Health Headlines - February 16

Many Black Breast Cancer Survivors Underestimate Recurrence Risk

Many black breast cancer survivors at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer don't believe that they have a heightened risk of recurrence, says a University of Pennsylvania study in the February issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers interviewed 95 black women with a personal and family history of breast cancer and found that 53 percent of them believed they had the same or lower risk of developing breast cancer again compared to other women, while 47 percent said they felt they had a higher or much higher risk.

Women with higher levels of education were more likely to believe that they had a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence, the study found.

"Having a personal and family history of breast cancer are known risk factors for breast cancer, and it is surprising and worrisome that most of these women with such a history don't recognize that risk," study lead author Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert, assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the Community and Minority Cancer Control Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement.

The findings suggest that it's important to ensure that black women understand their risk of developing cancer. Genetic counseling that addresses cultural beliefs and values may be one way to achieve that, the researchers said.

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Watercress May Reduce Cancer Risk: Study

Regular consumption of watercress may cut cancer risk by reducing DNA damage to white blood cells, suggests a University of Ulster (U.K) study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

DNA damage to white blood cells is believed to be an important cancer trigger, BBC News reported.

In this study, 60 healthy people, including 30 smokers, ate 85 grams of fresh watercress every day for eight weeks. Blood tests taken before and after the volunteers starting eating the watercress revealed that DNA damage to their white blood cells declined by 22.9 percent during the study.

The study authors said they also found that the white blood cells were better able to protect themselves from the damaging effects of free radicals, BBC News reported.

The study was funded by the Watercress Alliance.

Larger studies are needed in order to determine whether the effects of watercress on white blood cells can actually reduce cancer risk, Dr. Anthea Martin, of the charity Cancer Research UK, told BBC News.

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Bunny Toys Pose Choking Hazard

About 500,000 Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Bunny Toys sold in the United States are being recalled because the toy's pompom nose can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

There have been no reported injuries in the U.S. Another 700,000 of the toys were sold in other countries.

The recalled toy is about 10 inches tall. The yellow bunny has one green and one orange ear and features musical and counting sound effects. The words "Laugh and Learn" are printed on the bunny's shirt.

Only bunnies with three-dimensional noses are involved in the recall. It does not include bunnies with flat or embroidered noses, the CPSC said.

Consumers with these toys should immediately take them away from children and contact Fisher-Price at (866)-447-5003 to arrange for the return of the toy and to receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the customer's choice.

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Prescription Drug Abuse by U.S. Teens a Growing Problem

American teens are cutting back on their use of marijuana, but their abuse of prescription drugs in recent years has stayed the same or increased, according to a report released Wednesday by White House drug czar John Walters.

From 2002 to 2005, rates of marijuana use declined from 30.1 percent to 25.8 percent. Over that same period, the use of the painkiller OxyContin increased from 2.7 percent to 3.5 percent and the use of Vicodin, another painkiller, increased from 6 percent to 6.3 percent, the Associated Press reported.

Teens are also abusing anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax and stimulants like Adderall, Walters said. Overall, 2.1 million American teens abused prescription drugs in 2005.

Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe they're safer than street drugs and they're also easier to obtain, according to Walters. He said many teens get prescription drugs over the Internet, from friends, or steal them from household medicine cabinets, the AP reported.

Adults need to keep track of prescription drugs and dispose of them properly when the drugs expire, Walters said.

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Office Desks Teem with Bacteria

The average office desk has about 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat in a workplace restroom, according to a new study.

And the study also found that female office workers tend to have three to four times the amount of bacteria in, on and around their desks, drawers, keyboards, computers, phones and personal items than their male colleagues, the Associated Press reported.

"I thought for sure men would be germier. But women have more interactions with small children and keep food in their desks. The other problem is makeup," study author Charles Gerba, a professor of soil, water and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona, told the AP.

For this study, commissioned by the Clorox Co., Gerba tested more than 100 offices across the country.

Using a disinfectant on office surfaces can help reduce the amount of bacteria in offices, Gerba added.

Health Headlines - February 15

Circulatory Diseases Major Cause of Hospitalization in U.S.

In 2004, heart disease, stroke, deep vein thrombosis and other circulatory system conditions accounted for nearly 7 million -- one of every six -- hospital stays in the United States, says the latest News and Numbers report released Wednesday by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Only pregnancy and childbirth accounted for more hospital stays.

The report said:

• The five most common circulatory diseases that led to hospitalization were: hardening of the arteries (1.2 million stays); congestive heart failure (1.1 million); nonspecific chest pain (846,000); heart attack (695,000), and irregular heart beat (694,000).
• Cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation was the deadliest condition, with 52 percent of patients dying in the hospital, followed by: stroke (11 percent); aneurysms (9 percent); heart attack (7 percent); and embolism or thrombosis (5 percent).
• In terms of average cost per hospital stay, the five most expensive conditions were: heart valve disorders ($31,300); cardiac and circulatory birth defects ($29,600); aneurysms ($24,700); cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation ($16,700); and heart attack ($16,200).

Overall, it cost hospitals $71.2 billion in 2004 to treat patients with circulatory diseases, the report said.

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U.S. and Britain at Bottom of U.N. Ranking of Child Well-Being

The United States and Great Britain were ranked second to last and last, respectively, in a UNICEF report released Wednesday that looked at the well-being of children in 21 industrialized countries, the Associated Press reported.

Countries at the top of the list were European nations with strong social welfare systems -- the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

The rankings were based on six measures: material well-being, health and safety, education, peer and family relationships, behaviors and risks, and youngsters' own subjective sense of well-being, the AP reported.

In the health and safety category, the United States came last. That category looks at rates of infant death, low birth weight, immunization, and deaths from accidents and injuries.

The fact that the United States and Britain were ranked below countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary shows that a nation's overall wealth alone does not guarantee a child's well-being, the report authors said.

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Leprosy Cases Increase in Indonesia

Indonesia is the only country in the world where cases of leprosy are on the rise, says the World Health Organization.

In 2005, there were 19,695 new cases of leprosy in Indonesia, compared with 16,549 new cases in 2004. However, the WHO said the prevalence of the disfiguring disease in Indonesia is less than one case per 10,000 population, which means leprosy is effectively eliminated in that country, Agence France Presse reported.

The disease has also been effectively eliminated in most other parts of Asia. Two exceptions are East Timor and Nepal. Both countries have repeatedly missed target dates to eliminate leprosy.

The WHO released the information after a meeting about eliminating leprosy and other tropical diseases. The meeting with donor agencies was held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, AFP reported.

"We hope that this meeting will increase political commitment from the governments of the member states and result in the intensification of efforts towards elimination of the disease," which is associated with poverty, Jai Narain, WHO director of communicable diseases, told reporters.

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Intestinal Twisting in 28 Infants Given Rotavirus Vaccine: FDA

There have been 28 cases of dangerous twisting of the intestines (intussusception) in infants who received a newly-approved vaccine against rotavirus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

In 16 of those 28 cases infants required intestinal surgery. There were no deaths.

However, the FDA said it wasn't clear whether the vaccine, RotaTeq, actually caused the 28 cases of intussusception, which can occur naturally, the Associated Press reported. In fact, the reported cases don't exceed the number expected to occur naturally each year in the U.S., the agency said.

The FDA said it issued the public health notification in part to encourage reporting of any additional cases of intussusception in order to help the agency assess any risks associated with RotaTeq, which was approved by the FDA in February 2006.

The agency asked drug maker Merck & Co. to change the labeling on RotaTeq to mention the cases of intussusception, the AP reported.

A previous rotavirus vaccine, Wyeth's RotaShield, was taken off the market eight years ago after it was linked to intussuception. The rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea in early childhood.

RotaTeq co-inventor Dr. Paul Offit, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said the 28 reported cases were well below the hundreds that would be expected to occur naturally.

"I am actually encouraged by those data: 28 cases, when you would have expected at least 500 cases, that is really reassuring," he told the AP. "I don't see how those numbers suggest something's gone awry. If anything, they suggest nothing's awry."

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WTC-Related Health Problems Cost Nearly $400M a Year: Report

A New York City report says that mental trauma, respiratory ailments and other problems suffered by emergency/recovery/cleanup workers after the Sept. 11 attacks are costing the U.S. health care system $393 million a year, the Associated Press reported.

The report was written by a panel created last year by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to examine Sept. 11-related health problems and treatment programs. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and respiratory conditions are among the disorders plaguing people who worked at the World Trade Center site.

The report also mentioned the troubling prospect of later-emerging diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and cancer among the WTC workers, the AP reported.

In addition to the health costs, there are mounting liability expenses. The report said that WTC workers have launched at least 6,000 federal lawsuits, alleging that New York and its contractors were negligent in monitoring air quality.

Thousands more lawsuits are expected, the AP reported.

