Physicians and Facebook

Physicians warned about risks of using Facebook.
The CNN (12/16) "The Chart" blog reported, "Doctors with a Facebook profile could be jeopardizing their relationship with patients if they don't correctly use the website's privacy settings, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Ethics." The study "surveyed 200 residents and fellows at the Rouen University Hospital, France, in October 2009." Approximately "half of those surveyed believed that the doctor-patient relationship would be changed if the patient learned that their doctor had a Facebook account; most believed this would happen only if the patient had unrestricted access to the doctor's profile."
MedPage Today (12/17, Fiore) reports, "Nearly all doctors thought physicians shouldn't be forbidden from signing up on Facebook, but 82% said they should limit their access to Facebook friends only." In order "to help doctors navigate some of the issues that were raised in the article, the authors offered recommendations on physician Facebook etiquette." The recommendations include that "doctors must be aware that comments and pictures posted online may be misinterpreted" and that doctors should "use caution and restraint in displaying online material."

Autism and Freeways?

Children born to mothers living close to freeways may have twice the risk of autism.
The Los Angeles Times (12/17, Roan) reports, "Children born to mothers who live close to freeways have twice the risk of autism," according to a study published online Dec. 16 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. For the study, "researchers looked at 304 children with autism and, for comparison, 259 children who were developing normally." The youngsters lived in areas surrounding Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. The investigators discovered that "children living about 1,000 feet from a freeway at birth -- about 10% of the sample -- had a two-fold increase in autism risk," which "held up even after researchers controlled for other factors that may influence development, such as ethnicity, parental education, maternal age and exposure to tobacco smoke."

Food Borne Illness

Revised CDC data indicate one in six Americans experiences food borne illnesses.
ABC World News (12/15, story 10, 0:20, Sawyer) reported that as the "sweeping food safety bill is stalled on Capitol Hill," newly-released data indicate "that one in six Americans get sick every year from food borne illnesses. Of those, 128,000 are hospitalized" and "3,000 die."
Although these numbers are considered "still too high" by Christopher Braden, "director of CDC's division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases," they are considerably lower than previous estimates, USA Today (12/16, Weise) points out. "Since 1999, the CDC has listed the number of cases of foodborne illnesses in the USA each year as 76 million, with 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths -- numbers the food industry had at times disputed. Now, after almost a decade of work, the CDC is releasing new estimates and they're 37% lower -- 47.8 million cases of foodborne illness" instead of the aforementioned 76 million.
Delving into specifics, the CNN (12/15, Falco) "The Chart" blog noted that the two CDC reports "estimate that 31 different bugs are to blame for about 9.4 million people getting sick from the food they eat." Norovirus, "which is often blamed for outbreaks on cruise ships and nursing homes for example, is said to cause about 60% of food poisoning related illnesses and salmonella is the leading cause of hospitalizations," while "Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli 0157, the parasite that causes Toxoplasmosis, and Clostridium perfringen...also are listed as the most common cause of food poisonings." Still, approximately "38.4 million Americans get sick from still unknown pathogens according to this new data."

Prescription Drugs and the Homeless

Drug dealers using homeless to obtain prescription drugs.
ABC World News (12/14, story 7, 3:00, Stephanopoulos) reported that in Houston, Texas, "over the last four years, there have been over 1,200 deaths of accidental overdoses from prescription drugs. So, 20/20 anchor Chris Cuomo and his team went undercover and found a surprising group being recruited to buy the drugs -- the homeless." Every day, homeless men are ferried to pain "clinics and paid $20 for each prescription they get." Unlike illicit "drugs, where possession of the drug is enough to make a case, here, the pain pills are all legal. So, we're probably going to see a lot more of this across the country."

