Health Headlines - August 31

Alcohol to Blame for 12% of Native Americans' Deaths: Report

An estimated 12 percent of the deaths among American Indians and Alaska Natives are due to alcohol, a figure that's more than three times higher than for the general population.

That's the conclusion of a federal report released this week that found that 11.7 percent of deaths among American Indians and Alaska Natives between 2001 and 2005 were alcohol-related, compared with 3.3 percent for the population as a whole, the Associated Press reported.

Dwayne Jarman, one of the study authors and an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the report was the first national survey to measure the alcohol-related death rate among American Indians. And, he said, it should serve as a "call to action" for federal, state, local and tribal governments to combat the problem.

The two leading causes of alcohol-related deaths among Indians were traffic accidents and alcoholic liver disease; each caused more than 25 percent of the 1,514 alcohol-related deaths recorded over the study's four-year period.

The report also listed homicide to blame for 6.6 percent of alcohol-related deaths; suicide, 5.2 percent; and injuries due to falls, 2.2 percent, the AP said.

Sixty-eight percent of the victims were men, and 66 percent were people younger than 50 years old; 7 percent were less than 20 years old, the report found.

And the situation may be even more dire because the report didn't count deaths related to some diseases for which alcohol is believed to be a risk factor, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and colon cancer, the AP said.

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Feds Can Bar Mad Cow Tests: Court

The U.S. government has the authority to bar meat companies from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The Department of Agriculture's failure to test more than a fraction of cows for the brain-wasting disease prompted one meat company to announce that it would test all of its bovines, the Associated Press reported.

But the government turned thumbs down on that request, from Kansas meat producer Creekstone Farms. Bigger meat packers feared the move would force them to employ the costly test on all of their cows, as well, the wire service said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, in overturning a lower court ruling, upheld the government's right to prevent Creekstone from testing its cows, the AP said.

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Diabetes Drugs May Cause Heart Failure: Study

A number of related drugs for type 2 diabetics may boost their risk of heart failure, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study finds.

Thiazolidinediones, which regulate users' blood sugar, appear to double the risk of congestive heart failure among people with type 2 diabetes, study authors Dr. Sonal Singh and Dr. Curt Furberg said in editorial published in the journal Heart.

Drugs in this class include rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos), reports United Press International.

Almost one-quarter of diabetics also have some form of heart disease, the wire service said. More than half of elderly diabetics will develop congestive heart failure, the study authors wrote.

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Bassinet Warning Issued After 2 Infant Deaths

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has ordered retailers to stop selling bassinets that have been linked to two infant deaths, the Washington Post reported Friday. The "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets were made by Simplicity Inc. of Reading, Penn. The agency's safety alert was prompted by the death of a 6-month-old Kansas girl, who died from strangulation Aug. 21 after getting caught in the product's metal bars, the newspaper said. In September 2007, a 4-month-old Missouri infant became entrapped in the metal bars and died, the CPSC said.

Some 900,000 of the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets may be in circulation. Their metal bars are spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum allowed by federal law, the agency said. This warning does not cover bassinets produced recently that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar, the CPSC added.

The agency issued the warning after SFCA, the company that bought now-defunct Simplicity's assets earlier this year, refused to issue a recall, the Post reported. The warning was issued under sweeping new authority granted the agency by a two-week-old law called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

While the agency has the authority to mandate a recall, doing so generally takes some time. As a result, most product recalls are voluntarily issued by the manufacturers or distributors, the Post said.

An attorney for SFCA said his company was cooperating with the government. Because it had merely purchased Simplicity's assets, SFCA didn't "take on the legal responsibility for the products," the newspaper reported.

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New York City's HIV Infection Rate 3 Times U.S. Average

People in New York City are contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, at three times the U.S. average, the Associated Press reported.

According to the city's health department, nearly 4,800 people in New York acquired HIV in 2006, or about 72 of every 100,000 residents, the wire service said. That compares to a national rate of about 23 per 100,000.

Local health officials cited the city's large populations of gay men, blacks, and other groups that tend to have above-average incidence of HIV infection.

Health Tips for August 31

Health Tip: Donating Blood

Donating blood is a safe and easy procedure that can help save lives.

Here is information on what to expect when you donate blood, courtesy of the American Red Cross:

* You'll have a mini-physical exam, where your blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be checked. You also will be asked questions about your lifestyle and health.
* The injection site on your arm will be sterilized, then a sterile needle will be inserted. Some minor stinging or discomfort is common when the needle enters the skin.
* It takes about 10 minutes to collect a pint of blood.
* You may need to lie still for a few minutes after the donation, and have a snack or a drink.
* If you donate to the Red Cross, you'll be given a form with follow-up instructions and a phone number to call in case you realize that your blood may not be safe to give to another person.
* A small number of donors may experience dizziness, fatigue or bruising at the injection site.

Health Tip: Take Care of a Rash

Rashes can occur for various reasons, including medical conditions and reactions to products, foods or medications.

Here are suggestions on how to care for your skin during a rash, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Don't scrub your skin.
* Try not to use soap, but a mild cleanser instead.
* Wash skin with warm -- not hot -- water, and gently pat it dry.
* Don't cover the rash with cosmetic lotions or ointments.
* If you've recently tried any new cosmetics or lotions, stop using them.
* Expose the rash to the air as much as possible.

Health Headlines - August 30

Feds Can Bar Mad Cow Tests: Court

The U.S. government has the authority to bar meat companies from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The Department of Agriculture's failure to test more than a fraction of cows for the brain-wasting disease prompted one meat company to announce that it would test all of its bovines, the Associated Press reported.

But the government turned thumbs down on that request, from Kansas meat producer Creekstone Farms. Bigger meat packers feared the move would force them to employ the costly test on all of their cows, as well, the wire service said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, in overturning a lower court ruling, upheld the government's right to prevent Creekstone from testing its cows, the AP said.

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Diabetes Drugs May Cause Heart Failure: Study

A number of related drugs for type 2 diabetics may boost their risk of heart failure, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study finds.

Thiazolidinediones, which regulate users' blood sugar, appear to double the risk of congestive heart failure among people with type 2 diabetes, study authors Dr. Sonal Singh and Dr. Curt Furberg said in editorial published in the journal Heart.

Drugs in this class include rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos), reports United Press International.

Almost one-quarter of diabetics also have some form of heart disease, the wire service said. More than half of elderly diabetics will develop congestive heart failure, the study authors wrote.

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Bassinet Warning Issued After 2 Infant Deaths

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has ordered retailers to stop selling bassinets that have been linked to two infant deaths, the Washington Post reported Friday. The "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets were made by Simplicity Inc. of Reading, Penn. The agency's safety alert was prompted by the death of a 6-month-old Kansas girl, who died from strangulation Aug. 21 after getting caught in the product's metal bars, the newspaper said. In September 2007, a 4-month-old Missouri infant became entrapped in the metal bars and died, the CPSC said.

Some 900,000 of the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets may be in circulation. Their metal bars are spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum allowed by federal law, the agency said. This warning does not cover bassinets produced recently that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar, the CPSC added.

The agency issued the warning after SFCA, the company that bought now-defunct Simplicity's assets earlier this year, refused to issue a recall, the Post reported. The warning was issued under sweeping new authority granted the agency by a two-week-old law called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

While the agency has the authority to mandate a recall, doing so generally takes some time. As a result, most product recalls are voluntarily issued by the manufacturers or distributors, the Post said.

An attorney for SFCA said his company was cooperating with the government. Because it had merely purchased Simplicity's assets, SFCA didn't "take on the legal responsibility for the products," the newspaper reported.

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New York City's HIV Infection Rate 3 Times U.S. Average

People in New York City are contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, at three times the U.S. average, the Associated Press reported.

According to the city's health department, nearly 4,800 people in New York acquired HIV in 2006, or about 72 of every 100,000 residents, the wire service said. That compares to a national rate of about 23 per 100,000.

Local health officials cited the city's large populations of gay men, blacks, and other groups that tend to have above-average incidence of HIV infection.

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Almost 1,000 People Died From Katrina: Study

Some 986 deaths in Louisiana were caused directly or indirectly by Hurricane Katrina, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in 80 years, new research timed to the storm's third anniversary finds.

Study authors were from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a news release, they said the leading cause of death was drowning (40 percent), followed by injury and trauma, then heart conditions.

