Health Research: Lab tests of e-cigarettes demonstrate cellular harm ♦ Study ties insurgency phase of Iraq War to higher PTSD rates ♦ Liquid salts deliver drugs through the skin with enhanced efficacy

Lab tests of e-cigarettes demonstrate cellular harm Two types of electronic cigarettes have been tested by researchers who found that they damaged cells in ways that could lead to cancer. The damage occurred even with nicotine-free versions of the products.

Germany: Significantly fewer severely injured patients than in 2000 About 18,000 people are severely injured every year in Germany. Earlier investigations, in 2000 and 2006, estimated that more than 32,000 people sustain multiple trauma each year. The newly calculated lower number likely reflects a reduction of severe injuries caused by road traffic and occupational accidents.

Liquid salts deliver drugs through the skin with enhanced efficacy, reduced toxicity Formulating drugs as liquid salts may provide a safe and efficient strategy for topical delivery of drugs that cause skin toxicity.

Study ties insurgency phase of Iraq War to higher PTSD rates Guerilla tactics such as suicide attacks and roadside bombs may trigger more post-traumatic stress than conventional warfare, suggests a new study of 738 Iraq veterans.

Health Research: Public health leaders urge far-reaching reforms to curb prescription opioid epidemic ♦ New guideline for treating acne in children and adults

New guideline for treating acne in children and adults A new guideline aims to help Canadian physicians, nurses and pharmacists treat children and adults with acne, a disease that can severely affect quality of life. The guideline updates the previous guidance published 15 years ago.

Antibiotic prescriptions increased in study to promote better prescribing for UTIs An initiative to improve prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) resulted in better-quality prescribing of first-line antibiotics, although the number of prescriptions also increased, according to new research

Public health leaders urge far-reaching reforms to curb prescription opioid epidemic A group of experts has issued recommendations aimed at stemming the prescription opioid epidemic, a crisis that kills an average of 44 people a day in the U.S.

Former smokers who quit within the past year are four times more likely to be daily users of e-cigarettes Analysis of a national survey of adult tobacco use points to use of e-cigarettes as a quitting aid. The researchers also found that while any e-cigarette use was higher among young adults, daily e-cigarette use was more common among adults over age 25 than among young adults aged 18-24.

Health News:Shigella outbreak sickens 30: San Jose seafood restaurant shutdown ♦ Are cars nanotube factories on wheels ♦ Feds seize frozen crab products for potential listeria contamination

Shigella outbreak sickens 30: San Jose seafood restaurant shutdown  The Mariscos San Juan at 205 N. 4th Street in downtown San Jose was closed Oct. 18 after the Santa Clara County Public Health Department connected the seafood restaurant with an outbreak of Shigella that has sickened at least 30 people.

Feds seize frozen crab products for potential listeria contamination On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, federal government officials seized approximately 5,000 cases of frozen, processed crab products manufactured by Rome Packing Company Inc. of East Providence, RI, because the crab meat is suspected to be contaminated with harmful bacteria. in a complaint unsealed today, the government alleged that Rome Packing,

Are cars nanotube factories on wheels? Scientists detect the presence of carbon nanotubes in cells extracted from the airways of Parisian children with asthma. Their results suggest nanotubes may be common components of airborne pollution and vehicles may be a source. Case report finds 'popcorn lung' in patient using e-cigarettes A case report has been presented of acute inhalation lung injury related to the use of e-cigarettes and a flavored e-cigarette liquid containing diacetyl. Nanotechnology inspires next-generation dental materials Have a cavity? Ask your dentist about filling it with a mixture of nanoparticles including silica and zirconia. These white fillings resemble teeth better than their metal alternatives and are less likely to come loose or fracture teeth. This is just the beginning argue scientists in a review of 'nanodentistry.' Next-generation dental materials incorporating nanotechnology aim to help teeth self-heal, rebuild enamel, and protect against bacterial infections.

Health Research:Precision injections of Botox into migraine ♦ Sitting for long periods not bad for health ♦ Why being single is much more than handling just loneliness

Why being single is much more than handling just loneliness With 51% of Britain’s population registered as unmarried, half of adult Americans currently unattached, and over half of the households in Paris, the city of love, made up by only-ones, having no significant other seems to be today’s latest trend. Yet the world isn’t quite the singles’ oyster; when it comes to being single, society is still lagging behind.