The U.S. Congress gave $1 billon to provide the city with liability coverage against claims made by WTC workers. Instead of using that money in court, the report said Congress should change the law so that the city can use the money to fund a compensation program for sick workers.

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Civet Cats Back on Menus in Southern China

Even though the civet cat is a suspected cause of the deadly SARS outbreak a few years ago, it's showing up again on menus at some restaurants in southern China.

The civet cat is a mongoose-like animal regarded as a delicacy in southern China, the Associated Press reported.

The China Daily state newspaper said that officials caught several restaurants selling civet cat and other animals banned by health authorities after the SARS outbreak in late 2002, the AP reported.

During a recent check of restaurants in Guangdong province, officials found one live civet cat, 14 frozen civet cats, and 18 frozen pieces of other exotic wildlife that were destined for patron's plates.

"It seems that some people are determined to start eating civet cats again since no new SARS cases have been reported over the past two years in Guangdong province. It's a very dangerous sign," Huang Fei, deputy director of the Guangdong Health Department, told the China Daily.

The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak began in Guangdong and then spread worldwide, infecting more than 8,000 people and killing more than 800. The last reported case in China was in 2004, the AP reported.

Health Headlines - February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Smokers Who Switch to Spit Tobacco Still Face Death Risk

Switching from cigarettes to spit tobacco is not a good way to try to quit smoking. That's the conclusion of an American Cancer Society study that found that men who made that switch had higher death rates from lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and all causes combined, than former smokers who stopped using any kind of tobacco product.

The study, which included 116,000 men, also found that those who switched from cigarettes to spit tobacco were more than twice as likely to die from mouth and throat cancers.

"Smokers who switched to snuff or chewing tobacco had considerably worse health outcomes than those who quite entirely," Dr. Michael Thun, vice president of epidemiology and surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, said in a prepared statement.

"Any smoker who is trying to quit should use proven methods such as nicotine replacement, antidepressants, and behavioral counseling rather than tobacco products if they do not succeed in quitting without assistance," Thun said.

He said there is "currently no reliable evidence to support the promotion of alternative tobacco products for smoking cessation."

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Menstrual Cycle Affects Women's Risk of Injury

Fluctuating hormone levels that affect muscles and ligaments increase the risk of injury at specific points in a woman's menstrual cycle, say researchers at Portland Hospital in London, England.

The researchers surveyed 1,000 osteopaths and studied 17 women and concluded that both muscles and ligaments appear to be vulnerable to injury midway through the menstrual cycle, and that ligaments are especially vulnerable at the end of the cycle, BBC News reported.

"There was a clear link between hormone levels and laxity of joints, making women more vulnerable to injury," said lead researcher Dr. Stephen Sandler.

Midway through the menstrual cycle, there is a decline in levels of the female sex hormone estrogen, which gives strength to muscles and ligaments. At the end of the cycle, an increase in levels of another hormone called relaxin results in a softening of ligaments.

"Studies have shown before that female athletes and those engaged in recreational sport were more prone to injury at certain times in their cycle and now we understand why," Rebecca Morrison, of the British School of Osteopathy, told BBC News.

"This is significant for women everywhere who can plan their schedules around their cycles and avoid potentially painful injuries," Morrison said. "It will also aid therapists in the rehabilitation of their patients."

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Caesarean More Dangerous for Moms Than Natural Childbirth

For healthy women, Caesarean section may be three times more risky than natural childbirth, says a study in the current issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers compared 46,766 Caesareans to more than two million vaginal births among healthy women in Canada. The study found that women who had C-sections were three times more likely to experience serious complications, including infections, blood clots, hysterectomies and heart attacks, the Toronto Star reported.

The complication rate among women who had C-sections was 27.3 per 1,000 deliveries, compared to nine per 1,000 for women who had a natural delivery. The researchers limited their study to outcomes among the mothers and did not look at how C-section affected the babies.

"Look, Caesarean section is not just like falling off a log," Dr. Robert Liston, a lead author of the study, told the Star. "There are health issues that result from the operation, significantly more so than a planned vaginal delivery."

The findings should be considered when women talk with their doctors about Caesarean delivery, said Linton, head of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of British Columbia.

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New Booklet Explains Science of Addiction

A new consumer booklet that explains the science of addiction was released Tuesday by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

The 30-page publication, Drugs, Brains and Behavior: The Science of Addiction, uses easy-to-understand language to explain that drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior. It's hoped this kind of information will reduce the social stigma associated with addiction.

"Thanks to science, our views and our responses to drug abuse have changed dramatically, but many people today still do not understand why people become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse," Dr. Nora D. Volkow, NIDA director, said in a prepared statement.

The booklet explains why people take drugs, why some people become addicted and others don't, how drugs work in the brain, and how addiction can be prevented and treated. The booklet emphasizes that drug addiction is a chronic disease, like diabetes or heart disease, that can be managed successfully.

Each year in the United States, alcohol, drug and nicotine abuse and addiction result in about a half trillion dollars in medical, economic, criminal and social costs.

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Generics Boost U.S. Statin Prescriptions: Report

The number of prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in the United States increased by an average of 500,000 a month between October 2005 and December 2006, and this surge was driven by new generic statins, says a report released Tuesday by Consumers Union and Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.

From October 2005 to May 2006, there were an average of 12.6 million statin prescriptions per month, compared to an average of 13.1 million per month from June 2006 to December 2006.

Two new generic statin drugs were introduced to the U.S. market in the latter half of 2006 and the increase in statin prescriptions suggests that these new generic statins have been eagerly embraced by consumers, doctors, insurers, pharmacists and pharmacy benefit managers, the report said.

The two generics, pravastatin and simvastatin, are versions of Pravachol and Zocor, respectively. Both those brand-name drugs lost patent protection in 2006.

"This is further evidence that the market will eagerly welcome a significant new generic drug, such as simvastatin," Steven Findlay, managing editor of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, said in a prepared statement. "It also shows that new generics can play an important role in extending treatment to more people."

The report also said there was a large increase in prescriptions of an older generic statin called lovastatin.

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FDA Warns About Salmonella in Wild Kitty Cat Food

U.S. consumers shouldn't buy or use Wild Kitty Cat Food because it may be contaminated with salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

Cats and other pets that eat the food may become infected with salmonella. People may become infected if they handle the pet food, touch pets that ate the food, or touch any surfaces that came into contact with the food or animals that ate the food, the FDA said.

The specific products covered by the warning are Wild Kitty Raw All Natural, Frozen Cat Food -- Chicken with Clam Recipe, Net Wt. 3.5 oz. (100g) and 1lb. in plastic containers. The food was sold nationwide.

Consumers with the food should dispose of it in a safe manner by placing it in a securely covered trash container, the FDA said. To report any illnesses or other problems caused by Wild Kitty Cat Food, call the FDA's Office of Emergency Operations at 301-443-1240.

In most people and pets, salmonella can cause short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. But salmonella can cause serious illnesses in small children, frail or elderly people, and people and pets with weakened immune systems.

Health Headlines - February 13

Vasectomy May Increase Dementia Risk

Having a vasectomy may increase the risk of certain types of dementia, say researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Their study of 106 men found that 40 percent of those with a form of dementia called primary progressive aphasia (PPA) had undergone a vasectomy, compared to 16 percent of the men without this form of dementia. The study was published in the journal Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology.

While the findings don't mean that having a vasectomy will directly cause PPA, it may be a risk factor for developing the condition, said principal investigator Sandra Weintraub, professor or psychiatry and behavioral sciences and of neurology at the university's Feinberg School of Medicine.

People with PPA have difficulty recalling and understanding words, resulting in the loss of their ability to express themselves and understand speech.

The researchers also found preliminary evidence that vasectomy may be associated with another form of dementia called frontotemporal dementia. Symptoms of this condition include personality changes, lack of judgment and bizarre behavior.

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British Drug Store Chain to Sell Viagra Without Prescription

In a trial program to be launched on Valentine's Day, men will be able to buy Viagra without a prescription at a few stores operated by the British pharmacy chain Boots.

The company said the pilot program with the drug, used to treat erectile dysfunction, will be offered at three stores in Manchester and is expected to last six months, the Associated Press reported.

Men, ages 30 to 65, who want to purchase Viagra without a prescription will have to see a pharmacist, provide a medical history, and undergo tests for cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels. If men want a refill, they'll have to see a doctor.

After the initial trial, the company will consider whether to expand the program to other outlets. Boots has about 1,500 stores across Britain, the AP reported.

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Lack of Sleep Affects Brain Region Tied to New Memories: Study

A lack of sleep disrupts the functioning of the hippocampus -- the area of the brain involved in forming new memories -- and this could explain why children who don't get enough sleep tend to do poorly in school, say Harvard Medical School researchers.

Their study included 28 volunteers who were randomly deprived of sleep for two days and a night or who were allowed to sleep normally. After that time, the volunteers were given a test that involved looking at and remembering a series of pictures, Agence France Presse reported.