Almost half of the victims were 75 or older. Eighty percent of the deaths occurred on the day of the storm -- Aug. 29, 2005.

"What we learned from Hurricane Katrina is that disaster preparedness efforts must focus on evacuating and caring for vulnerable populations -- particularly the elderly -- including those in hospitals, nursing homes and private residences," said lead study author Joan Brunkard of the CDC.

The study was published on the Web site of the American Medical Association's journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.

Health Tips for August 30

Health Tip: Take Care of Aging Skin

Many an advertiser touts products that purport to keep your skin looking young.

But as AARP says of products that can cost more than $100 for a small tube: "Even if the ingredients aren't harmful, at often exorbitant prices they could remove more cash from your wallet than wrinkles from your skin."

AARP offers these less expensive and probably safer alternatives:

* Moisturizers can help keep the skin from drying out, and may temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
* Exfoliating products may help improve your appearance by getting rid of dead surface skin cells.
* So-called "cosmeceuticals," alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids also can help skin look younger, but some may irritate skin and should be prescribed by a dermatologist.
* "Some of the most confusing questions in skin care concern the use of vitamins and antioxidants (such as vitamins A, C, and E) and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10)," AARP says. "In theory, the use of these substances in moisturizers and other cosmetics makes sense," it continues.
* These and other skin care products should be used with a doctor's approval, especially if you have sensitive skin. Always read product labels carefully before trying something new.

Health Tip: Warning Signs of a Bleeding Disorder

Routine heavy bleeding during menstrual periods shouldn't be ignored. It may be a sign of a bleeding disorder that can be treated.

The National Women's Health Information Center says the following symptoms may indicate a bleeding disorder, and should be evaluated by a doctor:

* Having very heavy periods.
* Bleeding frequently in the mouth or gums.
* Having frequent nosebleeds, or nosebleeds that continue for long periods.
* Bruising easily.
* Bleeding excessively after an injury or after surgery.
* Bleeding heavily or for a long time from a minor cut or injury.
* Having blood in the stool or urine.

Health Headlines - August 29

Almost 1,000 People Died From Katrina: Study

Some 986 deaths in Louisiana were caused directly or indirectly by Hurricane Katrina, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in 80 years, new research timed to the storm's third anniversary finds.

Study authors were from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a news release, they said the leading cause of death was drowning (40 percent), followed by injury and trauma, then heart conditions.

Almost half of the victims were 75 or older. Eighty percent of the deaths occurred on the day of the storm -- Aug. 29, 2005.

"What we learned from Hurricane Katrina is that disaster preparedness efforts must focus on evacuating and caring for vulnerable populations -- particularly the elderly -- including those in hospitals, nursing homes and private residences," said lead study author Joan Brunkard of the CDC.

The study was published on the Web site of the American Medical Association's journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.

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Dangerous Drinking Binges Mark 21st Birthdays

College students surveyed about 21st birthday celebrations had an average of 12 drinks for men and nine for women, a University of Texas study reported by USA Today found.

Twelve of 152 students polled at the Austin campus said they had had 21 or more birthday drinks.

The consequences of extreme partying didn't end at the bar, the researchers said. Fifty-four percent of the students cited nasty hangovers. And of the 44 percent who said they blacked out, 22 percent discovered later that they had had sex, 22 percent had gotten into a fight or argument, and 39 percent couldn't explain how they had returned home, the newspaper reported.

The researchers said they knew of no national studies of 21st birthday celebrations, but cited a few studies on other campuses that had uncovered similar behavior.

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Clinical Trial Ended for Prostate Cancer Vaccine

Biotech startup Cell Genesys has ended a clinical study of its prostate cancer vaccine GVAX due to a rise in deaths among users of the vaccine compared with those taking another drug, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"What we do not know is the reason for the imbalance in deaths," Cell Genesys CEO Stephen Sherwin was quoted as saying. He labeled the interim trial results "very disappointing and surprising news."

The Phase III trial of the vaccine had begun in 2005. Of 408 people with spreading (metastatic) prostate cancer who participated in the trial, 114 had died. Sixty-seven of those deaths involved people using GVAX and the chemotherapy drug Taxotere, while the other 47 deaths involved people taking Taxotere and the corticosteroid prednisone, the newspaper said.

Another trial, which will continue, uses GVAX by itself. Participants in that trial are said to be generally healthier than those in the discontinued study, the Chronicle reported.

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Disappointing Results Noted in Anti-Clotting Drug Trials

Results from late-stage trials of the anti-clotting drug apixaban have been disappointing, said makers Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Early data from the Phase III testing of apixaban showed the drug wasn't better than a current drug, Lovenox, in preventing clotting complications in people who had knee replacement, the companies said.

The drug makers also announced they would postpone plans to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve apixaban for venous thromboembolism, a condition that includes deep vein thrombosis. The filing had been slated for the second half of next year, the Journal said.

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Canadian Food Poisoning Death Toll Jumps

The Canadian government has revised upward the death toll associated with tainted meat products to 12 from four, The New York Times reported.

Earlier this week, it had been reported that in addition to the deaths, there were 26 confirmed cases of people sickened by the recalled cold cuts, which may be tainted with listeria bacteria. Another 29 suspected cases are awaiting analysis, a number that is expected to rise, the Times reported.

Some 220 products have been recalled by Maple Leaf, one of Canada's largest food makers. It has closed the Toronto plant where the recalled products were produced for sanitizing, the newspaper said.

Health Tips for August 29

Health Tip: Prepare a Fire Safety Plan

Fires in the home can spread quickly, so it's important to devise a fire safety plan.

Here are suggestions to prepare for a fire emergency, courtesy of the U.S. National Safety Council:

* It's best to sleep with the door closed. Teach children, in the event of a fire emergency, to feel the door for heat before opening.
* Create an escape route for each area of the home, and decide on a meeting point outside the home.
* Create a map that's easy for everyone to read.
* Tell young children not to hide during a fire. Also explain that they shouldn't be afraid of firemen -- that firemen are there to help.
* Teach children to drop down and crawl beneath the smoke to escape the home.
* In low-level homes, make sure that bedroom windows open easily (aren't painted shut), as they may be a secondary means of escape.
* Make sure that everyone in the house knows how to use an escape ladder.
* Explain that no one must ever go back into a burning building.
* Young children should know their last name, street address, and how to dial 911 from a neighbor's house or cell phone.

Health Tip: Monitor the Mercury in Your Food

Mercury is found in many types of fish and shellfish. Because significant amounts of mercury can harm unborn babies and young children, women who are or may become pregnant, those who are nursing, and young children should avoid some kinds of seafood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers these guidelines:

* Avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury, including swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.
* It's OK to eat up to 12 ounces per week of low-mercury fish and shellfish -- including shrimp, salmon, canned light tuna, pollock and catfish.
* Albacore tuna and tuna steak have more mercury than canned light tuna, so don't eat more than 6 ounces of albacore or tuna steak per week.
* Before you eat any fish caught locally, be aware of any advisories about the safety of local fish.

Health Headlines - August 28

Gleevec Given Priority FDA Review for Intestinal Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given priority review to the Novartis drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) as a treatment for gastrointestinal cancer after surgery, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Priority review means the agency is likely to decide whether to approve Gleevec for gastrointestinal stromal tumors within six months, instead of the typical 10 months. The drug is already approved to treat other types of cancer.

Novartis said in clinical testing, people with kit-positive gastrointestinal cancer who got Gleevec lived longer and were 89 percent less likely to have the cancer return than those who didn't take the drug, the wire service reported.

A protein mutation that characterizes kit-positive forms of this cancer is present in more than 90 percent of cases in the United States, the AP said.

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TV Ad Condemns the Hot Dog

A television ad that links eating hot dogs with colon cancer doesn't exactly cut the mustard, critics charge.

"I was dumbfounded when the doctor told me I have late-stage colon cancer," mourns a little boy in the 33-second ad, according to the Associated Press. But in truth, the boy and two hot-dog-eating co-stars don't have the disease, the AP added.

The ad is sponsored by a group with vegetarian ties called The Cancer Project. Its president, Dr. Neal Barnard, defends the video as "a way to raise appropriate concern about a deadly concern."

The ad is premised on a November 2007 study that found eating 50 grams per day of processed meats over several years increases the eater's risk of colon cancer by 21 percent. That works out to about one hot dog per day, or two slices of bologna, or five slices of bacon each day, the AP said.

