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.

Health Tips for August 20

Health Tip: Who's Prone to Iron Deficiency?

Iron is an essential mineral that the body needs to make red blood cells.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says these people are at greater risk for iron deficiency, and should ask their doctor about getting enough iron-rich foods:

* Menstruating women, and those with especially heavy periods.
* Women who are pregnant or who have recently had a baby.
* People who are long-distance runners.
* Vegetarians.
* People with a bleeding ulcer or intestinal bleeding disorder.
* People who donate blood often.
* People with conditions that reduce their ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Health Tip: Take a Healthy Hike

Hiking is a great way to get exercise and fresh air, but you should take certain precautions.

Here are suggestions to keep you safe when you hit the trail, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic:

* Map out the trail you want to take, familiarize yourself with the area, and choose a trail that fits your hiking skills.
* Prepare for any threats, such as wild animals or poison ivy.
* If you hike by yourself, make sure someone knows where you are and when you are scheduled to return.
* Dress appropriately for hiking and current weather conditions.
* Drink plenty of bottled water. Avoid drinking from rivers, lakes or streams. Pack food if you'll be hiking all day.
* Don't push yourself too hard, and stop if you feel short of breath, dizzy, or have chest pain.

Health Headlines - August 19

2 Deaths Reported Among Users of Byetta, a Diabetes Drug

Two deaths have resulted from six recent cases of pancreatitis among users of the diabetes drug Byetta, marketed by drug makers Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly & Co., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

The other four pancreatitis patients are recovering, the Associated Press reported. The FDA is working on stronger labeling for the drug after the recent deaths, which came despite earlier government warnings about users' increased risk of acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

The injected drug is marketed for people with type 2 diabetes. It has been used by more than 700,000 people since being approved in June 2005, the AP said.

The drug companies issued a statement warning that among people taking Byetta there are "very rare case reports of pancreatitis with complications or with a fatal outcome." Diabetics are already at greater-than-normal risk of pancreatitis, the companies said.

Monday's FDA announcement was preceded last October by its warning that there had been 30 reports of pancreatitis among Byetta users. In that announcement, the FDA warned that people should stop taking the drug if they developed symptoms of acute pancreatitis, including nausea and abdominal pain.

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Video Games Help Players Acquire Skills

Video games may provide many benefits, ranging from improving youngsters' problem-solving abilities to improving surgeons' skills, suggest studies presented at the American Psychological Association meeting in Boston.

One study of 122 students in Grades 5, 6 and 7 found that playing video games seemed to encourage the younger students' planning and problem-solving abilities, the Associated Press reported.

Another study found that laparoscopic surgeons who played video games were 27 percent faster at advanced surgical procedures and made 37 percent fewer errors than their non-gamer colleagues.

A third study looked at the popular online fantasy game World of Warcraft, in which players who work together have more success. The researchers concluded the game encourages scientific thinking, such as using math and testing to investigate problems, the AP reported.

However, other studies presented at the meeting did confirm that those who play violent games tend to be more hostile, less forgiving and more likely to believe that violence is normal than those who don't play violent games.

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Expectations Affect College Students' Self-Esteem

College students and their parents often have differing perceptions of expectations, which can cause self-esteem problems for students, says a University of Central Florida study.

Researchers surveyed 174 students and 230 of their parents about their perceptions of personal maturity, academic achievement, dating and communication, United Press International reported.

While most students were meeting or exceeding their parents' expectations, many of the students believed they were falling short. These students reported lower self-esteem and more difficulty adjusting to college, said the study, published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

In a related study, University of Central Florida researchers found that students who said they had at least one authoritative parent (who combines a demanding nature, warmth and democracy) adjust better to college than those with parents who are too authoritarian, neglectful or permissive, UPI reported.

The findings were published in the Journal of Family Issues.

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Honest University Students Braver Than Cheaters

The "bravest" students are least likely to cheat, according to two U.S. studies of more than 400 students at Ohio State University.

The researchers found that students who didn't cheat scored higher than cheaters in tests of courage, empathy and honesty. These "academic heroes" have a more positive view of others, noted study leader Professor Sara Staats, BBC News reported.

"Students who don't cheat seem to be in the minority, and have plenty of opportunities to see their peers cheat and receive the rewards with little risk of punishment," she said. "We see avoiding cheating as a form of everyday heroism in an academic setting.

The study was presented at the American Psychological Association conference in Boston.

The honest students "probably have stronger personalities and are less likely to give into temptation," Dr. Paul Seagar, spokesperson for the British Psychological Society, told BBC News.

Previous studies found that 50 percent to 80 percent of university students admitted to cheating.

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New Drug May Prevent Fibrosis

Australian scientists say they've developed a drug that may prevent fibrosis, a potentially fatal build-up of scarring on internal organs that's caused by diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. Currently, there are no treatments on the market for fibrosis.

The researchers said the drug, called FT-11, prevented fibrosis in rats, and human clinical trials could begin within 12 months, Agence France Presse reported.

The drug wouldn't prevent diabetes, but could prevent diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease and heart disease.

"We are hoping to delay or prevent those complications which would basically keep those patients off dialysis -- which would have a huge benefit for their lifestyle," Professor Darren Kelly, of the University of Melbourne, told AFP.

He said about 45 percent of diseases in the developed world are associated with some form of pathological fibrosis.

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Australian Doctors Call for Gardasil Review

A major review of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil needs to be conducted, a group of Australian doctors urged after three women developed pancreatitis soon after receiving the vaccine, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Two of the women are well and the third remains under the care of a gastroenterologist.

"We suggest that pancreatitis be considered in cases of abdominal pain following HPV vaccination," the doctors wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Their concerns prompted Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to investigate if the vaccine does pose a threat to patients.

Gardasil maker CSL is confident the vaccine is safe and effective but will investigate the reported cases of pancreatitis, said company spokeswoman Rachel David, the Morning Herald reported.

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Barracks for Wounded Soldiers Full of Mold

Barracks set up a year ago at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla., to improve treatment of wounded soldiers are infested with mold, a group of soldiers told USA Today. They said their complaints about mold and other problems were ignored for months.

The 20 soldiers also said they'd been ordered not to speak about the conditions in the barracks, which were established after poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center prompted a wide-ranging overhaul of the U.S. Army's wounded-care system. As part of that effort, Warrior Transition Units were created to expedite the care and treatment of soldiers.

Last week, officers at Fort Still ordered the replacement of ventilation ducts in two barracks and said soldiers should be surveyed about any concerns, USA Today reported.

It was "inappropriate" for soldiers to be ordered not to talk about the mold, said commanding officer Gen. Peter Vangjel.

Health Tips for August 19

Health Tip: Check Baby's Toys for Safety

When choosing toys for your baby or toddler, make sure you inspect them carefully for things that could cause injury.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these guidelines when choosing safe toys:

* Make sure each toy is sturdy, well-made, and appropriate for your child's age.
* Don't let your baby play with toys that have sharp edges or points, or small parts.
* Make sure parts fit securely and are not loose.
* Read labels to check for safety information. Look for toys that are non-toxic, washable and hygienic.
* Don't let your baby play with any toys that are smaller than 1 3/4 inches in diameter or 2 inches long, as these may pose a choking hazard.

Health Tip: Keep Cholesterol Under Control

Too much dietary cholesterol can lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can be a risk factor for heart disease.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions to help lower your cholesterol:

* Avoid high-fat or fried foods.
* When you do eat foods with fat, look for foods with unsaturated, not saturated, fat.
* Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat, and eat more fish and poultry.
* Get enough soluble fiber by eating plenty of fruits, beans, peas and oats.
* Don't eat more than three egg yolks per week.
* Get plenty of exercise, maintain a healthy body weight, and stop smoking.

Health Headlines - August 18

High Incidence of Suicidal Thinking Among College Students: Survey

More than half of 26,000 college students who completed a Web survey said they had thought about committing suicide at least once in their lives, University of Texas at Austin researchers say.

Fifteen percent of respondents said they had seriously considered suicide, and more than 5 percent said they had actually attempted to kill themselves at least once, psychologist David J. Drum and co-authors reported Sunday in a news release to coincide with their planned presentation at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Boston.

The survey of students at 70 colleges and universities was administered in the spring of 2006. It also found:

• Six percent of undergraduates and 4 percent of graduate students said they had seriously considered suicide at least once in the prior year.
• The most common reasons for suicidal thinking were: wanting relief from emotional or physical pain, problems with romantic relationships, and problems with school or academics.
• Fourteen percent of undergraduates and 8 percent of graduate students who seriously contemplated suicide in the prior year actually made a suicide attempt.
• Nineteen percent of undergraduate attempters and 28 percent of graduate attempters needed medical attention.
• Half of those who attempted suicide tried overdosing on drugs.

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Food Container Chemical Not Harmful, U.S. Government Scientists Find

A chemical used in the making of baby bottles and other food containers is not dangerous, U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers have decided.

The Associated Press reports that FDA scientists have confirmed the agency's original decision that the chemical bisphenol A, which hardens plastic, is not a threat to either infants or adults. The European Food Safety Authority made a similar finding in late July.

Trace amounts of bisphenol A have been found to leach into food containers, the FDA acknowledged, but the agency's scientists said they found no evidence that such small amounts were harmful, the AP reported.

Canada has already announced it would ban using the chemical in the manufacture of baby bottles, and 10 states in the U.S. are considering similar legislation, the wire service said.

The FDA findings are not the final word, according to the AP. A September meeting is scheduled, in which experts outside the FDA will debate bisphenol A's safety. The FDA itself has kept the issue open.

More research is needed because "there are always uncertainties associated with safety decisions," the AP quotes the FDA as saying.

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Toxins Found in Frozen Shellfish Imported from Ireland

Frozen mussels imported to the United States from Ireland may contain a toxin that can cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Two cases of azaspiracid toxin poisoning occurred in July in the state of Washington, according to an FDA news release, and further examination of other containers of "Mussels in a Garlic Butter Sauce" from the same production lot imported by Bantry Bay Seafoods also contained the azaspiracid toxins.

The FDA recommends that consumers discard Bantry Bay Seafood frozen cooked products with "best before end" dates on the side of the box ranging from January 23, 2009, to November 15, 2009: Mussels in a Garlic Butter Sauce; Mussels in White Wine Sauce; and Mussels in Tomato and Garlic Sauce.

The Bantry Bay Seafood products are sold frozen in 1-pound cardboard packages in stores throughout the United States, the FDA says, and store operators have been asked to remove them.

Azaspiracid toxins have never been found in U.S. shellfish beds, the FDA says. They are odorless, tasteless, and can't be destroyed by freezing, cooking, or boiling. Symptoms occur within two hours after the seafood has been eaten and can last up to three days.

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Drinking Red Bull May Cause Heart Damage: Study

Drinking too much of the popular Red Bull energy drink may lead to heart damage, says an Australian study that included 30 university students, ages 20 to 24.

The researchers found that drinking just one 250 ml sugar-free can of the caffeinated drink boosted the "stickiness" of the blood and increased the risk of blood clots. After drinking Red Bull, the students had a cardiovascular profile similar to that of someone with heart disease, the Times (U.K.) reported.

The results were alarming and suggest that older adults with symptoms of heart disease shouldn't drink too much Red Bull, said study author Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University.

In a statement, Red Bull officials said the drink had been proved safe by numerous scientific studies, and that it had never been banned from anywhere it had been introduced, the Times reported.

Red Bull is sold in 143 countries but is banned in Norway, Denmark and some other countries due to health concerns.

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Teens Having Easier Time Getting Prescription Drugs

It's easier to illegally obtain prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin or Ritalin than it is to get beer, say a growing number of American teens.

Researchers at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University surveyed 1,002 12- to-17-year-olds and found that 19 percent said it was easier for them to obtain prescription drugs than to get their hands on beer, cigarettes or marijuana, compared with 13 percent a year ago, the Washington Post reported.

The study also found that 34 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them at home or from their parents.

About 25 percent of the teen respondents said marijuana is the easiest substance to buy, and 43 percent of 17-year-olds said they could purchase marijuana in less than an hour, The Post reported.

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Gene Mutation Linked to Colorectal Cancer

A gene mutation strongly linked to colorectal cancer has been identified by Northwestern University researchers. People with the TGFBR1 ASE gene mutation have a 50 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer than the general population.

"This probably accounts for more colorectal cancers than all other gene mutations discovered thus far," said study lead author Boris Pasche, Agence France-Presse reported.

The TGFBR1 ASE mutation results in decreased production of an important receptor for TGF-beta, the most potent inhibitor of cell growth. A reduced ability to inhibit cell growth means it's easier for colon cancer to develop. The study was published in the journal Science.

"The reasonable expectation is this finding will save some lives," said Pasche, AFP reported. "We will be able to identify a larger number of individuals that are at risk of colorectal cancer and, in the long term, maybe decrease the cases of colorectal cancer and of people dying from it by being able to screen them more frequently."

Health Tips for August 18

Health Tip: Sleep Positions While You're Pregnant

As your pregnancy progresses, sleeping may become a little more uncomfortable each month.

The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help you sleep more comfortably during pregnancy:

* Try sleeping on your side -- particularly your left side, if it's comfortable. Bend your knees, and place a pillow between your knees.
* Also try a pillow under your belly, for support.
* If heartburn bothers you, prop up your upper body with pillows.
* If you feel short of breath, lie on your side or propped up with pillows.
* You should avoid sleeping on your back and on your stomach during pregnancy.

Health Tip: Detecting False Labor

You should speak with your doctor if you're concerned about the possibility that you've gone into labor, or whether you're experiencing a false alarm called "false labor," the American Pregnancy Association says.

The association offers this information that can help you decide whether a trip to the hospital is in order:

* False labor contractions occur at irregular, unpredictable intervals.
* False labor contractions are variable in duration and intensity, while true contractions last at least 30 seconds and become progressively longer.
* False labor contractions often stop no matter what you are doing, while true contractions continue during any activity.
* True labor pains start high in the abdomen, extend to the lower abdomen and around to the lower back. False labor pains, on the other hand, are usually concentrated in the lower abdomen and groin.