Avoiding Holiday Heartburn

Experts provide recommendations for avoiding heartburn during the holidays.
USA Today (12/15, Marcus) reports that "the holidays are a heartburn nightmare waiting to happen," but "there are effective ways to avoid such spells, and to treat the discomfort, experts say." Katherine Zeratsky, a dietitian at Mayo Clinic's Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, suggests "steering clear of certain common reflux 'trigger' foods" like "fatty cheeses, alcoholic beverages, minty flavored drinks and desserts, [and] creamy beverages, such as eggnog, hot chocolate, and caffeinated drinks." Duke's Rahul Shimpi advises changing certain "lifestyle habits, including using tobacco and caffeine, which can decrease the pressure in the muscle at bottom of the esophagus." Notably, "some medications, including calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and sedatives for insomnia and anxiety, can increase or exacerbate GERD, as well."
Tea drinkers may digest fondue faster than wine imbibers. The AP (12/15) reports, "Debate has raged for decades in Switzerland over the perfect fondue beverage," with some insisting that "white wine is the best option. because the alcohol supposedly breaks down the gruyere cheese." Others, however, "say only tea -- with no milk or sugar -- is appropriate." Now, a paper in BMJ reveals that "people who drank tea digested the fondue in about six hours, compared to nine hours for those who had wine and kirsch," but "experts found no difference in symptoms like heartburn, nausea or indigestion among the groups."

Pomegranates and Cancer

Chemicals found in pomegranates may aid in fight against cancers.
According to a column in the Baltimore Sun (12/14, Weir), "chemicals found in pomegranate might have something to contribute in the fight against cancer," University of California scientists found. "When pomegranate juice was applied to prostate cancer cells cultured in a laboratory...researchers found that the cells were less likely to metastasize." Apparently, the "specific components of pomegranate -- phenylpropanoids, hydrobenzoic acids, flavones, and conjugated fatty acids -- inhibit a specific protein found in bone marrow responsible for the movement of cancer cells into the bone."
Meanwhile, the Time (12/14, Melnick) "Healthland" blog pointed out that "POM Wonderful, maker of pomegranate juice and other pomegranate-containing products, ran afoul of the Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission in September for making 'false and unsubstantiated' health claims on its products' labeling." In other words, "there's still no evidence that POM products can prevent heart disease or erectile dysfunction, as the company claimed."

Obesity and LIfe Circumstances

Study examines how gender, income and education may impact obesity.
USA Today (12/15, Hellmich) reports that, according to an analysis based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, "women who are better educated and live in households that are middle-income or above are less likely to be obese than women who are less educated and live in the lowest income households." Interestingly, "among men, there is not a statistically significant difference in obesity based on income and very little difference based on education, the data show." Epidemiologist Cynthia Ogden, of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained, "When looking at these two measures of socioeconomic status -- income and education -- their impact is greater on women than men."
Focusing on the youngest members of society, HealthDay (12/14) reported, "Among children, low family income was tied to a higher likelihood of obesity, but the association was not consistent across all racial and ethnic groups." And, "children raised in homes where the head of household had a college degree were less prone to become obese versus kids raised in households headed by someone without such education."

Obesity and Exercise

Regular, consistent exercise may be effective in preventing weight gain over time.
ABC World News (12/14, story 9, 0:30, Stephanopoulos) reported, "Switching gears now, what happens when the battle of the sexes meets the battle of the bulge? A new study," published Dec. 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "shows that men lose weight more quickly than women, but women are better at keeping the pounds off in the first place, if they exercise."
"If you want to stave off the middle-age spread, get active in your 20s and stay that way through your 30s and 40s, especially if you're a woman," CNN /Health.com (12/14, Harding) reported. For the study, "researchers followed about 3,500 people between the ages of 18 and 30 for two decades." They found that "women who maintained a regimen of moderate-to-vigorous exercise throughout the study gained about 13.5 pounds less, on average, than their least-active counterparts."
The Time (12/14, Park) "Healthland" blog reported that "men who were the most active gained 2.6 kg fewer per year than those who were least active." The study's lead author, Arlene L. Hankinson, MD, of the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, "says her findings should establish that regular and consistent exercise at a moderate intensity is effective in preventing weight gain, particularly over time."
HealthDay (12/14, Gardner) reported that "regular exercise while young only appeared to prevent later weight gain if it reached about 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week, such as running, fast walking, basketball, exercise classes or daily activities like housework." Notably, "this is the amount of physical activity recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services."
According to MedPage Today (12/14, Phend), "The researchers cautioned, though, that 'higher activity alone may not be sufficient to entirely prevent age-related weight gain,' as even those with the highest levels of activity packed on pounds and inches over two decades." The study authors concluded, "Some age-related weight gain may be unavoidable in our society, as it has been observed even among a population of vigorously active runners through middle-age." WebMD (12/14, Doheny) and HeartWire (12/14, O'Riordan) also covered the study.

