Merck Recalls Children's Vaccines

Merck announced that it is voluntarily recalling 1 million doses of two common childhood vaccines, PedvaxHIB and Comvax, routinely given to children under 5.

During a routine inspection of their manufacturing process, Merck officials found that some equipment was contaminated with a bacteria called Bacillus cereus.

Link

FDA to regulate salt content in food

It's not a secret that the excessive salt in diets is a major factor in high blood pressure and increases risk for heart disease and most Americans exceed recommended limits

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) cited these factors in urging stricter regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at a public hearing, held on Thursday at the FDA.

Reducing the salt content in processed and restaurant foods by half could save up to 150,000 lives a year by reducing heart-related disease, according to the consumer group, whose petition to the FDA prompted the public hearing.

Link

Health Insurer Tied Bonuses To Dropping Sick Policyholders

One of the state's largest health insurers set goals and paid bonuses based in part on how many individual policyholders were dropped and how much money was saved.

Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc. avoided paying $35.5 million in medical expenses by rescinding about 1,600 policies between 2000 and 2006. During that period, it paid its senior analyst in charge of cancellations more than $20,000 in bonuses based in part on her meeting or exceeding annual targets for revoking policies.

Link

Key HIV strain 'came from Haiti'

Key HIV virus which predominates in the United States and Europe has been traced back to Haiti by an international team of scientists.

The strain passed from Haiti to the US in about 1969 before spreading further, says the team in the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences.

They hope knowing this could help find a cure for HIV, which can lead to Aids.

Link

FDA warns companies marketing cold and cough medicine with hydrocodone for kids

Hydrocodone hasn't been safety-tested for children under six, but some cough syrups are marketed to children as young as two, the FDA said.

"Companies marketing these unapproved products have not demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these drugs," director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said.

Link

Man pronounced dead wakes

Hospital workers fill out the wrong form and send a live man to the morgue..

Link

Popcorn linked to "popcorn lung" disease

An ingredient in microwave popcorn, which gives it a distinctive buttery aroma, has been linked to a rare lung disease called "popcorn lung".

The disease was named like that because it was found in popcorn plant workers exposed to a flavoring ingredient called diacetyl. Diacetyl is a natural substance heated in a factory setting to give microwave popcorn its buttery taste.

Recently a man, who consumed large amounts of popcorn, was diagnosed with "popcorn lung".


Link

Study Links Diabetes and Sodas sweeteners

A new study released Thursday suggests sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup may contribute to the development of diabetes.

The study from researchers at Rutgers University, shows sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup contain high levels of compounds that previous research suggests may play a role in the development of diabetes. Especially when consumed in large amounts.

Link

Antioxidant vitamins may do little to protect your heart

According to a study released in the Archives of Internal Medicine, contrary to popular belief, taking antioxidant vitamins such as C, E and antioxidants such as beta carotene may do little to protect your heart against heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular events.


These results "add to the body of evidence that antioxidants do not add to the prevention of heart disease."

Link

Corporate gym memberships

Many gyms or health clubs offer corporate gym memberships which means lower rates for you. So, the best idea is to contact your local gym and ask them about corporate program. Also, you can request the info from your company HR department.

Here is the link to one of these programs: Corporate gym memberhsips

Link

Contaminated Chinese-made toothpaste found in US prisons

Contaminated Chinese-made toothpaste were shipped to US prisons and mental hospitals in Georgiaa sign that U.S. distribution of the tainted products was wider than initially thought.

Officials said the toothpaste contaminated with diethylene glycol, which is often found in antifreeze, was immediately taken out of use as soon as federal officials notified the state about the problem.

Link

Toxic fake "Colgate" toothpaste in U.S

Counterfeit "Colgate" toothpaste that may contain a toxic chemical had been found in discount stores in four U.S. states. "There are indications that this product does not contain fluoride and may contain diethylene glycol," the company said in a statement.

Colgate said it does not use, nor has ever used, diethylene glycol as an ingredient in its toothpaste anywhere in the world.

The Colgate announcement comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to avoid any toothpaste made in China after inspectors found DEG in tubes sold at two stores.

Link

AMO Complete contact lens solution warning

Government officials are warning consumers not to use AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution, a contact lens solution used for cleaning and storing soft contact lenses, because use of the solution may be linked to an increased risk of a rare, yet severe eye infection, the Associated Press reports.

The warning was announced after an ongoing government investigation found a potential association between use of the contact lens solution and an increased risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a painful eye infection that can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.

Link

Avandia linked to heart risks

According to CNN, diabetes drug Avandia linked to heart risks.

Experts said the overall risk was small and cautioned people not to stop taking the drug on their own but to talk to their doctors.

The company played down the report of heart risks.

Link

Diabetes-link genes found

The newly-discovered diabetes-link to the three genes bring the total number of genes known to be involved in type 2 diabetes to nine. Their exact role is still uncertain, scientists said, but two of them appear to be involved in the development and function of insulin-producing beta cells found in the pancreas.

Professor Mark McCarthy, of the University of Oxford, which took part in the study, said: "This research helps us to understand that, for most people at least, an individual's risk of developing diabetes as they get older is influenced by a number of genes, as well as by their environment."

Link

What works best for kids Motrin or TyIenol?

According to the University of Ottawa, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and generics ) led to significantly better improvement on a pain scale than acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) or codeine.

There were no significant differences in pain scores among the three groups at 30 minutes, but from 60 minutes onwards, the patients who had received ibuprofen reported significantly greater pain relief (improvement in pain score) than patients in either the acetaminophen or codeine groups (P<0.001). There were no significant differences at any point between the two latter groups.

Link

Do you think Reflexology is for real?

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is the practice of stimulating points on the feet, hands and ears, in order to encourage a beneficial effect on some other parts of the body, or to try to improve general health.

Do you think its True or False? (Click here to comment)

Link

FDA Warns About Asthma Drug, Xolair

The FDA is calling for a "black box" label warning for the asthmaasthma drug Xolair, alerting users it can cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

The FDA issued the alert after reviewing 48 cases of anaphylaxis -- life-threatening allergic reactions - submitted to the agency from June 2003, when Xolair was approved, through December 2005.

Link

Implant to 'cure' blindness within 2 years

An implant that restores partial sight to the blind could be commercially available in just two years.

Trials are soon to begin on the latest version of the Argus retinal prosthesis system which allows patients to distinguish different shapes and detect movement.

Link

Thailand approves copycat drugs

Thailand government said today it had approved a cheap, copycat heart disease drug, the first time a developing country has ignored an international patent for such a treatment.

As well as the "compulsory licence" of Plavix, made by US and European pharmaceutical giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis, Bangkok approved a generic version of Abbott Laboratories' Kaletra to treat HIV/AIDS.

"We have to do this because we don't have enough money to buy safe and necessary drugs for the people under the government's universal health scheme," Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla told reporters today.

The move, was critised by the drug industrya and praised from AIDS activists.

Link

Microwave Kills Germs in Kitchen Sponges

Your microwave may be a powerful weapon in protecting your family against disease-causing germs.

A new study shows zapping sponges and plastic scrubbing pads in the microwave can kill bacteria, such as E. coli, that can cause illness.

Link

Blood Test Predicts Heart Attack Risk

Blood Test, which measures blood levels of a protein called NT-proBNP, was found to be highly predictive of cardiovascular risks according to a study involving almost 1,000 heart patients thought to have stable coronary heart disease.

Patients with the highest levels of the protein in their blood were eight times as likely as patients with the lowest levels to die or suffer a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure during the study.

Link