While they did the test, the volunteers' cerebral activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The sleep-deprived participants did slightly worse on the test than those who got their normal amount of sleep.

The fMRI revealed that the sleep-deprived volunteers had far lower levels of hippocampus activity during the test than the sleepers, and this affected other areas of the brain linked to alertness, AFP reported.

The findings were published Sunday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

"These results demonstrate that an absence of prior sleep substantially compromises the neural and behavioral capacity for committing new experiences to memory," the study authors wrote. "It therefore appears that sleep before learning is critical in preparing the human brain for next-day memory formation -- a worrying finding considering society's increasing erosion of sleep time."

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Genetic Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mapped Out

British and Canadian researchers say they've mapped out a genetic mutation that may indicate whether a person will develop type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease.

In the United States, more than 17 million people are estimated to have type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes. In the United Kingdom, where the research was conducted, almost 2 million people have type 2 diabetes, according to BBC News.

The gene mapping will be able to identify about 70 percent of the genetic makeup of type 2 diabetes, the news agency quoted the scientists as saying. The gene mutation is a zinc transporter involved in regulating insulin secretion, according to BBC News. The research is published in the current issue of the journal Nature.

"If we can tell someone that their genetics mean they are predisposed towards type 2 diabetes, they will be much more motivated to change things such as their diet to reduce their chances of developing the disorder," the news agency quoted researcher Philippe Froguel as saying. "We can also use what we know about the specific genetic mutations associated with type 2 diabetes to develop better treatments," he added.

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Stillbirth Risk Increases for Women Older Than 40

It may be a finding that many will find disappointing, but pregnancy after age 40 is an independent risk factor for stillbirth, according to researchers from Yale Medical School.

And that's why it's important for older pregnant women to get antenatal testing on a regular basis after 38 weeks into their pregnancy, the researchers told those attending the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Conference in San Francisco over the weekend.

According to a news release from the society, Yale scientists conducted a cross-sectional study of more than 11 million deliveries between 1995 and 1997 in a database provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results confirmed increased risks for older pregnant women, including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, placenta previa and intrauterine growth restriction.

All of these conditions can contribute to a higher incidence of stillborn deliveries, the researchers said.

Health Headlines - February 12

Genetic Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mapped Out

British and Canadian researchers say they've mapped out a genetic mutation that may indicate whether a person will develop type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease.

In the United States, more than 17 million people are estimated to have type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes. In the United Kingdom, where the research was conducted, almost 2 million people have type 2 diabetes, according to BBC News.

The gene mapping will be able to identify about 70 percent of the genetic makeup of type 2 diabetes, the news agency quotes the scientists as saying. The gene mutation is a zinc transporter involved in regulating insulin secretion, according to BBC News. The research is published in the current issue of the journal Nature.

"If we can tell someone that their genetics mean they are predisposed towards type 2 diabetes, they will be much more motivated to change things such as their diet to reduce their chances of developing the disorder," the news agency quotes researcher Philippe Froguel as saying. "We can also use what we know about the specific genetic mutations associated with type 2 diabetes to develop better treatments," he added.

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Stillbirth Risk Increases for Women Older Than Age 40

It may be a finding that many will find disappointing, but pregnancy after age 40 is an independent risk factor for stillbirth, according to researchers from Yale Medical School.

And that's why it's important for older pregnant women to get antenatal testing on a regular basis after 38 weeks into their pregnancy, the researchers told those attending the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Conference in San Francisco over the weekend.

According to a news release from the society, Yale scientists conducted a cross-sectional study of more than 11 million deliveries between 1995 and 1997 in a database provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results confirmed increase risks for older pregnant women, including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, placenta previa and intrauterine growth restriction.

All of these conditions can contribute to a higher incidence of stillborn deliveries, the researchers said.

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Drug Overdose Deaths Doubled in the Past Five Years

In only five years, the number of deaths from unintentional drug overdoses doubled in the United States, according to U.S. government statistics. They rose from 11,155 in 1999 to 19,838 in 2004, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Associated Press reports that the CDC, using death certificates, found that drug overdoses replaced falls as the second most common cause of unintentional death between 1999 and 2004. Motor vehicle accidents remained far ahead insofar as actual numbers were concerned, from 40,965 fatalities in 1999 to 43,432 in 2004.

While not yet being able to prove that prescription drugs may have been the reason for the increase, the researchers told the wire service they believed that the improper use of drugs like Vicodin and Oxycontin may have been a major contributor.

The availability of prescription drugs illegally also continues to be a problem. In a study released last week by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, almost 82 percent of the participants said they illegally obtained their prescription medications from a drug dealer. Just over 50 percent said friends or relatives were also a source, although no information was gathered regarding where those contacts originally got the drugs.

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Funding for Pneumonia Vaccine in Poor Countries Pledged

Led by Italy, a small group of nations has pledged financial support to provide vaccinations against pneumonia for children in poor countries.

According to the New York Times, representatives from Italy, Canada, Norway, Britain and Russia announced their financial support after a meeting in Rome. The first phase is called the Advance Market Commitment, and will promote production and distribution of the pneumococcal vaccine, which will prevent children from contracting a a deadly form of pneumonia, the Times reports.

The program, for which $1.5 billion has been pledged, will support the creation more of the vaccine and could prevent 5.4 billion deaths by the year 2030, the newspaper cites the World Bank as estimating.

"This day is a great one for the poor women and children of the world," the Times quotes Heatherwick Ntaba, a former health minister of Malawi, as saying.

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Philadelphia Moves to Ban Trans Fats

It appears likely that Philadelphia will become the second major U.S. city to outlaw artery-clogging trans fats from restaurant food.

On Thursday, city council voted unanimously in favor of the measure and Mayor John F. Street is expected to sign it, the Associated Press reported.

Under the first phase, to take effect Sept. 1, 2007, restaurants would be prohibited from frying foods in trans fats or serving trans fat-based spreads. As of Sept. 1, 2008, trans fats would be banned from all other types of foods served in restaurants.

Prepackaged foods sold in stores and eateries are not covered by the ban.

The ban, which would be enforced by the city's Health Department, does not include penalties for restaurants that break the rules, the AP reported.

New York recently passed a similar ban on trans fats in restaurant food. It will begin to be phased in starting July 1.

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Brain Tumor Removal Through the Nose Safe for Children

A type of surgery in which a brain tumor is removed through the nose can be as safe and effective in children as it is in adults, say U.S. researchers who reviewed the results of the first 25 children to have the procedure.

The researchers noted that the procedure, called the "expanded endonasal approach," is often the only medical option available to these children, the Associated Press reported.

The surgery was successful in the all the children, who ranged in age from 3 to 18. There were no cases of vascular injury, central nervous system infection or neurological damage.

The review of the surgeries, which were done from 1999 to 2005, was conducted by doctors at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the AP reported.

The findings were published in the February issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

Health Headlines - February 11

Drug Overdose Deaths Doubled in the Past Five Years

In only five years, the number of deaths from unintentional drug overdoses doubled in the United States, according to U.S. government statistics. They rose from 11,155 in 1999 to 19,838 in 2004, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Associated Press reports that the CDC, using death certificates, found that drug overdoses replaced falls as the second most common cause of unintentional death between 1999 and 2004. Motor vehicle accidents remained far ahead insofar as actual numbers were concerned, from 40,965 fatalities in 1999 to 43,432 in 2004.

While not yet being able to prove that prescription drugs may have been the reason for the increase, the researchers told the wire service they believed that the improper use of drugs like Vicodin and Oxycontin may have been a major contributor.

The availability of prescription drugs illegally also continues to be a problem. In a study released last week by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, almost 82 percent of the participants said they illegally obtained their prescription medications from a drug dealer. Just over 50 percent said friends or relatives were also a source, although no information was gathered regarding where those contacts originally got the drugs.

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Funding for Pneumonia Vaccine in Poor Countries Pledged

Led by Italy, a small group of nations has pledged financial support to provide vaccinations against pneumonia for children in poor countries.

According to the New York Times, representatives from Italy, Canada, Norway, Britain and Russia announced their financial support after a meeting in Rome. The first phase is called the Advance Market Commitment, and will promote production and distribution of the pneumococcal vaccine, which will prevent children from contracting a a deadly form of pneumonia, the Times reports.

The program, for which $1.5 billion has been pledged, will support the creation more of the vaccine and could prevent 5.4 billion deaths by the year 2030, the newspaper cites the World Bank as estimating.

"This day is a great one for the poor women and children of the world," the Times quotes Heatherwick Ntaba, a former health minister of Malawi, as saying.

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Philadelphia Moves to Ban Trans Fats

It appears likely that Philadelphia will become the second major U.S. city to outlaw artery-clogging trans fats from restaurant food.

On Thursday, city council voted unanimously in favor of the measure and Mayor John F. Street is expected to sign it, the Associated Press reported.

