Health Highlights: April 30, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Texas Law Targeting Planned Parenthood Unconstitutional: Judge

Texas cannot stop Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds through the Women's Health Program, a federal judge ruled Monday.

There is sufficient evidence that a state law banning Planned Parenthood from the program is unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel said. He imposed an injunction against enforcement of the law until he can hear full arguments, the Associated Press reported.

Under the law passed last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature, state agencies cannot provide funds to organizations affiliated with abortion providers. A legal challenge was launched by Eight Planned Parenthood clinics that do not provide abortions.

In his ruling, Yeakel agreed with Planned Parenthood's argument that if it was banned from the Women's Health Program, many women would have no access to clinics for basic health services and check-ups, the AP reported.

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Dutch Government OKs Publication of Bird Flu Study

A Dutch scientist's paper on a mutant version of the potentially deadly H5N1 bird flu virus can be published in the journal Science, the Dutch government says.

Friday's announcement came after publication of this and another paper by U.S. researchers was approved by a U.S. panel of experts. But under European Union rules, the Dutch scientist still required permission from his government, Agence France-Presse reported.

The two studies found that a laboratory-created mutant version of H5N1 could pass easily in the air between ferrets. U.S. experts initially opposed publication of the studies over fears that the information could be used by terrorists to unleash a deadly flu epidemic.

The Dutch Department of Economic Affairs approved publication of the Dutch study after weighing the risks and advantages of publication, a government spokeswoman told AFP.

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FDA Sends Warning to Supplements Companies

Ten companies that make and distribute dietary supplements containing dimethylamylamine (DMAA) have been sent warning letters for marketing products that lack safety evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

DMAA -- also referred to as 1,3-dimethylamylamine, methylhexanamine, or geranium extract -- is often touted as a "natural" stimulant.

The companies that received warning letters and the names of their products are: Exclusive Supplements for Biorhythm SSIN Juice; Fahrenheit Nutrition for Lean Efx; Gaspari Nutrition for Spirodex; iSatori Global Technologies, LLC for PWR; Muscle Warfare, Inc. for Napalm; MuscleMeds Perfomance Technologies for Code Red; Nutrex Research for Hemo Rage Black, Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate, Lipo-6 Black, Lipo-6 Black Hers Ultra, Concentrate, and Lipo-6 Black Hers; SEI Pharmaceuticals for MethylHex 4,2; SNI, LLC for Nitric Blast; and USP Labs, LLC for Oxy Elite Pro and Jack3D.

"Before marketing products containing DMAA, manufacturers and distributors have a responsibility under the law to provide evidence of the safety of their products. They haven't done that and that makes the products adulterated," Daniel Fabricant, director of the FDA's Dietary Supplement Program, said in an agency news release.

-----

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 27, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Holstein with Mad Cow Disease Put Down After Showing Signs of Illness: USDA

A dairy cow in California that was found to have mad cow disease was euthanized after it become lame and started lying down, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said Thursday.

They also said that the Holstein cow from a dairy farm in Tulare County -- the nation's leading dairy-producing county -- was 10 years and seven months old. That contradicts a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes of California who said Wednesday that the cow was 5 years old, the Associated Press reported.

Routine testing at a transfer facility detected mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- BSE) in the cow. The animal was never destined for the meat market and posed no threat to the food supply, officials said.

The cow had atypical BSE, which is caused by a random mutation. The last two cases of BSE in the U.S. were atypical as well, the AP reported.

-----

Don't Use Hepatitis C Drug With HIV Drugs: FDA

The hepatitis C medicine Victrelis (boceprevir) should not be taken with certain ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitor drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

Taking these medicines at the same time could reduce their effectiveness and allow levels of the hepatitis C virus or HIV in the blood to increase.

Ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitors include ritonavir-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir), ritonavir-boosted Prezista (darunavir), and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir).

"Patients should not stop taking any of their hepatitis C or HIV medicines without talking to their healthcare professional. Patients should contact their healthcare professional with any questions or concerns," the FDA said.

"Healthcare professionals who started patients infected with both chronic HCV and HIV on Victrelis while the patient was taking antiretroviral therapy containing one of these ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors should closely monitor patients for treatment response (no HCV virus detected in the blood) and for potential HCV or HIV virologic rebound (HCV or HIV virus is detected in the blood again after becoming undetectable)," the FDA advised.

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Consumers, Employers to Get $1.3 Billion in Health Insurance Rebates

Under the new U.S. health care law, more than 3 million health insurance policyholders and thousands of employers will receive a total of $1.3 billion in rebates this year, according to a report released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan research group.

