Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
New Drug for Pancreatic Tumors Approved by FDA
The drug Afinitor has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approval to treat patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine
tumors that have spread to other parts of the body.
This is the first new treatment approved for this condition in
the U.S. in nearly 30 years, according to drug maker Novartis AG,
the
Associated Press reported.
The company said the approval was based on a study that found
Afinitor reduced the risk of cancer progression by 65 percent and
more than doubled the time patients went without tumor growth.
Afinitor was already approved in the U.S. for treatment of
advanced kidney cancer and for children and adults with a benign
brain tumor caused by a rare genetic disorder called tuberous
sclerosis, the
AP reported.
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Recalled Bunk Beds Could Collapse
Nearly half a million wooden bunk beds sold in the United Stated
and Canada have been recalled due to concerns that the beds could
collapse.
The wooden side rails that connect the headboard and footboard
and hold the mattress in place can split, resulting in the collapse
of the bunk bed. There have been 23 reports of the side rails
cracking or breaking, including seven reports of minor abrasions or
bruises, according to the
Associated Press.
The beds were made in Vietnam, distributed by Dorel Asia SRL of
Barbados, and sold by Walmart, Kmart and Target. About 445,000 of
the beds were sold in the U.S. and 21,700 in Canada.
For more information, consumers can call Dorel Asia at
800-295-1980 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through
Friday or they can check the company's website, the
AP reported.
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Death Risk High for Grounds Maintenance Workers: Study
Grounds maintenance workers in the United States have a high
risk of dying on the job, a new study says.
It found that 1,142 grounds maintenance workers died from
job-related injuries between 2003 and 2008. During that time,
grounds maintenance workers accounted for one in every 30 worker
deaths from traumatic injuries.
Causes of death included transportation incidents, tree work,
falls, electrocutions and drowning.
Hispanics make up much of the grounds maintenance workforce in
the U.S. but deaths among Hispanics were not disproportionately
higher than among non-Hispanics. However, Hispanic workers who died
were an average of nine years young than non-Hispanic workers who
died. Five out of every six Hispanic workers who died were born
outside the U.S.
Enforcement of regulations and training can reduce deaths among
grounds maintenance workers, said the authors of the study in the
latest issue of the
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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EU Approves Viagra-Like Drug to Treat Children With Deadly Lung
Condition
A drug that contains the same medicine (sildenafil) as Viagra
has been approved by the European commission to treat children with
a deadly lung condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension
(high blood pressure in lung arteries).
Revatio, which was approved in Europe six years ago to treat
adults with the lung condition, can now be given to children ages 1
to 17, the
Associated Press reported.
The new approval was based on a study of 234 children with
pulmonary arterial hypertension that found Revatio lowered blood
pressure in lung arteries and improved breathing and functioning.
Side effects included fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain and extreme light sensitivity.
Revatio is approved for adults in more than 50 countries,
including the United States. Drug maker Pfizer plans to seek
approval for the drug in numerous countries, the
AP reported.
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