Health Headlines - July 15

Health Tip: Heed These Travel Safety Precautions

Women who travel alone should take certain safety precautions, advises the American Automobile Association.

Here are some pointers:

* Take a doorstop in your luggage and jam it under your closed hotel room door when you retire for the night.
* Avoid ground level hotel rooms. Concierge floors often offer extra security.
* Keep a business card from your hotel in your purse, in case you get lost.
* If you're traveling in segregated areas, such as orthodox religious neighborhoods, take cues from the women around you and try to blend in.
* Don't leave your drink unattended in a restaurant or bar.
* Have phone numbers and know the location of places such as the U.S. embassy and the police.
* When registering, use only your last name and first initial, if possible.

Health Tip: Step on Something Sharp?

If you step on a nail or broken glass, it may not be a good idea to pull out the embedded object, advises St. John Ambulance. This may cause more damage and bleeding.

Instead:

* Place a clean, preferably sterile, dressing around the object.
* Build up paddings around it so it doesn't move.
* Secure the paddings with a narrow bandage.
* Get medical help from a nearby clinic or emergency room.

Panel says 3 asthma drugs should stay on market

Three GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Novartis AG asthma drugs are safe enough to stay on the market amid concerns they raise the risk of severe asthma attacks in rare cases, a U.S. advisory panel unanimously said on Wednesday.

Glaxo's drugs Serevent and Advair already come with "black box" warnings about one study showing Serevent patients had a higher, albeit small, risk of life-threatening asthma attacks and deaths.

Novartis' medicine Foradil, part of the same category of drugs, should carry a similar warning about the study, the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel ruled.

Dual pacemakers no better for people over 70

For people over 70, pacemakers that stimulate only one part of the heart are just as effective as newer and more expensive devices that apply electricity to two of the heart's four chambers, British researchers said.

Group calls for health warnings on soft drinks

A U.S. consumer group on Wednesday called for cigarette-style warnings on soft drinks to alert consumers that too much of the sugary beverages can make people fat and cause other health problems.

Antipsychotics suppress OCD symptoms-study

People suffering with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who do not respond adequately to antidepressant therapy may benefit from the addition of an antipsychotic agent, results of a study hint.

Relaxation treatment helps teens with headaches

Relaxation techniques appear to help teenagers fight off frequent migraines or tension headaches, a study shows.

Male fertility not harmed by phthalates-study

Contrary to earlier reports, everyday exposure to phthalates -- chemical plasticizers used extensively in household products and in certain medical products -- may not have harmful effects on fertility in young men, a new study shows.

Getting a flu shot may reduce your risk of stroke

Getting a flu shot may not only protect you from catching the virus, it may also protect you from suffering a stroke, according to a study in which German doctors found an association between influenza vaccination and a reduced risk of stroke.

Stem cells may protect brain, nervous system -study

Stem cells may protect the brain and nervous system against damage from tumors and conditions such as multiple sclerosis, researchers at Milan's San Raffaele Scientific Institute found.

High BP worsens impact of stroke on brain function

In women who suffer a stroke, high blood pressure before the event predicts greater declines in cognitive function afterward, results of a study suggest.

Balance of 'good' fats may help lower cholesterol

Striking a balance between two healthy forms of dietary fat may be key to lowering blood cholesterol, a small study suggests.

Food Fact:
A touch of cinnamon.

For diabetes control, a dash of cinnamon may have a surprisingly sweet payoff. Researchers have found it may enhance insulin's ability to metabolize glucose. It's estimated that as little as 1/4 tsp. cinnamon may have a positive effect on blood sugar. Cinnamon is also rich in catechins, which are potentially health-protective, although the catechins in cinnamon are not as well studied as those found in tea. If your cinnamon has been sitting on the shelf for more than a year, toss it out. As with most spices, its flavor goes flat with time.

Fitness Tip of the day:
The 100-yard sale.

The gym isn't the only place to burn calories; you can find lots of ways to get in shape at the mall, if you know where to look. Start by parking an extra 100 yards away and walking to the mall entrance. Take a few laps around the shopping center when you go window shopping. Bring some friends; you'll have so much fun, you may not even realize how much of a workout you're all getting.

FAQ of the day:
Is tofu a good source of calcium?

Many kinds of tofu are excellent sources of calcium, but not all. If tofu is processed with calcium sulfate -- as most are -- it will have about 260mg of calcium per cup. This calcium is as absorbable by the body as the calcium in milk. But tofu processed with nigiri will have little calcium. Similarly, calcium-fortified soy milk contains 300mg of calcium, the same as a cup of milk, but not all soy milks are fortified. Read the label to be sure.

Health Headlines - July 14

Celebrex Lung Cancer Trial Resumes

Researchers believe the controversial drug can help prevent malignancy.

Hospitals Show Heart-Failure Treatment Gap

Study finds wide variance on 4 key indicators.

Menopause Symptoms Can Rebound After HRT

Some women may need to seek out alternative remedies, experts say.

Many Elderly Not Aware of Hospice Value

Providing information can enhance end-of-life experience, a new study finds.

Vaccination Tames Hepatitis A Infection

U.S., Israeli studies find inoculating children lowers incidence in entire population.

Many U.S. Newborns Missing Key Tests

Report finds 27 states fall short in screening infants for hidden disorders.

Weight-Loss Surgeries Skyrocketing

Study found number of procedures quadrupled from 1998 to 2002.

Cell Phone Use Quadruples Car Crash Risk

And it doesn't matter whether drivers use handheld or hands-free models, study finds.

Brain Region May Govern Resilience to Trauma

Study could explain why some people react severely to emotional stress.

Men at Much Higher Eye Injury Risk

Their risk is double that for women, research shows.

Get Fit to Fight Metabolic Syndrome

The condition is a precursor to diabetes, heart disease.

Lorenzo's Oil Lives Up to Its Billing

Treatment effective against genetic disorder called ALD, study finds.

Study Questions Statins' Value Against Alzheimer's

This conflicts with other research that found the drugs were effective.

Dangerous Aortic Ruptures Often Misdiagnosed

One of these events killed actor John Ritter in 2003.

Some Parkinson's Drugs May Trigger Compulsive Gambling

Finding could offer insights into addictive behaviors, researchers say.

NSAID Painkillers May Raise Urinary Retention Risk

But experts disagree about the seriousness of the problem.

Diabetes Spurred By Adult Lifestyles

Study casts doubt on 'fetal-environment' theory.

Curry Spice Shuts Down Melanoma

In the lab, high doses of curcumin killed melanoma tumor cells.

Genes Take Some Blame for Poor Cholesterol

Twins study finds similar responses from high-fat diets.

Newborns' Stroke Risk as High as Elderly's

Many of these disabling events go unnoticed, however.

Food Fact:
Broccoli vs. cancer.

The veggie's green pigment makes it a potent disease-fighter. Substances called isothiocyanates, found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, stimulate our bodies to break down potential carcinogens. Plus, ounce for ounce, broccoli contains as much calcium as milk. Vegetables in the crucifer family range widely in color, shape and flavor, from squat purple turnips to lanky, leafy nappa cabbage. Most crucifers are strong-flavored and require an assertive seasoning to bring out their best.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Meltdown meditation.

Everything's coming at you at once. Don't explode -- try a little yoga trick that can calm you down in an instant. Place one hand on your belly and breathe deep; exhale slowly. Relax your shoulders. As you breathe, gently push your belly out so your hand rises as you inhale and falls as you exhale.

FAQ of the day:
Will carbs make me fat?

It certainly hasn't worked that way for traditional Asian societies, where carbohydrates can make up as much as 80% of the diet and obesity is rare. Excess calories from any source will lead to weight gain. As for carbohydrates, the key for weight control is to limit consumption of refined grains and sugars, which pack a lot of calories in a portion, and emphasize whole grains rich in fiber, and whole fruits and vegetables, which are very low in calories.

Health Headlines - July 13

Study: What's Good Often Turns Out Bad

Here's some medical news you can trust: A new study confirms that what doctors once said was good for you often turns out to be bad - or at least not as great as initially thought.

Ill. Plans $10M for Stem Cell Research

Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued an order Tuesday that earmarks $10 million in state money for stem cell research, making Illinois the latest in a line of states to fund the controversial research.

Study: Walking on Cobblestones Is Healthy

The path to better health and lower blood pressure may be paved with cobblestones. When people over 60 walked on smooth, rounded cobblestones for just a half-hour a day over four months, they significantly lowered their blood pressure and improved their balance, a study showed.

Cos. to Pay Nearly $1M in Ephedra Case

The makers of a weight-loss product implicated in the death of a Baltimore Orioles pitcher will pay New Jersey nearly $1 million to settle claims that it exaggerated the benefits and understated the risks of some products.

Study Links Parkinson's Drug to Gambling

Joe Neglia was a retired government intelligence worker with Parkinson's disease when he suddenly developed what he calls a gambling habit from hell. After losing thousands of dollars playing slot machines near his California home several times a day for nearly two years, Neglia stumbled across an Internet report linking a popular Parkinson's drug he used with compulsive gambling.

Technology Makes Home Dialysis Possible

When Karen Everts wants to go camping, kidney failure no longer slows her down: She simply rolls the first portable hemodialysis machine out of her kitchen and into her motor home, ready to hook up for two hours each morning.

Brazil Pact on AIDS Drugs Lauded

The agreement between Brazil and a U.S. drug maker that avoided breaking the patent of an important AIDS medicine made everyone a winner, experts said Monday.

