Saturday, December 31, 2005

Health Headlines - December 31

Accutane Registry Created to Help Prevent Birth Defects

A long-awaited national registry has begun accepting the names of Americans who take the acne-fighting drug Accutane, part of a federal effort to limit its use by pregnant women because the medication has a high risk of birth defects.

Doctors, wholesalers and pharmacies had until Friday to register with the computerized "iPledge" registry if they want to continue prescribing or selling Accutane and any of the three generic versions of the drug, known as isotretinoin. Generic versions are sold as Amnesteem, Claravis or Sotret, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tried for more than 20 years to limit fetal exposure to the drug. The reason: If a woman uses Accutane during pregnancy -- or becomes pregnant within a month of taking the drug -- her baby runs a high risk of brain and heart defects or mental retardation, the AP said.

The drug is prescribed to about 100,000 Americans a month; patients typically take it for five to six months.

To receive the drug, Accutane users must now enroll by telephone at (866) 495-0654 or through the Internet at http://www.ipledgeprogram.com. They also must sign a document that tells them of the drug's risks, which also includes the chance of depression or suicidal thoughts, the AP said.

And women of childbearing age must undergo two pregnancy tests before they can be prescribed the drug, along with a monthly follow-up test before each refill. They also must agree to use two different forms of birth control at the same time or not to have intercourse for one month before starting the drug, during treatment and for one month after treatment has ended, according to the news service.

Company Says FDA Has OK'd its Sodium Treatment Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an intravenous drug for hospital patients suffering from potentially fatal depressed levels of sodium, the drug's manufacturer said Friday.

Astellas Pharma US Inc. said it would sell the drug, conivaptan hydrochloride, under the brand name Vaprisol, the Associated Press said.

The drug will be used to treat euvolemic hyponatremia, a condition that can occur in hospital patients suffering from syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH), advanced kidney failure, hypothyroidism, cancer and chronic high blood pressure, according to the Tokyo-based company. Euvolemic hyponatremia occurs when the body retains excessive amounts of water but not sodium, the AP said.

Hyponatremia is typically treated by administering diuretics, saline solution or restricting fluid intake. Vaprisol works by increasing urine output while stemming the loss of electrolytes, including sodium and potassium, the company said.

New Jersey Medical School Agrees to Financial Monitor

The nation's largest medical school, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), has appointed a monitor to oversee its finances amid a federal investigation into whether it committed Medicare and Medicaid fraud, the Associated Press reported.

UMDNJ agreed to the appointment last week after U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie threatened to indict the school and effectively shut it down, the wire service said.

The school's University Hospital has been under investigation for allegedly improperly billing Medicare and Medicaid, and for allegedly awarding millions of dollars in no-bid contracts, the AP said.

UMDNJ has already reimbursed the federal and state governments $2 million for the improper bills, the wire service said.

On Thursday, the school's trustees named Herb Stern, 69, a former federal prosecutor and judge, as its federal monitor. Stern led the grand jury probe into the 1965 killing of civil rights leader Malcolm X, the AP reported.

Women in Labor Should Push Less: Study

The delivery room doctor's traditional mantra to "push, push" is largely unnecessary and may even lead to bladder problems, a new study finds.

Some 320 women were divided into two groups, one of which was coached to push for 10 seconds during contractions, while the other was told to "do what comes naturally," according to a study account by the Chicago Sun-Times. Those who were urged to push ultimately had slightly less bladder capacity and more overactive bladder muscles, the newspaper reported of the study, to be published in January's American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

While the coached women spent an average of 13 fewer minutes in labor, the tradeoff was an increased risk of incontinence, wrote study author Dr. Steven Bloom, interim chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Coaching made no difference in prompting a woman's need for Cesarean section, forceps delivery, or episiotomy, the study found.

Millions of American Teens Depressed, Study Finds

Some 2.2 million teenagers in America experienced at least one major bout with depression in the past year, according to a federal report released Thursday.

Nearly one in 10 adolescents was affected during the past year by a depressive episode lasting at least two weeks, with symptoms including depressed mood, loss of interest, and problems with sleep, energy, concentration and self-image, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said in issuing the report.

"These new data serve as a wake-up call to parents. Mental health is a critical part of the overall health and wellbeing of their children," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a statement. "Unfortunately, less than half of these children received any help for their depression."

Some 12.3 percent of teens ages 16 or 17 suffered a major depressive bout in the last year, compared to 9 percent of those ages 14 or 15 and 5.4 percent of those ages 12 or 13, according to the report, titled "The National Survey on Drug Use and Health."

Affected teens were about twice as likely as other adolescents to have used illicit drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, the report found.

Food Fact:
Snacking is a must!


By changing the way you snack, you may make it easier to lose weight. Eating something every 3 - 4 hours sustains energy, helps build a day's worth of good nutrition, and prevents hunger that may lead to overeating. Stock your desk with the right stuff: Ready-to-eat whole-grain cereal; single-serving microwave popcorn, fruit juices or low-fat pudding; vanilla wafers, fig bars or ginger snaps without hydrogenated oils; instant oatmeal; applesauce; canned fruit (in its own juice).

Fitness Tip of the day:
Pedal to the medal.


Want to tone your lower body, enhance circulation and strengthen your heart today? Ride your bike! Regular cycling also improves your cholesterol profile, lowers your blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and helps control your weight.

FAQ of the day:
What are the best non-dairy sources of calcium?


If you're looking for good non-dairy sources of calcium, try kale, red kidney beans, figs, almonds, calcium-fortified breads and breakfast cereals, calcium-fortified orange juice, and tofu processed with calcium sulfate.

Friday, December 30, 2005

Health Headlines - December 30

New Jersey Medical School Agrees to Financial Monitor

The nation's largest medical school, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), has appointed a monitor to oversee its finances amid a federal investigation into whether it committed Medicare and Medicaid fraud, the Associated Press reported.

UMDNJ agreed to the appointment last week after U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie threatened to indict the school and effectively shut it down, the wire service said.

The school's University Hospital has been under investigation for allegedly improperly billing Medicare and Medicaid, and for allegedly awarding millions of dollars in no-bid contracts, the AP said.

UMDNJ has already reimbursed the federal and state governments $2 million for the improper bills, the wire service said.

On Thursday, the school's trustees named Herb Stern, 69, a former federal prosecutor and judge, as its federal monitor. Stern led the grand jury probe into the 1965 killing of civil rights leader Malcolm X, the AP reported.

Women in Labor Should Push Less: Study

The delivery room doctor's traditional mantra to "push, push" is largely unnecessary and may even lead to bladder problems, a new study finds.

Some 320 women were divided into two groups, one of which was coached to push for 10 seconds during contractions, while the other was told to "do what comes naturally," according to a study account by the Chicago Sun-Times. Those who were urged to push ultimately had slightly less bladder capacity and more overactive bladder muscles, the newspaper reported of the study, to be published in January's American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

While the coached women spent an average of 13 fewer minutes in labor, the tradeoff was an increased risk of incontinence, wrote study author Dr. Steven Bloom, interim chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Coaching made no difference in prompting a woman's need for Cesarean section, forceps delivery, or episiotomy, the study found.

Millions of American Teens Depressed, Study Finds

Some 2.2 million teenagers in America experienced at least one major bout with depression in the past year, according to a federal report released Thursday.

Nearly one in 10 adolescents was affected during the past year by a depressive episode lasting at least two weeks, with symptoms including depressed mood, loss of interest, and problems with sleep, energy, concentration and self-image, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said in issuing the report.

"These new data serve as a wake-up call to parents. Mental health is a critical part of the overall health and wellbeing of their children," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a statement. "Unfortunately, less than half of these children received any help for their depression."

Some 12.3 percent of teens ages 16 or 17 suffered a major depressive bout in the last year, compared to 9 percent of those ages 14 or 15 and 5.4 percent of those ages 12 or 13, according to the report, titled "The National Survey on Drug Use and Health."

Affected teens were about twice as likely as other adolescents to have used illicit drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, the report found.

S. Korean Scientist Fabricated Landmark Stem Cell Research: Panel

South Korean scientist Dr. Hwan Woo-suk could present no evidence at all to corroborate his landmark research on producing genetically matched stem cells from cloned human embryos, a Seoul university panel announced Thursday.

The announcement by the panel from Seoul National University suggested that Hwang fabricated all the research published in the journal Science, The New York Times reported.

"So far we could not find any stem cells regarding Dr. Hwang's 2005 paper that genetically match the DNA of patients," said Roe Jung Hye, the university's dean of research affairs, in a statement. "According to our judgment, Dr. Hwang's team doesn't have scientific data to prove that it has produced such stem cells."

The latest revelation added more skepticism to Hwang's claim that he had the technology to clone human embryos and extract stem cells from them, which would be a breakthrough in the quest to help patients with hard-to-treat diseases produce their own tissues.

