Health Headlines - March 13

Ex-President Bush Hospitalized, Released After Golf Game

Former President George H. W. Bush was released from a hospital Monday in Rancho Mirage, Calif., after being admitted Sunday for dizziness and dehydration while playing golf.

"President Bush was playing golf in 94-degree heat and became dizzy and dehydrated," hospital spokeswoman Louise Fasana told CBC news. "Bush was released from Eisenhower [Medical Center] this morning and will resume his full schedule today."

The president's father, 82, was staying at the estate of Leonore Annenberg, wife of the late Walter Annenberg, according to local news reports. The estate, dubbed "Sunnylands," has a nine-hole golf course.

The 41st president is an avid golfer and stayed at the Annenberg estate in 1995, when he played in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, along with the former President Gerald R. Ford, and then-President Bill Clinton.

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Jury Awards $20 Million in Vioxx Lawsuit

A New Jersey jury ruled Monday that Vioxx caused an Idaho postal worker's heart attack and that he and his wife should receive $20 million in damages.

Frederick "Mike" Humeston, 61, took the arthritis painkiller intermittently for knee pain caused by a shrapnel wound he received during the Vietnam War, the Associated Press reported. The Boise resident suffered a heart attack in September 2001, several months before the drug manufacturer Merck put a stronger warning about cardiovascular risks on Vioxx's packaging.

The jury decided that Merck was negligent and did not provide adequate warning about potential cardiovascular risks associated with Vioxx. It awarded $18 million in compensatory damages to Humeston and $2 million to his wife, Mary.

In the next phase of the trial, jurors will decide whether punitive damages should also be assessed against Merck, the AP reported.

Merck faces thousands of lawsuits over Vioxx, which was taken off the market in September 2004 after the drug maker's own research showed that Vioxx doubled the risk of stroke and heart attack. So far, Merck has won nine cases and lost five.

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Regis Philbin to Have Triple Bypass

Television star Regis Philbin announced Monday that he's going to have triple bypass surgery this week. Philbin made the announcement as he talked with co-host Kelly Ripa on their show "Live with Regis and Kelly.

Philbin, 75, told Ripa he didn't really want to have the operation, CNN reported.

"But they tell me. I had a second opinion. So they are all in agreement that it should be the bypass. And so that's what I'm going to do. So, you know, I'm going to do it this week, and come back when I'm ready," Philbin said.

Philbin has appeared in numerous talk and game shows, including "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," over the past 40 years, CNN reported.

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Long Hours at Desk Raise DVT Risk: Study

People who spend long hours at their desks may be at even greater risk for potentially deadly blood clots called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) than passengers on long flights, concludes a study by researchers at the Medical Research Institute in Wellington, New Zealand.

They analyzed the cases of 62 people admitted to hospital for treatment of DVT and found that 34 percent of them were office workers who spent long periods of time seated at their desks. Passengers on long-distance flights accounted for just 21 percent of patients, Agence France Presse reported.

Some of the office workers in this study sat at their desks/computers for a total of 14 hours a day and went for stretches of three to four hours without getting up from their chairs.

DVT -- the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein -- most commonly occurs in the legs. The clots can break free and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, heart or brain and cause breathing problems, chest pain, or even death from a stroke or heart attack.

The study found that DVT was most common among workers in call centers and in the information technology industry, AFP reported. The study will be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal and will be presented later this month at the annual conference of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

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Fruit Fly Findings May Yield Drugs for Liver Disease, Diabetes

U.K. scientists have identified cells responsible for breaking down fat in fruit flies, a finding that may help in the development of new treatments for liver diseases and diabetes in humans.

The process used by the fruit fly cells to break down fat is similar to that in humans. The researchers said studying the process in fruit flies may speed up the creation of new drugs to treat humans, BBC News reported.

The scientists at the U.K. National Institute for Medical Research found that specialized cells called oenocytes break down fat in fruit flies. The study appears in the journal Nature.

"These findings reveal that flies have an equivalent to our liver and that they store, process and burn fat in a way that is strikingly similar to us," said lead researcher Dr. Alex Gould. "We hope that a Drosophila (fruit fly) model of fatty liver disease will help us to accelerate the rate at which chemical compounds can be tested for use as new drugs for human liver diseases."

Gould and his colleagues also found that fruit flies share more than 20 "fat burning" genes with humans, BBC News reported.

"These discoveries may help us understand more about how our own bodies store and burn fat," Gould said.

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Why Are Teenagers So Contrary? It May Indeed be 'Raging Hormones'

If you ever wondered why the teenage world seems to exist in an arena of topsy-turvy mood swings and turmoil, scientists at the State University of New York's (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center may have found the answer.

In an article published in the current edition of the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers say they've discovered that the hormone THP -- which usually acts as a tranquilizer in stress situations -- does exactly the opposite for those going through puberty.

According to a Downstate Medical Center news release, SUNY scientists, led by Sheryl S. Smith, a professor of physiology and pharmacology, found that a brain receptor called GABA-A acts exactly the opposite in teenage brains compared to how it receives the THP hormone in adult brains. Instead of calming a person during a time of high anxiety, the GABA-A receptor appears to increase a teenager's stress, the researchers found.

What makes it act this way still needs to be studied, the researchers say, but the theory is indeed that adolescent "raging hormones" may play a role.

Health Headlines - March 12

Floods, Disease and Drought Predicted in Latest Global Warming Report

Environmental scientists have seen the near future, and what they see is not good. The effects of global warming are going to be felt a lot sooner that some may have imagined, the Associated Press reports.

The wire service has obtained a copy of a report on how global warming will affect daily life within the next 30 years. The report has been written and reviewed by more than 1,000 scientists, the A.P. reports, but government officials haven't signed off on it yet. The report is scheduled to be presented at an April meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Belgium.

Among the climate changes that may adversely affect millions of people within the next few decades are:

• Major water shortages by 2050 or earlier in Latin America , Africa and Asia
• An increase in fatalities caused by tropical diseases and conditions, such as malaria and diarrhea
• Increased flooding every year, with more than 100 million people losing their homes annually by 2080
• The loss of the polar bear's natural environment. The bears will probably be seen only in zoos

Many of the scientists feel a sense of urgency, the A.P. reports. "Things are ... happening faster than we expected," the wire service quotesd Patricia Romero Lankao of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., as saying.

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Why Are Teenagers So Contrary? It May Indeed be 'Raging Hormones'

If you ever wondered why the teenage world seems to exist in an arena of topsy-turvy mood swings and turmoil, scientists at the State University of New York's (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center may have found the answer.

In an article published in the current edition of the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers say they've discovered that the hormone THP -- which usually acts as a tranquilizer in stress situations -- does exactly the opposite for those going through puberty.

According to a Downstate Medical Center news release, SUNY scientists, led by Sheryl S. Smith, a professor of physiology and pharmacology, found that a brain receptor called GABA-A acts exactly the opposite in teenage brains compared to how it receives the THP hormone in adult brains. Instead of calming a person during a time of high anxiety, the GABA-A receptor appears to increase a teenager's stress, the researchers found.

What makes it act this way still needs to be studied, the researchers say, but the theory is indeed that adolescent "raging hormones" may play a role.

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FDA Expands Peanut Butter Recall

The recall of salmonella-causing peanut butter processed at a plant in Georgia hasn't yet ended.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the recall to include all Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter manufactured at the ConAgra plant in Sylvester back to October 2004. Both carry the product code 2111, the FDA says.

The FDA gave no reason for the expanded recall in its March 9 consumer alert other than to say it was made after information was obtained from its ongoing investigation into the salmonella infections, which have been confirmed in more than 400 persons in 42 states since it was first detected in mid-February.

The FDA alert says, "Consumers who have purchased any of the products since October 2004 should discard them. FDA's advice to consumers continues to be not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter or any Great Value peanut butter beginning with the 2111 product code."

"The most likely scenario is that the peanut butter became contaminated sometime during the production, between the roasting process and putting the product in a jar," said Dr. David Acheson, the FDA's Director of the Food Safety and Security Staff in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said March 1.

Symptoms of food-borne illness caused by salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It is rarely fatal, but can cause more serious health problems among the very old and very young.

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1-in-10 Brits is a 'Secret Smoker', Survey Finds

Knowing that quitting smoking is the right thing to do is one thing. Actually quitting is another matter entirely.

A recent survey of 4,000 adults in England reveals that one-in-10 is a "secret smoker," so secret, in fact, that many don't even reveal it to their own doctor.

According to BBC News, the survey was commissioned by Boots, a large British pharmacy chain, and it found that 52 percent of the secret smokers hid their habit from their parents, even into adulthood. What's even more surprising is that fully a third kept their smoking habits from their doctor.

And another third said they lied to their family members, some of whom believed they had never smoked or had given it up.

For some reason, the BBC reports, Londoners are more likely to keep their habit secret, followed by those who live in Yorkshire. No reason was given for this.

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U.S Prescription Drug Sales Increased 8.3 Percent in 2006

The new Medicare drug benefit was one of the factors that helped push U.S. prescription drug sales up by 8.3 percent in 2006 to $249.9 billion, according to a report by IMS Health, which provides data to the drug and health-care industries.

