News in category: Major Medical

Eight states are recalling 546,000 pounds of ground beef after E. coli contamination was detected. One person in New Hampshire has died and two others are sickened from what is suspected to be the same contaminated meat.

When a study showed the more expensive N-95 respirator was superior over surgical masks, the CDC and Institute of Medicine quickly adopted the findings and made recommendations to hospitals. Now it's revealed the findings were based on faulty science.

In a new report, the federal government says that Chinese drywall has elevated sulfur emissions. But, the preliminary findings stop short of linking it to health problems. More results will be released in November.

A new government report shows only one-third of adults are getting sufficient sleep or rest every night. According to the CDC, some 50 to 70 million American adults suffer from sleep and wakefulness disorders.

Stryker Biotech LLC and its executives were indicted by a grand jury Wednesday, accused of fraudulently marketing its bone-growth products and covering-up the misconduct. They face prison time and fines.

Diabetes affects about 24 million Americans and is rising globally in developing nations. This published study finds lifestyle changes, diet and exercise, worked better than the popular prescription drug, metformin, to reverse diabetes.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will devote $30 million over two years to study the safety of bisphenol A, an estrogen-like chemical used in many plastics including baby bottles.

The FDA has allowed many drugs that were fast-tracked to stay on the market while no post marketing surveillance has been undertaken and none have been pulled off the market, criticizes the Government Accountability Office in this report.

Liraglutide shows promise in helping patients, even those without diabetes, lose weight says maker Novo Nordisk which is hoping for FDA approval. Both it and rival, Alli are being studied for their side effects.

For the first time, Taser International, the stun gun maker, is issuing an advisory for law enforcement not to use the stun gun on the chest, head, or neck. The advice is being issued to help law enforcement defend itself against a multiple of lawsuits filed by suspects who have died after being shocked.

Hospital or health panels of experts would determine whether medical malpractice took place and what the victim should be offered, in this plan offered by the American Hospital Association. Doctors and hositals say without a neutral panel of experts, they must practice defensive medicine.

Allergens including pollution, pollen count, mold, humidity, and a lack of smoke-free laws have the Asthma and Allergy Foundation creating its Top Ten List of Allergy Capitals. St. Louis tops the list for 2009.

Merck along with other drug companies realize that transparency will be required under health care reform. As promised, it has issued a list of doctors who it pays to promote its products and educate the public.

Pfizer has combined operations with Wyeth, following the closure of a $68 billion acquisition last week. The deal included its subsidiary Fort Dodge Animal Health, which is now part of Pfizer Animal Health.

Facing a lack of forthcoming information about the dangers and concerns of vaccines in general, and the swine flu vaccine specifically, a citizens' group plans a protest at the CDC this week as experts in immunization gather.