Merck Suffers Vioxx Lawsuits Setback
A U.S. district judge's pretrial ruling against drug maker Merck & Co. means a tougher fight for the company in thousands of lawsuits involving its withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
The Nov. 16 ruling affects the first federal trial of Vioxx, scheduled to begin Tuesday in Houston. U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon ruled that plaintiff lawyers in the case may present evidence that brief use of Vioxx may trigger heart attacks and strokes, the Associated Press reported.
The judge rejected Merck's motion to throw out the case due to insufficient evidence. The case involves a 53-year-old Florida man who died of a heart attack after being on Vioxx for about a month.
This ruling blocks Merck's attempt to avoid having to fight thousands of federal lawsuits involving short-term use of Vioxx, legal experts said.
"It leaves Merck stuck with every dad-gum one of those cases," Houston lawyer Mark Lanier told the AP. In August, Lanier won a $253.4 million verdict for the widow of man who was a short-term user of Vioxx.
Merck has vowed to fight thousands of Vioxx liability lawsuits one by one. More lawsuits are being filed against the company. There were at least 7,875 as of last Wednesday, the AP reported.
Merck, meanwhile, announced Monday that it planned to slash 7,000 jobs, 11 percent of its workforce, and close or sell five factories worldwide in an effort to cut production costs and reduce the time it takes to get new products on the market, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Bird Flu Virus Mutating in China
Compared to cases in Vietnam, the H5N1 bird flu virus in humans in China has mutated, according to laboratory tests.
The genetic order of the H5N1 virus found in people infected in China is different than that found in people in Vietnam. A Chinese health ministry spokesman said the H5N1 virus in humans in China had mutated "to a certain degree," Agence France Presse reported.
However, this mutation cannot cause human-to-human transmission of the virus, the health ministry spokesman said. Health officials around the world are worried about the possibility of the virus mutating into a form that can pass easily from person to person.
So far, bird flu has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003.
In related news, Indonesia announced that it will establish a nationwide bird flu monitoring system. It will involve millions of people in the nation's more than 400,000 villages, AFP reported.
At least five people in each village will monitor any cases of bird flu among birds and humans in order to ensure quick reporting of any cases. The plan also involves training doctors to handle bird flu cases.
Special Straw Eases Antibiotic Use for Children
It may not be a spoonful of sugar, but a specially designed drinking straw for children may, indeed, help the medicine go down.
The Clarosip straw, made by a German company, contains granules of an antibiotic with a coating that has a neutral taste. The antibiotic is released when a child uses the straw to drink his or her favorite beverage, BBC News reported.
The straw has a filter that indicates when the child has taken the entire dose of the clarithromycin antibiotic. The straw can be used with many kinds of hot or cold beverages, including cola. However, juices with pulp can't be used with the straw.
The tasteless coating on the antibiotic is designed to dissolve once it's in the stomach. Children need to swallow the beverage immediately so that the coating doesn't dissolve in the mouth and release the bitter taste of the antibiotic, BBC News reported.
Entire Lesotho Population Offered HIV/AIDS Screening Tests
The entire population of the African kingdom of Lesotho will be offered HIV screening tests and even the King will is expected to take part, The Times of London reported.
The country will announce this week a $12 million HIV screening program for its 1.9 million people. Lesotho, which is located within South Africa, has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates, with an adult infection rate of nearly 30 percent.
If he goes ahead with the screening, King Letsie III will be the first monarch to take an HIV test in public. Such a move is regarded as critical in reducing the stigma associated with HIV in much of Africa, The Times reported.
The testing program will be coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Lesotho's Health Ministry and is designed so that all people over age 12 will know their HIV status by the end of 2007.
It's hoped that Lesotho's screening effort will be a blueprint for other nations devastated by HIV/AIDS.
"This will be a major step forward. If we have 80 or 90 percent uptake of testing, which we believe we can, it will be a hugely effective way of reducing the rise in HIV infection. It could have as important an impact as a moderately effective vaccine," Dr. Jim Yong Kim, director of the WHO's HIV/AIDS department, told The Times.
In related news, Kim apologized for his program's failure to meet a global target for HIV treatment. The goal was to get three million people in poor nations on HIV drugs by the end of 2005, but that target will not be met, BBC News reported.
Mental Health Screening Urged for Infants
About 10 percent of children ages 2 to 5 have a serious psychiatric illness, but most of those cases are not diagnosed, says a Duke University Medical Center researcher who urged mental health checks for infants.
Adrian Angold, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, studied 307 children in this age group and found that one in 10 had obvious symptoms of psychiatric illnesses, including anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, BBC News reported.
That rate is similar to that of older children and suggests that these psychiatric illnesses begin early in life, perhaps even in the womb, Angold said. He said it's essential to screen for and treat these disorders in babies and small children. Waiting until later in childhood or adulthood is too late and causes unnecessary distress and suffering, he said.
Angold presented the findings from the study at an Institute of Psychiatry meeting in London, England.
Food Fact:
Tater gallery.
A surprisingly small serving of sweet potatoes meets your entire daily needs for vitamin E. Most vitamin E-rich foods, such as vegetable oils, nuts and avocados, contain a hefty dose of fat, but just 2/3 cup of sweet potatoes provides 100% of your daily vitamin E needs, and it's virtually fat-free. A medium sweet potato has just 118 calories, and its orange-hued flesh is rich in cancer-fighting beta carotene. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin B6, potassium, iron and fiber -- pop one in the microwave for a great late afternoon snack.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Don't discount fitness.
Can't fit exercise into your schedule? Here's how to exercise when you shop, and buy a little extra time! Mall walking makes exercise feel less like a chore and more a part of daily life. When the weather is bad walk laps with a friend around your area mall -- a great cardiovascular workout. To find a mall-walking program in your area, contact the management office of your local mall.
FAQ of the day:
Why do food labels say "Less than" for some nutrients?
Eating too much of certain nutrients -- total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium -- may increase your risk of developing heart disease, so their Daily Value is given as an upper limit not to be exceeded, rather than an amount you should try to achieve. There's no problem if you exceed the Daily Value for fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron or calcium.
Health Tip: Be Careful Shoveling Snow
Although shoveling snow can count as moderate-to-heavy physical activity, studies show it can cause a quick rise in heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack in some people.
Here's a list of people who should limit or avoid shoveling snow, courtesy of North Dakota State University:
Anyone who has had a heart attack or heart disease.
People with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Smokers.
Those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
If you must shovel snow, dress in warm layers, avoid caffeine before beginning, stretch your muscles beforehand, and begin slowly. Shovelers should always pace themselves and listen to their bodies to know when to stop.
Health Tip: Snowboard Safely
Snowboarding may look cool and be lots of fun, but don't be fooled by the fluffy white stuff. You can end up badly hurt if you don't take the right precautions.
The American Academy of Family Physicians says the right equipment is paramount to avoiding injury.
Most snowboard injuries occur on the hands, wrists, buttocks and head. To protect the wrists, wear well-made wrist guards and make fists as you snowboard to reduce the possibility of injury to open hands.
And be sure to wear a helmet, especially while learning, racing and navigating unfamiliar trails.
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