The following stories appear in full on today's Vidyya Medical News Service Web site.

Last week, Vidyya presented you with a news story that the US government was considering adding estrogen to a list of known carcinogens. Yesterday, an expert advisory panel did recommended that steroidal estrogens be listed as a "known" cause of cancer in humans in a future Report on Carcinogens.

For more information: Advisory Panel On Federal Report On Carcinogens Makes Recommendations To NIEHS/NTP For New Listings

Injuries associated with unpowered scooters have increased dramatically since May 2000. These scooters are a new version of the foot-propelled scooters first popular during the 1950s. Most scooters are made of lightweight aluminum with small, low-friction wheels similar to those on in-line skates. They weigh <10 pounds and fold for easy portability and storage. Up to 5 million scooters are expected to be sold in 2000, an increase from virtually zero last year (Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC], unpublished data, 2000). This report summarizes the results of a descriptive analysis of scooter-related injuries during the past 34 months and provides recommendations to reduce these injuries.

For more information: Just In Time For The Holidays: Unpowered Scooter-Related Injuries

Fludarabine used as the initial treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) produces more and longer remissions than chlorambucil, according to the findings of a multicenter clinical trial for patients with high- and intermediate-risk CLL. The study's findings appear in the December 14, 2000, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

For more information: Fludarabine Prolongs Leukemia Remission

Venlafaxine, one of the newer antidepressant drugs, alleviates hot flashes in about 60 percent of breast cancer survivors and other women with postmenopausal symptoms, according to a new study conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, a clinical trials cooperative group based at Mayo Clinic.

For more information: Study Identifies Effective Nonhormonal Remedy For Hot Flashes

U.S. hospitals should see less government scrutiny in the next four years than they did in the last eight, securities analysts said. When President-elect George W. Bush takes office in January, Banc of America Securities analyst Gary Taylor said, the regulatory environment should be more favorable to hospitals than it has under President Clinton.

For more information: Analysts Report That Hospitals Are Less Likey To Be Scrutinized Under Bush Administration's Watch

Today's Vidyya articles are:

• Advisory Panel On Federal Report On Carcinogens Makes Recommendations To NIEHS/NTP For New Listings

• Just In Time For The Holidays: Unpowered Scooter-Related Injuries

• Fludarabine Prolongs Leukemia Remission

• Study Identifies Effective Nonhormonal Remedy For Hot Flashes

• Analysts Report That Hospitals Are Less Likey To Be Scrutinized Under Bush Administration's Watch