The law requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care and quality improvement or return the difference to individuals or employers, the Associated Press reported.

Insurance companies must notify policyholders about the rebates and pay them by Aug. 1. Some companies have already started issuing rebates.

More than 3 million individual healthy insurance policyholders will receive a total of $426 million, which works out to an average of $127 per person, the AP reported.

On a state-by-state basis, the largest rebates will go to individuals and employers in Texas ($186 million) and Florida ($149 million). Hawaii is the only state in which insurers are not expected to issue rebates.

Rebates totaling $377 million will be sent out to small employers with plans covering nearly 5 million people. Employers are not required to pass their rebates on to workers, and are also allowed to take them as a discount on next year's premiums, the AP reported.

The Kaiser report's findings are based on an analysis of insurance industry filings with state health insurance commissioners.

The rebates are one of the most tangible benefits that consumers have seen to date from the Obama administration's health care law, according to Larry Levitt, a Kaiser Family Foundation expert on private insurance, the AP reported.

However, the insurance industry says new benefits and other requirements of the health care law will likely drive up premiums, negating any consumer benefit from the rebates.

But the Kaiser report said that the new health care law has "provided an incentive for insurers to seek lower premium increases than they would have otherwise," according to the report. "This 'sentinel' effect on premiums has likely produced more savings for consumers and employers than the rebates themselves."

-----

200 Now Sickened in Tuna-Linked Salmonella Outbreak

A salmonella outbreak linked to a frozen yellowfin tuna product has now sickened 200 people in 21 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Thursday.

In a statement, the agency said 28 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths reported.

The CDC says it is now including two types of salmonella in the "outbreak strains" -- Salmonella Bareilly (190 cases) and Salmonella Nchanga (10 cases).

On April 16, nearly 59,000 pounds of tuna product linked to the outbreak -- labeled Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA -- were recalled by Moon Marine USA Corp. of Cupertino, Calif. The product, which is scraped off fish bones, was sold to grocery stores and restaurants to make dishes such as sushi, sashimi and ceviche.

As reported early in the outbreak by the Associated Press, many people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as "spicy tuna."

As of Thursday, the CDC said illnesses linked Salmonella Bareilly had been reported in: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (8), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Illinois (15), Louisiana (3), Maryland (20), Massachusetts (24), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), New Jersey (18), New York (33), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (7), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (3), Texas (4), Virginia (9), Vermont (1) and Wisconsin (145). Illnesses linked to Salmonella Nchanga had been reported in Georgia (2), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1), the CDC said.

The CDC noted that salmonella illness is often serious for infants, older adults, pregnant women and persons with impaired immune systems, and these individuals should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish.

-----

No Evidence Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors: Experts

There is no convincing evidence that cellphones cause brain tumors or any other types of cancer, according to British experts who conducted a "comprehensive" review of available scientific evidence.

However, possible long-term health effects of cellphone use need to be monitored because the use of cell phones has become widespread only recently, said the Health Protection Agency's independent advisory group, Agence France-Presse reported.

The group also advised against excessive use of cellphones by children.

"Overall, the results of studies have not demonstrated that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours or any other type of cancer," the group said, AFP reported. "The evidence suggests that radio frequency field exposure below guideline levels does not cause symptoms in humans."

-----

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 26, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

No Evidence Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors: Experts

There is no convincing evidence that cellphones cause brain tumors or any other types of cancer, according to British experts who conducted a "comprehensive" review of available scientific evidence.

However, possible long-term health effects of cellphone use need to be monitored because the use of cell phones has become widespread only recently, said the Health Protection Agency's independent advisory group, Agence France-Presse reported.

The group also advised against excessive use of cellphones by children.

"Overall, the results of studies have not demonstrated that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours or any other type of cancer," the group said, AFP reported. "The evidence suggests that radio frequency field exposure below guideline levels does not cause symptoms in humans."

-----

Measures to Prevent Spread of Mad Cow Disease are Effective: FDA

Existing animal feed safeguards meant to prevent the spread of mad cow disease from spreading through feed are effective, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The FDA was responding to the Department of Agriculture's confirmation this week that a dairy cow in California tested positive for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease). The cow did not enter the animal feed or human food supply.

The FDA is working with federal and state authorities to investigate the case.

