2010 study posted for filing Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-118-988-1843 Society for General Microbiology Short courses of antibiotics can leave normal gut bacteria harbouring antibiotic resistance genes for up to two years after treatment, say scientists writing in the latest… Read More ›
Lethal or Unintended Side Effects
‘Bad Pharma’ says we’re all victims of drug industry
By Stephen Curry, The Guardian Monday, December 24, 2012 11:11 EST Topics: clinical trials You should read it because behind the anodyne cover lurks a tale of horrific fascination that affects us all. Bad Pharma is the story of… Read More ›
So that’s why we’re allergic to sun creams
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Isabella Karlsson isabella.karlsson@chem.gu.se 46-317-869-108 University of Gothenburg What happens to sunscreens when they are exposed to sunlight? And how is the skin affected by the degradation products that form? This has been the subject… Read More ›
New task force report on bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures in osteoporosis patients: 94 percent (291) of patients had taken the drugs, most for more than five years
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Sara Knoll sknoll@burnesscommunications.com 301-652-1558 Burness Communications Expert panel calls for additional product labeling, international patient registry Washington, DC, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010– A widely prescribed class of drugs is highly effective in reducing common bone… Read More ›
Repeated antibiotic use alters gut’s composition of beneficial microbes, Stanford study shows
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Bruce Goldman goldmanb@stanford.edu 650-725-2106 Stanford University Medical Center STANFORD, Calif. – Repeated use of an antibiotic that is considered generally benign, because users seldom incur obvious side effects, induces cumulative and persistent changes… Read More ›
J&J, FDA leaders take heat for ‘phantom’ recall : Removed Evidence in Secret, of defective infants Tylenol
2010 Event Reposted for Filing By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone, Ap Health Writer Thu Sep 30, 5:58 pm ET WASHINGTON – Johnson & Johnson executives and the Food and Drug Administration both shouldered the blame Thursday for… Read More ›
Preventing prostate cancer through androgen deprivation may have harmful effects
Contact: Jeremy Moore Jeremy.Moore@aacr.org 215-446-7109 American Association for Cancer Research PHILADELPHIA — The use of androgen deprivation therapies to prevent precancerous prostate abnormalities developing into aggressive prostate cancer may have adverse effects in men with precancers with specific genetic alterations,… Read More ›
Merck cholesterol drug fails; risks seen/ But yet approved in the European Union in since 2008
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:03 GMT Reuters * Cites increase in nonfatal side effects * Says it will not seek U.S. approval of high-profile drug * Failure is latest setback for HDL-raising drugs * Merck shares fall 2.5 percent (Adds… Read More ›
Regular aspirin use 10 or more years ago associated with increased risk of type of age-related macular degeneration
Contact: Susan Lampert Smith slsmith2@wisc.edu 608-262-7335 JAMA and Archives Journals CHICAGO ‑ Among nearly 5,000 study participants, regular aspirin use reported ten years prior was associated with a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of neovascular age‑related macular… Read More ›
Decades after a risky Cold War experiment, a scientist lives with secrets.