Under the first phase, to take effect Sept. 1, 2007, restaurants would be prohibited from frying foods in trans fats or serving trans fat-based spreads. As of Sept. 1, 2008, trans fats would be banned from all other types of foods served in restaurants.

Prepackaged foods sold in stores and eateries are not covered by the ban.

The ban, which would be enforced by the city's Health Department, does not include penalties for restaurants that break the rules, the AP reported.

New York recently passed a similar ban on trans fats in restaurant food. It will begin to be phased in starting July 1.

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Brain Tumor Removal Through the Nose Safe for Children

A type of surgery in which a brain tumor is removed through the nose can be as safe and effective in children as it is in adults, say U.S. researchers who reviewed the results of the first 25 children to have the procedure.

The researchers noted that the procedure, called the "expanded endonasal approach," is often the only medical option available to these children, the Associated Press reported.

The surgery was successful in the all the children, who ranged in age from 3 to 18. There were no cases of vascular injury, central nervous system infection or neurological damage.

The review of the surgeries, which were done from 1999 to 2005, was conducted by doctors at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the AP reported.

The findings were published in the February issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

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Nearly Half of Children in India Underweight: Survey

Nearly half (46 percent) of children in India are underweight, but the infant death rate is declining, according to National Family Health Survey data released Friday.

Even though India has made significant economic progress in recent years, its rate of childhood malnourishment puts it in the same league as poorer nations like Cambodia and Burkina Faso, the Associated Press reported.

In neighboring China, which has also experienced rapid economic growth, only 8 percent of children are underweight.

The new survey also found that India's infant death rate has decreased from 68 per 100,000 births in 1998-99 to 57 per 100,000 births. However, that's still much higher than the infant mortality rate in Western nations. For example, the rate in the Netherlands is 4 per 100,000, the AP reported.

The data also reveal that the health of people who live in rural India is far worse than that of city residents. Only certain figures from the survey were released Friday. It's expected that the full report will be released soon.

The findings suggest that leaders in India "should be worried," Werner Schultink of UNICEF, told the AP. "It's going to be difficult for India if it wants to use its human resources to develop the nation but does not make improvements."

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Albuquerque Fittest City in U.S.: Magazine

Albuquerque, N.M. moved from 13th place last year to be named American's fittest city this year in the March issue of Men's Fitness magazine.

The other top 10 in the nonscientific survey of 50 cities are: Seattle; Colorado Springs; Minneapolis; Tucson, Ariz.; Denver; San Francisco; Baltimore; Portland, Ore.; and Honolulu, the Associated Press reported.

The magazine said this year's top 10 fattest cities are: Las Vegas, Nev.; San Antonio, Texas; Miami; Mesa. Ariz.; Los Angeles; Houston; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Detroit; and San Jose, Calif.

The survey results are based on various lifestyle factors in each city, including the availability of bikes paths or gyms, commute times, fast food restaurants per capita, amount of television watching, along with federal statistics on obesity-related illnesses and injuries.

Magazine editor Neal Boulton told the AP that the list is published each year "to motivate folks to look at the simple things in their lives they can do to be healthy."

Health Headlines - February 10

Philadelphia Moves to Ban Trans Fats

It appears likely that Philadelphia will become the second major U.S. city to outlaw artery-clogging trans fats from restaurant food.

On Thursday, city council voted unanimously in favor of the measure and Mayor John F. Street is expected to sign it, the Associated Press reported.

Under the first phase, to take effect Sept. 1, 2007, restaurants would be prohibited from frying foods in trans fats or serving trans fat-based spreads. As of Sept. 1, 2008, trans fats would be banned from all other types of foods served in restaurants.

Prepackaged foods sold in stores and eateries are not covered by the ban.

The ban, which would be enforced by the city's Health Department, does not include penalties for restaurants that break the rules, the AP reported.

New York recently passed a similar ban on trans fats in restaurant food. It will begin to be phased in starting July 1.

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Brain Tumor Removal Through the Nose Safe for Children

A type of surgery in which a brain tumor is removed through the nose can be as safe and effective in children as it is in adults, say U.S. researchers who reviewed the results of the first 25 children to have the procedure.

The researchers noted that the procedure, called the "expanded endonasal approach," is often the only medical option available to these children, the Associated Press reported.

The surgery was successful in the all the children, who ranged in age from 3 to 18. There were no cases of vascular injury, central nervous system infection or neurological damage.

The review of the surgeries, which were done from 1999 to 2005, was conducted by doctors at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the AP reported.

The findings were published in the February issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

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Nearly Half of Children in India Underweight: Survey

Nearly half (46 percent) of children in India are underweight, but the infant death rate is declining, according to National Family Health Survey data released Friday.

Even though India has made significant economic progress in recent years, its rate of childhood malnourishment puts it in the same league as poorer nations like Cambodia and Burkina Faso, the Associated Press reported.

In neighboring China, which has also experienced rapid economic growth, only 8 percent of children are underweight.

The new survey also found that India's infant death rate has decreased from 68 per 100,000 births in 1998-99 to 57 per 100,000 births. However, that's still much higher than the infant mortality rate in Western nations. For example, the rate in the Netherlands is 4 per 100,000, the AP reported.

The data also reveal that the health of people who live in rural India is far worse than that of city residents. Only certain figures from the survey were released Friday. It's expected that the full report will be released soon.

The findings suggest that leaders in India "should be worried," Werner Schultink of UNICEF, told the AP. "It's going to be difficult for India if it wants to use its human resources to develop the nation but does not make improvements."

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Albuquerque Fittest City in U.S.: Magazine

Albuquerque, N.M. moved from 13th place last year to be named American's fittest city this year in the March issue of Men's Fitness magazine.

The other top 10 in the nonscientific survey of 50 cities are: Seattle; Colorado Springs; Minneapolis; Tucson, Ariz.; Denver; San Francisco; Baltimore; Portland, Ore.; and Honolulu, the Associated Press reported.

The magazine said this year's top 10 fattest cities are: Las Vegas, Nev.; San Antonio, Texas; Miami; Mesa. Ariz.; Los Angeles; Houston; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Detroit; and San Jose, Calif.

The survey results are based on various lifestyle factors in each city, including the availability of bikes paths or gyms, commute times, fast food restaurants per capita, amount of television watching, along with federal statistics on obesity-related illnesses and injuries.

Magazine editor Neal Boulton told the AP that the list is published each year "to motivate folks to look at the simple things in their lives they can do to be healthy."

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Fertility Treatments May Slightly Increase Risk of Birth Defects

Babies conceived through fertility treatments have higher rates of birth defects than naturally-conceived infants, concludes a large Canadian study. But the researchers emphasized that the increased risk is so small that couples should not stop using fertility treatments.

The overall risk of birth defects in babies conceived using the treatments is less than 3 percent, compared to just under 2 percent for babies conceived naturally, the University of Ottawa study found.

The more complex the reproductive technology, the greater the risk, the Associated Press reported. For example, in vitro fertilization (IVF) was associated with the highest risk, while the lowest risk was seen in women given medications to prompt their ovaries to produce more eggs.

The study looked at more than 61,000 births in the province of Ontario, making it the largest study of its kind ever done in North America.

The findings were to be presented Friday at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in San Francisco.

Experts said that couples who use fertility treatments and want to lower the risk of birth defects should have only one or two embryos implanted at a time, the AP reported. Compared to fertility treatments themselves, multiple births pose a far greater risk of birth defects.

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Brain Scan Able to Predict a Person's Actions

A team of international scientists say they've developed a brain scan that can "read minds," BBC News reported.

The British, German and Japanese researchers said that sophisticated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and computer programs enabled them to predict with 70 percent accuracy what a person is about to do.

The technique was tested on volunteers who were asked to think about doing math addition or subtraction. While they did this, fMRI was used to monitor their brain activity for a few seconds. That data was fed into a computer programmed to recognize certain brain activation patterns associated with specific thoughts, BBC News reported.

Once the computer is "trained," it can use brain activity alone to predict a person's decisions, the researchers said.

The study appears in the journal Current Biology. This kind of technology may have a number of uses, including helping paralyzed people manipulate prosthetic devices and other equipment, the team said.

Health Headlines - February 9

Scientists Reverse Rett Syndrome in Mice

By resorting the function of a gene, U.K. scientists were able to reverse the symptoms of Rett syndrome in mice, says a study published Thursday in Science.

The childhood neurological disease, which primarily affects females, can cause a number of severe symptoms, including loss of speech, abnormal movements, tremors and seizures, along with breathing, chewing and swallowing problems.

In this University of Edinburgh study, researchers fully restored the function of a gene (MECP2) associated with Rett syndrome. This resulted in a reversal of symptoms in mice, even those that were on the verge of death.

The findings suggest that it may be possible to reverse Rett syndrome and related disorders in humans, even in the late stages of the disease, the researchers said in a prepared statement.