Health Headlines - August 17

Food Container Chemical Not Harmful, U.S. Government Scientists Find

A chemical used in the making of baby bottles and other food containers is not dangerous, U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers have decided.

The Associated Press reports that FDA scientists have confirmed the agency's original decision that the chemical bisphenol A, which hardens plastic, is not a threat to either infants or adults. The European Food Safety Authority made a similar finding in late July.

Trace amounts of bisphenol A have been found to leach into food containers, the FDA acknowledged, but the agency's scientists said they found no evidence that such small amounts were harmful, the A.P. reported.

Canada has already announced it would ban using the chemical in the manufacture of baby bottles, and 10 states in the U.S. are considering similar legislation, the wire service said.

The FDA findings are not the final word, according to the A.P. A September meeting is scheduled, in which experts outside the FDA will debate bisphenol A's safety. The FDA itself has kept the issue open.

More research is needed because "there are always uncertainties associated with safety decisions," the A.P. quotes the FDA as saying.

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Toxins Found in Frozen Shellfish Imported from Ireland

Frozen mussels imported to the United States from Ireland may contain a toxin that can cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Two cases of azaspiracid toxin poisoning occurred in July in the state of Washington, according to an FDA news release, and further examination of other containers of "Mussels in a Garlic Butter Sauce" from the same production lot imported by Bantry Bay Seafoods also contained the azaspiracid toxins.

The FDA recommends that consumers discard Bantry Bay Seafood frozen cooked products with "best before end" dates on the side of the box ranging from January 23, 2009, to November 15, 2009: Mussels in a Garlic Butter Sauce; Mussels in White Wine Sauce; and Mussels in Tomato and Garlic Sauce.

The Bantry Bay Seafood products are sold frozen in 1 pound cardboard packages in stores throughout the United States, the FDA says, and store operators have been asked to remove them.

Azaspiracid toxins have never been found in U.S. shellfish beds, the FDA says. They are odorless, tasteless, and can't be destroyed by freezing, cooking, or boiling. Symptoms occur within two hours after the seafood has been eaten and can last up to three days.

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Drinking Red Bull May Cause Heart Damage: Study

Drinking too much of the popular Red Bull energy drink may lead to heart damage, says an Australian study that included 30 university students, ages 20 to 24.

The researchers found that drinking just one 250ml sugar-free can of the caffeinated drink boosted the "stickiness" of the blood and increased the risk of blood clots. After drinking Red Bull, the students had a cardiovascular profile similar to that of someone with heart disease, the Times (U.K.) reported.

The results were alarming and suggest that older adults with symptoms of heart disease shouldn't drink too much Red Bull, said study author Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University.

In a statement, Red Bull officials said the drink had been proved safe by numerous scientific studies, and that it had never been banned from anywhere it had been introduced, the Times reported.

Red Bull is sold in 143 countries but is banned in Norway, Denmark and some other countries due to health concerns.

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Teens Having Easier Time Getting Prescription Drugs

It's easier to illegally obtain prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin or Ritalin than it is to get beer, say a growing number of American teens.

Researchers at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University surveyed 1,002 12- to-17-year-olds and found that 19 percent said it was easier for them to obtain prescription drugs than to get their hands on beer, cigarettes or marijuana, compared with 13 percent a year ago, The Washington Post reported.

The study also found that 34 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them at home or from their parents.

About 25 percent of the teen respondents said marijuana is the easiest substance to buy, and 43 percent of 17-year-olds said they could purchase marijuana in less than an hour, The Post reported.

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Gene Mutation Linked to Colorectal Cancer

A gene mutation strongly linked to colorectal cancer has been identified by Northwestern University researchers. People with the TGFBR1 ASE gene mutation have a 50 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer than the general population.

"This probably accounts for more colorectal cancers than all other gene mutations discovered thus far," said study lead author Boris Pasche, Agence France Presse reported.

The TGFBR1 ASE mutation results in decreased production of an important receptor for TGF-beta, the most potent inhibitor of cell growth. A reduced ability to inhibit cell growth means it's easier for colon cancer to develop. The study was published in the journal Science.

"The reasonable expectation is this finding will save some lives," said Pasche, AFP reported. "We will be able to identify a larger number of individuals that are at risk of colorectal cancer and, in the long term, maybe decrease the cases of colorectal cancer and of people dying from it by being able to screen them more frequently."

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Lack of Judgment Endangers Teen Drivers

A lack of judgment about the risks of driving may explain why teens have the highest crash and fatality rates of any age group, according to Canadian researchers.

The team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto evaluated 262 high school students and found they consistently underestimated the risks of driving due to a number of mistaken beliefs, CBC News reported.

For example, the teens assumed that:

• Their age and agility would enable them to overcome the effects of poor driving conditions or intoxication better than more experienced drivers.
• Vehicle and highway design were more likely than human error to cause crashes.
• In the event of a crash, doctors would be able to save their lives and leave them unscathed.

"Students need to comprehend that it is a lack of judgment, not only lack of skill, that increases the risk of injury to oneself and others," said Dr. Najma Ahmed, assistant trauma director at St. Michael's, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Health Tips for August 17

Health Tip: Prevent Jet Lag

Jet lag can dampen the fun of any trip when your body struggles to adjust to a new time zone.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prevent jet lag:

* Start your trip well-rested. Make sure you get plenty of sleep before your trip.
* Avoid alcohol and overeating.
* Eat healthy meals.
* Get as much exercise as possible.
* Avoid sleep medications. If you use them, don't take them for more than a few days.
* Follow the schedule of the time zone you are in. Eat meals and go to bed when the locals do.

Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of a Crash

Knowing the rules of the road -- and being aware of what's going on around you -- can go a long way in preventing car accidents.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions:

* Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
* Don't look directly into the illuminated headlights of another car. Keep an eye on the yellow line in the road instead, until the car has passed.
* Be constantly aware of potential hazards, including potholes, construction equipment, or stopped cars.
* Pay careful attention to your car and those around you, especially while driving in bad weather.
* Be careful driving on the highway, and look out for other drivers that quickly change lanes to exit the road.
* Don't get emotional about other people's driving habits.
* Never drive while tired.

Health Headlines - August 16

Drinking Red Bull May Cause Heart Damage: Study

Drinking too much of the popular Red Bull energy drink may lead to heart damage, says an Australian study that included 30 university students, ages 20 to 24.

The researchers found that drinking just one 250ml sugar-free can of the caffeinated drink boosted the "stickiness" of the blood and increased the risk of blood clots. After drinking Red Bull, the students had a cardiovascular profile similar to that of someone with heart disease, the Times (U.K.) reported.

The results were alarming and suggest that older adults with symptoms of heart disease shouldn't drink too much Red Bull, said study author Scott Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University.

In a statement, Red Bull officials said the drink had been proved safe by numerous scientific studies, and that it had never been banned from anywhere it had been introduced, the Times reported.

Red Bull is sold in 143 countries but is banned in Norway, Denmark and some other countries due to health concerns.

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Teens Having Easier Time Getting Prescription Drugs

It's easier to illegally obtain prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin or Ritalin than it is to get beer, say a growing number of American teens.

Researchers at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University surveyed 1,002 12- to-17-year-olds and found that 19 percent said it was easier for them to obtain prescription drugs than to get their hands on beer, cigarettes or marijuana, compared with 13 percent a year ago, The Washington Post reported.

The study also found that 34 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them at home or from their parents.

About 25 percent of the teen respondents said marijuana is the easiest substance to buy, and 43 percent of 17-year-olds said they could purchase marijuana in less than an hour, The Post reported.

-----

Gene Mutation Linked to Colorectal Cancer

A gene mutation strongly linked to colorectal cancer has been identified by Northwestern University researchers. People with the TGFBR1 ASE gene mutation have a 50 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer than the general population.

"This probably accounts for more colorectal cancers than all other gene mutations discovered thus far," said study lead author Boris Pasche, Agence France Presse reported.

The TGFBR1 ASE mutation results in decreased production of an important receptor for TGF-beta, the most potent inhibitor of cell growth. A reduced ability to inhibit cell growth means it's easier for colon cancer to develop. The study was published in the journal Science.

"The reasonable expectation is this finding will save some lives," said Pasche, AFP reported. "We will be able to identify a larger number of individuals that are at risk of colorectal cancer and, in the long term, maybe decrease the cases of colorectal cancer and of people dying from it by being able to screen them more frequently."

-----

Lack of Judgment Endangers Teen Drivers

A lack of judgment about the risks of driving may explain why teens have the highest crash and fatality rates of any age group, according to Canadian researchers.

The team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto evaluated 262 high school students and found they consistently underestimated the risks of driving due to a number of mistaken beliefs, CBC News reported.

For example, the teens assumed that:

• Their age and agility would enable them to overcome the effects of poor driving conditions or intoxication better than more experienced drivers.
• Vehicle and highway design were more likely than human error to cause crashes.
• In the event of a crash, doctors would be able to save their lives and leave them unscathed.

"Students need to comprehend that it is a lack of judgment, not only lack of skill, that increases the risk of injury to oneself and others," said Dr. Najma Ahmed, assistant trauma director at St. Michael's, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

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Bush Signs Bill Banning Lead in Children's Products

Legislation that bans lead from children's products was signed Thursday by President George W. Bush, giving the United States the toughest standard in the world. The bill was passed by both houses of Congress two weeks ago.

Under the new law, lead beyond minute levels is prohibited in products for children under 12 years old, the Associated Press reported. Last year, lead paint was a major factor in U.S. recalls of 45 million toys and other children's products, mainly from China.

The new legislation also bans the use of phthalates, chemicals used to make plastic products softer and more flexible. It also gives the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission more money and power to oversee testing of products and to penalize violators.

Each year in the United States, unsafe products cause about 28,000 deaths, according to the CPSC. Last year, faulty consumer products injured more than 33 million people, the AP reported.

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Neck Artery Stent Devices Recalled

Stents and related devices made by Boston Scientific -- used to keep once-clogged neck arteries open -- are being recalled because of problems with the system used to implant the stents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The recall affecting the NexStent Monorail, NexStent Carotid Stent and Monorail Delivery System does not affect devices that have already been implanted, the Dow Jones news service reported. Affected devices were produced between June 12, 2007 and May 2, 2008.

Stents are hollow tubes of wire mesh that are surgically implanted inside an artery to keep it open after a procedure to unclog the blood vessel. The affected devices are meant to be used in the carotid artery, a primary supplier of blood to the brain. They're being recalled because "the tip of the stent delivery system may detach from the delivery system during the procedure," the news service said, citing a notice on the FDA's Web site.

This problem could "lead to increased procedure time, cause vessel wall injury, stroke and/or emergency surgery to remove the detached tip," the agency warning continued.

The FDA said Boston Scientific sent a recall letter to customers on June 6.

Health Tips for August 16

Health Tip: Managing a Chronic Illness

Managing a chronic illness, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, may seem overwhelming.

Here are helpful suggestions for people with a chronic illness, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Take a look at your unhealthy behaviors, and choose one or several that you want to work on and improve.
* Come up with a specific plan and goals for dealing with each unhealthy behavior.
* Devise alternate plans to help you stick to your goals -- for example, how to handle weather that affects your exercise plans.
* Make sure your goals are realistic, and that you feel confident that you can reach them.
* Talk to your doctor about your goals, and discuss your progress.

Health Tip: Can't Sleep?

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, it's important to understand the reasons for your insomnia.

Here's a list of possible reasons for your sleepless nights, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Discomfort or illness.
* Depression.
* Stress or anxiety.
* Drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications or illicit drugs.
* An inappropriate sleep environment, including one that's too bright or too noisy.
* Related activities that affect your sleep, such as taking naps or going to bed too early.

Health Headlines - August 15

Bush Signs Bill Banning Lead in Children's Products

Legislation that bans lead from children's products was signed Thursday by President George W. Bush, giving the United States the toughest standard in the world. The bill was passed by both houses of Congress two weeks ago.

Under the new law, lead beyond minute levels is prohibited in products for children under 12 years old, the Associated Press reported. Last year, lead paint was a major factor in U.S. recalls of 45 million toys and other children's products, mainly from China.

The new legislation also bans the use of phthalates, chemicals used to make plastic products softer and more flexible. It also gives the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission more money and power to oversee testing of products and to penalize violators.

Each year in the United States, unsafe products cause about 28,000 deaths, according to the CPSC. Last year, faulty consumer products injured more than 33 million people, the AP reported.

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Neck Artery Stent Devices Recalled

Stents and related devices made by Boston Scientific -- used to keep once-clogged neck arteries open -- are being recalled because of problems with the system used to implant the stents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The recall affecting the NexStent Monorail, NexStent Carotid Stent and Monorail Delivery System does not affect devices that have already been implanted, the Dow Jones news service reported. Affected devices were produced between June 12, 2007 and May 2, 2008.

Stents are hollow tubes of wire mesh that are surgically implanted inside an artery to keep it open after a procedure to unclog the blood vessel. The affected devices are meant to be used in the carotid artery, a primary supplier of blood to the brain. They're being recalled because "the tip of the stent delivery system may detach from the delivery system during the procedure," the news service said, citing a notice on the FDA's Web site.

This problem could "lead to increased procedure time, cause vessel wall injury, stroke and/or emergency surgery to remove the detached tip," the agency warning continued.

The FDA said Boston Scientific sent a recall letter to customers on June 6.

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Food Additive MSG Increases Risk of Overweight

People who eat foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) are more likely to be overweight, according to American and Chinese researchers who studied more than 750 people, ages 40 to 59, in three rural villages in China.

About 82 percent of the study participants used MSG in their home food preparation. One-third of those who used the most MSG were nearly three time more likely to be overweight than people who didn't use MSG, United Press International reported.

"We saw this risk even when we controlled for physical activity, total calorie intake and other possible explanations for the difference in body mass," Dr. Ka He, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, said in a news release.