The ad's sponsor wants processed meats banished from school lunch menus nationwide. But critics say the video goes too far.

"My concern about the campaign is it's giving the indication that the occasional hot dog in the school lunch is going to increase cancer risk," the wire service quotes the American Cancer Society's nutrition director, Colleen Doyle, as saying. "An occasional hot dog isn't going to increase that risk."

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Vaccine Said to Ward Off Bird Flu

An experimental bird flu vaccine appears to generate an immune response in people that can help guard against getting the disease, its producer says.

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed more than 240 people since 2003, mostly in Asia. Experts worry that it will mutate to a form that's more easily passed from birds to people, triggering a human pandemic.

Novavax Inc. said of 160 people who got its two-injection vaccine, 94 percent produced an immune response against the virus, the Bloomberg news service reported.

The company's process uses insect-cell cultures, allowing it to produce seven to 10 times as much vaccine in the same span as older techniques that rely on mammal eggs or cells.

Traditional vaccines are made from chicken eggs, a process that can take up to six months. Novavax, by contrast, said it can produce a vaccine within 12 weeks of identifying a bird flu strain, Bloomberg reported.

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Parkinson's Drug Slows Disease Symptoms: Maker

A drug already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the first medication to demonstrate that it hinders the progression of Parkinson's disease, the Bloomberg news service quotes the Israeli drug maker Teva Pharmaceuticals as saying.

Azilect slows the body's production of an enzyme that destroys dopamine, a hormone that when in short supply causes the tremors, depression, speaking and movement problems that characterize Parkinson's, the news service said.

In presenting clinical data at a medical conference in Madrid, Teva issued a statement saying Azilect demonstrated "significant improvement" in people who had taken the drug for 18 months, compared with those who had taken it for nine months.

Teva plans to ask the FDA for permission to label Azilect as a way to slow the progressive symptoms of Parkinson's, Bloomberg said.

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FDA Raises Concern About New Ovarian Cancer Test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is alarmed about a new blood test that its distributor says can detect ovarian cancer in its early stages, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

OvaSure, developed at Yale University, has been offered for about two months by one of the largest U.S. clinical laboratory firms, LabCorp. Despite an overwhelming need for such a test, the FDA and some medical organizations have raised red flags since its introduction in June, saying the diagnostic hasn't been tested enough, the Times said.

The Society for Gynecologic Oncologists almost immediately issued a statement, saying the organization feared unnecessary operations spurred by false positives.

If ovarian cancer is detected before it spreads from the ovaries, more than 90 percent of women in this stage will survive at least five years, the newspaper reported, citing the American Cancer Society.

Nonetheless, the FDA, which generally doesn't regulate diagnostics performed by a single laboratory, has informed LabCorp that there doesn't appear to be enough clinical data to validate that the test actually works, the Times reported.

In an Aug. 7 letter to LabCorp posted on the agency's Web site, the FDA said, "We believe you are offering a high-risk test that has not received adequate clinical validation and may harm the public health."

LabCorp responded that it looked forward to discussing the test with the agency, adding that it would continue to offer the diagnostic in the meantime, the newspaper said. The test costs $220 to $240.

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 21,000 cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and more than 15,000 are expected to die from the disease, the Times reported.

Health Tips for August 28

Health Tip: Using a Dietary Supplement

More than half of Americans take a dietary supplement of some kind, the Cleveland Clinic says.

But all supplements aren't safe and effective. The clinic offers this primer:

* There's no better substitute for a healthy, balanced diet, which can provide most healthy people with all of the nutrients they need.
* Supplements are a good option for people who can't get enough of certain needed nutrients through diet. Pregnant women, athletes and vegetarians are prime examples.
* Too much of a good thing can cause serious health problems. Be sure not to exceed the recommended daily amount of any supplement.
* Supplements aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so it's up to consumers to carefully check supplement labels to be sure what they're taking.

Health Tip: Taking Folic Acid

Folic acid is an important B vitamin for women -- especially for those who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant. It can help prevent serious birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.

Folic acid may also benefit men and women of any age, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says. Some studies show that it may help prevent heart disease, stroke, some cancers and Alzheimer's disease.

You should always talk to your doctor about what's an appropriate amount for you. The NIH site womenshealth.gov offers these general guidelines about folic acid:

* Women who are able to become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day.
* Pregnant women need 600 micrograms daily.
* Breast-feeding women need 500 micrograms daily.
* Women who have had a baby with certain birth defects -- such as spina bifida or anencephaly -- and who want to have another baby should check with their doctor. These women may need as much as 4,000 micrograms of folic acid per day.
* Women who have had a baby with these birth defects and who do not plan to have another baby should take 400 micrograms daily.

Health Headlines - August 27

FDA Raises Concern About New Ovarian Cancer Test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is alarmed about a new blood test that its distributor says can detect ovarian cancer in its early stages, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

OvaSure, developed at Yale University, has been offered for about two months by one of the largest U.S. clinical laboratory firms, LabCorp. Despite an overwhelming need for such a test, the FDA and some medical organizations have raised red flags since its introduction in June, saying the diagnostic hasn't been tested enough, the Times said.

The Society for Gynecologic Oncologists almost immediately issued a statement, saying the organization feared unnecessary operations spurred by false positives.

If ovarian cancer is detected before it spreads from the ovaries, more than 90 percent of women in this stage will survive at least five years, the newspaper reported, citing the American Cancer Society.

Nonetheless, the FDA, which generally doesn't regulate diagnostics performed by a single laboratory, has informed LabCorp that there doesn't appear to be enough clinical data to validate that the test actually works, the Times reported.

In an Aug. 7 letter to LabCorp posted on the agency's Web site, the FDA said, "We believe you are offering a high-risk test that has not received adequate clinical validation and may harm the public health."

LabCorp responded that it looked forward to discussing the test with the agency, adding that it would continue to offer the diagnostic in the meantime, the newspaper said. The test costs $220 to $240.

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 21,000 cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and more than 15,000 are expected to die from the disease, the Times reported.

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Alabama to Charge Obese Workers Extra for Insurance

Any of Alabama's more than 35,000 state employees will be charged $25 per month for insurance that's usually free if they're too fat and don't work on losing the extra weight by January 2010, the Associated Press reported Monday.

While other states reward workers who meet criteria for what's considered healthy, Alabama would be the first state to penalize those who qualify as obese. The monthly charge would apply to any state employee with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater who "doesn't make progress" in slimming down, the wire service said. The state has yet to determine how much progress an employee would have to demonstrate.

A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. A person who is 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 220 pounds would have a BMI of 35.5, the AP said.

The wire service cited statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that Alabama ranks second in the nation behind Mississippi as the state with the biggest weight problem. Nearly one-third of Alabamians are obese.

The director of Alabama's State Employees' Insurance Board said that a person with a BMI of 35 to 39 faces about $1,750 more in medical expenses each year than a person with a BMI of less than 25.

Alabama already charges a premium to state workers who smoke.

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Death, Illness Tolls Rise in Canadian Food Poisoning Outbreak

At least four people have died and 21 have become sick in Canada from an outbreak of listeriosis linked to recalled meat products, the Associated Press said Monday.

Maple Leaf Foods widened its recall Sunday to include 220 products, and the company has shut its manufacturing plant for a thorough cleaning, the wire service reported. Most recalled products have been removed from store shelves nationwide, the company said. There are no reports that the recalled products were sold outside Canada.

Canadian health officials are evaluating whether another 30 cases of illness might be related to the outbreak.

Listeriosis is particularly dangerous to people with weaker immune systems, including the young, elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases such as AIDS. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

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HIV/AIDS Testing Jurisdictions Reduced; 8 States Lose Funding

It was only two weeks ago that a revised HIV/AIDS tracking system indicated the annual HIV rate in the United States was about 40 percent higher than annual estimates had been giving for years.

And now, The New York Times reports, eight states and Puerto Rico will no longer get money for an advanced HIV tracking system. The reason: there is only so much money for the advanced system, and the losers didn't meet the competitive requirements.

The country had been divided into 34 HIV-tracking jurisdictions, the Times reports, but now there will be 25. Those jurisdictions no longer getting financing are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Puerto Rico, the newspaper said.

Terry Butler, a spokeswoman for the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Times the tracking system can tell the difference between old and new HIV infections. And Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial Directors told the Times that a shortage in funding was taking its toll.

