soaps and lotions that are manufactured overseas and sold in some US shops might contain toxic amounts of mercury.”

USA Today reports, “For certain women, taking estrogen supplements for a few years close to menopause appears safe, and may reduce their risk of breast cancer, says a new study” published online in The Lancet Oncology.

Over the last few years, a few published studies have claimed that children raised by same-sex couples compare favorably to — and sometimes even better than — children raised by moms and dads on measures of self-esteem and academics. Those studies, in turn, have served as fodder for a media campaign that two loving parents are all children really need. Here are details that challenge that from a report in Citizen Link:

Bloomberg News reports that the FDA has cited Breathable Foods Inc. for placing misleading labels on canisters dispensing caffeine. According to Bloomberg, the FDA notes that the manufacturer describes its AeroShot Pure Energy inhaler as “breathable energy,” and so “encourages consumers to breathe the caffeine mist into their lungs instead of spraying it on their tongues to be swallowed.”

Reuters reports that according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, young women and girls consuming high levels of vitamin D were less likely to suffer from stress fractures than women who did not consume as much vitamin D.

The AP reports that “Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. are changing the way they make the caramel coloring used in their sodas as a result of a California law that mandates drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens come with a cancer warning label.”

The Los Angeles Times reports, “Some women with depression who become pregnant face a troubling decision: whether to continue taking antidepressant medication to keep the depression at bay even though the medications may harm the fetus.”

In an editorial this morning, USA Today says that “under laws enacted in Texas, Oklahoma and North Carolina, the ultrasound screen must be turned so women can see the image.”

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell recently signed a bill making abdominal ultrasounds mandatory for women seeking abortions.

Reuters reports on a new study published in the Journal of Urology involving patients who underwent prostate surgery via robotic surgical equipment versus older surgical procedures.

The CNN “The Chart” blog reports, “Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University are working on a treatment that may one day allow kids with allergies to safely eat the foods that cause them life-threatening reactions.”

When it comes to marriage and family structure, there’s a good reason nearly every modern society has encouraged monogamy as the accepted norm: Because it’s good for society.

The CBS Evening News reported, “You already know young children get cranky if they don’t get enough sleep, but a study” published online “in the journal Pediatrics found children who have trouble sleeping are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems later on.”

The Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” blog reports, “In a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration, the consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest [CSPI] called on officials to ban the use of caramel coloring in popular soft drinks, citing a possible cancer risk.”

Bloomberg News reported, “Women who sit for long periods each day have a greater risk of developing early signs of type 2 diabetes compared with men,” according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Medscape reports, “Postmenopausal women whose diet is high in trans fats, found in fried foods and packaged products, are at higher risk for certain types of ischemic stroke,” according to research published in the Annals of Neurology.

Scientists studying mice say they better understand how marijuana impairs working memory, the ability to momentarily retain and utilize information needed for comprehension and learning.

Abbie Randolph, the main character in my new novel, Hazel Creek, was just featured in a fictional interview that I thought you might like to read. 

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation may lower fracture risk and improve bone health in many individuals, but data regarding its effects on cancer are far from conclusive.

Infection and even inflammation were NOT reliably present in the scans of patients with classic sinusitis symptoms.

 Chronic sinusitis can be difficult to diagnose precisely and sometimes even more difficult to treat.

I had a nice mention in the Reformed Theological Seminary Newsletter that I thought you might like to see.

These studies have seemed to surprise many of my patients, but most seem to accept it. The Boston Globe “Daily Dose” blog reports on Wednesday, “the Infectious Disease Society of America issued new guidelines … calling for a halt to antibiotic prescriptions for most sinus infections.”

New figures from a US food survey detail that nine out of ten adults in the US consume more sodium than is recommended. See if these data hit home at your house.

Bloomberg News reports, “Supplements of selenium, a trace mineral that may help prevent some cancers, might increase the risk of type 2 diabetes if taken in large quantities, according to a review of existing studies” published in The Lancet.

A report released by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general says the full-body scanners used by the TSA at airport security checkpoints emit an “extremely low dose” of radiation that is not harmful to passengers. 

The ABC News “Medical Unit” blog reports, “Eating citrus fruits can be considered a marker of healthy living, and may lessen the risk of stroke, according to research published in the journal Stroke.”