"The positive associations between MSG intake and overweight were consistent with data from animal studies," said He, UPI reported.

The study was published in the journal Obesity.

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U.S. Traffic Deaths Decreased in 2007

U.S. traffic fatalities declined last year to 41,059, the lowest death toll since 40,716 people were killed in 1994, says a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report released Thursday. Safer vehicles and aggressive law enforcement were among the reasons cited for the decline.

The 2007 fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles was the lowest on record. California had the largest number decline in 2007, with 266 fewer traffic deaths than the previous year. South Dakota and Vermont had the largest percentage decreases, while North Carolina had the largest percentage increase -- 121 percent, the Associated Press reported.

Traffic injuries decreased for the eighth straight year, from 2.58 million in 2006 to 2.49 million in 2007.

While there was an overall decrease in traffic deaths, motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year, going from 4,837 in 2006 to 5,154 in 2007. Officials noted there are now more than six million registered motorcycles in the United States, compared with 3.8 million in 1998, the AP reported.

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A Happy Attitude May Extend Life

Being happy may add several years to your life, suggests a Dutch researcher who reviewed 30 studies conducted around the world.

Ruut Veenhoven of Erasmus University in Rotterdam concluded that the effects of happiness on longevity were "comparable to that of smoking or not," and that being happy could extend a person's life by 7.5 to 10 years, Agence France Presse reported.

Among the studies reviewed by Veenhoven, the strongest effect of happiness on longevity was seen in a group of American nuns, which may reflect the benefits of belonging to a close-knit, stress-free community with a sense of purpose.

The study was published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

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Birth Control Pills May Impair Women's Mate Selection: Study

Taking birth control pills may hinder a woman's ability to select a genetically compatible mate, say researchers at the University of Newcastle in England.

Normally, women's sense of smell instinctively leads them to men with a dissimilar genetic makeup -- a union that improves the likelihood of successful conception and healthy children.

However, this study of 100 women found that the use of birth control pills disrupted the capacity to sniff out a suitable partner, Agence France Presse reported.

"The results showed that the preferences of women who began using the contraceptive pill shifted toward men with genetically similar odors," said team leader Craig Roberts. This can lead to relationship problems in the long term, he suggested.

"It could ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships when women stop using the contraceptive pills, as odor perception plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners," said Roberts, AFP reported.

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Science.

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Portable Machine Speeds Bird Flu Diagnosis

A portable testing machine that can diagnose human cases of bird flu in about two hours is being developed by researchers at Nottingham Trent University in Great Britain. At the moment, it takes about one week for lab testing to confirm bird flu.

Using a swab of saliva taken from a patient's mouth, the unit can detect molecules specific to the potentially deadly H5N1 virus or other bird flu strains, BBC News reported.

Quicker identification of H5N1 means patients can start treatment sooner, which may improve their odds of survival. The machine may also boost efforts to contain outbreaks.

"There's a large train of thought that one of the best ways of dealing with avian influenza is by detection and containment," said researcher Dr. Alan McNally, BBC News reported. "The ability to detect and type the influenza virus immediately is essential in setting up controls as quickly as possible to minimize the spread of any potential pandemic virus."

Health Tips for August 15

Health Tip: Help Control Irritable Bowel

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic illness of the digestive tract. There are two main types: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says.

The agency offers these suggestions to help keep IBD under control:

* Take certain nutritional supplements. Discuss options with your doctor.
* Reduce the amount of dairy products in your diet.
* Eat a low-fat diet recommended by your doctor.
* Stay away from foods high in undigestible fiber, as well as highly seasoned foods.
* Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.

Health Tip: Belching and Bloating

Gas and bloating are normal human functions that could be exacerbated by factors including diet and lifestyle.

The American College of Gastroenterology offers these suggestions to help prevent or ease gas and bloating:

* Eat slowly. And if you frequently have gas and bloating, avoid chewing gum and drinking carbonated beverages.
* Treat constipation, if present.
* Avoid too many foods that may be difficult to digest, including brussels sprouts, cabbage, beans and lentils.
* Avoid fiber supplements if you don't need them, as well as foods with sorbitol and fructose.
* Medications designed to relieve gas may provide some relief.
* Frequent belching may be a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which should be treated without delay.

Health Headlines - August 14

Pedigree Pet Food Recalled in California

California health officials have recalled a type of Pedigree bagged pet food that may be contaminated with salmonella, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Certain 20-pound bags of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites were pulled from the market after the manufacturer -- Mars Petcare US of Franklin, Tenn. -- said an ingredient that should not have been used after positive test results was accidentally shipped to a California distribution facility in Tracy. The bags have best buy dates of 07/2009.

The ingredient was used in about 100 bags of food that were sent to Albertson's stores in southern California and to Costco locations across the state, the wire service said.

There have been no reports of illness among pets that ate the recalled food.

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Insufficient Therapy May Have Been Given to Vets With Prostate Cancer

The Philadelphia VA Medical Center says it may have given insufficient radiation therapy to as many as 114 veterans with prostate cancer during the past six years, the Associated Press reported.

Two of the veterans have died, and a hospital spokeswoman said the facility hadn't determined whether their deaths were related to the possible error.

The veterans had radioactive "rods" or "seeds" implanted that were designed to destroy nearby cancer cells. Most men who undergo that procedure as their only treatment have low-risk prostate cancer, the AP said.

The hospital said it has suspended the program until it concludes an investigation, the wire service reported.

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Vitamin D Levels May Affect Chronic Pain in Women

Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to chronic pain in women, suggests a study that looked at 7,000 women and men in England, Scotland and Wales.

Higher rates of chronic pain were reported by smokers, non-drinkers, and overweight and underweight people. Among women, vitamin D levels also seemed to be a major factor, BBC News reported.

Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/liter -- a range believed necessary for good bone health -- had the lowest rates of chronic pain (8 percent), while women with vitamin D levels less than 25 mmol/liter had the highest rates of chronic pain (14.4 percent).

No link between vitamin D and chronic pain was seen in men, which suggests female hormones may be a factor, said the researchers from the Institute of Child Health in London. They said further research is needed to determine if vitamin D supplements can protect women against chronic pain, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

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Botox Treatments Increase, Despite Slowing Economy

The economy may be in decline, but U.S. sales of Botox increased 13 percent to $316 million in the last quarter, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

A survey of members found that 40 percent of respondents said their current number of Botox procedures had increased compared to six months ago, and 28 percent of respondents said their current use of fillers increased up to 30 percent compared to six months ago, United Press International reported.

It's not surprising that demand for cosmetic procedures is increasing during tougher economic times, said one doctor.

"Despite what's going on in the economy, people are looking for ways to keep a youthful appearance not just for personal reasons but for their careers," Dr. Kimberly Finder, director of The Face Place in San Antonio, said in a news release, UPI reported. "Who wants to go to work or to an interview and look tired?

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Oily Fish May Protect Against Eye Disease: Study

Regular consumption of oily fish may help protect against vision loss caused by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), European researchers say.

They found that people who consumed the most (300 milligrams a day or more) of fish-based omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were 70 percent less likely to have wet AMD, United Press International reported.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet age-related macular degeneration from the consumption of oily fish and is consistent with results from studies in the United States and Australia," study leader Astrid Fletcher, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said in a news release.

She noted that two, 3-ounce servings per week of oily fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel provide about 500 milligrams of DHA and EPA per day, UPI reported.

Health Tips for August 14

Health Tip: Something in Your Eye?

Getting something in your eye can be irritating enough, but you do more damage to your eye while trying to get it out.

To get dust, an eyelash, or other small particle out of your eye without injuring yourself, follow these suggestions from the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Wash your hands thoroughly, and examine your eye in a mirror in a well-lighted room. Look up, down, and side to side, and try to locate the particle in your eye.
* Do not rub your eye.
* If you can't find the particle, gently pull down the skin beneath your eye and look under the lower lid. Also gently grasp the upper lid and look underneath there, as well.
* Try to gently rinse the eye or eyelid with water when you find the particle.
* If you can't easily remove the particle or it looks like it's already damaged the eye, seek immediate medical attention.

Health Tip: Wear Eye Protection

Eye injuries can occur when you're playing sports, working with tools or chemicals, or even in the kitchen.

The U.S. National Safety Council says you should always wear eye protection when you are:

* Working with or around any type of chemical.
* Using tools to make repairs around the home.
* Playing any sport that involves a ball or other object that could strike your eye.

You can protect your glasses or contact lenses with safety goggles. You should also always wear sunglasses when you're out in the sun.

Health Headlines - August 13

Insufficient Therapy May Have Been Given to Vets With Prostate Cancer

The Philadelphia VA Medical Center says it may have given insufficient radiation therapy to as many as 114 veterans with prostate cancer during the past six years, the Associated Press reported.

Two of the veterans have died, and a hospital spokeswoman said the facility hadn't determined whether their deaths were related to the possible error.

The veterans had radioactive "rods" or "seeds" implanted that were designed to destroy nearby cancer cells. Most men who undergo that procedure as their only treatment have low-risk prostate cancer, the AP said.

The hospital said it has suspended the program until it concludes an investigation, the wire service reported.

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Vitamin D Levels May Affect Chronic Pain in Women

Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to chronic pain in women, suggests a study that looked at 7,000 women and men in England, Scotland and Wales.

Higher rates of chronic pain were reported by smokers, non-drinkers, and overweight and underweight people. Among women, vitamin D levels also seemed to be a major factor, BBC News reported.

Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/liter -- a range believed necessary for good bone health -- had the lowest rates of chronic pain (8 percent), while women with vitamin D levels less than 25 mmol/liter had the highest rates of chronic pain (14.4 percent).

No link between vitamin D and chronic pain was seen in men, which suggests female hormones may be a factor, said the researchers from the Institute of Child Health in London. They said further research is needed to determine if vitamin D supplements can protect women against chronic pain, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

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Botox Treatments Increase, Despite Slowing Economy

The economy may be in decline, but U.S. sales of Botox increased 13 percent to $316 million in the last quarter, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

A survey of members found that 40 percent of respondents said their current number of Botox procedures had increased compared to six months ago, and 28 percent of respondents said their current use of fillers increased up to 30 percent compared to six months ago, United Press International reported.

It's not surprising that demand for cosmetic procedures is increasing during tougher economic times, said one doctor.

"Despite what's going on in the economy, people are looking for ways to keep a youthful appearance not just for personal reasons but for their careers," Dr. Kimberly Finder, director of The Face Place in San Antonio, said in a news release, UPI reported. "Who wants to go to work or to an interview and look tired?

-----

Oily Fish May Protect Against Eye Disease: Study

Regular consumption of oily fish may help protect against vision loss caused by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), European researchers say.

They found that people who consumed the most (300 milligrams a day or more) of fish-based omega 3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were 70 percent less likely to have wet AMD, United Press International reported.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet age-related macular degeneration from the consumption of oily fish and is consistent with results from studies in the United States and Australia," study leader Astrid Fletcher, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said in a news release.

She noted that two, 3-ounce servings per week of oily fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel provide about 500 milligrams of DHA and EPA per day, UPI reported.

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School Stress Leading Reason for Teen Drug Use: Survey

Coping with school-related stress and pressures is the main reason U.S. teens give for using drugs, according to a Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey that appears to confirm that drugs are increasingly used by teens as a way to solve problems rather than for fun.

The survey of 6,511 teens found that 73 percent reported school stress as the chief reason for drug use, United Press International reported. However, only seven percent of parents believe teens use drugs to cope with stress.

Overall use of marijuana, Ecstasy, inhalants, methamphetamine, alcohol and cigarettes has declined, according to the survey.

It also found that about 20 percent of teens have abused painkillers and other prescription medicines, and that 41 percent think prescription drug abuse is safer than illegal drug use, UPI reported.

Health Tips for August 13

Health Tip: Prepare Yourself for Surgery

In the days before surgery, it's important to make sure that you are physically healthy, and that your mind is relaxed and prepared.

Here are suggestions from the National Women's Health Resource Center on what to do before your operation:

* Maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Be sure to get enough vitamin C, which will help your body heal.
* Quit smoking and avoid alcohol.
* Get regular exercise.
* Don't use blood-thinning medications, including aspirin, for one week before surgery. If you have a need to take such medications, discuss this with your doctor.
* Keep a positive attitude.
* Talk to your doctor about how to control post-surgical pain.
* Try deep breathing techniques and relaxation exercises.

Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth that emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. They often crowd or damage other teeth, and must be removed.

Here's what to expect during and after surgery to remove wisdom teeth, courtesy of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:

* Wisdom teeth are removed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia or intravenous sedation, and the procedure is usually done in the surgeon's office.
* The complexity of the surgery depends on the position of the wisdom teeth.
* Some swelling and discomfort are common after the surgery. Pain medications and cold compresses can help alleviate these symptoms.
* You may need to eat softer foods and make other diet changes until your mouth recovers from the surgery.

Health Headlines - August 12

School Stress Leading Reason for Teen Drug Use: Survey

Coping with school-related stress and pressures is the main reason U.S. teens give for using drugs, according to a Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey that appears to confirm that drugs are increasingly used by teens as a way to solve problems rather than for fun.

The survey of 6,511 teens found that 73 percent reported school stress as the chief reason for drug use, United Press International reported. However, only seven percent of parents believe teens use drugs to cope with stress.

Overall use of marijuana, Ecstasy, inhalants, methamphetamine, alcohol and cigarettes has declined, according to the survey.

It also found that about 20 percent of teens have abused painkillers and other prescription medicines, and that 41 percent think prescription drug abuse is safer than illegal drug use, UPI reported.

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Few U.S. Mothers Breast-feed For 6 Months

About 75 percent of new American mothers try breast-feeding, but many quit before their babies are 6 months old, says a Brigham Young University study that found only 36 percent of babies are breast-fed through six months.