A Reporter at Large Operation Delirium by Raffi Khatchadourian December 17, 2012 At an Army research facility, a soldier given a powerful mind-altering drug said, “I feel like my life is not worth a nickel here.” Colonel James S. Ketchum… Read More ›
In vitro study finds digested formula, but not breast milk, is toxic to cells
Contact: Catherine Hockmuth chockmuth@ucsd.edu 858-822-1359 University of California – San Diego Findings may help explain development of fatal condition in premature infants IMAGE: This microscopic image of cells shows the effects of breast milk vs. infant formula… Read More ›
Dosing schedule of pneumococcal vaccine linked with increased risk of getting multiresistant strain
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Elisabeth A. M. Sanders, M.D., Ph.D. l.sanders@umcutrecht.nl JAMA and Archives Journals This release is also available in Chinese on EurekAlert! Chinese. Infants who received heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV-7) at 2, 4, and 11… Read More ›
Botox maker to pay $600M to resolve investigation
2010 report posted for filing Botox maker to pay $600M to resolve investigation By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone, Ap Health Writer Thu Sep 2, 4:01 am ET WASHINGTON – Allergan Inc., the maker… Read More ›
Hospital scanning ‘costs lives of healthy babies’
More than 200 women who discover they are expecting thanks to ultra-sensitive home testing kits are having their pregnancies ended by mistake because hospital scans cannot pick up the earliest signs of life, doctors warn. Home pregnancy test Photo: ALAMY By… Read More ›
Pharmaceuticals: A market for producing ‘lemons’ and serious harm
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Daniel Fowler fowler@asanet.org 202-527-7885 American Sociological Association Incentives and protections for industry encourage development of many drugs with few new benefits over existing pharmaceuticals, but with risk of serious harm to users ATLANTA —… Read More ›
Amphetamine use increases risk of aortic tears in young adults, UT Southwestern researchers report
2010 study posted for filing Contact: LaKisha Ladson lakisha.ladson@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-3404 UT Southwestern Medical Center DALLAS – Aug. 17, 2010 – Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be at greater risk of suffering a tear in the main artery leading from… Read More ›
Xenical and Alli, inhibits a key enzyme that may lead to “severe toxicity of internal organs such as the liver and kidney.” The inhibition is irreversible and can be caused by a low level of the drug.
Contact: Dave Lavallee dlavallee@advance.uri.edu 401-874-5862 University of Rhode Island Pharmacy researcher finds most popular weight-loss drug strongly alters other drug therapies KINGSTON, R.I.— December 10, 2012 – A University of Rhode Island researcher has discovered that the weight-loss drug orlistat,… Read More ›
Acetaminophen tied to childhood wheezing and allergies
2010 report posted for filing NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A pair of studies suggests that the common painkiller acetaminophen — better known as Tylenol in the U.S. — may be fueling a worldwide increase in asthma. According… Read More ›
Free statins with fast food could neutralize heart risk, scientists say
2010 report posted for filing Contact: Sam Wong sam.wong@imperial.ac.uk 44-020-759-42198 Imperial College London Fast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of charge so that customers can neutralize the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers at Imperial College London… Read More ›
New insights into link between anti-cholesterol statin drugs and depression
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the symptoms of anxiety and depression that occur in some patients taking the popular statin family of anti-cholesterol drugs, and… Read More ›
A vaccine-derived strain of poliovirus that has spread in recent years is serious but it can be tackled with an existing vaccine
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Laura Gallagher l.gallagher@imperial.ac.uk 44-020-759-48432 Imperial College London Polio research gives new insight into tackling vaccine-derived poliovirus A vaccine-derived strain of poliovirus that has spread in recent years is serious but it can be tackled… Read More ›
Heart failure drug less effective in real world; aldosterone antagonists
Contact: Sarah Avery sarah.avery@duke.edu 919-660-1306 Duke University Medical Center DURHAM, N.C. – A large study addressing the effectiveness and safety of aldosterone antagonist therapy for older heart failure patients has found notable differences between the drug’s results in clinical trial… Read More ›
4 common antipsychotic drugs found to lack safety and effectiveness in older adults: aripiprazole (Abilify), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and risperidone (Risperdal)
Contact: Debra Kain ddkain@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California – San Diego In older adults, antipsychotic drugs are commonly prescribed off-label for a number of disorders outside of their Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The… Read More ›
Blood-sugar lowering medications may increase risk for false positive results in cancer screenings
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Amy Shaw ashaw@snm.org 703-652-6773 Society of Nuclear Medicine New study suggests that medication used to control blood sugar levels can distort results of some molecular imaging screenings for cancer SALT LAKE CITY—A study presented… Read More ›
