Archive for June 2008

Cigarette sales have dropped in recent years due to increased taxation and anti-smoking campaigns. However, recent data shows that sales of other types of tobacco such as snuff, roll-your-own tobacco, and small cigars have increased. The concern is that any public health gains made from smoking reduction may actually be offset by the increased use of these other tobacco types, which have not been the focus of public health efforts. Full story.

Diabetics who use becaplermin gel (marketed as Regranex) have a new warning to be aware of. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a black box warning for this product due to safety concerns. A recent study found that those who have used more than 3 tubes of the gel have a 5-fold increase in the risk of dying from cancer, comopared to those who have never used the gel. Regranex is used to treat certain types of diabetic ulcers. Physicians are urged to report Regranex-related events to the FDA. As well, this message should be passed on to any diabetics you know. Full story.

According to the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project the average amount of THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana, has increased to 9.6 percent – the highest since tracking started in 1975. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy attributed the increases in marijuana potency to sophisticated growing techniques that drug traffickers are using in the United States and Canada. Chronic marijuana use has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Full story.

The first placebo-controlled trial of St. John’s wort in children and adolescents suggests that the herb has no additional benefit beyond that of a placebo in treating the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Up to 30% of children with ADHD either do not respond to medication, or suffer from side effects of ADHD medication. This is why many parents turn to alternative treatments like St. John’s Wort. The study was published in the most recent Journal of the American Medical Association. Full story.

That is what the FDA is attempting to find out. Depending on the results of a study due to be completed in 2009, the FDA may warn against the use of silver dental fillings in women who plan to become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. The reason is that silver amalgam fillings contain half mercury and half a combination of other metals. Mercury has been shown to effect brain growth and result in cognitive and motor-skill development problems. However, the American Dental Association still feels the amalgam fillings, which have been used for over a hundred years, remain safe for patients based on many studies and scientific reviews conducted by both government and independent agencies. Full story.

The US Food and Drug Administration is expanding its warning to consumers nationwide that a salmonella outbreak has been linked to the consumption of certain types of tomatoes. The FDA is recommending consumers to not eat raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, as well as any products containing these tomatoes. Since April, 145 cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Saintpaul, an uncommon strain of Salmonella, have been reported. Salmonella is a bacteria that causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps starting 12 to 72 hours after an infection. The illness typically resolves in four to seven days without treatment, but severe infection and death is possible. No deaths from the current outbreak have been reported. Full story.

Sadly, a ten year old boy recently drowned hours after leaving a swimming pool. Though uncommon, secondary drowning can still cause asphyxiation. Typically when we think of drowning we are referring to primary drowning in which water enters the lungs and causes rapid suffocation. However, in secondary drowning, fluid can enter the lungs and cause a chain of events to occur that leads to irritation and breakdown of lung tissue, pulmonary edema, and possibly death. Even though he was wearing floatation devices and monitored by adults, Johnny Jackson inhaled enough water which led to his untimely passing hours after he left the swimming pool. Since drowning is one of the top causes of unintentional death in children, it’s important to know that anyone who has been submerged and has inhaled water should be brought to medical attention. Full story.

Researchers discover that patients who have at least one first degree relative with colon cancer were 25% less likely to die from the disease during 5.6 years of follow-up than those with no close relatives with colon cancer. The risk of dying was even lower (51%) for those with two or more relatives with colon cancer. It is, as yet, unclear why this is the case. The scientists have ruled out likely causes, such as healthier lifestyle habits and more frequent screening among those with a family history positive for the disease. The study is published in the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Full story.

A new report in the journal Pediatrics is the first to show substantial regional differences in the incidence of childhood cancers – the highest being in the US Northeast. The results also show that girls were more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer, and boys more likely to have lymphoid leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lead author, Dr. Li of the CDC, said the risk of cancer in a region may be affected by radiation levels. Additionally, the number of cases can be affected by under-reporting and variations in quality of healthcare, which can lead to more (or less) cancers being diagnosed. Full story.

Not according to the latest study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Theresa Nicklas and colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine determined that the consumption of juice was not found to be detrimental for children in terms of nutrient intake or overweight status. In fact, 100% juice consumption was found to be associated with better nutrient intake overall. This study, however, only assessed children 2 to 11 years of age. Full story.