The analysis of national data on more than 60,000 children found that mothers with higher levels of education and income were most likely to breast-feed for more than six months, The New York Times reported. Breast-feeding was also more likely to be done by married women, those in western states, Hispanic women and those born in other countries.

The likelihood of long-term breast-feeding decreased among women who were returning to work, smokers, and those living in the Northeast, said the study, published in the August issue of the Journal of Human Lactation.

It also found lower levels of long-term breast-feeding among low-income women who took part in the subsidized Women, Infants and Children program, which provides food, milk and formula to mothers and young children, the Times reported.

"Breast-feeding promotion programs encourage women to start but don't provide the support to continue," said study co-author Renata Forste.

Breast-feeding is recommended through the first year of life, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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California Considers Bisphenol A Restrictions

California lawmakers are considering what could be the first statewide restrictions on bisphenol A, a chemical used in infant formula cans and plastic baby bottles. Under the bill, all food containers or products designed for children age 3 years and younger could contain only trace amounts of the chemical, which can disrupt the hormonal system, the Associated Press reported.

The bill was approved earlier this year by the state Senate and is awaiting an Assembly vote. It's not clear whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign the bill.

While scientists have differing opinions about the danger posed by bisphenol A, consumer concern has pushed some retailers and governments to take action. At least 11 other states have considered bills to restrict the chemical and Congress is considering banning it in children's products. Wal-Mart Stores and Toys "R" Us have said they planned to stop selling baby bottles made with bisphenol A, the AP reported.

The chemical industry, food processors, and grocery retailers argue that the chemical has been used safely for more than 50 years.

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Protein Receptor Images May Lead to Better Leukemia Treatments

The first 3-D images of a protein receptor in white blood cells that can lead to leukemia when it malfunctions have been created by Australian researchers. The achievement may lead to improved drug treatments for leukemia and other diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, the researchers said.

The new images show the precise appearance of the receptor -- which interacts with a hormone called GM-CSF -- and exactly how it works, Agence France Presse reported.

The research about this protein receptor -- associated with some of the most aggressive and deadly forms of leukemia -- is published in the journal Cell.

"At the moment, many leukemias are treated with chemotherapy that destroys the diseased blood cells and bone marrows as well as normal cells," Professor Micheal Parker, of St. Vincent's Institute in Melbourne, told AFP. "We hope this discovery will lead to targeted therapies, more specific to the malfunctioning cells seen in diseases such as leukemia."

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Scientists Identify New Species of Mouth Bacteria

A new species of bacteria that may be associated with tooth decay and gum disease has been identified by researchers at King's College London in Great Britain. The discovery of the new bacteria Prevotella histicola could help improve understanding of changes in bacterial activity that cause oral health problems.

The Prevotella family of bacteria is associated with various oral diseases, as well as infections in other parts of the body.

The King's College team found three strains of the new Prevotella bacteria species inside the flesh lining of the mouth. The new species was identified in both healthy tissue and inside oral cancer cells, BBC News reported.

More than 600 species of bacteria live in the human mouth and many of them haven't been identified. It's important to find unrecognized species of mouth bacteria, especially those that may cause disease, Professor Hugh Pennington, an emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, told BBC News.

The study was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

Health Tips for August 12

Health Tip: What to Wear While Running

Before going for a run, it's important to wear the right clothing.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these guidelines for what to wear when you're running:

* When the weather is cold, dress in layers. The deepest layer should be designed to take moisture away from the skin.
* Put on a middle layer that absorbs sweat and insulates you, and an outer layer that protects you from wind and rain.
* During extreme cold, avoid exposed skin. On areas that are exposed, including the face, apply petroleum jelly.
* Choose a good, sturdy running shoe with plenty of shock absorption.
* Replace your running shoes every nine to 12 months.
* In the summer months, the time of day is as important as what you're wearing. Run late in the evening or early in the morning, when it's cooler.

Health Tip: Running Safely

Preparing your body, choosing your course and planning for the running environment are important steps toward preventing running injuries.

Here are additional safety suggestions for runners, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Warm up and stretch before a run, and cool down and stretch afterward.
* Run with a partner or buddy. If running alone, make sure someone else knows where you'll be.
* Run in safe, familiar areas with minimal vehicle traffic.
* Protect yourself from the sun.
* Avoid running at night. If you do run when light is fading, wear reflective clothing.
* Run on smooth, fairly soft surfaces with a clear path. Avoid hills, which stress the ankles and feet.

Health Headlines - August 11

Suspected E. coli Causes Nationwide Recall of 1.2 Million Pounds of Ground Beef

For the second time in a month, beef from a large Nebraska meat processor has been recalled... this time, 1.2 million pounds.

According to the Washington Post, the fresh ground beef, believed to contain the dangerous E. coli bacterium, was recalled from the upscale Whole Foods stores nationwide Saturday. The beef had been processed at Nebraska Beef of Omaha, one of the nation's largest meatpackers, the newspaper reported.

Just last month, 5 million pounds of beef produced by Nebraska Beef had to be recalled after nearly 50 cases of E. coli had been confirmed. The meat processor was allowed to continue operations after making a number of operational changes, according to the Associated Press.

But 31 new cases have been reported since Aug. 1 in 12 states and Washington, D.C., the Post reports. Seven people who became ill from E. coli O157:H7 had bought their meat at Whole Foods, the newspaper reports. Whole Foods Market issued a statement saying that ground beef bought from from June 2 to Aug. 6 should be thrown out.

Meanwhile, Nebraska Beef continues to operate while being observed by inspectors from the U.S. department of Agriculture. "We will continue to investigate to see what is happening at the plant to see what they have to do to get a handle on their food-safety issues," USDA spokeswoman Laura Reiser told the Post.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious infection.

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Gift Card Program Latest Effort to Reduce HIV/AIDS Incidence

Could a $25 gift card given to the right person help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS?

According to the Associated Press, U.S. government officials think it's worth trying, to the tune of $1.5 million.

With the latest statistics showing that the majority of HIV cases in the United States still occur among homosexual males, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviving a 2005 North Carolina program that resulted in encouraging results for more young gay men practicing safe sex (using a condom), the A.P. reports.

According to the wire service, the North Carolina program was relatively simple: CDC officials would go to gay nightclubs and other places where gay men gathered in the Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro areas and find men who were popular, respected and had social standing. These men were given four $25 gift cards along with HIV/AIDS marketing materials and encouraged to promote safe sex among their peers, the wire service said.

This simple experiment had good results, the A.P. said. Surveys of 300 men in the three North Carolina communities found a 32 percent reduction in unprotected sex and a 40 percent reduction in the average number of sexual partners, the wire service reported. The CDC is going to try the program now in about 200 communities over a two year period, the A.P. reported.

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Interaction Between Cholesterol, Heart Meds May Cause Muscle Damage

People who take the anti-cholesterol drugs Zocor (generic: simvastatin) or Vytorin along with a medication to control irregular heartbeat are at increased risk of severe muscle damage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

Zocor and Vytorin, which contains the active ingredient in Zocor, are statins, and muscle damage is a known but rare side effect of the drugs. The heart rhythm drug is called either Cordarone or Pacerone (generic: amiodarone). The danger rises among those who take more than 20 milligrams daily of the cholesterol drugs, according to the agency warning cited by the Associated Press.

The FDA first warned in 2002 about an interaction between the two types of medications, but that hasn't prevented the problem, the AP reported. Over the past six years, the agency has gathered 52 reports of serious muscle damage among people who took both medicines.

Most of those injuries required hospitalization, the wire service said.

The FDA warned that people who are taking the heart rhythm drug should switch to a different statin to control cholesterol.

-----

Pandemic Flu Biggest Threat to U.K.: Report

The most serious danger facing the U.K. over the next five years is pandemic flu, not terrorism, according to a national threat assessment released Friday by Britain's Cabinet Office.

The document's authors assessed the level of risk posed by a number of threats, including terrorism, extreme weather, climate change and pandemic flu, the Associated Press reported.

The document doesn't actually rank the threats in order of seriousness, but does say that pandemic flu is considered the most pressing concern, according to a Cabinet Office spokeswoman.

Previous government assessments concluded that a pandemic flu outbreak could kill as many as 750,000 people in Britain and that it could take as long as several months to develop vaccines to deal with a specific strain of the virus, the AP reported.

-----

Study Examines Possible Link Between Gluten/Dairy Products and Autism

A study to investigate whether gluten or dairy products contribute to autistic behavior is being conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston.

The double-blind clinical study will include 38 autistic children, ages 3 to 9. All of them will be taken off gluten (a protein in wheat) and dairy products before the start of the four-week study. When the study begins, half the children will be given gluten/milk powder and half will be given a placebo powder, United Press International reported.

Some parents of autistic children believe casomorphin (a peptide in milk) and gliadomorphin (a peptide in gluten) affect their children's behavior.

"There's a lot of misinformation, so that's why this study is so important. Hundreds and hundreds of parents think [changing diet] works but we need serious evidence," lead investigator Dr. Fernando Navarro said in a news release cited by UPI.

-----

Fertility Treatments Offer Little Benefit For Some Couples

The infertility drug clomifene citrate and artificial insemination do little to help certain couples who can't have children naturally, according to Scottish researchers.

Their study included 580 couples who had no obvious reasons for their inability to conceive. The couples were divided into three groups and received either the drug, artificial insemination, or no treatment. There was little difference between the three groups in the numbers of women who had babies, the Associated Press reported.

Women in the clomifene citrate group had 26 babies, compared to 32 babies in the no-treatment group and 43 babies in the artificial insemination group. The findings appear in the British Medical Journal.

"These treatments are a leap of faith," said lead author Dr. Siladitya Bhattacharya, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Aberdeen, the AP reported. "None of the treatments studied had any significant benefit over no treatment at all."

Health Tips for August 11

Health Tip: Detecting False Labor

You should speak with your doctor if you're concerned about the possibility that you've gone into labor, or whether you're experiencing a false alarm called "false labor," the American Pregnancy Association says.

The association offers this information that can help you decide whether a trip to the hospital is in order:

* False labor contractions occur at irregular, unpredictable intervals.
* False labor contractions are variable in duration and intensity, while true contractions last at least 30 seconds and become progressively longer.
* False labor contractions often stop no matter what you are doing, while true contractions continue during any activity.
* True labor pains start high in the abdomen, extend to the lower abdomen and around to the lower back. False labor pains, on the other hand, are usually concentrated in the lower abdomen and groin.

Health Tip: When to Induce Labor

Most pregnant women will go into labor naturally, but sometimes it's safer for doctors to induce labor.

Here are reasons for why a doctor might decide to induce labor, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Going two weeks or longer past the due date.
* Having no contractions after the woman's water breaks.
* Having high blood pressure.
* Having an infection in the uterus.
* Having diabetes.
* Having an insufficient amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.

Health Headlines - August 10

Gift Card Program Latest Effort to Reduce HIV/AIDS Incidence

Could a $25 gift card given to the right person help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS?

According to the Associated Press, U.S. government officials think it's worth trying, to the tune of $1.5 million.

With the latest statistics showing that the majority of HIV cases in the United States still occur among homosexual males, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviving a 2005 North Carolina program that resulted in encouraging results for more young gay men practicing safe sex (using a condom), the A.P. reports.

According to the wire service, the North Carolina program was relatively simple: CDC officials would go to gay nightclubs and other places where gay men gathered in the Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro areas and find men who were popular, respected and had social standing. These men were given four $25 gift cards along with HIV/AIDS marketing materials and encouraged to promote safe sex among their peers, the wire service said.

This simple experiment had good results, the A.P. said. Surveys of 300 men in the three North Carolina communities found a 32 percent reduction in unprotected sex and a 40 percent reduction in the average number of sexual partners, the wire service reported. The CDC is going to try the program now in about 200 communities over a two year period, the A.P. reported.

-----

Interaction Between Cholesterol, Heart Meds May Cause Muscle Damage

People who take the anti-cholesterol drugs Zocor (generic: simvastatin) or Vytorin along with a medication to control irregular heartbeat are at increased risk of severe muscle damage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

Zocor and Vytorin, which contains the active ingredient in Zocor, are statins, and muscle damage is a known but rare side effect of the drugs. The heart rhythm drug is called either Cordarone or Pacerone (generic: amiodarone). The danger rises among those who take more than 20 milligrams daily of the cholesterol drugs, according to the agency warning cited by the Associated Press.

The FDA first warned in 2002 about an interaction between the two types of medications, but that hasn't prevented the problem, the AP reported. Over the past six years, the agency has gathered 52 reports of serious muscle damage among people who took both medicines.

Most of those injuries required hospitalization, the wire service said.

The FDA warned that people who are taking the heart rhythm drug should switch to a different statin to control cholesterol.

-----

Pandemic Flu Biggest Threat to U.K.: Report

The most serious danger facing the U.K. over the next five years is pandemic flu, not terrorism, according to a national threat assessment released Friday by Britain's Cabinet Office.

The document's authors assessed the level of risk posed by a number of threats, including terrorism, extreme weather, climate change and pandemic flu, the Associated Press reported.

The document doesn't actually rank the threats in order of seriousness, but does say that pandemic flu is considered the most pressing concern, according to a Cabinet Office spokeswoman.

Previous government assessments concluded that a pandemic flu outbreak could kill as many as 750,000 people in Britain and that it could take as long as several months to develop vaccines to deal with a specific strain of the virus, the AP reported.

-----

Study Examines Possible Link Between Gluten/Dairy Products and Autism

A study to investigate whether gluten or dairy products contribute to autistic behavior is being conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston.

The double-blind clinical study will include 38 autistic children, ages 3 to 9. All of them will be taken off gluten (a protein in wheat) and dairy products before the start of the four-week study. When the study begins, half the children will be given gluten/milk powder and half will be given a placebo powder, United Press International reported.

Some parents of autistic children believe casomorphin (a peptide in milk) and gliadomorphin (a peptide in gluten) affect their children's behavior.

"There's a lot of misinformation, so that's why this study is so important. Hundreds and hundreds of parents think [changing diet] works but we need serious evidence," lead investigator Dr. Fernando Navarro said in a news release cited by UPI.