Precision injections of Botox into migraine Researchers are using a high-precision instrument to inject toxins that alleviate migraine attacks. This means even better needle guidance and user-friendliness

Use of e-cigarettes, alternative tobacco products may lead to increased tobacco use The increasing use of alternative tobacco products, such as water pipes and e-cigarettes, by children under the age of 18 is a burgeoning public health crisis.

Sitting for long periods not bad for health New research has challenged claims that sitting for long periods increases the risk of an early death even if you are otherwise physically active. The study followed more than 5000 participants for 16 years (making it one of the longest follow-up studies in this area of research) and found that sitting, either at home or at work, is not associated with an increased risk of dying.

E-cigarettes May Affect Teen Tobacco Use

Electronic cigarettes—also called e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems—are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine in vapor. These devices heat a liquid solution of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals to produce an aerosol that the user inhales, a process called “vaping.” They are often promoted as safer alternatives to cigarettes and other traditional combustible tobacco products. But while e-cigarettes can deliver nicotine with less of the chemicals known to cause cancer, their health effects haven’t been well studied.

E-cigarettes are promoted for their potential to reduce the harms of conventional tobacco use. But they might also serve as a gateway to for adolescents to begin using conventional tobacco products. Credit: Andrea Carpedi/iStock/Thinkstock.

E-cigarettes are marketed in ways that can appeal to nonsmokers, especially children and adolescents. Such young users could become addicted to nicotine, which might lead them to try smoking tobacco products. To investigate these possible links, a team led by Dr. Adam M. Leventhal at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine examined data from a survey of high school students from 10 diverse public high schools in Los Angeles.

Their analysis included more than 2,500 students who reported they hadn’t smoked any tobacco products when first surveyed at the start of ninth grade. After 6 and 12 months, the students were asked about their use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, full-size cigars, little cigars/cigarillos, blunts, and hookah water pipes. The work was funded in part by NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Results were published on August 18, 2015, in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

At the beginning of the study, 222 students reported they had tried e-cigarettes but no smokable tobacco products. The rest had used neither e-cigarettes nor smokable tobacco. During the first 6 months, 31% of those who had used e-cigarettes started smoking tobacco, compared to 8% of those who had never used e-cigarettes. Over the following 6 months, 25% of e-cigarette users reported they had smoked tobacco in the past 6 months, compared to 9% of those who hadn’t used e-cigarettes.

“Recreational e-cigarette use is becoming increasingly popular among teens who have never smoked tobacco,” Leventhal says. “While we cannot conclude that e-cigarette use directly leads to smoking, this research raises concerns that recent increases in youth e-cigarette use could ultimately perpetuate the epidemic of smoking-related illness.”

“While teen tobacco use has fallen in recent years, this study confirms that we should continue to vigilantly watch teen smoking patterns,” says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow

Health News: Six firms selling pesticide tainted imported produce ♦ Predict amount of nicotine emitted from e-cigarettes ♦ Cheaper, high-performance prosthetic knee

Six firms selling pesticide tainted imported produce The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has fined six companies that ignored warnings and repeatedly sold imported fruits and vegetables with illegal pesticide residues to predominantly ethnic minority customers. According to an agency statement released July 28, the fines range from $10,000 to more than $20,000 for violating pesticide laws and potentially endangering consumers....

When surgeons listen to their preferred music, their stitches are better and faster From classical to rock, music can be heard in operating rooms across the world. When plastic surgeons listen to music they prefer, their surgical technique and efficiency when closing incisions is improved.

Novel model developed to predict amount of nicotine emitted from e-cigarettes Researchers have developed the first ever, evidence-based model that can predict with up to 90 percent accuracy the amount of nicotine emitted by an electronic cigarettes.