Prescriptions dispensed through the Medicare drug benefit accounted for 17 percent of retail prescriptions last year, the report noted.

Increased use of generic drugs and new treatments for diseases such as diabetes and cancer were among the other factors behind the increase, the Associated Press reported.

In 2006, sales of generic drugs increased 22 percent to $27.4 billion.

The report said it's expected that the rate of growth of prescription drug sales will slow in 2007, but will likely maintain a compounded annual rate of between 6 percent and 9 percent through 2010, the AP reported.

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Kroger Ensures Access to Morning-After Pill

In response to a Georgia woman's complaint that she was denied access to the morning-after contraceptive pill by a pharmacist at a Kroger store, the grocery chain said Friday that it's reiterating its drug policy to all of its pharmacists.

The company policy states that if a pharmacist objects to handling a customer's prescription, the store must take steps to ensure the prescription is filled, the Associated Press reported.

"We believe that medication is a private patient matter," said Kroger Co. spokeswoman Meghan Glynn. "Our role as a pharmacy operator is to furnish medication in accordance with the doctor's prescription or as requested by a patient."

The company restated its policy after a Rome, Ga., woman said a Kroger pharmacist refused to give her the Plan B emergency contraceptive, also known as the morning-after pill, the AP reported.

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the drug can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.

Other major pharmacy chains, including Walgreen Co., Rite-Aid Corp., and CVS Corp., have also promised to make certain that customers can get Plan B, even if a pharmacist doesn't want to provide the drug.

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Scents in Bedroom May Help Improve Memory

A familiar scent in the bedroom while you get a good night's sleep may help boost memory, says a German study published Friday in the journal Science.

But the study found that the scent-aid only worked for certain kinds of memory and only during one stage of sleep, which means it's not likely to help people seeking a quick memory lift, the Associated Press reported.

The study found that medical students who slept in rooms with a rose scent scored higher on a card memory test than those who weren't exposed to the rose scent -- 97 percent vs. 86 percent.

However, the memory improvement only occurred when the students were exposed to the rose scent during a deep stage of sleep called slow-wave sleep. There was no memory boost when the students were exposed to the scent during a lighter sleep phase called REM sleep, the AP reported.

However, the scent was not effective when the students tried a finger-tapping sequence memory test. This is likely because different parts of the brain are involved with different types of memory, the researchers said.

Health Headlines - March 11

FDA Expands Peanut Butter Recall

The recall of salmonella-causing peanut butter processed at a plant in Georgia hasn't yet ended.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the recall to include all Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter manufactured at the ConAgra plant in Sylvester back to October 2004. Both carry the product code 2111, the FDA says.

The FDA gave no reason for the expanded recall in its March 9 consumer alert other than to say it was made after information was obtained from its ongoing investigation into the salmonella infections, which have been confirmed in more than 400 persons in 42 states since it was first detected in mid-February.

The FDA alert says, "Consumers who have purchased any of the products since October 2004 should discard them. FDA's advice to consumers continues to be not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter or any Great Value peanut butter beginning with the 2111 product code."

"The most likely scenario is that the peanut butter became contaminated sometime during the production, between the roasting process and putting the product in a jar," said Dr. David Acheson, the FDA's Director of the Food Safety and Security Staff in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said March 1.

Symptoms of food-borne illness caused by salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It is rarely fatal, but can cause more serious health problems among the very old and very young.

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1-in-10 Brits is a 'Secret Smoker', Survey Finds

Knowing that quitting smoking is the right thing to do is one thing. Actually quitting is another matter entirely.

A recent survey of 4,000 adults in England reveals that one-in-10 is a "secret smoker," so secret, in fact, that many don't even reveal it to their own doctor.

According to BBC News, the survey was commissioned by Boots, a large British pharmacy chain, and it found that 52 percent of the secret smokers hid their habit from their parents, even into adulthood. What's even more surprising is that fully a third kept their smoking habits from their doctor.

And another third said they lied to their family members, some of whom believed they had never smoked or had given it up.

For some reason, the BBC reports, Londoners are more likely to keep their habit secret, followed by those who live in Yorkshire. No reason was given for this.

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U.S Prescription Drug Sales Increased 8.3 Percent in 2006

The new Medicare drug benefit was one of the factors that helped push U.S. prescription drug sales up by 8.3 percent in 2006 to $249.9 billion, according to a report by IMS Health, which provides data to the drug and health-care industries.

Prescriptions dispensed through the Medicare drug benefit accounted for 17 percent of retail prescriptions last year, the report noted.

Increased use of generic drugs and new treatments for diseases such as diabetes and cancer were among the other factors behind the increase, the Associated Press reported.

In 2006, sales of generic drugs increased 22 percent to $27.4 billion.

The report said it's expected that the rate of growth of prescription drug sales will slow in 2007, but will likely maintain a compounded annual rate of between 6 percent and 9 percent through 2010, the AP reported.

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Kroger Ensures Access to Morning-After Pill

In response to a Georgia woman's complaint that she was denied access to the morning-after contraceptive pill by a pharmacist at a Kroger store, the grocery chain said Friday that it's reiterating its drug policy to all of its pharmacists.

The company policy states that if a pharmacist objects to handling a customer's prescription, the store must take steps to ensure the prescription is filled, the Associated Press reported.

"We believe that medication is a private patient matter," said Kroger Co. spokeswoman Meghan Glynn. "Our role as a pharmacy operator is to furnish medication in accordance with the doctor's prescription or as requested by a patient."

The company restated its policy after a Rome, Ga., woman said a Kroger pharmacist refused to give her the Plan B emergency contraceptive, also known as the morning-after pill, the AP reported.

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the drug can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.

Other major pharmacy chains, including Walgreen Co., Rite-Aid Corp., and CVS Corp., have also promised to make certain that customers can get Plan B, even if a pharmacist doesn't want to provide the drug.

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Scents in Bedroom May Help Improve Memory

A familiar scent in the bedroom while you get a good night's sleep may help boost memory, says a German study published Friday in the journal Science.

But the study found that the scent-aid only worked for certain kinds of memory and only during one stage of sleep, which means it's not likely to help people seeking a quick memory lift, the Associated Press reported.

The study found that medical students who slept in rooms with a rose scent scored higher on a card memory test than those who weren't exposed to the rose scent -- 97 percent vs. 86 percent.

However, the memory improvement only occurred when the students were exposed to the rose scent during a deep stage of sleep called slow-wave sleep. There was no memory boost when the students were exposed to the scent during a lighter sleep phase called REM sleep, the AP reported.

However, the scent was not effective when the students tried a finger-tapping sequence memory test. This is likely because different parts of the brain are involved with different types of memory, the researchers said.

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Oversight Needed for Bodies Donated for Research: Experts

The United States needs a universal oversight system to prevent illegal marketing of body parts from cadavers donated to science, say experts.

The issue made headlines this week with the arrest of a former University of California, Los Angeles, official and a middleman as part of a police investigation into illicit trafficking of parts harvested from bodies willed for research, the Associated Press reported.

The UCLA scandal first erupted three years ago.

"There was some hand-wringing after the UCLA case. But, at the end of the day, I don't think we've seen any serious attempts by Congress or state legislatures to wrestle with this issue," Arthur Caplan, a University of Pennsylvania bioethics professor, told the AP.

Tissues from cadavers are used in many kinds of medical procedures, and the demand for human body parts has soared in recent years. If all its parts are used, a human body can be worth six figures, according to experts.

It is illegal in the United States to sell body parts for profit, but suppliers can charge fees for the acquisition and handling of body parts, the AP reported.

A national clearinghouse operated by an independent group should be established to track and distribute bodies donated for research, said Todd R. Olson, an anatomy professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

While it wouldn't eliminate illegal sales of body parts and tissues, it would still be an improvement over the existing patchwork of rules, Olson told the AP.

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Snorers Can Rob Partners of 2 Years' Worth of Sleep

Snorers may be depriving their partners of two years worth of sleep over their lifetime, suggests a survey by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that about a third of them sleep with a snorer and lose about two hours of sleep per night. Based on an average relationship of 24 years, that works out to about two years of lost sleep, BBC News reported

About half of the respondents said that snoring affected their sex lives, and 85 percent said their relationship would be better if their partner's snoring problem was resolved.

"Snoring can have a very negative impact on people who have to live with it," said association co-founder Marianne Davey.

"Lack of sleep can have a negative consequence on your physical, mental and emotional health. Poor sleep is linked with poor academic performance, increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, divorce, suicide -- the list goes on and on," a spokesman with the British Sleep Society told BBC News.

Health Headlines - March 10

U.S Prescription Drug Sales Increased 8.3 Percent in 2006

The new Medicare drug benefit was one of the factors that helped push U.S. prescription drug sales up by 8.3 percent in 2006 to $249.9 billion, according to a report by IMS Health, which provides data to the drug and health-care industries.

Prescriptions dispensed through the Medicare drug benefit accounted for 17 percent of retail prescriptions last year, the report noted.

