IndoPost.com Breaking News and Opinion

The next generation of weight-loss capsule: America’s regulators approve Qnexa drug produced by Silicon Valley’s biopharmaceutical company Vivus, Inc.

A committee of experts managed by America’s regulators or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted 20-2 to let Vivus Inc to market the next generation of weight-loss capsule called Qnexa.  Qnexa is a capsule to be taken once-a-day.  The biopharmaceutical company is located in the technology hub of Silicon Valley's Mountain View.

The controlled-release pill for treating obesity is a combination of two types of drugs.  First, a drug called stimulant phentermine which is used to help lowering appetite on patient.  Second, another drug called topiramate which is used to escalate of feeling full in the patient's tummy. 

(Image: vivus.com)

Several California counties include Kern County, Alameda, Sacramento, San Joaquin and San Francisco, to offer free condoms to teenagers by post mail starting this year’s Valentine’s Day

Starting the 2012 Valentine’s Day on February 14, California youngsters ages 12 to 19 can visit a website TeenSource.org and asked for free condoms to be delivered to their home mailings.  For now, only residents of Kern County, Alameda, Sacramento, San Joaquin and San Francisco, are eligible to get the free condoms.  While residents in other counties such as Los Angeles, who need free condoms, are urged to visit TeenSource.org and search for local clinics in their area and pick those condoms for free.

The latest project to helping California teens to reduce the rate of STD transmission is a partnership between California Family Health Council and the Department of Public Health’s STD Control Branch.  The team work between the two agencies is called the Condom Access Project (CAP).  The main reason of the project is to reduce young pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.  The project will also be helping teens who are in economy hardship to pay for condoms.

(Image: TeenSource.org)

New design is not always improved: Johnson & Johnson is recalling 574,000 bottles of grape-flavored liquid infant Tylenol in America due to flaws with redesigned bottles

Just being introduced into America market three months ago by Johnson & Johnson Company, a redesigned bottle containing liquid infant Tylenol has causing problems to parents and caregivers.  The new design supposedly to create better safety improvement to help parents to measure the amount of doses for infants.  However, a large number of parents and caregivers have criticized that they had found flaws on the new redesigned bottle.  The new design cover on the top of the bottles had malfunctioned and did not work properly when hookup with a plastic syringe.

The redesign flaws is heightening more setbacks for the Tylenol maker in America, as Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit is now recalling 574,000 bottles of grape-flavored liquid infant Tylenol from pharmacies and stores around America.

(Images: Tylenol)

Air pollution (including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) in big cities such as Los Angeles could be raising the risk of heart attack

A new study led by Hazrije Mustafic, MD, MPH, of the University of Paris Descartes, found air pollution could be causing heart attack.  Big cities such as Los Angeles are prone to polluted air including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.  In most of industrialized countries, heart disease is the number one cause of death.  Researchers also warned that spending just one week in a location with high levels of air pollution could increase the risk of heart attack.  The study is being published by the Journal of the American Medical Association for February 2012 issue.

Featured Blog Post of the Week: Los Angeles's Cure to Homelessness

We all should know what homelessness is, but what truly causes it? And if so, how do we end it? But unlike how many of us out there think, the term homelessness doesn’t mean they’re unintelligent or brought their troubles by themselves. All it means is they’re just going through tough times. As we’re all fellow humans, we ought to support them and help them off their feet rather than just being happy it’s not our life by taunting them to make us feel better.
 
Something so commonplace may make a huge change. Just changing the way you think about the homeless could help them. Instead of thinking and talking about the homeless as if you are better than them, rather, think of them as people who are suffering through some problems. This way, you stop degrading these people as if they don’t matter at all, while unconsciously influencing others you converse with to do the same.
 
Treat others as if you want to be treated, isn’t that the most widely known saying? Imagine yourself in the shoes of the unhoused, wouldn’t you want someone to help you through your trying time? Even if you can’t do much, donating a small amount or helping out at a local shelter or group could help many homeless people. You could donate food to the LA Food Bank, or donate money to local charities that need the funds. Very few citizens are willing to help strangers, which is why anyone who is able to should do their best to ease the unhoused’s problems. Just listening to them talk about their problems could lighten a little of the burden the homeless have.
 