Cough Capsules and Children

FDA warns liquid cough capsules pose risk to children.
The AP (12/15) reports, "The US Food and Drug Administration says that Tessalon (benzonatate) liquid cough capsules should be kept in child-proof containers because they look like candy and could pose a risk to young children if ingested." The FDA said "that from 1982 through May of this year, there have been seven cases where children younger than 10 accidentally ingested benzonatate. Five of those children died."
MedPage Today (12/15, Gever) reports, "The product is sold in colored gelcaps with a 'candy-like' appearance, the agency indicated in a press release." The "product will remain on the market, but new label information will be added about risks of accidental ingestion resulting in overdose and death in children younger than 10." Medscape (12/15) also reports the story.

Family Caregivers

Insurers unlikely to pay for family caregiving.
NPR (12/15, Andrews) reports in its "Shots" blog, "No one wants to be cared for by strangers. So it's no surprise that many people look to family members and other trusted helpers to assist them with dressing and housekeeping when they're too old or ill to do so themselves." However, "long-term care insurers often take a dim view of such unofficial assistance. 'There are almost no insurers that will pay for family members to provide care,' says Bonnie Burns, a training and policy specialist with California Health Advocates." The blog notes, "Long-term care insurance policies generally pay a set daily dollar amount for a certain number of years. Benefits kick in when someone needs help performing specified daily activities such as bathing or dressing."

Marijuana Update

NIH survey: Marijuana use among teens surpasses tobacco.
The CBS Evening News (12/14, story 9, 0:20, Couric) reported, "Meanwhile, here at home, when researchers asked teenagers about drug use, they got some troubling responses. A new survey found daily marijuana use increased among all the groups surveyed, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders."
USA Today (12/15, Rubin) reports, "More high school seniors this year used marijuana than smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, according to government data released Tuesday." And, "daily marijuana use increased significantly among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders, with about one in 16 high school seniors using marijuana daily or near-daily, the annual 'Monitoring the Future Survey' found." USA Today adds, "Marijuana use by teens declined from 2002 to 2007, noted Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse," although "today's eighth-graders 'have been exposed to a very different perspective on the way that the world is looking at marijuana.'"
The Los Angeles Times (12/15, Healy) reports, "Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, called the rise in daily use of marijuana particularly troubling, given that more frequent use, and by teens whose brains are still developing, has been shown to be more damaging to learning and memory than less frequent use."
The Washington Times (12/15, Wetzstein) reports, "Not only does marijuana use adversely affect learning, judgment and motor skills in developing minds, 'but research tells us that about one in six people who start using it as adolescents become addicted,'" said Volkow. Notably, "NIDA funds the Monitoring the Future survey." Commenting on the findings, R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, stated, "'No young person in today's competitive world is going to be helped by using marijuana' or other illicit drugs." He added, "'Mixed messages about drug legalization, particularly marijuana, may be to blame' for increases in drug use."
USA Today (12/15, Rubin) notes that Volkow and Kerlikowske "blamed the rising use among teens in the past three years on publicity surrounding medical marijuana." Volkow said that "more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, so teens might tend to view the drug as beneficial, not risky."
PBS' NewsHour (12/15, Winerman) also quotes Volkow in "The Rundown" blog as saying, "These high rates of marijuana use during the teen and pre-teen years, when the brain continues to develop, place our young people at particular risk." Notably, "the researchers surveyed more than 46,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12." The data revealed that "marijuana use in all three grades continued a three-year rising trend, after declining between 2002 and 2007."
The Baltimore Sun (12/14, Walker) said in the "Picture of Health" blog, "The survey also showed a significant increase in the reported use of Ecstasy, with 2.4 percent of eighth-graders citing past-year use, compared to 1.3 percent in 2009. Similarly, past-year MDMA use among 10th-graders increased from 3.7 percent to 4.7 percent in 2010." And, "prescription drug abuse also continued to remain a major problem. Although Vicodin abuse decreased in 12th graders this year to 8 percent, down from around 9.7 percent the past four years, other indicators confirm that nonmedical use of prescription drugs remains high. For example, the use of OxyContin, another prescription opiate, stayed about the same for 12th-graders at 5.1 percent in 2010."