Increased use of generic drugs and new treatments for diseases such as diabetes and cancer were among the other factors behind the increase, the Associated Press reported.

In 2006, sales of generic drugs increased 22 percent to $27.4 billion.

The report said it's expected that the rate of growth of prescription drug sales will slow in 2007, but will likely maintain a compounded annual rate of between 6 percent and 9 percent through 2010, the AP reported.

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Kroger Ensures Access to Morning-After Pill

In response to a Georgia woman's complaint that she was denied access to the morning-after contraceptive pill by a pharmacist at a Kroger store, the grocery chain said Friday that it's reiterating its drug policy to all of its pharmacists.

The company policy states that if a pharmacist objects to handling a customer's prescription, the store must take steps to ensure the prescription is filled, the Associated Press reported.

"We believe that medication is a private patient matter," said Kroger Co. spokeswoman Meghan Glynn. "Our role as a pharmacy operator is to furnish medication in accordance with the doctor's prescription or as requested by a patient."

The company restated its policy after a Rome, Ga., woman said a Kroger pharmacist refused to give her the Plan B emergency contraceptive, also known as the morning-after pill, the AP reported.

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the drug can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.

Other major pharmacy chains, including Walgreen Co., Rite-Aid Corp., and CVS Corp., have also promised to make certain that customers can get Plan B, even if a pharmacist doesn't want to provide the drug.

-----

Scents in Bedroom May Help Improve Memory

A familiar scent in the bedroom while you get a good night's sleep may help boost memory, says a German study published Friday in the journal Science.

But the study found that the scent-aid only worked for certain kinds of memory and only during one stage of sleep, which means it's not likely to help people seeking a quick memory lift, the Associated Press reported.

The study found that medical students who slept in rooms with a rose scent scored higher on a card memory test than those who weren't exposed to the rose scent -- 97 percent vs. 86 percent.

However, the memory improvement only occurred when the students were exposed to the rose scent during a deep stage of sleep called slow-wave sleep. There was no memory boost when the students were exposed to the scent during a lighter sleep phase called REM sleep, the AP reported.

However, the scent was not effective when the students tried a finger-tapping sequence memory test. This is likely because different parts of the brain are involved with different types of memory, the researchers said.

-----

Oversight Needed for Bodies Donated for Research: Experts

The United States needs a universal oversight system to prevent illegal marketing of body parts from cadavers donated to science, say experts.

The issue made headlines this week with the arrest of a former University of California, Los Angeles, official and a middleman as part of a police investigation into illicit trafficking of parts harvested from bodies willed for research, the Associated Press reported.

The UCLA scandal first erupted three years ago.

"There was some hand-wringing after the UCLA case. But, at the end of the day, I don't think we've seen any serious attempts by Congress or state legislatures to wrestle with this issue," Arthur Caplan, a University of Pennsylvania bioethics professor, told the AP.

Tissues from cadavers are used in many kinds of medical procedures, and the demand for human body parts has soared in recent years. If all its parts are used, a human body can be worth six figures, according to experts.

It is illegal in the United States to sell body parts for profit, but suppliers can charge fees for the acquisition and handling of body parts, the AP reported.

A national clearinghouse operated by an independent group should be established to track and distribute bodies donated for research, said Todd R. Olson, an anatomy professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

While it wouldn't eliminate illegal sales of body parts and tissues, it would still be an improvement over the existing patchwork of rules, Olson told the AP.

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Snorers Can Rob Partners of 2 Years' Worth of Sleep

Snorers may be depriving their partners of two years worth of sleep over their lifetime, suggests a survey by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that about a third of them sleep with a snorer and lose about two hours of sleep per night. Based on an average relationship of 24 years, that works out to about two years of lost sleep, BBC News reported

About half of the respondents said that snoring affected their sex lives, and 85 percent said their relationship would be better if their partner's snoring problem was resolved.

"Snoring can have a very negative impact on people who have to live with it," said association co-founder Marianne Davey.

"Lack of sleep can have a negative consequence on your physical, mental and emotional health. Poor sleep is linked with poor academic performance, increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, divorce, suicide -- the list goes on and on," a spokesman with the British Sleep Society told BBC News.

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Too Few Children With Asthma Get Flu Shots: Report

Only 29 percent of American children aged 2 to 17 with asthma received a flu shot during the 2004-05 flu season, even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children with asthma older than 6 months receive a flu shot each season.

The finding, published in Friday's edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, noted that children with asthma are at increased risk for complications from influenza. Flu shots safely and effectively reduce rates of influenza in children with asthma. In 2005, about 8.9 percent (6.5 million) of U.S. children under age 18 had asthma.

"We were surprised at how low the number was," study lead author Susan Brim told the Associated Press.

The study offers the first national estimates on flu vaccination rates for American children with asthma.

When the study authors looked at different age groups of children with asthma, it found that flu-shot rates were 32.9 percent those ages 2 to 4, and 28 percent for those ages 5 to 12 and ages 13 to 17.

The finding indicates the need to identify and remove barriers that may prevent children with asthma from getting a flu shot, the study said.

The study, which looked at about 5,100 children (including 557 with asthma), also found that the overall flu vaccination rate for children without asthma was 10.3 percent, with a wide variation according to age: 20.7 percent for ages 2 to 4; 9.2 percent for ages 5 to 12; and 6.4 percent for ages 13 to 17.

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HIV Major Health Threat to Black Americans

HIV remains a persistent threat to the health and well-being of black Americans, says a study published the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study looked at 2002-05 data from 33 states and found that while blacks represented 13 percent of the population in those states, they accounted for 51 percent of new HIV diagnoses during that time.

Black men are especially hard hit by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In 2005, the diagnosis rate for black men was 127.6 per 100,000 population, which is seven times higher than that of white men (18.5 per 100,000). The majority (52 percent) of new HIV cases in black men are among those who have sex with men.

The rate of new HIV diagnoses for black women was 61.4 per 100,000, compared with 3 per 100,000 for white women.

Racial disparities were particularly evident in young people (ages 13 to 24), with blacks accounting for 61 percent of new HIV diagnoses.

In response to the HIV threat to black Americans, the CDC and its partners have called for urgent, focused efforts in four main areas: expanding the reach of HIV prevention services; increasing opportunities for diagnoses and treatment; developing new, effective interventions; and mobilizing broader community action.

Health Headlines - March 9

Too Few Children With Asthma Get Flu Shots: Report

Only 29 percent of American children aged 2 to 17 with asthma received a flu shot during the 2004-05 flu season, even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children with asthma older than 6 months receive a flu shot each season.

The finding, published in Friday's edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, noted that children with asthma are at increased risk for complications from influenza. Flu shots safely and effectively reduce rates of influenza in children with asthma. In 2005, about 8.9 percent (6.5 million) of U.S. children under age 18 had asthma.

"We were surprised at how low the number was," study lead author Susan Brim told the Associated Press.

The study offers the first national estimates on flu vaccination rates for American children with asthma.

When the study authors looked at different age groups of children with asthma, it found that flu-shot rates were 32.9 percent those ages 2 to 4, and 28 percent for those ages 5 to 12 and ages 13 to 17.

The finding indicates the need to identify and remove barriers that may prevent children with asthma from getting a flu shot, the study said.

The study, which looked at about 5,100 children (including 557 with asthma), also found that the overall flu vaccination rate for children without asthma was 10.3 percent, with a wide variation according to age: 20.7 percent for ages 2 to 4; 9.2 percent for ages 5 to 12; and 6.4 percent for ages 13 to 17.

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HIV Major Health Threat to Black Americans

HIV remains a persistent threat to the health and well-being of black Americans, says a study published the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study looked at 2002-05 data from 33 states and found that while blacks represented 13 percent of the population in those states, they accounted for 51 percent of new HIV diagnoses during that time.

Black men are especially hard hit by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In 2005, the diagnosis rate for black men was 127.6 per 100,000 population, which is seven times higher than that of white men (18.5 per 100,000). The majority (52 percent) of new HIV cases in black men are among those who have sex with men.

The rate of new HIV diagnoses for black women was 61.4 per 100,000, compared with 3 per 100,000 for white women.

Racial disparities were particularly evident in young people (ages 13 to 24), with blacks accounting for 61 percent of new HIV diagnoses.

In response to the HIV threat to black Americans, the CDC and its partners have called for urgent, focused efforts in four main areas: expanding the reach of HIV prevention services; increasing opportunities for diagnoses and treatment; developing new, effective interventions; and mobilizing broader community action.

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Software Problem Prompts Recall of 42,000 Defibrillators

Tens of thousands of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) sold worldwide are being recalled due to a serious software glitch that may result in failure to notify users about low battery levels, which could mean the units may not have enough shock power to restart a person's heart.

The recall affects 42,000 Lifeline AED and ReviveR AED models made by Defibtech LLC of Guilford, Conn., the Associated Press reported. The recall affects AEDs with software versions 2.002 and earlier.

