Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Texas Law Targeting Planned Parenthood Unconstitutional:
Judge
Texas cannot stop Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds
through the Women's Health Program, a federal judge ruled
Monday.
There is sufficient evidence that a state law banning Planned
Parenthood from the program is unconstitutional, U.S. District
Judge Lee Yeakel said. He imposed an injunction against enforcement
of the law until he can hear full arguments, the
Associated Press reported.
Under the law passed last year by the Republican-controlled
Legislature, state agencies cannot provide funds to organizations
affiliated with abortion providers. A legal challenge was launched
by Eight Planned Parenthood clinics that do not provide
abortions.
In his ruling, Yeakel agreed with Planned Parenthood's argument
that if it was banned from the Women's Health Program, many women
would have no access to clinics for basic health services and
check-ups, the
AP reported.
-----
Dutch Government OKs Publication of Bird Flu Study
A Dutch scientist's paper on a mutant version of the potentially
deadly H5N1 bird flu virus can be published in the journal
Science, the Dutch government says.
Friday's announcement came after publication of this and another
paper by U.S. researchers was approved by a U.S. panel of experts.
But under European Union rules, the Dutch scientist still required
permission from his government,
Agence France-Presse reported.
The two studies found that a laboratory-created mutant version
of H5N1 could pass easily in the air between ferrets. U.S. experts
initially opposed publication of the studies over fears that the
information could be used by terrorists to unleash a deadly flu
epidemic.
The Dutch Department of Economic Affairs approved publication of
the Dutch study after weighing the risks and advantages of
publication, a government spokeswoman told
AFP.
-----
FDA Sends Warning to Supplements Companies
Ten companies that make and distribute dietary supplements
containing dimethylamylamine (DMAA) have been sent warning letters
for marketing products that lack safety evidence, the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration said Friday.
DMAA -- also referred to as 1,3-dimethylamylamine,
methylhexanamine, or geranium extract -- is often touted as a
"natural" stimulant.
The companies that received warning letters and the names of
their products are: Exclusive Supplements for Biorhythm SSIN Juice;
Fahrenheit Nutrition for Lean Efx; Gaspari Nutrition for Spirodex;
iSatori Global Technologies, LLC for PWR; Muscle Warfare, Inc. for
Napalm; MuscleMeds Perfomance Technologies for Code Red; Nutrex
Research for Hemo Rage Black, Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate,
Lipo-6 Black, Lipo-6 Black Hers Ultra, Concentrate, and Lipo-6
Black Hers; SEI Pharmaceuticals for MethylHex 4,2; SNI, LLC for
Nitric Blast; and USP Labs, LLC for Oxy Elite Pro and Jack3D.
"Before marketing products containing DMAA, manufacturers and distributors have a responsibility under the law to provide evidence of the safety of their products. They haven't done that and that makes the products adulterated," Daniel Fabricant, director of the FDA's Dietary Supplement Program, said in an agency news release.
-----