Archive: In Brief

Food Safety Alert: Salmonella Product Recall Expanded
Cheree Cleghorn | March 11, 2010

U. S. News and World Report

“The Department of Agriculture has recalled 1.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products that contain a flavoring ingredient probably tainted by salmonella , the Associated Press reports. The move comes a week after the Food and Drug Administration announced that hydrolyzed vegetable protein manufactured by Basic [...]

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Pandemic Flu Monitor: H1N1 Predicted to Be “Dominant” Flu Next Winter
Cheree Cleghorn | March 8, 2010

Reuters
“The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the H1N1 swine flu virus would probably spread at low levels during 2010’s spring and summer, and be the dominant and threatening strain in the winter flu season.
“It seems unlikely that there will be another spring/summer pandemic wave in Europe unless there are significant unrecognized [...]

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Pandemic Flu Monitor: No News Is Good News
Cheree Cleghorn | March 5, 2010

There was no change in influenza levels for this report for the week ending February 27, 2010.
CDC
“No states reported widespread influenza activity, four states reported regional influenza activity, Puerto Rico and eight states reported local influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 34 states reported sporadic influenza activity, four states reported no influenza [...]

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American Cancer Makes New Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations
Cheree Cleghorn | March 5, 2010

The American Cancer Society has some new advice for men about prostate cancer screening.
This story has video footage of an interview with one of American Cancer’s lead physicians on this subject, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld.
Between prostate and breast cancer, men and women keep getting mixed messages about what to do.
For men, this interview should be helpful.
ABC [...]

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White House Tells Congress to Pass Health Care Reform by March 18
Cheree Cleghorn | March 4, 2010

The Washington Post
“White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday ratcheted up the pressure on Congress to complete health-care legislation by setting March 18 as the deadline by which a final bill should be passed.”
Source: Washington Post, March 4, 2010

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FDA Cracking Down Big-Time on Misleading Food Labels
Cheree Cleghorn | March 3, 2010

The Washington Post
“In an unusually broad crackdown on deceptive labeling, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has notified 17 food companies, including major brands such as Gerber and Nestle, that they have violated federal laws by making false or misleading claims on their product packaging.”
Source: Washington Post, March 3, 2010

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California Consumer Advocates File Class-Action Suit Against Anthem Blue Cross
Cheree Cleghorn | March 2, 2010

Anthem Blue Cross is in the headlines again— its last headline moment was a few years ago when it sent letters to doctors asking that they report pre-existing conditions for patients new to their plans. They worded the letter artfully but no one was mistaken about the plan’s intent to end coverage for patients who [...]

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Early Marijuana Use Significantly Increases Psychosis Risk in Young Adults, Study Says
Cheree Cleghorn | February 28, 2010

Medpage Today
“Marijuana use at a young age significantly increased the risk of psychosis in young adulthood, Australian investigators reported.
“Young adults who reported a longer duration since first exposure to marijuana had a two- to fourfold greater prevalence of three different psychosis-related outcomes, John McGrath, MD, PhD, of the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research in [...]

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Industry Responds Quickly to FDA Crack-Down on Radiation Screening Equipment
Cheree Cleghorn | February 26, 2010

The full story also reports that, “The average American’s total radiation exposure has nearly doubled in the last three decades, largely because of next-generation imaging tests, the FDA said.” (Emphasis added)
The Los Angeles Times
“A medical imaging trade group said Thursday that manufacturers of CT scanners would begin installing safety controls to prevent patients from receiving [...]

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A Future Doctor Creates Search Engine for Her Grandfather, a Stroke Survivor
Cheree Cleghorn | February 25, 2010

A 16-year-old saw her grandfather struggle with the computer after his stroke.
She decided to do something about it. She created a search engine which makes basic search much easier and more user-friendly for older people but also for anyone who spends a great deal of time online.
She says she thinks she wants to be a [...]

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