Food Fact:
Balanced diet?

Eat more blueberries, and you may be less prone to falls. Researchers at Tufts University fed antioxidant-rich extracts of blueberries, strawberries or spinach to rats for eight months -- and those that received blueberry extracts displayed better balance when walking over small rods. Similarly, the deep blue color of this all-American berry comes from anthocyanin, a powerful plant pigment believed to reduce some of the cognitive problems associated with aging.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Lift your spirits.

Feeling stressed going back to work? No one else will notice this yoga exercise in the elevator -- but it'll keep you from the panic button. Rest your right hand on the elevator wall for balance and stand on your right foot. Cross your left leg over your right shin, but don't let your foot touch the ground. Take a few deep breaths.

FAQ of the day:
Is a "plant-based" diet the same as "vegetarian"?

Nutritionists use the term "plant-based" for a diet that gets most of its calories from plant foods, but may include some animal foods. In some parts of the world, what nutritionists have called plant-based diets will include red meat like beef or pork, but eaten rarely, or in very small amounts. Vegan diets, which include no foods of animal origin, are plant-based by definition. So are lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets, which include dairy foods and eggs, as well as diets that include fish, shellfish and poultry. Population studies have demonstrated a significant link between plant-based foods (whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, soy) and a reduced risk of developing cancer and coronary heart disease.

Health Headlines - July 12

Spain to allow therapeutic cloning, minister says

Spain plans to introduce legislation allowing therapeutic cloning, its Health Minister said on Monday, a decision likely to bring a new clash between the governing Socialists and the Roman Catholic church.

More fast food means more calories, fat, salt

Girls who frequently eat fast food also consume significantly more fat, calories and sodium overall than girls who order fast food less often, study findings show.

Diabetes ups incontinence risk for older women

More than half of postmenopausal women have had a recent episode of urinary incontinence, according to new research, and the severity of symptoms increases with a history of diabetes.

Heart failure major burden on U.S. health

Findings from a study conducted in Worcester, Massachusetts, confirm that heart failure is an important cause of death and disability.

Targeted exercise may prevent hip fractures

Exercise that targets a weak region of the hipbone may help prevent fractures, but simple walking will not, new research indicates.

If one antidepressant doesn't work, try another

Not everyone with depression will respond to a particular antidepressant medication, but there's a good chance that a second or third choice will be effective, researchers have found.

Chronic anger, hostility may make you sick

People who are hostile or angry for longer periods of time are more at risk of health problems, according to a review of recent literature on anger and health.

Shedding a pound may ease stress on arthritic knees

For overweight people hobbled by knee arthritis, losing even one pound can diminish the stress the knees take with every step, a new study shows.

Surgery helps avoid amputations in diabetics

People with diabetes face a high risk of having to have a foot or lower leg amputated, but timely surgery may prevent this. When bone inflammation -- osteomyelitis -- occurs in the foot and toes, surgery to remove dead areas and to restore circulation can spare more extensive amputations, according to a new report.

Child's birthweight tied to parents' heart risks

A new study has found that the parents of children born at a lower weight may have an increased risk of dying from heart disease or stroke -- suggesting that common genetic factors may underlie both birthweight and cardiovascular disease.

Food Fact:
Go bananas.

Smart bakers have a bunch of tricks for cutting fat using this versatile fruit. Mash very ripe bananas into a puree, and you can use it to replace half to 3/4 of the fat in your favorite muffin or quick bread recipe. As if that alone wasn't enough of a heart-healthy improvement, bananas are chock full of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Just be aware they're a little high in calories and sugar compared to most other fruits -- a medium-sized banana has about 110 calories, a "super-sized" one may have twice that.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Shop 'til you drop...pounds.

When you walk around the mall, you'll get more than you bargained for: A leg up on fitness. Mall walking is a perfect way to make exercise feel less like a chore and more a part of daily life. Shopping centers are heated in winter, air-conditioned in summer, safe, well lit, and free of snapping dogs and pollen. Not only will you burn calories and tone your legs, if you maintain good posture when you walk, you'll give your abs a workout. Keep yourself straight up while holding in your ab muscles; every step becomes a mini sit-up. Most of us lean forward when we walk, but we can catch ourselves easily at the mall: Just check your posture in your reflection in the windows.

FAQ of the day:
Is grilling safe?

Grilling, broiling and barbecuing creates compounds in meat that may increase risk of cancers of the stomach, colon and rectum. Some stem from burning fat, while others are inside highly heated meat. Char-broiled foods are the worst offenders. You can substantially reduce the levels of these potential carcinogens by marinating the meat beforehand, and then cooking it on a cooler part of the grill. If any meat gets charred, scrape it off before serving. This advice also applies to chicken and fish.

Health Headlines - July 11

Universal Health Care Push Being Revived

A push for universal health coverage is being rekindled in some states by the soaring cost of health care and the lack of political support in Washington for federal changes.

Fake Research Allegations Reach New Highs

On the night of his 12th wedding anniversary, Dr. Andrew Friedman was terrified. This brilliant surgeon and researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School feared that he was about to lose everything - his career, his family, the life he'd built - because his boss was coming closer and closer to the truth: For the past three years, Friedman had been faking - actually making up - data in some of the respected, peer-reviewed studies he had published in top medical journals.

Alzheimer's Educators Reach New Audiences

At first blush, a breakfast meeting for clergy, a party in a beer garden for young people and a project by schoolchildren to sell paper forget-me-not flowers have little in common. But these recent efforts in the St. Louis area are, in fact, linked by the desire to better educate new populations about Alzheimer's disease, the progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason and communicate.

California Suspends Medical Marijuana IDs

California health officials suspended a program that had begun providing patients who smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons with state-issued identification cards because of concern about a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Child Insurance Program May Face Crunch

A government program that provides health insurance for poor children could run into money problems in several states over the next two years unless Congress acts.

Cows From Infected Herd Pass Mad Cow Tests

Twenty-nine cows tested negative for mad cow disease after they were culled from the same herd where an infected cow had been found, the Agriculture Department said Saturday. Tests of another 38 cows from the herd are pending, officials said.

Summary Box: Trying Again on Health Care

FEELING BLUE: Health care costs are rising, and 45 million Americans have no insurance.

N.H. Sees Spike in Hepatitis a Infections

A spike in hepatitis A infections has become an outbreak after efforts to vaccinate at-risk populations earlier this year failed to control the spread of the virus, state health officials said Thursday.

Food Fact:
Guac shock.

Think avocados are too lush and buttery to be good for you? Think again. Yes, avocados are high in fat, but it's the heart-healthy kind. Even "good" fat is highly caloric, so you have to keep portions under control, but in moderation as part of a diet low in saturated fat, avocados can help reduce bad cholesterol. To determine ripeness, press gently on the avocado's skin. If the flesh yields slightly, the avocado is ready to eat that day. Store avocados at room temperature, never in the refrigerator.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Highway to health.

Wellness doesn't have to be expensive -- walking is an economical first step. It's easy, too. What better way to make exercise feel less like a chore and more a part of daily life? Some of the benefits of daily walks include reducing your risk of developing high blood pressure, lowering existing high blood pressure, lowering your risk of developing colon cancer, and reducing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

FAQ of the day:
What exactly is considered "red" meat?

Contrary to what some advertisements may dub "the other white meat," scientists define red meat as the meat from land mammals such as cattle, pigs and lamb. That means beef, lamb and, yes, pork.

All Eyes on Summer Sun Safety

After slathering on the sunscreen, summer-lovin' Americans should take steps to protect their eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, say experts at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can damage eyes and lead to vision loss, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

July is UV Safety Month, so the American Academy of Ophthalmology is offering these tips on protecting vulnerable eyes from the sun:

* Buy right. Purchase sunglasses that block UV rays. That doesn't mean buying expensive sunglasses or especially dark ones, the experts note, since UV-blocking power isn't dependent on either price or lens darkness.

* Go side-to-side. Ideally, sunglasses should wrap all the way around the temples to help prevent the sun's rays from entering from the sides.

* Top it off. In addition to sunglasses, broad-rimmed hats are key to shielding sensitive eyes, and should be worn even on cloudy days. The sun's UV rays can pass through thin clouds and haze, experts say.

* Build on contacts. The experts remind contact lens wearers that sunglasses are always a must, even for those wearing contacts with built-in UV protection.

* Beware the glare. It's especially important to wear sunglasses in early afternoon and at higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.

Health Headlines - July 10

U.S. Court Upholds Ruling Against 'Partial Birth' Abortion Ban

A federal appeals court in St. Louis on Friday upheld a lower court's ruling that the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is unconstitutional, the Associated Press reported.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a Nebraska district judge's earlier ruling that the law was invalid because it made no exception for the mother's health. Similar rulings were issued in separate cases by federal judges in New York and San Francisco.

In 2003, President Bush signed the law banning intact dilation and extraction, a later-term procedure that opponents refer to as "partial birth" abortion. But the law was never enforced due to a number of legal challenges.

Many legal experts think appeals over the partial birth ban eventually will reach the U.S. Supreme Court, the AP said.

Cheney Gets Good News From Pacemaker Exam

Vice President Dick Cheney got good news after Friday's routine inspection of the high-tech pacemaker that was implanted in 2001, the Associated Press reported. The device showed no irregular heartbeat and has never been activated, a spokeswoman said.

Cheney's appointment at George Washington University Medical Center included a physical exam, an electrocardiogram, and a stress test, the spokeswoman said. The pacemaker is designed to activate automatically if a person's heartbeat needs to be shocked back into a regular rhythm.

