Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Bioethics Panel Gives Cautious OK to Testing Anthrax Vaccine in
Kids
Children should be allowed to take part in clinical trials for
vaccines and other treatments to protect against bioterrorism
attacks only if there is "minimal risk" that is no worse than a
checkup at a doctor's office, according to a report by the
President's Bioethics Commission.
"Research involving children is ethically distinct from research on adults," said commission chairwoman Amy Gutmann, USA Todayreported.
She noted that, morally and legally, children cannot give
consent to volunteer for medical experiments. However, biodefense
officials say that without testing these treatments on children,
doctors won't know if they are giving safe or effective doses of
them to youngsters in the event of a bioterrorism attack, such as
one involving anthrax.
The federal government has large stockpiles of treatments for
biological, chemical, radiation or nuclear attacks, but "a high
percentage of them haven't been tested at all for how they should
be given to children," said Steven Krug, chairman of the American
Academy of Pediatrics' disaster preparedness advisory council,
USA Todayreported.
Among its recommendations, the commission said children should
only be included in clinical trials of bioterrorism treatments if
previous studies have shown a lack of serious side effects in
animals and adults.
In addition, testing should first be done on older teens ages
16-17, who more closely resemble adults, before testing is
conducted on younger children. The commission also said money
should be set aside to compensate children and teens who suffer
side effects from the clinical trials,
USA Todayreported.
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ProtiDiet High Protein Bars Recalled
Certain batches of ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bars
have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
The recalled bars were sold via the Internet and distributed in
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
They were sold in 210 gram (7.4 oz.) packages, 7 bars per
package, bearing UPC 6 21498 42238 1, lot code CR 18 13B, and Best
Before date of 2015-08, the FDA said.
Consumers with these products should throw them out or return
them to the place of purchase. To date, there have been no reports
of illnesses associated with the bars, made by Pro-Amino
International, Inc., Quebec, Canada.
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New Law Would Force NYC Stores to Keep Cigarettes Out of
View
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing a law that
would require stores to keep cigarettes out of public sight and
increase penalties for illegal sales and smuggling of
cigarettes.
At a news conference Monday, Bloomberg said the proposal would
make New York the first city in the nation to keep tobacco products
out of sight,
The New York Timesreported.
Just last week, a judge blocked Bloomberg's proposed ban on
large-sized sugary beverages, but the city is appealing the
ruling.
The proposed cigarette law will go to city council for its
consideration. That was not done with the sugary drink ban, which
went through only the city's board of health. The new proposal
could meet heavy opposition from small stores where cigarettes
account for a large percentage of sales,
The Timesreported.
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Medical Products Recalled Due to Mold
Potential mold contamination has led to a recall of all medical
products compounded at Med Prep Consulting, Inc. in New Jersey.
The recall was announced by Med Prep after a Connecticut
hospital notified the company that mold had been found in one of
its products, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration news
release.
The affected products are used by hospitals and health care
professionals at doctor's practices or clinics. None of the
products are sold directly to patients at retail stores or to home
care patients.
The products packaged in plastic infusion bags, plastic infusion
devices, plastic syringes and glass vials were shipped directly to
regional hospital pharmacies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Connecticut and Delaware. Products packaged in plastic syringes
only were distributed nationwide to doctor's practices and clinics,
the FDA said.
All facilities that received the recalled Med Prep products have
been notified and instructed to remove and return the product to
the company.