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Turkey Reports New Bird Flu Outbreak

Bird flu has reappeared in Turkey, and officials are conducting tests to determine if it's the dangerous H5N1 strain, Agence France Presse reported.

The Agriculture Ministry said a 10-kilometer radius quarantine zone has been established around the village of Bogazkoy, where 170 chickens died. The government learned about the deaths on Monday. It's believed the virus was brought into the area by migratory birds.

About 900 chickens, turkeys and ducks in Bogazkoy will be slaughtered, AFP reported.

The last recorded bird flu case in Turkey was March 31, 2006. That marked the end of a major H5N1 outbreak that claimed the lives of four children in the eastern region of the country. More than 2.5 million birds were slaughtered in order to control the outbreak.

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Male Sweat Causes Hormonal Changes in Women

Hey guys, you can toss out the expensive cologne. Your sweat is enough to grab a woman's attention, according to scientists at the University of California, Berkley.

The found that male sweat contains a musky-smelling chemical called androstadienone that can lighten a woman's mood and heighten her sexual arousal. It can also speed up a woman's heart rate, increase her blood pressure, and raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol, the Daily Mail (U.K.) reported.

This is the first evidence that humans -- like moths and butterflies -- give off a scent that has a physical effect on members of the opposite sex.

The study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience.

"Many people argue that human pheromones don't exist, because humans don't exhibit stereotyped behavior. Nonetheless, this male chemical signal .. does cause hormonal as well as physiological and psychological changes in women," study leader Claire Wyart, a post-doctoral fellow, said in a prepared statement.

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First Large-Scale Trial of HIV Vaccine Set to Begin

The world's first large-scale trial of a vaccine to protect against HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- is set to begin in South Africa, BBC News reported.

An international team of researchers will oversee the four-year trial, which will include 3,000 HIV-negative men and women, ages 18 to 35. Researchers hope the study will offer insight into how the vaccine works in heterosexuals and especially its effectiveness in women.

During the trial, some participants will receive the vaccine and others will be given a placebo. All the participants will receive education about safe sex, BBC News reported.

The study was reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and was approved by the South African Medicines Control Council and the South African Department of Agriculture.

Even if this trial provides positive findings about the vaccine, created by the drug company Merck, further studies would have to be conducted before the vaccine could be licensed.

There is no live HIV in the vaccine, which contains copies of three HIV genes. It's hoped that exposure to these genes will prompt the body's immune system to recognize and destroy cells that contain HIV, BBC News reported.

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Canada Confirms Another Case of Mad Cow Disease

Canada said Wednesday that it has confirmed its ninth case of mad cow disease since 2003, CBC News reported.

Officials said a mature bull that died on an Alberta farm last week tested positive for the disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said no part of the animal had entered the human food or animal feed systems.

The agency, which did not reveal the bull's age, is currently searching for animals born within a year of the infected bull that may have been exposed to the same feed source, CBC News reported.

"These animals are removed, destroyed, tested and disposed of in a manner that they do not enter the feed system," said George Luterbach, the agency's senior veterinarian for Western Canada.

The United States closed its borders to Canadian cattle exports in 2003, but re-opened the border to young cattle in July 2005. A proposal to open U.S. borders to older cattle from Canada is under public review until March 12.

Health Headlines - February 8

Japan Has Record High HIV/AIDS cases in 2006

In 2006, Japan registered record high levels of new HIV infections and AIDS patients, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the country's Health Ministry. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

Last year, there were 914 new HIV infections -- an increase of nearly 10 percent from 2005 -- and 390 people developed AIDS, an increase of 6.3 percent from 2005, the Associated Press reported.

The 2006 figures are the highest since the Health Ministry began keeping HIV/AIDS statistics in 1985.

Reasons for the increases were not provided in the report, the AP said. While the number of infections in Japan may be increasing, the increase in the number of reported infections is also due to the fact that more people are getting tested, said Health Ministry official Kozo Akino.

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U.S. Union, Business Leaders Pledge Affordable Health Care for Workers

Union leaders and executives from four major U.S. employers -- AT&T Inc., Intel Corp., Kelly Services Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. -- pledged Wednesday to provide "quality, affordable" health care for millions of employees by 2012.

At a press conference, the business and union leaders, who've formed a coalition called "Better Health Care Together," promised to hold a national summit by the end of May in order to convince other leaders from business, labor, government and non-profit groups to join them, the Associated Press reported.

The leaders said they have four main goals, including universal health coverage for "every person in America" and improving the value that the United States receives for the money it spends on health care.

At the moment, the effort has the support of the Service Employees International Union and the Communications Workers of America. But there is only lukewarm backing from WakeUpWalMart.com, which is funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers, the AP reported.

"If Wal-Mart is truly serious, we challenge the company to provide universal health care to all of its uninsured employees and their families today," Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com, said in a prepared statement.

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Gardasil May Offer Broader Protection Against Cervical Cancer: Merck

There are promising indications that the Gardasil vaccine may offer protection against cervical cancer beyond what is currently claimed, according to drug maker Merck & Co.

Gardasil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June to prevent infection by four strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). Two of the HPV strains targeted by Gardasil cause about 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer, while the other two targeted strains primarily cause genital warts.

Merck says that the vaccine may also offer "cross-protection" against other cancer-causing strains of HPV that aren't specifically targeted by Gardasil, Dow Jones/AP reported.

The drug maker said it's currently studying whether the vaccine is able to prevent precancerous lesions caused by these other HPV strains. Early results from the study have been encouraging, according to a Merck executive.

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Overuse of Topical Anesthetics Can be Deadly: FDA

Application of large amounts of skin-numbing lotions, creams and gels that are widely used in cosmetic and medical procedures can cause dangerous side effects such as irregular heart rhythm and seizures, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said Tuesday that two deaths have been linked to application of large amounts of these topical anesthetics, CBC News reported. Two women, ages 22 and 25, died after using the products on their legs after laser hair removal.

The FDA said the women "wrapped their legs in plastic wrap, as they were instructed, to increase the creams' numbing effect. Both women had seizures, fell into comas, and subsequently died from the toxic effects of the anesthetic drugs."

The agency also said that it's received reports of side effects such as irregular heartbeats and slowing or stopping of breathing in people who've used the topical anesthetics, CBC News reported.

Prescription and over-the-counter topical anesthetics include lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine and prilocaine.

The FDA recommends that patients: use a topical anesthetic approved by the FDA; use a topical anesthetic that contains the lowest amount of anesthetic drugs possible that will relieve pain; ask for instructions from your doctor on how to safely use the topical anesthetic; talk with their doctors about using lower doses of approved topical anesthetics or about alternatives.

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High-Action Video Games Improve Vision

Playing high-action video games for about an hour a day can help improve vision, according to a University of Rochester study in the journal Psychological Science.

People who did this for a month showed a 20 percent improvement in a visual acuity test that required them to identify letters presented in a cluster, United Press International reported. The test was similar to one used by ophthalmologists.

"Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information," said Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences. "After just 30 hours, players showed a substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision, meaning they could see figures like those on an eye chart more clearly, even when the other symbols crowded in."

In this study, one group of participants played a first-person shooting game called Unreal Tournament, while another group played Tetris, which requires about the same level of motor control skills, but is visually less complex, UPI reported.

The Tetris players did not show any improvement in vision, the study found.

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Study Suggests General Anesthetic/Alzheimer's Link

The commonly used general anesthetic isoflurane may cause brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, suggests a Massachusetts General Hospital study in the Journal of Neuroscience.

In laboratory tests on brain cells, the researchers found that isoflurane increases the activity of an enzyme that causes the cells to die and promotes the development of amyloid protein, BBC News reported.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the formation of amyloid-beta protein plaques, which kill brain cells.

"If future studies support these findings, they suggest that caution be used in choosing this anesthetic for elderly patients, who already are at increased risk for Alzheimer's and for postoperative cognitive dysfunction," said research leader Dr. Zhongcong Xie of the Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease.

The team plans to conduct further research to study if these same effects occur in patients.

Some previous studies have suggested an association between general anesthesia and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, BBC News reported. It's also known that a small percentage of patients suffer a form of dementia after surgery.

Health Headlines - February 7

Scientists Identify Hundreds of Bacteria Species on Human Skin

Human skin is crawling with bacteria, say U.S. researchers who identified more than 200 species -- 8 percent of which were previously unknown -- on samples collected from the forearms of six people.

The New York Medical School team used genetic analysis to detect the types of bacteria present on the volunteers' skin, BBC News reported.

An initial analysis detected 182 species of bacteria. Another test was conducted eight to 10 months later to see if there had been any changes. That second analysis revealed 65 more kinds of bacteria.

About half the species were already known to be common skin dwellers, but 8 percent had not been previously described in scientific literature. The researchers also found that about 75 percent of the bacteria species were unique to individuals, which suggests the skin is "highly diversified," BBC News reported.

