All news posts from June 01, 2009 to June 30, 2009

 The banking the business community are expected to pounce on the new Obama plan to create an agency overseeing financial products such as credit cards and mortgages. More information would have to be disclosed to consumers and interest rates could be capped, hurting the banks' bottom line. No more government is needed say critics.

An expert panel convened to advise the FDA on acetaminophen, voted today that  Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol be given in smaller doses and the Extra Strength Tylenol should be sold by prescription only to reduce the dangers of serious liver injury.

It is still a mystery how E. coli 0157 made it into cookie dough found in the Nestle Toll House plant in Virginia- but federal microbiologists have identified it there.  That section of the plant has been closed displacing 250 workers. 

As Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs headed back to work today, news was still abuzz about his recent liver transplant in Tennessee where the waiting period is significantly shorter compared to the national average.

The doctor who was Michael Jackson's personal physician says he never injected him with the highly addictive Demerol about an hour before his death.  The family wants to know why the doctor failed to sign a death certificate and went missing after Jackson died. 

E. coli contamination of beef has led to a recall of more than 400,000 pounds with 24 people recording diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting from the bacterium. 

Diets high in fat from red meat and dairy products can increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer suggests a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

General Motors Corp. has agreed to take on future liability claims from defective autos and parts as a means to a quick sale and emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But the automaker will still leave behind claims by victims of past accidents, including the death of Lexi James, 10, in a 15-passenger Chrysler van.

Bombastic pitchman, Billy Mays, suffered a blow to the head on a flight shortly before complaining he didn't feel well. He was found dead in his bed Sunday morning.  USAirways says no passengers complained of injuries when the plane blew two tires upon landing.

What caused Michael Jackson’s apparent cardiac arrest won’t be known for weeks, but what is known is that only about one in five survive unless a defibrillator and CPR is used immediately.  More advanced emergency care involves lowering the body temperature to minimize brain damage.

The medical examiner will run toxicology tests on superstar, Michael Jackson, to determine if an addiction to pain and prescription medications led to his death.  The family lawyer says Michael was surrounded by enablers and that Jackson was "overmedicated".  

Comcast, the largest cable-television corporation, has pulled ads critical of General Motors bankruptcy plan that leaves injured consumers or their survivors uncompensated.  The media giant says it wants to check them for accuracy, even though the New Chrysler required it be "free and clear of all liens and claims” as a condition of bankruptcy. 

Savana Redding's strip search by a middle school nurse and secretary was unconstitutional, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today, despite the school's zero-tolerance policy toward drugs.  The ruling will affect school districts across the country trying to crack down on drug use. 

The average American has a cancer risk of 36 in 1 million if exposed to toxic air pollution, according to a new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Air toxins are known to or suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of the Plan B for women ages 17 and under.  Wednesday’s approval will allow the generic version of the morning-after contraceptive pill for women ages 17 and under by prescription only.  

Train track circuitry appears not to be working at the site of a Metro train crash that killed nine people Monday. The circuits receive signals that generate speed commands.  19 NTSB investigators are on the scene.

Pistachio nuts contaminated with salmonella may have been repackaged instead of recalled.  Check for the brands in airports and hotels. 

The subway cars involved in a deadly crash in the nation’s capital Monday were cited as unsafe three years ago, but were never replaced because of the cost.  That information is emerging as 19 NTSB investigators search for clues into the cause of the rush hour wreck that killed nine people and injured 70.

Women who suffer from chronic migraines with aura are at a greater risk of brain lesions finds a new study. The lesions appear in a region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception, coordination and motor control.

A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds patients who visit their primary physician for routine blood tests or screenings are often not informed of the results. Most people tend to assume, no news is good news but that is not always the case.

Big Insurance has issued a strong statement opposing the public health insurance option. In a letter to Sen. Edward Kennedy, the companies say a public plan would dismantle employer-based coverage. Meanwhile, an insurance whistleblower will testify Wednesday about the abuses he's seen by insurance executives at the expense of consumers. 