WHO and the pandemic flu “conspiracies” – FULL report from the BMJ and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism 2010
2010 report posted for filing Conflicts of Interest WHO and the pandemic flu “conspiracies” Deborah Cohen, features editor, BMJ, Philip Carter, journalist, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, London dcohen@bmj.com Key scientists advising the World Health Organization on planning for an… Read More ›
Parkinson’s sufferer wins six figure payout from GlaxoSmithKline over drug that turned him into a ‘gay sex and gambling addict’
Father-of-two says he developed an uncontrollable passion for gay sex and gambling – at one point even selling his children’s toys to fund his addiction Rob Williams Thursday, 29 November 2012 A French appeals court has upheld a ruling ordering… Read More ›
Scientists urge ministers: tell truth on ‘over-hyped’ flu vaccine
Jeremy Laurance Wednesday, 21 November 2012 The flu vaccine given to millions of people each year in Britain is “over-promoted” and “over-hyped” and the protection it offers against the seasonal illness has been exaggerated, scientists claim. Flu causes thousands… Read More ›
Regular use of aspirin increases risk of Crohn’s disease by 5 times
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Simon Dunford s.dunford@uea.ac.uk 44-160-359-2203 University of East Anglia People who take aspirin regularly for a year or more may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, according to a new study… Read More ›
Poultry disease vaccine brings short-term results but long-term problems: live vaccines that protect poultry against Newcastle Disease may be altering the genetic makeup of the wild virus strains
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Amitabh Avasthi axa47@psu.edu 814-865-9481 Penn State Attenuated live vaccines that protect poultry against Newcastle Disease may be altering the genetic makeup of the wild virus strains, which could make future outbreaks unpredictable and difficult… Read More ›
Seasonal flu vaccination increase the risk of infection with pandemic H1N1 flu by 68%
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Andrew Hyde press@plos.org 44-122-346-3330 Public Library of Science Did seasonal flu vaccination increase the risk of infection with pandemic H1N1 flu? Press release from PLoS Medicine Did seasonal flu vaccination increase the risk of… Read More ›
Repeated anesthesia can affect childrens ability to learn: wiped out a large portion of the stem cells in the hippocampus
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Klas Blomgren klas.blomgren@neuro.gu.se 46-703-233-353 University of Gothenburg There is a link between repeated anaesthesia in children and memory impairment, though physical activity can help to form new cells that improve memory, reveals new research… Read More ›
Common antidepressant drugs linked to lactation difficulties in moms
2010 study posted for filing Contact: Aaron Lohr alohr@endo-society.org 240-482-1380 The Endocrine Society According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), women taking commonly used forms of antidepressant drugs… Read More ›
New study finds that 75 percent of patients taking popular blood-thinners are getting wrong dose
Contact: Jess C. Gomez jess.gomez@imail.org 801-718-8495 Intermountain Medical Center Millions at risk for serious problems like uncontrolled bleeding or developing blood clots SALT LAKE CITY – Cardiology researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute have found that approximately 75… Read More ›
Dexatrim Evades Suit Over Chromium Content ( May of Contained Toxic HEXAVALENT Chromium)
By ELIZABETH WARMERDAM SAN FRANCISCO (CN) – A federal judge dismissed claims that the maker of the Dexatrim weight-loss supplement concealed the use of a hazardous chemical ingredient. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said lead plaintiff Joanne Arroyo had failed… Read More ›
Aspirin, Tylenol May Decrease Effectiveness of Vaccines: “if you block COX-1, you might be decreasing the amount of antibodies your body is producing”
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Kelsey Jackson JacksonKN@missouri.edu 573-882-8353 University of Missouri-Columbia Aspirin, tylenol may decrease effectiveness of vaccines Mizzou scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol block enzymes that could inhibit vaccines COLUMBIA, Mo. – With flu season in full… Read More ›
Long-term effects of statin therapy could lead to transient or permanent cognitive impairment
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Nick Zagorski nzagorski@asbmb.org 301-634-7366 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Statins show dramatic drug and cell dependent effects in the brain Besides their tremendous value in treating high cholesterol and lowering the risk… Read More ›
Acetaminophen may be linked to asthma in children and adults
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Jennifer Stawarz 847-498-8306 American College of Chest Physicians New research shows that the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen may be associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in both children and adults… Read More ›
Statins may worsen symptoms in some cardiac patients: those with diastolic heart failure (DHF) experienced the opposite effect, including increased dyspnea, fatigue, and decreased exercise tolerance.