Herbal Supplement Warning

FDA warns against use of sexual enhancement herbal supplement.
The Time (12/13, Melnick) "Healthland" blog reported, "If the name weren't enough to put you off the stuff, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a health-related reason to stop taking Man Up Now: the sexual enhancement herbal supplement contains a variation of the active ingredient in Viagra, and could dangerously lower your blood pressure." The FDA "analyzed Man Up Now and determined that it contains sulfoaildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra." This chemical "may interact with prescription drugs such as nitrates, including nitroglycerin, and cause dangerously low blood pressure." The CNN (12/14) "The Chart" blog and the NPR (12/14) "Shots" blog also report the story.

Acupuncture and Amblyopia

Acupuncture may help improve vision in children with amblyopia.
The CNN (12/13, Curley) "The Chart" blog reported, "Acupuncture is helping to improve vision in children with lazy eye, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Archives of Ophthalmology." For the study, "researchers compared the effectiveness of two hours of daily patching therapy with acupuncture for treating lazy eye in 88 children aged seven to 12," all of whom "had already worn glasses for at least 16 weeks."
HealthDay (12/13, Mozes) reported, "About half the children were treated five times a week with acupuncture, targeting five specific acupuncture needle insertion points (located at the top of the head and the eyebrow region, as well as the legs and hands)." Meanwhile, "the other half were given two hours a day of patch therapy, combined with a minimum of one hour per day of near-vision exercises, such as reading." Then, "after about four months of treatment, the research team found that overall visual acuity improved markedly more among the acupuncture group relative to the patch group."
Focusing on specific points of improvement, WebMD (12/13, Doheny) reported, "At 15 weeks, visual acuity with eyeglasses improved by about 1.8 lines on the vision chart in the patched eyes and 2.3 lines in those who had acupuncture." Notably, "an improvement of two lines or more occurred in nearly 67% of those in the patching group, but nearly 76% of those in the acupuncture group," while "amblyopia was evaluated as resolved in nearly 17% of patched eyes but nearly 42% of the acupuncture group."
MedPage Today (12/13, Fiore) reported, "The mechanism" why acupuncture works "remains unclear, but researchers say that acupuncture at vision-related acupoints may modulate the activity of the visual cortex." What's more, "acupuncture has also been shown to be effective in increasing blood flow to the cerebral and ocular vasculatures, stimulating the expression or retinal nerve growth factors and leading to metabolic changes in the central nervous system." The study authors "called for further study of the value of acupuncture in treating amblyopia."