The company sent letters on Feb. 22 to alert distributors and customers about the recall, which was prompted by three reports of instances in which the AEDs failed to work. The units, meant to save heart-attack victims, are used by hotels, schools, fire stations and health clubs around the world.

Defibtech said it will provide a free software upgrade for the recalled units within 10 weeks. The upgrade can be installed by customers without having to return the devices, the company said.

Until the software upgrade is available, Defibtech is mailing customers instructions on how to determine if the AEDs are working properly, the AP reported. The instructions are posted on the company's Web site (http://www.defibtech.com/fa2007). Customers can also call Defibtech at (877) 453-4507 or (203) 453-4507.

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Arsenic Found in Jermuk Brand Mineral Water: FDA

Consumers are being warned not to drink Jermuk brand mineral water imported from Armenia because the product may contain dangerous levels of arsenic, a toxin that's known to cause cancer in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

The FDA detected 500 to 600 micrograms of arsenic per liter in 500 milliliter (mL) green glass bottles of Jermuk mineral water. The FDA permits no more than 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter of bottled water. The FDA is investigating whether other sizes or packaging of Jermuk mineral water also have elevated arsenic levels.

No illnesses have been reported so far. People who've consumed Jermuk mineral water and have concerns should contact their doctor, the FDA said. A number of California companies are recalling Jermuk mineral water products.

Symptoms of acute arsenic exposure, which usually occur within several hours of consumption, include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Over a period of a few days to weeks, the kidneys, liver, skin, and cardiovascular and nervous system could be affected. Extended exposure to arsenic can lead to cancer and death, the FDA said.

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Mercury a Worldwide Health Threat: Report

High levels of mercury have been found in people worldwide and now pose a public health issue in most parts of the globe, says an international report released Thursday in the journal Ambio, published by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

The Madison Declaration on Mercury Pollution, which outlines the latest scientific knowledge about mercury, noted that about three times more mercury is falling from the sky now than 200 years ago, before the start of the Industrial Revolution, CBC News reported.

Mercury can affect the brain, heart and immune system and harm the development of fetuses and children. The report also said that new evidence suggests that it may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in men.

Due to the health risks associated with mercury contamination, children and women of child-bearing age should limit how much and what kinds of fish they eat, the report recommended.

It said people should try to eat fish with lower levels of mercury. That means avoiding larger predatory fish such as albacore tuna that tend to accumulate higher levels of mercury than other fish, such a perch, which are lower down the food chain, CBC News reported.

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FDA Approves Lipitor for 5 New Indications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) for five new indications in patients with heart disease, drug maker Pfizer said Wednesday.

The FDA approved Lipitor to reduce the risk of nonfatal heart attacks, fatal and non-fatal strokes, certain types of heart surgery, hospitalization for heart failure, and chest pain in patients with heart disease.

Previously, the drug was approved to reduce cardiovascular events in patients without heart disease.

The FDA approval was based on a five-year study of 10,000 heart disease patients who also had elevated levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. The study found that patients taking Lipitor 80 mg had a 22 percent reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, compared to those taking Lipitor 10 mg. Patients treated with Lipitor 80 mg also had a 26 percent reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

Health Headlines - March 8

FDA Approves Lipitor for Five New Indications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) for five new indications in patients with heart disease, drug maker Pfizer said Wednesday.

The FDA approved Lipitor to reduce the risk of nonfatal heart attacks, fatal and non-fatal strokes, certain types of heart surgery, hospitalization for heart failure, and chest pain in patients with heart disease.

Previously, the drug was approved to reduce cardiovascular events in patients without heart disease.

The FDA approval was based on a five-year study of 10,000 heart disease patients who also had elevated levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. The study found that patients taking Lipitor 80 mg had a 22 percent reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, compared to those taking Lipitor 10 mg. Patients treated with Lipitor 80 mg also had a 26 percent reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

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Too Few States Mandate Insurance Coverage of Colonoscopy: Report

Only 20 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring insurance providers to cover the cost of colonoscopy, a colorectal cancer screening test that's been proven to save lives, according to a new survey by a coalition of 11 anti-cancer groups, including the American Cancer Society.

This year's annual Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card also noted that colorectal cancer screening rates have increased 40 percent faster in states that mandate coverage than in those without such mandates, BusinessWeek reported.

That could mean many lives needlessly lost in states without colonoscopy coverage laws. When detected and treated early, colorectal cancer is 90 percent curable. About 52,100 people in the United States are expected die of colorectal cancer this year, making it the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer.

In comparison to colonoscopy, 47 states require insurers to pay for mammograms to screen for breast cancer, and 20 states mandate coverage for prostate cancer screening, which has not been proven to improve survival rates, BusinessWeek reported.

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Caffeine Doesn't Kick-Start Alertness in the Morning: Study

In what may come as a surprise to many, a U.K. study says that your morning coffee doesn't actually give you a boost to start your day.

While a cup of java does ease withdrawal symptoms that build up while you sleep, caffeine does not make people more alert than normal, according to the University of Bristol researchers who reviewed previous research on the topic, BBC News reported.

Only people who haven't had coffee for a while actually get a buzz from caffeine, said the study, presented at a British Nutrition Foundation conference.

"We do feel a boost from caffeine in the morning, but that's probably due to a reversal of the (overnight) withdrawal symptoms," research leader Professor Peter Rogers, a biological psychologist, told BBC News.

"The alertness you feel is you getting back to normal, rather than to above normal level," he said.

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Male Circumcision May Increase Women's Risk of HIV Infection

Male circumcision reduces men's risk of HIV infection by about half, but can increase the risk of infection in women if they have unprotected sex with men too soon after the operation, suggests preliminary data from a study by American and Ugandan researchers.

The findings may complicate efforts to promote circumcision as a new way to fight HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- in Africa. The research also suggests that public health campaigns promoting circumcision need to warn women about the dangers of having intercourse with HIV-positive men who haven't fully healed after being circumcised, the Washington Post reported.

The study found that among 70 HIV-positive men who were circumcised, 11 of their female partners became infected with HIV in the month after the men had the surgery. Among a group of 54 uncircumcised men with HIV, four of their female partners were infected with HIV.

However, the researchers noted that the findings were not statistically significant and may have occurred only by chance, the Post reported.

The findings were presented Tuesday at a meeting of international health experts in Switzerland.

"The data that we have heard do not derail (the potential usefulness of circumcision) by any means. What it does do is provide a little more insight about the complexities that face us," Kevin De Cock, director of the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS department, told the Post.

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Big Worldwide Increase in ADHD Drug Prescriptions: Study

The number of prescriptions for drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages 5 to 19 increased 274 percent worldwide between 1993 and 2003. And spending on the drugs increased nine-fold, says a U.S. study in the journal Health Affairs.

During that time, the number of countries using ADHD drugs increased from 31 to 55. Australia, Canada and the United States all had higher-than-expected use of the drugs, BBC News reported.

"ADHD could become the leading childhood disorder treated with medication across the globe," said study leader Professor Richard Scheffler of the University of California, Berkeley.

Scheffler noted that one in 25 American children and adolescents is taking drugs for ADHD. He added that the study findings challenge the widespread belief that ADHD is largely a U.S. issue, BBC News reported.

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Chinese Province Source of Many Bird-Flu Strains: Report

Many strains of the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus originated in the Chinese province of Guangdong, say U.S. researchers who analyzed genetic and geographic data.

The University of California, Irvine team studied 192 samples collected from Europe and Asia and concluded that Guangdong, which has a large poultry industry, was the source of many of the H5N1 strains found in China and other countries, Agence France Presse reported.

The study findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Health officials in Guangdong were quick to refute the study results.

"The findings... are the wrong conclusion to the evidence and lack credibility," the China Daily quoted Guangdong agricultural department spokeswoman He Xia as saying, AFP reported.

Health Headlines - March 7

U.S. Surgeon General Urges Action Against Underage Drinking

Americans must mobilize to stop 11 million underage drinkers from using alcohol and to prevent other young people from starting to drink, the U.S. Surgeon General said in a Call to Action against underage drinking issued Tuesday.

"Too many Americans consider underage drinking a rite of passage to adulthood," Acting Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu said in a prepared statement.

"Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life. New research also indicates that alcohol may harm the developing adolescent brain. The availability of this research provides more reasons than ever before for parents and other adults to protect the health and safety of our nation's children," he added.

Almost 7.2 million of the 11 million underage drinkers in the United States are binge drinkers, which means they may consume more than five drinks on a single occasion. About 2 million are classified as heavy drinkers.

"Alcohol remains the most heavily abuse substance by America's youth. This Call to Action is attempting to change the culture and attitudes toward drinking in America. We can no longer ignore what alcohol is doing to our children," Moritsugu said.

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HIV/AIDS Programs Must Address Violence Against Women: Report

International agencies need to do more to address violence against women in HIV/AIDS programs, says a report released Tuesday by Women Won't Wait, a new international coalition of women's groups.

The issues of violence against women and HIV/AIDS are intertwined, said Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and a speaker at the launch of the coalition's campaign to end HIV and violence against women.