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

"Over the years maybe about 50 different organisms have been found in human skin but we knew there were more organisms present" that couldn't be detected, study leader Martin Blaser, professor of microbiology, said in a prepared statement.

"We have now gone up five-fold from what's been known before," he said.

Experts say that bacteria plays an important role in keeping skin healthy, BBC News reported.

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Easy-Bake Ovens Recalled Due to Entrapment and Burn Hazards

About 985,000 Easy-Bake Ovens are being recalled because children can get their hands or fingers stuck in the oven and suffer burns, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday.

So far, there have been 29 reports of children getting their hands or fingers caught in the oven's opening, including five reports of burns, said manufacturer Easy-Bake, a division of Hasbro Inc., of Pawtucket, R.I.

The recalled ovens, model number 65805, sold for about $25 at retailers across the United States from May 2006 through February 2007. Easy-Bake ovens sold before May 2006 are not included in the recall.

Parents should immediately take the recalled oven away from children and contact Easy-Bake for a retrofit kit with a consumer warning. Phone Easy-Bake at 1-800-601-8418 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET seven days a week.

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Altering Nerve Activity Halts Diabetes, Hypertension in Mice: Study

By interrupting nerve signals to the liver, U.S. scientists were able to prevent hypertension and diabetes in mice, says a study in the February issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

The scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis surgically removed the vagus nerve, which prevented or reversed hypertension and insulin resistance in mice that were treated with steroids to develop the disorders.

"So at least in mice, we've shown we can prevent the development of diabetes and hypertension by interrupting vagal nerve signaling," senior investigator Dr. Clay F. Semenkovich, a professor of medicine and of cell biology and physiology, said in a prepared statement.

"We don't know whether the same will hold true for humans, but we think somehow altering vagal nerve activity could provide a novel approach for treating these common metabolic disorders," Semenkovich said.

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Spring Pregnancies Carry Highest Risk of Preterm Delivery

Women who conceive in the spring are more likely to have premature infants than women who get pregnant in other seasons, according to a University of Pittsburgh study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in San Francisco.

The researchers analyzed data from 75,399 deliveries and found that the rate of preterm birth (prior to 37 weeks gestation) among women who conceived in the spring was 9.2 percent, compared to 9.1 percent for winter conception, 8.8 percent for fall, and 8.4 percent for summer, CBC News reported.

The study also found women who got pregnant in the summer or fall were 25 percent less likely than women who conceived in winter or spring to deliver their newborns prior to 32 weeks gestation, when complications can be more severe for both the baby and mother.

These seasonal variations may be linked to the immune system, the researchers suggested.

"It could be that becoming pregnant when the immune system is primed by viral and bacterial exposures may be a factor weeks down the road," Dr. Hyagriv Simhan, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, said in a prepared statement.

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Egypt Reports 12th Bird Flu Death

Egypt has reported its 12th confirmed human death caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus. The case brings to 20 the number of known human infections in Egypt, the largest number outside of Asia.

Officials said that 17-year-old Nouri Nadi from Fayyoum was admitted to hospital last week with what was believed to be a case of human flu, BBC News reported. It's believed the girl acquired bird flu through contact with sick and infected birds.

Females account for 11 of the 12 people who've been killed by bird flu in Egypt, where women and girls are often the ones who look after poultry. The bird flu virus has been detected in 19 of Egypt's 26 provinces.

A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization revealed that two of the Egyptian victims were infected by a strain of bird flu virus that was moderately resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Officials said they haven't yet determined if this latest death involved a mutated form of H5N1, BBC News reported.

Since 2003, the virus has killed more than 80 people worldwide. Most human infections have resulted from close contact with infected birds. But experts fear that if the H5N1 mutates into a form that's easily transmitted between humans, it could cause a global pandemic.

Health Headlines - February 6

Gene Increases Risk of Cerebral Palsy

A form of a gene -- apoliprotein E (APOE) -- that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults can also increase the likelihood of cerebral palsy in brain-injured newborns, say researchers at Children's Memorial Research Center in Chicago.

They compared 209 children with cerebral palsy and a matched group of healthy children and found that the E4 allele (form) of APOE was associated with a three-fold increased risk of cerebral palsy. Another allele -- E2 -- was also associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy.

Their study, the first to identify a gene that increases susceptibility to cerebral palsy, appears in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers said their findings may enable early identification of children at risk for poor neuro-development outcomes after they suffer brain injury as newborns. These children could then be targeted for early therapeutic intervention.

Adults who carry the E4 allele of the APOE gene are more likely to develop Alzheimer's and have worse outcomes after stroke and other kinds of brain injuries.

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Conn. Attorney General Investigating New Drink

An investigation into claims that a new drink called Enviga can burn calories has been launched by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Associated Press reported.

Enviga contains caffeine, calcium and a green tea extract (epigallocatechin - EGCG). According to Coke and Nestle, EGCG boosts metabolism and energy use, especially when it's combined with caffeine.

Information on the Enviga Web site claims the drink burns more calories than it contains and can help drinkers maintain an ideal weight.

Blumenthal said Monday that he's giving Coke and Nestle until next week to hand over copies of all scientific studies, clinical trials, tests and papers that prove the claims about the drink's calorie-burning properties, the AP reported.

"Promise of wondrous weight loss must be supported by science, not magic," Blumenthal said.

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Fashion World's Eating-Disorder Rules Don't Go Far Enough: Experts

New guidelines discussed Monday at Fashion Week in New York City don't go far enough to shield runway models from anorexia and bulimia, eating disorders experts say.

Representatives from the fashion industry met early Monday to discuss new guidelines from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), aimed at curbing eating disorders among young models.

The new guidelines do not bar women of a certain weight/height ratio from working the runway -- as some officials in Europe have done -- but instead urge better education on the issue, medical attention for models "identified" as having a problem, and the provision of snacks backstage at shows.

In a statement, Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, said the CFDA guidelines do not go nearly far enough. "We commend the CFDA for its initiative," Grefe said. "However, it seems that the devil not only wears Prada, but also rose-colored glasses." Grefe called the guidelines "baby steps" that won't help most models at risk for eating disorders.

Dr. Eric van Furth, president of the Academy for Eating Disorders, said in a statement that he believes the CFDA should require models to submit to yearly physicals as "an effective solution to monitoring health in the fashion industry."

The furor was touched off in 2006 by the deaths from eating disorders of two young South American models, Luisel Ramos of Uruguay, and Ana Carolina Reston, of Brazil.

Meanwhile, a new study from Norway suggests that obsession over body image can harm young people, Agence France Presse reported. Increasing alcohol and drug abuse and worries about body image are suspected factors behind a 30 percent increase in suicide attempts by teenage girls in that country between 1992 and 2002, according to the study by a government-funded research institute.

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HIV Hides in Testes to Avoid Drugs

HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- is able to hide in men's testes in order to avoid being destroyed by antiretroviral drugs, says a French study in the American Journal of Pathology.

The finding, which may explain why HIV can still be found in the semen of men even after drugs have cleared the virus from their blood, could help in the development of new drugs that target HIV in the testes, BBC News reported.

"Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may achieve undetectable virus levels in the blood, virus replication in the testes may permit continued spread of the virus," wrote the researchers, from Rennes University.

"It has long been known that the testes act as a reservoir for HIV, but this is the first piece of research that really demonstrates exactly why this is the case," a spokesman for Avert, a British HIV and AIDS charity, told BBC News.

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Consumer Confidence Hurt by E. coli Spinach Recall


Americans' confidence in the safety of leafy, green vegetables was hurt by last September's national recall of spinach due to E. coli contamination, according to a survey released Monday by Rutgers University.

Three people died and nearly 200 became ill after eating spinach contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The survey of 1,200 people, done in November, found that nearly nine in 10 respondents said they had heard about the recall. But nearly one in three said they didn't know the recall was over at the time of the survey, the Associated Press reported.

About 20 percent of the respondents who were aware of the recall also stopped eating other bagged produce, while 7 percent threw out fresh produce other than spinach during the recall.

More than half of the respondents who said they ate spinach prior to the recall had not returned to eating spinach by the time of the survey, the AP reported.

U.S. grocery stores have reported declines in sales of spinach and salad mix. The situation has led the U.S. produce industry to request federal oversight to assure consumers that fresh produce is safe.

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Scuba Divers May Benefit From Antioxidants

The antioxidant vitamins C and E may help reduce circulation problems in scuba divers by preventing harm to cells that line blood vessels, avoiding high blood pressure and other conditions, says a European study.

The study included seven divers who did two 30-minute dives, 24 hours apart. Two hours before the second dive, the divers were given doses of vitamins C and E, BBC News reported.

In a second trial eight months later, six of the same divers were given either the antioxidants or a placebo. The researchers concluded that the vitamins prevented endothelial dysfunction, in which cells that line blood vessels stop working properly, BBC New reported.