Like many other problems in society, just the smallest kindness, a small donation, or even just a helping hand is one of the first cures to solve them. That is exactly what we need to do. Many students at school do not know the full extent of the troubles of the homeless. To solve this difficulty while raising awareness of the plight of the unhoused, every school, whether private or public, should begin a group of volunteers, or a service club, willing to help at local shelters and deliver goods to those in need. Why shouldn’t we compel every student volunteer? For the reason that not everyone has it in them to assist those who need help. Bringing along students that may insult the homeless or don’t really care at all could just jeopardize the work of students who do, and we would all be back to square one. There may not be many people who truly care, but even a few volunteers could impact the situation of the homeless.
 
It will take a whole lot of work to truly and finally stop homelessness. While it may not happen as fast as some of us would hope, even a small change may end the dilemmas of the homeless, for good.

Malaria disease kills 1.24 million people in 2010 while control activities supported by well-funded organizations including Microsoft’s billionaire Bill Gates is helping to stop more deaths

A latest study and number crunching on malaria disease headed by American Professor Christopher JL Murray from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, found that there were 1.24 million people died from the mosquito- disease in 2010.  This number almost doubled from the previous estimates. The study is being published in the British journal for medical research the Lancet.

The current research on malaria was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.   With a well-funded team, researchers applied a new set of data by using more advanced computer modeling. The team built a sophisticated database on chronological orders for malaria deaths between 1980 and 2010.

In general, malaria deaths increased since 1980 from 995,000 people and reached a top level of 1.82 million people in 2004.  The total deaths dropped slightly to 1.24 million in 2010.  Researchers praised the recent decline to “the scaling up of control activities [in Africa]” and more funds available from “international donors” [including funds from Microsoft’s billionaire Bill Gates]. 

Several populated regions in the world are still at risk of malaria including in West, Central, and East Africa, South East Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines), and South Asia countries (India, Bangladesh), and South America (Amazon region). 

The benefits of sunlight: people who live in areas with the highest number of sunny days may have a lower risk of stroke

Using samples of more than 16,000 black and white people, a team of researchers led by Leslie McClure, PhD, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, found people who live in sunny skies cities may have a lower risk of stroke than people who live in cloudy places.  The study was presented during the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012 that was held in New Orleans from February 1 to 3, 2012. 

Citing McClure, webmd.com reported that samples for the study were asked to answer questionnaires and filled out info where the respondents had lived by chronological orders. McClure and team applied data developed by NASA to check the amount of clouds and smog in the areas and later determined geographic factors in stroke risks.

Mom's love and brain power: loving, nurturing, and supportive moms will increase children`s brain size and helping kids to better learning, memory and stress response

Using MRI brain scans of 92 children after they reached 7 to 10 years old, a team of researchers led by Dr. Joan Luby at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, found that children with loving and nurturing mothers had a larger hippocampus.  The brain size of the happy kids was about 10% larger than kids who had moms that were not care much.  Researchers believe that the hippocampus area of the brain is critical for learning, memory and stress response. The study is being published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The side effects of caffeinated beverage on women's estrogen levels which varies by race (i.e., Asian and white women) and age groups (younger and older women)

Using samples of 259 women ages between 18 to 44-year old, for a period from 2005 and 2007, Schliep et.al found caffeinated beverage changes women's estrogen levels.  Each tester must consume at least 90 milligrams of caffeine per day.  Researchers found there are side effects which may differ by race and age group.  The study is being published in February by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition via online.

For the testing purposes, testers were given 200 milligrams or more of caffeine per day which equal to two cups of coffee, researchers found Asian women caffeine drinkers had their estrogen levels increased significantly compared to other races.  On the contrast, white women who consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine had decreased their estrogen levels.  While for Black women who consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine had just increased a little bit of their estrogen levels.

Banned chemical substance in imported orange juice in America: Food and Drug Administration seized about 14% of imported orange containing carbendazim which was used to fight black spots fungus on leaves and mold on trees

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized about 14% of imported orange juice over fungicide since early January 2012.  Carbendazim is a chemical substance that is not allowed in America due to cancer reason.  According to reuters.com, FDA seized nine shipments of orange juice from top importers from Brazil and Canada.  Those banned orange juice contained traces of some type of illegal chemical substance for agriculture to fight black spots fungus on leaves and mold on trees. Almost half of all orange juice imported to America was from Brazil.