Cheney has had four heart attacks, though none as vice president. The heart device, called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, also was working fine when last inspected in May 2004, the wire service said.

Cheney is scheduled to undergo a colonoscopy later this month, his spokeswoman said.

Johns Hopkins Retains Top Hospital Ranking

For the 15th straight year, Johns Hopkins University Hospital has retained its spot atop U.S. News and World Report's ranking of the nation's best hospitals.

To make the magazine's 2005 honor roll, hospitals had to rank at or near the top in no fewer than six specialties. The rankings were compiled from votes by board-certified physicians randomly selected from a list of some 811,000 U.S. doctors provided by the American Medical Association.

Here are the magazine's top 10 hospitals for 2005:

Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
Cleveland Clinic
ULCA Medical Center, Los Angeles
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis
New York Presbyterian, New York City
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

Screening Program to Gauge Health Effects of Teflon Chemical

A screening program will be launched to check tens of thousands of people in West Virginia and Ohio to determine if their health has been harmed by drinking water containing the chemical ammonium perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), which is used to make Teflon.

The tests will begin this month for people who get their drinking water from public or private water supplies where concentrations of PFOA have been found, the Associated Press reported.

Those water supplies are near DuPont Co.'s Washington Works plant, along the Ohio River near Parkersburg, W. Va. About 80,000 people live in the area. Officials are hoping that at least 60,000 people take part in the screening, which is being paid for by DuPont as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement.

Teflon, a nonstick substance used in a wide variety of products including cookware and clothing, is one of DuPont's most popular products.

Residents who take part in the screening will receive $150 to answer a health questionnaire and an additional $250 if they provide a blood sample, the AP reported.

A federal scientific review board has said the chemical is "likely" to be carcinogenic to humans, but DuPont officials have disputed the draft report. The board has agreed to revise the draft to include opposing viewpoints before submitting it to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by July 20, according to the news service.

Critics Pan Price of New Heart-Failure Drug for Blacks

The pricing system for a new heart-failure drug for black Americans is generating controversy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved BiDil as the first drug intended specifically for blacks. NitroMed, the company that makes Bidil, says it will sell the drug for $1.80 a pill, a price much higher than analysts had expected and nearly double the cost of other heart-failure drugs, The New York Times reported Friday.

Depending on the dosage required by individual patients, that means that BiDil treatment could cost from $5.40 to $10.80 a day. It's estimated that about 750,000 black Americans suffer from heart failure, the newspaper said.

NitroMed has established a program to help make BiDil affordable to the estimated 75,000 black heart-failure patients with no prescription drug coverage. Patients without drug coverage will be able to get BiDil for $25 a month and poor patients without drug coverage will get the drug free, the Times reported.

Some experts say NitroMed is charging too much for BiDil.

"I'm disappointed in the decision to price BiDil beyond the financial means of many patients who might benefit," Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen, who led an FDA advisory panel that approved the drug, told the Times.

Prescription Drug Abuse in U.S. an Epidemic: Report

The abuse of prescription drugs in the United States is an epidemic and teens are the fastest growing group of new prescription drug abusers, says a report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The three-year study found that 15.1 million people -- including 2.3 million teens -- abuse prescription drugs, more than the combined number of people who abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants, the Washington Post reported.

Many teens arrange parties where they swap prescription drugs that they've taken from home or bought off the street or over the Internet, the report said.

"Availability is the mother of abuse. When I was young my parents would lock their liquor cabinet. It may be parents should be thinking of locking their medicine cabinets," said Joseph Califano Jr., chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Despite the large number of people abusing prescription drugs, the issue hasn't attracted sufficient attention from physicians, pharmacists, parents or health and law-enforcement agencies, the report said.

Food Fact:
Asparagus tips.

Spear 25 on your fork to barely reach 100 calories? That's not all... This true dieter's delight is plentiful and inexpensive in spring. Asparagus is a great source of folic acid, and a good source of vitamins A and C. When buying asparagus, choose firm, bright green spears with tight tips. Wrap in plastic and store for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. If stems are thick, peel the outermost layer with a vegetable peeler. Steam or boil until just tender, about 3 minutes. Resist butter sauces or oil-rich vinaigrettes, which ruin the nutritional profile.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Happy trails!

Daily walks relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, and increase feelings of enthusiasm and optimism. And that's not all. Daily walks also can help you boost your energy level, enhance your self-image, release tension, manage stress, and improve your ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well.

FAQ of the day:
How much red meat is too much?

If you choose to include red meat in your diet, you can greatly reduce your risk of chronic disease by limiting how much and how often you eat it. In population studies, individuals who say that they eat red meat "less than once a week" are generally at significantly lower risk of heart disease and cancer than people who eat red meat several times a week. A good goal: No more than once a month. You don't have to reach this goal overnight; work your way down to once a week, then once every two weeks, then once a month. Take it one day at a time; try fish, chicken, beans or soy tonight!

Health Headlines - July 9

Canadian Experts Recommend Vioxx Return

A panel of experts advising Health Canada is recommending that the agency allow the controversial painkiller Vioxx back onto the market, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Panel members voted 12-1 that Vioxx's benefits outweighed users' increased risks of cardiovascular problems, the wire service said. Merck & Co. withdrew Vioxx from world markets last September after studies revealed the drug doubled patients' risks of heart attack and stroke.

A Merck spokesman said the company hadn't decided whether to reintroduce the drug in Canada, but that talks with Health Canada were ongoing. Similar discussions are being held with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the spokesman said.

The Canadian experts also recommended that the Pfizer painkiller Celebrex continue to be sold, the AP said. But the panel gave thumbs down to the return of a third drug in the same class, Pfizer's Bextra. All three are Cox-2 inhibitors, which the panel said have similar risks to older painkillers in a class known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).

Ibuprofen, sold under the brand names Advil and Motrin, is a well-known NSAID. The Canadian panel surprised some observers, the AP said, when it recommended Thursday that ibuprofen be kept behind pharmacy counters and sold with more stringent warnings about risks of cardiovascular disease. Health Canada must now decide whether to accept the recommendations, the wire service said.

SARS Vaccine Trials Going Well, China Says

Initial human trials in China of a SARS vaccine have gone well and testing is proceeding to a larger second phase, China's Xinhua news agency reported Thursday.

The initial phase, begun in May 2004, involved 36 people in Beijing, all of whom have now developed antibodies against the disease without serious side effects, Xinhua said. More than 300 volunteers will take part in the second phase, although the Chinese government agency that's administering the trials didn't provide specific dates or locations, the wire service said.

The vaccine was produced by Beijing's Sinovac Biotech Co. in 2004, Xinhua said.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first reported in China in February 2003 and soon spread to more than two dozen countries in Asia, Europe, North America and South America before the outbreak was contained. According to the World Health Organization, 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS, and 774 died. Since that time, there has not been another outbreak.

Maker of Recalled Defibrillators Faces Tough Times: Report

Guidant Corp., which has recalled tens of thousands of faulty defibrillators that are supposed to jump-start failing hearts, is falling on tough times.

Securities fraud lawsuits filed this month and in June allege that six Guidant executives sold more than a half-million shares of stock while knowing about then-undisclosed flaws in thousands of the implantable devices, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced July 1 that defects in 42,000 defibrillators could be deadly, and thousands more may be prone to less serious component failures.

Analysts interviewed by the wire service were divided on the projected impact of the lawsuits, but said the legal actions weren't likely to derail a pending $24.5 billion acquisition offer from New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson. Guidant is located in Indianapolis.

Limited Doctor, Pharmacist Training Linked to Rx Drug Abuse

Limited training for doctors and pharmacists in prescribing drugs may be a factor in the rapid growth of prescription drug abuse in the United States, suggests a new study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The study of 979 physicians and 1,030 pharmacists found that 40 percent of doctors said they received no training in medical school on prescribing controlled substances. It also found that 75 percent received no training in identifying diversion of prescription drugs for illicit purposes, and more than 50 percent received no training in identifying prescription drug abuse or addiction, the Associated Press reported.

Among pharmacists, 40 percent said they'd received no instruction since they were in pharmacy school in dispensing prescription drugs and almost 50 percent said they'd received no instruction since pharmacy school in identifying diversion of prescription drugs for illicit purposes or in identifying prescription drug abuse.

Prescription drug abuse in the United States has increased dramatically over the past decade, especially among teens, the study said. It noted that people can easily get prescription drugs from doctors, relative, friends and via the Internet.

U.S. Drug Makers Spend Big Money on Politics: Report

The U.S. pharmaceutical industry has spent more than $800 million on lobbyists and political campaigns since 1998, says a report released Wednesday by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan political watchdog group.

The report said that over the past year, the drug industry hired nearly almost 1,300 lobbyists, including hundreds of people who formerly worked for regulatory agencies or congressional committees and dozens of former lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.

"It is astonishing to learn that no other interest has spent more money to sway public policy in this time period," said Roberta Baskin, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity.

In 2003, the drug industry spent about $116 million on lobbying and political campaigns. That's the same year Congress approved a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare, the report noted.

Ken Johnson, senior vice president for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade group representing drug makers, labeled the report biased and one-sided, the AP reported.

Canadians Getting Fatter Too: Study

Americans aren't the only ones losing the battle of the bulge: New research says two out of three Canadian adults and one of every three children are overweight or obese.

The Statistics Canada research found that the number of overweight and obese Canadians has increased from 48 percent to 59 percent over the past 25 years. That means that nearly 15 million Canadians are now overweight or obese, The Globe and Mail reported.