Paralyzed men move legs with new non-invasive spinal cord stimulation Five men with complete motor paralysis were able to voluntarily generate step-like movements thanks to a new strategy that non-invasively delivers electrical stimulation to their spinal cords. The strategy, called transcutaneous stimulation, delivers electrical current to the spinal cord by way of electrodes strategically placed on the skin of the lower back. This expands to nine the number of completely paralyzed individuals who have achieved voluntary movement while receiving spinal stimulation.

Cheaper, high-performance prosthetic knee Researchers report that they have designed a cheap prosthetic knee that mimics normal walking motion. They have calculated the ideal torque that a prosthetic knee should produce, given the mass of the leg segments, in order to induce able-bodied kinematics, or normal walking

Health Research: New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation ♦ E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones ♦ Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans

Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans

Can butter help prevent diabetes? By comparing 55 fatty acids in blood levels of dolphins and their diets, scientists have discovered a specific dietary saturated fat, called heptadecanoic acid, that may help alleviate what's known as 'prediabetes' in humans. This new study supports a growing body of nutritional science showing that perhaps not all dietary saturated fats are bad, and -- in fact -- that some may be good.

New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation

The uniqueness of a new novel anti-inflammatory molecule can be found in a singular property. When injected, it is as a non-active drug. However, a localized site with excessive inflammation will activate it. Most other anti-inflammatory agents effectively inhibit inflammatory processes, though in a non-specific manner and in areas that include sites of necessary normal inflammatory homeostasis.

Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins

Is it possible that too much iron in infant formula may potentially increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's in adulthood -- and are teeth the window into the past that can help us tell?

Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds

A study of the West Nile virus risk associated with 'dry' water-detention basins in Central Illinois took an unexpected turn when land managers started mowing the basins. The mowing of wetland plants in basins that failed to drain properly led to a boom in populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which can carry and transmit the deadly virus, researchers report.

E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones

Electronic cigarettes or 'e-cigs' have been touted as a tool smokers can use to wean themselves off of traditional cigarettes, which many believe are more harmful than their 'e' counterparts. But because e-cig liquid also contains nicotine and emits carcinogens, is that perception really true? One team now reports that much of the nicotine in e-cigarettes is the addictive form of the compound.

Health News: Nanotechnology drug to control blindness ♦ Successful vaccination against Chlamydia infection ♦ New conductive ink for electronic apparel

New and innovative approach for successful vaccination against Chlamydia infections Chlamydiae are the most common, sexually transmitted, bacterial pathogens in the world. Every year around 100 million people contract Chlamydia infections, which are one of the main causes of female infertility and ectopic pregnancies and can also lead to blindness – especially in developing countries.An international research team discovered how to stimulate the immune response to Chlamydiae both efficiently and preventively

New nanotechnology drug to control blindness A innovative product in the form of droplets, reduces the cost of current medications. It is a nanotechnology product, which works with last generation liposomes particles, concentrated in droplets, which function as a conveyor that wraps proteins or antibody fragments and allow its passage into the eye. Once inside, it releases the drugs.

New conductive ink for electronic apparel Researchers have developed a new ink that can be printed on textiles in a single step to form highly conductive and stretchable connections. This new functional ink will enable electronic apparel such as sportswear and underwear incorporating sensing devices for measuring a range of biological indicators such as heart rate and muscle contraction.

Investigation examines bitter dispute over e-cigarettes in the public health community An investigation reveals how the controversial concept of 'harm reduction', embraced enthusiastically by the tobacco industry, has sharply divided the public health community when it comes to the discussion around e-cigarettes.

As smoking declines, more are likely to quit Smokeless tobacco and, more recently, e-cigarettes have been promoted as a harm reduction strategy for smokers who are “unable or unwilling to quit.” The strategy, embraced by both industry and some public health advocates, is based on the assumption that as smoking declines overall, only those who cannot quit will remain. A new study has found just the opposite.

Children's Health: Fewer repeat surgeries for children born with heart defect, ♦ dolescents uncertain about risks of marijuana, e-cigarettes,♦ Screening for vascular disorder among extremely preterm infants

Reinforced cylinder leads to fewer repeat surgeries for children born with heart defect Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital defect in which the left side of the heart does not develop properly, impairing normal circulation. A series of surgeries can help restore heart function. A new study has found use of a ring-reinforced cylinder instead of the usual non-reinforced conduit improved survival, reduced need for re-interventions, and induced physiological changes that may make patients better candidates for recovery after future surgeries.

