The new vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV) has been about 100% effective in preventing that disease. But the HPV vaccine has turned out to have effects in preventing other diseases, too.

Britain’s National Health Service has approved a patch that is claimed to help women regain their sex drive. The BBC earlier reported on the product’s pending approval.

Swine flu cases in the United States are limited in severity, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still making sure that the public is informed with the latest information.

A new government study ranks U.S. jobs by the rate of depression experienced by people who work in them.

Yes, this is another syndrome that was featured on “20/20,” but it’s a fascinating illness (and thankfully rare), so I thought readers might want to know more about it. You can find an article from ABC that pretty much sums up the “20/20” feature here.

With the surprise pick of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP candidate, people are buzzing about her policy stands, political strengths and weaknesses, and the like. But I have a feeling that upon seeing photos of the Alaska governor today for the first time, many Americans are asking themselves another question, too: “How does someone in her 40s who has had 5 kids stay in such great shape?” And since this is a health blog, we’re more interested in the health and fitness issues than the political ones anyway.

Skin tags are little flaps of excess skin that form on the body as we get older. They are often found on the neck, armpits, trunk, and folds of skin on the body. Known in medical terminology as acrochordons, skin tags are almost always harmless and there is no need to have them removed. While they are benign and not painful, they may cause discomfort if clothing continually rubs against them, or if they are located where another part of the body may rub against them.

A number of food-related developments in health news have gotten my attention in the last few days. So here’s a quick summary with links:

Up until a few months ago, I would clean fresh fruits and vegetables by giving them a cursory quick rinse under a splash of water. But with the E. coli lettuce scare this summer and other recent food-safety incidents, I’m wondering if I should be doing more… a lot more… and I’m not alone.

Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor is in critical condition and struggling for his life after being shot in his home in Miami-Dade county, Florida. It is believed that the incident was the result of a robbery attempt or home intrusion.