Although the award will likely be substantially reduced by the trial judge or a Texas appellate court, a San Antonio jury has returned a verdict $160 million in favor of the family of Tranquilino Mendoza, an 81-year-old man who was viciously beaten by a mentally disturbed roommate at the Comanche Trail Nursing Center in 1997.

The jury found that Summit Care Corp., its Texas affiliate, and two of its employees shared responsibility for this particularly brutal beating and its aftermath. Mr. Mendoza survived the attack but died less than three years later from unrelated causes. (more…)

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an important news release informing the public of a nationwide recall by Mead Johnson for  41,464 24-ounce cans of its  GENTLEASE powdered infant formula that contain metal particles up to 2.7 millimeters in size. (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01323.html)

Although no illnesses or injuries have been reported to date, if “an infant were to inhale the contaminated infant formula into the lungs, the particles could pose a serious risk to the infant’s respiratory system and throat.” (more…)

In a landmark verdict in Rhode Island, a jury has found that three former lead paint manufacturers created a “public nuisance” that continues to poison children. The verdict on the issue of liability paves the way for a potential damage award of millions of dollars in cleanup and mitigation costs.

Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein will decide if, and how much, the companies should pay.

The state argued that lead paint has poisoned tens of thousands of children over the last decade and contaminated hundreds of thousands of homes. Rhode Island was the first state to sue the lead paint industry in 1999. This trial lasted over three months. (more…)

Although the use (or misuse) of anabolic steroids has become associated with serious health problems of all types over the past several years, the message is one that cannot be overemphasized – these substances are dangerous and can cause catastrophic damage to the human body.

The results of a new study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes serve to drive the point home. (more…)

Each week seems to bring with it news that another “accepted” food-related maxim we had come to rely on is disproved or reversed. Eggs, alcohol, milk, coffee, and even fat (as of last week, at least) have been good (or bad) for you at different times. Now, yet another, dietary axiom has been put in doubt.

Salt has always been regarded as potentially harmful when consumed in excess amounts. Whether promoting the retention of water in body tissue, raising blood pressure, or being suspected of increasing the risk of heart-related problems, salt has been viewed as a “bad boy” of the diet world.

Put that belief on hold. Research now indicates that a low-salt diet may not decrease the risk of heart problems and may actually increase the risk of death from heart attack or stroke. (more…)

Health Canada has issued a serious warning to consumers not to use Emagrece Sim or Herbathin because they may contain substances that could lead to serious side effects or injury. Both products are being marketed as natural health weight loss products.

Recently, the FDA found that Emagrece Sim, also known as the Brazilian Diet Pill, and Herbathin, contain the prescription-only compound fluoxetine HCl (the active ingredient in Prozac), the controlled substance chlordiazepoxide HCl (an active ingredient in Librax) and the controlled substance fenproporex. Neither product is authorized for sale in Canada. (more…)

A recent Norwegian study published in the February 22 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that using a helmet greatly benefits both skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

According to Dr. Steinar Sulheim of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, regardless of skill level, using a helmet reduced the risk of head injury by 60% among alpine skiers and snowboarders.

Opponents of a law requiring helmet use argue that helmets may actually increase the risk of accident and injury by limiting one’s field of vision and impairing one’s hearing. Prior studies have been inconclusive on the issue. (more…)

In the U.S., consumers often judge the freshness of food products by their appearance. Thus, many foods become unmarketable as soon as they begin to “look” old or stale.

Exposure to oxygen has the effect of discoloring many foods long before they become unsafe to eat. As a result, the food industry is forced to discount or throw away an enormous amount of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and poultry each year simply because they no longer appear to be fresh.

Consequently, when it was discovered that exposing meat to harmless levels of carbon monoxide would keep it looking fresh by preventing it from turning brown or some other unappetizing color, it was seen as a way to prevent up to a billion dollars a year in losses. (more…)

A study financed by Singulair manufacturer Merck & Co., and published in the February issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, may have backfired.

In a comparison study, Singulair, the widely prescribed asthma and allergy drug, proved to be no more effective for treating hay fever symptoms than the much cheaper over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant Sudafed.

Sudafed 24 Hour (pseudoephedrine) and Singulair were found to be equally effective for treating sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and nose and throat itchiness by researchers at the University of Chicago, who studied 58 hay fever sufferers. (more…)

According to a report in Reuters, the EU is planning to ban new mercury thermometers in an effort to minimize the serious health risks that the highly toxic heavy metal poses to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems.

The European Commission, which initiates and administers laws for the 25-country EU, wants to ban new mercury-containing devices such as all types of thermometers, barometers, and blood pressure gauges. (more…)