The rate of obesity among Canadian adolescents has tripled, from three percent to nine percent. There's a direct correlation between the likelihood of teens being obese and the amount of time they spend watching television or playing video games, Statistics Canada said.

One surprise finding was that seniors over age 75 are Canada's most overweight citizens. In that age group, one in four people are obese.

The findings were published in the journal Health Reports.

Food Fact:
Baker's treat.

Is the secret to delicious low-fat treats already be in your pantry? When used in baking, applesauce helps lower the overall fat content of some of your favorite muffins, bars, quick breads and cakes. When you're adapting a high-fat recipe to low-fat healthfulness, start by replacing two-thirds of the original's butter or margarine with unsweetened applesauce. Like fat, a fruit puree such as applesauce coats the starchy flour particles in baking. Without this step, gluten forms when the flour is moistened and stirred, making the end result tough.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Walking tall.

Walking even just a few minutes every day can help regulate high blood pressure. According to the Surgeon General and the American Heart Association, adopting a routine of daily physical activity can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure, or help you lower it if it's already too high. Walking also significantly reduces your risk of dying from coronary artery disease or a heart attack (exercise has as much effect as quitting smoking), and makes your heart stronger and more efficient, so that it pumps more blood with each contraction.

FAQ of the day:
Can I eat red meat and still be healthy?

For most of us, being healthy does not mean you can never, ever take a bite of red meat, but there are a number of studies that suggest it makes sense to eat it less frequently. To take one example of the kinds of studies pointing in this direction, among Seventh Day Adventists, a religious group with a high percentage of vegetarians, men who ate beef at least three times a week were twice as likely to die of heart disease than men who did not. Red meat is very high in artery-clogging saturated fat; moderation and a balanced diet is a solid step toward good health.

Health Headlines - July 8

Women Fear Breast Cancer, Heart Disease Most: Survey

Breast cancer remains the most-feared disease among American women, but the fear of heart disease is rising fast, a new survey finds.

Of more than 1,000 adult women in the United States surveyed in 2003, 22.1 percent said they most feared breast cancer -- a number virtually unchanged from the prior year's survey sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research.

The fear among women of heart disease, on the other hand, rose to 9.7 percent in 2003 from 5.3 percent in the year-earlier poll, the society said. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, killing 500,000 every year, the group said in a statement.

Some 9.3 percent of women said they most feared HIV and AIDS, down from 11.3 percent in 2002. Fear of AIDS was highest among black women and women under age 35, the society said.

Report Cites Reaction to New Anti-Epilepsy Drug

A drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat epileptic seizures may be linked to a serious neurological complication if stopped abruptly, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) report in this month's Annals of Neurology.

They describe the case of an 80-year-old women enrolled in a clinical trial of Pfizer's Lyrica (pregabalin), who abruptly discontinued the medication after taking it for nearly a year and went on to develop neurological symptoms including headache, confusion and hallucinations. A statement by the Boston hospital says the study's authors suggest that all patients stopping antiepileptic drugs do so gradually to avoid similar problems.

Patients with epilepsy traditionally have been warned against suddenly stopping antiseizure medications, the statement says. And recently people have begun taking these drugs for other reasons, including the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia, a painful condition that lingers after a bout with shingles. The woman at the center of the MGH report was enrolled in a clinical study of Lyrica to treat post-herpetic neuralgia.

MRI scans of her brain taken three weeks after the onset of symptoms showed an area of fluid buildup on her brain. Over subsequent weeks, symptoms gradually improved, but the woman feels that she has never fully recovered, the MGH statement said.

Meth is Biggest U.S. Drug Problem, Sheriffs Say

The easily produced street drug methamphetamine ("meth") is the No. 1 drug problem facing local law authorities, a new survey of 500 U.S. sheriff's departments shows.

About 90 percent of survey participants said they had seen an increase in meth-related arrests in their jurisdictions over the past three years, the Associated Press reported. And more than half of those interviewed for the National Association of Counties poll said they considered meth the most serious problem facing their departments.

According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, methamphetamine can easily be manufactured in clandestine laboratories using store-bought materials and is the most prevalent synthetic drug manufactured in the United States. Nonetheless, the agency recently re-stated that marijuana remains the nation's most substantial drug problem, the wire service said. Federal estimates show about 15 million marijuana users, compared with 1 million that might use meth, the AP reported.

In additional to the burden on local law enforcement authorities, arrests on meth-related charges have swamped local agencies that deal with caring for children whose parents have become addicted, the wire service said.

Senate Panel Probes Johnson & Johnson Educational Grants

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee launched an inquiry Tuesday into whether pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson used educational grants to promote the use of its now-withdrawn heartburn drug Propulsid in children.

The investigation will examine whether Johnson & Johnson promoted Propulsid during the 1990s, despite concerns that the drug might be unsafe for some children, The New York Times reported.

Johnson & Johnson withdrew the drug from the market in 2000 following 80 heart-related deaths and 341 injuries among people taking Propulsid, the newspaper said.

The Senate inquiry follows a June 10 story in the Times that said Johnson & Johnson gave grants to pediatric gastroenterology organizations that favored the use of Propulsid in children and helped fund a doctor's book that recommended the use of the drug in children.

The Senate committee sent a letter Tuesday to Johnson & Johnson, asking the company to send information and documents about who received the educational grants, as well as the amounts and purpose of the grants. The company was asked to respond by July 28, the Times reported.

Johnson & Johnson spokesman Jeffrey J. Leebaw said Tuesday that the company had not yet seen the letter from the senators and could not comment. But "Johnson & Johnson marketed Propulsid only for its approved indication," he said.

Last year, the company agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle lawsuits that claimed 300 people died and as many as 16,000 were injured from taking the drug, the Times reported.

Acupuncture Not Effective for Fibromyalgia: Study

Acupuncture was no more effective than sham treatments for treating pain in people with fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain in the head and torso, according to a U.S. study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

The 12-week study included 100 fibromyalgia patients. Researchers compared conventional acupuncture to sham treatments -- simulated acupuncture that didn't actually pierce the skin; acupuncture for an unrelated condition; and needle insertion at points in the body that aren't used in acupuncture, the Associated Press reported.

The researchers concluded that using acupuncture in addition to other treatments being employed by fibromyalgia patients provided no more pain relief than the sham treatments.

Researcher Dr. Dedra Buchwald noted that acupuncturists generally customize treatments for each patient and often combine acupuncture with other forms of treatment -- something that can't be done in a clinical trial.

She told the AP that acupuncture "certainly works in acute pain control and it works in some conditions of chronic pain, so I don't think this is to say that acupuncture doesn't work at all."

Eliminating Bird Flu from Asia Could Take 10 Years

It will take up to 10 years to rid Asia of the bird flu virus, which is entrenched in the region, United Nations officials say.

As part of that effort, more than $100 million will be spent over the next three years to improve detection and reporting of bird flu outbreaks, said Joseph Domenech, head of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, CBC News reported.

In Cambodia, a 20-year-old man died and 13 other people from an orphanage were hospitalized with flu-like symptoms after they ate cooked chicken. Blood samples from the patients will be tested for bird flu.

Bird flu appeared in Asia in late 2003. Since then, it has killed 39 people in Vietnam, 12 people in Thailand, and four people in Cambodia.

Food Fact:
Apple insider.

Shake the right tree, and your weight loss plan will be more fruitful. If you have a couple of hours to go until dinner, an apple is a near-perfect snack -- only 80 calories, practically fat-free and it's filling, so you're less likely to go prowling around afterward for more food. If you find Red Delicious's tough skin and bland flesh uninteresting, there are more than 2,000 other North American varieties to explore. And apples do help keep doctors away -- particularly the cardiologist. Apples are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol. They also contain boron, a trace mineral that strengthens bones.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Do the stroll.

The Surgeon General and American Heart Association agree -- you can walk away from serious disease. Each says adopting a routine of daily physical activity will help you achieve this goal and more. For starters, daily walks help control your weight, both by burning additional calories and by increasing the size of your working muscles (which in turn reduces the number of calories converted into body fat). Regular walks also reduce your risk of dying prematurely, significantly reduce your risk of dying from coronary artery disease or a heart attack (exercise has as much effect as quitting smoking), and increase your likelihood of quitting or cutting back on smoking.

FAQ of the day:
Will drinking water make me less hungry?

Water quenches thirst, not hunger. When volunteers in a study at Penn State University drank water with dinner, they consumed just as many calories as when they had nothing to drink. But when they were served water-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, or broth-based soups, they spontaneously consumed fewer calories. So eat a lot of water-rich foods, and drinking water instead of high-calorie soft drinks is always a plus, but don't try to drown out your hunger.

Health Headlines - July 7

Study: Slow Walking May Be Best for Obese

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have good news for walkers: Strolling can help obese adults burn more calories per mile than brisk walking and might even lower the risk of arthritis and injuries to the joints than picking up the pace.

In U.N.'s Bird Flu Fight, Farming a Focus

A team of U.N. experts unveiled a master plan to fight bird flu Wednesday, calling for educating backyard farmers and vaccinating poultry to prevent the disease from becoming a human pandemic.

Acupuncture May Not Help Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture proved no more effective than sham treatments for treating pain from a common chronic condition, according to a new study.

Studies Show Contrast on Aspirin, Cancer

Men who took aspirin over five years slightly lowered their risk for prostate cancer, but women who took low doses over 10 years didn't reduce their risk of cancer, two separate studies indicate.