"Their [the CDC's] ability to say that they're going to have ongoing reliable reports of incidence is somewhat questionable unless you have funding for that," Scofield told the newspaper. Her organization is asking for a $35 million increase in financing, the newspaper reports.

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Medicare Prescription Drug Program Not Properly Monitored, Report Says

The U.S. government agency charged with overseeing the Medicare prescription drug program has done very little to check whether the insurance companies administering the plans to 24 million Americans are doing their jobs, the Associated Press reports.

In a report to be released Monday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hasn't audited insurers to see if the prescription drug plans were working within federal guidelines, the wire service reports. This could cause "significant misuse of funds in this $39 billion program," the wire service quotes the GAO as saying.

The GAO checked on five unnamed health insurance companies itself, the AP says, and many requirements for participation in the prescription drug program were unmet.

But a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official countered that a Congressional cap on spending had limited his agency's ability to monitor the insurance companies. This limitation "has seriously degraded CMS' ability to meet its responsibilities in combating fraud and abuse," Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the wire service.

Health Tips for August 27

Health Tip: Taking an Antibiotic

Antibiotics can help you recover from a bacterial infection, but they offer no medical benefit against viruses.

Prescribing an antibiotic for an viral illness, in fact, isn't a good idea. Overuse of these medicines can make the bacteria in your body resistant to the drugs. The medicines then lose their effectiveness, making a bacterial illness harder to treat.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these illnesses that are often treated with an antibiotic, and a few that don't need the medication:

* Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and won't respond to antibiotics.
* Cough and bronchitis are usually caused by viruses. However, people with chronic lung problems or those who have a cough that lasts a long time may need antibiotics.
* While a regular sore throat is caused by a virus, strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment.
* Ear and sinus infections should be evaluated by a doctor, since many are caused by bacteria, while others are viral.

Health Tip: Women and Antibiotics

Antibiotics are safe and effective medications prescribed to treat bacterial infections.

Here are possible side effects that women should be aware of before using these medications, courtesy of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics:

* Yeast infections.
* Diarrhea, upset stomach and vaginal infections.
* Decreased effectiveness of birth control pills.
* Certain antibiotics should not be taken by a woman who is pregnant or nursing, unless prescribed by a physician who is familiar with the woman's condition.
* Antibiotics can interact with many other medications.

Health Headlines - August 26

Alabama to Charge Obese Workers Extra for Insurance

Any of Alabama's more than 35,000 state employees will be charged $25 per month for insurance that's usually free if they're too fat and don't work on losing the extra weight by January 2010, the Associated Press reported Monday.

While other states reward workers who meet criteria for what's considered healthy, Alabama would be the first state to penalize those who qualify as obese. The monthly charge would apply to any state employee with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater who "doesn't make progress" in slimming down, the wire service said. The state has yet to determine how much progress an employee would have to demonstrate.

A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. A person who is 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 220 pounds would have a BMI of 35.5, the AP said.

The wire service cited statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that Alabama ranks second in the nation behind Mississippi as the state with the biggest weight problem. Nearly one-third of Alabamians are obese.

The director of Alabama's State Employees' Insurance Board said that a person with a BMI of 35 to 39 faces about $1,750 more in medical expenses each year than a person with a BMI of less than 25.

Alabama already charges a premium to state workers who smoke.

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Death, Illness Tolls Rise in Canadian Food Poisoning Outbreak

At least four people have died and 21 have become sick in Canada from an outbreak of listeriosis linked to recalled meat products, the Associated Press said Monday.

Maple Leaf Foods widened its recall Sunday to include 220 products, and the company has shut its manufacturing plant for a thorough cleaning, the wire service reported. Most recalled products have been removed from store shelves nationwide, the company said. There are no reports that the recalled products were sold outside Canada.

Canadian health officials are evaluating whether another 30 cases of illness might be related to the outbreak.

Listeriosis is particularly dangerous to people with weaker immune systems, including the young, elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases such as AIDS. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

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HIV/AIDS Testing Jurisdictions Reduced; 8 States Lose Funding

It was only two weeks ago that a revised HIV/AIDS tracking system indicated the annual HIV rate in the United States was about 40 percent higher than annual estimates had been giving for years.

And now, The New York Times reports, eight states and Puerto Rico will no longer get money for an advanced HIV tracking system. The reason: there is only so much money for the advanced system, and the losers didn't meet the competitive requirements.

The country had been divided into 34 HIV-tracking jurisdictions, the Times reports, but now there will be 25. Those jurisdictions no longer getting financing are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Puerto Rico, the newspaper said.

Terry Butler, a spokeswoman for the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Times the tracking system can tell the difference between old and new HIV infections. And Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial Directors told the Times that a shortage in funding was taking its toll.

"Their [the CDC's] ability to say that they're going to have ongoing reliable reports of incidence is somewhat questionable unless you have funding for that," Scofield told the newspaper. Her organization is asking for a $35 million increase in financing, the newspaper reports.

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Medicare Prescription Drug Program Not Properly Monitored, Report Says

The U.S. government agency charged with overseeing the Medicare prescription drug program has done very little to check whether the insurance companies administering the plans to 24 million Americans are doing their jobs, the Associated Press reports.

In a report to be released Monday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hasn't audited insurers to see if the prescription drug plans were working within federal guidelines, the wire service reports. This could cause "significant misuse of funds in this $39 billion program," the wire service quotes the GAO as saying.

The GAO checked on five unnamed health insurance companies itself, the AP says, and many requirements for participation in the prescription drug program were unmet.

But a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official countered that a Congressional cap on spending had limited his agency's ability to monitor the insurance companies. This limitation "has seriously degraded CMS' ability to meet its responsibilities in combating fraud and abuse," Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the wire service.

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Cancer Risk Decreases After Age 80, Study Says

The risk of most cancers decreases after age 80, according to a Harvard University study.

While previous research has linked old age with increased cancer risk, study author Richard Wilson and colleagues found that rates of nearly all cancers peak at age 80 and the rates drop toward zero as people approach the end of their lives, United Press International reported.

There are a number of reasons why people are less likely to develop cancer after age 80, Wilson said. They include: diet changes that result in a reduction of dietary carcinogens; decreased use of substances such as tobacco and alcohol; fewer occupational exposures to carcinogens; and less body weight, which may have an effect on several types of cancers.

The study is published in the American Association for Cancer Research .

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Americans Not Eating Enough Tree Nuts

Too few Americans are eating the recommended 1 1/2 ounces of tree nuts per day, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, say U.S. researchers. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias and walnuts.

The researchers noted that the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 34 percent of respondents said they ate nuts, but most ate about half the recommended amount, United Press International reported.

"Most people consume as much as 25 percent of their total caloric intake from snacks," Janet King, co-chairwoman of the 2007 Nuts and Health Symposium and past chairwoman of the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in a news release. "If we could replace snacks high in refined carbohydrates with just 1/4 to 1/3 cup of nuts per day, we could have a positive impact on nutrient density and the risk of chronic disease."

Information from the Nuts and Health Symposium is published in the September issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Health Tips for August 26

Health Tip: When Your Child Worries

No one is immune from worry -- even children. So it's important for parents to help them deal with their concerns in healthy ways.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help put your child's worries to rest:

* Take time to talk about what's worrying your child.
* Listen carefully to what your child has to say, and explain that you understand and are concerned. Offer reassurance about what's bothering your child, and offer comfort.
* Help your child figure out a solution to the problem, but don't try to remedy the entire situation yourself.
* Help your child keep things in perspective, and explain that problems are often temporary.
* Show your child how to react to concerns by being a good role model.

Health Tip: Feeling Thirsty?

An occasional glass of water should satisfy most cases of thirst. But if it seems like you're excessively thirsty all the time, it may be a sign of a serious health problem.

Here are common causes of excessive thirst, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Significant blood loss or loss of body fluids, caused by an underlying health condition.
* Diabetes or diabetes insipidus.
* A side effect of certain drugs, including anticholinergics, demeclocycline, diuretics or phenothiazines.
* Significant loss of water or salt, possibly caused by not drinking enough water, profuse sweating, diarrhea or vomiting.

Health Headlines - August 25

HIV/AIDS Testing Jurisdictions Reduced; 8 States Lose Funding

It was only two weeks ago that a revised HIV/AIDS tracking system indicated the annual HIV rate in the United States was about 40 percent higher than annual estimates had been giving for years.