Benefit of early screening for vascular disorder among extremely preterm infants Among extremely preterm infants, early screening for the vascular disorder patent ductus arteriosus before day three of life was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital death and pulmonary hemorrhage, but not with differences in other severe complications

Adolescents uncertain about risks of marijuana, e-cigarettes, study finds Teenagers are very familiar with the risks of smoking cigarettes, but are much less sure whether marijuana or e-cigarettes are harmful, according to a new study. The researchers compared teens' knowledge of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and marijuana because they heard from teachers, parents and youth that anti-smoking efforts needed to address more than just conventional cigarettes.

Researchers identify gene mutation that can cause key-hole shape defect in eye A scientific collaboration has pinpointed the genetic cause of a rare form of blindness, which can present itself as a key-hole shaped defect in the eye in newborn babies.

Health Research: Activate 'off signals' for pain ♦ Lower the risk of sleep apnea ♦ Smokers who use e-cigarettes less likely to quit, study shows

Playing a wind instrument could help lower the risk of sleep apnea Wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. "The findings of our small study present an interesting theory on preventative measures or treatment in sleep apnea. If the findings are confirmed in larger groups, wind instrument playing could become a cheap and non-invasive method of preventing sleep apnea in those at risk of developing the condition,"

Adenosine receptor can activate 'off signals' for pain Pain is the most common reason that people seek medical attention, but the available treatments are not always successful at relieving pain in patients with chronic pain. Now researchers found that drugs targeting the A3 adenosine receptor can "turn off" pain signals in the spinal cord to provide relief from chronic pain.

Genetic predisposition found for noise-induced hearing loss

In a new genome-wide association study, a team of neuroscientists found evidence that some people may be more genetically susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss than others

Smokers who use e-cigarettes less likely to quit, The increase in use of e-cigarettes has led to heated debates between opponents who question the safety of these devices and proponents who claim the battery-operated products are a useful cessation tool. In a new study, researchers found that smokers who used e-cigarettes were 49 percent less likely to decrease cigarette use and 59 percent less likely to quit smoking.

Health News: Uneviscerated Russian dried fish carries Botulism risk ♦ Botulism suspected: Two adults hospitalized ♦ High flavoring content in some e-cigarettes may be cause for concern

Uneviscerated Russian dried fish carries Botulism risk The New York Department of Agriculture today warned consumers not to eat “Dry Bream-lesh (fish)” sold by Tatuka Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, and distributed by Royal Sweet Bakery, also of Brooklyn, because the fish were uneviscerated.

Botulism suspected: Two adults hospitalized The New Mexico Department of Health is cooperating with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an investigation of two patients who are hospitalized in Texas with suspected botulism. The source is likely contaminated food,

High flavoring content in some e-cigarettes may be cause for concern The levels of chemicals used to flavor some brands of e-cigarette fluid exceed recommended exposure limits and could be respiratory irritants, in some cases. The electronic cigarette market has developed rapidly in recent years, with global sales in 2014 estimated to be in the region of US$7 billion.

Mouth, as well as gut, could hold key to liver disease flare-ups  In a recent study, researchers predicted which cirrhosis patients would suffer inflammations and require hospitalization by analyzing their saliva, revealing a new target for research into the disease
Bacterial flora of remote tribes people carries antibiotic resistance genes Scientists have found antibiotic resistance genes in the bacterial flora of a South American tribe that never before had been exposed to antibiotic drugs. The findings suggest that bacteria in the human body have had the ability to resist antibiotics since long before such drugs were ever used to treat disease

Children's Health: Brain anatomy, Academic achievement, and family income ♦ Develop healthy eating habits in a child ♦ Many teens try e-cigs, but few become regular users

Many teens try e-cigs, but few become regular users  E-cigarettes are popular with teens, including those who have never smoked, but few of those who try them become regular users, while most of those who do so are also smokers. The use of e-cigarettes at least once was more common than having smoked a conventional cigarette among all age groups, except the oldest (15-16 year olds).

