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FDA to Allow States to Import Prescription Drugs From Other Countries

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Federal health officials have unveiled plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing a rule under which states could import some prescription drugs from Canada, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Tuesday. The agency also plans to make it easier for drug manufacturers to import their own FDA-approved drugs that are manufactured abroad and intended for sale in other countries. “This would potentially allow for the sale of these drugs at lower prices than currently offered to American consumers, giving drug makers new flexibility to reduce list prices,” Azar told reporters. Azar touted the proposals as “historic.” All imported drugs would have to be FDA-approved, tested to ensure quality, and relabeled to meet U.S. labeling requirements, added Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health. State programs created to import medications would be limited to pills that patients would typically get from a pharmacy, Azar said. Injectable products, controlled substances, biologic products and intravenous drugs would not be allowed. States would create these programs, possibly in conjunction with wholesalers or pharmacies, and then submit them to FDA for approval, Giroir said. However, drug manufacturers would be able to import any of their own products from other foreign countries, Azar said. That would include products such as insulin, which has recently…  read on >

Male Researchers More Apt Than Women to Hype Findings: Study

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Male researchers are far more likely than female colleagues to claim that their findings are especially important, a new study says. The language used to describe discoveries can affect how much attention researchers get and also affect their career advancement. These findings may help explain why women in medicine and science tend to get paid less and have fewer career opportunities, the authors said. “The factors that underlie gender disparities in academia are many and complex, but it is important to be aware that language may also play a role — as both a driver of inequality and as a symptom of gender differences in socialization,” senior author Dr. Anupam Jena said in a Harvard University news release. He’s an associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. Jena and his team analyzed more than 6 million peer-reviewed clinical and life science studies published between 2002 and 2017. That analysis revealed that papers with male lead authors were up to 21% more likely to use language that casts the findings as highly significant than papers with female lead authors. Specifically, the titles and abstracts of papers with male lead authors were more likely to use words such as “excellent,” “novel” and “unique.” Papers using this type of positive framing were cited up to 13% more often by other researchers than papers without it,…  read on >

Health Tip: Before You Run a Marathon

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(HealthDay News) — Before you accept the challenge of running a marathon, it’s important to make sure you and your body are prepared, says Rush University Medical Center. The school provides eight marathon training tips for the prospective runner: Get a checkup. Ask your doctor if your heart can handle the stress of a marathon. Create a marathon training plan at least four months before the race. Pace yourself. Figure out how far and fast you should run. Find shoes that fit your feet, gait and body type. Take a break. If you’re feeling achy or worn out, take the day off. Make sure you drink extra fluids throughout your training. Join a running group to stay motivated and learn practical advice. Learn how to distinguish minor strains from serious injuries.

Shedding Pounds May Shrink Breast Cancer Risk

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Losing weight might be a powerful weapon against breast cancer, a new study suggests. “Our results suggest that even a modest amount of sustained weight loss is associated with lower breast cancer risk for women over 50,” said study author Lauren Teras, a senior principal scientist with the Behavioral and Epidemiology Research Group at the American Cancer Society (ACS). “These findings may be a strong motivator for the two-thirds of American women who are overweight to lose some of that weight. Even if you gain weight after age 50, it is not too late to lower your risk of breast cancer,” Teras said in an ACS news release. One breast cancer expert agreed. “Perhaps women that lost weight made a conscious effort to live a healthier lifestyle overall, which may have included a healthy diet, more exercise and less drinking, all of which contribute to a lower risk of cancer,” said Dr. Stephanie Bernik, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai West in New York City. “In the United States, where obesity is the norm, hopefully studies like this will help women understand the importance of healthy living.” Teras’ team analyzed data from more than 180,000 U.S. women, 50 and older, who took part in 10 studies. Their weight was assessed periodically over about 10 years: at study enrollment; about five years later; and again…  read on >

Vaping Could Up Risks for Asthma, COPD and Other Lung Diseases

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As if the news on vaping wasn’t bad enough, a new study suggests that e-cigarette users are also at significantly higher risk of chronic lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and COPD. Those risks rose even higher if vapers also smoked tobacco, researchers said. “What we found is that for e-cigarette users, the odds of developing lung disease increased by about a third, even after controlling for their tobacco use and their clinical and demographic information,” said study senior author Stanton Glantz. He directs the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. In the new study, Glantz’s team tracked data on the cigarette and e-cigarette use of more than 32,000 U.S. adults, none of whom had lung disease at the start of the study. The researchers then recorded new lung disease diagnoses over the years 2013 to 2016. Those diagnoses included such common and debilitating illnesses as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). “We concluded that e-cigarettes are harmful on their own, and the effects are independent of smoking conventional tobacco,” Glantz said in a UCSF news release. Current and former e-cigarette users were 30% more likely to develop chronic lung disease, while tobacco smokers had more than 2.6-times increased risk. For people who vaped and smoked, risks of developing a lung disease more…  read on >