According to reuters.com, FDA received warning from Coca-Cola, one of the most popular orange juice packaging companies in America with two top brands include Minute Maid and Simply Orange, in the first week of January 2012.

Orange juice traders show worry that the recent findings of fungicide would further harm the beverage demand as consumers are concerned with health risk.  In recent weeks, the asking prices for future shipments of orange juice have skyrocketed and consumers may have to pay extra money for drinking orange juice.

(Image: Minute Maid orange juice)

The health benefits of drinking 3 cups of black tea on a daily basis include lowering blood pressure, preventing hypertension and lowering risk of heart disease and death

Using sample of 95 men and women with normal to high-normal blood pressure who consumed at least 3 cups of black tea per day for 6 months, a team of researchers in Australia led by Jonathan M. Hodgson, PhD, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, found that tea drinkers could lower their blood pressure levels by about 2 to 3 points.  The study is being published by Archives of Internal Medicine.

Health experts believe that by lowering blood pressure may also preventing hypertension and lowering risk of heart disease and death.

Researchers believe drinking black tea can improve the function of human body cells including maintaining good blood vessels.  Researchers also found that black tea also contains flavonoids which also help to improve blood vessel’s tone and cut human body weight and reducing body fat.

Condoms in pornography film sets: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed a new law which requires porn stars to wear condoms during filming in the second largest city in America

Aside with its popular Hollywood sign depicting the capital of blockbuster movies makers in the world, Los Angeles is also famous as the capital of porn films makers.  Producers of adult movies usually require getting a city film permit before filming in Los Angeles.  Several cities in the porn industry district are under the management of city of Los Angeles such as San Fernando Valley.

In order to protect porn performers from health issues such as AIDS with HIV disease, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed a new law early this week.  The new law requires porn stars to wear condoms during pornography film sets in the second largest city in America.  The new law also received a fully support from Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

According to latimes.com, many porn films makers disapproved with the new rule.  Porn movie makers believe that it would be difficult to market their films that featuring condoms.  Later, latimes.com added that many porn movie makers are planning to move the pornography film sets outside the city of Los Angeles boundaries.

Do you want a beer with that? Starbucks to sell beer and alcohol beverages in Atlanta and Southern California (incl. the greater Los Angeles area)

Starbucks Corp, the world's biggest coffee houses with over 11,000 cafes in America alone is exploring to start selling alcohol beverages (beer and wine) in several cafes in Atlanta and Southern California including in the greater Los Angeles area.  The timing for the new product lines in the newest marketplaces will be around the incoming 2012 holiday season.

Starbucks have been testing the market for selling alcohol beverages in its hometown Seattle in October 2010.  Later it expanded to its neighbor Pacific Northwest state including Portland, Oregon.  According to Starbucks press release, just before Christmas last year, the company also announced a similar testing place including in Chicago area.

Aside of adding alcohol beverages, the company is also planning to add more premium food into its menu such as savory snacks, cheese plates and hot flatbreads.

America’s pricey drinks: orange juice prices hit an all-time high record due to fungicide, disease, and freezing weather

The price of orange juice for future delivery in America increased significantly this week due to several issues including fungicide, disease, and freezing weather.  The asking price for one pound of orange juice for March delivery hit an all-time high record at $2.1065, as reported by businessweek.com. The previous record for the most expensive orange juice occurred on December 7, 2006, at $2.094 per pound.

First, America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working hard to test imported orange juice from Brazil due to mounting concern with banned fungicide carbendazim.  One week ago, the agency was alerted as they found juice imports that may contain carbendazim.  This type of chemical could be linked to liver tumors as tested on labs animals. 

Second, citrus greening disease had damaged many orange trees in Florida.  The Southern state in America is well known as the world’s number two grower.  Then, the same disease appears to transfer to Texas early this week as experts have confirmed finding some type of citrus greening in the largest state in America.