"The FDA is confident in the effectiveness of the existing animal feed safeguards designed to prevent the spread of BSE through feed. Although current science suggests that atypical cases of BSE, such as this one, are unlikely to be transmitted through animal feed, the FDA will work with the USDA to complete a thorough epidemiological investigation. Importantly, scientific research indicates that BSE cannot be transmitted in cow's milk," said an FDA news release.

"We will continue to work closely with the USDA and state officials on this public health issue and will provide updates as information becomes available," the FDA said.

-----

Report Challenges VA Claims on Speed of Mental Health Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide mental health care to veterans as quickly as it claims, according to an inspector general's report.

While the VA says that 95 percent of first-time patients seeking mental health care in 2011 received an evaluation within the department's goal of 14 days, the VA Office of Inspector General found that only half of patients were seen in that time frame, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of patients waited an average of about 50 days before they underwent a full evaluation.

The VA also says that 95 percent of new mental health patients in 2011 began treatment within 14 days of their desired date. But the inspector general found that this was true for only 64 percent of patients and the rest had to wait an average of 40 days, the AP reported.

-----

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 27, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Holstein with Mad Cow Disease Put Down After Showing Signs of Illness: USDA

A dairy cow in California that was found to have mad cow disease was euthanized after it become lame and started lying down, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said Thursday.

They also said that the Holstein cow from a dairy farm in Tulare County -- the nation's leading dairy-producing county -- was 10 years and seven months old. That contradicts a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes of California who said Wednesday that the cow was 5 years old, the Associated Press reported.

Routine testing at a transfer facility detected mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- BSE) in the cow. The animal was never destined for the meat market and posed no threat to the food supply, officials said.

The cow had atypical BSE, which is caused by a random mutation. The last two cases of BSE in the U.S. were atypical as well, the AP reported.

-----

Don't Use Hepatitis C Drug With HIV Drugs: FDA

The hepatitis C medicine Victrelis (boceprevir) should not be taken with certain ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitor drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

Taking these medicines at the same time could reduce their effectiveness and allow levels of the hepatitis C virus or HIV in the blood to increase.

Ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitors include ritonavir-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir), ritonavir-boosted Prezista (darunavir), and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir).

"Patients should not stop taking any of their hepatitis C or HIV medicines without talking to their healthcare professional. Patients should contact their healthcare professional with any questions or concerns," the FDA said.

"Healthcare professionals who started patients infected with both chronic HCV and HIV on Victrelis while the patient was taking antiretroviral therapy containing one of these ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors should closely monitor patients for treatment response (no HCV virus detected in the blood) and for potential HCV or HIV virologic rebound (HCV or HIV virus is detected in the blood again after becoming undetectable)," the FDA advised.

-----

Consumers, Employers to Get $1.3 Billion in Health Insurance Rebates

Under the new U.S. health care law, more than 3 million health insurance policyholders and thousands of employers will receive a total of $1.3 billion in rebates this year, according to a report released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan research group.

The law requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care and quality improvement or return the difference to individuals or employers, the Associated Press reported.

Insurance companies must notify policyholders about the rebates and pay them by Aug. 1. Some companies have already started issuing rebates.

More than 3 million individual healthy insurance policyholders will receive a total of $426 million, which works out to an average of $127 per person, the AP reported.

On a state-by-state basis, the largest rebates will go to individuals and employers in Texas ($186 million) and Florida ($149 million). Hawaii is the only state in which insurers are not expected to issue rebates.

Rebates totaling $377 million will be sent out to small employers with plans covering nearly 5 million people. Employers are not required to pass their rebates on to workers, and are also allowed to take them as a discount on next year's premiums, the AP reported.

The Kaiser report's findings are based on an analysis of insurance industry filings with state health insurance commissioners.

The rebates are one of the most tangible benefits that consumers have seen to date from the Obama administration's health care law, according to Larry Levitt, a Kaiser Family Foundation expert on private insurance, the AP reported.

However, the insurance industry says new benefits and other requirements of the health care law will likely drive up premiums, negating any consumer benefit from the rebates.

But the Kaiser report said that the new health care law has "provided an incentive for insurers to seek lower premium increases than they would have otherwise," according to the report. "This 'sentinel' effect on premiums has likely produced more savings for consumers and employers than the rebates themselves."

-----

200 Now Sickened in Tuna-Linked Salmonella Outbreak

A salmonella outbreak linked to a frozen yellowfin tuna product has now sickened 200 people in 21 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Thursday.

In a statement, the agency said 28 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths reported.

The CDC says it is now including two types of salmonella in the "outbreak strains" -- Salmonella Bareilly (190 cases) and Salmonella Nchanga (10 cases).