"It is vital that the policies, programs and funding streams of national governments and international agencies transparently address the intersection of HIV and AIDS and violence against women," Robinson said.

Violence is both a cause and a consequence of the rapid spread of HIV among women, the report said. Women account for at least half of HIV-infected people worldwide and more than 60 percent of HIV-infected people in sub-Saharan Africa.

The coalition's report said that leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS have failed to consistently and adequately address the relationship between violence against women and HIV/AIDS.

The report examined the policies, programs and funding patterns of major international agencies dealing with the global HIV/AIDS crisis, including the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank, and UNAIDS.

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Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes Could Backfire: FDA Chief

U.S. government controls on nicotine levels in cigarettes could have the unintended effect of pushing smokers to use more cigarettes and inhale more deeply, warns Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, head of the Food and Drug Administration.

Last month, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation that would give the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco, including the power to order lower nicotine levels in cigarettes, the Associated Press reported.

But if the FDA ordered a cut in cigarette nicotine levels, smokers would alter their smoking habits in order to maintain their current levels of the addictive substance, von Eschenbach said in an interview Tuesday with the AP.

"We could find ourselves in the conundrum of having made a decision about nicotine only to have made the public health radically worse. And that is not the position FDA is in; we approve product that enhance health, not destroy it," Eschenbach said.

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2nd Major Recall of Contact Lens Solution Underway

Bausch & Lomb Inc. recalled 1.5 million bottles of its ReNu MultiPlus contact lens solution Tuesday because trace amounts of iron could cause the cleaner to lose its effectiveness.

The company's second major recall in a year involved a limited 12 lots of ReNu MultiPlus solution after three customers reported discolored solution. No one was reported hurt, according to an Associated Press report.

Bausch & Lomb last spring issued a worldwide recall on its ReNu with MoistureLoc solution, which was blamed for an outbreak of severe fungal eye infections.

. About a million bottles of the ReNu MultiPlus solution were distributed in the United States and another 500,000 in Canada, Korean, Taiwan and Latin America. The company said it has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and regulators in the other countries.

The company said that the discoloration was caused by trace amounts of iron in a single batch of raw material from an outside supplier. As a result, it added, the affected lots could have a shorter shelf life than the two-year expiration date.

"I want to emphasize that this is completely unrelated to and different from the MoistureLoc recall," company spokeswoman Barbara Kelley told AP.

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Most American Women Don't Get Enough Sleep: Survey

Stay-at-home moms are most likely to sleep poorly, according to a new U.S. survey that found 60 percent of American women only get a good night's sleep a few times a week and that 67 percent frequently experience a sleep problem.

The 2007 Sleep in America poll of 1,003 women, ages 18 to 64, which was released Tuesday by the National Sleep Foundation, also found that 43 percent of the respondents said daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily activities.

Working mothers (72 percent) and single working women (68 percent) were more likely to report such symptoms of sleep problems as insomnia, but stay-at-home moms reported the highest level of overall sleep problems.

The poll found that 74 percent of stay-at-home mother reported symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week, 59 percent said they frequently woke up feeling un-refreshed and 9 percent said they slept with a child or infant, which adds to the sleep disturbances experienced by the mothers.

While many American women struggle with lack of sleep, it doesn't slow them down. The survey found that 80 percent of women said that when they experience daytime sleepiness, they just accept it and keep going. In order to push through their day, 65 percent are likely to use caffeinated beverages, with 37 percent consuming three or more caffeinated beverages per day.

Even though they may be tired, many women aren't going to bed earlier. Instead, they're watching television, finishing household chores, doing family activities, going online, or doing job-related work.

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FDA Approves New Hypertension Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Novartis Pharmaceutical's hypertension drug Tekturna, the first new type of hypertension drug in more than a decade.

Tekturna (aliskiren), a new molecular entity, is the first high blood pressure drug that inhibits renin, a kidney enzyme associated with the regulation of blood pressure.

"Hypertension is rightly called 'the silent killer' because it usually has no symptoms until it causes major damage to the body organs," said Douglas C. Throckmorton, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a prepared statement. "Today's approval adds a new safe and effective treatment option for people who need help to control their blood pressure."

The drug's effectiveness in lowering blood pressure was proven in six placebo-controlled, eight-week clinical trials involving more than 2,000 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The effect was maintained for up to one year. However, black patients tended to have smaller reductions in blood pressure than whites and Asians, the agency said.

The drug's safety was evaluated in more than 6,460 patients, including 1,740 who were treated longer than six months, and more than 1,250 treated longer than a year. Side effects were usually mild and brief. The most common side effect was diarrhea.

Hypertension affects an estimated 25 percent of Americans and causes increased risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, heart failure and death, according to FDA estimates.

The United States is the first country to approve the drug, which should be available in U.S. pharmacies later this month, the Associated Press reported.

Health Headlines - March 6

Cheney Develops Blood Clot in Leg

Vice President Dick Cheney was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left leg Monday and will be put on long-term, blood-thinning medication.

Cheney, 66, went to his doctor in Washington, D.C., after feeling minor discomfort in his calf, spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said. An ultrasound showed the blood clot, known as a "deep venous thrombosis" or DVT, in his left lower leg.

"He'll maintain his regular schedule," McBride told the Associated Press. "He feels fine."

DVT involves the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg or the thigh, that then can move into the lungs and cause an often fatal condition called pulmonary embolism. DVTs have come to public attention over the past few years after airline passengers on cramped, long-haul flights developed them in what some have called "economy-class syndrome."

The vice president, who returned last week from an overseas trip that included stops in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has had a long history of heart ailments. He had four heart attacks before he assumed office in 2001. He has an implanted defibrillator to regulate his heartbeat if necessary. And in 2005, he underwent six hours of surgery on both legs to repair a kind of aneurysm, a ballooning weak spot in an artery that can burst if left untreated.

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Vaccine Protects Against Different Strains of H5N1 Bird Flu

A vaccine based on one strain of the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus is also effective against other versions of the virus, according to study results released by vaccine developer GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Monday.

The study of 400 adults found that the vaccine, developed using an H5N1 strain from Vietnam, may also protect against the Indonesian strain of H5N1, the Associated Press reported.

This is not the first cross-protection noted in a bird flu vaccine. Both Sanofi Aventis and Novartis SA have reported similar results with vaccines they're developing to protect people against a potential bird flu pandemic.

"These results are good news, but we're still in the early days and we don't really know which of the vaccine formulations are the better ones," Dr. Alan Hay, director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center laboratory in Britain, told the AP.

The H5N1 virus is believed to be the most likely candidate to cause a future flu pandemic. A vaccine that offers broader protection could prove important, since experts can't predict the specific strain of virus that may trigger a pandemic.

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Prince Charles' Wife Has Hysterectomy

Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, underwent a hysterectomy at London's King Edward VII hospital on Monday and is expected to remain hospitalized for the rest of the week.

"The Duchess of Cornwall had her operation this morning and is recovering well," said a statement released by Prince Charles' office, the Associated Press reported.

There are a number of reasons for doing a hysterectomy, including cancer, menstrual problems, abnormal growths or complications following birth. Camilla's operation was not the result of cancer, but Prince Charles' office did not provide any more details. It's expected that his wife will require six weeks of recuperation.

She and Prince Charles recently returned home after a 10-day tour of the Mideast, the AP reported.

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FDA Warns About Possible Impact of Time Change on Equipment

The change to daylight savings time this coming weekend may have unpredictable effects on medical devices and equipment; hospital computer networks; and associated information technology systems, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This year is the first year with new start and end dates for daylight savings time. It will start three weeks earlier and end a week later than in previous years.

The FDA said this means that medical equipment that uses, creates or records time information about a patient's diagnosis or treatment and hasn't been updated by the manufacturer may not work properly when the change takes place this weekend.

Medical devices or medical device networks that are affected by the new time change could cause a patient's treatment or diagnostic result to be: incorrectly prescribed; provided at the wrong time; missed; given more than once; given for longer or shorter durations than intended; or incorrectly recorded.

Patients and health-care providers should go to the FDA's Web site (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety.html) for recommendations on what to do if their medical equipment uses or displays time.

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Moldy, Damp Homes Cause Childhood Asthma: Study

Children living in damp, mold-infested homes may be at increased risk of developing permanent asthma, says a Finnish study in the European Respiratory Journal.

Researchers surveyed the homes of more than 300 children and found that serious dampness or visible mold was two to three times more common in homes where there were asthmatic children, BBC News reported.

The findings offer clear evidence that mold and damp cause asthma in children, and don't just worsen or trigger attacks in children whose asthma has another underlying cause, the study authors said.

"Damp in the home does more than merely exacerbate existing asthma -- it can contribute to the onset of persistent asthma," said researcher Dr. Juha Pekkanen of the National Public Health Institute in Kuopio.

However, some asthma experts still aren't convinced that mold and dampness can cause asthma. Dr. Michael Burr, a mold and asthma researcher at Cardiff University in Great Britain, said the findings of this study, along with existing evidence, suggest that mold "probably triggers respiratory symptoms and may contribute to causing asthma."