There was no immediate comment from Hwang, who apologized last week for falsifications in his paper and resigned from the university, the newspaper reported.

The university committee investigating allegations of fabrications had said last week that Hwang falsified data for 9 of the 11 patient-derived embryonic stem cell lines in his June paper. Of the remaining two lines, the panel had said it did not yet know whether they had been derived from patients or from fertilized human eggs.

In its follow-up report Thursday, the committee, citing extensive DNA tests, said that none of the stem cells Hwang said he had created was produced through cloning. All the samples presented for the paper that still exist in his laboratory were stem cells extracted from fertilized human eggs at Seoul's MizMedi Hospital, which participated in the research, Roe said.

Apparently anticipating such an outcome, Hwang had claimed that his authentic stem cells were stolen from his lab and were replaced with MizMedi samples, the Times said.

The panel is still investigating Hwang's 2004 research on cloning and the authenticity of what he claimed in August was the world's first cloned dog.

Drug Approved to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence

The Novartis drug Femara (letrozole) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent recurrence of hormone-sensitive early breast cancer among post-menopausal women.

The Dec. 29 New England Journal of Medicine includes study findings that Femara was more effective at preventing breast cancer relapse when used as an initial therapy after surgery than tamoxifen, a standard breast cancer preventive. The study was funded by Novartis.

Femara showed its greatest benefit among women whose breast cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes, and among women who had undergone chemotherapy, Novartis said in a statement.

Femara is an aromatase inhibitor, a class of drugs that blocks production of the female hormone estrogen, which is thought to spur most post-menopausal breast cancers. The drug should only be taken by post-menopausal women, Novartis warned, since aromatase inhibitors aren't thought to be effective before then. The drug could also cause fetal harm, the company said.

Common side effects of taking Femara include hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, and weight gain, Novartis said.

Femara is already approved by the FDA to treat advanced breast cancer.

Food Fact:
Beat the low-energy blues.


Eat the right stuff at lunch, and you can cancel those desperate 3 p.m. coffee runs. The building blocks: Minimally processed carbohydrates (whole-wheat bread, whole-grain crackers, pasta, brown rice or bulgur); protein (lean chicken or turkey breast, low-fat or fat-free cheese, canned tuna or salmon); any fruit and/or any vegetable; and low-fat dairy (yogurt, pudding, certain low-fat cheeses, skim milk).

Fitness Tip of the day:
Mind over yoga mat-ters.


Increase confidence, control stress and promote peace of mind -- it's all in the poses. Yoga also improves your posture and circulation, and increases your flexibility, strength and coordination. Many cities have a yoga association that provides information about various types of classes. Check the Yellow Pages under "yoga instruction," or call a local fitness center for the names of studios. The cost is typically $15 to $20 per class, with discounts for multiple classes.

FAQ of the day:
Do men need more calcium?


Guys, you need to bone up on your calcium totals, too. Osteoporosis occurs far more often in women, and since increasing calcium intake is one way to lower risk, it's often framed as a "woman's issue." But men also have good reasons to maintain optimal calcium intake. Many studies suggest that calcium helps regulate blood pressure. Other research suggests that dietary calcium lowers risk of colon cancer, the third leading cancer for both men and women. Intake for men should not exceed 2,000mg per day, as a recent study linked elevated levels with increased risk of prostate cancer.

AZZ Cardfile - Health Tips by Meredy

AZZ Cardfile software

Download the AZZ Cardfile program. - http://www.azzcardfile.com/dl/azz32csetup.exe

Then download "Health Tips by Meredy," unzip it and open the file inside the zip using the AZZ Cardfile program.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Health Headlines - December 29

S. Korean Scientist Fabricated Landmark Stem Cell Research: Panel

South Korean scientist Dr. Hwan Woo-suk could present no evidence at all to corroborate his landmark research on producing genetically matched stem cells from cloned human embryos, a Seoul university panel announced Thursday.

The announcement by the panel from Seoul National University suggested that Hwang fabricated all the research published in the journal Science, The New York Times reported.

"So far we could not find any stem cells regarding Dr. Hwang's 2005 paper that genetically match the DNA of patients," said Roe Jung Hye, the university's dean of research affairs, in a statement. "According to our judgment, Dr. Hwang's team doesn't have scientific data to prove that it has produced such stem cells."

The latest revelation added more skepticism to Hwang's claim that he had the technology to clone human embryos and extract stem cells from them, which would be a breakthrough in the quest to help patients with hard-to-treat diseases produce their own tissues.

There was no immediate comment from Hwang, who apologized last week for falsifications in his paper and resigned from the university, the newspaper reported.

The university committee investigating allegations of fabrications had said last week that Hwang falsified data for 9 of the 11 patient-derived embryonic stem cell lines in his June paper. Of the remaining two lines, the panel had said it did not yet know whether they had been derived from patients or from fertilized human eggs.

In its follow-up report Thursday, the committee, citing extensive DNA tests, said that none of the stem cells Hwang said he had created was produced through cloning. All the samples presented for the paper that still exist in his laboratory were stem cells extracted from fertilized human eggs at Seoul's MizMedi Hospital, which participated in the research, Roe said.

Apparently anticipating such an outcome, Hwang had claimed that his authentic stem cells were stolen from his lab and were replaced with MizMedi samples, the Times said.

The panel is still investigating Hwang's 2004 research on cloning and the authenticity of what he claimed in August was the world's first cloned dog.

Drug Approved to Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence

The Novartis drug Femara (letrozole) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent recurrence of hormone-sensitive early breast cancer among post-menopausal women.

The Dec. 29 New England Journal of Medicine includes study findings that Femara was more effective at preventing breast cancer relapse when used as an initial therapy after surgery than tamoxifen, a standard breast cancer preventive. The study was funded by Novartis.

Femara showed its greatest benefit among women whose breast cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes, and among women who had undergone chemotherapy, Novartis said in a statement.

Femara is an aromatase inhibitor, a class of drugs that blocks production of the female hormone estrogen, which is thought to spur most post-menopausal breast cancers. The drug should only be taken by post-menopausal women, Novartis warned, since aromatase inhibitors aren't thought to be effective before then. The drug could also cause fetal harm, the company said.

Common side effects of taking Femara include hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, and weight gain, Novartis said.

Femara is already approved by the FDA to treat advanced breast cancer.

U.S.: Climate of Fear Plagued L.A. Liver Transplant Program

The liver transplant program at St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles was plagued by a climate of "fear and retribution" that prevented staffers from revealing the program's serious inadequacies, according to a federal report cited by the Los Angeles Times.

The 99-page report by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that the hospital did not comply with eight conditions required by hospitals receiving federal funding, the newspaper said. Based on hospital records, there was no proof that some patients received a physical examination or, in some cases, were even reviewed by a selection committee before being added to the transplant list, the Times reported.

St. Vincent closed its liver transplant program following its admission in September that its doctors had improperly arranged for a September 2003 transplant to a Saudi man using an organ that was supposed to have gone to a person who was higher on the hospital's priority list.

The transplant was not revealed until two years later when the hospital was responding to a routine audit, the newspaper said.

The hospital acknowledged that a number of staff members knew about the incident but "participated in [an alleged] coverup," the Times reported.

Inspectors cited several instances "in which transplant staff members said they were asked to falsify documents," the Times reported.

Americans Are More Miserable, Survey Finds

In this season of what's supposed to be comfort and joy, a new University of Chicago poll suggests that many Americans are more miserable now than they were 15 years ago.

More Americans are reporting incidents of illness, inability to afford medical care, and unstable romantic relationships than when the school's National Opinion Research Center conducted its first "Negative Life Events" survey nearly 15 years ago, the school said in a statement.

Seventeen percent of this year's respondents said they had been a patient in a health-care facility, versus 14 percent in 1991. Eleven percent said they couldn't afford needed medical care, compared with 7 percent in 1991, and 18 percent said they lacked health insurance, compared with 12 percent in the earlier poll.

Nearly 7 percent in the most recent survey said they were separated from a partner, compared with 5 percent in 1991. More of the recent respondents also cited unemployment and pressure to pay bills than in the earlier poll.

Bright spots in the new survey included drops in legal problems, incidents of infertility, and not having a car for a month or longer, the school found.

New Treatment Sanctioned for Bone Marrow Disorder

The Celgene Corp. drug Revlimid (lenalidomide) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a certain form of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow abnormality.

MDS is a collection of disorders in which the bone marrow doesn't function properly and the body doesn't make enough normal blood cells. Patients often need blood and platelet transfusions and antibiotics to treat infections, the FDA said.

In clinical trials, most MDS patients with deletion 5q cytogenic abnormality didn't require as many transfusions three months after starting treatment with the drug, the agency said.

Some 7,000 to 12,000 cases of MDS are diagnosed each year in the United States. People over age 60 are most susceptible to the disease, whose symptoms include weakness, fatigue, infections, easy bruising, bleeding and fever.