How to develop healthy eating habits in a child: Start early and eat your vegetables A healthy diet promotes success in life -- better concentration and alertness, better physical health that translates into good mental and emotional health.

Two drugs reduce teacher-rated anxiety, in addition to ADHD, aggression The addition of risperidone to parent training and a stimulant also improves teachers’ assessments of anxiety and social avoidance, new research shows. Improvement in teacher-rated anxiety and social withdrawal also contributed to improvements in parent-rated disruptive behavior. Children who showed reduced anxiety also showed less disruptive behavior
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Study links brain anatomy, academic achievement, and family income Many years of research have shown that for students from lower-income families, standardized test scores and other measures of academic success tend to lag behind those of wealthier students. After imaging the brains of high- and low-income students, they found that the higher-income students had thicker brain cortex in areas associated with visual perception and knowledge accumulation. These differences correlated with one measure of academic achievement -- performance on standardized tests

E-cigarette use triples among students in just one year

Current e-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014, according to the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey show that current e-cigarette use among high school students increased from approximately 660,000 to 2 million students. Among middle school students, current e-cigarette use more than tripled fan increase from approximately 120,000 to 450,000 students.

This is the first time since the survey started collecting data on e-cigarettes in 2011 that current e-cigarette use has surpassed current use of every other tobacco product overall, including conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes were the most used tobacco product for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic other race while cigars were the most commonly used product among non-Hispanic blacks.

“We want parents to know that nicotine is dangerous for kids at any age, whether it’s an e-cigarette, hookah, cigarette or cigar,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Adolescence is a critical time for brain development. Nicotine exposure at a young age may cause lasting harm to brain development, promote addiction, and lead to sustained tobacco use.”

Hookah smoking roughly doubled for middle and high school students, while cigarette use declined among high school students and remained unchanged for middle school students. Among high school students, current hookah use rose from(about 770,000 students) to about 1.3 million students. Among middle school students, current hookah use rose from 120,000 students) to 280,000 students

The increases in e-cigarette and hookah use offset declines in use of more traditional products such as cigarettes and cigars. There was no decline in overall tobacco use between 2011 and 2014.

Cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco are currently subject to FDA’s tobacco control authority. The agency currently is finalizing the rule to bring additional tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, hookahs and some or all cigars under that same authority. Several states have passed laws establishing a minimum age for purchase of e-cigarettes or extending smoke-free laws to include e-cigarettes, both of which could help further prevent youth use and initiation.

“In today’s rapidly evolving tobacco marketplace, the surge in youth use of novel products like e-cigarettes forces us to confront the reality that the progress we have made in reducing youth cigarette smoking rates is being threatened,” said Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “These staggering increases in such a short time underscore why FDA intends to regulate these additional products to protect public health.”

Today’s report concludes that further reducing youth tobacco use and initiation is achievable through regulation of the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products coupled with proven strategies. These strategies included funding tobacco control programs at CDC-recommended levels, increasing prices of tobacco products, implementing and enforcing comprehensive smoke-free laws, and sustaining hard-hitting media campaigns. The report also concludes that because the use of e-cigarettes and hookahs is on the rise among high and middle school students, it is critical that comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies for youth focus on all tobacco products, and not just cigarettes.

The 2012 Surgeon General’s Report found that about 90 percent of all smokers first tried cigarettes as teens; and that about three of every four teen smokers continue into adulthood. To learn more about quitting and preventing children from using tobacco, visit www.BeTobaccoFree.gov.

For broadcast-quality video and audio clips featuring FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products Director Mitch Zeller speaking about the findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, visit http://dmr.homefrontdc.com/697/ctp-nyts-findings.