On April 16, nearly 59,000 pounds of tuna product linked to the outbreak -- labeled Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA -- were recalled by Moon Marine USA Corp. of Cupertino, Calif. The product, which is scraped off fish bones, was sold to grocery stores and restaurants to make dishes such as sushi, sashimi and ceviche.

As reported early in the outbreak by the Associated Press, many people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as "spicy tuna."

As of Thursday, the CDC said illnesses linked Salmonella Bareilly had been reported in: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (8), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Illinois (15), Louisiana (3), Maryland (20), Massachusetts (24), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), New Jersey (18), New York (33), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (7), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (3), Texas (4), Virginia (9), Vermont (1) and Wisconsin (145). Illnesses linked to Salmonella Nchanga had been reported in Georgia (2), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1), the CDC said.

The CDC noted that salmonella illness is often serious for infants, older adults, pregnant women and persons with impaired immune systems, and these individuals should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish.

-----

No Evidence Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors: Experts

There is no convincing evidence that cellphones cause brain tumors or any other types of cancer, according to British experts who conducted a "comprehensive" review of available scientific evidence.

However, possible long-term health effects of cellphone use need to be monitored because the use of cell phones has become widespread only recently, said the Health Protection Agency's independent advisory group, Agence France-Presse reported.

The group also advised against excessive use of cellphones by children.

"Overall, the results of studies have not demonstrated that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours or any other type of cancer," the group said, AFP reported. "The evidence suggests that radio frequency field exposure below guideline levels does not cause symptoms in humans."

-----

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 25, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Case of Mad Cow Disease Discovered in California

A fourth case of mad cow disease has been diagnosed in the United States, this time in California, but it poses no danger to human health, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said Tuesday.

"There is really no cause for alarm here with regard to this animal [a dairy cow]," USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said during an afternoon news conference.

According to the Associated Press, Clifford did not say when the disease was discovered or exactly where the dairy cow had been raised. He said the animal was at a rendering plant in central California when mad cow disease was diagnosed during routine testing.

Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), can be fatal to humans who eat the tainted beef, but the wire service reported that the World Health Organization has said that tests show humans cannot be infected by drinking milk from diseased animals. In people, eating contaminated meat is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and deadly nerve disease.

There have been three confirmed cases of mad cow disease in the United States, in Washington state in 2003, in Texas in 2005 and in Alabama in 2006, the AP reported.

Only a handful of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease have been confirmed in people living in the United States, according to the AP, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said those were linked to meat products in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

-----

Report Challenges VA Claims on Speed of Mental Health Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide mental health care to veterans as quickly as it claims, according to an inspector general's report.

While the VA says that 95 percent of first-time patients seeking mental health care in 2011 received an evaluation within the department's goal of 14 days, the VA Office of Inspector General found that only half of patients were seen in that time frame, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of patients waited an average of about 50 days before they underwent a full evaluation.

The VA also says that 95 percent of new mental health patients in 2011 began treatment within 14 days of their desired date. But the inspector general found that this was true for only 64 percent of patients and the rest had to wait an average of 40 days, the AP reported.

-----

Teens Getting Drunk on Hand Sanitizer

Emergency rooms in Los Angeles are treating teens who suffer alcohol poisoning after they try to get drunk on liquid hand sanitizers, which contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol.

In the last few months, six such cases have been seen in two San Fernando Valley emergency departments, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press reported.

Some of the teens used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer, resulting in a powerful drink similar to a shot of hard liquor. The teens can find distillation instructions on the Internet.

While there have only been a few cases so far, it could signal a dangerous trend, according to county public health toxicology expert Cyrus Rangan, the AP reported.

-----

Meds Helping Many Overweight Americans Control Cholesterol: Study

Despite the fact that two-thirds of American adults are overweight, only 13 percent have high total cholesterol, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday.

Experts suggest this discrepancy is largely due to the fact that so many American adults take cholesterol-lowering drugs, the Associated Press reported.

The CDC findings are from interviews and blood tests of about 6,000 adults in 2009 and 2010.

A federal government goal of having no more than 17 percent of adults with high total cholesterol was achieved more than 10 years ago for men and about five years ago for women, the AP reported.

Too much cholesterol -- a fat-like substance in the blood -- increases the risk of heart disease.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 26, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

No Evidence Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors: Experts

There is no convincing evidence that cellphones cause brain tumors or any other types of cancer, according to British experts who conducted a "comprehensive" review of available scientific evidence.