AP: Review Finds AIDS Agency 'Troubled'

The government's AIDS research agency "is a troubled organization" and its managers have engaged in unnecessary feuding, sexually explicit language and other inappropriate conduct that hampers its global fight against the disease, an internal review found.

Panel: BMI Doesn't Tell Whole Story

A respected medical panel is urging pediatricians not to focus only on height and weight in determining whether a child is too fat.

AIDS Patient's Speech Stirs Asia Summit

After five days of hearing figures and seeing charts about the increasing spread of AIDS in the Asia-Pacific, Maura Elaripe Mea said Tuesday it's time for those living with the disease to rise up and demand what's needed to keep them alive.

Halt to 'Dr. Death' Inquiry Sought

Two hospital administrators said Tuesday they will go to court to halt an inquiry that has heard testimony they failed to act on complaints about a foreign surgeon blamed for the deaths of at least eight patients in a rural hospital.

U.N. Agencies Urge Aid in Bird Flu Fight

Asian countries struggling with bird flu need US$102 million (euro86 million) from international donors as soon as possible to bring the disease under control and stave off the threat of a human pandemic, U.N. officials said.

Food Fact:
Why drink water?

Your body is 60% water -- and not drinking enough can wreak havoc from head to toe. Up to half of all Americans suffer chronic mild dehydration that can cause fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, dry eyes and mouth. As we age, thirst becomes a less sensitive indicator of dehydration, so don't wait until you're thirsty to grab a glass. If you work out, drink more during intense physical activity, when dehydration is a real threat -- your body rapidly loses water through sweat and vapor in exhaled air. A rapid water loss of 5% of body weight can reduce muscular work by 20 - 30%.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Walk it off.

Who needs special training or fancy gear to tone up your body and perk up your frame of mind? All it takes is your own two feet. Research shows that just 20 minutes a day of brisk walking will lower your risk of serious diseases -- that's just four five-minute walks a day! A half-hour a day is even healthier. Walk 45 minutes a day, and watch your waistline shrink.

FAQ of the day:
What is "good" and "bad" cholesterol?

There are two kinds of cholesterol carriers in the blood: HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) and LDLs (low-density lipoproteins). They are also commonly referred to as "good" and "bad" cholesterol -- to remember which is which, think "H" for Healthy and "L" for Lousy. Another tip: Keep the bad LDLs "Low," because their cholesterol ends up in arterial plaques, while you want the good HDLs "High," because they carry cholesterol away from arteries. A desirable level for LDL cholesterol is less than 130 mg/dL. For HDL, a level below 40 mg/dL increases risk, while 60 mg/dL or higher protects against heart disease.

Health Headlines - July 6

Children with High BMI Not Necessarily Fat: Report

Pediatricians shouldn't focus only on height and weight when they assess whether a child is too fat, says a report by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a non-governmental panel of medical researchers.

The report says there's no evidence that all children with a high body mass index (BMI) need to lose weight. It also said there's no evidence that counseling by pediatricians results in weight loss and better health among their patients, the Associated Press reported.

While it can be fairly effective at identifying children with weight problems, BMI doesn't reveal whether body mass is mostly fat or lean tissue, noted task force member Dr. Virginia Moyer, a pediatrics professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

Pediatricians should pay close attention to children who experience rapid weight increases that aren't accompanied by increases in their height, Moyer told the AP.

The report appears in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Merck Seeks to Delay Vioxx Trial

Drug maker Merck & Co. is seeking to postpone the first wrongful death trial over its pain drug Vioxx.

The company says it can't receive a fair trial if the Texas case begins July 11 as scheduled, due to recent publicity about Vioxx. Merck wants to trial delayed for at least 60 days, the Associated Press reported.

The case involves a woman suing Merck over here husband's death in 2001. The woman's lawyer, Mark Lanier, said he'll oppose Merck's attempts to delay the trial.

A hearing on Merck's motion was scheduled for Tuesday. The company said a lawsuit launched last week by the Texas attorney general means that the company could not receive a fair trial in the case scheduled to begin July 11, the AP reported.

Vioxx was taken off the market last September after research showed that patients who took the drug for 18 months or longer had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. More than 2,400 Vioxx lawsuits have been filed in the United States.

Birth Control Better than Abstinence-Only Approach, Experts Say

Birth control and emergency contraception are better for American teens than the abstinence-only approach to sex education promoted by religious groups and the White House, say new recommendations in the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated teen pregnancy policy.

The report, published Tuesday in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics, updates the teen pregnancy policy by omitting the statement that "abstinence counseling is an important role for all pediatricians," the Associated Press reported.

Instead, the new policy says that while doctors should encourage teens to postpone becoming sexual active, the doctors should also do their best to ensure that all teens have access to birth control, including emergency contraception.

"Even though there is great enthusiasm in some circles for abstinence-only interventions, the evidence does not support abstinence-only interventions as the best way to keep young people from unintended pregnancy," Dr. Jonathon Klein, chairman of the committee that wrote the new recommendations, told the AP.

More Research Needed to Help Children With Chronic Pain

Children and teenagers may suffer as much as pain as adults, but there is little scientific data as to how to treat them.

That's the conclusion of a study from the pain management unit at the University of Bath in England. In fact, recent studies have shown that as many as 15 percent of children in the United Kingdom -- about one in 50 -- suffers from headaches, abdominal and musculoskeletal pain. Another two percent have pain so severe that it interrupts their sleep, restricts physical activity and prevents them from attending school, the researchers add.

Yet, with this significant percentage of young people in chronic pain, there isn't enough evidence to guide doctors in providing treatment. "Many parents that we have spoken to were highly distressed by their inability to alleviate their child's pain..." said Christopher Eccleston, Director of the university's Pain Management Unit, in a news release.

The best doctors can do, Eccleston said, was to prescribe medication based on research on adults in pain. "Controlled trials are urgently needed for all conditions of childhood and adolescence that are characterized by chronic or recurrent pain," he concluded.

Internal Review Takes AIDS Agency to Task

An internal review has painted a disturbing picture of the federal government's AIDS research agency, one where internal feuding, sexually explicit language and inappropriate conduct has hampered efforts to fight the disease in this country, the Associated Press reported Sunday.

The report confirms much of what has been alleged by whistle-blower Jonathan Fishbein concerning the agency's research division and its senior managers, the wire service added.

The situation has been "rife for too long," claimed the report, which was obtained by the AP.

Meanwhile, Fishbein was formally fired by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Friday, despite the objections of several members of Congress. He was originally hired in 2003 to improve the safety of AIDS research within the agency.

"Retaliation against an employee for reporting misconduct or voicing concerns is unacceptable, illegal and violates the Whistleblower Protection Act," Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) wrote in a letter to the NIH late last week, according to the AP.

NIH officials refused to comment on either the firing or any Congressional protest, citing personnel privacy.

Food Fact:
Water works.

Water has no calories, vitamins or minerals, but drinking plenty of it it can reduce your risk of disease. Drinking more than six glasses of water each day cuts the risk of developing bladder cancer in half. Some evidence suggests that staying well hydrated cuts the risk of colon and breast cancer, and lessens your chances of developing kidney stones -- even if you've already passed one or more. Women should aim for about nine cups of fluids daily. Men should shoot for 12 cups.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Be a walkie-talkie.

Instead of chewing the fat with co-workers over lunch, discuss office issues while you walk. Next time you find yourself in a meeting, suggest to your boss that you take it outside during a stroll around the block or through the office halls. Just 20 minutes a day of brisk walking will lower your risk of serious diseases -- that's just four five-minute walks a day! A half-hour a day is even healthier. Walk 45 minutes a day, and watch your waistline shrink.

FAQ of the day:
Should I throw out my saltshaker?

If you're concerned about sodium, your saltshaker isn't your biggest concern. For starters, eat fewer processed foods, which tend to be high in salt, and more fruits and vegetables. But typically, rather than limiting sodium, blood pressure control depends more on maintaining a healthy weight and getting enough calcium, potassium (found in all fruits and vegetables) and magnesium (in green vegetables, whole grains and nuts). In the large DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) study, more than 600 volunteers who ate 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, along with three servings of calcium-rich low-fat dairy foods, significantly reduced blood pressure across all age groups and ethnicities.

Health Headlines - July 5

Military Concerned About Troops' Weight

With America at war and in need of a few good men, Jon Schoenherr expected a warm reception when he walked into an Army recruiting office in this Midwestern farm community, intending to enlist. But a sergeant gave the 17-year-old some surprising news.

"He told me I'd have to lose a little bit of weight," said Schoenherr, who dropped 50 pounds to qualify.

Besides terrorists, germ warfare and nuclear weapons, military officials increasingly worry about a different kind of threat - troops too fat to fight.

Papua New Guinea at Risk for AIDS Epidemic

Papua New Guinea is at risk of an African level HIV/AIDS epidemic, while other Asia-Pacific nations like Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar are also worrisome as their infection numbers continue to rise, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Sunday. The epidemic is as vast and diverse as the region itself, with sex and injected drugs its main engines.

AP: Review Finds AIDS Agency 'Troubled'

The government's AIDS research agency "is a troubled organization" and its managers have engaged in unnecessary feuding, sexually explicit language and other inappropriate conduct that hampers its global fight against the disease, an internal review found.

Canadian Cities Battle Over Hospital

Amid the clowns, mini-cars and tasseled fezzes at this year's Shriners convention, a bitter turf battle is being waged over the location of an $85 million children's hospital.