-----

Fertility Treatments Offer Little Benefit For Some Couples

The infertility drug clomifene citrate and artificial insemination do little to help certain couples who can't have children naturally, according to Scottish researchers.

Their study included 580 couples who had no obvious reasons for their inability to conceive. The couples were divided into three groups and received either the drug, artificial insemination, or no treatment. There was little difference between the three groups in the numbers of women who had babies, the Associated Press reported.

Women in the clomifene citrate group had 26 babies, compared to 32 babies in the no-treatment group and 43 babies in the artificial insemination group. The findings appear in the British Medical Journal.

"These treatments are a leap of faith," said lead author Dr. Siladitya Bhattacharya, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Aberdeen, the AP reported. "None of the treatments studied had any significant benefit over no treatment at all."

-----

Circumcision May Reduce Risk of HIV Infection by 65 Percent

Circumcision may offer men greater protection against HIV than previously thought, according to a study that included 2,784 Kenyan men who were uncircumcised and HIV-free when they enrolled in the trial. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

Half of the men were circumcised at the start of the study. After two years, circumcised men were 60 percent less likely to contract HIV than uncircumcised men, Agence France-Presse reported.

The protective benefit was deemed so great that, after two years, the uncircumcised men were offered circumcision.

"The 60 percent protective effect against HIV acquisition ... over the first 24 months of the study, we now find to be sustained and possibly strengthened to approximately 65 percent over three and half years of follow-up," said study author Robert Bailey, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, AFP reported.

The findings were presented Thursday at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

Health Tips for August 10

Health Tip: Why am I Constipated?

Constipation often is defined as producing fewer than three bowel movements in a week. Other symptoms may include producing small, hard stools; and significant straining during bowel movements.

The University of Michigan Health System lists these common causes of constipation:

* Insufficient fiber in the diet.
* Dehydration.
* Not getting enough exercise.
* Lifestyle factors, including taking certain medications, pregnancy, travel or aging.
* Not acting on the urge to produce a bowel movement.
* Having conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, a blockage of the colon or rectum, or certain systemic diseases.

Health Tip: Understanding Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, the medical term for low blood sugar, is a common complication among people with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association offers this list of warning signs and treatments for hypoglycemia:

* Symptoms may include dizziness, shakiness, sweating, headache, hunger, pale skin, sudden mood change, tingling around the mouth, and confusion.
* Treat hypoglycemia as soon as you notice symptoms. The condition can quickly become an emergency without treatment, if blood sugar drops dangerously low.
* Eat some sort of sugar, such as a few pieces of hard candy, 1/2 cup of fruit juice, or glucose tablets.
* Have a glucagon (a medication that quickly raises blood sugar) syringe on hand. In the event that you pass out, make sure friends and family know how to immediately use the shot. This is a medical emergency, and in addition to getting the shot, you should receive emergency care.

Health Headlines - August 9

Interaction Between Cholesterol, Heart Meds May Cause Muscle Damage

People who take the anti-cholesterol drugs Zocor (generic: simvastatin) or Vytorin along with a medication to control irregular heartbeat are at increased risk of severe muscle damage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

Zocor and Vytorin, which contains the active ingredient in Zocor, are statins, and muscle damage is a known but rare side effect of the drugs. The heart rhythm drug is called either Cordarone or Pacerone (generic: amiodarone). The danger rises among those who take more than 20 milligrams daily of the cholesterol drugs, according to the agency warning cited by the Associated Press.

The FDA first warned in 2002 about an interaction between the two types of medications, but that hasn't prevented the problem, the AP reported. Over the past six years, the agency has gathered 52 reports of serious muscle damage among people who took both medicines.

Most of those injuries required hospitalization, the wire service said.

The FDA warned that people who are taking the heart rhythm drug should switch to a different statin to control cholesterol.

-----

Pandemic Flu Biggest Threat to U.K.: Report

The most serious danger facing the U.K. over the next five years is pandemic flu, not terrorism, according to a national threat assessment released Friday by Britain's Cabinet Office.

The document's authors assessed the level of risk posed by a number of threats, including terrorism, extreme weather, climate change and pandemic flu, the Associated Press reported.

The document doesn't actually rank the threats in order of seriousness, but does say that pandemic flu is considered the most pressing concern, according to a Cabinet Office spokeswoman.

Previous government assessments concluded that a pandemic flu outbreak could kill as many as 750,000 people in Britain and that it could take as long as several months to develop vaccines to deal with a specific strain of the virus, the AP reported.

-----

Study Examines Possible Link Between Gluten/Dairy Products and Autism

A study to investigate whether gluten or dairy products contribute to autistic behavior is being conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston.

The double-blind clinical study will include 38 autistic children, ages 3 to 9. All of them will be taken off gluten (a protein in wheat) and dairy products before the start of the four-week study. When the study begins, half the children will be given gluten/milk powder and half will be given a placebo powder, United Press International reported.

Some parents of autistic children believe casomorphin (a peptide in milk) and gliadomorphin (a peptide in gluten) affect their children's behavior.

"There's a lot of misinformation, so that's why this study is so important. Hundreds and hundreds of parents think [changing diet] works but we need serious evidence," lead investigator Dr. Fernando Navarro said in a news release cited by UPI.

-----

Fertility Treatments Offer Little Benefit For Some Couples

The infertility drug clomifene citrate and artificial insemination do little to help certain couples who can't have children naturally, according to Scottish researchers.

Their study included 580 couples who had no obvious reasons for their inability to conceive. The couples were divided into three groups and received either the drug, artificial insemination, or no treatment. There was little difference between the three groups in the numbers of women who had babies, the Associated Press reported.

Women in the clomifene citrate group had 26 babies, compared to 32 babies in the no-treatment group and 43 babies in the artificial insemination group. The findings appear in the British Medical Journal.

"These treatments are a leap of faith," said lead author Dr. Siladitya Bhattacharya, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Aberdeen, the AP reported. "None of the treatments studied had any significant benefit over no treatment at all."

-----

Circumcision May Reduce Risk of HIV Infection by 65 Percent

Circumcision may offer men greater protection against HIV than previously thought, according to a study that included 2,784 Kenyan men who were uncircumcised and HIV-free when they enrolled in the trial. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

Half of the men were circumcised at the start of the study. After two years, circumcised men were 60 percent less likely to contract HIV than uncircumcised men, Agence France-Presse reported.

The protective benefit was deemed so great that, after two years, the uncircumcised men were offered circumcision.

"The 60 percent protective effect against HIV acquisition ... over the first 24 months of the study, we now find to be sustained and possibly strengthened to approximately 65 percent over three and half years of follow-up," said study author Robert Bailey, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, AFP reported.

The findings were presented Thursday at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

-----

Gum Disease May Increase Risk of Diabetes

Gum disease may be an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, according to a Columbia University study that included more than 9,000 people who didn't have diabetes at the start of the study.

The researchers examined the risk of developing diabetes over 20 years among participants with varying degrees of gum disease. They found that people with higher degrees of gum disease were nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes, United Press International reported.

That finding held true even after the researchers adjusted for other diabetes-related factors such as age, smoking, obesity, diet and high blood pressure. The study appears in the journal Diabetes Care.

"These data add a new twist to the association (between diabetes and gum disease) and suggest that periodontal disease may be there before diabetes," lead author Ryan T. Demmer said in a news release, UPI reported.

Health Tips for August 9

Health Tip: Prevent Constipation

It's not true that to be considered regular, you have to produce a bowel movement at least once daily, the American Academy of Family Physicians says.

The "normal" range varies widely -- between three times a day and three times a week, the academy says.

Here are its recommendations to help prevent constipation:

* When you need to have a bowel movement, try not to ignore it.
* Make time to have a regular bowel movement, such as after a meal.
* Get plenty of fiber in your diet, drink plenty of fluids every day, and get regular exercise.
* Avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat.
* Don't take laxatives too frequently. Overuse can actually damage your bowels and aggravate constipation.

Health Tip: Keep a Meal Schedule

Not only do many diabetics need to monitor what they eat, they need to pay attention to what time they eat it.

The American Diabetes Association says it's important to keep a regular schedule for meals. It offers the following suggestions:

* Schedule dinner get-togethers at your normal meal time.
* Choose locations and times when you won't have to wait too long to eat.
* When possible, make a reservation.
* Avoid dishes that take an unusually long time to prepare.
* If you know that your meal will be much later than usual, have your bedtime snack at your usual mealtime, then eat a later dinner. Talk to your doctor about how to adjust your insulin when you do this.

Health Headlines - August 8

HIV Testing Rates Leveling Off

In 2006, 40.4 percent (71.5 million) of American adults said they had been tested for HIV at some time, a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis finds..

About 10.4 percent of adults said they were tested for HIV in the preceding year. Of those, 83 percent were tested in a health care setting.

The analysis of National Health Interview Survey data shows that after several years of steady increases in HIV testing, rates leveled off between 2001 and 2006. The analysis was published Thursday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Early diagnosis of HIV infection is critical and can allow infected people to obtain life-extending medical treatment, the study's authors noted. Since 2006, the CDC has recommended that voluntary HIV screening become a routine part of medical care for all people between the ages of 13 and 64. More than 250,000 HIV-positive Americans don't know they're infected, the agency says.

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Health Premiums Have Doubled Since 1996

Since 1996, health insurance premiums for private-sector employers and their workers have increased more than 100 percent, according to the latest News and Numbers summary from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data also found that for U.S. employment-based health insurance between 1996 and 2006:

• The average cost of a family insurance plan increased from $4,954 to $11,381 a year, while the average cost for a single premium rose from $1,992 to $4,118.
• The bulk of the increases were paid for by employers. Their share increased from $3,679 to $8,491 a year for family coverage, and from $1,650 to $3,330 a year for single coverage.
• For workers, their share increased from $1,275 to $2,890 a year for family coverage and from $342 to $788 a year for single coverage.

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Remedial Instruction Helps Dyslexic Children

Remedial instruction can help improve dyslexia-related reading problems, according to a study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

The study of 25 grade five students who were poor readers found that 100 hours of remedial instruction increased activity in several areas of the brain, and those gains solidified over the following year, United Press International reported.

"This study demonstrates how remedial instruction can use the plasticity of the human brain to gain an educational improvement," senior author Marcel Just said in a news release. "Focused instruction can help underperforming brain areas to increase their proficiency."

The researchers also found evidence contradicting the common belief that dyslexia is primarily caused by problems with visual perception of letters, such as having trouble distinguishing between the letters "p" and "d". This kind of difficulty accounted for 10 percent of dyslexia cases in the study, while 70 percent of the children had problems relating the visual form of a letter to its sound, UPI reported.

The study appears in the journal Neuropsychologia.

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Procedure May Reduce Reliance on Anti-Rejection Drugs

A procedure that may limit transplant patients' reliance on powerful anti-rejection drugs has been developed by German researchers. Anti-rejection drugs can cause side effects and may not prevent the slow rejection of the new organ over time.

The new procedure involves mixing a patient's infection-fighting white blood cells with cells from the organ donor, in order to create specialized transplant acceptance-inducing cells (TAICs), which are injected into the transplant patient, BBC News reported.

Tests on 17 kidney transplant patients yielded promising results. In the first stage of clinical trials, 12 patients who received kidneys from deceased donors were given TAICs in addition to traditional anti-rejection drugs. Ten of the patients were gradually taken off a mix of anti-rejection drugs, and six eventually took only a low dose of a single drug.

In the second stage, five patients who received kidneys from live donors received TAICs before their transplant. One patient went eight months without any anti-rejection drugs and three others were successfully taken down to single low-dose therapy, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the journal Transplant International.

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Scientists Grow Rare Brain Cancer Cells

Canadian researchers who have cultivated cells from a rare and aggressive childhood brain cancer say this success may improve the chances of finding a treatment for atypical teratoid/rhaboid tumors (AT/RT). Until now, scientists hadn't been able to grow AT/RT cells in a petri dish.

"To do [drug] tests we need to have cancer cells in cultures. We take the cancer cells, add the targeted therapy [drug] agent and show whether it can kill or not kill," explained Dr. Aru Narendran, CBC News reported.

But, for an unknown reason, it had been impossible to grow AT/RT tumors outside the body. Narendran and colleagues were able to grow AT/RT cells by adding a small amount of brain fluid from an infant with the disease.

The University of Calgary researchers have already used cultivated AT/RT cells to test a drug that blocks a receptor that helps the tumor grow. The drug killed all the cancer cells, CBC News reported.

The findings were published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.

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Researchers Achieve Higher Cure Rate for Drug-Resistant TB

Aggressive drug treatment cured more than 60 percent of 48 patients in Peru with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) -- a success rate higher than that achieved in American and European hospitals. XDR-TB is resistant to the most effective drugs, CBC News reported.

Treatment of the patients in this study included a structured, comprehensive, community-based approach and aggressive use of TB drugs (an average of five or six medications per patient).

"It's essential that the world know that XDR-TB is not a death sentence. As or even more importantly, our study shows that effective treatment does not require hospitalization or indefinite confinement of patients," lead author Carole Mitnick, an instructor in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said in a new release, CBC News reported.

The study appears in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Health Tips for August 8

Health Tip: Keep Baby From Heat Rash

Heat rash is a common problem among infants, appearing as small red bumps or blisters on the skin caused by sweating.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to protect your baby from heat rash:

* The goal is to keep baby cool and dry. During hot or humid weather, dress baby in lightweight, cool and absorbent cotton clothing.
* Keep baby in air-conditioned areas, or use a light fan. But position it far enough away that only a light breeze can be felt.
* Avoid using powders, creams and ointments on baby's skin. These products won't prevent heat rash and may actually block the pores.

Health Tip: If Your Child Wears Glasses

If your child has been prescribed glasses, you may have a difficult time getting your child to wear them.