And now, the New York Times reports, 8 states and Puerto Rico will no longer get money for an advanced HIV tracking system. The reason: there is only so much money for the advanced system, and the losers didn't meet the competitive requirements.

The country had been divided into 34 HIV tracking jurisdictions, the Times reports, but now there will be 25. Those jurisdictions no longer getting financing are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Puerto Rico, the newspaper said.

Terry Butler, a spokeswoman for the National Center for H.I.V., S.T.D. and TB Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Times the tracking system can tell the difference between old and new HIV infections. And Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial Directors told the Times that a shortage in funding was taking its toll.

"Their [the CDC's] ability to say that they're going to have ongoing reliable reports of incidence is somewhat questionable unless you have funding for that," Scofield told the newspaper. Her organization is asking for a $35 million increase in financing, the newspaper reports.

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Medicare Prescription Drug Program Not Properly Monitored, Report Says

The U.S. government agency charged with overseeing the Medicare prescription drug program has done very little to check whether the insurance companies administering the plans to 24 million Americans are doing their jobs, the Associated Press reports.

In a report to be released Aug. 25, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hasn't audited insurers to see if the prescription drug plans were working within federal guidelines, the wire service reports. This could cause "significant misuse of funds in this $39 billion program," the wire service quotes the GAO as saying.

The GAO checked on five unnamed health insurance companies itself, the A.P. says, and many requirements for participation in the prescription drug program were unmet.

But a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official countered that a Congressional cap on spending had limited his agency's ability to monitor the insurance companies. This limitation "has seriously degraded CMS' ability to meet its responsibilities in combating fraud and abuse," Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the wire service.

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Cancer Risk Decreases After Age 80, Study Says

The risk of most cancers decreases after age 80, according to a Harvard University study.

While previous research has linked old age with increased cancer risk, study lead author Richard Wilson and colleagues found that rates of nearly all cancers peak at age 80 and the rates drop toward zero as people approach the end of their lives, United Press International reported.

There are a number of reasons why people are less likely to develop cancer after age 80, Wilson said. They include: diet changes that result in a reduction of dietary carcinogens; decreased use of substances such as tobacco and alcohol; fewer occupational exposures to carcinogens; and less body weight, which may have an effect on several types of cancers.

The study is published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal.

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Americans Not Eating Enough Tree Nuts

Too few Americans are eating the recommended 1 1/2 ounces of tree nuts per day, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, say U.S. researchers. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias and walnuts.

The researchers noted that the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 34 percent of respondents said they ate nuts, but most ate about half the recommended amount, United Press International reported.

"Most people consume as much as 25 percent of their total caloric intake from snacks," Janet King, co-chairwoman of the 2007 Nuts and Health Symposium and past chairwoman of the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in a news release. "If we could replace snacks high in refined carbohydrates with just 1/4 to 1/3 cup of nuts per day, we could have a positive impact on nutrient density and the risk of chronic disease."

Information from the Nuts and Health Symposium is published in the September issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

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Scientists Use Wisdom Teeth to Create Stem Cells

Japanese scientists have created stem cells from the wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl, an achievement that offers another method of supplying stem cells for research while avoiding the controversial use of embryos to create stem cells.

"This is significant in two ways. One is that we can avoid the ethical issues of (embryo-derived) stem cells because wisdom teeth are destined to be thrown away anyway," team leader Hajime Ogushdi told Agence France Presse. "Also, we used teeth that had been extracted three years ago and had been preserved in a freezer. That means that it's easy for us to stock this source of stem cells."

The researchers at the Japanese government-backed National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science extracted cells from the wisdom teeth and found that they turned into stem cells after being allowed to develop for 35 days.

However, it will take many years of research before wisdom teeth-derived stem cells may be available for clinical use, said Ogushdi, AFP reported.

Last year, American and Japanese scientists announced they could produce stem cells from skin.

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Positive Outlook May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Having a positive outlook may help prevent breast cancer, while getting divorced or losing a loved one may increase the risk, suggests an Israeli study that compared the mental outlook and life events of 255 breast cancer patients and 367 healthy women.

The researchers found that a generally positive outlook was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, while experiencing one or more traumatic life events -- such as the loss of a parent or spouse -- was associated with a more than 60 percent increased risk, BBC News reported.

Women who've been exposed to a number of negative life events should be considered an "at-risk" group for breast cancer, said lead researcher Dr. Ronit Peled, of Ben-Gurion University.

"We can carefully say that experiencing more than one severe and/or moderate life event is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women. On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role," said Peled, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal BMC Cancer.

Health Tips for August 25

Health Tip: Reduce Pesticide Exposure

Pesticides can help keep your home free of insects, rodents and other unwanted visitors, but exposure to these products can pose serious health risks.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions when working with pesticides:

* Only use pesticides that have been legally purchased, and are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or similar government agency.
* Carefully read directions on the pesticide label, and follow them exactly.
* When you can, use non-chemical pesticides.
* Keep the work area well-ventilated.
* Make sure you safely dispose of any excess product.

Health Tip: Prevent Mold in the Home

Mold is a tiny fungus that can grow inside the home and cause allergies and other health problems.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions to help keep mold out of your home:

* Keep humidity at low levels -- between 40 percent and 60 percent, and use an air conditioner or dehumidifier when it's humid outside.
* Use exhaust fans to keep areas such as kitchens and bathrooms well ventilated.
* Keep carpet out of areas where moisture may collect, such as bathrooms or basements.
* Promptly and thoroughly dry any furnishings that get wet, especially carpets or upholstered furniture.
* Fix any leaky plumbing, roofs, or walls.
* Use cleaners that kill mold.
* If you're painting, add a mold inhibitor to the paint.

Health Headlines - August 24

Medicare Prescription Drug Program Not Properly Monitored, Report Says

The U.S. government agency charged with overseeing the Medicare prescription drug program has done very little to check whether the insurance companies administering the plans to 24 million Americans are doing their jobs, the Associated Press reports.

In a report to be released Aug. 25, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hasn't audited insurers to see if the prescription drug plans were working within federal guidelines, the wire service reports. This could cause "significant misuse of funds in this $39 billion program," the wire service quotes the GAO as saying.

The GAO checked on five unnamed health insurance companies itself, the A.P. says, and many requirements for participation in the prescription drug program were unmet.

But a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official countered that a Congressional cap on spending had limited his agency's ability to monitor the insurance companies. This limitation "has seriously degraded CMS' ability to meet its responsibilities in combating fraud and abuse," Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the wire service.

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Cancer Risk Decreases After Age 80, Study Says

The risk of most cancers decreases after age 80, according to a Harvard University study.

While previous research has linked old age with increased cancer risk, study lead author Richard Wilson and colleagues found that rates of nearly all cancers peak at age 80 and the rates drop toward zero as people approach the end of their lives, United Press International reported.

There are a number of reasons why people are less likely to develop cancer after age 80, Wilson said. They include: diet changes that result in a reduction of dietary carcinogens; decreased use of substances such as tobacco and alcohol; fewer occupational exposures to carcinogens; and less body weight, which may have an effect on several types of cancers.

The study is published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal.

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Americans Not Eating Enough Tree Nuts

Too few Americans are eating the recommended 1 1/2 ounces of tree nuts per day, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, say U.S. researchers. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias and walnuts.

The researchers noted that the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 34 percent of respondents said they ate nuts, but most ate about half the recommended amount, United Press International reported.

"Most people consume as much as 25 percent of their total caloric intake from snacks," Janet King, co-chairwoman of the 2007 Nuts and Health Symposium and past chairwoman of the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in a news release. "If we could replace snacks high in refined carbohydrates with just 1/4 to 1/3 cup of nuts per day, we could have a positive impact on nutrient density and the risk of chronic disease."

Information from the Nuts and Health Symposium is published in the September issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

-----

Scientists Use Wisdom Teeth to Create Stem Cells

Japanese scientists have created stem cells from the wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl, an achievement that offers another method of supplying stem cells for research while avoiding the controversial use of embryos to create stem cells.

"This is significant in two ways. One is that we can avoid the ethical issues of (embryo-derived) stem cells because wisdom teeth are destined to be thrown away anyway," team leader Hajime Ogushdi told Agence France Presse. "Also, we used teeth that had been extracted three years ago and had been preserved in a freezer. That means that it's easy for us to stock this source of stem cells."

The researchers at the Japanese government-backed National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science extracted cells from the wisdom teeth and found that they turned into stem cells after being allowed to develop for 35 days.

