Health Report

The Good News

Researchers have found a faulty gene that may be a cause of most prostate cancer. The defect prevents cells from making an enzyme that fights off carcinogenic chemicals. The discovery could lead to better blood tests and even a drug treatment for the disease.

A molecule in bakers' yeast appears to be highly effective -- in the test tube only, so far -- at keeping cold viruses from multiplying.

Implants of cow adrenal-gland cells have been shown to reduce chronic pain in humans. The cells produce natural pain-killing chemicals.

The Bad News

For years experts have reassured couch potatoes that moderate exercise is all the heart needs. Now comes a study that says that isn't the whole story. Yes, moderate exercise is better than none at all. But running maniacally is better still. A survey of almost 7,000 men found that 10% of those who run up to 10 miles a week had dangerously low levels of so-called good cholesterol. But virtually no one who topped 40 miles a week had that problem.

Doctors believe the elderly may lose some of their natural ability to regulate body weight. This would explain why older people are often unusually fat or unusually thin.

Sources -- GOOD: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; Virology; Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. BAD: Meeting of the American Heart Association; Journal of the American Medical Association