HDL and Alzheimers

HDL cholesterol associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's.
The Los Angeles Times (12/13, Kaplan) "Booster Shots" blog reported that, according to a study published Dec. 14 in the Archives of Neurology, HDL cholesterol may reduce the "risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life." In a study of 1,130 senior citizens, researchers found that, "compared to those with the lowest levels of high-density lipoprotein...volunteers with the highest levels were 60% less likely to be told they had a probable or possible case of Alzheimer's."
"For the study, participants were divided into four groups," Bloomberg News (12/14, Ostrow) reports. "Those in the highest group had HDL levels of more than 55 milligrams per deciliter of blood, while those in the lowest group had levels of 38 or less." Notably, "over the course of the study, 101 people developed Alzheimer's. Of those, 16 were in the highest HDL group and 32 were in the lowest HDL group." What's more, the investigators "found that those with the highest HDL were 20 percent less likely to develop the disease compared with those in the middle two groups."
HealthDay (12/13, Holohan) reported that "people can cut their risk" for Alzheimer's "by reducing their intake of trans-fats and increasing monounsaturated fats that keep 'good' cholesterol high and 'bad' cholesterol low," the study's lead author said. HealthDay also noted, "The US National Institutes of Health reports that about five percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the more common form of the disorder, and the prevalence increases with age."
WebMD (12/13, Goodman) reported, "While it may not make sense to boost HDL levels to try to prevent Alzheimer's disease just yet," some "experts note that higher levels of HDL have clearly been shown to protect the heart, so for that reason alone, they think it's smart to keep good cholesterol in mind at every checkup." Current "guidelines recommend that men raise HDL levels that are under 40 mg/dL and that women increase HDL numbers under 50 mg/dL. An HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is optimal," WebMD explained. MSNBC /My Health News Daily (12/13, Rettner) also covered the story.
Unexpected findings enriching views on genesis of Alzheimer's. On the front of its Science Times section, the New York Times (12/14, D1, Kolata) reports in "The Vanishing Mind" that recent "unexpected findings...are enriching scientists' views of the genesis of Alzheimer's disease." For example, "researchers have...found that amyloid, in its normal small amounts, seems to have a purpose in the brain -- it may be acting like a circuit breaker to prevent nerve firing from getting out of control." However, too much of the substance "can shut down nerves, eventually leading to cell death. That means that if amyloid levels were reduced early in the disease, when excess amyloid is stunning nerve cells but has not yet killed them, the damage might be reversed," the Times points out.
Scientists research "senior moments," dementia. The Boston Globe (12/14, Lazar) reports, "Some of the country's top brain researchers say they have yet to find mind preservation in a pill," and they "also don't have a rigorous way to tell when a lapse is just part of normal brain aging, versus a signal of serious trouble ahead." But "Boston researchers are embarking on a new study that they hope will help distinguish between the two," information that "may, one day, guide patients and caregivers in choosing the right treatments, when they become available." Specifically, "scientists at Brigham and Women's and Massachusetts General hospitals will be tracking 300 adults, age 65 and older, for five years, and asking them to do a few tasks that tend to trigger so-called senior moments."

Orthodox Jewish Women Eating Disorders

Experts say eating disorders underreported among Orthodox Jewish women.
The AP (12/11) reported, "Health experts say eating disorders are a serious, underreported disease among Orthodox Jewish women and to a lesser extent others in the Jewish community, as many families are reluctant to acknowledge the illness at all and often seek help only when a girl is on the verge of hospitalization." Sadly, "as eating disorders have become less taboo in mainstream US culture, they're still widely ignored in Orthodox Jewish communities, as families worry the stigma of mental illness could ruin arranged marriages for the patient and even her siblings. Strict food rituals of fasting and remaining kosher can also exacerbate the problem."

Alzheimers Research

Research provides more clues about Alzheimer's.
The CNN (12/10, Young) "The Chart" blog reported, "Preliminary research on Alzheimer's disease suggests a protein that accumulates in the brain at very high levels in Alzheimer's patients is not being overproduced; it's just not being cleared efficiently from the brain." The research, "published in Science, measured beta-amyloid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of twelve 74-year old patients with late-onset Alzheimer's and twelve without. Researchers looked at how fast beta-amyloid was produced and how quickly it cleared the brain." Roderick Corriveau, of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, said, "Abnormal protein deposits within the brain are a hallmark not only of Alzheimer's disease, but of many neurological disorders." He added, "With knowledge about how these proteins accumulate, we may be able to slow that process and reduce the damage to the brain."

CBT for Depression

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as effective as ongoing antidepressant use in warding off return of depression.
The Los Angeles Times (12/10, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported that, according to a 26-patient study published in the December issue of the Archives of Psychiatry, an "eight-week course of 'mindfulness-based cognitive therapy' works just about as well as ongoing antidepressant use...in warding off repeat flares of depression. And both work better than a placebo (or, presumably, no treatment at all)." The blog entry explained that "mindfulness therapy...consisted of eight weekly group sessions of two hours, a full day retreat late in the study period, and optional one-hour meditation classes." Patients "learned how to reflect upon their feelings and thinking patterns with 'non-judgmental awareness' and 'self-compassion,' and to break the cycle of rumination and emotional paralysis that often afflicts the depressed."