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Jennifer Stawarz jstawarz@chestnet.org 847-498-8306 American College of Chest Physicians Although statins are widely used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disorders, new research shows that the class of drugs may actually have… Read More ›
Study examines associations between antibiotic use during pregnancy and birth defects: sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins
2009 study posted for filing Contact: CDC Division of Media Relations media@cdc.gov 404-639-3286 JAMA and Archives Journals Penicillin and several other antibacterial medications commonly taken by pregnant women do not appear to be associated with many birth defects, according to… Read More ›
Commentary warns of unexpected consequences of proton pump inhibitor (Antacids) use in reflux disease : Multiple Serious Side effects
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Jessica Mikulski newsroom@entnet.org 703-535-3762 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Alexandria, VA – Despite being highly effective and beneficial for many patients, unexpected consequences are emerging in patients who are prescribed… Read More ›
BMJ editor urges Roche to fulfil promise to release Tamiflu trial data: Or anything that shows the drug does more good than harm.
Contact: Stephanie Burns sburns@bmjgroup.com 44-020-738-36920 BMJ-British Medical Journal BMJ editor urges Roche to fulfil promise to release Tamiflu trial data Journal launches open data campaign to compel greater accountability in healthcare In an open letter to company director, Professor Sir… Read More ›
Long-term treatment with Antacids can increase weight
Contact: Ye-Ru Wang wjg@wjgnet.com 86-105-908-0039 World Journal of Gastroenterology Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitor can increase weight Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common esophageal disorder, and frequently encountered in the primary care setting. Accumulating evidence has confirmed… Read More ›
Popular antidepressant associated with a ten-fold increase in suicidal thoughts amongst men
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Charlotte Webber charlotte.webber@biomedcentral.com 44-203-192-2129 BioMed Central Popular antidepressant associated with a dramatic increase in suicidal thoughts amongst men Nortriptyline has been found to cause a ten-fold increase in suicidal thoughts in men when compared… Read More ›
Medications that block folic acid are associated with increased birth abnormalities
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Jennifer Beal medicalnews@wiley.com 44-124-377-0633 Wiley-Blackwell Don’t block folic acid in early pregnancy Using medication that reduces or blocks the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12), increases the risk… Read More ›
Unnatural selection: Birth control pills may alter choice of partners
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Cathleen Genova cgenova@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press There is no doubt that modern contraception has enabled women to have unprecedented control over their own fertility. However, is it possible that the use of oral contraceptives… Read More ›
Aspirin Misuse May Have Made 1918 Flu Pandemic Worse
2009 study posted for filing The devastation of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic is well known, but a new article suggests a surprising factor in the high death toll: the misuse of aspirin. Appearing in the November 1 issue of… Read More ›
Study suggests too much risk associated with SSRI usage and pregnancy: Elevated risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, neonatal health complications and possible longer term neurobehavioral abnormalities, including autism
Contact: Kelly Lawman klawman@bidmc.harvard.edu 617-667-7305 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Antidepressants should only be prescribed with great caution BOSTON – Elevated risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, neonatal health complications and possible longer term neurobehavioral abnormalities, including autism, suggest that a… Read More ›
Popular stomach acid reducer triples risk of developing pneumonia
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Shannon Koontz shkoontz@wfubmc.edu 336-716-2415 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A popular stomach-acid reducer used to prevent stress ulcers in critically ill patients needing breathing machine support increases the risk of those… Read More ›
Daily aspirin does more harm than good: study
2009 study posted for filing LONDON (AFP) – Healthy people taking a daily dose of aspirin to prevent heart attacks may be doing themselves more harm than good, according to a new study by British scientists. Researchers found… Read More ›
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer patients with heart conditions linked to increased death risk : Doubles risk of dying
2009 study posted for filing Contact: Lori J. Shanks ljshanks@partners.org 617-534-1604 JAMA and Archives Journals Men with coronary artery disease-induced congestive heart failure or heart attack who receive hormone therapy before or along with radiation therapy for treatment of prostate… Read More ›
Engineering Evil 