"However, it is not possible to distinguish conclusively between the role of moisture damage and mold as trigger factors and any casual link with childhood asthma based on the current evidence," Burr said.

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Mass. Insurance Premiums Could Be as Low as $175 a Month

The average premium for uninsured Massachusetts residents could cost about half of what's previously been suggested.

When they released results of negotiations with health insurers, state officials on Saturday said the average monthly premium for this group of people could be as low as $175, compared to some earlier insurer estimates of $380, the Associated Press reported.

"This is a big improvement from the first round of bids and a big step forward for health care reform," said Gov. Deval Patrick. "The health security that was the point of health care reform will be delivered at an affordable price."

The plans for uninsured people are a major component of Massachusetts' insurance program, which requires all state residents to have health insurance coverage by July 1. If they don't have coverage, they face tax penalties.

It's expected that the panel overseeing the law will vote this week to approve the seven health care plans that meet the affordability guidelines, the AP reported.

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Hot Baths, Hot Tubs May Affect Male Fertility

Hot baths or hot tubs may contribute to male infertility, says a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

The three-year study found that sperm counts in five of 11 men with fertility problems jumped by 491 percent after they stopped having hot baths or using hot tubs for a few months, BBC News reported.

The five men whose sperm counts increased also showed increased sperm motility, from 12 percent to 34 percent.

The study authors noted that five of the six men who showed no fertility improvement after they stopped taking hot baths or using hot tubs were chronic smokers. This could have been a factor in their lack of response, BBC News reported.

The findings support the current recommendation that men should avoid "overheating" their sperm. Previous studies have also found that wearing tight underwear or heat from a laptop computer can reduce male fertility, reported the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology.

Health Headlines - March 5

Congress Members Call for Swift Action to Fix Military Hospital Conditions

Conditions for treating veterans at the U.S. government's Walter Reed Army Medical Center dominated the Sunday television talk show circuit, a day before Congress convenes a series of hearings into what has caused deterioration of outpatient services.

The Associated Press reports that lawmakers seem to be concerned about the physical condition not only at Walter Reed but also at government veteran treatment facilities across the country. "I'm worried about if it's this bad at the outpatient facilities at Walter Reed, how is it in the rest of the country? Because Walter Reed is our crown jewel," the wire service quotes Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., as saying.

Schumer has called on Defense Secretary Robert Gates to convene an independent commission, possibly headed by former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, to take a look at military medical facilities and suggest changes, the wire service reports.

News reports during the past two weeks have highlighted deteriorating conditions for Iraq veterans who were treated as outpatients. The physical plant at Walter Reed was filled with mold, cracking plaster on walls and ceilings, leaks and unsanitary conditions.

President Bush has ordered a complete review and there will be a bipartisan commission named, the A.P. reports. The commanding officer at Walter Reed and the Secretary of the Army have already resigned because of the revelations.

Congressional support appears to cross political party lines, based on A.P.'s sampling of Sunday morning talk shows:

Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan: "Almost no high-level people have ever been held accountable until Secretary Gates came along."

Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi: "Investigations are not always the best way to go, but I think we ought to do whatever's necessary."

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California: "He's [Secretary Gates] taken action, and not only low-level people but high-level people have been replaced, and I think that's welcome action."

Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra of Michigan: an "appalling situation. Hopefully they're putting in place the leadership that will make sure that our troops get exactly the kind of quality care that they make. The sooner they get focused on this, the better."

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Cost-Saving Program Doesn't Work in Heart Procedures, Study Says

A program established in most states called a Certificate of Need -- designed to reduce both mortality rates and health care costs -- doesn't do either in the case of two important heart procedures, a study has found.

Dr. Vivian Ho, who studied Certificate of Need results for performing angioplasty and open heart surgery, found that the regulation produced only small benefits in open heart surgery and no benefit at all for angioplasty, which inserts a balloon or stent into a patient's blood vessels to open them up.

"For cardiac (heart) procedures, Certificate of Need doesn't create the kind of savings and reductions in mortality rates that policymakers thought it would achieve," Ho said in a Baylor College of Medicine news release. "I can't directly test for it, but it is my hypothesis that these regulations unintentionally increase the number of procedures performed," she added.

The reason? Ho theorizes that Certificate of Need regulations do contribute to reductions in the average cost per cardiac intervention, but the regulations also require a minimum of 200 cardiac procedures annually. So, many hospitals perform angioplasties and surgeries when medication might do just as well or better. This, in turn, raises the hospital costs unnecessarily, she concludes.

The study is published in the latest online edition of the International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics.

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Automated Procedure to Detect West Nile in Blood, Organ Donors Approved

A system that automatically screens for West Nile virus in human donors' blood tissue and organs has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Called the Procleix WNV Assay on the Procleix TIGRIS system, the procedure is an automated way to detect the presence of West Nile virus in people who are donating an organ or plasma, the FDA says in a news release. However, the TIGRIS system will not be used for cord blood specimens or as an aid in the diagnosis of West Nile virus infection, the agency adds.

"The capability of full automation can reduce the potential for human error while accelerating donor screening and enhancing the safety of blood and tissues," said Dr. Jesse Goodman, the director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "This is the latest step forward in what has been a very successful industry-government effort to keep blood safe from the emerging threat of West Nile virus."

West Nile virus can be fatal to humans. It is spread by mosquitoes and first began appearing in the U.S. human population in 1999. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

Milder symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. According to the FDA, between 1 and 3 million Americans have been infected with West Nile Virus. Since 1999, about 1,100 human fatalities have been reported.

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Illnesses at Oyster Festival Prompt FDA Investigation

An outbreak of flu-like symptoms in 25 people at a Maryland oyster festival in early February has prompted a U.S. government probe into whether the illnesses were caused by contaminated oysters from Texas,.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced late Friday that it is investigating whether the outbreak, believed to be caused by a norovirus-associated illness linked to eating raw oysters, came from oysters harvested in early February from San Antonio Bay, Tex., about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. The Maryland festival was called the Bull and Oyster Event and was held Feb. 9.

This particular norovirus usually lasts for about 48 hours, and its symptoms include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. It is not usually associated with more serious illnesses.

The FDA is asking anyone who may have experienced the gastrointestinal symptoms after the first weekend in February to contact his or her healthcare provider and the local health department. The oyster beds in question have been shut down while the investigation proceeds, the FDA says in a news release, and recalls have been issued for all oysters with the tag, "Gal 1, 2/2/07."

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Bush Orders Review of U.S. Military and Veteran Hospitals

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday ordered a thorough review of conditions at all American veteran and military hospitals. The review was prompted by revelations about poor care for wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Bush will name a bipartisan commission to investigate whether the problems uncovered at Walter Reed are also present at other facilities, the Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, the Pentagon said it had fired Walter Reed commander Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman. The situation at Walter Reed was made public by The Washington Post, which found that bureaucratic issues prevented many troops from receiving adequate care and that some outpatients were enduring squalid living conditions, the AP reported.

The commission to be appointed by Bush will be separate from a panel named by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to study outpatient care at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

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FDA Outlines Approach to Informing Public About Drug Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued final guidance on the agency's approach to communicating drug safety information to the public and the factors that influence when drug safety information is given to the public.

The FDA said the guidance affirms the agency's commitment to provide important drug safety information in a timely manner through: public health advisories; patient information sheets; health care professional information sheets; and alerts posted on public health advisories and patient and health care professional sheets. These are all available through the FDA Web site.

Drug product labeling is another method of providing the public and health professionals with important drug safety information, the FDA said.

"Our goal is to make emerging drug safety information available in a balanced, impartial manner so that health care professionals and patients can consider the information when making decisions about medical treatments despite uncertainties in the data," Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a prepared statement.

Health Headlines - March 4

Automated Procedure to Detect West Nile in Blood, Organ Donors Approved

A system that automatically screens for West Nile virus in human donors' blood tissue and organs has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Called the Procleix WNV Assay on the Procleix TIGRIS system, the procedure is an automated way to detect the presence of West Nile virus in people who are donating an organ or plasma, the FDA says in a news release. However, the TIGRIS system will not be used for cord blood specimens or as an aid in the diagnosis of West Nile virus infection, the agency adds.

"The capability of full automation can reduce the potential for human error while accelerating donor screening and enhancing the safety of blood and tissues," said Dr. Jesse Goodman, the director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "This is the latest step forward in what has been a very successful industry-government effort to keep blood safe from the emerging threat of West Nile virus."

West Nile virus can be fatal to humans. It is spread by mosquitoes and first began appearing in the U.S. human population in 1999. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

Milder symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. According to the FDA, between 1 and 3 million Americans have been infected with West Nile Virus. Since 1999, about 1,100 human fatalities have been reported.

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Illnesses at Oyster Festival Prompt FDA Investigation

An outbreak of flu-like symptoms in 25 people at a Maryland oyster festival in early February has prompted a U.S. government probe into whether the illnesses were caused by contaminated oysters from Texas,.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced late Friday that it is investigating whether the outbreak, believed to be caused by a norovirus-associated illness linked to eating raw oysters, came from oysters harvested in early February from San Antonio Bay, Tex., about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. The Maryland festival was called the Bull and Oyster Event and was held Feb. 9.