Health News: Radioactivity found in Japanese tea ♦ E-cigarettes can be regulated now ♦ Reducing the risk of stroke + More

E-cigarettes can be regulated now without more research, expert says  A legal scholar and tobacco control expert says he has developed a research-based roadmap that allows for the immediate regulation of e-cigarettes. Continue Reading

Slight Radioactivity found in Japanese tea shipped to Hong Kong  Food safety authorities in Hong Kong found trace amounts of radioactive cesium 137 in powdered tea imported from Japan last week The sample tested at nearly one percent of the legal limit for radiation and was not considered a public health threat. Regardless, the importer voluntarily recalled the product.... Continue Reading

Inflammatory factor may play essential role in development of sepsis A new study finds that Interleukin-3, an inflammatory factor most associated with allergic reactions, has an important role in the overwhelming, life-threatening immune reaction called sepsis. Investigators found that the presence of IL-3 is essential to the development of sepsis in a mouse model and that IL-3 levels in human patients with sepsis are higher in those at greater risk of dying. Continue Reading

Folic acid supplementation among adults with hypertension reduces risk of stroke  In a study that included more than 20,000 adults in China with high blood pressure but without a history of stroke or heart attack, the combined use of the hypertension medication enalapril and folic acid, compared with enalapril alone, significantly reduced the risk of first stroke, according to a study Continue Reading

Hospital ratings on social media appear to reflect quality of care  A correlation between how hospitals are rated on Facebook's five-star system and how well they performed on a widely used measure of quality care has been uncovered by researchers. Social media has become an important way for institutions to communicate Continue Reading

16 Million Children Can Buy E-cigarettes Legally

More than 16 million children live in states where they can buy e-cigarettes legally

More than 300 million Americans live in states without protection against indoor e-cigarette aerosol exposure

State laws and e-cigarettes

Forty states have enacted laws prohibiting the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, to minors, but 10 states and the District of Columbia still permit such sales, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

More than 16 million children aged 17 and under reside in states not covered by these laws. The latest data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed 4.5 percent of all high school students and 1.1 percent of all middle school students had used e-cigarettes within the past 30 days in 2013.

“We know e-cigarettes are not safe for youth,” said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “While ENDS may have the potential to benefit established adult smokers if used as a complete substitute for all smoked tobacco products, ENDS should not be used by youth and adult non-tobacco users because of the harmful effects of nicotine and other risk exposures, as well as the risk for progression to other forms of tobacco use.”

While 26 states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive smoke-free laws that prevent smoking in restaurants, worksites, and bars, only three of those states also prohibit ENDS use indoors: New Jersey, North Dakota, and Utah. Therefore more than 300 million Americans, including 70 million children, live in states in which non-users of these products can be involuntarily exposed to either secondhand smoke from cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products or ENDS aerosol. Since 2012, no states have enacted comprehensive smoke-free laws or laws prohibiting public indoor ENDS use. These laws could help prevent renormalization of tobacco use because youth are particularly susceptible to visual cues to use tobacco.

“ENDS aerosol is not harmless water vapor; it can contain nicotine and other toxins,” said Brian King, Ph.D., senior scientific advisor in CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “Exposure to nicotine can harm adolescent brain development and can be toxic to fetuses. The standard for protecting the health of children and bystanders should be clean air, free of toxic secondhand smoke as well as ENDS aerosol.”

ENDS minor sales laws have increased in recent years; of the 40 states with minor sales restrictions, 12 laws became effective in 2013 and 16 thus far in 2014. This surge may be partly attributable to efforts by the tobacco industry, which has actively advocated for state laws prohibiting sales to minors. This is of concern because the 2012 Surgeon General’s Report found that industry-supported “youth access bills” have contained provisions that undermined efforts to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco products, such as local preemption of stricter policies and weak enforcement requirements.

The Surgeon General has concluded that nicotine exposure during adolescence may have lasting adverse consequences for brain development, and that nicotine adversely affects maternal and fetal health during pregnancy, contributing to multiple outcomes such as preterm delivery and stillbirth.

Although e-cigarettes have been marketed as smoking cessation aids, there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence that e-cigarettes promote successful long-term quitting. However, there are proven adult cessation strategies and treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved cessation medications.