Injured Veterans Use Athletics to Recover

Eight months ago, Ramon Guitard lay in an Army hospital bed, his legs nearly blown off by roadside bombs in Baghdad. He thought his life was as good as over. But not long after, at the urging of his therapists, Guitard watched a doctor demonstrate wheelchair slalom and was intrigued enough to try another activity: hand cycling, a bicycle powered with the arms.

Food Fact:
Buttermilk? Spread the word.

Despite the name, buttermilk is a great secret for low-fat cooks to keep up their sleeves. Buttermilk is either skim or low-fat, and fermented with beneficial bacteria that leaves its characteristic tang. Its acidity helps keep baked goods tender without adding fat, and its creamy texture makes a good base for salad dressings. It's a delicious addition to mashed potatoes and makes a thick, tangy, low-fat soup base. It also makes a fine smoothie: Combine frozen berries, buttermilk and sugar (to taste) in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Beat the clock.

By making physical activity a natural part of your day, you get all the benefits of exercise -- in a fraction of the time. Walk to an appointment. Take the stairs. Scrub the floor or your car. Leading an active life gives you many of the same benefits as structured exercise, and you don't have to "make time" to do it.

FAQ of the day:
Do I have to give up all red meat?

There are ways to make your sauce taste meaty without meat. Try adding extra mushrooms, sauteed eggplant, textured soy protein, ground turkey or chicken, or any combination of them. If meat's a must, buy the leanest ground beef, use about 1/4 your usual amount and try one of the above ingredients to stand in for the rest.

Celebrate Safely!

The day is here when everyone will be situated in a back yard or a park, proudly watching over a grill full of his or her favorite summer foods. Everyone is relaxed, the children can run wild and spill soda pop to their hearts’ content while the adults sip cool drinks, chat, and most importantly, tend to the barbeque. Open flames, bacteria-breeding warm weather, and outdoor dining can present a host of hazards to the unwary picnicker, but we know you’ve been looking forward to summer since last winter began, so we have a few pointers for you to help make your outdoor occasion a subject of good times and happy memories by keeping it safe!

Plan Ahead for a Perfect Party

You can save yourself some heartbreak, or at least some inconvenience, by planning ahead for a few things you'll need to have on hand to make your cookout a breeze. Start by setting up a small table next to the barbeque so that you'll have a place to put plates, hot pads, food, utensils, and an icy beverage for yourself. This avoids disasters like stepping on the plate full of juicy grilled burgers that you set on the ground for just a minute while you jostled with the hamburger buns, and it saves you from having to run inside for a clean plate while your shish kebabs go from beautifully seared to carbonized. In addition, make sure you have long-handled utensils (spatula, tongs, fork) for the barbeque to avoid splatters and burns. You can also avoid the disasters brought on by floppy paper plates by investing in some inexpensive, reusable wicker or plastic plate-holders, or, just spend a little extra money for really sturdy paper plates.

Your meal should go off without a hitch if you make sure that everything else is ready before you put the food on the grill. It's better to put someone else in charge of setting the table, getting the side dishes ready, herding the children, pouring the drinks, etcetera, so you have nothing to concentrate on besides making perfectly grilled food. Grills are hot, and the temperature is difficult to control with much accuracy, so the best way to ensure flawless food is to tend to it constantly.

Beastly Bacteria

Bacteria thrives and multiplies in food between the temperatures of 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F (4 degrees C to 60 degrees C), so make sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and never leave perishable foods out for longer than two hours (this includes preparation time). Also remember that ready-to-eat foods should never be placed on a plate that held raw meat.

The foods that are most prone to cause illness if left unrefrigerated are: raw and cooked meat, poultry, and fish; salads made from starchy ingredients such as pasta, potatoes, and grains; anything containing raw or cooked eggs such as homemade mayonnaise, cream pies, and anything else containing dairy products. If you're serving appetizers and munchies that will likely be sitting out for a while, stick to foods that don't need refrigeration, such as veggie platters, fruit skewers, breads, and chips. If serving sour cream or mayonnaise-based dips, be sure to keep the bowl on a bed of ice and avoid direct sunlight if at all possible. If cooking at the park or some other remote location, bring a cooler full of ice and keep all spoil-able foods cold until they are ready to be cooked or eaten. If possible, use two separate coolers-one for drinks and snacks, which people will be dipping into frequently, and a second one for meat and other dishes that will not be needed until it's time to sit down for the meal.

Health Headlines - July 4

Happy Independence Day!

Drug Makers Reformulate OTC Cold Medicines

Under pressure from law-enforcement agencies and state governments, drug companies have begun reformulating popular cold medicines to prevent criminals from converting them into methamphetamine.

Asia-Pacific AIDS Called 'Silent Tsunami'

The Asia-Pacific faces a "silent tsunami" as HIV/AIDS rates surge in a region home to more than half the world's population, a U.N. official said Saturday.

Guidant Defibrillators Get Highest Warning

A malfunction in some of the Guidant Corp. defibrillators recalled last month could cause serious injury or death, the government said in classifying 20,000 of the devices as the most urgent type of recalls.

U.N. Health Agency: Polio Found in Angola

A case of polio has been found in Angola, the first discovered in the country in four years, the U.N. health agency said Saturday.

AIDS in Asia-Pacific a 'Silent Tsunami'

The Asia-Pacific faces a "silent tsunami" as HIV/AIDS rates surge in a region home to more than half the world's population, a U.N. official said Saturday.

66th Case of Polio Reported in Indonesia

A new case of polio was found in Indonesia's Lampung province, bringing the country's total known number of people suffering from the disease to 66.

Indonesia Aims to Stem Rise in HIV Cases

The tattooed, tired-looking heroin addicts who navigate the capital's congested alleyways to get to this quaint Dutch colonial house every day are not looking for a fix. They come for the free needles and a chance to talk — part of government efforts to stem the rise in HIV cases.

FDA Warns About Antidepressants, Suicide

The Food and Drug Administration issued a second public warning Friday that adults who use antidepressants should be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide, especially when they first start the pills or change a dose.

Bill Would Cover Anti-Anxiety Medications

Lawmakers said Friday they would seek to add to Medicare's prescription drug benefit a category of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures.

Consumer Guide to Adult Multivitamins

Top 5 Multivitamins for Women

Essential Balance (Nature Made)
Maximum One Daily(Spring Valley - Wal-Mart)
One-A-Day Maximum Formula(Bayer)
Sentral-Vite(Kmart)
Spectravite(CVS)

Honorable Mentions for Women

ABC Plus(Puritan's Pride)
Docked For: Vague statement of quality assurance

Centrum(Whitehall-Robins Healthcare)
Docked For: No statement of quality assurance

Multiple Vitamins Plus Minerals(Osco)
Docked For: No vitamin K. If you eat lots of vegetables - especially leafy greens - you don't need extra K, elevating this to a "best bet" for you.

Best Bets for Men: None!

All multivitamins have too much iron for men. Instead, choose one formulated for older Americans. (We'll be rating specific brands of multivitamins for seniors in a future Miavita consumer guide.) Alternatively, if you can find one, buy an inexpensive multivitamin for men without excessive amounts of vitamin A and several of the B vitamins. Such formulas will also avoid a whole laundry list of extraneous ingredients.

Honorable Mention for Men

Kirkland Daily Multivitamin/Mineral Dietary Supplement (Kirkland) Docked For: Excessive vitamin A, though it supplies an acceptable amount of iron at 9 mg.

Our Criteria for Rating Adult Multis

We looked at 16 of the 22 top-selling national brands of adult multivitamins and carefully examined their labels and the actual pills. Some brands sell several multis that vary in potency, so we selected their basic formulas to make fair and meaningful comparisons. The multis that best met our criteria are listed as our Best Bets. Those that came close received an Honorable Mention. There are separate lists for men and women because of their very different needs for iron.

Three Keys for Sizing Up Adult Multivitamins

1. Does the supplement provide both vitamins and minerals?

None of the supplements we saw are perfect, but our Best Bets contain each of the following: Vitamin A, the B vitamin group (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B-6, B-12, folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron (for women), magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.

2. Is it a high quality product?

Check for compliance with U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) quality standards, and an expiration date.

3. Does the multivitamin include all nutrients for which there is a Daily Value (DV)?

Among the supplements we tested, missing nutrients included: Vitamin K, biotin, chromium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and selenium. It should have 50 - 150 percent of the DV for most nutrients, with the following exceptions:

No more than 100 percent DV for vitamin A (excluding beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A as needed; it's not toxic).
At least 10 percent of the DV for calcium and magnesium.
No more than 100 percent of the DV for iron for women, or more than 50 percent of the DV for iron for men.
No more than 15 percent of the DV for phosphorus.
No more than 2 percent of the DV for sodium.
Ignore potassium, chloride and minerals (such as boron, nickel silicon, tin and vanadium) without a DV.

Health Headlines - July 3

FDA Scientist Warned of Viagra-Blindness Link: Report

More than a year before news broke that the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra was possibly linked to a rare form of blindness, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety officer alerted superiors to the possibility, the Washington Post reported Friday.

The unidentified safety officer had been monitoring adverse event reports and told supervisors in April 2004 that doctors and users should be warned of the findings, she reportedly told congressional investigators. But the FDA issued no public warnings or changes to the drug's label until a scientific journal reported last month of the possible link, the newspaper said.

On Monday, Pfizer issued a statement saying it had no evidence in trials involving 13,000 people of a link between Viagra and a form of blindness called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). That followed a report in last month's Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, which examined seven cases where men suffered NAION within 36 hours of taking Viagra, the Post said.