The Children's Physician Network offers these suggestions:

* Let your child choose the frames, and be sure to give lots of compliments on how great they look.
* Start out having your child wear the glasses for short periods, until they become more comfortable.
* Encourage your child to wear glasses while doing something enjoyable, such as watching a movie or reading a book.
* Don't nag the child about wearing glasses, but praise them when they do.
* Wearing glasses should be part of the daily routine, much like teeth brushing or getting dressed.
* Mention sports heroes, actors or family members who wear glasses.

Health Headlines - August 7

HIV Drug Abacavir Doesn't Increase Heart Attack Risk: Study

The HIV drug abacavir doesn't increase the risk of heart attack, according to an analysis of data from more than 14,600 patients in 54 clinical trials. The review was conducted by drug maker GlaxoSmithKline after a previous analysis suggested a potential association between highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) regimens containing abacavir and increased risk of heart attack.

The new analysis from GSK, the drug's manufacturer, included 9,639 patients on abacavir-containing HAART and 5,044 patients on non-abacavir HAART. Overall, there were fewer than 30 heart attacks in both groups and no increased risk of heart attack was observed in the abacavir group, according to a GSK news release.

The frequency of heart attacks was 1.1 per 1,000 people in the abacavir group and 1.4 per 1,000 in the non-abacavir group. The frequency of coronary artery disorders was 2.5 per 1,000 people in the abacavir group and 4 per 1,000 in the non-abacavir group.

The results were presented Wednesday at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

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Enzyme Overproduction May Cause Endometriosis

Overproduction of an enzyme called telomerase may be a cause of the painful womb condition endometriosis, say researchers at the University of Liverpool in the U.K.

Telomerase plays a role in cell division. In endometriosis, patches of the womb's inner lining grow into other parts of the body. The researchers said their findings may lead to new ways to diagnose and treat the condition, BBC News reported.

Normally, cells in the inner lining of the womb begin producing telomerase at the start of a woman's menstrual cycle, with production of the enzyme slowing at the end of the cycle.

"Women who have endometriosis express this enzyme in both the early and late stages of the menstrual cycle, which means that the cells will continue to divide and lose their 'focus' in supporting the establishment of a pregnancy," said lead researcher Dr. Dharani Hapangama, BBC News reported. "As a result, the lining of the womb may be more hostile to an early pregnancy, and the cells that are shed at this late stage in the menstrual cycle may be more 'aggressive' and more able to survive and implant outside the uterus, causing pain in the pelvic or abdomen area."

The study appears in the journal Human Reproduction.

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New Parkinson's Test Shows Promise

A minimally invasive method of diagnosing Parkinson's disease shows promise, according to American and Canadian researchers. Currently, there is no definitive laboratory diagnosis for the condition.

The researchers used spectroscopy to develop a metabolic profile (chemical signatures) of biological markers for Parkinson's. They tested their method in a study that included 52 patients with mild or moderate Parkinson's and 32 age-matched volunteers in a control group, United Press International reported.

Blood samples from all participants were analyzed using near-infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy methods. The two methods yielded similar and consistent results.

In differentiating the Parkinson's patients from control group volunteers, Raman spectroscopy achieved a sensitivity of 74 percent and a specificity of 72 percent, with eight false positives and four false negatives, the study found. Near-infrared spectroscopy achieved a sensitivity of 74 percent and a specificity of 76 percent, with four false positives and five false negatives, UPI reported.

The study appears in the journal Biomarkers in Medicine.

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Combining Prevention Methods May Dramatically Reduce HIV Infections

Half of the 7 million to 16 million new HIV infections projected worldwide over the next seven years may be prevented by combining prevention methods such as condoms, circumcision and current treatment drugs, according to experts.

Preventing the spread of HIV could save $24 billion in treatment costs by 2015, says Michael Merson, a researcher at the Duke University Global Health Institute, the Bloomberg news service reported.

Merson led one of six studies published in a special issue of the The Lancet. He and his colleagues noted that no effective HIV vaccine will be available in the near future, and preventive microbicide gels designed to protect women against HIV infection have proven a disappointment.

Thomas Coates, a University of California, Los Angeles, AIDS researcher who wrote one of the studies, said the use of antiretroviral drugs and other experimental strategies to prevent the spread of HIV may change approaches for fighting the disease, Bloomberg reported.

"We may have to think about how to spend HIV prevention dollars if these trials are as effective as we all think they should be," Coates told reporters at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

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Broccoli May Benefit Diabetics

Broccoli may help reverse diabetes-related damage to heart blood vessels, according to U.K. researchers, who believe a compound called sulforaphane is responsible for this benefit. The compound encourages production of enzymes that protect blood vessels and also reduces high levels of molecules that cause major cell damage.

In their study, the University of Warwick team tested sulforaphane on blood vessels damaged by high glucose levels and found a 73 percent reduction of molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), BBC News reported.

In addition, sulforaphane activated a protein called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes.

"Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes," said lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley, BBC News reported. "In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables (such as broccoli) has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will."

The study appears in the journal Diabetes.

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High Lead Levels Prompt Recall of Candy

A worldwide recall of a Malaysian-made brand of candy was announced Wednesday after California health officials found the candy contained high levels of lead.

The Ego Hao Jin Bang candy may have been contaminated during production, according to Lina Gan, a manager at Kee Wee Hup Kee Food Manufacture in southern Johor state, the Associated Press reported. The company is investigating the source of the contamination.

On Tuesday, California's Department of Public Health said it found the candy contained up to 0.73 parts per million of lead, much higher than the state's limit of 0.10 parts per million.

As soon as California officials alerted the company about the problem, the firm recalled the candy from domestic and global markets, Gan said. She noted production of the candy was halted a few months ago due to poor sales, the AP reported.

Health Tips for August 7

Health Tip: Can't Sleep?

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, it's important to understand the reasons for your insomnia.

Here's a list of possible reasons for your sleepless nights, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Discomfort or illness.
* Depression.
* Stress or anxiety.
* Drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications or illicit drugs.
* An inappropriate sleep environment, including one that's too bright or too noisy.
* Related activities that affect your sleep, such as taking naps or going to bed too early.

Health Tip: Prevent Jet Lag

Jet lag can dampen the fun of any trip when your body struggles to adjust to a new time zone.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prevent jet lag:

* Start your trip well-rested. Make sure you get plenty of sleep before your trip.
* Avoid alcohol and overeating.
* Eat healthy meals.
* Get as much exercise as possible.
* Avoid sleep medications. If you use them, don't take them for more than a few days.
* Follow the schedule of the time zone you are in. Eat meals and go to bed when the locals do.

Health Headlines - August 6

Study Reveals New Genetic Clues About Cancer

A genetic anomaly in people with a higher-than-normal risk of developing cancer has been identified by Canadian researchers. They said the findings may lead to the development of a blood test that can detect tumors at an early stage when they're most treatable and could improve understanding of how cancers are contracted in the general population.

The study included people in families with a rare inherited disorder called Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), which increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer in childhood and early adulthood. The researchers found that people with LFS have greater variation in their DNA than people without the condition, the Canadian Press reported.

People with LFS have more copy number variations (CNVs), the duplication or deletion of large segments of DNA, said the researchers. They also noted that most people with LFS have a mutation in a gene that normally stabilizes DNA. The study found that people with this mutation in blood cells had a much higher rate of CNVs than people without the mutation.

"So it would imply that people who have a mutation in this gene and are susceptible to cancer have inherently regions of their DNA which are duplicated or deleted and therefore are unstable. And that may have something to do with the mechanism by which they develop cancer," said study leader Dr. David Malkin of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the CP reported.

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Another Malaria Vaccine To Begin Human Testing

A malaria vaccine that showed promise in tests on animals is ready for testing in people, according to an international team of scientists. Currently, there is no vaccine for malaria.

The new vaccine worked well in mice and is expected to begin small-scale human safety trials next year, BBC News reported.

The vaccine targets the "blood stage" of malaria, in which parasite numbers rapidly increase in the bloodstream after bursting out of cells. The researchers believe the vaccine can trigger a massive immune response against the malaria parasite at this stage. In mice, the vaccine reduced malaria parasite levels by 70 percent to 85 percent. The findings appear in the journal Nature.

Some experimental malaria vaccines are already being tested on people in malaria-affected countries, BBC News reported.

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Medicare OK'd Fake Suppliers: Report

Medicare approved two fake companies to supply wheelchairs and other equipment, even though the phony firms had no inventory or clients, says a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.

The bogus companies in Maryland and Virginia were set up by government investigators looking into fraud problems afflicting Medicare, Bloomberg news reported.

"If real fraudsters had been in charge of the fictitious companies, they would have been clear to bill Medicare from the Virginia office for potentially millions of dollars of false supplies," the GAO said.

Billing tests for the fake Maryland company weren't completed because the investigators didn't receive the necessary passwords from Medicare, Bloomberg reported.

In the fiscal year ending March 2007, Medicare made about $1 billion in improper payments on canes, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, and other equipment. Medicare says it's implementing new billing oversight requirements for medical suppliers, according to Bloomberg.

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U.S. Woman First to Get Cloned Puppies From S. Korean Company

A California women is the initial customer of a South Korean company that claims to be the world's first successful commercial canine cloning service. Bernann McKinney received five puppies Tuesday that were cloned from her late pitbull Booger.

His frozen cells were brought to RNL Bio of Seoul, South Korea, in March and nurtured before formal cloning work began in May, the Associated Press reported. RNL identified the puppies as Booger's genuine clones and reconfirmation tests are being conducted by Seoul National University scientists.

RNL eventually plans to clone about 300 dogs a year and may even clone camels for customers in the Middle East. The company charges up to $150,000 for dog cloning, but McKinney will pay only $50,000 because she's the first customer and helped with publicity, the AP said.

''It's a miracle!'' McKinney repeatedly shouted when she saw her cloned puppies at the laboratory, the news service reported.

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Vaccine May Give HIV Patients a Break From Regular Medication

A vaccine designed to give HIV patients a prolonged respite from their regular medication will be tested in a trial of 345 patients in 21 centers in Europe and the United States, researchers announced at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

It's believed giving HIV patients a break from standard HIV therapy would help alleviate adverse side effects associated with the drugs and may also help delay the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, BBC News reported. It would also provide substantial savings for health care services.

The vaccine was developed by Norway-based biotechnology company Bionor Immuno. Results from the trial are due by the end of 2009.

"A successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine would give patients and doctors enormous advantages over current treatments, both in developed and developing countries," said Dr. Barry Peters, of Kings College London, BBC News reported.

"Even if this vaccine is not the final answer, it could help the march toward a successful immunotherapeutic HIV vaccine," said Peters, who is leading the research in Great Britain.

Health Tips for August 6

Health Tip: Before You Take Medication

Drug reactions and interactions between different medications are common, so it's important to speak with your doctor before you take any medication, especially one you're never taken before.

The Cleveland Clinic says you should always tell your doctor:

* If you've had any allergic reaction to a medication, food or substance.
* If you take any over-the-counter product, including medications, herbal supplements, vitamins or minerals.
* If you are, might be, or are planning to become pregnant.
* If you are breast-feeding.
* If you're on a particular diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.
* If you have any medical condition that your doctor may not know about.

Health Tip: Pain Reliever Side Effects

Before you take a pain reliever for conditions such as headache, sinusitis, muscle or joint pain, make sure you know about the potential side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should talk to your doctor about these potential risks of pain medications:

* Liver damage can occur in people who take large quantities of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), or in those who already have liver problems.
* Gastrointestinal problems -- such as ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or upset stomach -- can occur in people who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for long periods. NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen.
* Kidney damage, if NSAIDs are used frequently for long periods.
* NSAIDs may interact with medicines that people take to combat high blood pressure. NSAIDs can also elevate blood pressure on their own.
* In rare cases, people can be allergic to pain medications.

Health Headlines - August 5

FDA Introduces New Advisory Committee Rules

Stricter limits on financial conflicts of interest and improved voting procedures are among the new policies meant to improve transparency and public disclosure at U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committees.

Under the new rules, the FDA has imposed a cap of $50,000 as the maximum personal financial interest an advisor may have in all companies that may be affected by a particular advisory committee meeting. If an advisor's personal financial interest is greater than $50,000, he or she won't be allowed to participate in the meeting. If the financial interest is less than $50,000, the FDA may grant a waiver, but only if it's determined there is an essential need for an advisor's particular expertise.

Details of such waivers will be posted on the FDA's Web site in advance of meetings.

Most of the announced changes to advisory committee policies will go into effect immediately and all are expected to be fully implemented within 120 days.

The FDA's advisory committees include outside, independent experts who advise agency officials as they consider regulatory issues, such as the approval of new drugs or medical devices. Last year, the FDA convened 48 meetings of advisory committees.

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Some Restaurant Workers Ignore Food-Safety Practices: Study

A lack of training and resources are among the factors cited by restaurant workers for not adhering to food-safety practices designed to prevent food-borne illness, says a U.S. study that included focus groups of 125 restaurant employees.

The Kansas State University researchers identified 90 barriers to food-safety practices. Inadequate training and resources, time constraints and inconvenience were the top reasons for not applying three important food-safety practices: hand washing, using thermometers, and cleaning work surfaces, United Press International reported.

The study included workers with no formal food-safety training and those who took part in a formal ServSafe training program. The workers who'd received formal training listed a number of other barriers to using food-safety practices: no incentive to implement the practices; dry skin from hand washing; lack of working thermometers; inconvenient location of sinks; and managers not monitoring if staff cleaned work surfaces.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

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Most Nations Falling Short of Pledge to Fight AIDS

Most nations have failed to honor a commitment they made two years ago to fight AIDS and likely won't meet the U.N. AIDS Millennium Development Goal to reverse the spread of the disease by 2015, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Monday at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly set a goal to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

"Most countries still have a long way to go" to achieve that target, which will make it difficult to meet the 2015 goal, according to Ban, CBC News reported.

There's a "huge shortfall in resources" and richer nations will have to assist the poorest countries, which are worst-hit by HIV/AIDS, Ban said.