Third, several Western states in America, including Northern and Central California as the top citrus-growing region, are facing artic freezing weather this week.  Cooler temperatures could bring high risk of frost in the region.

Statins pills to lower cholesterol level could be used to fight breast cancer in some women

A team of researchers led by William Freed-Pastor of Columbia University have found some encouraging news for women who have breast cancer.  Among certain women, they could fight breast cancer by taking statin pills to lower cholesterol. 

In a laboratory test, Freed-Pastor et.al used statins to shrink the growth of cancerous cells carrying mutant p53 genes.  The study is being published in the January 20, 2012 issue of the journal Cell.

No smoking alert at all 10 University of California campuses starting 2014: students, professors, lecturers, workers, visitors, or conference attendees have to keep cigarettes and tobacco away

The University of California (UC) system President Mark Yudof notified campus chancellors early this week that no one will be allowed to smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco at all 10 University of California campuses starting 2014, reported mercurynews.com. The University of California (UC) system includes a couple of top 25 colleges in America such as UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles. Students, professors, lecturers, workers, visitors, or conference attendees have to keep cigarettes from lighting up at all campuses.

While California's smoking rate is not as high as other states in America, according to mercurynews.com, there are about 8% of students are cigarettes smokers. With the smoking ban, the UC system will also prohibit cigarettes sales and marketing materials in all its properties including buildings, buses, sport-related equipment, etc.

Unhealthy breakfast menu: eating processed meat such as sausages or bacon increases the risk of pancreatic cancer

A research study conducted by Larsson and Wolk of the Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, found that eating processed meat such as sausages or bacon increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study is being published in the British Journal of Cancer online publication.

Using data from 11 different analyses and based on 6,643 patients with pancreatic cancer, researchers found eating 50g of processed meat per day increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by 19%, while doubled the portion to 100g of processed meat per day increased the risk by 38%.

Annual or semi-annual screening for prostate cancer (incl. prostate-specific antigen testing) does not help much to save lives while it may be more harmful than good

Using samples of 76,000 men, at the age of 55 to 74 years old, for duration of 13 years, medical researchers at Washington University School of Medicine which is located in St. Louis Missouri found that annual or semi-annual screening for prostate cancer does not help much to reduce the number of deaths.  Experts are now questioning the benefit of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.  This type of test usually conducted to screen men for prostate cancer.

Researchers believe that using the current method of PSA screening, health experts cannot distinguish between two types of cancer which led to fatally death.  The first type of prostate cancer is considered slow growing and nonlethal.  The second type of prostate cancer is considered aggressive and lethal.

Citing data from America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reuters.com reported that there were about 223,000 men had the prostate cancer disease in 2007 and about 13% died from the disease or representing 29,000 men.

Cancer death rates for men and women in America continue to drop due to better treatment and early detection of the disease

Using data from 2004 to 2008, American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that death rates for cancer dropped by 1.8% per year for men and 1.6% per year for women.   The report authored by Rebecca Siegel, Deepa Naishadham, and Ahmedin Jemal, was published online this week by CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Health experts believe cancer is still the number two cause of death in America, just behind heart disease. Stats show 50% of men and about 33% of women will get the fatally disease during their lifespans.

Key findings of the report including the recent drop of cancer death rates in America occurred on lung cancers for men and breast cancers for women.  The drop of lung cancer deaths is due to drop of cigarettes smokers in America.   While the drop of breast cancer deaths is due to decreasing use of hormone replacement therapy among women in America.  

No jobs for cigarettes smokers in a Pennsylvania hospital: starting February 1, 2012, job applicants must pass nicotine test

A hospital in the eastern town of Danville in the state of Pennsylvania known as Geisinger Health System, will screen new job applicants and will set its no-nicotine policy into effect starting February 1, 2012, as reported by CNN. While no-smoking signs have been placed on Geisinger hospital facilities to deter staffs and guests since 2007, the new no-nicotine policy for new job applicants will create the hospital as smoke free environment.

Citing the hospital spokeswoman, CNN also reported that new job applicants who will be tested positive for nicotine could still apply for a job at the hospital as long as they promise to quit within the next six months.  The hospital will spend about $50,000 per year to help job applicants to stop smoking and to educate job applicants to change their smoking habit.