However, possible long-term health effects of cellphone use need to be monitored because the use of cell phones has become widespread only recently, said the Health Protection Agency's independent advisory group, Agence France-Presse reported.

The group also advised against excessive use of cellphones by children.

"Overall, the results of studies have not demonstrated that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours or any other type of cancer," the group said, AFP reported. "The evidence suggests that radio frequency field exposure below guideline levels does not cause symptoms in humans."

-----

Measures to Prevent Spread of Mad Cow Disease are Effective: FDA

Existing animal feed safeguards meant to prevent the spread of mad cow disease from spreading through feed are effective, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The FDA was responding to the Department of Agriculture's confirmation this week that a dairy cow in California tested positive for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease). The cow did not enter the animal feed or human food supply.

The FDA is working with federal and state authorities to investigate the case.

"The FDA is confident in the effectiveness of the existing animal feed safeguards designed to prevent the spread of BSE through feed. Although current science suggests that atypical cases of BSE, such as this one, are unlikely to be transmitted through animal feed, the FDA will work with the USDA to complete a thorough epidemiological investigation. Importantly, scientific research indicates that BSE cannot be transmitted in cow's milk," said an FDA news release.

"We will continue to work closely with the USDA and state officials on this public health issue and will provide updates as information becomes available," the FDA said.

-----

Report Challenges VA Claims on Speed of Mental Health Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide mental health care to veterans as quickly as it claims, according to an inspector general's report.

While the VA says that 95 percent of first-time patients seeking mental health care in 2011 received an evaluation within the department's goal of 14 days, the VA Office of Inspector General found that only half of patients were seen in that time frame, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of patients waited an average of about 50 days before they underwent a full evaluation.

The VA also says that 95 percent of new mental health patients in 2011 began treatment within 14 days of their desired date. But the inspector general found that this was true for only 64 percent of patients and the rest had to wait an average of 40 days, the AP reported.

-----

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 25, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Case of Mad Cow Disease Discovered in California

A fourth case of mad cow disease has been diagnosed in the United States, this time in California, but it poses no danger to human health, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said Tuesday.

"There is really no cause for alarm here with regard to this animal [a dairy cow]," USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said during an afternoon news conference.

According to the Associated Press, Clifford did not say when the disease was discovered or exactly where the dairy cow had been raised. He said the animal was at a rendering plant in central California when mad cow disease was diagnosed during routine testing.

Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), can be fatal to humans who eat the tainted beef, but the wire service reported that the World Health Organization has said that tests show humans cannot be infected by drinking milk from diseased animals. In people, eating contaminated meat is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and deadly nerve disease.

There have been three confirmed cases of mad cow disease in the United States, in Washington state in 2003, in Texas in 2005 and in Alabama in 2006, the AP reported.

Only a handful of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease have been confirmed in people living in the United States, according to the AP, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said those were linked to meat products in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

-----

Report Challenges VA Claims on Speed of Mental Health Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide mental health care to veterans as quickly as it claims, according to an inspector general's report.

While the VA says that 95 percent of first-time patients seeking mental health care in 2011 received an evaluation within the department's goal of 14 days, the VA Office of Inspector General found that only half of patients were seen in that time frame, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of patients waited an average of about 50 days before they underwent a full evaluation.

The VA also says that 95 percent of new mental health patients in 2011 began treatment within 14 days of their desired date. But the inspector general found that this was true for only 64 percent of patients and the rest had to wait an average of 40 days, the AP reported.

-----

Teens Getting Drunk on Hand Sanitizer

Emergency rooms in Los Angeles are treating teens who suffer alcohol poisoning after they try to get drunk on liquid hand sanitizers, which contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol.

In the last few months, six such cases have been seen in two San Fernando Valley emergency departments, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press reported.

Some of the teens used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer, resulting in a powerful drink similar to a shot of hard liquor. The teens can find distillation instructions on the Internet.

While there have only been a few cases so far, it could signal a dangerous trend, according to county public health toxicology expert Cyrus Rangan, the AP reported.

-----

Meds Helping Many Overweight Americans Control Cholesterol: Study

Despite the fact that two-thirds of American adults are overweight, only 13 percent have high total cholesterol, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday.

Experts suggest this discrepancy is largely due to the fact that so many American adults take cholesterol-lowering drugs, the Associated Press reported.

The CDC findings are from interviews and blood tests of about 6,000 adults in 2009 and 2010.

A federal government goal of having no more than 17 percent of adults with high total cholesterol was achieved more than 10 years ago for men and about five years ago for women, the AP reported.