The FDA has said it has 38 reports of NAION among Viagra users and five additional reports among users of other impotence drugs, the newspaper said.

In response to the latest report, Consumer's Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, renewed a call for congressional reform of the FDA's drug monitoring system. "The fact the agency responsible for drug safety knew for a year that Viagra was linked to blindness, but did nothing with that information, is a clear indication that the system is broken," a spokesman said in a prepared statement.

Some Defibrillator Recalls Classified as Most Serious

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has applied its most serious recall rating to two Guidant Corp. defibrillator models that have been found to malfunction.

Guidant, on June 17, announced that its defibrillators had been linked to two deaths in which the devices didn't work properly.

The FDA has given Class 1 recall status to Prizm 2 DR (made before April 16, 2002) and Contak Renewal 1 and 2 defibrillators (made before August 26, 2004), both the FDA and the company announced Friday. A recall in this category involves a malfunctioning device that could cause "serious adverse health consequences or death," the agency said in a statement. The firm's own investigation found these devices can shortcircuit while attempting to deliver an electric shock to the heart. Some 42,000 devices are affected, of which 20,600 are still implanted, the FDA said.

A less severe class 2 recall status was given to a number of other Guidant models, including the Ventak Prizm AVT, Vitality AVT, Renewal AVT, Renewal 3 and 4, Renewal 3 and 4 AVT, and Renewal RF, the FDA said. While faulty products in this category could cause medically reversible problems, the "probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," the agency said. Memory errors and component failures are possible among the more than 60,000 devices in this category that have been produced.

As a precautionary measure, the FDA said, Guidant has recommended that doctors discontinue implanting these devices until further notice. Among patients with devices that have already been installed, the company recommends that they continue to visit their doctors at normal three-month intervals and immediately report any possible sign of malfunction.

Pfizer Halts Efforts on HIV, Asthma Drugs

Pfizer is abandoning development of an experimental drug for the virus that causes AIDS after studies showed the medicine fared no better than existing treatments, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Pfizer said capravirine did not significantly boost the effectiveness of standard triple-drug HIV therapies, the wire service reported. The drugmaker said it would return rights to the experimental medication's Japanese developer.

Separately, Pfizer said it was also discontinuing development efforts with a German drugmaker for an asthma and lung disease drug called Daxas. Pfizer cited unsatisfactory patient recruitment efforts, the AP reported.

Officials to Check Texas Herd for More Mad Cow Disease

Over the next few weeks, agriculture officials will check cattle in the Texas herd that produced the first homegrown case of mad cow disease in the United States. The goal: To pinpoint animals born within a year of the infected cow, as well as offspring born to the infected cow within the past two years.

The survey is being conducted to determine if other cattle in the herd may be infected with mad cow disease, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities said Thursday that the infected 12-year-old beef cow was born, raised and used for breeding on a single ranch and never left the ranch, which has not been identified. Information about the size of the herd has not been released.

It's believed the cow contracted the brain-wasting disease from contaminated feed that contained cow parts. The cow was born about four years before a 1997 ban on the use of cow parts in cattle feed, the AP reported.

Earlier this month, the Texas State Animal Health Commission put a hold on the ranch's cattle after tests indicated a case of mad cow disease in the herd. The infected cow never entered the human food supply, officials said.

Green Tea Doesn't Reduce Risk of Breast or Prostate Cancer: FDA

It's highly unlikely that drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast or prostate cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

An FDA review of claims about green tea and cancer also concluded that existing evidence does not support qualified claims linking drinking green tea and a reduced risk of any other type of cancer.

In a news release, the FDA said: "Two studies do not show that drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer in women, but one weaker, more limited study suggests that drinking green tea may reduce their risk. Based on these studies, FDA concludes that it is highly unlikely that green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer."

A similar statement downplayed green tea's role in preventing or reducing the risk of prostate cancer.

Food Fact:
Cheese it?

High-fat foods can have a place in low-fat cooking -- if you know how to pick your spots. For a true cheese flavor in gratins and pasta dishes, use small amounts of aged cheese, such as extra-sharp cheddar or Reggiano Parmesan. A tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese has only 22 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. The result is far more satisfying than using a larger amount of a bland, low-fat cheese.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Viva variety.

Stuck in an exercise rut? Just because you have a regimen, it doesn't have to be routine. The more different kinds of activity you do, the greater the odds you'll find a way to exercise and not get bored. Switching between exercises may also reduce the risk of injuries from repeated stress on the same parts of the body. And, variety means that regardless of changing seasons, locales, availability of exercise buddies, etc., you're more likely always to find a way to keep exercising.

FAQ of the day:
What can I do to raise my HDL (good) cholesterol?

Your HDL level is largely inherited, but you can push it as high as possible with regular exercise and moderate alcohol consumption. Alcohol's effect on HDL levels explains why many health studies have reported that moderate drinkers live longer and have significantly less heart disease than non-drinkers. Of course, the protective effects are lost with heavy drinking, which worsens blood fats and damages the liver and other organs. A third way to maximize HDL is to make sure most of the fat in your diet is monounsaturated. A diet high in polyunsaturated fats or carbohydrates tends to lower HDLs.

Health Headlines - July 2

'Mad Cow' Animal Raised in Texas: USDA

The second-ever case of mad cow disease in the United States involves a cow that was born and raised in Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed.

USDA officials refused to identify the animal's owner or specify where the animal was reared, but the Houston Chronicle reported that the animal was first identified as a potential case of the brain-wasting disease at Champion Pet Foods, the dog food company based in Waco.

The cow was already dead when it arrived at the plant on Nov. 15, so no part of it was used to make dog food, Champion President Benjy Bauer said in a prepared statement.

"We followed our normal daily procedures and sent a sample from this cow to the USDA-approved laboratory at Texas A&M [University]," Bauer said, according to the Chronicle report.

After the first test on the animal came back "inconclusive" for the disease formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, USDA representatives took the carcass to the Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at A&M, where it was incinerated.

USDA officials believe the animal was born 12 years ago, four years before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration imposed a ban on feeding livestock food containing mammalian protein.

Experts Recommend Flu Shots for Health Care Workers

All health care workers in the United States should be vaccinated annually for influenza, two federal advisory committees recommended Thursday.

While annual immunization for health care workers against flu has been advised for years, the rates have hovered at a dismal 36 percent to 38 percent, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) said in a statement lauding the decisions by experts advising the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The non-profit foundation said more health workers haven't obtained the annual vaccine due to a lack of access, a misperception that flu isn't a serious illness, and a low awareness about the possibility of spreading the disease to patients. Flu causes an average of 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States, NFID said.

The foundation also applauded the experts' decision to recommend a booster shot against whooping cough (pertussis) for young adolescents. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the booster is necessary even for children who already have been vaccinated for whooping cough, since the old vaccine is likely to be ineffective by the time they turn 11. Doing so would prevent tens of thousands of cases of the disease, the agency has said.

One-Third of Young People Admit Driving Impaired

One in three 21- to 25-year-olds admit they have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the past year, a new government survey finds.

Among all adult drivers over age 21, 16.6 percent said they drove drunk or under the influence of drugs, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Of those who said they had driven while impaired, 15.7 percent were under the influence of alcohol, 4.3 percent under illicit drugs, and 3.0 percent drove under the combined influence of both, SAMHSA said in a statement.

Older adults were less likely than younger ones to drive under the influence, the report said. While 33.8 percent of drivers 21-25 drove while impaired, 24.3 percent of those ages 26-34 said they had driven under the influence in the past year.

Adult male drivers who were impaired outweighed female impaired drivers 22 percent to 11.4 percent, the agency said.

Senate OKs Human Pesticide Testing Limits

The U.S. Senate has voted to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to conduct pesticide tests that involve people.

The chamber voted late Wednesday to place a one-year moratorium on government-sponsored human pesticide tests, and to give the EPA six months to develop new regulations on such testing, The New York Times reported. The Senate legislation must now be resolved with a measure passed earlier by the House of Representatives.

The congressional actions followed controversy directed at EPA administrator Stephen Johnson, who had been the agency's acting director. His confirmation hearings earlier this year were delayed until he ordered an end to a pesticide testing program in Florida that would have paid parents for allowing tests on their children, the Times reported.

The Clinton administration ended government-sponsored testing of pesticides on people in 1998, while the Bush administration has allowed some of them to proceed, the newspaper said. The EPA is preparing new rules that would, in some cases, allow testing involving pregnant women and young children, the Times said.

Controversial Crohn's Disease Drug Does Well in Trials

A multiple sclerosis drug that's been suspended from sale in the United States has shown promise in an advanced trial for the digestive disorder Crohn's disease, its U.S. and Irish manufacturers said Thursday.

Tysabri went on sale late last year in the United States, but was withdrawn in February after being linked to a rare but deadly brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). One MS patient has died of PML, as has one person with Crohn's who was participating in clinical trials, the Associated Press reported.

The Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal this month have reported additional suspected cases of the disease, the wire service said. Tysabri's makers, Elan Corp. of Ireland, and the American drug firm Biogen, have declined comment on those reports.

The companies said Thursday that new trials involving 510 Crohn's sufferers had shown a reduction in symptoms within 12 weeks of treatment, the AP said. An Elan spokesman told the wire service that the results were being forwarded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in hopes of encouraging a decision on the drug's return to the market.

Canada Announces Intended Ban on Bulk Drug Exports

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it would draft legislation to limit bulk exports of Canadian drugs.