Obese Patient Treatment

Physician urges healthcare professionals to treat overweight patients compassionately.
In "The MD" column in the Los Angeles Times (12/13), Valerie Ulene, MD, a board-certified specialist in preventive medicine practicing in Los Angeles, discusses the bias many healthcare professionals have against overweight and obese patients. Some healthcare professionals "believe that obesity is caused almost exclusively by an unhealthful diet and a lack of exercise. In their minds, it's a problem that people inflict upon themselves that could be solved if patients were motivated enough." Unfortunately, "humiliating interactions with healthcare providers make many overweight patients reluctant to seek out medical care." Ulene reminds her fellow healthcare professionals that "a patient who's overweight deserves to be treated compassionately and effectively. It's not just the right thing to do, it's the best approach for successful treatment."

Mammogram Statistic Update

Many US women still do not get recommended annual mammograms.
The CBS Evening News (12/9, story 6, 2:00, Couric) reported, "Annual mammograms have long been a key to early detection, but a study out shows only half of women 40 and older are actually getting them."
The Los Angeles Times (12/9, Roan) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "Mammography guidelines are still not well followed, despite many years of public-health campaigns to bring the issue into prominence." New survey data has revealed that "only about half of eligible US women are getting annual mammograms -- even if they have insurance to pay for the exam." According to "a study presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers examined insurance claims from a database of 12 million people, all of whom had employer-provided insurance or Medicare. Fifty percent of eligible women had a mammogram in any given year, and only 60% had two or more mammograms over four years."
Bloomberg News (12/10, Wechsler, Cortez, et al.) reports, "The study, sponsored by Medco Health Solutions Inc., reviewed records for 1.56 million patients from January 2006 through December 2009." The article notes that "sixty-five percent of the study's 708,290 women ages 50 to 64 -- considered the 'must-do group' -- had a mammogram at least twice during the four-year period." But, "that still leaves 35 percent not getting mammograms even every other year."
The AP (12/10, Marchione) reports, "Many people disagreed when a government task force said that most women don't need annual mammograms. But new research shows that only half of women over 40 had been getting them that often to start with." A "review of insurance claims on more than 1.5 million women finds that among those 40 to 85 years old, only 50 percent were getting annual mammograms and only 60 percent had one every two years." HealthDay (12/9, Preidt) and WebMD (12/9, Laino) also covered the story.

Antacid Recall

J&J recalls antacids due to metal, wood particles.
ABC World News (12/9, story 4, 0:30, Sawyer) reported, "Johnson & Johnson is pulling 13 million packages of Rolaids off the store shelves, several different kinds of Rolaids soft chews."
The CBS Evening News (12/9, story 8, 0:20, Couric) reported, "The makers of Rolaids announced a recall today involving 13 million packages of the antacid. ... Customers reported finding bits of wood or metal in the tablets."
NBC Nightly News (12/9, story 6, 0:20, Williams) reported, "The company said the problem may have stemmed from a third party manufacturer." In fact, the AP (12/10) reports that "the materials were potentially introduced into the products during the manufacturing process at" this "outside manufacturer." Accordingly, the company "is suspending production of the Rolaids products in question."
Bloomberg News (12/10, Peterson, Olmos) reports, "While the risk of serious health effects is 'remote,' consumers who have purchased Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Rolaids Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, or Rolaids Multi- Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews should stop using the products."
The New York Times (12/10, B1, Singer) reports on the front page of its Business Day section, the affected J&J unit, "McNeil Consumer Healthcare, has been troubled by manufacturing deficiencies over the last year, which has led to a series of recalls of some of the country's most popular over-the-counter brands. A recall in April alone involved about 136 million bottles of liquid children's Tylenol and other pediatric products." WebMD (12/10), the Wall Street Journal (12/10, Loftus, subscription required), and the Wall Street Journal "Health Blog" (12/9, Hobson, subscription required) also report the story.