Too much cholesterol -- a fat-like substance in the blood -- increases the risk of heart disease.

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 24, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Case of Mad Cow Disease Discovered in California

A fourth case of mad cow disease has been diagnosed in the United States, this time in California, but it poses no danger to human health, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said Tuesday.

"There is really no cause for alarm here with regard to this animal [a dairy cow]," USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said during an afternoon news conference.

According to the Associated Press, Clifford did not say when the disease was discovered or exactly where the dairy cow had been raised. He said the animal was at a rendering plant in central California when mad cow disease was diagnosed during routine testing.

Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), can be fatal to humans who eat the tainted beef, but the wire service reported that the World Health Organization has said that tests show humans cannot be infected by drinking milk from diseased animals. In people, eating contaminated meat is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and deadly nerve disease.

There have been three confirmed cases of mad cow disease in the United States, in Washington state in 2003, in Texas in 2005 and in Alabama in 2006, the AP reported.

Only a handful of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease have been confirmed in people living in the United States, according to the AP, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said those were linked to meat products in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

-----

Report Challenges VA Claims on Speed of Mental Health Care

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide mental health care to veterans as quickly as it claims, according to an inspector general's report.

While the VA says that 95 percent of first-time patients seeking mental health care in 2011 received an evaluation within the department's goal of 14 days, the VA Office of Inspector General found that only half of patients were seen in that time frame, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of patients waited an average of about 50 days before they underwent a full evaluation.

The VA also says that 95 percent of new mental health patients in 2011 began treatment within 14 days of their desired date. But the inspector general found that this was true for only 64 percent of patients and the rest had to wait an average of 40 days, the AP reported.

-----

Teens Getting Drunk on Hand Sanitizer

Emergency rooms in Los Angeles are treating teens who suffer alcohol poisoning after they try to get drunk on liquid hand sanitizers, which contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol.

In the last few months, six such cases have been seen in two San Fernando Valley emergency departments, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press reported.

Some of the teens used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer, resulting in a powerful drink similar to a shot of hard liquor. The teens can find distillation instructions on the Internet.

While there have only been a few cases so far, it could signal a dangerous trend, according to county public health toxicology expert Cyrus Rangan, the AP reported.

-----

Meds Helping Many Overweight Americans Control Cholesterol: Study

Despite the fact that two-thirds of American adults are overweight, only 13 percent have high total cholesterol, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday.

Experts suggest this discrepancy is largely due to the fact that so many American adults take cholesterol-lowering drugs, the Associated Press reported.

The CDC findings are from interviews and blood tests of about 6,000 adults in 2009 and 2010.

A federal government goal of having no more than 17 percent of adults with high total cholesterol was achieved more than 10 years ago for men and about five years ago for women, the AP reported.

Too much cholesterol -- a fat-like substance in the blood -- increases the risk of heart disease.

View the original article here

Health Highlights: April 23, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Medicare Stable, Trustees Report Finds

Medicare is stable but requires strengthening, according to U.S. Medicare Trustees report released Monday.

It said that Hospital Insurance Trust Fund expenditures in 2011 were lower than expected and that the fund should remain solvent until 2024, but action is needed to ensure it's long-term viability.

Without the Affordable Care Act, the Hospital Trust fund would expire in 2016. The Act provides tools to control costs over the long run, such as changing the way Medicare pays providers to reward them for efficient, quality care.

Because many of the Act's efforts to reform healthcare delivery are just launching, they were not factored into the report's projections, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

"The Trustees Report tells us that while Medicare is stable for now, we have a lot of work ahead of us to guarantee its future," acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said in a CMS news release.

-----

New Technology Developed to Help Older Drivers

New technology meant to help older drivers is being developed by a team at Newcastle University in the U.K.

They've turned an electric car into a mobile testing laboratory that includes navigation aids, night vision systems and intelligent speed adaptations. For example, there is technology that uses glasses to monitor drivers' concentration, stress levels and driving habits, BBC News reported.

Many older people stop driving due to slower reaction times and other issues. But doing so can cause them to become more isolated and inactive.

"For many older people, particularly those living alone or in rural areas, driving is essential for maintaining their independence, giving them the freedom to get out and about without having to rely on others," said Phil Blythe, professor of intelligent transport systems, BBC News reported.

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Scrap Medicare Bonus Program for Insurers: GAO

An $8 billion Medicare demonstration program that provides bonuses as a way to improve the quality of Medicare Advantage insurance plans should be cancelled, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report to be released Monday.