The expected action, intended to assure that Canadian online pharmacy sales to the United States do not cause domestic shortages, appeared to fall far short of what the online industry feared might have forced it to leave Canada altogether, The New York Times reported.

"Canada cannot be the drugstore of the United States of America," Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh told reporters as he announced several vaguely defined proposed regulations, including one to limit the practice of Canadian doctors co-signing online prescriptions for unseen American patients.

"We have to make sure that we protect the safety and supply of the drugs for Canadians," Dosanjh said, "and also the safety of the consumers of these prescriptions."

He added that new regulations were needed because he expected the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would allow large imports of prescription drugs into the United States.

Online drug sales from Canada to the United States now exceed $800 million a year, about triple the total of five years ago, according to the Times.

Food Fact:
Nothing fishy.

Follow a few savvy shopping tips, and seafood will be as good for your taste buds as it is for your heart. Here's what to know: Fresh fish smells good, like sea air, so walk away from a strong fishy smell or an off odor; fish fillets and steaks should look moist, with no gaps between the segments; scrub mussels and clams with a stiff-bristled brush under running water, and discard any that don't close when tapped.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Supermarket sweep.

Put exercise on your shopping list -- it's easy to burn calories right where you buy 'em. Carry two bags of groceries home for an impromptu workout. Or, carry your child instead of using a stroller. These are just two ways to fit fitness into your day without blocking out over an hour to get to the gym. Squeeze in bits of activity whenever you have an opportunity, and it can add up to a big difference in how you look and feel. And even moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease and early death.

FAQ of the day:
Can tomatoes and lycopene prevent breast cancer?

Tomatoes and lycopene probably can't protect against breast cancer, they are still a good nutritional choice for women because they'e so rich in antioxidants and vitamins. There is evidence that tomatoes may help protect men against prostate cancer.

Health Headlines - July 1

Health Tip: Moldy Food Alert

If your cheese or bread has grown mold, don't merely cut off the moldy part and eat the section that still looks okay.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, mold can grow where you can't see it, especially in high-moisture or porous foods. So if you see mold on foods such as bread, soft cheeses, grain, meats, dairy foods, or fruits and vegetables, it's best to throw out the entire package.

Mold on hard cheese can be cut off one inch around all sides of the mold, but take care to keep the knife out of the mold to avoid contamination. And throw out the old wrap in which it was stored.

Health Tip: Preventing Hand and Wrist Pain

If you have persistent pain, numbness and burning in your hands or wrists, you may be experiencing early symptoms of a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD).

CTDs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and myofacial pain syndrome, are caused by holding one position for long periods of time, non-neutral postures, cold temperatures, vibrations, localized pressure and the use of force.

Prevent CTDs with these tips from the Stanford University Medical Department:

* Break up repetitious work.
* Relax. Don't use your muscles to hold your hands or shoulders in a particular position.
* Minimize contact with hard or sharp surfaces.
* Try to move with an even motion and avoid snapping or jerking your wrist.
* Keep your hands and fingers warm.
* Change your posture often.

Candidiasis: Diaper Rash, Oral Thrush, Vaginal Yeast Infection

Candidiasis is an infection caused by Candida, a yeast-like fungus. Candidiasis usually affects the skin and mucous membranes, the soft, moist areas around body openings, like the mouth and anus. Candidiasis infections can take several different forms, each with different symptoms. They are more commonly known as diaper rash, oral thrush and yeast infections.

More Kids Now Have Health Insurance: CDC

More than 90 percent of children in the United States had health insurance in 2004, up significantly from the 86 percent of youngsters insured in 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report released Wednesday.

About 7 million children were uninsured last year -- 3 million fewer than seven years earlier, the agency said.

Among Americans of all ages, 14.6 percent of the population was uninsured last year, about the same level as in 1997, the CDC said. One in five working-age adults -- ages 18 to 64 -- lacked health insurance in 2004. This number had been rising steadily in recent years but appeared to have leveled off last year, the agency said.

Among the 10 largest states, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania had significantly lower rates of uninsured than the national average of 16 percent. In California and Florida, just over 20 percent lacked health coverage. And in Texas, the rate was about 27 percent, the CDC said.

Inhaled Insulin Helps Type 1 Diabetics

An inhaled form of insulin is as effective in controlling blood sugar as injected insulin in people with type 1 diabetes, University of Miami researchers say.

The 6-month study involved 328 people with type 1 diabetes, in which patients produce no insulin and require daily shots. The investigational drug was Exubera, which is manufactured by the study's sponsors -- the pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Sanofi Aventis, USA Today reported.

Side effects of the inhaled drug were similar to that of injected insulin, though a small number of participants who used the inhaled drug had bouts of severe hypoglycemia -- a dangerous drop in blood sugar, USA Today reported.

The drug could help patients manage their blood sugar levels in settings where injecting insulin isn't possible or is difficult. Type 1 diabetes affects 1 million to 2 million people in the United States, the newspaper said.

Dietary Counseling Ineffective on Obese Patients: Study

Morbidly obese people who had six months of dietary counseling were no better off than those who weren't counseled, researchers told an Orlando, Fla., meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) on Wednesday.

Among patients who went on to have gastric bypass surgery, said the study's authors from Virginia Commonwealth University, people who had mandated counseling actually went on to lose less weight than study participants who had no mandated diet.

Dietary counseling is often required by insurance companies for candidates for weight-loss surgery, the study's authors noted in a statement. They suggested that their research questions the need for such counseling among these patients.

Morbid obesity is associated with conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and cancer. Some 140,000 people in the United States last year had gastric bypass surgery, which involves reducing the size of the stomach and small intestine to limit the amount of food intake and absorption, the ASBS said.

EPA Panel Calls Teflon Ingredient a 'Likely Carcinogen'

A chemical compound used to make Teflon is a "likely carcinogen," according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientific advisory panel draft report that will be submitted to the EPA in early July.

The report by the 17-member panel about the chemical compound perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was posted Tuesday on the EPA Web site. The findings could prompt the EPA to regulate PFOA for the first time, the Washington Post reported.

Until now, the EPA has classified the chemical compound as a "suggested" carcinogen, a status that requires less stringent controls on substances.

The majority of panel members were convinced to label PFOA a likely carcinogen after reviewing studies that identified four different kinds of tumors in rats exposed to the compound.

The report doesn't draw any conclusions about whether using non-stick pans or other products with stick- and stain-resistant surfaces made with PFOA pose a health threat to humans, the Post reported.

The panel's conclusions are "huge," said Richard Wiles, vice president of the advocacy organization Environmental Working Group, which has been lobbying the EPA to regulate PFOA.

R.I. State Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

The Rhode Island legislature has passed a bill allowing the use of medical marijuana.

The bill was approved Tuesday evening by the State Senate by a vote of 33 to 1. The bill was passed by the State House last week by a vote of 52 to 10. The bill will now proceed to Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who is likely to reject it, The New York Times reported.

However, supporters of the bill are confident they have the required three-fifths majority to override the Governor's veto. If they're successful, Rhode Island would become the 11th state to authorize the use of medical marijuana.

Three weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could prosecute people who use medicinal marijuana, even if they live in states that allow its use.

WHO Experts Downgrade Bird Flu Pandemic Threat

The risk of an imminent bird flu pandemic has been downgraded by a team of international scientists who say the H5N1 bird flu virus has not mutated and the threat to humans is lower than previously thought.

The team of epidemiologists and virologists from the United States, Japan, Britain and Hong Kong gave their opinion Tuesday night after a visit to Vietnam to assess the potential danger posed by the H5N1 strain.

"What was reported to the (Vietnamese) government is that, according to preliminary findings, they could not find any indication showing that the virus has actually extended its range in humans," Hans Troedsson, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Vietnam, told Agence France Presse.

"The most important thing is that we could rule out that there was an immediate, imminent pandemic," Troedsson said. "Since the virus is widely spread, the risk is still there but not as imminent as we initially might have suspected."

Last year, the WHO warned that millions of people could die if the H5N1 virus mutated to become easily transmissible between humans. Since the start of the bird flu outbreak in southeast Asia in 2003, 54 people have died -- including 38 in Vietnam, 12 in Thailand and four in Cambodia.

Food Fact:
Fish: Good fat vs. bad.

In seafood, it's key to know which fat can help your heart -- and which can hurt it. The fat in seafood is the kind you want to eat -- even in a low-fat diet. A "fatty" fish still has less fat than the "leanest" red meat. Better yet, the fat in fish helps prevent heart attacks. For maximum benefit, resist the urge to cook your seafood in butter, or ordering it fried out -- almost all oils used for commercial frying contain artery-clogging fats. Cook seafood at home with small amounts of canola or olive oil -- or no added fat.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Tee party!

Instead of watching Tiger Woods tone up by shooting a round, hit the golf course for your own above-par workout. Benefits of regular visits to the links include improved overall flexibility, increased range of motion in shoulders and hips, sharpened hand-eye coordination, toned legs, waist and arms, and stronger hands, stomach and back muscles. Best of all, it puts you outdoors in a social, sporting atmosphere.

FAQ of the day:
Are fish-oil pills better for me than eating fish?

While fish-oil pills contain the same heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids as seafood, they also add fat and calories to your diet, which may defeat the purpose. When you eat fish or shellfish, it often means you're not eating high-fat foods, such as burgers, you might otherwise have chosen at that meal. If you can't stand fish and want to explore taking a fish-oil supplement, check with your doctor first.