Revlimid is similar to thalidomide, a drug proven to cause severe birth defects. Celgene is still conducting studies to determine if pregnant Revlimid users are subject to similar risks, the agency said.

Protect your ears: limit iPod use

The ever-popular earbuds used with many iPods and other MP3 players may be more stylish than the bigger and bulkier earmuff-type headphones, but they may also be more damaging to one's hearing, according to a Northwestern professor.

"No one really knows for sure" the levels at which iPod users listen to music, but "what we do know is that young people like their music loud and seldom worry about any decline in hearing ability," Dean Garstecki, chairman of Northwestern's communication sciences and disorders department, told Reuters Health.

The earbuds commonly used by iPod listeners are placed directly into the ear and can boost the audio signal by as many as nine decibels -- comparable to the difference in sound intensity between an alarm clock and a lawn mower, Garstecki said. Yet, the earbuds do not always fit snugly in the ear, but often allow background noise to seep in, which causes listeners to crank up the volume.

In turning up the volume to drown out background noise, however, people "don't realize they may be causing some damage" to their hearing, Garstecki said.

This danger is not confined to MP3 users, such as iPod owners. Earbuds are also used with compact disc players and Walkmans. Audiologists have cautioned about the potential risk of hearing loss associated with such devices since the 1980s. The longer battery life and the greater music storage capacity of MP3 players, in comparison to Walkmans and compact discs, however, encourage longer periods of uninterrupted music listening.

"It's the combination of high intensity and long duration that creates the unique problem with the iPod," Garstecki said.

Various researchers have reported an increased risk of hearing loss associated with headphone use in the general population. Despite this, an MTV survey conducted earlier this year revealed that most teens and young adults do not think hearing loss from loud music is a big problem, even though over half of those surveyed said they experienced ringing in their ears after concerts. When told that the loud music may lead to lifelong hearing loss, however, most of the survey participants said they would consider protective measures in the future.

Eliminating iPod earbuds in favor of larger earmuff-style headphones as one of those protective measures may be an unattractive option for many style-conscious music lovers. Instead, Garstecki recommends adherence to the 60 percent/30 minute rule. Listeners should set their iPods and other MP3 players to sound levels that are no more than 60 percent of the maximum volume -- i.e. just over halfway between "off" and "maximum" volume -- and use their earbuds for no more than 30 minutes a day.

Those who use muff-style headphones at 60 percent volume can increase the duration to an hour a day, and those who listen at volumes significantly lower than 60 percent of the maximum can use their music players for many more hours. Also, newer, more snug-fitting earbuds are "likely to be safer" if they prevent users from turning up the volume to eliminate background noise, Garstecki said.

"It's when you start cranking it up that you have to limit the dosage," he explained.

Noise-canceling headphones are another option for those who desire to listen to music for an extended period of time. These devices, while a bit more costly and more visible than earbuds, partially or fully eliminate background noise so that users do not have to crank up the volume of their music for that purpose.

Food Fact:
Lose 15 lbs. this year.


One important change in your lunchtime routine can make all the difference. In one study, women who ate at least five restaurant/takeout meals a week took in almost 300 more calories a day than women who ate out less often, with a larger proportion of calories from fat. Over a year's time, those calories can add up to an extra 15 - 20 pounds. Try bringing lunch from home -- not only will it help you lose weight, but it'll fatten your wallet by cutting down on expenses!

Fitness Tip of the day:
Tai chic.


Secrets from the far east can speed healing after a heart attack and help prevent future ones. The ancient Chinese exercise regimen tai chi combines movement, breathing and meditation. It can improve balance, muscular strength and agility; increase energy and range of motion in arthritic joints; reduce stress; promote serenity and lower your blood pressure.

FAQ of the day:
Is it better for me to eat cruciferous vegetables raw?


Cooking affects the cancer-protective compounds in cruciferous vegetables to a degree. The sulforophane in broccoli is fairly stable in the presence of heat, although cooking it for a long time will diminish it. Stick with quick-cook methods, such as steaming or boiling in a small quantity of water, if you can. The protective compound in watercress, PEITC, is present in cooked watercress, though at greatly diminished levels compared with raw watercress. But studies in people who've eaten cooked watercress show that some PEITC remains active.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Health Headlines - December 28

U.S.: Climate of Fear Plagued L.A. Liver Transplant Program

The liver transplant program at St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles was plagued by a climate of "fear and retribution" that prevented staffers from revealing the program's serious inadequacies, according to a federal report cited by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.

The 99-page report by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that the hospital did not comply with eight conditions required by hospitals receiving federal funding, the newspaper said. Based on hospital records, there was no proof that some patients received a physical examination or, in some cases, were even reviewed by a selection committee before being added to the transplant list, the Times reported.

St. Vincent closed its liver transplant program following its admission in September that its doctors had improperly arranged for a September 2003 transplant to a Saudi man using an organ that was supposed to have gone to a person who was higher on the hospital's priority list.

The transplant was not revealed until two years later when the hospital was responding to a routine audit, the newspaper said.

The hospital acknowledged that a number of staff members knew about the incident but "participated in [an alleged] coverup," the Times reported. "One staff member stated that the transplant director at the time had a 'my way or the highway' attitude that prevented staff from raising any concerns," the newspaper said.

Inspectors cited several instances "in which transplant staff members said they were asked to falsify documents," the Times reported.

The hospital said it has taken corrective action that included establishing a transplant committee that reports to the hospital's governing board, providing additional training to transplant team members, and creating a hotline for workers concerned about medical quality, the newspaper said.

Americans Are More Miserable, Survey Finds

In this season of what's supposed to be comfort and joy, a new University of Chicago poll suggests that many Americans are more miserable now than they were 15 years ago.

More Americans are reporting incidents of illness, inability to afford medical care, and unstable romantic relationships than when the school's National Opinion Research Center conducted its first "Negative Life Events" survey nearly 15 years ago, the school said in a statement.

Seventeen percent of this year's respondents said they had been a patient in a health-care facility, versus 14 percent in 1991. Eleven percent said they couldn't afford needed medical care, compared with 7 percent in 1991, and 18 percent said they lacked health insurance, compared with 12 percent in the earlier poll.

Nearly 7 percent in the most recent survey said they were separated from a partner, compared with 5 percent in 1991. More of the recent respondents also cited unemployment and pressure to pay bills than in the earlier poll.

Bright spots in the new survey included drops in legal problems, incidents of infertility, and not having a car for a month or longer, the school found.

New Treatment Sanctioned for Bone Marrow Disorder

The Celgene Corp. drug Revlimid (lenalidomide) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a certain form of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow abnormality.

MDS is a collection of disorders in which the bone marrow doesn't function properly and the body doesn't make enough normal blood cells. Patients often need blood and platelet transfusions and antibiotics to treat infections, the FDA said.

In clinical trials, most MDS patients with deletion 5q cytogenic abnormality didn't require as many transfusions three months after starting treatment with the drug, the agency said.

Some 7,000 to 12,000 cases of MDS are diagnosed each year in the United States. People over age 60 are most susceptible to the disease, whose symptoms include weakness, fatigue, infections, easy bruising, bleeding and fever.

Revlimid is similar to thalidomide, a drug proven to cause severe birth defects. Celgene is still conducting studies to determine if pregnant Revlimid users are subject to similar risks, the agency said. Until the results are known, the FDA said, the company is marketing the drug under a program designed to prevent fetal exposure.

Defibrillator Maker Gets FDA Warning

Guidant, the maker of implantable heart defibrillators and pacemakers, said Tuesday that it had received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about unresolved issues that arose from an inspection of the company's operations in St. Paul, Minn., according to a company statement.

The letter from the FDA appears to indicate that Guidant has not been able to satisfactorily address the 15 observations the agency cited after a Sept. 1 inspection of the company's operations, The New York Times reported. The FDA's citations were first disclosed on Sept. 22 and the company had said then that it had answered the concerns.

Since June, Guidant has recalled or issued warnings for about 88,000 heart defibrillators and almost 200,000 pacemakers because of reported malfunctions. The company is under investigation by federal and state officials and faces dozens of lawsuits over its recalls, according to the Associated Press.

The latest FDA letter, which Guidant said it received on Dec. 23, says the agency will be demanding further action on its observations and would not grant requests for exportation certificates to foreign governments until those actions have been completed.

News of the letter comes on the heels of a New York Times report that said Guidant officials were aware that its defibrillators had deficiencies that could be "life threatening."

The newspaper, which has been tracking the problems with the defibrillator since the company recalled the model known as the Prizm 2 DR in June, reports that internal documents written in 2002 indicated that some patients might die because of short circuits. But the company never publicized the possible defect because its experts decided that the overall failure rate was acceptable.

The documents became public when they were filed last week in a Texas personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits have also been filed in Pennsylvania and New York.

