Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of
HealthDay:
WHO Urges Action Against Dengue
Dengue disease represents a major threat to global public
health, warns the World Health Organization.
The UN health agency said the number of cases of the potentially
deadly mosquito-transmitted illness has more than doubled in the
last decade and the situation will worsen if countries don't take
immediate action,
BBC News reported.
Dengue is a threat for two-fifths of the world's population. Of
those 2.5 billion people at risk, 70 percent live in the Asia
Pacific region, the agency said.
"National resources need to be mobilized to sustain dengue prevention and control, and the disease's profile needs to be raised on the global health agenda to stimulate the interest of international agencies and donors," said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific, BBC News reported. "The fight against this disease is
everybody's problem."
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Knee Implant Approval A Mistake: FDA
The 2008 approval of the controversial Menaflex knee implant
despite objections from its own experts was a mistake, acknowledges
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
FDA scientists protested that New Jersey-based ReGen Biologics'
implant, designed to reinforce damaged knee tissue, provides
little, if any benefit, to patients, the
Associated Press reported.
Outside pressure, including lobbying from four New Jersey
lawmakers, influenced the decision to approve Menaflex, the FDA
said.
The agency is taking steps to revoke the device's approval, but
will meet with Regen officials to discuss what data would be
required to prove the implant is safe and effective, the
AP reported.
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Judge Says States' Lawsuit Against Health Care Reform Can Go To
Trial
A lawsuit by 20 states challenging the new health care reform
law can go to trial, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson said he wants to hear
additional arguments from the plaintiffs and the federal government
over whether the law is unconstitutional, the
Associated Press reported.
Vinson scheduled the hearing for Dec. 16.
Last week, another federal judge in Michigan tossed out a
similar lawsuit, the
AP reported.
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New Blood Test Detects Concussion: U.S. Army
A simple blood test that can reveal mild traumatic brain damage
(concussion) has been developed by the U.S. Army.
This test could be used to diagnose this difficult-to-detect
injury in combat troops, young athletes and infants with shaken
baby syndrome,
USA Today reported.
The blood test looks for specific proteins that enter the
bloodstream from damaged brain cells. A recent trial showed the
test accurately diagnosed concussion in 34 patients.
Concussions can be missed by doctors because brain damage may
not show up on imaging scans and patients may downplay symptoms
such as headaches and dizziness,
USA Today reported.
Permanent brain damage can result if a patient suffers a second
concussion before the brain heals from a previous concussion,
according to the National Brain Injury Association.
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CVS Pays $75 Million Fine For Sales Of Meth Ingredient
Federal prosecutors say CVS Pharmacy Inc. agreed to pay $75
million in fines for allowing repeated purchases of
pseudoephedrine, a cold medicine ingredient used to make the
illegal drug methamphetamine.
Along with the largest civil penalty paid under the Controlled
Substances Act, the nation's biggest operator of retail pharmacies
will also forfeit about $2.6 million in profits from the sale of
pseudoephedrine, the
Associated Press reported.
Prosecutors said CVS didn't adequately monitor sales of
pseudoephedrine and also violated federal drug regulations in at
least five states.
The company has worked to fix the problem, said company chairman
Thomas Ryan, the
AP reported.
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Grand Jury Indicts Canadian Doctor Who Treated Pro Athletes
A Canadian doctor has been indicted by a U.S. grand jury on five
charges of distributing human growth hormone (HGH) and other
performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes.
The indictment says Anthony Galea treated more than 20
professional athletes in the U.S. between July 2007 and September
2009 and provided many of them with performance-enhancing drugs,
The New York Times reported.
Conspiracy, fraud and lying to border guards are among the
charges against Galea.
Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes and Dara Torres are
among the athletes treated by Galea, who has said he gave Rodriguez
anti-inflammatory medicines and treated Woods with a blood-spinning
therapy that is not considered doping,
The Times reported.
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