He noted that failure to make progress against AIDS hinders other goals, such as strengthening health systems, reducing poverty, and curbing the spread of malaria, CBC News reported.

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Kids' Menus Packed With Calories: Report

Most children's meals at major U.S. restaurant chains are loaded with calories, says a report released Monday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit public health group.

The examination of the nutritional quality of kids' meals at 13 major restaurant chains found that 93 percent of 1,474 possible choices exceed 430 calories, the Associated Press reported. That amount is one-third of the daily calorie intake for children ages 4 to 8 recommended by the U.S. National Institute of Medicine.

In addition, the report found that 45 percent of kids' meals exceed recommendations for heart-damaging saturated fats and trans fat, and 86 percent of children's meals are high in sodium.

The group said there are some healthy options on restaurant menus, but "parents have to navigate a minefield of calories, fat and salt to find them," the AP reported.

"Parents want to feed their children healthy meals, but America's chain restaurants are setting parents up to fail," CSPI nutrition director Margo G. Wootan said in a news release.

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Workers Lose Weight, Boost Productivity in Office Designed for Activity

Workers in an office re-engineered to boost physical activity lost weight and increased their productivity, according to a six-month Mayo Clinic study.

The restructuring of the office at a financial staffing firm in Minneapolis included: removing chairs and traditional desk seating; adding desks attached to treadmills; replacing traditional phones with mobile sets; introducing walking tracks; and providing high-tech activity monitors. Staffers were encouraged to conduct meetings while walking and counseled about nutrition, United Press International reported.

The 18 volunteers lost a total of 156 pounds, 143 of that in body fat. Individual weight loss averaged 8.8 pounds. Triglyceride levels decreased by an average of 37 percent, the study found.

While the workers shed pounds, the company's bottom line added weight. During the first three months of the study, revenues increased nearly 10 percent. At the study's midpoint, the company recorded its highest-ever monthly revenue, the news service reported.

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Virginia Boy Scout Camp Closed Due to E. Coli Outbreak

The Goshen Scout Reservation in Virginia was closed Sunday due to an E. coli outbreak and will remain closed until further notice, the Boy Scouts of America said Sunday, The Roanoke Times reported. The Virginia Department of Health has been notified about the situation.

The decision to close the camp came after three more boys showed symptoms of E. coli infection. On Friday, it was confirmed that at least 14 boys and one adult were infected with E. coli while attending the camp. Nine of the boys were hospitalized.

As of Sunday, there was no confirmation about the source of the outbreak at the 4,000-acre-plus campground in the mountains. Last week, there were more than 1,310 Scouts, adult learners and staff members residing at the camp, The Times reported.

E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause a variety of serious symptoms, including gastrointestinal problems.

Health Tips for August 5

Health Tip: Get Rid of Allergens

Allergy symptoms can be caused by many things, commonly pet dander, dust, mold, grasses and trees, and certain foods.

To keep symptoms from airborne allergens at bay, try these suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Reduce exposure to pollen by showering, washing your hair, and changing your clothes before going to bed.
* Keep doors and windows shut -- especially on dry, windy days -- and run the air conditioner in your home and car when possible.
* Clean areas prone to mold in your home -- such as shower curtains and bathroom windows -- with bleach. Avoid having plants in the house.
* Keep pet dander at a minimum by bathing your pet frequently, and using an air filter and allergen-resistant bedding.
* Reduce dust by frequently washing bedding, drapes and stuffed animals. Install wood floors instead of carpeting.

Health Tip: Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction

Allergic reactions can range from very mild to life-threatening. Severe allergic reactions require immediate medical attention, but even reactions that are milder should be checked out by a doctor.

Here are warning signs of a mild allergic reaction, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Skin rash.
* Hives, especially on the neck or the face.
* Itchy skin.
* Red or watery eyes.
* Nasal congestion.

If you have more serious symptoms of an allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing, swelling, dizziness, chest discomfort, abdominal pain, or feelings of apprehension and anxiety, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Health Headlines - August 4

One Reason U.S. Obesity Keeps Rising: We're Eating More Food

Here's a big reason why the American individual has packed on more pounds in recent years -- the rationale that it has taken more food to make people heavier is true.

The New York Times reports that the amount of food an American ate in 2006 was almost 2 pounds more than was ingested in 1970.

Citing U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the newspaper says that in 1970 the average amount of food each American ate weekly was 16.4 pounds. By 2006, that amount had increased to 18.2 pounds a week.

What constituted the increase? According to the Times, it was unfortunately those substances that can make people fatter: oils, shortening, cheeses and about an additional quarter pound of meat each week.

And while not making a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the Times cites obesity rate increases among United States residents from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: In 1980, 15 percent of adults between ages 20 and 74 were classified as obese. By 2007, that figure was 25.6, according to the CDC.

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Waterborne Parasite Causing Illness and One Possible Death in North Texas

Outbreaks of a nasty parasite infection in public swimming places in Dallas and Fort Worth have local health officials increasing the chlorine content in many pools in order to control the outbreak.

According to the Dallas Morning News, 123 cases of cryptosporidiosis (also known as Crypto), an infection caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium have been reported in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area since June. The death of a six-year-old girl is being investigated to see if she was a Crypto victim, the newspaper reports.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cryptosporidiosis is the most common waterborne illness in the United States. It is spread through contact with fecal matter, and the parasite can live in the human intestine for long periods of time. Symptoms include cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Dallas-area health officials have recommended that people with compromised immune systems not swim in public pools, the Morning news reports. And, says the newspaper, many municipalities are "hyperchlorinating" their public swimming facilities in an attempt to deter Cryto's spread.

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Reintroduced MS Drug Cited in Two New Deadly Infections

Two new instances of a dangerous brain infection have been reported among users of Tysabri, a multiple sclerosis drug that was reintroduced two years ago after being pulled from the market because of the same adverse effect.

While the two new cases occurred in Europe, they raised international concern about Tysabri and its connection with the viral brain condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The new cases were confirmed this week, according to the Bloomberg news service, which cited a statement from one of the drug's makers, Massachusetts-based Biogen Idec Inc.

Biogen and co-maker Elan Corp, based in Ireland, voluntarily withdrew Tysabri in February 2005 after three users contracted PML and two of them died. The drug was reintroduced in July 2006.

A Biogen spokeswoman told Bloomberg that additional cases had been anticipated and that pulling the drug again was "not under consideration."

Some 31,800 people were taking Tysabri at the end of June, and the companies had hoped to have 100,000 users by 2010, the news service said. The drug also has been approved in the United States to treat an inflammatory bowel disorder called Crohn's disease.

Of the two new cases of PML, one is recovering at home and the other has been hospitalized, Bloomberg said.

"These incidents of PML are unfortunate and disappointing, and we hope for the best possible outcomes for these individuals and their families," the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said in a news release. "However, their occurrence is within range of the predicted frequency of cases, estimated by a published report and by the FDA, of approximately one in 1,000 people taking the drug."

The society said Tysabri users and their doctors should monitor closely for signs of PML, which could include "worsening neurological symptoms such as any changes in thinking, eyesight, balance, strength and other symptoms."

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Possible Anthrax Suspect Commits Suicide

A senior U.S. government biodefense researcher who may have been linked to a series of anthrax deaths in 2001 committed suicide earlier this week. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, worked at the biodefense laboratories in Fort Detrick, Md. for the past 33 years.

Ivins did not play a role in the anthrax deaths of at least five people and had fully cooperated with investigators, his lawyer told The New York Times.

"The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation," said Paul Kemp. "In Dr. Ivin's case, it led to his untimely death."

Ivins was regarded as a legitimate suspect and agents were nearing a possible arrest, a federal law enforcement official told the Times.

A few weeks ago, the Justice Department agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit by Steven J. Hatfill, another biodefense researcher at the same facility, who also had been investigated in connection with the anthrax case.

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FDA Rejects Anesthesia Recovery Drug

In a surprise decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it won't approve the drug sugammadex, designed to help patients recover from anesthesia. The agency said it had concerns about allergic reactions seen in some patients who took the drug, the Associated Press reported.

Thursday's decision was unexpected because an FDA panel of outside experts had recommended approval of the drug. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its expert panels, but generally does.

In a statement released Friday, drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. said it would work with the FDA to address concerns about sugammadex.

On Tuesday, European Union regulators approved the injectable drug, which will be marketed under the name Bridion, the AP reported.

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U.S. Senate Passes Bill Banning Lead from Children's Products

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that bans lead from children's toys and other products. The measure also bans, either permanently or pending further study, children's goods that contain chemicals called phthalates, which are widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 89-3. On Wednesday, the House passed the measure 424-1. The Bush Administration has objected to certain parts of the bill but a White House spokeswoman said President Bush would sign it, the Associated Press reported.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act would permit only tiny levels of lead in products for children 12 or younger, giving the U.S. the most stringent lead standards in the world.

Last year, lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and other children's items, the AP reported. Many of those items came from China.

Health Tips for August 4

Health Tip: Drug and Food Interactions

Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can negatively interact with foods, supplements or other drugs.

Here are guidelines to help prevent food-drug interactions, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Check prescription and over-the-counter drug labels to see if they contain any warnings.
* Follow directions on all medications carefully.
* Unless you get your doctor's OK, never break up pills and mix them with food, and never empty capsules into food.
* Take medications with a whole glass of water, unless your doctor has given you other instructions. Never take medications with alcohol.
* Don't take your medications at the same time as you take vitamins or dietary supplements.
* Don't mix medications in a hot drink, as the heat may affect the medication.

Health Tip: Prevent Dehydration

It's easy to get dehydrated if you're not careful. A stomach bug, sweating outside in the hot weather, and just not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, a serious condition.

Stay well-hydrated with these suggestions from the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Drink plenty of fluids -- especially water -- each day.
* When exercising or sweating, and during hot weather, be sure to drink more water.
* Elderly people, children and people who are sick need to be carefully monitored to prevent dehydration.
* Drink plenty of fluids if you are vomiting, have a fever, or have diarrhea.
* If you think you may be starting to get dehydrated, contact your doctor at once -- before you start to have symptoms.
* Warning signs of dehydration may include: not producing tears, sunken eyes, little or no urine output for eight hours or more, rapid heartbeat, listlessness, and dry skin, mouth or eyes.

Health Headlines - August 3

Waterborne Parasite Causing Illness and One Possible Death in North Texas

Outbreaks of a nasty parasite infection in public swimming places in Dallas and Fort Worth have local health officials increasing the chlorine content in many pools in order to control the outbreak.

According to the Dallas Morning News, 123 cases of cryptosporidiosis (also known as Crypto), an infection caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium have been reported in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area since June. The death of a six-year-old girl is being investigated to see if she was a Crypto victim, the newspaper reports.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cryptosporidiosis is the most common waterborne illness in the United States. It is spread through contact with fecal matter, and the parasite can live in the human intestine for long periods of time. Symptoms include cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Dallas-area health officials have recommended that people with compromised immune systems not swim in public pools, the Morning news reports. And, says the newspaper, many municipalities are "hyperchlorinating" their public swimming facilities in an attempt to deter Cryto's spread.

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Reintroduced MS Drug Cited in Two New Deadly Infections

Two new instances of a dangerous brain infection have been reported among users of Tysabri, a multiple sclerosis drug that was reintroduced two years ago after being pulled from the market because of the same adverse effect.

While the two new cases occurred in Europe, they raised international concern about Tysabri and its connection with the viral brain condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The new cases were confirmed this week, according to the Bloomberg news service, which cited a statement from one of the drug's makers, Massachusetts-based Biogen Idec Inc.

Biogen and co-maker Elan Corp, based in Ireland, voluntarily withdrew Tysabri in February 2005 after three users contracted PML and two of them died. The drug was reintroduced in July 2006.

A Biogen spokeswoman told Bloomberg that additional cases had been anticipated and that pulling the drug again was "not under consideration."

Some 31,800 people were taking Tysabri at the end of June, and the companies had hoped to have 100,000 users by 2010, the news service said. The drug also has been approved in the United States to treat an inflammatory bowel disorder called Crohn's disease.

Of the two new cases of PML, one is recovering at home and the other has been hospitalized, Bloomberg said.

"These incidents of PML are unfortunate and disappointing, and we hope for the best possible outcomes for these individuals and their families," the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said in a news release. "However, their occurrence is within range of the predicted frequency of cases, estimated by a published report and by the FDA, of approximately one in 1,000 people taking the drug."

The society said Tysabri users and their doctors should monitor closely for signs of PML, which could include "worsening neurological symptoms such as any changes in thinking, eyesight, balance, strength and other symptoms."

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Possible Anthrax Suspect Commits Suicide

A senior U.S. government biodefense researcher who may have been linked to a series of anthrax deaths in 2001 committed suicide earlier this week. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, worked at the biodefense laboratories in Fort Detrick, Md. for the past 33 years.

Ivins did not play a role in the anthrax deaths of at least five people and had fully cooperated with investigators, his lawyer told The New York Times.

"The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation," said Paul Kemp. "In Dr. Ivin's case, it led to his untimely death."

Ivins was regarded as a legitimate suspect and agents were nearing a possible arrest, a federal law enforcement official told the Times.

A few weeks ago, the Justice Department agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit by Steven J. Hatfill, another biodefense researcher at the same facility, who also had been investigated in connection with the anthrax case.

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FDA Rejects Anesthesia Recovery Drug

In a surprise decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it won't approve the drug sugammadex, designed to help patients recover from anesthesia. The agency said it had concerns about allergic reactions seen in some patients who took the drug, the Associated Press reported.

Thursday's decision was unexpected because an FDA panel of outside experts had recommended approval of the drug. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its expert panels, but generally does.

In a statement released Friday, drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. said it would work with the FDA to address concerns about sugammadex.

On Tuesday, European Union regulators approved the injectable drug, which will be marketed under the name Bridion, the AP reported.

