BOSTON – Swine flu, health reform and restrictions on industry gifts to doctors are among the top 10 health stories identified by the Harvard Health Letter in its annual list.

The Harvard University publication develops a top 10 list each year with help from doctors on its editorial board.

Among the top stories of 2009 is the national effort to curb healthcare costs via reform legislation, mandated coverage and tighter regulation of health insurers. "Chances are that legislation, if it does become law, won't do nearly enough to control costs," the list's authors said.

Healthcare organizations faced additional challenges this year as a result of the H1N1 flu pandemic. "Measured public health response" and "plenty of information" helped keep the pandemic in perspective, the editors said, and despite the oncoming flu season, they expect that H1N1 will likely remain manageable.

The Harvard Health Letter's full list of top 2009 health stories is as follows:

• H1N1 flu
• Healthcare reform
• Screening tests
• An alternative to warfarin?
• New findings about "good" and "bad" body fat
• Restrictions on industry gifts to doctors
• MicroRNA-based treatment
• Changes in blood sugar goals for patients in intensive care
• Testing for C-reactive protein
• Social networks as conduits for health and disease