China to Produce 1 Billion Doses of Avian Flu Vaccine

China plans to produce 1 billion doses of a newly developed live vaccine and vaccinate all 14.2 billion farm poultry in the country to prevent fresh outbreaks of avian influenza and diminish the risk of a potential pandemic.

China approved the production and storage of the recombinant bivalent vaccine on Dec. 23, according to the Beijing-based Ministry of Agriculture's Web site. The vaccine can be applied by injection, through nasal sprays, eye drops and mixed in drinking water, Bloomberg news reported.

The development of the vaccine took four years for scientists at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the China Daily reported on its Web site, citing Chief Veterinary Officer Jia Youling.

Avian fluhas infected at least 141 people in Asia since 2003, killing at least 73 of them, the World Health Organization said on its Web site.

Food Fact:
Is apple juice healthy?


It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Fitting in fitness.


Going on a business trip? Make a pact with yourself to exercise -- it's easy when you plan ahead. Before you leave on your next trip, call health clubs in the area you'll be visiting and find one that offers a day pass. Ask the hotel concierge to suggest safe running/walking routes near your hotel, and maybe provide maps. Or, simply walk to a room on a higher floor, and you won't need to reserve a stair climber in the gym.

FAQ of the day:
What makes apples so nutritious?


Apples are rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids such as quercetin, anthocyanins, catechins and ellagic acid. Fresh apples can have three times as many polyphenols as the same weight of oranges. Raw apples are richer in phytochemicals than cooked apples or apple juice. An apple is also an excellent source of fiber, primarily the cholesterol-lowering soluble kind.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Health Headlines - December 27

Defibrillator Maker Gets FDA Warning

Guidant, the maker of implantable heart defibrillators and pacemakers, said Tuesday that it had received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about unresolved issues that arose from an inspection of the company's operations in St. Paul, Minn., according to a company statement.

The letter from the FDA appears to indicate that Guidant has not been able to satisfactorily address the 15 observations the agency cited after a Sept. 1 inspection of the company's operations, The New York Times reported. The FDA's citations were first disclosed on Sept. 22 and the company had said then that it had answered the concerns.

Since June, Guidant has recalled or issued warnings for about 88,000 heart defibrillators and almost 200,000 pacemakers because of reported malfunctions. The company is under investigation by federal and state officials and faces dozens of lawsuits over its recalls, according to the Associated Press.

The latest FDA letter, which Guidant said it received on Dec. 23, says the agency will be demanding further action on its observations and would not grant requests for exportation certificates to foreign governments until those actions have been completed.

News of the letter comes on the heels of a New York Times report that said Guidant officials were aware that its defibrillators had deficiencies that could be "life threatening."

The newspaper, which has been tracking the problems with the defibrillator since the company recalled the model known as the Prizm 2 DR in June, reports that internal documents written in 2002 indicated that some patients might die because of short circuits. But the company never publicized the possible defect because its experts decided that the overall failure rate was acceptable.

The documents became public when they were filed last week in a Texas personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits have also been filed in Pennsylvania and New York.

China to Produce 1 Billion Doses of Avian Flu Vaccine

China plans to produce 1 billion doses of a newly developed live vaccine and vaccinate all 14.2 billion farm poultry in the country to prevent fresh outbreaks of avian influenza and diminish the risk of a potential pandemic.

China approved the production and storage of the recombinant bivalent vaccine on Dec. 23, according to the Beijing-based Ministry of Agriculture's Web site. The vaccine can be applied by injection, through nasal sprays, eye drops and mixed in drinking water, Bloomberg news reported.

The development of the vaccine took four years for scientists at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the China Daily reported on its Web site, citing Chief Veterinary Officer Jia Youling.

Avian fluhas infected at least 141 people in Asia since 2003, killing at least 73 of them, the World Health Organization said on its Web site.

China has reportedly vaccinated 6.85 billion birds, with more than 5 billion of them immunized since October.

Grapefruit Fights Gum Disease, Study Shows

Eating two grapefruits a day for two weeks appears to significantly cut gum bleeding for people who have gum disease, new research from Germany shows.

The researchers from Friedrich Schiller University said the grapefruit increases blood levels of vitamin C, which is known to promote wound healing and cut damage by unstable free radical molecules.

The study of 58 people with chronic gum disease, published in the British Dental Journal, showed that eating grapefruit had a positive effect on both smokers and non-smokers, the BBC reported. Smoking is known to increase the risk of gum disease.

At the start of the two-week study, virtually all those taking part had low levels of vitamin C in their blood plasma. On average, smokers' vitamin C level was 29 per cent lower than that for non-smokers. Eating two grapefruits a day raised vitamin C levels for all everyone.

In smokers, the level almost doubled, but because they started from a lower baseline, their average vitamin C level was still lower than that recorded in the non-smokers.

New England Flu Vaccine Distribution Inadequate, Report Says

This season's supply of flu vaccine in New England is probably sufficient, but it's not being distributed properly, according to a story in the Boston Globe.

The newspaper reports that thousands of unused doses of flu shots have been returned by hospitals and clinics and now have to be quickly redistributed if they are going to be effective. As many as 10,000 doses have been returned to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for redistribution to doctors and facilities that didn't get enough, the Globe reports. Connecticut's health department sent about 950 doses of flu vaccine last month to a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, which had exhausted its supply, the newspaper reports.

Flu vaccine distribution doesn't flow smoothly, the Globe reports, because it isn't controlled by the U.S. government. An aggregate of private companies and some government agencies handle supply and demand. "We've seen proof that leaving something as essential as the flu vaccine supply in the hands almost entirely of the market forces is grossly inadequate and certainly would lead to a great tragedy if we had a truly severe season," the newspaper quotes Dr. Dora Mills, Maine's top health officer, as saying.

Poor Nutrition Hurts Early School Achievement, Study Shows

The lack of proper nutrition plays a negative role in academic development in young children, a Cornell University study says, especially in reading skills.

Published in the December issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the research, which examined what scientists call "food insecurity," found that "reading development, in particular, is affected in girls, though the mathematical skills of food-insecure children entering kindergarten also tend to develop significantly more slowly than other children's," said Edward Frongillo, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell. Frongillo and his colleagues define families with food insecurity as "households having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate or safe foods."

The research also indicates that young girls in the primary grades whose families once were food secure no longer are have difficulty adjusting socially. "We found that kindergarten girls from food-insecure families tend to gain more weight than other girls, which may put them at risk for obesity as adults," Frongillo said.

The Cornell study was conducted over a four year period, using statistics from the U.S. Department of Education of 21,000 children who started kindergarten in 1998.

Food Fact:
Is apple juice healthy?


It's better than soda -- but it still shortchanges you and your kids. Whole apples have lots of fiber that's missing from juice, which is mostly water and sugar. An apple has just 80 calories, making it a great choice to satisfy between-meal hunger.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Touch-tone up!


Some of the best opportunities to burn calories arise as you're talking on the phone. Stand up and do front, back or side leg lifts while you chat. Add ankle weights for greater toning and calorie-burning effects. Stand on tip toes for as long as you can until the muscle starts to burn. If you're on a cordless, walk throughout your conversation. Or grab a heavy can of food and do alternating bicep curls for tighter arms. For a firmer butt, lean against the wall and sit on an imaginary chair.

FAQ of the day:
Are beans good for weight loss?


If you replace high-calorie proteins such as meat and cheese with legumes, then eating more grain or bean dishes will help you cut your caloric intake. But remember that beans have more calories than green vegetables. A cup of black beans cooked without fat has about 230 calories, while a cup of steamed chopped broccoli has only about 45. So use modest portions of legumes for protein, and bulk up your dinners with fresh vegetables.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Health Headlines - December 26

Documents Show Company Knew of Defibrillator's "Life-Threatening" Problems

Officials of a company that makes an electronic device designed to shock an irregular heartbeat back to normal were aware that it had deficiencies that could be "life threatening," The New York Times reports.

The newspaper, which has been tracking the problems with Guidant Corporation's defibrillator since the company recalled the model known as the Prizm 2 DR in June, reports that internal documents written in 2002 indicated that some patients might die because of short circuits. But the company never publicized the possible defect because its experts decided that the overall failure rate was acceptable.

The documents became public when they were filed last week in a Texas personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits have also been filed in Pennsylvania and New York.

The issue came to public attention in May when the Times reported that Guidant had not told doctors for three years about more than two dozen cases in which its implantable defibrillator models, the Prizm 2 DR, had short-circuited and failed. Further tests revealed similar problems with two other Guidant heart devices, the Contak Renewal and Contak Renewal 2.

New England Flu Vaccine Distribution Inadequate, Report Says

This season's supply of flu vaccine in New England is probably sufficient, but it's not being distributed properly, according to a story in the Boston Globe.

The newspaper reports that thousands of unused doses of flu shots have been returned by hospitals and clinics and now have to be quickly redistributed if they are going to be effective. As many as 10,000 doses have been returned to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for redistribution to doctors and facilities that didn't get enough, the Globe reports. Connecticut's health department sent about 950 doses of flu vaccine last month to a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, which had exhausted its supply, the newspaper reports.