How did the potentially deadly E. coli 0157 bacteria get into raw cookie dough? Federal microbiologists are probing the Virginia plant that makes Nestle Toll House cookies to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, with 70 sickened, the first lawsuit has been filed.

Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., is expected to return to work this month after receiving a liver transplant two months ago in Tennessee.

Young people in Eastern Iowa appear to be overdosing on prescription drugs for ADHD. About 2.5 million kids are on the stimulants, with use increasing, despite a recently published article that suggests a link between the medications and sudden cardiac death. 

Dogs and cats can acquire methicillin resistant staph infections (MRSA) and give it back to humans.   Humans too, can infect their pets.  Normal petting will generally not transmit MRSA, but bites will.

Green tea has been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer, according to published research from Louisiana State University.  The amount of green tea consumed was equal to a dozen cups per day. 

When procedures are properly followed, unaccompanied minors arrive at their chosen destination. But that wasn't the case last weekend when two unaccompanied girls were placed on wrong Continental Flights within two days.

The FDA is warning the public not consume Toll House Cookie products because of the risk of E. coli poisoning which has so far sickened 66 people in 28 states.  

An error in production led to a recall of NUTRO dry cat food, and now an independent lab has confirmed "sky high" levels of zinc, a mineral, in one bag tested.  Animal lovers report their pets are sick or have expired.

Dr. Tim Kuklo made $800,000 from medical device maker, Medtronic, for work as a consultant and during the time he shopped a professional article on a Medtronic product for publishing. The Army says the article was "falsified" by Kuklo, who is no longer an Army surgeon. 

Continental Flight 61 was en route from Brussels, Belgium, to Newark, New Jersey, when the pilot died mid-flight today. Passengers were unaware of the event, since the co-pilots landed safely, until they saw the emergency vehicles at the end of the runway. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that a public health emergency exists at the Libby asbestos site in Montana. This is the first time the agency has made a determination under the Superfund law, which governs sites contaminated or threatened by hazardous substances.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appeared before a Congressional subcommittee on Tuesday to discuss the exposure of thousands of veterans to HIV and other diseases.

In 2007, more than 150 brands of dog and cat food were recalled after pets suffered kidney failure. Tuesday, two Nevada importers pled guilty to distributing melamine as a substitute for gluten, a protein.  They are facing fines and prison time. 

New television ads will begin running in the Washington D.C. market urging Congress and President Obama to take action to protect people injured by defective automobiles who have no recourse through the courts under the Chrysler/GM  bankruptcy.

Investigators are facing challenges in recovering the black box data recorders, wreckage, and bodies from an Air France plane that suddenly plunged into the Atlantic Ocean June 1 with 228 on board.  Still, they believe they're getting closer to determining the cause of the crash. 

It's been on the market for 10 years and the FDA says it has about 130 reports of people who used the nasal cold spray, Zicam, and then lost their sense of smell, some permanently.  The FDA says the homeopathic product must be removed from store shelves.

A prescription skin cream used to treat actinic keratoses, pre-cancerous lesions caused by sun damage, may also reverse signs of aging leaving behind younger-looking skin, according to a new study.

With medical costs soaring at an unsustainable level, President Obama told doctors at an annual AMA meeting that cutting down on practicing defensive medicine to avoid lawsuits will be necessary.  The president does not support medical malpractice caps on awards.  

A newly released study suggests there may be a link between the use of stimulant medications prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and sudden cardiac death in healthy children. But the FDA says due to limited data, children should not stop taking these drugs.

Two years ago, Kayla Hess of West Palm Beach, Florida had an ongoing strep throat. A month of antibiotics didn't cure it, but staying off the Listerine Agent Cool Blue dental rinse did.  Now the 12-year-old has filed a lawsuit, but some parents say the reformulated product isn't much better.

Now that consumers have been told about the New Chrysler's plan for removing all product liability under its bankruptcy proceeding - what remedies do they have? 

A new bill giving the federal government sweeping new powers to regulate tobacco passed the Senate. The measure is "a historic victory" and "the strongest action Congress has ever taken to reduce tobacco use, said Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, organization president.