However, it will take many years of research before wisdom teeth-derived stem cells may be available for clinical use, said Ogushdi, AFP reported.

Last year, American and Japanese scientists announced they could produce stem cells from skin.

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Positive Outlook May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Having a positive outlook may help prevent breast cancer, while getting divorced or losing a loved one may increase the risk, suggests an Israeli study that compared the mental outlook and life events of 255 breast cancer patients and 367 healthy women.

The researchers found that a generally positive outlook was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, while experiencing one or more traumatic life events -- such as the loss of a parent or spouse -- was associated with a more than 60 percent increased risk, BBC News reported.

Women who've been exposed to a number of negative life events should be considered an "at-risk" group for breast cancer, said lead researcher Dr. Ronit Peled, of Ben-Gurion University.

"We can carefully say that experiencing more than one severe and/or moderate life event is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women. On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role," said Peled, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal BMC Cancer.

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FDA Sanctions Irradiation of Lettuce, Spinach

Food producers will be allowed to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The new regulation takes effect Friday.

Irradiation of meat and spices has been permitted for years but there were concerns that exposing leafy greens to radiation would affect the quality of the produce, the Associated Press reported.

But the FDA concluded that modern irradiation techniques can kill dangerous germs without compromising the safety or nutrient value of raw lettuce and spinach.

"What this does is give producers and processors one more tool in the toolbox to make these commodities safer and protect public health," said Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety, the AP reported.

The FDA also is assessing the possible use of irradiation on other types of produce.

Health Tips for August 24

Health Tip: Prevent Bath Time Injuries

To help keep bath time safe and fun for your baby, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions when it's time to rub-a-dub-dub:

* Never leave the infant alone or with another child in the tub, not even for a second. A baby can drown in very little water.
* Always check the water to make sure it's not too hot before you put your baby in the bath.
* Set your water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the temperature of the tap by holding a thermometer under the running water for three minutes.
* Never store electrical appliances such as hair dryers or radios near the bath. When you aren't using them, they should be unplugged and kept away from the tub.

Health Tip: Beating Backpack Pain

Backpacks can cause back pain and injury if they are too heavy or don't offer enough support.

Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing and wearing a backpack, courtesy of the National Safety Council:

* Always wear both straps, so that the weight is distributed across both shoulders and evenly across the back.
* A backpack should always be centered across the middle of the back.
* Try not to overload the backpack. Keep it from getting too heavy.
* Place the heaviest items closest to the back.
* When lifting the backpack, bend at the knees and lift with your legs.

Health Headlines - August 23

Cancer Risk Decreases After Age 80, Study Says

The risk of most cancers decreases after age 80, according to a Harvard University study.

While previous research has linked old age with increased cancer risk, study lead author Richard Wilson and colleagues found that rates of nearly all cancers peak at age 80 and the rates drop toward zero as people approach the end of their lives, United Press International reported.

There are a number of reasons why people are less likely to develop cancer after age 80, Wilson said. They include: diet changes that result in a reduction of dietary carcinogens; decreased use of substances such as tobacco and alcohol; fewer occupational exposures to carcinogens; and less body weight, which may have an effect on several types of cancers.

The study is published in the American Association for Cancer Research journal.

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Americans Not Eating Enough Tree Nuts

Too few Americans are eating the recommended 1 1/2 ounces of tree nuts per day, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, say U.S. researchers. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias and walnuts.

The researchers noted that the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 34 percent of respondents said they ate nuts, but most ate about half the recommended amount, United Press International reported.

"Most people consume as much as 25 percent of their total caloric intake from snacks," Janet King, co-chairwoman of the 2007 Nuts and Health Symposium and past chairwoman of the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in a news release. "If we could replace snacks high in refined carbohydrates with just 1/4 to 1/3 cup of nuts per day, we could have a positive impact on nutrient density and the risk of chronic disease."

Information from the Nuts and Health Symposium is published in the September issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

-----

Scientists Use Wisdom Teeth to Create Stem Cells

Japanese scientists have created stem cells from the wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl, an achievement that offers another method of supplying stem cells for research while avoiding the controversial use of embryos to create stem cells.

"This is significant in two ways. One is that we can avoid the ethical issues of (embryo-derived) stem cells because wisdom teeth are destined to be thrown away anyway," team leader Hajime Ogushdi told Agence France Presse. "Also, we used teeth that had been extracted three years ago and had been preserved in a freezer. That means that it's easy for us to stock this source of stem cells."

The researchers at the Japanese government-backed National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science extracted cells from the wisdom teeth and found that they turned into stem cells after being allowed to develop for 35 days.

However, it will take many years of research before wisdom teeth-derived stem cells may be available for clinical use, said Ogushdi, AFP reported.

Last year, American and Japanese scientists announced they could produce stem cells from skin.

-----

Positive Outlook May Protect Against Breast Cancer

Having a positive outlook may help prevent breast cancer, while getting divorced or losing a loved one may increase the risk, suggests an Israeli study that compared the mental outlook and life events of 255 breast cancer patients and 367 healthy women.

The researchers found that a generally positive outlook was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, while experiencing one or more traumatic life events -- such as the loss of a parent or spouse -- was associated with a more than 60 percent increased risk, BBC News reported.

Women who've been exposed to a number of negative life events should be considered an "at-risk" group for breast cancer, said lead researcher Dr. Ronit Peled, of Ben-Gurion University.

"We can carefully say that experiencing more than one severe and/or moderate life event is a risk factor for breast cancer among young women. On the other hand, a general feeling of happiness and optimism can play a protective role," said Peled, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal BMC Cancer.

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FDA Sanctions Irradiation of Lettuce, Spinach

Food producers will be allowed to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The new regulation takes effect Friday.

Irradiation of meat and spices has been permitted for years but there were concerns that exposing leafy greens to radiation would affect the quality of the produce, the Associated Press reported.

But the FDA concluded that modern irradiation techniques can kill dangerous germs without compromising the safety or nutrient value of raw lettuce and spinach.

"What this does is give producers and processors one more tool in the toolbox to make these commodities safer and protect public health," said Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety, the AP reported.

The FDA also is assessing the possible use of irradiation on other types of produce.

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Anti-Addiction Drug Helps Rats Lose Weight

A drug being tested as a treatment for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction helps rats lose weight, U.S. researchers say. The findings suggest the drug could help treat severely obese people.

Following short-term treatment with the drug vigabatrin, rats genetically modified to be obese lost up to 19 percent of their total weight, and normal-weight rats shed 12 percent to 20 percent of their weight, Agence France-Presse reported.

"Our results appear to demonstrate that vigabatrin induced satiety in these animals," said study leader Amy DeMarco, of the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The study was published online this week by the journal Synapse.

Previous research identified vigabatrin as a potential addiction treatment and found similar brain changes in addicts and obese people. That led the Brookhaven team to study whether vigabatrin would turn off the uncontrolled urge to eat among obese lab rats, AFP reported.

Health Tips for August 23

Health Tip: When Your Diabetic Child Takes a Trip

Having diabetes shouldn't cause your child to miss out on the fun of sleepovers and school field trips.

Prepare your diabetic child for time away from home with these recommendations from the American Diabetes Association:

* Pack a bag with everything your child will need, including insulin, syringes, a meter, test strips and a log book. Pack extras of everything.
* If traveling for several hours, pack several snacks, juices and glucose tablets.
* If your child will be changing time zones, talk to your doctor about how to adjust the insulin schedule accordingly.
* Make sure your child wears a medical ID bracelet that notes diabetes.
* Make sure your child checks glucose levels more frequently away from home.
* Make sure that any adults accompanying your child understand diabetes and how to manage it.

Health Tip: Hair Treatments During Pregnancy

Women should be cautious about exposure to any chemicals during pregnancy, even to hair dyes and treatments.

Here are guidelines for pregnant women about the use of these products, courtesy of the American Pregnancy Association:

* Try to avoid treatments that straighten, bleach, perm or color hair until the second trimester.
* Make sure that any treatment is applied in a well-ventilated area.
* Don't leave hair chemicals in longer than necessary.
* Make sure your hair and scalp are thoroughly rinsed with water after the treatment.
* Always wear gloves when applying these chemicals yourself, and always follow manufacturer directions carefully.
* Try testing on a small patch of hair first, to monitor for any allergic reaction.