"Although generally safe, diving may be associated with serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences, which are usually related to decompression sickness," said lead researcher Ante Obad. The study findings raise "the possibility that pre-dive intakes of antioxidant vitamins may prevent some of the negative effects of diving."

Health Headlines - February 5

No Special Labels Planned for Food From Cloned Animals

Don't expect food labels to let you know whether the hamburger meat you're selecting is from a cloned animal.

The Associated Press reports that when the U.S. government approves consumption of food from cloned animals (and approval is expected within the next 12 months), The Food and Drug Administration isn't planning to require any special labeling. Basically, the reasoning is that if the food's safe to eat, its source doesn't need to be identified.

The public comment period on the FDA's preliminary approval lasts until April 2, 2007, after which the FDA will review and assess the comments. "It's not inconceivable that a decision will be made before the end of 2007, but there are no promises at this point," said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, when the agency issued its findings late last year.

There will be at least one way that consumers will be able to make sure that they don't buy cloned products, according to the A.P. The green seal offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foods that are produced organically will mean that the food is not cloned.

Caren Wilcox, who heads the Organic Trade Association, is quoted by the wire service as saying the green USDA seal will also mean the food is not cloned. "Organic animal products will not come from cloned animals," she is quoted as saying.

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Bird Flu Outbreaks Reported on Poultry Farms in England, Japan

Avian flu eruptions among the world's poultry population continue unabated.

Two outbreaks of bird flu during the past two days in countries half a world apart indicate the resiliency of this strain, which scientists continue to monitor in hopes that it doesn't mutate into a type that could be transmitted between humans

More than 2,600 turkeys died on a farm in the Suffolk County region of England, according to United Press International, and health officials confirm that the flu virus was the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Because of the outbreak, U.P.I. reports, another 159,000 will be slaughtered to try and bring it under control.

No human cases of avian flu were reported in England, the wire service said. Worldwide, 270 incidents of humans contracting the disease have been reported, and 164 were fatal, according to the World Health Organization. However, scientists say there has been no evidence that any of the human cases were caused by person-to-person contact.

Meanwhile, a fourth outbreak of bird flu in the past week has occurred in Japan, according to the Associated Press. About two dozen chickens were affected in the same poultry farm area south of Tokyo that has already prompted the destruction of hundreds of thousands of birds.

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Psychological Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks Endures, Study Says

The psychological after-effects of terrorist attacks last longer than one might imagine, a team of London researchers has concluded. And often, many people who should be receiving therapy for post traumatic stress aren't getting it.

BBC News reports that scientists from University College in London reviewed a number of studies about residual effects on the general population after terrorist attacks and concluded that they can last for years and that "victims" don't need to have been from the immediate area of the attack.

The researchers found that up to 13 percent of the general population may suffer widespread emotional repercussions from an urban terrorist attack, such as the 2005 London subway bombings, even if they weren't involved are even in the area.

For those who were there, the lasting effects are much worse, BBC News reports. As many 40 percent are likely to suffer from post tramatic stress, and two years later, the researchers found that at least 20 percent were still experiencing PTSD symptoms.

"One of the biggest challenges is to increase awareness within society to what people's reactions might be, what the natural course is and when and how to get help," the BBC quotes Dr Jonathan Bisson, senior lecturer of psychiatry at Cardiff University, as saying.

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Drug Addiction Medicine May Offer New Crohn's Disease Treatment

Another possible use has been found for naltrexone, a medication already used to relieve symptoms of alcohol and drug addiction and also being tested as an appetite suppressant.

A news release from the Penn State College of Medicine says that a low dose of naltrexone may help relieve symptoms of Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the intestine. Researchers found in a pilot study that 89 percent of the participants showed an improvement -- easing of inflammation -- with naltrexone and therapy, and 67 actually had their Crohn's go into remission.

The findings, published in a early on edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, caused researchers to become hopeful about alternative treatments for Crohn's, which affects about 500,000 Americans. The disease has been typically treated with immune-suppressing steroids or corticosteroids, and this can cause dangerous side effects.

"This is a novel approach to treating a common disease, and it's simple, it's safe, and it costs far less than current standards of treatment," the news release quotes lead research Dr. Jill P. Smith as saying. "We don't yet know the exact mechanisms involved in how it works, but we're working on that, as well."

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Texas 1st State to Mandate That Girls Get Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Texas Governor Rick Perry on Friday signed an executive order making his state the first to require that schoolgirls receive the Gardasil vaccine against cervical cancer.

"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well-being of these individuals, to have those vaccines available," he told the Associated Press.

The vaccine -- which was approved for use by the federal government in June -- has proven highly protective against the most common strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), the cause of most cases of cervical cancers.

Beginning in September of 2008, all Texan girls entering the sixth grade (at about 11-12 years old) will receive the three shots of Gardasil needed to confer immunity, the AP reported.

Issuing an executive order allowed Perry, a Republican, to circumvent potential opposition in the state legislature from conservative groups who have voiced concern that routine HPV vaccination of young girls promotes premarital sex and interferes with parents' rights.

Perry has said, however, that he sees little difference between the cervical cancer vaccine and immunization against diseases such as polio.

The Texas move has gotten the backing of Gardasil's maker, Merck, which the AP says has doubled its lobbying budget in the state. According to the news agency, Merck could realize billions in sales if vaccination with Gardasil, which costs $360 for the three-shot regimen, is made mandatory for girls across the US.

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Bush Wants Major Medicare and Medicaid Spending Cuts

In his budget next week, it's expected that U.S. President George W. Bush will ask for more than $70 billion in spending cuts from Medicare and Medicaid over the next five years.

The proposals, part of the White House plan to balance the budget by 2012, are expected to spark a fight with the Democrat-controlled Congress, The New York Times reported.

"There is a large area for potential compromise and agreement, but with these latest Medicare proposals, the president is just asking for controversy. He still acts as if Republicans were in complete control and Democrats had lost the election," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D., N.Y.), who heads the House Ways and Means Committee.

It's also expected that Bush will propose changes to the Children's Health Insurance Program that could reduce federal payments to states that provide coverage for children with family incomes that are more than twice the poverty level, the Times reported.

In contrast, Democrats want major expansions of the children's health program.

Health Headlines - February 4

Bird Flu Outbreaks Reported on Poultry Farms in England, Japan

Avian flu eruptions among the world's poultry population continue unabated.

Two outbreaks of bird flu during the past two days in countries half a world apart indicate the resiliency of this strain, which scientists continue to monitor in hopes that it doesn't mutate into a type that could be transmitted between humans

More than 2,600 turkeys died on a farm in the Suffolk County region of England, according to United Press International, and health officials confirm that the flu virus was the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza. Because of the outbreak, U.P.I. reports, another 159,000 will be slaughtered to try and bring it under control.

No human cases of avian flu were reported in England, the wire service said. Worldwide, 270 incidents of humans contracting the disease have been reported, and 164 were fatal, according to the World Health Organization. However, scientists say there has been no evidence that any of the human cases were caused by person-to-person contact.

Meanwhile, a fourth outbreak of bird flu in the past week has occurred in Japan, according to the Associated Press. About two dozen chickens were affected in the same poultry farm area south of Tokyo that has already prompted the destruction of hundreds of thousands of birds.

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Drug Addiction Medicine May Offer New Crohn's Disease Treatment

Another possible use has been found for naltrexone, a medication already used to relieve symptoms of alcohol and drug addiction and also being tested as an appetite suppressant.

A news release from the Penn State College of Medicine says that a low dose of naltrexone may help relieve symptoms of Crohn's disease, an inflammation of the intestine. Researchers found in a pilot study that 89 percent of the participants showed an improvement -- easing of inflammation -- with naltrexone and therapy, and 67 actually had their Crohn's go into remission.

The findings, published in a early on edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, caused researchers to become hopeful about alternative treatments for Crohn's, which affects about 500,000 Americans. The disease has been typically treated with immune-suppressing steroids or corticosteroids, and this can cause dangerous side effects.

"This is a novel approach to treating a common disease, and it's simple, it's safe, and it costs far less than current standards of treatment," the news release quotes lead research Dr. Jill P. Smith as saying. "We don't yet know the exact mechanisms involved in how it works, but we're working on that, as well."

-----

Texas 1st State to Mandate That Girls Get Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Texas Governor Rick Perry on Friday signed an executive order making his state the first to require that schoolgirls receive the Gardasil vaccine against cervical cancer.

"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well-being of these individuals, to have those vaccines available," he told the Associated Press.

The vaccine -- which was approved for use by the federal government in June -- has proven highly protective against the most common strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), the cause of most cases of cervical cancers.

Beginning in September of 2008, all Texan girls entering the sixth grade (at about 11-12 years old) will receive the three shots of Gardasil needed to confer immunity, the AP reported.