Victims of defective GM and Chrysler vehicles will have no remedy through the courts under the new company, owned by Fiat.  The deal was orchestrated to help the company emerge from bankruptcy through the U.S. Treasury Department and involves 40 million vehicles currently on the road and thousands of pending claims.  

The Merck drug featured in the “One Less” campaign has been updated to receive a warning about the potential for fainting after some young teens suffered jerking movements and seizures after being inoculated. Add that to the more than 13,000 adverse events reported including 39 deaths in the three years since the drug has been on the market.

The World Health Organization has officially raised the swine flu level to its highest - Phase 6, which means it is being transmitted within communities in more than two countries. The increased alert refers to transmission, not severity, though mutations to the virus are expected. 

A new study, in the June issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, is the first to present colorectal cancer incidence trends across five continents.

While Risperdal is already approved for use in adolescents, three other makers of powerful atypical anti-psychotics are seeking FDA approval for use in the young.  The drugs are effective in some, but others say they can be fatal and are known to cause weight gain and increase the risk of diabetes. 

So far text messaging while driving is banned in 13 states with more states likely to join as the death count mounts from the dangerous activity.  

New research presented at the American Association of Diabetes conference this week suggests blood glucose and insulin sensitivity begins changing several years before the onset of diabetes.

Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will begin three days of hearings into the increasing likelihood of collisions with birds, which has doubled at 13 major airports over the last decade.  Listen to the hearings live. 

Being treated for cancer generally means preparing your body for the fight of your life. So supplements, especially antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, beta carotene, or selenium are taken by many patients. This study warns patients they may provide a protective effect to cancer.

Actor David Carradine's death from hanging is reminiscent of a deadly game that hundreds of teens play every year, some with fatal consequences.

Hybrids are popular, but blind pedestrians have trouble hearing them.  Emergency response teams are receiving extra training on how to disable the car's electrical system so they don't receive a 600-volt jolt when they rescue you following an accident.

Many Americans are facing financial ruins due to high medical bills. A new study published in The Journal of American Medicine, finds more than 60 percent of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are the result of medical bills.

The downing of Air France flight 447 is still a mystery and will remain so until the black box recorders are located. The U.S. Navy is helping with recovery using devices that can detect sounds as low as 20,000 feet, but the ocean in the area off the Brazil coast may be even deeper. 17 bodies have been recovered so far.

A new study, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, estimates that three in every 1,000 children in the United States suffers from Tourette’s syndrome. That’s a total of 150,000 cases in the country.

Results of an ongoing study of the experimental drug TMC207 have been released, by Johnson & Johnson. The drug will be used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Until now, dogs diagnosed with cancer were given human drugs, but Palladia, made by Pfizer, received FDA approval for the treatment of cancer in dogs. Each year, there are an estimated 1.2 million cases of canine cancer reported.

New research suggests a cognitive behavioral program for teens at risk of depression may help prevent future depressive episodes while helping them to better deal with their problems.

The FDA is considering regulating e-cigarettes, that is electronic cigarettes that deliver a jolt of nicotine as an alternative to smoking tobacco.   Health organizations say they may encourage kids to smoke and they are concerned about inhaling a vaporized form of the drug.   

Women entering perimenopause have lapses in verbal and working memory, and brain processing, this long-term study shows. The good news is the setback seems to be temporary.  

A new study suggests deep sedation, rather than moderate sedation, allows more colon polyps to be found during a colonoscopy. The findings could have lifesaving benefits by helping doctors to detect colon cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage.

Remains of an airplane, metallic material, oil and an airplane seat,  have been spotted in the sea near where Air France Flight 447 is believed to have disappeared Sunday night on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. Brazil’s Air Force reports there is very little material given the size of the plane with 228 people on board. 

Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is still used by women with a reported 30 million prescriptions written each year. Now, findings from the Women's Health Initiative indicate that combining estrogen and progestin can lead to a 59 percent increase in the risk of death from a non-small cell lung cancer.

What happened to Air France Flight 447? There was no emergency signal after it took off from Brazil last night on an overnight flight to Paris when it just dropped off radar three hours into the flight.   The airline believes there is no hope, though a search operation is underway.