Health Headlines - August 22

FDA Sanctions Irradiation of Lettuce, Spinach

Food producers will be allowed to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The new regulation takes effect Friday.

Irradiation of meat and spices has been permitted for years but there were concerns that exposing leafy greens to radiation would affect the quality of the produce, the Associated Press reported.

But the FDA concluded that modern irradiation techniques can kill dangerous germs without compromising the safety or nutrient value of raw lettuce and spinach.

"What this does is give producers and processors one more tool in the toolbox to make these commodities safer and protect public health," said Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety, the AP reported.

The FDA also is assessing the possible use of irradiation on other types of produce.

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Anti-Addiction Drug Helps Rats Lose Weight

A drug being tested as a treatment for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction helps rats lose weight, U.S. researchers say. The findings suggest the drug could help treat severely obese people.

Following short-term treatment with the drug vigabatrin, rats genetically modified to be obese lost up to 19 percent of their total weight, and normal-weight rats shed 12 percent to 20 percent of their weight, Agence France-Presse reported.

"Our results appear to demonstrate that vigabatrin induced satiety in these animals," said study leader Amy DeMarco, of the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The study was published online this week by the journal Synapse.

Previous research identified vigabatrin as a potential addiction treatment and found similar brain changes in addicts and obese people. That led the Brookhaven team to study whether vigabatrin would turn off the uncontrolled urge to eat among obese lab rats, AFP reported.

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Trauma During Pregnancy Boosts Risk of Schizophrenia in Kids

There's an increased risk of schizophrenia among children born to women who experience traumatic stress during pregnancy, including stress caused by natural disasters, war, a terrorist attack, or the sudden loss of a loved one.

Dolores Malaspina, of New York University's School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed birth data for 88,829 people born in Jerusalem from 1964 to 1976 and cross-referenced that data with Israel's national psychiatry registry, Agence France-Presse reported.

The study found that females born to women who were in their second month of pregnancy during the height of Six-Day War in June, 1967, were 4.3 times more likely to develop schizophrenia as they entered adulthood, and males were 1.2 times more likely to develop the mental disease.

"It is a very striking confirmation of something that has been suspected for a long time. The placenta is very sensitive to stress hormones in the mother. These hormones were probably amplified during the time of war," said Malaspina, AFP reported.

The study was published in the journal BioMed Central Psychiatry.

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Posture Training Eases Chronic Back Pain

Improving posture and coordination in people with chronic low back pain provides relief that lasts for more than a year, according to a British study.

The 579 patients in the study received either massage therapy, care from a family doctor, or lessons on the Alexander Technique, which involves training to improve posture and muscle coordination while walking, standing and sitting, CBC News reported.

After one year, the patients in the Alexander group had an average of three days of back pain a month, compared with 14 days for those in the massage group, and 21 days for those under a doctor's care, which included painkillers and exercise lessons in some cases. Alexander group patients also reported improved quality of life, such as being able to walk at a normal pace.

The study was published in the British Medical Journal.

The Alexander Technique was developed in the late 19th century by actor Frederick Alexander, who found he was losing his voice, because he was stiffening his body before speaking, CBC News reported.

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One Dead, 16 Sick in Listeriosis Outbreak in Canada

One person in Ontario has died and at least 16 others across Canada have become sick in a listeriosis outbreak believed to be caused by packaged meats made at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. On Wednesday, the company said it was closing the plant and expanding its recall of certain packaged meats, CBC News reported.

So far, 13 cases of listeriosis have been identified in Ontario, two in British Columbia, one in Saskatchewan, and one in Quebec, said the Public Health Agency of Canada. No further details about the death in Ontario have been released.

Ontario health officials said they're investigating another 16 probable cases of the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes, CBC News reported.

"I strongly advise the public, especially those at risk for listeriosis, such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with weak immune systems, to make sure they avoid consuming these products," Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said in a statement.

On Sunday, Maple Leaf said it discovered listeriosis-causing bacteria in Sure Slice roast beef and corned beef and recalled those products. As of Wednesday, the recall had expanded to about 23 products, including a variety of smoked meat, turkey and roast beef products sold under brand names such as Schneiders, Sure Slice, Deli Gourmet and Burns Bites, CBC News reported.

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Minorities More Likely to Suffer Corporal Punishment in Schools

Minority children received a disproportionate share of the corporal punishment given to 223,190 American school children last year, says a study released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberty Union.

Black and Native American children were more than twice as likely as other students to be paddled, the Associated Press reported.

Most states have outlawed corporal punishment, but it remains widespread across the South. Texas and Mississippi accounted for 40 percent of the children who received corporal punishment at least once in the 2006-07 school year, followed by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida and Missouri.

The study also found that boys were three times more likely to be paddled than girls, and special education children were also more likely to be paddled, the AP reported.

Health Tips for August 22

Health Tip: Monitor the Mercury in Your Food

Mercury is found in many types of fish and shellfish. Because significant amounts of mercury can harm unborn babies and young children, women who are or may become pregnant, those who are nursing, and young children should avoid some kinds of seafood.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers these guidelines:

* Avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury, including swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish.
* It's OK to eat up to 12 ounces per week of low-mercury fish and shellfish -- including shrimp, salmon, canned light tuna, pollock and catfish.
* Albacore tuna and tuna steak have more mercury than canned light tuna, so don't eat more than 6 ounces of albacore or tuna steak per week.
* Before you eat any fish caught locally, be aware of any advisories about the safety of local fish.

Health Tip: Prepare for a Pap Test

Most women need regular pap tests to check for early signs of cervical cancer. It's important to prepare before the test to get the most accurate results possible.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the two days before the test, you should avoid:

* Douching.
* Using a tampon.
* Using any suppositories, creams or medications that must be inserted into the vagina.
* Using any vaginal deodorant sprays or powders.
* Having sex.

Health Headlines - August 21

Minorities More Likely to Suffer Corporal Punishment in Schools

Minority children received a disproportionate share of the corporal punishment given to 223,190 American school children last year, says a study released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberty Union.

Black and Native American children were more than twice as likely as other students to be paddled, the Associated Press reported.

Most states have outlawed corporal punishment, but it remains widespread across the South. Texas and Mississippi accounted for 40 percent of the children who received corporal punishment at least once in the 2006-07 school year, followed by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida and Missouri.

The study also found that boys were three times more likely to be paddled than girls, and special education children were also more likely to be paddled, the AP reported.

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Better Method Found to Make Red Blood Cells From Stem Cells

A more efficient way of making red blood cells from human embryonic cells has been developed by U.S. researchers, who said it may be a step toward large-scale production of transfusion supplies.

In lab tests, the manufactured blood cells behaved like natural red blood cells. The scientists said their results suggest that embryonic stem cells could someday supply type O-negative "universal donor" red cells for transfusion, the Associated Press reported.

The study was published online Tuesday in the journal Blood.

While the work is promising, one expert cautioned that major questions need to be answered, the AP reported. For example, can this process really create red blood cells on a large scale, and will the cells survive long enough in the human body to be useful, said Mohandas Narla, director of the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute at the New York Blood Center.

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Genetic Testing Companies Cleared to Operate in California

Two companies that offer people information about their genes will be allowed to continue to do business in California.

The licenses received by Navigenics and 23andMe are expected to help defuse a controversy that began in June when the state's Department of Public Health sent "cease and desist" orders to the two companies and 11 others that offer genetic testing directly to consumers, The New York Times reported.

The health department said the companies can't solicit customers from California without receiving a license to operate as a laboratory. It also said doctors had to be involved in ordering genetic tests.

The companies argued that actual testing of customers' DNA samples was being done by outside laboratories with licenses. After reviewing the procedures used by Navigenics and 23andMe, state officials are satisfied the companies' interpretation is based on the scientific literature.

In addition, both companies have met the requirement for physician involvement in the testing, The Times reported.

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Christina Applegate Has Double Mastectomy

Television star Christina Applegate had a double mastectomy three weeks ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this month, and she will undergo reconstructive surgery over the next eight months, she revealed Tuesday.

Even though the cancer was contained in one breast, the 36-year-old actress decided to have both breasts removed, the Associated Press reported.

The Emmy-nominated star of "Samantha Who?" said Tuesday on ABC News' "Good Morning America" said it was a logical decision, since her mother battled breast cancer and she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

Applegate, now cancer-free, plans to launch a program to help women at high risk for breast cancer pay for an MRI, which isn't always covered by insurance, the AP reported. She's scheduled to appear on a one-hour TV special, "Stand Up to Cancer," on Sept. 5 to raise funds for cancer research.

