Previous Medical News

2009/06/20

1.  FDA says Zicam nasal spray can cause loss of smell (FDA, 6/16/09)
Stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel/ and adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal swabs because they can permanently damage the sense of smell. The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient that may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening and may be permanent. People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect dangerous life situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house. There have been at least 130 individual reports since 1999.

2.  Continental pilot dies on trans-Atlantic flight (Federal Aviation Administration, 6/18/09)
The 60 year old captain of a Continental Airlines flight en route from Brussels to Newark died during the trip of a heart attack. Pilots must pass an extensive physical every six months to remain qualified to fly. The exam includes an electrocardiogram, blood pressure check and a vision test.

3.  Hillary Clinton fractures elbow in fall (AP, 6/18/09)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has had surgery to repair a broken elbow she suffered in a fall in the State Department garage.

4.  F.D.A. Panel Recommends Approval of a Gout Drug: Krystexxa (FDA, 6/16/09)
A federal advisory committee has recommended approval of a drug developed by Savient Pharmaceuticals to treat severe cases of gout. The second gout treatment approved this year, after a drought of more than 40 years. Uloric, from Takeda Pharmaceutical, was approved in February.

Gout is an exceedingly painful form of arthritis that afflicts the big toe and other joints. It is sometimes called the “disease of kings” because it can be brought on by a rich diet of red meat, seafood and alcohol. The drug is intended for those who cannot be treated with other drugs. The drug is given by intravenous infusion every two or four weeks. Risks include allergic reactions and suggestions that it could cause cardiovascular problems.

5.  AMA objects to calling obesity a disability (AMA, 6/16/09)
The American Medical Association has taken action to support doctors' ability to discuss obesity with their overweight patients. Under a new policy, the AMA formally opposes efforts by advocacy groups to define obesity as a disability. Doctors fear using that definition makes them vulnerable under disability laws to lawsuits from obese patients who don't want their doctors to discuss their weight.

6.  U.S. approves Novartis auto-inflammatory drug: Ilaris (FDA, 6/18/09)
U.S. regulators have approved Novartis AG's Ilaris to treat children and adults with a rare but potentially fatal auto-inflammatory disease. It is the first approved treatment for patients as young as four who suffer from two forms of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), whose symptoms can include debilitating fatigue, rash, fever, headaches, joint pain and conjunctivitis. CAPS is caused by a single gene mutation that leads to overproduction of interleukin-1 beta, which causes sustained inflammation and tissue damage.

7.  New Strain of Swine Flu Discovered in Brazil (Agence France-Presse, 6/17/09)
The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1. It was not yet known whether the new strain causes more severe infections than the current H1N1 strain.

8.  ADHD Drugs: Sudden Death Risk Higher? (The American Journal of Psychiatry, 6/09)
Children and teens who take stimulants like Ritalin for ADHD have an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Clinicians who prescribe these drugs must be vigilant about screening and monitoring their patients.

9.  Gender Gap in Stroke Symptoms? (Stroke, 6/1/09)
Women may be more likely than men to have "nontraditional" stroke symptoms, especially disorientation, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Nontraditional stroke symptoms as including:

• Pain in the face or half of the body
• Mental change status (disorientation, confusion, or loss of consciousness)
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• General neurological symptoms (nausea, hiccups, weakness)
• Non-neurological symptoms ( chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath)

• Numbness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Double vision or other vision problems
• Facial weakness
• Coordination problems
• Vertigo

10.  4 Asthma Drugs Get New Precaution (FDA, 6/12/09)
The FDA today asked makers of Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR to include a precaution on those drugs' labels about reports of behavior and mood changes. Singulair is used to treat asthma and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR are used to treat asthma. All four drugs are leukotriene inhibitors, which affect the leukotriene pathway, which is involved in the body's response to inflammatory stimuli (such as breathing in an allergen). The FDA notes that some patients using those drugs have reported neuropsychiatric events (behavior or mood changes) including agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

11.  Researchers Link Depression With Alzheimer's Disease (Neurology, 6/16/09)
Depression is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