J&J recalls antacids due to metal, wood particles.
ABC World News (12/9, story 4, 0:30, Sawyer) reported, "Johnson & Johnson is pulling 13 million packages of Rolaids off the store shelves, several different kinds of Rolaids soft chews."
The CBS Evening News (12/9, story 8, 0:20, Couric) reported, "The makers of Rolaids announced a recall today involving 13 million packages of the antacid. ... Customers reported finding bits of wood or metal in the tablets."
NBC Nightly News (12/9, story 6, 0:20, Williams) reported, "The company said the problem may have stemmed from a third party manufacturer." In fact, the AP (12/10) reports that "the materials were potentially introduced into the products during the manufacturing process at" this "outside manufacturer." Accordingly, the company "is suspending production of the Rolaids products in question."
Bloomberg News (12/10, Peterson, Olmos) reports, "While the risk of serious health effects is 'remote,' consumers who have purchased Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Rolaids Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, or Rolaids Multi- Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews should stop using the products."
The New York Times (12/10, B1, Singer) reports on the front page of its Business Day section, the affected J&J unit, "McNeil Consumer Healthcare, has been troubled by manufacturing deficiencies over the last year, which has led to a series of recalls of some of the country's most popular over-the-counter brands. A recall in April alone involved about 136 million bottles of liquid children's Tylenol and other pediatric products." WebMD (12/10), the Wall Street Journal (12/10, Loftus, subscription required), and the Wall Street Journal "Health Blog" (12/9, Hobson, subscription required) also report the story.

Red Hair Question

Study finds no additional surgical risks for people with red hair.
The Chicago Tribune (12/9, Deardorff) "Julie's Health Club" blog reported that four Welsh researchers have determined that even "though redheads have a bizarre medical reputation for excessive bleeding and greater pain sensitivity, they pose no greater risk during surgery than those sporting blonde, brown, or black tresses." The study, which appears in the Dec. 9 issue of BMJ, suggested that red-haired people "are sensitive to ultraviolet light and have an increased risk of skin cancer," but that there is "no evidence" supporting claims that they bleed more or are more susceptible to developing hernias.
WebMD (12/9, DeNoon) reported that the researchers "searched the medical and anecdotal literature for evidence to support the belief" and came up empty-handed. "Despite sporadic reports to the contrary, the clinical implications of red hair...remain questionable," they concluded.