Flu vaccine distribution doesn't flow smoothly, the Globe reports, because it isn't controlled by the U.S. government. An aggregate of private companies and some government agencies handle supply and demand. "We've seen proof that leaving something as essential as the flu vaccine supply in the hands almost entirely of the market forces is grossly inadequate and certainly would lead to a great tragedy if we had a truly severe season," the newspaper quotes Dr. Dora Mills, Maine's top health officer, as saying.

Fired NIH Whistle-Blower Reinstated

Dr. Jonathan Fishbein, a medical safety expert hired in 2003 by the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health and fired less than three years later after raising concerns about at least one AIDS project, has been re-hired.

The Associated Press, which reported on the problems of many government whistle-blowers in 2005, reports that Fishbein was reinstated Dec. 12.

According to the wire service, Fishbein has been assigned as special assistant to the deputy director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, but that he probably would not resume his previous duties. Among the NIH procedures he reported as wrong or deficient were a number of medical studies, including AIDS testing. Fishbein also filed a formal complaint a division manager, alleging sexual harassment of subordinates.

At first, the NIH said Fishbein was fired for poor performance. But the A.P. reported that he had been recommended for a cash performance just a few weeks before he was fired.

A subsequent internal NIH investigation substantiated many of Fishbein's criticisms, the wire service says.

Poor Nutrition Hurts Early School Achievement, Study Shows

The lack of proper nutrition plays a negative role in academic development in young children, a Cornell University study says, especially in reading skills.

Published in the December issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the research, which examined what scientists call "food insecurity," found that "reading development, in particular, is affected in girls, though the mathematical skills of food-insecure children entering kindergarten also tend to develop significantly more slowly than other children's," said Edward Frongillo, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell. Frongillo and his colleagues define families with food insecurity as "households having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate or safe foods."

The research also indicates that young girls in the primary grades whose families once were food secure no longer are have difficulty adjusting socially. "We found that kindergarten girls from food-insecure families tend to gain more weight than other girls, which may put them at risk for obesity as adults," Frongillo said.

The Cornell study was conducted over a four year period, using statistics from the U.S. Department of Education of 21,000 children who started kindergarten in 1998.

New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Approved, Maker Says

A drug that fights painful rheumatoid arthritis by limiting a signal in a person's immune system has received government approval, its manufacturer has announced.

Bristol-Myers Squibb says the medication with the generic name of abatacept (marketed as Orencia) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Dec. 23.

In clinical trials published in the Sept. 15, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine abatacept more than doubled the odds that someone with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis had at least a 20 percent improvement in symptoms.

"Rheumatoid arthritis patients should be optimistic because there's now another option that works well, even where other drugs haven't," Dr. Mark Genovese, an associate professor of medicine and the associate division chief in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University, told HealthDay. Genovese is the lead author of the study and also a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

More than 2 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. As the disease progresses, loss of movement and function in the affected joints can occur.

Current treatment options include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain relievers; oral steroids; anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate; and biologic response modifiers, such as etanercept and infliximab, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

According to Genovese, abatacept works by blocking a signal that fully activates the immune system's T-cells. Because the drug modifies the response of the immune system, the risk of infection is potentially increased.

Food Fact:
Apples: A core curriculum.


An apple a day keeps the doctor away -- too bad Americans only eat about one per week. Apples are packed with fiber: One medium apple (including skin) provides one-fifth (5g) of the average daily needs. Most of an apple's dietary fiber is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol. Apples also promote a healthy heart. Apple skin is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals called flavonoids, which may slice the risk of coronary disease.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Gotta move...


Fitting extra activity into your day is effortless when you make a few key choices. Take three examples: 1) Instead of sitting at a movie for two hours, go bowling. 2) Leave your car home and walk to public transportation. 3) Hide the remote control and get up every time you want to change channels.

FAQ of the day:
Is apple juice safe for my toddler?


Apple juice is safe for toddlers, but don't overdo it. Too many calories from apple or other juices can crowd out more nutritious food. In one study of children ages 2 - 5, those who drank more than 12 oz. of juice a day tended to weigh more and be shorter than those who drank less. Pediatric experts advise that parents not feed fruit juice to an infant in his or her first year, and limit daily consumption afterward to less than 12 oz. Here's a tip: Dilute fruit juice with an equal part of water, so an 8-oz. bottle or cup delivers only 4 oz. of juice.

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Health Headlines - December 25

Fired NIH Whistle-Blower Reinstated

Dr. Jonathan Fishbein, a medical safety expert hired in 2003 by the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health and fired less than three years later after raising concerns about at least one AIDS project, has been re-hired.

The Associated Press, which reported on the problems of many government whistle-blowers in 2005, reports that Fishbein was reinstated Dec. 12.

According to the wire service, Fishbein has been assigned as special assistant to the deputy director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, but that he probably would not resume his previous duties. Among the NIH procedures he reported as wrong or deficient were a number of medical studies, including AIDS testing. Fishbein also filed a formal complaint a division manager, alleging sexual harassment of subordinates.

At first, the NIH said Fishbein was fired for poor performance. But the A.P. reported that he had been recommended for a cash performance just a few weeks before he was fired.

A subsequent internal NIH investigation substantiated many of Fishbein's criticisms, the wire service says.

Poor Nutrition Hurts Early School Achievement, Study Shows

The lack of proper nutrition plays a negative role in academic development in young children, a Cornell University study says, especially in reading skills.

Published in the December issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the research, which examined what scientists call "food insecurity," found that "reading development, in particular, is affected in girls, though the mathematical skills of food-insecure children entering kindergarten also tend to develop significantly more slowly than other children's," said Edward Frongillo, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell. Frongillo and his colleagues define families with food insecurity as "households having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate or safe foods."

The research also indicates that young girls in the primary grades whose families once were food secure no longer are have difficulty adjusting socially. "We found that kindergarten girls from food-insecure families tend to gain more weight than other girls, which may put them at risk for obesity as adults," Frongillo said.

The Cornell study was conducted over a four year period, using statistics from the U.S. Department of Education of 21,000 children who started kindergarten in 1998.

New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Approved, Maker Says

A drug that fights painful rheumatoid arthritis by limiting a signal in a person's immune system has received government approval, its manufacturer has announced.

Bristol-Myers Squibb says the medication with the generic name of abatacept (marketed as Orencia) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Dec. 23.

In clinical trials published in the Sept. 15, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine abatacept more than doubled the odds that someone with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis had at least a 20 percent improvement in symptoms.

"Rheumatoid arthritis patients should be optimistic because there's now another option that works well, even where other drugs haven't," Dr. Mark Genovese, an associate professor of medicine and the associate division chief in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University, told HealthDay. Genovese is the lead author of the study and also a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

More than 2 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. As the disease progresses, loss of movement and function in the affected joints can occur.

Current treatment options include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain relievers; oral steroids; anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate; and biologic response modifiers, such as etanercept and infliximab, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

According to Genovese, abatacept works by blocking a signal that fully activates the immune system's T-cells. Because the drug modifies the response of the immune system, the risk of infection is potentially increased.

9 Families Sue UC Liver Transplant Program

The families of nine people who died while waiting for new organs from the University of California at Irvine liver transplant program have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school.

The suit was filed Friday against the University of California, Irvine, (UCI) Medical Center, as well as some of its doctors, the former chief of the transplant program, and the University of California regents, the Associated Press reported.

The school shut the program last month in the wake of a federal government report's findings that the program had a one-year survival rate of 68 percent - 70 percent between July 2001 and June 2004. The minimum federal requirement is 77 percent, the AP said. In addition, more than 30 patients died awaiting transplants over the past two years, according to federal data cited by the wire service.

The federal report was filed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Nov. 10, according to the AP, which also reported that the hospital allegedly performed "far fewer than the 12 transplants per year required by the government for federal reimbursement."

Attorney Larry Eisenberg, who filed Friday's lawsuit in Orange County Court, alleged that the UCI program continued to accept patients even though its officials knew they didn't have the capability to perform transplants, the AP reported. Eisenberg also alleged that the program at one time did not have a liver transplant surgeon on staff, the wire service said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified general and wrongful death damages.

Stem Cell Research Faked: Report

South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo Suk faked at least nine of the 11 stem cell lines he claimed to have created, a Seoul National University expert panel said Friday when it announced findings from its investigation into the controversy.

In response to the panel's report, Hwang resigned his post at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment," Hwang told reporters as he left his university office.

In a study published in the journal Science in May, Hwang said he used cloned human embryos to create 11 stem cell lines matched to specific patients. Recently, Hwang has been plagued by accusations that his research had been faked.

In its report, the university's panel concluded that "the laboratory data for 11 stem cell lines that were reported in the 2005 paper were all data made using two stem cell lines in total."