This particular norovirus usually lasts for about 48 hours, and its symptoms include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. It is not usually associated with more serious illnesses.

The FDA is asking anyone who may have experienced the gastrointestinal symptoms after the first weekend in February to contact his or her healthcare provider and the local health department. The oyster beds in question have been shut down while the investigation proceeds, the FDA says in a news release, and recalls have been issued for all oysters with the tag, "Gal 1, 2/2/07."

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Bush Orders Review of U.S. Military and Veteran Hospitals

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday ordered a thorough review of conditions at all American veteran and military hospitals. The review was prompted by revelations about poor care for wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Bush will name a bipartisan commission to investigate whether the problems uncovered at Walter Reed are also present at other facilities, the Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, the Pentagon said it had fired Walter Reed commander Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman. The situation at Walter Reed was made public by The Washington Post, which found that bureaucratic issues prevented many troops from receiving adequate care and that some outpatients were enduring squalid living conditions, the AP reported.

The commission to be appointed by Bush will be separate from a panel named by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to study outpatient care at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

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FDA Outlines Approach to Informing Public About Drug Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued final guidance on the agency's approach to communicating drug safety information to the public and the factors that influence when drug safety information is given to the public.

The FDA said the guidance affirms the agency's commitment to provide important drug safety information in a timely manner through: public health advisories; patient information sheets; health care professional information sheets; and alerts posted on public health advisories and patient and health care professional sheets. These are all available through the FDA Web site.

Drug product labeling is another method of providing the public and health professionals with important drug safety information, the FDA said.

"Our goal is to make emerging drug safety information available in a balanced, impartial manner so that health care professionals and patients can consider the information when making decisions about medical treatments despite uncertainties in the data," Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a prepared statement.

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Create Global Bird Flu Stockpile: WHO Official

A global stockpile of bird flu vaccine needs to be established in order to help guarantee that poor countries have access to vaccine if a global pandemic erupts, the World Health Organization's leading flu official said Friday.

Currently, up to 500 million doses of bird flu vaccine can be produced, which is far below what would be needed if bird flu starts to infect large numbers of people around the world, the Associated Press reported.

A number of developing countries fear they won't be able to get the vaccine if there is a pandemic, said Dr. David Heymann. He suggested the creation of a "virtual" stockpile, where richer countries agree to donate a percentage of their vaccine supplies to poorer nations if there is a pandemic.

"What we need to do and want to do is develop mechanisms that will permit countries to have access to vaccines if they need it," Heymann told the AP.

That would cover the short term. The long-term goal is to provide developing nations with the technology and expertise to produce their own vaccines, he said.

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FDA Warns 20 Companies About Illegal Migraine Drugs

Twenty drug companies have been sent warning letters that they're selling unapproved and potentially dangerous migraine medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The illegal prescription medicines contain ergotamine tartrate, which is derived from a rye fungus called ergot. Ergotamine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels, the Associated Press reported.

Labeling on these unapproved drugs doesn't warn consumers about potentially dangerous interactions if the medicines are taken with other drugs, including some HIV medicines, anti-fungal agents and antibiotics, the FDA said.

"Because these drugs don't have approval, we don't know how they were formulated or manufactured. We don't know if they are safe or effective," Deborah Autor, director of the office of compliance at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, told reporters.

Companies that received the warning letters included: a U.S. subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. of Israel, the world's largest manufacturer of generic drugs; Actavis of Iceland; and Sandoz Inc., part of the Swiss company Novartis AG.

In the warning letters, the FDA told the companies that they have 60 days to stop making the drugs and 180 days to halt distribution. If they don't meet the demands, the companies will be subject to seizure or injunction, the AP reported.

The FDA told the companies that they could seek agency approval for the drugs.

Health Headlines - March 3

Bush Orders Review of U.S. Military and Veteran Hospitals

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday ordered a thorough review of conditions at all American veteran and military hospitals. The review was prompted by revelations about poor care for wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Bush will name a bipartisan commission to investigate whether the problems uncovered at Walter Reed are also present at other facilities, the Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, the Pentagon said it had fired Walter Reed commander Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman. The situation at Walter Reed was made public by The Washington Post, which found that bureaucratic issues prevented many troops from receiving adequate care and that some outpatients were enduring squalid living conditions, the AP reported.

The commission to be appointed by Bush will be separate from a panel named by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to study outpatient care at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

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FDA Outlines Approach to Informing Public About Drug Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued final guidance on the agency's approach to communicating drug safety information to the public and the factors that influence when drug safety information is given to the public.

The FDA said the guidance affirms the agency's commitment to provide important drug safety information in a timely manner through: public health advisories; patient information sheets; health care professional information sheets; and alerts posted on public health advisories and patient and health care professional sheets. These are all available through the FDA Web site.

Drug product labeling is another method of providing the public and health professionals with important drug safety information, the FDA said.

"Our goal is to make emerging drug safety information available in a balanced, impartial manner so that health care professionals and patients can consider the information when making decisions about medical treatments despite uncertainties in the data," Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a prepared statement.

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Create Global Bird Flu Stockpile: WHO Official

A global stockpile of bird flu vaccine needs to be established in order to help guarantee that poor countries have access to vaccine if a global pandemic erupts, the World Health Organization's leading flu official said Friday.

Currently, up to 500 million doses of bird flu vaccine can be produced, which is far below what would be needed if bird flu starts to infect large numbers of people around the world, the Associated Press reported.

A number of developing countries fear they won't be able to get the vaccine if there is a pandemic, said Dr. David Heymann. He suggested the creation of a "virtual" stockpile, where richer countries agree to donate a percentage of their vaccine supplies to poorer nations if there is a pandemic.

"What we need to do and want to do is develop mechanisms that will permit countries to have access to vaccines if they need it," Heymann told the AP.

That would cover the short term. The long-term goal is to provide developing nations with the technology and expertise to produce their own vaccines, he said.

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FDA Warns 20 Companies About Illegal Migraine Drugs

Twenty drug companies have been sent warning letters that they're selling unapproved and potentially dangerous migraine medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The illegal prescription medicines contain ergotamine tartrate, which is derived from a rye fungus called ergot. Ergotamine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows blood vessels, the Associated Press reported.

Labeling on these unapproved drugs doesn't warn consumers about potentially dangerous interactions if the medicines are taken with other drugs, including some HIV medicines, anti-fungal agents and antibiotics, the FDA said.

"Because these drugs don't have approval, we don't know how they were formulated or manufactured. We don't know if they are safe or effective," Deborah Autor, director of the office of compliance at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, told reporters.

Companies that received the warning letters included: a U.S. subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. of Israel, the world's largest manufacturer of generic drugs; Actavis of Iceland; and Sandoz Inc., part of the Swiss company Novartis AG.

In the warning letters, the FDA told the companies that they have 60 days to stop making the drugs and 180 days to halt distribution. If they don't meet the demands, the companies will be subject to seizure or injunction, the AP reported.

The FDA told the companies that they could seek agency approval for the drugs.

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Raw Milk Poses Health Risks: FDA and CDC

Raw (unpasteurized) milk can contain a wide variety of harmful bacteria that can cause illness and even death, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said in a reminder to consumers.

Between 1998 and May 2005, the CDC identified 45 outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to unpasteurized milk or cheese made from unpasteurized milk. In those outbreaks, 1,007 people became ill, 104 were hospitalized, and two died. It's likely that the actual number of illnesses was higher, because not all cases of illness are recognized and reported, the CDC said.

Symptoms of illness caused by raw milk vary, depending on which kind of harmful bacteria are present in the milk. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and body ache.

Proponents of raw milk contend that it's more nutritious than pasteurized milk and that raw milk is inherently antimicrobial, which makes pasteurization unnecessary. Research has found no evidence to support these claims, the FDA and the CDC said.

Since 1987, the FDA has required the pasteurization of all milk and milk products (with the exception of a few aged cheeses) produced for human consumption.

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FDA Panel Rejects Implantable Heart Failure Monitor

An implantable device designed to detect worsening heart failure should not receive U.S. federal approval, a panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers recommended Thursday.

They voted 9-2 against the Chronicle Implantable Hemodynamic Monitor, made by Medtronic Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn. A study of the device suggested that it wasn't effective, the Associated Press reported.

While the FDA is not obligated to follow the advisory committee's recommendation, the agency usually does so.

Medtronic's device records data on heart rate, temperature, pressure and patient activity. This information can be downloaded by doctors or securely transmitted to the Internet for viewing, the AP reported.

The company is currently studying a defibrillator that incorporates the same monitoring technology.

Health Headlines - March 2

Chronic Kidney Disease Increases 16% in U.S.

Data from 1999 to 2004 showed that nearly 17 percent of American adults had chronic kidney disease, a 16 percent increase from 1988 to 1994, says an article published in Friday's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

The article said that people over the age of 60, those with less than a high school education, and those with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure were most likely to have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Blacks and Mexican Americans were more likely than whites to have CKD. The data in the article was taken from national health surveys conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which publishes the MMWR.

