UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News

Atlantis prepares for its last landing

HOUSTON, May 25 (UPI) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew are preparing to return to Earth for the shuttle's last landing from space.

Shuttle Cmdr. Ken Ham, pilot Tony Antonelli and astronaut Mike Good performed a test of the flight control system Tuesday and a "hot fire" of the reaction control system in preparation for the landing. Astronauts Garrett Reisman, Steve Bowen and Piers Sellers worked on final packing and stowage activities throughout the day.

The shuttle is ending its last mission into space -- a 12-day trip to the International Space Station. NASA managers said they will evaluate weather conditions at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida before clearing Atlantis for a landing.

Wednesday's landing opportunities at Kennedy are at 8:48 a.m. and 10:22 a.m. EDT, NASA said. If Atlantis is unable to land Wednesday, additional opportunities are available at Kennedy Thursday at 9:13 a.m. and 10:48 a.m.

There are also opportunities Friday at Kennedy and at the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Survey: Tanning myths live on

DURHAM, N.C., May 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. survey indicates some common tanning myths, including one that some kinds of ultraviolet rays are acceptable, may be hard to eradicate.

The survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found only one-third of respondents knew the statement: "Some types of ultraviolet rays are safe for your skin," was false.

"Quite simply, all forms of UV exposure, whether from natural sunlight or artificial light sources found in tanning beds, are unsafe and are the No. 1 preventable risk factor for skin cancer," dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos of the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., says in a statement.

Draelos also notes using sunscreen may provide a false sense of security.

"Sunscreen must be reapplied regularly and be part of an overall sun-protection plan that includes hats, sunglasses, protective clothing and seeking shade," he says.

Fewer than half surveyed say getting a base tan was not a healthy way to protect skin from sun damage, while 21 percent say sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor or SPF of 30 did not provide twice the protection of SPF 15.

"An SPF of 30 screens 97 percent of ultraviolet B rays, whereas an SPF of 15 screens 93 percent of ultraviolet B rays," Draelos says.

The online survey polled 7,000 U.S. adults in 26 cities. The survey's margin of error was 1.2 percentage points.

Simulated mission to Mars about to begin

MOSCOW, May 25 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says the first full-duration, 520-day simulation of a human mission to Mars is about to begin.

The ESA said the record-breaking experiment is to start June 3 at Russia's Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow when the isolation facility is sealed. The six-member crew will live and work as astronauts do on the International Space Station, performing maintenance duties, scientific experiments and daily exercise. They will follow a seven-day week, with two days off, except when special and emergency situations are simulated, officials said.

The six crewmembers and Russian backup are Diego Urbina, Italian/Colombian, age 27; Romain Charles, French, 31; Wang Yue, 26, China; and Russians Sukhrob Kamolov, 32; Alexey Sitev, 38; Alexandr Smoleevskiy, 33; and Mikhail Sinelnikov, 37.

The simulation includes an interplanetary spaceship, a Mars lander and a martian landscape.

FDA: Fracture risk with stomach acid drugs

WASHINGTON, May 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Tuesday about a possible increased risk of fractures when using stomach acid inhibitors.

The FDA said the increased risk of hip, wrist and spine fractures has been associated with high doses or long-term use of a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors.

The drugs, available by prescription and over-the-counter, reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. Prescription proton pump inhibitors include esomeprazole (Nexium), dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix) and rabeprazole (Aciphex). Prescription proton pump inhibitors are used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD; stomach and small intestine ulcers; and inflammation of the esophagus.

Over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors include Prilosec, Zegerid and Prevacid.

"Epidemiology studies suggest a possible increased risk of bone fractures with the use of proton pump inhibitors for one year or longer, or at high doses," said Dr. Joyce Korvick, deputy director for safety in FDA's Division of Gastroenterology Products. "Because these products are used by a great number of people, it's important for the public to be aware of this possible increased risk and, when prescribing proton pump inhibitors, healthcare professionals should consider whether a lower dose or shorter duration of therapy would adequately treat the patient's condition."