DNA tests are currently being conducted to determine if the two remaining stem cell lines were actually successfully cloned from a patient, the Associated Press reported.

The panel said that Hwang faked DNA results purporting to show a match by splitting cells from one patient into two test tubes for the analysis, rather than actually matching cloned cells to a patient's original cells.

Food Fact:
The extraordinary berry.


Adding berries to your diet may help you stay sharp to a ripe old age. Studies have shown nutrient-rich berries may diminish the cognitive decline associated with aging. Berries are powerful antioxidants. Raspberries have as much antioxidant power as spinach -- strawberries have even more, and blueberries have twice as much.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Nature's way.


Don't get mad next time someone tells you to "Take a hike!" -- thank them for the good fitness advice! Hiking gets you out in a natural environment, promotes relaxation and enhances creativity, not to mention toning your legs, buttocks and back muscles.

FAQ of the day:
If I have 4 oz. of raw meat, how much is it when cooked?


Apply these rules of thumb to convert raw quantities of meat to the cooked amount whenever you shop or review restaurant menus:Raw meat with no bone: 4 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked.Raw meat with bone: 5 oz. raw = 3 oz. cooked.Raw poultry with skin: 4 to 4 1/2 oz. = 3 oz. cooked. The extra 1/4 to 1/2 oz. accounts for the skin (which you should remove before eating to cut out lots of fat).

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Drug Expiration Dates: Take Them Seriously

You grab an aspirin or uncover a prescription drug that used to soothe your back pain -- and then notice the expiration date is long past.

Should you use the medicine, or not?

Some pharmaceutical experts are fond of pointing to a study done for the U.S. Army that found that many drugs were still usable nearly five years after the expiration date. But other experts say it isn't worth the risk and you should toss old drugs.

The Army study was presented at the 2002 U.S. Food and Drug Administration science forum. The review examined 96 different drugs, and included 1,122 lots in all, and found that 84 percent remained stable 57 months beyond the expiration date.

But even the researchers, in their report, said the additional stability period is "highly variable," depending on the drug.

"I would take expiration dates seriously," said Cynthia LaCivita, a pharmacist and director of clinical standards and quality for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, in Bethesda, Md.

"The longer you go beyond the expiration date, the more question there is about the activity of the drug," LaCivita added. "There are some other studies that show over time some of these drugs are degraded."

LaCivita recalled a recent study that found that liquid antibiotics, often prescribed for children's ear infections and meant to be stored no more than 14 days under refrigeration, began to lose some therapeutic value after the 14 days.

Manufacturers calculate expiration dates for drugs after testing the product to see how fast it degrades, she said.

LaCivita noted that the study conducted for the U.S. Army "looked at drugs in their original, unopened container. That is not usually how an individual would store a drug."

Most consumers don't store medicines in optimal conditions, making it even more crucial to pay attention to the expiration date, said Rachel Bongiorno, a pharmacist and director of the University of Maryland Drug Information Service. "To be on the safe side, I would never recommend anyone take medication past the expiration date."

If medicines, such as aspirin, look sticky or crumbled, it's a sure sign to toss them, said LaCivita.

"The biggest problem is, it won't be as effective," Bongiorno said.

But there are other reasons not to take old medicine -- like that back pain drug that worked years ago. "You may start a new medicine that may interact with the old one," Bongiorno said. "You may have another disease that could require a dose reduction" of the previous medicine.

LaCivita recommends people go through their medicine cabinet once a year and throw out expired drugs. She suspects that few people do this, based on the impromptu searches she carries out when she visits family members.

"I would have to say, based on my family members, I can always find medicines that are not just days but years out of date." And they're familiar with her cabinet-searching routine. "You would think they would listen to me," she said with a laugh.

If you use medicine before its expiration date, you can be sure you're getting the medicine's best benefit, both experts said.

More information

To learn more about medication safety, visit the University of Michigan Health System Patient Safety Toolkit.

http://www.med.umich.edu/patientsafetytoolkit/medication.htm

Ho-Ho-Ho, Now You Know!

A "Naughty or Nice" machine based on Santa's special ability to detect which children have been bad or good has been developed by researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Santa Institute.

The researchers used specially designed Santa Claus Emission Tomography (SCET) to scan Santa's brain. They then discovered that the jolly old elf has a special lobe. It's this "frontotemporoperiotaloccipital lobe" that enables Santa to determine children's behavior over the previous year.

"If a child has been nice, a special part of Santa's brain will become active. If a child has been naughty, we have noticed that a different part of his brain lights up. As a result of this study, we think we've figured out how Santa knows who has been naughty or nice," Santa Institute member Dr. David J. Dzielak said in a prepared statement.

He and his colleagues used that information to create a prototype "Naughty or Nice" detector - a wireless silver headset that uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a shiny silver box. The box has a green light that signifies "good" and a red light that signifies "naughty."

The Santa Institute scientists recently tested the machine on 100 first graders at Jackson Academy. All the students registered "nice," although there were a few close calls.

Fellow Santa Institute member Dr. Andrew W. Grady enlisted the children's help in an ongoing study to determine the optimal reindeer snack.

Each child was asked to sprinkle the contents of "Reindeer Test Diet A" or "Reindeer Test Diet B" on their lawns on Christmas Eve. The children have been asked to report back on which treat seemed more popular.

As for the mystery of how Santa's reindeer fly, Grady said he and his colleagues haven't yet found a definitive answer.

"We know the reindeer are very strong, and that they have hollow bones. But another good reason may be Santa's magic. That's perhaps the best explanation I know," Grady said.

Santa's real age is another perplexing matter, noted Santa Institute member Dr. William H. Sorey.

"Nobody really knows. We know he is at least 347 years old, but he may be as much as a couple of thousand years old. The real question is not how old he is, but how does he live so long?" Sorey said.

The secret to that may be Santa's generosity, the researchers said.

"You have to have a lot of love in your heart and a lot of joy to give so many gifts. And that's the secret to a long life," Sorey said.

More information

Children can submit questions to Santa Claus or to members of the Santa Institute by going to the institute's Web site.

http://www.umc.edu/santa/

Unvaccinated Rabies Survivor Thrives

Last December, Jeanna Giese spent Christmas in the hospital, unable to speak or walk as she suffered from the effects of rabies. This year, the 16-year-old is celebrating her improbable survival at home with her family.

The teenager, who is the world's only known unvaccinated human rabies survivor, is regaining her ability to walk and talk. She has returned to school, and has plans to return to the volleyball team next year and eventually, attend college.

"Every time that I look at Jeanna, I feel how fortunate we are. She's the only one in the world, so you kind of look at things a little bit different," said her father, John Giese.

Bitten by a rabid bat at her church in Fond du Lac on Sept. 12, 2004, Jeanna did not seek immediate treatment and became gravely ill a month later. Rabies attacks the nervous system and normally results in death within a week of symptoms developing.

She was admitted to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee where doctors administered an unproven combination of drugs and induced a coma in their effort to save her life.

When Jeanna was brought out of the coma about a week later, she was paralyzed and without sensation, said Dr. Rodney Willoughby, her lead physician at Children's Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Physicians detected brain-wave activity, but were unsure what was ahead after the drugs would wear off.

"Within a day or two she started giving us reflexes and eye movements," Willoughby said. "This was a nail-biter. I didn't relax until she left the hospital."

After nearly 11 weeks, Giese left the hospital in a wheelchair on Jan. 1, 2005. The long road to recovery was ahead, as she worked to regain her faculties, including her ability to speak and walk.

Jeanna said she remembers nothing about her initial weeks in the hospital and it wasn't until around Thanksgiving of last year that she began to realize where she was and what had happened.

Now, she is in sync academically with her junior class at St. Mary's Springs High School after spending the summer hitting the books. She manages the varsity girl's basketball team and has earned her temporary driver's license.

With two dogs, three rabbits and two pheasants as family pets, she envisions a future in veterinary science.

Physical therapy still consumes a large chunk of her time — nearly two hours, three times a week. She also gets speech therapy. In the last month, she has developed more control over her fine motor skills and her gait, said her mother, Ann Giese.

"She's starting to be able to run a little better, not very far. But that's coming back a little bit," Ann Giese said.

A reluctant celebrity in the world of infectious diseases, Jeanna would rather be off the radar screen, playing sports and joking with her friends. She doesn't like to dwell on the odds of her survival, which Willoughby pegged at one in a million.

"I guess I feel like I have accomplished a lot," she said.

Willoughby plans a formal IQ test and computer analysis of Jeanna's walking ability in April, which will be about 18 months after she was infected with rabies.

He said he is disappointed the treatment used to save Jeanna's life has not been duplicated since it was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June. Before it was published, it was tried in India and Germany.

"No one's willing to try this because it consumes so many intensive care resources," he said. Most of the 60,000 human rabies cases worldwide each year occur in poor countries that lack such resources, Willoughby said.