The CDC is working to establish a CKD surveillance system and is sponsoring research to learn more about the health consequences, costs, and disabilities associated with CKD.

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Hospitalizations for Traumatic Brain Injury on the Rise

In 2003, the rate of hospitalization for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in nine U.S. states was 87.9 people per 100,000, compared with 79.0 per 100,000 in 12 states in 2002, says a study in Friday's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 2003 rate is based on figures reported by nine states reporting to the agency's TBI surveillance system. In those nine states, a total of 28,819 people were hospitalized for traumatic brain injury in 2003.

Among the nine states, Arizona had the highest rate (105 per 100,000), while Nebraska had the lowest rate (51.8 per 100,000). Rates in the other seven states were: South Carolina (69.6); Utah (83.1); Minnesota (89.5); Oklahoma (90.5); Colorado and Maryland (91.8); and Alaska (93.3).

Motor vehicle traffic accidents and falls were the leading cause of hospitalization for traumatic brain injury. Prevention measures should focus on these two leading causes in order to reduce rates of traumatic brain injury, the study said.

Each year in the United States, traumatic brain injury results in about 1.1 million hospital emergency room visits, 235,000 hospitalizations, and 50,000 deaths, according to the U.S. government.

Prescription Drug Abuse Overtaking Illegal Drug Use: Report

Worldwide abuse of prescription drugs is about to become more common than the use of illicit drugs, says a report released Wednesday by the U.N.-affiliated International Narcotics Control Board.

In certain parts of Africa, Europe and South Asia, prescription drug abuse has already overtaken the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine, Ecstasy and heroin, said the board's annual report for 2006, the Associated Press reported.

The Vienna-based board said that in the United States, abuse of painkillers, stimulants and tranquilizers currently exceeds the use of practically all illegal drugs, with the exception of marijuana.

In 2003, 15.1 million Americans abused prescription drugs, compared to 7.8 million in 1992.

The board report noted that this trend toward abuse of prescription drugs has generated a dangerous new trade in counterfeit painkillers, sedatives and other medicines that can seriously harm or kill people, the AP reported.

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Company Introduces New, Inexpensive Malaria Drug

A new, inexpensive, easy-to-take anti-malaria pill is being introduced Thursday by French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis in partnership with Drugs for Neglected Diseases, a campaign started by the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

Sanofi-Aventis will sell the drug, called ASAQ, at cost to international groups such as UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Treatment with the drug will cost less than $1 for adults and less than 50 cents for children, The New York Times reported.

Adults with malaria will take two ASAQ pills a day for three days. Three smaller-sized once-a-day pills will be given to children. ASAQ is a combination of artemisinin (a Chinese-invented malaria treatment that uses sweet wormwood) and an older malaria drug called amodiaquine.

There has been a demand for drug companies to stop making anti-malaria pills that contain artemisinin alone, because experts fear that using such drugs would lead to resistant strains of malaria, The Times reported.

"This is a good thing. They're responding to the kind of drug profile we've been promoting," said Dr. Arata Kochi, chief of the WHO's global malaria program.

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University Operates Bird Flu 'Futures Market'

In an attempt to help predict the occurrence of a potential bird flu pandemic, a bird flu futures market will be operated by the University of Iowa.

Health experts will pay about $100 each to bet on the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus. The goal of the program is to more quickly gather expert opinion about the potential spread of an outbreak of bird flu, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

"Farmers have used futures markets for decades to make decisions about what crops to plant. We're just borrowing that concept to help people in public health and health care make decisions about the future," Dr. Phil Polgreen, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Iowa, told the AP. He helped create the project.

Organizers of the two-year experimental project would like to recruit at least 100 epidemiologists, veterinarians and other experts from around the world to take part in the bird flu futures market.

In related news, Chinese state media reported Thursday that a farmer in the southeast region of the country contracted the H5N1 strain of bird flu. He was diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 18. It was the first confirmed human case of bird flu in China since Jan. 10, the Associated Press reported.

Health Headlines - March 1

First Drug to Prevent Vomiting in Dogs Approved

The first drug to prevent and treat vomiting in dogs has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said that it approved tablet and injectable forms of Cerenia (maropitant citrate). The tablets prevent acute vomiting and vomiting due to motion sickness, and the injectable version prevents and treats acute vomiting.

Both forms of Cerenia are available only by order of a veterinarian.

Along with motion sickness, other causes of vomiting in dogs include chemotherapy treatment, parvoviral infection, kidney disease, and pancreatitis. Acute vomiting can lead to electrolyte abnormalities, weakness, dehydration and even death, the FDA said.

Cerenia is made by Pfizer, Inc.

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Another $1 Billion Needed to Eradicate Polio: WHO

It will take another $1 billion and at least two more years to halt the spread of polio and eradicate the disease in the four nations -- Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria -- that still have polio, the World Health Organization estimates.

So far, about $5 billion has been spent on the program, which previously set target dates of 2000 and 2005 to eradicate polio, CBC News reported.

At a meeting scheduled Wednesday in Switzerland, WHO officials were to meet with health experts and representatives of donor nations to ensure that all of the program partners remain committed to the goal of eradicating polio.

Delegates also were set to discuss a number of issues, such as war, health infrastructure, and rumors about the safety of the oral polio vaccine, that are hampering vaccination efforts in the four nations where polio has not been eradicated, CBC News said.

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Prince Charles Attacks Big Mac

Britain's Prince Charles has suggested that banning McDonald's fast food would be an important step in improving people's diets, the British news agency The Press Association reported.

While touring the Imperial College London Diabetes Center in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, Charles asked one of the center's nutritionists: "Have you got anywhere with McDonald's? Have you tried getting it banned? That's the key."

Charles, who is first in line to the British throne, is a supporter of organic food, the Associated Press reported.

A spokesman for McDonald's Corp., based in Oak Brook, Ill., said Charles' remarks were disappointing.

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Two HIV/AIDS Drugs Offer New Options for Patients

Two new HIV/AIDS drugs that proved safe and highly effective in clinical trials could offer important new treatment options for patients, experts said at the 14th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections held in Los Angeles.

The drugs -- Pfizer's maraviroc and Merck's raltegravir -- would add two new classes of drugs to the four currently available to fight HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, The New York Times reported. Both drugs could receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this year.

If approved, these drug could prove especially important to tens of thousands of patients in the United States infected with HIV that has become resistant to current drugs.

"This is a really remarkable development in the field," Dr. John W. Mellors of the University of Pittsburgh said at a news conference at the meeting. Mellors, who was not involved in the studies on the two new drugs but has been a consultant to Merck and Pfizer, compared the findings from the clinical trials on the two drugs to the discovery in the mid-1990s that a cocktail of drugs could significantly extend the lives of HIV patients, The Times reported.

Pfizer has already applied for FDA approval of maraviroc and an FDA advisory panel is scheduled to meet April 24 to discuss the application. Merck says it will submit an application for approval of raltegravir in the second quarter of the year.

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Report Looks at Substance Abuse in States

Utah had the lowest rate (21.3 percent) of past month underage drinking (ages 12 to 20) in 2004-05, while Wisconsin had the highest rate (39.5 percent), says a report on substance abuse and mental health released Wednesday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The report also found that Utah had the lowest rate of past month alcohol use (30.1 percent) among those 12 years and older, while Wisconsin had the highest rate (65.3 percent). Wisconsin also had the highest rate (75.7 percent) of past month alcohol use in the 18 to 25 age group.

The use of illegal drugs in the past month for all persons age 12 or older was lowest in Iowa (5.9 percent) and highest in Alaska (12.2 percent). South Dakota had the lowest rate (3.4 percent) of past year nonmedical use of prescription pain relief drugs by people age 12 and older, while Utah had the highest rate (6.5 percent).

Past year cocaine use by those age 12 and older was lowest in North Dakota (1.7 percent) and highest in Washington, D.C. (3.4 percent). Past month use of illicit drugs other than marijuana among those 12 years and older was lowest in North Dakota and South Dakota (2.8 percent) and highest in Colorado (4.5 percent).

The annual rate of first-time marijuana use was lowest in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi and West Virginia (1.4 percent) and highest in Alaska (2.6 percent). Iowa had the lowest rate (4.2 percent) of past month marijuana use among those 12 years and older, while Alaska had the highest rate (10.1 percent).

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Estrogen Pollutants Turn Male Frogs into Females

Male tadpoles were turned into female frogs by estrogen-like pollutants similar to those found in the environment, which may help explain why up to a third of frog species worldwide face extinction, according to a Swedish study.

Researchers exposed two species of frogs to levels of estrogen that match levels found in waters in Canada, Europe and the United States, Agence France Presse reported.

The percentage of female frogs in two control groups of tadpoles not exposed to the estrogen was less than 50 percent. Tadpoles exposed to the highest levels of estrogen became females 95 to 100 percent of the time.

"Obviously, if all the frogs become female it could have a detrimental effect on the population," said study co-author Cecilia Berg.

The findings will be published in May in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, AFP reported.