Doctor Fee Changes

House sends Medicare "doc fix" bill to Obama.
The New York Times (12/10, A22, Pear) reports, "The House gave final approval on Thursday to a bill that would avert a 25 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors by freezing reimbursement rates at current levels until the end of next year." The measure "goes now to President Obama, who hailed the action by Congress and promised to sign the legislation." The Times adds, "AARP, the lobby for older Americans, had pushed for the legislation, saying it was needed to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries could continue seeing" their physicians, many of whom "had said they would limit the number of their Medicare patients if payments were cut on Jan. 1 under a statutory formula established by Congress." Indeed, Dr. Cecil B. Wilson, president of the American Medical Association, "said doctors had 'spent this year in limbo' because of uncertainty about Medicare payments."
The AP (12/10) reports, "The House has passed and sent to President Barack Obama a bill to delay for a year an impending sharp cut in Medicare pay to doctors that threatened to disrupt care for the nation's seniors." This "action to prevent a scheduled 25 percent cut to doctors on Jan. 1 will cost an estimated $19 billion."
The Hill (12/10, Millman) reports in its Healthwatch blog, "The measure was approved in a 409-2 vote one day after the Senate approved the $19.2 billion fix by unanimous consent." The legislation "now goes to Obama's desk, after he urged Congress on Wednesday to use the next year to develop a more permanent fix to the Medicare physician rate formula," saying, "It's time for a permanent solution that seniors and their doctors can depend on, and I look forward to working with Congress to address this matter once and for all in the coming year."
CQ HealthBeat (12/10, Weyl, subscription required) explains, "The bill (HR 4994) would freeze current payment rates until Dec. 31, 2011, and would avert a 25 percent cut in the rates scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The measure also would extend several expiring Medicare programs, including protections for rural doctors and hospitals." Hitherto, "lawmakers have only been able to agree to short-term delays, often just before the extensions expired, and sometimes afterward. Physician and patient groups have urged a lengthier extension of the 'doc fix,' or permanent changes to the underlying payment formula, to provide more stability for the Medicare program," but "Democrats and Republicans have not been able to agree on how to offset the cost of those proposals."
CNNMoney (12/10, Luhby) quotes the AMA's Wilson as saying about the passage, "Stopping the steep 25% Medicare cut for one year was vital to preserve seniors' access to physician care in 2011. ... Many physicians made clear that this year's roller coaster ride, caused by five delays of this year's cut, forced them to make difficult practice changes like limiting the number of Medicare patients they could treat."
American Medical News (12/10, Silva) reports, "Numerous surveys by the American Medical Association and others have found that physicians facing Medicare pay reductions said they were less likely to accept more patients in the program, or that they might drop Medicare altogether. Those surveys said seniors view Medicare physician pay cuts as a serious problem that requires swift congressional action." Dr. Wilson is also quoted as saying, "The AMA will be working closely with congressional leadership in the new year to develop a long-term solution to this perennial Medicare problem for seniors and their physicians."
Modern Healthcare (12/10, Zigmond, subscription required) notes, "American Hospital Association President and CEO Richard Umbdenstock also hailed the move in a written statement, saying 'Congress also extended key Medicare policies that without action could have restricted access for many patients and communities in rural and other underserved areas."
Geriatrician: Medicare physician payment cuts hurt seniors most. Geriatrician Jerald Winakur writes in a Washington Post (12/10) op-ed, "The temporary fix that Congress has passed to stave off the looming 23 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements to physicians is better than nothing -- but the long-term problem remains unsolved. Lawmakers have for years kicked down the road tough choices on a critical issue -- and those who stand to suffer the most should physician pay be cut are elderly Americans." Winakur says that while he does not oppose all physician payment cuts, the "implement that is needed...however, is a scalpel, not the meat cleaver" Congress has been using. He concludes, "These days I can no longer promise my patients that I will be there when they need me. If Congress allows these unkindest of cuts to occur, the already-fragile health-care system serving our seniors will bleed."

Organized Sports

Study finds children not receiving sufficient exercise during organized sports.
NBC Nightly News (12/8, story 8, 0:30, Williams) reported that a new study "shows that kids don't get enough exercise from organized team sports." According to the findings, children on soccer, baseball, or softball teams "exercised heavily only for about 45 minutes during practice" on average; an exercise regimen that is "15 minutes less than the amount recommended by national guidelines."

New Tobacco Warnings

Surgeon general issues new tobacco warnings.
The Los Angeles Times /Orlando Sentinel (12/9, Shrieves) writes that a report set to be released Thursday by the US surgeon general has found that "any exposure" to tobacco smoke can cause immediate damage to the human body. "There is no safe level of exposure to cigarette smoke," Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said. "Inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage your DNA, which can lead to cancer." The report also finds a minimal difference between being a light smoker and a heavy smoker. "That's because of the inflammatory processes occur at very, very low doses," said cardiologist Dr. Stanton Glantz.
The AP (12/9) notes that Thursday's report "is the 30th issued by the nation's surgeons general to warn the public about tobacco's risks," but "is unusual because it devotes more than 700 pages to detail the biology of how cigarette smoke accomplishes its dirty deeds -- including the latest genetic findings to help explain why some people become more addicted than others, and why some smokers develop tobacco-caused disease faster than others."
CNN (12/9, Young) says that the report "links smoking directly to 13 different cancers including esophagus, trachea, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix and acute myeloid leukemia." It also "ties smoking to more than a dozen chronic diseases like stroke, blindness, periodontitis, heart disease, pneumonia; reproductive problems like diminishing fertility; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and other respiratory illnesses."
The Washington Post (12/9, Stein) "Checkup" blog reports that Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, called the report "a stark reminder of how lethal and addictive smoking truly is." Bloomberg News (12/9, Peterson) also reported on this story.