The Gieses said they relied on their faith to help them through the difficult time. And, even with the struggles of the last year, Ann Giese still considers her family among the fortunate.

"When you think that there's kids with cancer, there's kids that get in accidents or have some other disease. And they might not recover," she said. "We don't have it as bad as other people. It was at the time. But she's here and she's getting back to normal."

For Jeanna, that means a normal Christmas morning at home with her three siblings, Jonathan, 21, Matthew, 19, and B.J., 13.

"We'll all run down to the tree and open presents and have a big breakfast," she said.

Health Headlines - December 24

New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Approved, Maker Says

A drug that fights painful rheumatoid arthritis by limiting a signal in a person's immune system has received government approval, its manufacturer has announced.

Bristol-Myers Squibb says the medication with the generic name of abatacept (marketed as Orencia) received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Dec. 23.

In clinical trials published in the Sept. 15, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine abatacept more than doubled the odds that someone with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis had at least a 20 percent improvement in symptoms.

"Rheumatoid arthritis patients should be optimistic because there's now another option that works well, even where other drugs haven't," Dr. Mark Genovese, an associate professor of medicine and the associate division chief in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University, told HealthDay. Genovese is the lead author of the study and also a paid consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

More than 2 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. As the disease progresses, loss of movement and function in the affected joints can occur.

Current treatment options include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain relievers; oral steroids; anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate; and biologic response modifiers, such as etanercept and infliximab, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

According to Genovese, abatacept works by blocking a signal that fully activates the immune system's T-cells. Because the drug modifies the response of the immune system, the risk of infection is potentially increased.

9 Families Sue UC Liver Transplant Program

The families of nine people who died while waiting for new organs from the University of California at Irvine liver transplant program have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school.

The suit was filed Friday against the University of California, Irvine, (UCI) Medical Center, as well as some of its doctors, the former chief of the transplant program, and the University of California regents, the Associated Press reported.

The school shut the program last month in the wake of a federal government report's findings that the program had a one-year survival rate of 68 percent - 70 percent between July 2001 and June 2004. The minimum federal requirement is 77 percent, the AP said. In addition, more than 30 patients died awaiting transplants over the past two years, according to federal data cited by the wire service.

The federal report was filed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Nov. 10, according to the AP, which also reported that the hospital allegedly performed "far fewer than the 12 transplants per year required by the government for federal reimbursement."

Attorney Larry Eisenberg, who filed Friday's lawsuit in Orange County Court, alleged that the UCI program continued to accept patients even though its officials knew they didn't have the capability to perform transplants, the AP reported. Eisenberg also alleged that the program at one time did not have a liver transplant surgeon on staff, the wire service said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified general and wrongful death damages.

Stem Cell Research Faked: Report

South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo Suk faked at least nine of the 11 stem cell lines he claimed to have created, a Seoul National University expert panel said Friday when it announced findings from its investigation into the controversy.

In response to the panel's report, Hwang resigned his post at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment," Hwang told reporters as he left his university office.

In a study published in the journal Science in May, Hwang said he used cloned human embryos to create 11 stem cell lines matched to specific patients. Recently, Hwang has been plagued by accusations that his research had been faked.

In its report, the university's panel concluded that "the laboratory data for 11 stem cell lines that were reported in the 2005 paper were all data made using two stem cell lines in total."

DNA tests are currently being conducted to determine if the two remaining stem cell lines were actually successfully cloned from a patient, the Associated Press reported.

The panel said that Hwang faked DNA results purporting to show a match by splitting cells from one patient into two test tubes for the analysis, rather than actually matching cloned cells to a patient's original cells.

"Based on these facts, the data in the 2005 Science paper cannot be some error from a simple mistake, but cannot be but seen as a deliberate fabrication to make it look like 11 stem cell lines using results from just two," the panel noted.

The panel also said it would now investigate Hwang's other landmark papers, which included another Science article in 2004 on the world's first cloned human embryos, and an August 2005 paper in the journal Nature on the first cloned dog.

Barley Products May Claim to Lower Heart Risks: FDA

Whole barley and barley-containing products can now carry labels that claim they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

Food manufacturers can make this claim immediately on products that provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving of the food. Consumers can expect to see the health claim on whole barley and dry milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour and meal.

The claim may look something like this: Soluble fiber from foods such as (barley), as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of (barely) supplies (x) grams of the soluble fiber for necessary per day to have this effect.

CHD causes almost 500,000 deaths each year in the United States. CHD risk factors include high total cholesterol levels and high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Research indicates that consuming barley can lower serum cholesterol.

The diet choices that people make can have a major impact on their health, and these kinds of food health claims can help consumers make wise choices, noted Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs, in a prepared statement.

FDA OKs Tamiflu for Children 1 to 12

The use of Tamiflu for prevention of seasonal flu in children ages 1 to 12 who've had close contact with an infected person has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This is the first approval given to a drug for prevention of both influenza A and B in pediatric patients. Tamiflu, an oral anti-viral drug, is already approved in the United States for treatment of adults and children 13 years and older and in children younger than 1.

In granting this latest approval, the FDA looked at the results of a study of the spread of flu in households, which involved more than 1,100 people, including 222 children ages 1 to 12.

Food Fact:
Carrots: Good as gold.


A 24-carrot solution leaves you rich in vitamin A -- and helps reduce cancer risk. You don't really have to eat 24 to get the benefits: A single carrot more than meets an average person's daily vitamin A needs, with 6mg of beta-carotene. But you can certainly eat more: Carrots are low in fat and high in fiber. Long-term studies have shown carrots to be powerful cancer fighters -- eating five or more carrots a week has been linked with a 60% reduction in risk of lung cancer.

Fitness Tip of the day:
9-to-5 fitness.


Learn 3 secrets for burning more calories during office hours. 1) Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. 2) Park a greater distance from your building and walk to office door. 3) Don't e-mail or call your co-workers. Walk to their desks instead.

FAQ of the day:
Is yellow or white corn more nutritious?


Yellow corn gets the nutritional nod over white corn because it contains more lutein, a yellow carotenoid pigment that's good for your eyes.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Health Headlines - December 23

Stem Cell Research Faked: Report

South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo Suk faked at least nine of the 11 stem cell lines he claimed to have created, a Seoul National University expert panel said Friday when it announced findings from its investigation into the controversy.

In response to the panel's report, Hwang resigned his post at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment," Hwang told reporters as he left his university office.

In a study published in the journal Science in May, Hwang said he used cloned human embryos to create 11 stem cell lines matched to specific patients. Recently, Hwang has been plagued by accusations that his research had been faked.

In its report, the university's panel concluded that "the laboratory data for 11 stem cell lines that were reported in the 2005 paper were all data made using two stem cell lines in total."

DNA tests are currently being conducted to determine if the two remaining stem cell lines were actually successfully cloned from a patient, the Associated Press reported.

The panel said that Hwang faked DNA results purporting to show a match by splitting cells from one patient into two test tubes for the analysis, rather than actually matching cloned cells to a patient's original cells.

"Based on these facts, the data in the 2005 Science paper cannot be some error from a simple mistake, but cannot be but seen as a deliberate fabrication to make it look like 11 stem cell lines using results from just two," the panel noted.

The panel also said it would now investigate Hwang's other landmark papers, which included another Science article in 2004 on the world's first cloned human embryos, and an August 2005 paper in the journal Nature on the first cloned dog.

Barley Products May Claim to Lower Heart Risks: FDA

Whole barley and barley-containing products can now carry labels that claim they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

Food manufacturers can make this claim immediately on products that provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving of the food. Consumers can expect to see the health claim on whole barley and dry milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour and meal.

The claim may look something like this: Soluble fiber from foods such as (barley), as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of (barely) supplies (x) grams of the soluble fiber for necessary per day to have this effect.

CHD causes almost 500,000 deaths each year in the United States. CHD risk factors include high total cholesterol levels and high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Research indicates that consuming barley can lower serum cholesterol.

The diet choices that people make can have a major impact on their health, and these kinds of food health claims can help consumers make wise choices, noted Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs, in a prepared statement.

FDA OKs Tamiflu for Children 1 to 12

The use of Tamiflu for prevention of seasonal flu in children ages 1 to 12 who've had close contact with an infected person has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This is the first approval given to a drug for prevention of both influenza A and B in pediatric patients. Tamiflu, an oral anti-viral drug, is already approved in the United States for treatment of adults and children 13 years and older and in children younger than 1.

In granting this latest approval, the FDA looked at the results of a study of the spread of flu in households, which involved more than 1,100 people, including 222 children ages 1 to 12.

When someone in a household was diagnosed with flu, the other family members were given either Tamiflu once a day for 10 days or received no Tamiflu at all unless they became ill with the flu.

The flu rate was 17 percent among children who received no preventative treatment with Tamiflu, compared to 3 percent among children who received the drug as a preventative measure.