12.  AMA adopts new policy against anti-aging hormones (American Medical Association, 6/16/09)
The American Medical Association says there's no scientific proof to back up claims of anti-aging hormones, products such as HGH, DHEA and testosterone used as aging remedies. With HGH, or human growth hormone, the AMA says evidence suggests long-term use can present more risks than benefits. The risks include tissue swelling and diabetes. And the AMA says there's no credible evidence that other hormones, so-called bio-identicals, are safer than traditional estrogen and progesterone products. The traditional hormones are only recommended for menopause symptoms at the lowest possible dose because of long-term health risks.

13.  Do You Want to Know Your Molecular Age? p16 blood test may tell you (Aging Cell, 6/16/09)
A new blood test may show your "molecular age," as opposed to your chronological age. That test measures levels of a protein called p16. The levels rise as people age, smokers have higher levels of p16 than nonsmokers, and people who exercise have lower levels of p16.

14.  Have a Purpose in Life? You Might Live Longer (Psychosomatic Medicine, 6/15/09)
If you have a purpose in life -- lofty or not -- you'll live longer. It doesn't seem to matter much what the purpose is, or whether the purpose involves a goal that's ambitious or modest. It can be anything. People who reported a greater level of purpose in life were only about half as likely to die over a three year period as compared to people with a lower level of purpose.

15.  Study links breastfeeding to high grades, college entry (Journal of Human Capital. 6/09)
Breastfed babies seem more likely to do well at high school and to go on to attend college than infants raised on a bottle. The cognitive and health benefits of breastfeeding may lead to important long-run educational benefits for children.

16.  Fruits and Veggies May Improve Sperm Quality (Fertility and Sterility, 6/09)
Antioxidants play an important role in semen quality. Men with good semen quality ate more vegetables and fruit than those men with low seminal quality. An earlier study by the same team showed that men who eat large amounts of meat and full-fat dairy products have lower seminal quality.

17.  At U.S. Colleges, Binge Drinking Is on the Rise (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 7/09)
Binge drinking among American college students is on the rise, along with its consequences of drunk driving and drinking-related deaths.

18.  Almost Quarter of Suicides Involve Intoxication (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 6/19/09)
Almost 25 percent of people who take their own lives are intoxicated when they commit the act.

19.  Trying to lose weight? Be sure to eat breakfast (The Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., 6/12/09)
People who are trying to lose weight may hinder their odds of success by skipping breakfast. Skipping the first meal of the day biases your brain toward craving high-calorie foods over low-calorie foods.

20.  Tai Chi may ease arthritis pain, disability (Arthritis and Rheumatism, 6/09)
Practicing the traditional Chinese martial art tai chi may reduce arthritis pain and disability.

21.  Living near fast food restaurants 'increases obesity risk' (BMC Public Health, 6/09)
Living within half a mile of large numbers of fast food restaurants can raise the chances of becoming obese by a third.

22.  Psoriasis May Raise Cardiovascular Risks (Archives of Dermatology, 6/09)
There is an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. People with psoriasis need to pay close attention to their cardiovascular risks.

23.  Recall: Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough-E. coli contamination (FDA/CDC, 6/19/09)
Nestle USA has voluntarily recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after a number of illnesses were reported by those who ate the dough raw. The company said the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control are investigating reported E. coli illnesses that might be related eating the dough.

24.  Recall: "Stamina-Rx" Dietary Supplement from Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (FDA, 6/15/09)
The product contains the undeclared ingredient − benzamidenafil − a drug in the same class as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, that are FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

25.  Recall: Macy's recalls children's hooded sweatshirts (Consumer Product Safety Commission, 6/17/09)
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Macy's will voluntarily recall about 33,000 hooded children's sweatshirts that pose a strangulation risk. The recall covers boys' and girls' Epic Threads and girls' Greendog sweatshirts, in small and medium sizes, that have a drawstring sewn in the base of the hood. You can remove the drawstring to eliminate risk. If the hooded sweatshirts are returned, the store will give a full refund.