Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Australia's aged care sector braces for powerful inquiry

A public inquiry into mistreatment of the elderly in Australia's A$20 billion ($14 billion) aged-care industry begins hearings on Friday, with investors expecting damaging testimony to be followed by tighter regulation and a possible sector shakeout. The powerful Royal Commission, called after a slew of reports of assaults on patients, predatory pricing and poor care, will be similar to the inquiry that exposed widespread wrongdoing in Australia's financial sector last year.

Invest in health for global security and growth, Gates urges donors

Donating billions of dollars to global funds that fight poverty and disease is one of the best investments governments can make to boost security and economic growth, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates said on Thursday. Ending epidemics of infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, HIV and malaria is proving tough, they said, but dramatic progress made by global aid mechanisms recent decades means the world's people are now healthier and more productive.

No quick fix for physician burnout, depression

Close to 44 percent of U.S. physicians are burned out, and 15 percent are depressed and thinking about suicide, according to a survey conducted by Medscape. More than one doctor per day commits suicide - a rate higher than in any other profession and more than twice that of the general population, Medscape reports.

Too little sleep tied to increased heart disease risk

People who sleep less than six hours a night may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who sleep seven to eight hours, a Spanish study suggests. In the study, 3,974 bank workers wore activity trackers to measure sleep for one week and also had 3D heart ultrasounds and cardiac CT scans to look for heart disease.

Japan Tobacco ratchets up smokeless war with new products

Japan Tobacco Inc on Thursday unveiled two "heat-not-burn" products, as it races against market leader Philip Morris International Inc for a larger share of the vaping space with conventional cigarettes steadily falling out of favor. Despite commanding 60 percent of the local cigarette market, Japan Tobacco has been caught on the wrong side of the rising popularity of heat-not-burn (HNB) alternatives and has lagged in the category in its own backyard versus the Marlboro maker.

Long-lasting menopause symptoms may be tied to slightly higher breast cancer risk

Women who experience symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes or night sweats, for many years may be slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than women who never had these symptoms, a U.S. study suggests. But while women with long-lasting menopausal symptoms may have a slightly higher risk for breast cancer, they are not more likely to die from the disease, the study found.

Scientists reveal 'ideal diet' for peoples' and planet's health

Scientists have unveiled what they say is an ideal diet for the health of the planet and its populations - including a doubling of consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes, and a halving of meat and sugar intake. If the world followed the "Planetary Health" diet, the researchers said, more than 11 million premature deaths could be prevented each year, while greenhouse gas emissions would be cut and more land, water and biodiversity would be preserved.

Doctors explain misconceptions about penicillin allergy

Most patients who report having a penicillin allergy are not really allergic to this highly effective antibiotic, and they may be missing out on the best treatment for their condition as a result, according to a new patient resource published in JAMA. Although 1 in 10 patients has a penicillin allergy noted in their medical record, many were misdiagnosed as children or are no longer allergic, the authors write.

Amgen's postmenopausal osteoporosis drug wins FDA panel backing

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that benefits of Amgen Inc's osteoporosis treatment for postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture outweighed its risks and overwhelmingly voted for the drug's approval. The panel voted 16-1 in favor of the monthly injection developed jointly with Belgium-based UCB SA. The drug, Evenity, helps reduce the risk of fracture by increasing bone formation and inhibiting break down of bone minerals.

U.S. shutdown taking toll on FDA, USDA inspection roles: experts

The partial government shutdown is taking a toll on key safety inspection duties performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture, food safety experts said on Wednesday. Workers in public health laboratories are reporting disruptions in the analysis of DNA from food samples involved in foodborne outbreaks, and have raised concerns about a USDA program that tests agricultural commodities for unsafe levels of pesticides, they said.