Although excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to numerous health problems over the years, cancer was usually a disease associated with smoking, chronic infections, exposure to carcinogenic toxins, and potential genetic links.

Now, however researchers have documented the existence of a pronounced link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. These include cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, breast, and possibly even pancreatic and lung cancer. (more…)

Although it appeared some progress was being made with respect to the possibility that PFOA would eventually be banned in the United States, there was no real indication of when the drive to attain that ban would gain enough momentum and government backing to force the issue to a final determination.

Back in December, in the largest settlement involving a civil administrative penalty under any federal environmental statute in agency history, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that DuPont agreed to pay $10.25 million in fines and $6.25 to fund environmental projects to settle allegations that the company withheld information about the dangers of the toxic chemical, PFOA.
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A group of heavy Marlboro smokers have filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, claiming Philip Morris USA should pay for CT scans that may detect the early stages of lung cancer.

The smokers (current and former) are all over 50 years of age and have smoked a pack or more of Marlboro cigarettes a day for 20 years.
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The FDA has issued a serious public health advisory warning of an article published on Friday in Annals of Internal Medicine reporting that three patients experienced serious liver toxicity after taking Ketek (telithromycin). These cases have also been reported to FDA MedWatch.

Telithromycin is an antibiotic of the ketolide class. It was the first ketolide antibiotic to be approved by the FDA in April, 2004 for the treatment of respiratory infections in adults. It is marketed and is widely used in several countries including Japan and countries in Europe.
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In an important notification, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of updated labeling for two topical eczema drugs, Protopic Ointment (tacrolimus) and Elidel Cream (pimecrolimus).

The new labeling will add a black box warning about a possible cancer risk. The boxed warning lets healthcare professionals know that the long term safety of the drugs is yet to be established.

A Medication Guide (FDA-approved patient labeling) will also be included with the medications in order to “ensure that patients using these prescription medicines are aware of this concern.
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Syntace USA, of Olney, Illinois, have announced the voluntary recall of about 2,300 F99 (Force 99) Bicycle Handlebar Stems manufactured in Taiwan. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.
The recalled bicycle stems can crack or break under normal conditions, causing the rider to fall and suffer serious injury. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
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According to a story featured on WFTV.com, a young mother, Claudia Mejia, gave birth at Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital last May. Soon after, she was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center “where her arms and legs were amputated.” Other than being told “she had streptococcus, a flesh eating bacteria, and toxic shock syndrome,” she was given no further explanation of what happened.
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A collaborative study involving scientists from Georgetown University Medical Center and Robarts Research Institute in Canada has found that commonly prescribed SSRI drugs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may not only manipulate the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, but may also affect the human immune system in still undetermined ways.

The researchers are the first to find that serotonin is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the chemical is specifically used to activate an immune response.
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Already disgraced Norwegian doctor, Jon Sudbo, apparently has more to be ashamed of than simply faking the data for a major cancer. He has now admitted also fabricating data for two scientific articles about cancer of the mouth in leading medical journals.

 According to Sudbo’s attorney, Erling Lyngtveit: "There were three articles in which the basic material was not correctly handled" by Sudbo, once a respected cancer expert at Norway’s Radium Hospital.
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A study in the January issue Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that snowmobiles pose major risks for children. Snowmobile accidents have caused significant multiple trauma injuries in children and adolescents, and a campaign to address this trend is needed, the study says.

According to a report in HealthDay News, the Mayo researchers say that helmet use, reduced speeds and increased regulation of snowmobiles are a few methods that may help decrease injuries in children and teenagers.
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