FDA Gives Expanded Approval to Prescription Fish Oil for Heart Patients

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday gave expanded approval to a prescription form of fish oil called Vascepa, to help prevent heart trouble in people at high risk who are already taking statins. Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) was already FDA-approved for a small percentage of patients with exceptionally high blood levels of triglycerides, a type of blood fat. The new approval greatly expands the potential pool of patients, because it now includes people with simply high levels of triglycerides — at or above 150 milligrams per deciliter — and multiple risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. “Today’s approval will give patients with elevated triglycerides and other important risk factors, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes, an adjunctive treatment option that can help decrease their risk of cardiovascular events,” Dr. John Sharretts said in an FDA news release. He’s acting deputy director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Vascepa is a drug derived from fish that contains pure EPA, a key nutrient in fish oil. A month’s supply of Vascepa costs roughly $300. Friday’s approval follows on the positive results of a study on Vascepa presented in November at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA). Early findings from the clinical trial found that the drug slowed the development of artery-clogging…  read on >

Snow Blindness a Wintry Danger

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With the arrival of winter, it’s time for skiing, sledding and ice skating, but it’s also when snow blindness can strike. Snow blindness is like a sunburn in the eyes. It’s caused by the same UV rays that give you that summer tan. In the case of snow blindness, the rays are reflected off the snow and into your eyes, explained experts from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. The cornea is the outer dome of the eye. It is covered by a thin layer of cells called the epithelial layer. UV light can burn this layer just as it burns your skin. UV burns to the cornea are called photokeratitis. Inflammation of the epithelial layer can result in blurred vision. When this happens after being outside on a bright snowy day, it is commonly referred to as snow blindness. Snow blindness can cause your eyes to feel burning, itching, stinging or intense pain. The same condition can result from being on the water or a beach as UV rays are reflected off the water or sand. Photokeratitis can also occur at high elevations where less UV light is absorbed by the atmosphere, the experts noted in a medical center news release. The best way to protect yourself is to use UV-light protective eyewear, the Ohio State team said. This can be either sunglasses or…  read on >

Slow Down and Enjoy a Safe Christmas

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Keep the holidays happy, healthy and safe by following a few guidelines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. “With a thoughtful approach, families can avoid some of the holiday frenzy, and focus on what is meaningful to them,” said Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, chair of the AAP’s Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. “We know that children take their cues from their parents,” Hoffman said in an AAP news release. “By taking a step back and slowing down, parents can model better ways to cope with excitement and stress, and enjoy some quality time together.” When possible, maintain your child’s usual sleep and mealtime schedules. Doing so can keep them happy and prevent tantrums. Take care of your physical and mental health. Children are tuned into the emotional well-being of their parents and caregivers. If you cope with stress successfully, your children will learn how to do the same. Don’t overspend on gifts. Help your child make one or two gifts. Do volunteer work and include your child. Toys should suit a child’s age, abilities, skills and interest level. Be wary of toys that contain button batteries or magnets, which can be swallowed by small children and cause serious internal damage. Cooking with children can be a great way to bond. Follow food safety guidelines, wash hands frequently and keep hot foods and liquids…  read on >

Health Tip: Waking Up Without Caffeine

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(HealthDay News) — A lot of people turn to caffeine to get an energy boost in the morning. But there are healthier ways to start the day, says Iowa State University. The school mentions six ways to wake up without coffee: Perform morning stretches, such as head and shoulder rolls. Have a healthy and balanced breakfast. Drink a cold glass of water. Take a cold shower. Splash your face! Start the morning with an upbeat music playlist. Get fresh air and sunlight.

Health Tip: Advice on Home Wound Care

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(HealthDay News) — Many minor injuries can be treated at home by following a few guidelines, says the University of California. But for animal bites, deep cuts or wounds that bleed excessively, you should always see a doctor. The school mentions these do’s and don’ts of home care for minor wounds: Do irrigate the wound with water, gently wash and pat dry. Do apply petroleum jelly to exposed wounds, then cover with a bandage. Do cleanse the wound daily with soap and water. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen after the wound has healed to control scarring. Don’t apply a topical antibiotic. Don’t douse minor wounds with antiseptics.