The 2012 Surgeon General’s Report found that about 90 percent of all smokers first experiment as teens; and that about three of every four teen smokers become adult smokers-- even if they plan to quit in a few years. To learn more about quitting and preventing children from using tobacco, visit

4/15/14 Health News: Poisoning Spike Linked to TV Chefs ♦ Refills for E-cigarettes Break Poison Labelling Laws ♦ Should be Skeptical of Walmart’s Cheap Organic Food ♦ Hospital Cited for 8 Violations in TB outbreak

Most nicotine refills for e-cigarettes break poison labelling laws

Almost 70% of nicotine-based refills for electronic cigarettes fail to state the contents are poisonous, despite this being required by law, according to research by the Dutch food safety body NVWA. The packaging should carry a skull icon to show the contents are dangerous to health. This means users are not being properly warned about the contents Continue Reading

Poisoning spike linked to TV chefs

A SPIKE in food poisoning cases has been linked to South Australians undercooking eggs at home.The new cases have sparked warnings from health authorities to be wary of attempting techniques used on television cooking shows.SA Health figures show 353 cases of potentially life-threatening salmonellosis have been reported throughout the state so far this year. That is about a third more than the number of cases — 267 — reported at the same time last year.Continue Reading

Why you should be skeptical of Walmart’s cheap organic food

Out on the mean streets of the U.S. organic foods industry, Walmart has stepped onto the corner with both guns drawn. On Thursday, the superstore behemoth announced its plan to partner with Wild Oats(which you may recognize as a former subsidiary of Whole Foods) to offer a line of organic goods at unprecedentedly low prices in 2,000 of its U.S. stores. To start, the line will offer primarily canned goods and other pantry staples that will cost up to 25 percent less than those of other organic brands. Continue Reading

Summerlin Hospital cited for 8 violations in TB outbreak

The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Thursday that it cited Summerlin Hospital for eight violations in connection with last year's tuberculosis outbreak that claimed the life of a mother and at least one of her children. Continue Rea

Emerging Tobacco Products Gaining Popularity Among Youth

Increases in e-cigarette and hookah use show need for increased monitoring and prevention

Emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and hookahs (water pipe) are quickly gaining popularity among middle- and high-school students, according to a report in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

While use of these newer products increased, there was no significant decline in students’ cigarette smoking or overall tobacco use. Data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) show that recent electronic cigarette use rose among middle school students from 0.6 percent in 2011 to 1.1 percent in 2012 and among high school students from 1.5 percent to 2.8 percent. Hookah use among high school students rose from 4.1 percent to 5.4 percent from 2011 to 2012.

The report notes that the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes and hookahs could be due to an increase in marketing, availability, and visibility of these tobacco products and the perception that they may be safer alternatives to cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes, hookahs, cigars and certain other new types of tobacco products are not currently subject to FDA regulation.  FDA has stated it intends to issue a proposed rule that would deem products meeting the statutory definition of a "tobacco product" to be subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Another area of concern in the report is the increase in cigar use among certain groups of middle and high school students.  During 2011-2012, cigar use increased dramatically among non-Hispanic black high school students from 11.7 percent to 16.7 percent, and has more than doubled since 2009. Further, cigar use among high school males in 2012 was 16.7 percent, similar to cigarette use among high school males (16.3 percent).

“This report raises a red flag about newer tobacco products,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Cigars and hookah tobacco are smoked tobacco – addictive and deadly. We need effective action to protect our kids from addiction to nicotine.”

It is important to note that the cigars category includes little cigars, many of which look almost exactly like cigarettes but are more affordable to teens because they are taxed at lower rates and can be sold individually, rather than by the pack.  Little cigars also can be made with fruit and candy flavors that are banned from cigarettes. A CDC study published last month showed more than one in three (35.9 percent) middle and high school students who smoke cigars use flavored little cigars.

“A large portion of kids who use tobacco are smoking products other than cigarettes, including cigars and hookahs, which are similarly dangerous,” said Tim McAfee, M.D., M.P.H., director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “As we close in on the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s report on the dangers of smoking, we need to apply the same strategies that work to prevent and reduce cigarette use among our youth to these new and emerging products.”

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing more than 1,200 Americans every day. More than 8 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease.  Each day, more than 2,000 youth and young adults become daily smokers.  Smoking-related diseases cost Americans $96 billion a year in direct health care expenses, much of which come in taxpayer-supported payments.