Two U.S. Senators from Florida and Louisiana have sponsored legislation aimed at initiating a recall of Chinese drywall. The legislation filed by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, both Democrats, also calls for an immediate, temporary ban on some types of drywall from China.

As of last week, the Florida Health Department had received at least 155 complaints about Chinese drywall that produces a “rotten eggs” odor in homes. The fumes from the drywall have also been linked to corroding metals in many of the homes, and people living with the material have reported sinus and respiratory problems. Many Florida homeowners have had to leave their homes because the Chinese drywall has made them unlivable, and some builders in the state are scrambling to gut homes and replace the drywall.

Unfortunately, it is becoming apparent that problems involving defective Chinese drywall go far beyond Florida. Last week, a Virginia builder, The Dragas Companies, confirmed that some of the homes it built contain Chinese drywall. The company is in the process of inspecting nearly every one of its homes in two developments in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, and is also paying to fix homes with imported drywall and helping residents relocate for a few months while the work is being done. According to the consumer group America’s Watchdog, drywall from China was likely used in the Deep South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver, British Columbia, and even Hawaii.

According to a statement from Sen. Nelson, between 60,000 to 100,000 homes nationwide may contain the tainted drywall. In Florida alone, an estimated 36,000 homes are believed to contain Chinese-made drywall. Both he and Sen. Landrieu say their legislation is aimed at jump-starting a process to help affected homeowners with the costs of repairs or replacing the defective drywall.

In addition to a recall and import ban, the legislation calls on the Consumer Products Safety Commission to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the level of hazard posed by certain chemicals and unidentified organic compounds in the drywall.

As we reported earlier this month, the Florida Health Department released preliminary results from tests of three samples of Chinese drywall. Those tests found that the material contained higher levels of sulfuric and organic compounds than an American sample tested. The three Chinese samples all contained traces of strontium sulfide while the American sample did not. Strontium sulfide is a gray powder that emits a “rotten eggs” odor when exposed to moist air.

The three Chinese samples also contained hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and carbon disulfide. All of these compounds are potentially toxic, and carbon disulfide in liquid form is extremely flammable. These were also found in the American sample, but could have been contaminated by the other samples, as all had been shipped together, the report said.

Finally, the report said the tests found that Chinese drywall gave off a sulfur odor when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. The report recommended further testing to determine whether the organic or sulfur compounds detected were to blame for the problems seen in Florida homes.

• Passenger 57 ipod

Last week’s recall by Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese of Reading, Michigan has been expanded. The recall, which was announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involves certain Asadero and Oaxaca soft Mexican-style cheeses due to potential Listeria contamination.

The original recall indicated that the Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese products were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The expanded recall now also includes possibly Listeria-contaminated cheeses shipped to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Alabama, as well.

The recalled cheese products were then distributed to retails stores and delis in 10-pound balls and 16- and 12-ounce plastic packages, sold under the name “Aguas Calientes.” The recalled cheeses were also sold in six-pound blocks, shrink-wrapped in clear plastic, under the name “El Jaliciense.” Packaging may also include a label with the name “Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese LLC,” said the FDA. The recall encompasses all production dates between August 1, 2008 (expiration date 10/29/2008) and February 27, 2009 (expiration date 5/10/2009).

A routine sample of Asadero cheese, taken by an inspector from the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Food and Dairy Division on February 23, 2009, was subsequently tested by the Michigan Department of Agriculture Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese products.

The FDA is advising consumers and retailers to return all unused, recalled products to Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese and to contact Salvador Torres, Manager, Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese LLC at 1-517-368-5990 with any questions or concerns.

Listeriosis, the food poisoning generated by Listeria monocytogenes, is particularly dangerous to the elderly, pregnant women, newborns, those with chronic medical conditions, people with HIV, or those undergoing chemotherapy. In serious cases, the disease spreads to the nervous system, causing headaches, stiff neck, and convulsions. Listeriosis can also cause meningitis and blood poisoning in immune-compromised individuals.

In pregnant women, Listeriosis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth of a baby suffering from the infection. Pregnant women are about 20 times likelier than others to be infected, with about one-third of Listeriosis cases occurring during pregnancy; the incidence of Listeriosis in newborns is 8.6 per 100,000 live births and the perinatal and neonatal mortality rate (stillbirths and early infant deaths) is 80 percent.

Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for an estimated 2,500 illnesses in the United States annually, with about 200 in every 1,000 cases resulting in death. Listeriosis can take days, even weeks, to develop and can present in anything from a mild flu-like illness to meningitis and septicemia.

Earlier this month we reported on a Peregrina Cheese Corporation of New York City Queso Fresco cheese recall, also over concerns about Listeria monocytogenes contamination. That recall was the third in a series of recalls by Peregrina Cheese, with a second recall implemented in February and the first in December 2007, all due to possible Listeria contamination. Just prior to the Torres Hillsdale report, we wrote about Neco Foods, LLC of Lantana, Florida recalling 231 cases of seven-ounce, 32-ounce, and five-pound packages of Atlantis Brand SMOKED FISH DIP, because of a potential Listeria contamination.Alligator movie full

• Four Dragons aka Kinta film

• Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun ipod

The American Medical Association (AMA) is responding to allegations that two top editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) attempted to intimidate a critic of a Lexapro study it published. According to The Wall Street Journal, the AMA has asked its oversight committee to investigate the charges.

The controversy centers on Dr. Jonathan Leo’s criticism of a Lexapro study published in the JAMA. Dr. Leo is a professor of neuroanatomy at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. More JAMA Oversight Committee to Look Into Lexapro Study Controversy

Babson College in Wellesley, near Boston, Massachusetts, is closing until at least Wednesday following what is believed to be a norovirus outbreak there. NBC News reported that about 100 students and staff fell ill with severe nausea and vomiting and the Examiner reported that some students have been hospitalized with dehydration.

Tom Lyons, a spokesman for the State Department of Health in Massachusetts, described the norovirus as being “miserable,” but not life-threatening, explaining that most people recover after a few days, reported NBC News. Babson College has about 3,400 under-graduate and graduate students, all are permitted to remain in their dorms; however, classes and athletic events have been canceled while campus buildings are cleaned and sanitized, said NBC News. Dorm students have been supplied with disinfectants, said the Examiner, so that they can sanitize their rooms and lavatories. More Norovirus Shuts Down Massachusetts’ Babson College

Genentech’s rational for fast-track approval of Avastin as a treatment for a deadly type of brain tumor is being questioned by Food & Drug Administration (FDA) staffers. According to the Associated Press, an FDA advisory panel will consider whether or not to approve Avastin as as a treatment for recurring glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer that is generally fatal within six months, at a meeting tomorrow.

Avastin was the first approved therapy designed to inhibit angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels develop and carry vital nutrients to a tumor. Avastin was approved by the FDA in 2004 to treat colon cancer, and in 2006, the agency approved it as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Last year, the FDA also approved Avastin as a breast cancer treatment.

Avastin approvals have come with controversy, as the drug has been the subject of various safety concerns. When the FDA approved Avastin for breast cancer patients last year, it did so against the recommendation of its own advisory panel. In late 2007, the panel had voted 5-4 to recommend that the agency reject Genentech’s application to expand the approved uses of the drug to include advanced breast cancer. The FDA advisory panel vote came after agency staffers posted documents on the FDA website noting that while Avastin did extend the period prior to patients’ breast cancer becoming worse, treatment with the drug did not markedly increase survival time. The FDA documents also pointed out that Avastin caused serious side effects, including cardiovascular problems, bowel perforations, and a few deaths. The FDA staff said that those side effects included several patient deaths that were “probably or definitely” due to Avastin.

Last June, researchers at Stony Brook University Cancer Center in New York released a study showing that about 12 percent of people who took Avastin developed blood clots in the veins, a rate that’s about 30 percent higher than among other cancer patients who are not taking it. These types of blood clots put patients at a higher risk of death, because they can travel to the lungs. Clots are already a common problem faced by cancer patients.

In December, Genentech also reported that some Avastin patients had experienced eye inflammation when it was used off-label to treat an eye condition.

According to the Associated Press, Genetech’s application for expanded Avastin approval relies on imaging scans that claim to show a reduction in tumor size. Patients were considered responsive to the drug if their tumor shrunk at least 50 percent over the course of two consecutive visits to their physician. Genentech reported that roughly 25 percent and 20 percent of brain cancer patients in two separate studies responded successfully to the drug, the Associated Press said.

But in documents posted online, FDA reviewers said they never rely on response rate when considering a fast-track approval, and noted that measuring tumor size via medical imaging is difficult, the Associated Press said. According to the report, FDA advisors had previously said that Avastin would need to have a response rate above 30 percent to outweigh doubts about imaging.