The findings were similar to those seen for older children and adults in earlier studies.

U.S. Cancer Death Rate Continues to Decline

The overall cancer death rate in the United States continues to decline, according to a new U.S. National Cancer Institute biannual report.

Death rates for the four most common types of cancer -- prostate, breast, lung and colorectal -- are all declining but there is a continuing increase in women's lung cancer deaths, although it isn't rising as rapidly as before, the Associated Press reported.

There are also increasing rates of breast, prostate and testicular cancer, as well as leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, melanoma, and thyroid, kidney and esophagus cancer, the report said.

It noted that there have been some improvements in cancer-prevention behaviors, such as reductions in smoking and consumption of fat and alcohol. Smoking by youths has been on the decline since 1997, the AP reported.

Among the report's other findings -- screening for colorectal cancer remains low; blacks and poorer people have the highest rates of both newly diagnosed cancers and cancer deaths; and people are getting slightly better at protecting themselves against the sun.

Alistair Cooke's Remains Illegally Harvested: Report

The body of "Masterpiece Theatre" host Alistair Cooke was removed before cremation and some of his bones sold for reconstructive surgery, said U.S. investigators looking into the trafficking of human body parts.

Cooke, who died March 30, 2004, was among dozens of dead people whose body parts were harvested at one or more New York funeral homes without the permission of the families, CanWest News Service reported.

Police said that New Jersey-based tissue recovery firm Biomedical Tissue Services, Inc. falsified documents to indicate that permission had been granted by the families. The company is also alleged to have made other changes to documents.

For example, in Cooke's case false documents showed he was 85 and healthy when he died. In truth, he was 95 and died of lung cancer, which had spread to his bones, CanWest reported.

The use of bones from people that age is discouraged, and offering cancerous bones for medical procedures is a violation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules, the report said.

It's possible that Cooke's bones may have been used for different kinds of orthopedic procedures or even for dental implants.

So far, police have not charged anyone in connection with the body part trafficking scheme.

Food Fact:
Now "ear" this.


It's a fact -- you don't need butter to make fresh corn taste great. For best flavor, cook corn on the cob the same day it's picked. Frozen corn has all the nutritive benefits of fresh corn because it's processed soon after it's picked -- one-half cup of corn kernels contains about 3 grams of fiber. Yellow corn contains lutein, a plant pigment that helps protect your eyes.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Calorie-burner, muy caliente!


Looking for a tasty low-calorie salsa? Get on the dance floor! If you're looking for a fun change in your Salsa dancing will burn more calories per half hour on the floor, than a brisk walk around the park -- about 200 calories for a 150-lb. dancer. And it's so much fun!

FAQ of the day:
What's so bad about accelerated weight loss?


Try to lose weight too fast and your body will perceive the calorie deficit as a state of semi-starvation. To conserve energy, it will slow down the rate at which it burns calories. Crash diets may take weight off fast, but they also make it more likely the pounds will come right back when you resume your normal eating patterns.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Health Headlines - December 22

21 Million Enrolled in New Medicare Drug Plan

About 21 million people will begin receiving benefits through Medicare's new prescription drug program in January, a figure that exceeded expectations but only includes 1 million who enrolled voluntarily, a new government report finds.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt told reporters Thursday that the government expects to sign up between 28 and 30 million people for the benefit during its first year. Medicare provides health care to 42 million older and disabled Americans.

"We're encouraged by the early results," Leavitt said. "You'll find you'll save money and you'll never have to worry about high drug costs in the future."

The vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the program were either automatically signed up by the federal government or they'll receive the benefits through private health plans, according to an Associated Press report.

The government's figures are as of Dec. 13. Another 500,000 people are expected to enroll in January, officials said.

It's estimated the federal government will spend about $724 billion over 10 years to provide the Medicare drug benefit.

Good Dancers' Symmetry is Sexy

Superior symmetrical movement is what makes good dancers attractive to other people, probably because symmetry is something that humans look for in a mate, according to a Rutgers University study.

Researchers made videos of 183 dancers -- who all danced to the same song in the same spot in front of the camera -- and selected the 20 best and 20 worst dancers. This selection was based on the dancers' body symmetry, which was measured by comparing specific points on the body, such as elbows, fingers and ears, BBC News reported.

The 40 videos, which didn't include the dancers' faces, were then shown to 155 people. The viewers, especially women, gave higher marks to symmetrical dancers than non-symmetrical dancers.

The study appears in the journal Nature.

The researchers said they couldn't determine whether it was a dancer's degree of symmetry itself, or associated factors such as co-ordination or rhythm, that influenced the viewers when they rated the dancers.

Parole Board Votes Against Ailing Kevorkian Pardon

The Michigan Parole Board has voted to recommend denying an application to pardon or commute the prison sentence of 77-year-old assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.

Kervorkian is serving a 10- to 25-year sentence for second-degree murder after being convicted of giving a fatal injection of drugs to a man with Lou Gehrig's disease in 1998.

His lawyer, Mayer Morganroth, maintained that Kervorkian is in "dire shape" with high blood pressure, arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis and Hepatitis C. He filed the application for a pardon or commuted sentence because he was concerned that Kevorkian may not live until he becomes eligible for parole in 2007, the Associated Press reported.

"I think the parole board is acting irresponsibly and outrageously. The doctor in the prison keeps telling us 'What can I do to get him out? He shouldn't be in here,' " Morganroth told the AP.

The parole board recommendation now goes to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who followed similar recommendations in 2003 and 2004.

Blood Clot Risk Increases Even on Short Trips

Just four hours of travel in a plane, train or car can triple your risk of potentially deadly blood clots in the legs, says a new U.K. government report.

The Transport Department study of working-age airline passengers found one case of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) for every 6,000 journeys of four hours or more, the Telegraph reported.

The risk of DVT increased along with journey length, the study found. Those at greatest risk were people who traveled for more than 12 hours, people with certain kinds of inherited blood conditions, women taking oral contraceptives, and people taller than 6 foot, 2 inches, who are most affected by lack of leg room, the study said.

"This important research has shown that DVT can occur in any form of travel where people remain seated for a long time," said Transport Minister Karen Buck.

However, the study noted that the overall DVT risk among travelers is small and equivalent to the risk among pregnant women, the Telegraph reported.

A traveler's risk of DVT can be reduced by moving the feet, walking around if possible, and drinking water or non-alcoholic beverages in order to prevent dehydration, says the U.K. Department of Health.

Generic HIV/AIDS Drug Wins Approval

The generic HIV/AIDS drug Stavudine for oral solution has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The drug, made by Aurobino Pharma Ltd. of India, is a generic version of the Bristol-Myers Squibb drug Zerit. The tentative FDA approval means that Stavudine will be available for consideration for purchase under the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, but it cannot be sold in the United States because of existing patents.

Stavudine is indicated for use in children with HIV, from birth through adolescence. The drug is active against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Stavudine belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which help stop HIV from reproducing in the body.

The drug is used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs used to treat people infected with HIV-1.

The Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is spending $15 billion over five years to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 15 of the hardest hit countries.

Transit Strike Depletes NYC Blood Supplies

New York City's transit strike has reduced blood supplies at area hospitals to critical levels and forced rationing, Agence France Presse reported.

The New York Blood Center (NYBC) has issued a public appeal for donors of blood and platelets to try to keep their donation appointments in spit of the travel chaos caused by the transit strike.

The NYBC said its "inventory of blood for area hospitals is at great risk and a state of emergency has been declared."

In order to guarantee blood supplies to 200 hospitals in New York and New Jersey, the NYBC says it needs about 2,000 donations a day.

"Year-end blood inventories are always precarious. But with some blood drives now being cancelled as a result of the strike, the shortage of blood, and platelets in particular, will grow far worse, threatening health care delivery in New York and New Jersey patients," NYBC President Robert Jones told AFP.

"A strike of even a few days will severely curtail our ability to collect an adequate blood supply for our community," Jones said.

Food Fact:
The great pumpkin.


Pumpkin in its pure form -- including canned -- has fat-busting potential in baked goods. Use it to replace up to 3/4 of the fat in some of your favorite spiced muffins and quick-bread recipes. Pumpkin, a winter squash, is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and fiber, with some iron and few calories.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Asphalt-y logic?


Choosing the right running surface goes a long way toward protecting your knees. Find a grass, dirt, all-weather track or some other soft surface if you want to pick up the pace of your workout and run. Avoid asphalt it increases the impact on your joints -- and your chance of injuries, sore knees and shin splints.

FAQ of the day:
Can I lose weight by walking 30 minutes a day?


If that's 30 minutes more than you're doing now, go for it, but 45 minutes a day is usually recommended for weight loss. It doesn't have to be all at once; you'll benefit just the same from four 10-minute walks and a 5-minute stroll as from one 45-minute hike. As you get into shape, increasing your pace or walking uphill will burn more calories while challenging your cardiovascular system to make you more fit.