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Vioxx Study Was 'Stealth' Marketing: Report

Stealth marketing was the main goal of a 1999 Vioxx study touted by Merck & Co. as proof that the painkiller caused fewer stomach problems than a less expensive painkiller called naproxen, according to a report published Tuesday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

The actual purpose of the ADVANTAGE study wasn't scientific, but rather to get doctors and patients in the habit of using Vioxx just in time for its launch, according to the report authors, who uncovered internal Merck documents, the Associated Press said.

The documents revealed that Merck's marketing division designed ADVANTAGE and handled the study's data collection and analysis, the news service said.

It's long been suspected that drug companies regularly do such marketing-oriented studies, but there's never been a "smoking gun" proving it, the report authors noted.

The Annals of Internal Medicine published the ADVANTAGE study in 2003 but was not told the true purpose of the study, according to an accompanying editorial co-authored by journal editor Dr. Harold C. Sox, the AP reported.

Vioxx was pulled from the market in 2004 after it was linked to cardiovascular problems.

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Most West Nile Patients Recover Within a Year

For most people infected with West Nile virus, symptoms such as fatigue and trouble moving fade after about a year, according to Canadian researchers who followed 156 patients for four years, CBC News reported.

About 20 percent of people infected with the mosquito-borne virus develop symptoms ranging from a mild flu-like illness to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes covering the brain or spinal cord (meningitis). There is no vaccine or treatment for West Nile infection.

The patients in this study were scored on physical and mental functions, anxiety and depression. Most of them had normal scores within one year after being infected, even patients who developed encephalitis and meningitis, CBC News reported.

Dr. Mark Loeb, of McMaster University in Hamilton, and his colleagues expected patients with the worst symptoms would have poorer long-term results, but that wasn't the case.

The study was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Health Tips for August 21

Health Tip: Prevent Bath Time Injuries

To help keep bath time safe and fun for your baby, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions when it's time to rub-a-dub-dub:

* Never leave the infant alone or with another child in the tub, not even for a second. A baby can drown in very little water.
* Always check the water to make sure it's not too hot before you put your baby in the bath.
* Set your water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the temperature of the tap by holding a thermometer under the running water for three minutes.
* Never store electrical appliances such as hair dryers or radios near the bath. When you aren't using them, they should be unplugged and kept away from the tub.

Health Tip: Before Your Mammogram

Before scheduling or showing up for a mammogram, you should be fully prepared to get the best results.

The National Women's Health Information Center offers these guidelines for what to do before a mammogram:

* When scheduling the appointment, plan to go about one week after your period. Your breasts will be less sore at this time.
* If you have breast implants, make sure you tell the facility about them when you schedule your appointment.
* The day of your mammogram, wear a separate shirt and skirt, shorts or pants, not a dress. It will be easier to just remove your top during the mammogram.
* To avoid shadows on your result, don't use any lotions, powders, deodorant or perfumes on the day of your mammogram.

Health Headlines - August 20

Christina Applegate Has Double Mastectomy

Television star Christina Applegate had a double mastectomy three weeks ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this month, and she will undergo reconstructive surgery over the next eight months, she revealed Tuesday.

Even though the cancer was contained in one breast, the 36-year-old actress decided to have both breasts removed, the Associated Press reported.

The Emmy-nominated star of "Samantha Who?" said Tuesday on ABC News' "Good Morning America" said it was a logical decision, since her mother battled breast cancer and she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

Applegate, now cancer-free, plans to launch a program to help women at high risk for breast cancer pay for an MRI, which isn't always covered by insurance, the AP reported. She's scheduled to appear on a one-hour TV special, "Stand Up to Cancer," on Sept. 5 to raise funds for cancer research.

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Vioxx Study Was 'Stealth' Marketing: Report

Stealth marketing was the main goal of a 1999 Vioxx study touted by Merck & Co. as proof that the painkiller caused fewer stomach problems than a less expensive painkiller called naproxen, according to a report published Tuesday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

The actual purpose of the ADVANTAGE study wasn't scientific, but rather to get doctors and patients in the habit of using Vioxx just in time for its launch, according to the report authors, who uncovered internal Merck documents, the Associated Press said.

The documents revealed that Merck's marketing division designed ADVANTAGE and handled the study's data collection and analysis, the news service said.

It's long been suspected that drug companies regularly do such marketing-oriented studies, but there's never been a "smoking gun" proving it, the report authors noted.

The Annals of Internal Medicine published the ADVANTAGE study in 2003 but was not told the true purpose of the study, according to an accompanying editorial co-authored by journal editior Dr. Harold C. Sox, the AP reported.

Vioxx was pulled from the market in 2004 after it was linked to cardiovascular problems.

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Most West Nile Patients Recover Within a Year

For most people infected with West Nile virus, symptoms such as fatigue and trouble moving fade after about a year, according to Canadian researchers who followed 156 patients for four years, CBC News reported.

About 20 percent of people infected with the mosquito-borne virus develop symptoms ranging from a mild flu-like illness to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes covering the brain or spinal cord (meningitis). There is no vaccine or treatment for West Nile infection.

The patients in this study were scored on physical and mental functions, anxiety and depression. Most of them had normal scores within one year after being infected, even patients who developed encephalitis and meningitis, CBC News reported.

Dr. Mark Loeb, of McMaster University in Hamilton, and his colleagues expected patients with the worst symptoms would have poorer long-term results, but that wasn't the case.

The study was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Bad Peppers a Problem Before Salmonella Outbreak

In the months before a salmonella outbreak caused by Mexican chilies sickened 1,400 people in the United States this year, inspectors at U.S. border crossings repeatedly turned back shipments of unhealthy peppers, according to an Associated Press analysis of Food and Drug Administration documents.

Despite the repeated problems with Mexican peppers, no larger action was taken to protect American consumers, the news services said.

Since January, 88 shipments of fresh and dried chilies from Mexico were turned away by U.S. border inspectors. Ten percent of those shipments were contaminated with salmonella. Within the last year, eight percent of the 158 intercepted shipments of fresh and dried chilies from Mexico were contaminated with salmonella, the AP reported.

Food safety advocates want to know why the FDA didn't pay closer attention to the peppers being turned away at the border, and why the agency's screening of companies known for shipping dirty chilies only increased after the salmonella outbreak.

As recently as last week, FDA officials insisted they were surprised by the salmonella outbreak because Mexican peppers had not been spotted as a problem before the outbreak, the AP reported.

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More 40-Something U.S. Women Are Childless

Fewer American women in their 40s have children, according to a Census Bureau study that examined data from a 2006 survey of 76 million women, ages 15 to 50. About 4.2 million of the women had had a child in the previous year.

The study found that in the last 30 years, the number of women ages 40 to 44 with no children has increased from 10 percent to 20 percent. Those who were mothers in 2006 had an average of 1.9 children each, more than one child fewer than women ages 40 to 44 had in 1976, the Associated Press reported.

In 2006, women with graduate or professional degrees had the most births of women in all educational levels. The study, Fertility of American Women: 2006, also found that about 36 percent of women who gave birth in the previous year were separated, divorced, widowed or unmarried.

While unemployed women had about twice as many babies as working women, those who had jobs accounted for 57 percent of recent births. Among women who had a child during the previous year, about one-quarter were living below the poverty line, the AP reported.

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Lower Drinking Age to 18: College Presidents

More than 100 American college presidents want the drinking age lowered from 21 to 18 in an effort to reduce binge drinking by students.

"Twenty-one is not working," the presidents declared in a signed statement. "A culture of dangerous, clandestine 'binge-drinking' -- often conducted off-campus -- has developed," the Long Island, N.Y., newspaper Newsday reported.

In a separate statement, Duke University President Richard Brodhead said the current legal drinking age of 21 "pushes drinking into hiding, heightening its risks, including risks from drunken driving, and it prevents us from addressing drinking with students as an issue of responsible choice."

But the college presidents' campaign, which may include newspaper ads in the coming weeks, faces sharp criticism from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The group accused the presidents of misrepresenting research and urged parents to carefully consider the safety of their children at colleges whose presidents are seeking to lower the drinking age.

Laura Dean-Mooney, national president of MADD, suggested that the current drinking age will not be enforced at those colleges, Newsday reported.