The government auditors said most of the bonus money is going to plans rated average, which means they receive three to three-and-a-half stars on Medicare's five-star rating scale, the Associated Press reported.

There's no evidence that the bonus program will improve the quality of Medicare Advantage plans, the GAO said.

The Obama administration said it disagrees with the GAO findings and insists the bonus program will improve the quality of care, the AP reported.

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Health Highlights: April 16, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Salmonella Outbreak in 20 States Linked to Tuna

A salmonella outbreak linked to a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product has sickened 116 people in 20 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

Officials said 12 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths, the Associated Press reported.

Nearly 59,000 pounds of the product, labeled Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA, has been recalled by Moon Marine USA Corp. of Cupertino, Calif. The product, which is scraped off fish bones, was sold to grocery stores and restaurants to make dishes such as sushi, sashimi and ceviche.

The FDA said many people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as "spicy tuna," the AP reported.

As of Friday, illnesses linked to the recalled product had been reported in: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (5), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), As Georgia (5), Illinois (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (11), Massachusetts (8), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (7), New York (24), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (12).

In related news, possible salmonella contamination has prompted Dole Food Co. to recall 756 cases of bagged Seven Lettuces salad. The bags have a use-by date of April 11, 2012, UPC code 71430 01057, and product codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B, the AP reported.

The recall was announced after salmonella was discovered in a random sample of the salad tested by New York State officials. No illnesses have been reported, Dole said.

The bags of salad were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin, the AP reported.

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U.S. Nursing Homes' Disaster Plans Fall Short: Report

U.S. nursing homes' plans to protect frail residents in the event of a natural disaster such as a tornado, flood or hurricane are inadequate, according to a report by federal government investigators being released Monday.

For example, federal government-mandated emergency plans often fail to list specific measures such as coordinating with local officials, notifying relatives, or pinning name tags and medication lists to residents in an evacuation, the Associated Press reported.

"We identified many of the same gaps in nursing home preparedness and response," the investigators from the inspector general's office of the Health and Human Services Department wrote. "Emergency plans lacked relevant information. ... Nursing homes faced challenges with unreliable transportation contracts, lack of collaboration with local emergency management, and residents who developed health problems."

The investigators said Medicare and Medicaid should add specific emergency planning and training steps to the existing requirement that nursing homes have a disaster plan, the AP reported.

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Alcohol Can Help Problem Solving, Doesn't Make You Smarter: Researcher

Media reports that alcohol makes you smarter are misinterpreting a study that found that a small amount of alcohol may encourage creative problem solving, the study authors say.

"There are times where having a bit of alcohol might help you with what you are trying to accomplish," researcher Andrew Jarosz, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told ABC News.

He and his colleagues found that a certain amount of alcohol could push your mind just enough out of focus to be able to consider unorthodox solutions to a difficult problem. The amount cited in the study would be enough to make you blow a 0.075 on a breathalyzer.

The study, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, received extensive media coverage, with headlines such as "Drinking Alcohol Makes You Smarter," ABC News reported.

Jarosz called that a "complete misinterpretation."

"We're not going to argue 'smarter' or 'intelligence' or anything like that," he told ABC News. "In some cases, it's beneficial. Is it beneficial in all cases? No, we're not saying that."

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Drug Giant Hit With $1.2 Billion in Fines

Fines of more than $1.2 billion were slapped on Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals after a jury found that the companies minimized or concealed dangers associated with the antipsychotic drug Risperdal.

Experts said the penalty imposed by an Arkansas judge is one of the largest on record for a state fraud case involving a drug company, The New York Times reported.

The judge issued a penalty of $1.19 billion for nearly 240,000 violations of Arkansas' Medicaid fraud law and also fined the companies $11 million for violations of the state's deceptive practices act.

Earlier this year, Texas settled a similar case with Janssen for $158 million. Last year, Janssen was hit with a $327 million penalty in South Carolina and nearly $258 million in damages in Louisiana, the Times reported.

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Health Highlights: April 6, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Salmonella Outbreak Affects 100 People in 19 States: CDC

A outbreak of salmonella has now affected 100 people across 19 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Friday.

According to the agency, between Jan 28 and March 25 salmonella infections linked to the outbreak have been reported in Alabama (2 cases), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (5), District of Columbia (2), Georgia (4), Illinois (9), Louisiana (2), Maryland (10), Massachusetts (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (7), New York (23), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (3), Rhode Island (4), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5) and Wisconsin (9).

So far 10 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported, the CDC says.