Issuing an executive order allowed Perry, a Republican, to circumvent potential opposition in the state legislature from conservative groups who have voiced concern that routine HPV vaccination of young girls promotes premarital sex and interferes with parents' rights.

Perry has said, however, that he sees little difference between the cervical cancer vaccine and immunization against diseases such as polio.

The Texas move has gotten the backing of Gardasil's maker, Merck, which the AP says has doubled its lobbying budget in the state. According to the news agency, Merck could realize billions in sales if vaccination with Gardasil, which costs $360 for the three-shot regimen, is made mandatory for girls across the US.

-----

Bush Wants Major Medicare and Medicaid Spending Cuts

In his budget next week, it's expected that U.S. President George W. Bush will ask for more than $70 billion in spending cuts from Medicare and Medicaid over the next five years.

The proposals, part of the White House plan to balance the budget by 2012, are expected to spark a fight with the Democrat-controlled Congress, The New York Times reported.

"There is a large area for potential compromise and agreement, but with these latest Medicare proposals, the president is just asking for controversy. He still acts as if Republicans were in complete control and Democrats had lost the election," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D., N.Y.), who heads the House Ways and Means Committee.

It's also expected that Bush will propose changes to the Children's Health Insurance Program that could reduce federal payments to states that provide coverage for children with family incomes that are more than twice the poverty level, the Times reported.

In contrast, Democrats want major expansions of the children's health program.

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Protein Alterations Prevent Flu Virus From Spreading

Making changes to a protein on the surface of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic prevents the virus from spreading among animals, says a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published Friday in the journal Science.

The scientists said this kind of research may help them better prepare for the next pandemic, CBC News reported.

For the study, the CDC team recreated batches of the 1918 virus and then made two changes to a protein on its surface. The modified virus was then put in the noses of lab ferrets. The infected animals developed flu and died but did not transmit it to uninfected neighboring ferrets.

The alterations made by the CDC scientists to the 1918 flu virus made it similar to the H5N1 bird flu virus, CBC News reported. Currently, H5N1 is not easily transmitted among humans, but experts fear that H5N1 could mutate and cause a pandemic.

"Though we still don't know what changes might be necessary for H5N1 to transmit easily among people, it's likely that changes in more than one virus protein would be required for the H5N1 virus to be transmitted among humans," study lead author Dr. Terrence Tumpey said.

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Fewer U.S. Women Dying of Heart Disease

The number of American women who died from heart disease decreased from one in three in 2003 to one in four in 2004, a drop of nearly 17,000 deaths, the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) said Thursday.

The institute also noted that heart disease deaths in women steadily declined from 2000 to 2004, a type of steady annual decline that had not occurred before. The findings were released to mark National Wear Red Day, part of The Heart Truth program to raise women's awareness about heart disease and encourage them to take action to reduce their risk factors.

"To see such a significant reduction in deaths underscores that the efforts of many individuals and organizations to raise awareness, improve treatment and access, and inspire women to take action are truly saving lives," Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, NHLBI director, said in a prepared statement.

She said significant progress has been made in increasing women's awareness that heart disease is their leading killer. In 2005, 55 percent of women were aware of that fact, compared to 34 percent in 2000, according to survey findings.

"More women are aware that heart disease is their leading killer, and research shows that this heightened awareness is leading them to take action to reduce their risk. They are more likely to step up their physical activity, eat healthier, and lose weight," Nabel said.

Health Headlines - February 3

Texas 1st State to Mandate That Girls Get Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Texas Governor Rick Perry on Friday signed an executive order making his state the first to require that schoolgirls receive the Gardasil vaccine against cervical cancer.

"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well-being of these individuals, to have those vaccines available," he told the Associated Press.

The vaccine -- which was approved for use by the federal government in June -- has proven highly protective against the most common strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), the cause of most cases of cervical cancers.

Beginning in September of 2008, all Texan girls entering the sixth grade (at about 11-12 years old) will receive the three shots of Gardasil needed to confer immunity, the AP reported.

Issuing an executive order allowed Perry, a Republican, to circumvent potential opposition in the state legislature from conservative groups who have voiced concern that routine HPV vaccination of young girls promotes premarital sex and interferes with parents' rights.

Perry has said, however, that he sees little difference between the cervical cancer vaccine and immunization against diseases such as polio.

The Texas move has gotten the backing of Gardasil's maker, Merck, which the AP says has doubled its lobbying budget in the state. According to the news agency, Merck could realize billions in sales if vaccination with Gardasil, which costs $360 for the three-shot regimen, is made mandatory for girls across the US.

-----

Bush Wants Major Medicare and Medicaid Spending Cuts

In his budget next week, it's expected that U.S. President George W. Bush will ask for more than $70 billion in spending cuts from Medicare and Medicaid over the next five years.

The proposals, part of the White House plan to balance the budget by 2012, are expected to spark a fight with the Democrat-controlled Congress, The New York Times reported.

"There is a large area for potential compromise and agreement, but with these latest Medicare proposals, the president is just asking for controversy. He still acts as if Republicans were in complete control and Democrats had lost the election," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D., N.Y.), who heads the House Ways and Means Committee.

It's also expected that Bush will propose changes to the Children's Health Insurance Program that could reduce federal payments to states that provide coverage for children with family incomes that are more than twice the poverty level, the Times reported.

In contrast, Democrats want major expansions of the children's health program.

-----

Protein Alterations Prevent Flu Virus From Spreading

Making changes to a protein on the surface of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic prevents the virus from spreading among animals, says a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published Friday in the journal Science.

The scientists said this kind of research may help them better prepare for the next pandemic, CBC News reported.

For the study, the CDC team recreated batches of the 1918 virus and then made two changes to a protein on its surface. The modified virus was then put in the noses of lab ferrets. The infected animals developed flu and died but did not transmit it to uninfected neighboring ferrets.

The alterations made by the CDC scientists to the 1918 flu virus made it similar to the H5N1 bird flu virus, CBC News reported. Currently, H5N1 is not easily transmitted among humans, but experts fear that H5N1 could mutate and cause a pandemic.

"Though we still don't know what changes might be necessary for H5N1 to transmit easily among people, it's likely that changes in more than one virus protein would be required for the H5N1 virus to be transmitted among humans," study lead author Dr. Terrence Tumpey said.

-----

Fewer U.S. Women Dying of Heart Disease

The number of American women who died from heart disease decreased from one in three in 2003 to one in four in 2004, a drop of nearly 17,000 deaths, the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) said Thursday.

The institute also noted that heart disease deaths in women steadily declined from 2000 to 2004, a type of steady annual decline that had not occurred before. The findings were released to mark National Wear Red Day, part of The Heart Truth program to raise women's awareness about heart disease and encourage them to take action to reduce their risk factors.

"To see such a significant reduction in deaths underscores that the efforts of many individuals and organizations to raise awareness, improve treatment and access, and inspire women to take action are truly saving lives," Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, NHLBI director, said in a prepared statement.

She said significant progress has been made in increasing women's awareness that heart disease is their leading killer. In 2005, 55 percent of women were aware of that fact, compared to 34 percent in 2000, according to survey findings.

"More women are aware that heart disease is their leading killer, and research shows that this heightened awareness is leading them to take action to reduce their risk. They are more likely to step up their physical activity, eat healthier, and lose weight," Nabel said.

-----

Hair Dye-Related Allergies Soaring: Journal

As more people around the world color their hair, the number of people who suffer allergic reactions to hair dye is soaring, warns the British Medical Journal.

The study said the allergic reactions are caused by para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and related compounds in a group of chemicals called aromatic amines, which have been used in hair dyes for more than a century, Agence France Presse reported.

The allergic reactions can cause eczema on the face or around the hairline and, in severe cases, facial swelling and painful bruising.

Citing case reports from a number of countries, the British Medical Journal said the worldwide incidence of PPD allergy is rapidly increasing.

"Cultural and commercial pressures to dye hair and, perhaps, the widespread obsession with the 'culture of youth' are putting people at risk and increasing the burden on health services," the journal noted in it's Feb. 3 issue.

But persuading people to change is difficult.

"It may not be easy to reverse these trends ... as some patients have continued to use such dyes even when advised that they are allergic to them and risk severe reactions," the journal noted.

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Maytag Dishwashers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

Faulty wiring that can cause a fire has prompted the voluntary recall of 2.3 million Maytag and Jenn-Air brand dishwashers, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday.

Maytag has received reports of 135 fires and four injuries linked to the faulty wiring, the Associated Press reported.

The recall covers under-counter or portable plastic tub dishwashers with almond, black, white, bisque, or stainless-steel front covers. The machines were sold at appliance and department stores between July 1997 and June 2001. Prices ranged from $370 to $800.

The CPSC said consumers with these dishwashers should immediately disconnect them from electrical power by disconnecting a fuse or by shutting off a circuit breaker, the AP reported.

To check if your dishwasher is included in the recall, phone Maytag at 1-800-675-0535.