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U.S. Senate Passes Bill Banning Lead from Children's Products

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that bans lead from children's toys and other products. The measure also bans, either permanently or pending further study, children's goods that contain chemicals called phthalates, which are widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 89-3. On Wednesday, the House passed the measure 424-1. The Bush Administration has objected to certain parts of the bill but a White House spokeswoman said President Bush would sign it, the Associated Press reported.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act would permit only tiny levels of lead in products for children 12 or younger, giving the U.S. the most stringent lead standards in the world.

Last year, lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and other children's items, the AP reported. Many of those items came from China.

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Hypnosis Helps Dementia Patients: Study

Hypnosis slows the progression of dementia, according to results of a U.K. study.

Researchers compared dementia patients who had hypnosis to patients who received standard treatment and those in group therapy that encouraged discussion of news and current affairs, United Press International reported.

Patients in the hypnosis group showed improvements in concentration, memory, socialization, relaxation, motivation, and daily living activities.

"Over the 9-month period of weekly sessions, it became clear that the participants attending the discussion group remained the same throughout. The group who received 'treatment as usual' showed a small decline over the assessment period, yet those having regular hypnosis sessions showed real improvement across all of the areas that we looked at," Dr. Simon Duff, a forensic psychologist at the University of Liverpool, said in a news release cited by UPI.

"Participants who are aware of the onset of dementia may become depressed and anxious at their gradual loss of cognitive ability and so hypnosis -- which is a tool for relaxation -- can really help the mind concentrate on positive activity like socialization," Duff said.

Health Tips for August 3

Health Tip: Questions to Ask Your Doctor When You're Pregnant

When you head to the doctor for your first prenatal visit after learning that you're pregnant, you should prepare a list of questions.

The American Pregnancy Association offers this list of topics for discussion:

* Is there a phone number or nurse line that I can call when I have questions?
* Who should I call if I start bleeding or cramping?
* What should I consider an emergency?
* Now that I'm pregnant, do I need to make changes to my nutrition, exercise routine and sexual activity?
* How often will I have prenatal visits?

Health Tip: Exercising During Pregnancy

Exercise is good for you during any stage of life. But among pregnant women, it can offset some common problems.

Your doctor should approve of any exercise program while you're pregnant. The American Pregnancy Association offers this list of potential benefits:

* It can help alleviate conditions such as poor circulation and back pain.
* It can give you more energy throughout your day.
* It can help you sleep better.
* It can put you in a better mood.
* It can better prepare your body for childbirth.
* It can help prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Health Headlines - August 2

Reintroduced MS Drug Cited in Two New Deadly Infections

Two new instances of a dangerous brain infection have been reported among users of Tysabri, a multiple sclerosis drug that was reintroduced two years ago after being pulled from the market because of the same adverse effect.

While the two new cases occurred in Europe, they raised international concern about Tysabri and its connection with the viral brain condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The new cases were confirmed this week, according to the Bloomberg news service, which cited a statement from one of the drug's makers, Massachusetts-based Biogen Idec Inc.

Biogen and co-maker Elan Corp, based in Ireland, voluntarily withdrew Tysabri in February 2005 after three users contracted PML and two of them died. The drug was reintroduced in July 2006.

A Biogen spokeswoman told Bloomberg that additional cases had been anticipated and that pulling the drug again was "not under consideration."

Some 31,800 people were taking Tysabri at the end of June, and the companies had hoped to have 100,000 users by 2010, the news service said. The drug also has been approved in the United States to treat an inflammatory bowel disorder called Crohn's disease.

Of the two new cases of PML, one is recovering at home and the other has been hospitalized, Bloomberg said.

"These incidents of PML are unfortunate and disappointing, and we hope for the best possible outcomes for these individuals and their families," the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said in a news release. "However, their occurrence is within range of the predicted frequency of cases, estimated by a published report and by the FDA, of approximately one in 1,000 people taking the drug."

The society said Tysabri users and their doctors should monitor closely for signs of PML, which could include "worsening neurological symptoms such as any changes in thinking, eyesight, balance, strength and other symptoms."

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Possible Anthrax Suspect Commits Suicide

A senior U.S. government biodefense researcher who may have been linked to a series of anthrax deaths in 2001 committed suicide earlier this week. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, worked at the biodefense laboratories in Fort Detrick, Md. for the past 33 years.

Ivins did not play a role in the anthrax deaths of at least five people and had fully cooperated with investigators, his lawyer told The New York Times.

"The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation," said Paul Kemp. "In Dr. Ivin's case, it led to his untimely death."

Ivins was regarded as a legitimate suspect and agents were nearing a possible arrest, a federal law enforcement official told the Times.

A few weeks ago, the Justice Department agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit by Steven J. Hatfill, another biodefense researcher at the same facility, who also had been investigated in connection with the anthrax case.

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FDA Rejects Anesthesia Recovery Drug

In a surprise decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it won't approve the drug sugammadex, designed to help patients recover from anesthesia. The agency said it had concerns about allergic reactions seen in some patients who took the drug, the Associated Press reported.

Thursday's decision was unexpected because an FDA panel of outside experts had recommended approval of the drug. The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its expert panels, but generally does.

In a statement released Friday, drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. said it would work with the FDA to address concerns about sugammadex.

On Tuesday, European Union regulators approved the injectable drug, which will be marketed under the name Bridion, the AP reported.

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U.S. Senate Passes Bill Banning Lead from Children's Products

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that bans lead from children's toys and other products. The measure also bans, either permanently or pending further study, children's goods that contain chemicals called phthalates, which are widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 89-3. On Wednesday, the House passed the measure 424-1. The Bush Administration has objected to certain parts of the bill but a White House spokeswoman said President Bush would sign it, the Associated Press reported.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act would permit only tiny levels of lead in products for children 12 or younger, giving the U.S. the most stringent lead standards in the world.

Last year, lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and other children's items, the AP reported. Many of those items came from China.

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Hypnosis Helps Dementia Patients: Study

Hypnosis slows the progression of dementia, according to results of a U.K. study.

Researchers compared dementia patients who had hypnosis to patients who received standard treatment and those in group therapy that encouraged discussion of news and current affairs, United Press International reported.

Patients in the hypnosis group showed improvements in concentration, memory, socialization, relaxation, motivation, and daily living activities.

"Over the 9-month period of weekly sessions, it became clear that the participants attending the discussion group remained the same throughout. The group who received 'treatment as usual' showed a small decline over the assessment period, yet those having regular hypnosis sessions showed real improvement across all of the areas that we looked at," Dr. Simon Duff, a forensic psychologist at the University of Liverpool, said in a news release cited by UPI.

"Participants who are aware of the onset of dementia may become depressed and anxious at their gradual loss of cognitive ability and so hypnosis -- which is a tool for relaxation -- can really help the mind concentrate on positive activity like socialization," Duff said.

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Performance Anxiety May Increase Risk of Eating Disorders in Female Athletes

Competitive female athletes who worry about their performance may be more prone to eating disorder-related attitudes and behaviors, suggests a University of Denver study that included 274 undergraduate women at a large southeastern university.

The participants included: varsity athletes, who exercised an average of two hours per day; club athletes, who practiced their sport an average of four times per week; independent exercisers, who exercised on their own at least three times per week; and non exercisers, who exercised 0-2 times per week, United Press International reported.

The women had standard assessments for eating disorders, self-esteem, and sports-related anxiety. The researchers found that competitive athletes who are anxious about their performance may be at higher risk for eating disorder symptoms than women who are less anxious about their sports performance and those who aren't involved in competitive athletics.

Coaches and athletic departments should watch for signs of sports-related anxiety in their female athletes, said the researchers.

The study appears in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Health Tips for August 2

Health Tip: Pain Reliever Side Effects

Before you take a pain reliever for conditions such as headache, sinusitis, muscle or joint pain, make sure you know about the potential side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should talk to your doctor about these potential risks of pain medications:

* Liver damage can occur in people who take large quantities of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), or in those who already have liver problems.
* Gastrointestinal problems -- such as ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or upset stomach -- can occur in people who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for long periods. NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen.
* Kidney damage, if NSAIDs are used frequently for long periods.
* NSAIDs may interact with medicines that people take to combat high blood pressure. NSAIDs can also elevate blood pressure on their own.
* In rare cases, people can be allergic to pain medications.

Health Tip: Drug and Food Interactions

Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can negatively interact with foods, supplements or other drugs.

Here are guidelines to help prevent food-drug interactions, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Check prescription and over-the-counter drug labels to see if they contain any warnings.
* Follow directions on all medications carefully.
* Unless you get your doctor's OK, never break up pills and mix them with food, and never empty capsules into food.
* Take medications with a whole glass of water, unless your doctor has given you other instructions. Never take medications with alcohol.
* Don't take your medications at the same time as you take vitamins or dietary supplements.
* Don't mix medications in a hot drink, as the heat may affect the medication.

Health Headlines - August 1

Living Near Highway Raises Risk of Low Birth-Weight Baby: Study

Living near a highway increases a woman's risk of having a low birth-weight baby, according to a study of almost 100,000 live births in Montreal between 1997 and 2001.

Women who lived within 200 meters (about 219 yards) of a highway had a 14 percent greater risk of pre-term birth and were 17 percent more likely to have a low birth-weight baby than women who didn't live close to a highway, CBC News reported.

Affluent women appeared more at risk, found authors of the study, which appears in the August issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

"Among affluent mothers who live within 200 meters of a highway, the odds of delivering an infant with low birth weight increase by 81 percent, while their odds of delivering a pre-term baby increase by 58 percent compared to mothers who don't live anywhere close to expressways," study author Dr. Melissa Genereux said in a news release cited by CBC News.

"Advantaged mothers may be more susceptible to environmental hazards because they have been protected from other hazards," the study authors wrote. "These mothers may be particularly susceptible to exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, which is hypothesized to interfere directly with intrauterine growth via pollutant absorption and placental exchange, or indirectly by increasing maternal susceptibility to infection or impairing maternal respiratory function."

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FDA Orders Aranesp and Procrit Label Changes

Labels on the anemia drugs Aranesp and Procrit must be changed in a way that could limit their use in treating cancer patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

It's the first time the FDA has used its authority under a 2007 law that gave the agency the power to order changes in a drug's prescribing information, The New York Times reported. Before the new law, the FDA could only negotiate with drug makers to change labels.

Amgen makes both Aranesp and Procrit, but Procrit is sold under license by Johnson & Johnson.

In the past year, sales of both drugs fell after studies suggested their use to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy could actually worsen cancer and shorten patients' lives, the Times reported.

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House Passes Bill Giving FDA Control Over Tobacco

Legislation that would subject the tobacco industry to regulation by U.S. health authorities was passed Wednesday by the House in a 326-102 vote.

Under the bill, the Food and Drug Administration would have the power to regulate tobacco products. The FDA couldn't ban tobacco or nicotine, but it could order the reduction or elimination of cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke, the Associated Press reported.

In addition, the bill would: further tighten restrictions on tobacco advertising; impose new penalties for selling to minors; prohibit candy-flavored cigarettes and cigars; and give the FDA authority to ban menthol, the most common type of flavoring.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act appears to have enough support to pass this year, but it's unclear whether the Senate will have time to act, the AP reported. The White House issued a veto threat Wednesday.

A potential sticking point as the Senate considers the measure is its treatment of menthol, a favorite choice among black smokers. The National African American Tobacco Prevention Network has said it won't support the bill unless it included an outright ban on menthol. But given that menthol represents more than 25 percent of cigarettes sold, tobacco makers' support for the bill could be in jeopardy if the legislation included a menthol ban, the AP said.

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FDA Approves Test to Identify Cancer Cells in Tumors

A test that helps identify the type of cancer cells present in a tumor has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Pathwork Tissue of Origin test compares the genetic material of a patient's tumor with genetic data stored in a database from evaluated cancers. The test, which is able to analyze thousands of pieces of genetic material at a time, considers 15 common cancer types, including those of the bladder, breast, and colon.

"The clearance of the Pathwork test is another step in the continued integration of molecular-based medicine into standard practice," Dr. Daniel Schultz, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in an agency news release.

The test and its technology are produced by Pathwork Diagnostics of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Affymetrix Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif.

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Brown Rice Can Benefit Diabetics

A compound in brown rice can reduce diabetes-related damage in nerves and blood vessels, says a U.S. study.

The growth factor acylated steryl glucosides (ASG) -- which is released when brown rice is soaked in water overnight before cooking -- helps normalize blood sugar and enzymes that are awry in people with diabetes, United Press International reported.

The study appears in the Journal of Lipid Research.

Unlike white rice, brown rice still has some of the growth factor, which resumes activity after about 24 hours in water, said Dr. Robert K. Yu of the Medical College of Georgia, UPI reported.

"You have to let it grow, germinate a little bit. Some of the active ingredients generated as a result of the germination process are beneficial to you," he said in a news release.

Health Tips for August 1

Health Tip: Prevent Back Injury

Lifting or carrying objects -- even light ones -- can cause injury and pain if you don't follow the proper techniques.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions to help prevent back injuries:

* Take the time to stretch your legs and back before doing a lot of carrying or lifting.
* Wear safety protection on your hands and feet.
* Use a stool or sturdy ladder to reach objects that are seated above your shoulders.
* Keep your feet solid. Lift with your legs, not your back. Carry the object close to you.
* Always get help carrying very heavy objects.
* Keep your stomach pulled in and use those muscles to support your back.

Health Tip: Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Remedies may include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery designed to help control pain and minimize joint damage.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of possible treatments for rheumatoid arthritis:

* Range-of-motion exercises and other exercise routines devised by a physical therapist can help prevent or delay joint damage.
* Splints, braces and other supportive devices can help protect the joints.
* Heat or cold treatments can help ease pain and inflammation.
* Working with a physical therapist can help you learn how to protect your joints during daily activities and tasks, and how to use your joints when your arthritis is causing pain.
* Getting at least eight hours sleep at night and taking frequent rests during strenuous activities are recommended to ease joint stress.