Lolita dvd

The investigation into Bernard Madoff’s historic Ponzi scheme has revealed serious international implications. Madoff’s so-called investment business had operations in London, which, say United Kingdom prosecutors, played “a significant role” in the multi-billion dollar fraud perpetrated by Madoff, reported Bloomberg.com.

Madoff—once a chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange—is the founder and primary owner of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC who pleaded guilty to 11 fraud counts earlier this month. Madoff’s firm is primarily known for its business in market-making, or serving as the middleman between buyers and sellers of shares. Madoff also oversaw an investment-advisory business that managed money for high-net-worth individuals, hedge funds, and other institutions. According to the FBI complaint against Madoff, that business was largely a Ponzi scheme. More Madoff Could Face UK Charges

A construction truck traveling across the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in New York City hit an overhead sign last Friday afternoon, causing it to crash onto all five lanes of the bridge deck. Two people in the truck were injured, and the bridge was closed for several hours.

The accident resulted in the closure of the Whitestone Bridge in both directions, and traffic was rerouted to the Throgs Neck or Robert F. Kennedy Bridges. The bridge was reopened around 7:00 p.m. Friday. More Whitestone Bridge Reopened After Friday Accident

A class I recall has been issued for Medtronic BioGlide Ventricular Shunt Catheters. A class I recall is issued when a device poses a risk of serious injury and death.

The recalled Medtronic BioGlide Ventricular Shunt Catheter is part of a system used to treat a condition called hydrocephalus, which is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. While hydrocephalus occurs in adults, it is most common in children. More Medtronic Recalls BioGlide Ventricular Shunt Catheters

We’ve long been writing about the problems with lead wires and implanted defibrillators, but now, a surprising situation is emerging out of Denmark, HealthDay News reports, citing a New England Journal of Medicine report.

“We recently cared for a patient who, after receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, was readmitted shortly after hospital discharge because of two shocks delivered while the patient was showering,” said the March 26 article, reported HealthDay. There was no clear reason for the device to have activated; however, according to the report, a review “raised suspicion that electrical noise had caused an inappropriate ICD discharge.” The Danish doctors had an electrician analyze the home’s electrical wiring, said HealthDay. More Faulty Home Wiring Can Trigger Defibrillator

The safety and effectiveness of medications used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are being questioned with the release of new study data that shows such drugs to be ineffective – and possibly harmful – in the long term. According to The Washington Post, the findings are also raising questions about the conduct of some involved in the research, because they are very different than initial findings that were released in 1999.

The study, known as the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children Oliver Twist release (MTA), was designed to test whether children diagnosed with ADHD do better when treated with drugs, with drugs plus talk therapy, with talk therapy alone or with routine medical care alone.

According to the Washington Post, the initial results published over a decade ago showed clearly that those treated with medication did much better than those who got only talk therapy or routine care. Drug makers, of course, took advantage of the findings, and used the initial results in promotional materials. And according to The Post, the study’s initial findings resulted in treatment being skewed in direction of medication.

The first follow-up results were issued in 2007. They no longer showed differences in behavior between children who were medicated and those who were not. What’s worse, the study also showed that children on drugs for three years were shorter and lighter than their non-medicated counterparts.

But according to The Post, those results were presented in a more positive light in a July 2007 news release issued by the National Institute of Mental Health. And instead of saying that the growth of medicated kids was stunted, the release said that non-medicated children “grew somewhat larger.”

The positive presentation of the MTA study most likely encouraged the increased use of ADHD medications. In 2004, physicians wrote 28.3 million prescriptions for ADHD drugs; last year, they wrote 39.5 million, The Post said.

According to The Washington Post, over the past several years, the study continued to show little difference between medicated and non-medicated children. Some of data were published online Thursday in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

One principal scientist in the study, psychologist William Pelham, told the Post that the most obvious interpretation of the data is that the medications are useful in the short term but ineffective over longer periods. But Pelham claims his colleagues had repeatedly sought to explain away evidence that challenged the long-term usefulness of medication, the Post said.

“The stance the group took in the first paper was so strong that the people are embarrassed to say they were wrong and we led the whole field astray,” Pelham, of the State University of New York at Buffalo, told the Post. “If 5 percent of families in the country are giving a medication to their children, and they don’t realize it does not have long-term benefits but might have long-term risks, why should they not be told?”