All of the infections have been from a strain of salmonella called Salmonella Bareilly. The CDC has previously tied the outbreak to sushi/sashimi, but no one food source has yet been conclusively pinpointed as the source of illness.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without treatment, but some cases are deadly if not treated with antibiotics. The elderly, the very young and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of a severe illness from salmonella infection.

If you suspect you have eaten contaminated food, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor. "CDC will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available," the agency said.

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Allergic Reactions Spur Recall of Odwalla Chocolate Drink

Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monster beverages are being recalled after four people with peanut allergies suffered severe allergic reactions after drinking the product.

The recall covers 12-ounce and 32-ounce bottles with "enjoy by" dates to and including May 23, 2012. The bottles were distributed nationwide, the Associated Press reported.

People with peanut and/or tree nut allergies may be at risk for a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the consume the drink, Odwalla Inc. said.

The Coca-Cola-owned company said the drink contains no peanut or tree nut ingredients and the company is working with the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the cause of these allergic reactions, the AP reported.

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Turtle-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 72 People in 17 States: CDC

Salmonella outbreaks linked to small pet turtles have sickened 72 people in 17 states, according to an investigation update released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fifty-nine percent of the cases involve children 10 or younger. Twelve people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported.

The number of cases in the affected states are: Arizona (2), California (12), Georgia (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (6), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), North Carolina (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (3), New York (21), Pennsylvania (7), Texas (4), Virginia (1), and Vermont (1).

The CDC investigation found that the outbreaks involving three strains of salmonella were caused by exposure to small pet turtles (shell length less than 4 inches) or their environments, such as water from turtle habitats.

Ninety-two percent of the people with salmonella illness had small turtles and 43 percent of them said they bought the turtles from street vendors.

The CDC said turtles with a shell length of less than 4 inches should not be bought or given as gifts.

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Health Highlights: April 5, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Americans Cutting Back on Prescription Drugs, Doctor Visits: Study

As they struggle to pay for health care, American patients are using fewer prescription drugs and visiting doctors less often, a new study finds.

From 2010 to 2011, the number of prescriptions issued to U.S. patients fell by 1.1 percent and the number of doctors visits declined by 4.7 percent, according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, The New York Times reported.

The health industry research group also found that visits to emergency rooms increased by 7.4 percent. This is likely due to more people losing health insurance because they're out of work, the study authors said.

Older Americans were most likely to cut back on their use of medicines. Prescriptions for patients 65 and older declined by 3.1 percent in 2011, with the biggest declines in prescriptions for drugs to treat high blood pressure and osteoporosis, The Times reported.

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Rising Painkiller Drug Sales Lead to Addiction Concerns

Soaring sales of two types of prescription painkillers in certain areas of the United States have triggered concerns about an addiction epidemic fueled by a push to relieve patients' suffering.

From 2000 to 2010, there was a dramatic increase in the distribution of oxycodone, the key ingredient in OyxContin, Percocet and Percodan, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration data. In some areas, sales increased 16-fold, the Associated Press reported.

The DEA data also revealed that the distribution of hydrocodone, the key ingredient in Vicodin, Norco and Lortab, is rising in Appalachia and the Midwest.

The increases in the use of these opioid painkillers have coincided with rising number of overdose deaths, pharmacy robberies and other problems in Florida, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and other states, the AP reported.

In 2008, opioid painkillers such as oxycodone and hyrocodone caused 14,800 overdose deaths and that death toll is rising, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

The increased use of these prescription drugs is partly due to pain issues in the aging U.S. population and doctors' greater willingness to treat pain, Gregory Bunt, medical director at New York's Daytop Village chain of drug treatment clinics, told the AP.

He added that sales of the drugs are also rising due to addiction. Users become dependent on the painkillers and start "doctor shopping" in order to continue receiving prescriptions for the drugs.

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Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 93 People in 19 States: CDC

A total of 93 people in 19 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened with an outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

Ten of the ill people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths.

The number of people affected in each state are: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (4), District of Columbia (2), Georgia (4), Illinois (8), Louisiana (2), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (6), New York (23), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (4), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (8).

The CDC has previously tied the outbreak to sushi/sashimi, but no one food source has yet been conclusively pinpointed as the source of illness. The CDC said it and Food and Drug Administration are working together to investigate the outbreak and will provide updates as soon as they are available.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without treatment, but some cases are deadly if not treated with antibiotics. The elderly, the very young and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of a severe illness from salmonella infection.

If you suspect you have eaten contaminated food, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor. "CDC will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available," the agency said.

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