We’ve long been saying so, and the issue has made headlines many times in recent months; now PLoS Medicine is writing that ties between Big Pharma and health professionals—are not sufficiently broad, reports Science Daily. In this case, the issue concerns Australian reporting standards; however, the problem has been noted in a variety of global sites, including the United States.

David Henry, from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues, looked at information released by Medicines Australia, which is that country’s “pharmaceutical industry representative body,” said Science Daily. Since 2007, Medicines Australia has been mandated to report information from “industry-sponsored function and educational event for health professionals,” explained Science Daily. The information must also include the event’s venue, cost, attendees, and “hospitality” provided, but does not require disclosure regarding speaker names, finances transacted between industry and speakers, and the companies’ part in selecting a speaker, noted Science Daily. (more…)

Last week, we wrote about the fifth reported botched surgery at the same hospital since 2007. Rhode Island Hospital—the largest hospital in that state—allegedly operated on the wrong body part, described as a wrong-site surgery, five times.

Now, says the Associated Press (AP), the hospital has been fined $150,000 and mandated to take what the AP described as “the extraordinary step” of putting in video cameras in its operating rooms, citing Rhode Island health officials. The unprecedented move involves a nonsurgical team clinician observing hospital surgeries for one year, monitoring if surgeons are marking operation sites, and taking time outs to determine if the correct body part has been located for surgery, said the AP. (more…)

We have a major breakthrough to report in the Chinese drywall litigation. Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., one of the major defendants in the litigation, has agreed to accept service of lawsuits for one month.

This agreement, announced by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon, will allow claimants with Knauf drywall to consolidate their claims in one omnibus class action lawsuit against the company. What this means is that homeowners with Knauf-made wallboard in their homes must file suit now and arrange to have appropriate inspections on their homes if they are wish to join this lawsuit. This suit will be filed on December 9, 2009, and homeowners must submit their claims by December 2. (more…)

The hepatitis scandal that originated in Colorado is not yet over. The Denver Post reports that hundreds of patients remain untested for the dangerous liver disease that was potentially spread due to scrub tech Kristen Diane Parker’s shoddy practices and drug addiction.

Hepatitis C is spread by contact with infected body fluids, especially blood. The disease attacks the liver, and can lead to cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C and the incurable disease can be fatal. Hepatitis C is considered the leading cause of liver transplants. (more…)

Some face paints have been found to contain lead, the Environmental News Service (ENS) just announced, citing the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. A problem given that Halloween is tomorrow. ENS described lead as a neurotoxin that can cause problems in the brain, even at low doses.

Some of the paints that underwent laboratory testing contained heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, and chromium—allergens, noted ENS. Some of the products which are advertised as “non-toxic” and “hypoallergenic,” also tested with these metals, which is of concern given that parents shopping—or who have already shopped for Halloween make-up—may have purchased products that contain toxins. Also, it seems that the only way to test if a product contains lead or other heavy metals, is to have the product tested at a lab, said ENS. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said the tests run about $270 per sample. (more…)

Southwest Airlines has been hit with a personal injury lawsuit over toxic airplane air. According to Courthouse News Service, the federal complaint was filed by two twin sisters who claim they and other passengers choked on toxic “super-heated” fumes that formed a “mist” in a Southwest airplane during flight.

The issue of toxic airplane air is a controversy that has dogged the airline industry for years. Earlier this year, a joint investigation by German and Swiss TV networks claimed to have found high levels of a dangerous toxin on board several planes. The chemicals found in the samples included high levels of tricresyl phosphate (TCP), an organophosphate contained in modern jet oil as an antiwear additive, which can lead to drowsiness, headaches, respiratory problems or neurological illnesses. (more…)

U.S Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, expressed frustration yesterday that preliminary results from Chinese drywall testing have failed to answer some pressing questions. According to The Miami Herald, Sen. Nelson was angered not only by the lack of answers, but by the slow pace of the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s (CPSC) Chinese drywall investigation.

The CPSC has received about 1,897 reports from residents in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico concerning Chinese drywall. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)

Preliminary results from the first round of Chinese drywall tests conducted by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) have revealed that the wallboard emits volatile sulfur compounds at a higher rate, and contains higher levels of sulfur and strontium, than domestically-made drywall samples.

But according to The Wall Street Journal, CPSC officials say they will need to conduct more studies before they can determine whether or not these differences are contributing to health problems or metal corrosion reported by Chinese drywall homeowners. The testing results are to be discussed at a news conference later today, and according to the Journal, officials are expected to caution that the results are early stage and could change. (more…)

The economic stimulus plan is one of the players involved in a large study of bisphenol A—BPA—the estrogenic chemical that has been making headlines over the myriad adverse effects that seem to be associated with its exposure.

USA Today wrote that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be funding some $30 million to study the controversial chemical’s safety and noted that nearly half of that money originates with the economic stimulus bill, citing Robin Mackar. Mackar is a spokeswoman for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). (more…)

New research has concluded that just one cigarette can adversely affect young adults, reports ScienceDaily, citing research presented by Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009. The Congress was co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, said ScienceDaily.

Dr. Daskalopoulou’s study revealed that just one cigarette can increase arterial stiffness in people 18 to 30 years of age by a surprising 25 percent, according to ScienceDaily. Stiff—or rigid—arteries can lead to cardiac issues because vessel resistance is increased and the heart has to work harder, which can lead to heart disease and stroke risk, explained ScienceDaily. (more…)