Gov't seizes more contaminated heparin

news.yahoo.com — WASHINGTON – Federal agents Thursday seized quantities of a contaminated blood thinner made in China from a small manufacturer in Cincinnati, officials said. The blood thinner heparin, given to patients undergoing heart surgery and kidney dialysis, was the focus of a major recall earlier this year after crude drug material from China was found to be contaminated. Hundreds of frail patients suffered severe allergic reactions. The government received reports of nearly 250 deaths. The FDA had inspected the Cincinnati company, Celsus Laboratories, Inc., in April and at the time found contaminated heparin in two different kinds of products, officials said. A little over 2 pounds of the blood thinner was intended for use directly with patients, and another 31 pounds was to be utilized in diagnostic test kits and medical devices. The FDA seized the heparin after informing the company that its efforts to notify customers of the contamination problem were unsatisfactory, the agency said in a statement. Drug seizures are a rare penalty for the FDA, since regulators prefer to negotiate with manufacturers to resolve disputes. read more...

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Massive malaria vaccine trial to begin in Africa

news.yahoo.com — Researchers trying to create the world's first malaria vaccine are launching a massive medical trial as early as next month involving 16,000 children that could be the largest such trial ever conducted on children in Africa. British-drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC is teaming with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, which is an anti-malaria charity funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and clinics and research centers in Africa to develop a malaria vaccine. "This is probably going to be one of the largest studies in infants and in children in Africa," said Joe Cohen, a top vaccine researcher for GlaxoSmithKline. read more...

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'Prescription Switching' Would Make Most Patients Unhappy

news.yahoo.com — Most prescription drug users would be unhappy if one of their medications was switched to another in the same class without their knowledge or their doctor's approval, a new survey shows. The practice, known as therapeutic substitution, is usually done as a cost-saving measure. "People may not know about it, but it's happening, and if it is happening, it should be happening with full transparency, and patients and doctors should be in on this," said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League. "It's not necessarily something that we're condemning." But others feel the practice is not unduly widespread and, even when it is used, that doctors and patients rarely go uninformed. read more...

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Older Blood Used in Transfusions Raises Infection Risk

healthnews.com — Most of us don’t think about blood. We just want it to stay where it belongs and do its job. Blood is the body’s transportation system, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the organs in our body that need them, and carrying away the waste products to be eliminated. In an average lifetime most people will never need a blood transfusion. The business of blood, donations, storage, and transfusion, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Blood cannot be used for patients if it has been stored over 42 days but recent findings may indicate that is too long. According to Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey, after 29 days of storage, the risk of blood poisoning or pneumonia doubled in recipients. The possible reason is that after two weeks in storage the red blood cells in the blood start to undergo changes and begin to release chemicals call “cytokines.” The cytokines hinder immune function and high levels could make patients more susceptible to infection. read more...

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Gov't seizes more contaminated heparin

news.yahoo.com — Federal agents Thursday seized quantities of a contaminated blood thinner made in China from a small manufacturer in Cincinnati, officials said. The blood thinner heparin, given to patients undergoing heart surgery and kidney dialysis, was the focus of a major recall earlier this year after crude drug material from China was found to be contaminated. Hundreds of frail patients suffered severe allergic reactions. The government received reports of nearly 250 deaths. The FDA had inspected the Cincinnati company, Celsus Laboratories, Inc., in April and at the time found contaminated heparin in two different kinds of products, officials said. A little over 2 pounds of the blood thinner was intended for use directly with patients, and another 31 pounds was to be utilized in diagnostic test kits and medical devices. The FDA seized the heparin after informing the company that its efforts to notify customers of the contamination problem were unsatisfactory, the agency said in a statement. Drug seizures are a rare penalty for the FDA, since regulators prefer to negotiate with manufacturers to resolve disputes. A representative who answered the phone at Celsus said the company would have no comment. read more...

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VigRX Plus • Best Male Enhancement Pills

vigrxplus.co.cc — Stop premature ejaculation, treat erection problems and increase penis size and sex drive with VigRX Plus male enhancement pills. Buy VigRX Plus, The Best Male Enhancement Pill read more...

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Dental Care: Healthy Gums

healthnews.com — Much like the foundation for a house, healthy gums are the foundation for your teeth, providing the support needed for your teeth to function as they should. Unhealthy gums are like having termites in the foundation of a house; everything seems fine, but the damage is being done in places that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Healthy gums are light pink in color, or darker for people with darker complexions. Healthy gums are dotted, much like the surface of an orange, are not swollen or tender and don’t bleed when brushing or flossing. read more...

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Study links lead in blood to wild game consumption

news.yahoo.com — BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota health officials are recommending that pregnant women and young children avoid eating meat from wild game killed with lead bullets. The recommendation is based on a study released Wednesday that examined the lead levels in the blood of more than 700 state residents. Those who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game. The elevated lead levels were not considered dangerous, but North Dakota says pregnant women and children younger than 6 should avoid eating venison harvested using lead bullets. Those groups are considered most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death. read more...

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