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HPV-associated head and neck cancers are disproportionately higher in men. A recent study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, investigated the prevalence of HPV infections in the U.S. population. It also addressed how prevalent oral HPV infections were in those with concomitant genital HPV infections.

What's the best state in which to practice medicine? Though a recent study does little to answer the question given the metrics chosen, the result provides a starting point to help guide your thinking on this subject.

And you think you have problems *now*? Maybe so, but if you're at a job interview and someone takes over control of your butt plug (which you probably should have left home, but I don't want to be judgemental) things are not going to go well. High tech sex toys and the people who hack them. Oh, the humanity. 

Let's discuss the opioid crisis from a physician-prescriber perspective, and what surgeons can do now to help our patients.

Your teenager's lack of sleep might be linked to the ubiquitous smartphone. That's the conclusion drawn by researchers at San Diego State University following a meta-analysis involving 360,000 American teens surveyed between 2009-2015. They say decreasing sleep time likely comes at the expense of increasing screen time.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed a jury's decision that awarded $72 million to a plaintiff who claimed Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products caused her ovarian cancer. But the court's ruling was based on a jurisdictional issue, not the lack of scientific evidence underpinning her claim.

A four-time Iditarod champ has been accused of doping some of his dogs with a painkiller. Tramadol, an atypical opioid, has some properties in common with the traditional opioids like morphine, which makes this interesting both medically and scientifically. How does it work? It is not as restricted as Vicodin, nor should it be. Here's why. 

A mixed success record, abuse, regulatory mismanagement, and unintended consequences. Combined, these make the case that the Endangered Species Act is not working as intended. It must adapt or face extinction.

Why bother reading or reporting the original article when the story elements are laid out in front of you? 

The recent wildfires in northern California caused dozens of deaths, with most being those over age 65. Diminution of mobility and hearing acuity, for example, make older folks more vulnerable during natural disasters such as fast-moving fires, floods and earthquakes.

It's hardly news that opioid drugs have a downside, even though many people have no choice but to use them. But just suppose you could exit surgery without needing any pain meds at all? Well, sometimes you can, thanks to the sciences of chemistry and drug formulation. A long-lasting drug that blocks pain may be the answer.

Isn't it odd that Florida has so many people living with Alzheimer's? If Erin Brockovich was investigating the case, she probably would conclude that it's something to do with the water.

British researchers say it's time to invert the debilitating, pervasive mindset that gives older adults permission to accept that "I'm getting older, so I better stop being active and start getting used to slowing down." Instead, they say that it's not getting older that stops one from being active, but it's that being inactive accelerates the process of getting old.

Two organic chemists in China are in all sorts of trouble after being charged with running factories that make fentanyl, the drug this is killing Americans in droves, and its stronger chemical cousins. The chemists based their choice of drugs to make upon the legality of the drug in the US. Most of them are now legal. Here's why.

Can body weight, or weight-loss attempts for that matter, be affected by eating 3 meals daily as opposed to simply "grazing" on mini-meals throughout the day? New data from Australia suggests that for women, at least, grazers run a bigger risk of being overweight or obese.

The misuse of meta-analysis begins with the differing methodology, populations, and comparisons that are frequently present in nutritional research. The authors explain their concerns and recommendations. 

Surely, somebody can stop the most egregious offenders from spreading health misinformation that hurts or kills people, right? Actually, no, not in a free society. The only solution to fake news is better news.

While it's generally felt that Good Samaritan Laws provide effective protection from lawsuits, if aiding an ailing stranger went terribly wrong, that's only somewhat true. The reality is that legal protection varies from state to state, with some offering near blanket immunity while others leave much to be desired. Do you know your state's law?

The father of a two-year-old toddler was set to donate his kidney to his son and begin the steps necessary for the surgery. But a parole violation has altered the plan, which now might endanger the boy's survival.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court took up the issue of gerrymandering. A measure used to test for this bias was described by the Chief Justice as "sociological gobbledygook." So that you can decide for yourself, here's the thinking and the method being considered.

Despite the public health warnings about obesity, since 1999 its prevalence has increased markedly. And the latest CDC stats show that the trend continued for both adults and youngsters between 2014 and 2016. But amid the otherwise depressing statistics, there is a glimmer of hope buried within.

Should the U.S. learn from China about air pollution? A history professor says yes, and he bases his argument on an epidemiological paper that utilizes deceptive maps and dubious methods.

If you think ozone is just up there in the sky somewhere, think again. It's also being used more and more to combat bacteria and infections, like MRSA. So the next time the conversation turns to ozone, it's good to know the context before you weigh in. And so that you can look knowledgeable here's your quick overview. 

With all of the products that can be custom-made these days, why not condoms? Given the rampant fit-and-feel complaints of many men, will these new offerings actually reverse the declining trend of consistent condom use? 

In spite of anti-vaccine efforts to scare parents, recent CDC data indicates that the overwhelming majority of children entering kindergarten are being appropriately immunized. Using data from 48 states and the District of Columbia, researchers found that a median of over 90 percent of kids are receiving the recommended vaccines.