October 05, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered manufacturers of certain types of pedicle screw systems, called dynamic stabilization systems, to conduct postmarket surveillance studies to collect clinical data on a number of potential safety issues, including fusion rates and frequency of additional surgeries. Dynamic stabilization systems are used in spinal surgery and some are intended to provide stabilizing support to the spinal column during bone fusion. Currently, there is not enough clinical data to determine whether these dynamic stabilization systems provide enough spinal stability to allow for complete spinal fusion, as the system components may loosen, bend, or break over time. If fusion does not occur, a patient's condition could worsen and possibly require additional surgical procedures. Full release.

USDA's fresh produce chief will join FDA to help develop new food safety rules as part of a cooperative initiative between FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Today's announcement comes amid beefed up outreach efforts with key agriculture and safe food stakeholders to better share and exchange produce safety "best practices" and ideas. Leanne Skelton, chief of the Fresh Products Branch of the USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS), has extensive experience working with the fruit and vegetable industry. Skelton has been with the Fresh Products Branch at AMS for more than 22 years, working in inspections, grading and certification, standardization, training, and managing the Branch's financial and information technology activities. Skelton will be on detail with the FDA for six months as she helps the FDA develop new safety regulations for produce. Full release.

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal in Choose Life Illinois v. White, upholding a Seventh Circuit ruling that the Illinois system for approving specialty plates was not discriminatory. The case was filed in 2004 after citizens had collected more than the requisite number of signatures, but were denied a "Choose Life" license plate. Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life, observed, "Ever-increasing numbers of pro-life Americans want to proudly display the 'Choose Life' message on their vehicles -- as evidenced by the fact that 22 states now offer such plates. Illinois is unfairly censoring the freedom of speech of its citizens by not allowing them to obtain a plate with a life-affirming message." Full release.

According to a new study published in the October 2009 issue of Nutrition Journal, women with metabolic syndrome had reduced total cholesterol levels - including LDL - after a brief period of daily consumption of a strawberry-based beverage. This news comes on the heels of recent research conducted by David J.A. Jenkins, MD, PhD, that showed antioxidant levels in strawberries can improve and maintain the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering diets. Both of these recent studies concluded that the cholesterol lowering effects may be attributed to one or more of the following: antioxidants, fiber, or phytochemicals in strawberries. The new study found that women with metabolic syndrome who consumed two cups of a beverage made with freeze-dried strawberry powder, twice a day for four weeks, showed a decrease in cholesterol levels. This is important because high cholesterol is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with metabolic syndrome and contributes to CVD mortality in both women and men. Additionally, those same women showed an increase in ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in strawberries, during the four-week period, indicating that the phytochemicals in strawberries are easily absorbed. Full release.

Southwest Airlines employees have partnered with the American Red Cross to show their "LUV" to 10,000 people displaced by disasters across the nation. In an unprecedented show of support, the Dallas-based air carrier, currently headquartered at Love Field, encouraged employees to "Share the Spirit" by collecting, assembling and distributing "comfort kits" to Red Cross chapters in all 68 cities the airline serves. Comfort kits are an essential part of a Red Cross disaster response, particularly those affected by a home fire, the most common type of disaster the Red Cross responds to on a daily basis. "The Red Cross is grateful to the employees at Southwest Airlines for donating essential items that will help individuals affected by disasters," says Joe Becker, Senior Vice President, Disaster Services, American Red Cross. "Often when we arrive on the scene of a disaster, we're met by people who have nothing left except what they wore to bed. Being able to provide for their most basic and immediate needs, will truly bring comfort to the 10,000 people who receive these kits." Full release.

In a newly posted website book, Jeremy Stone is revealing detailed accounts of efforts since 1999 to resolve conflicts involving Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. In particular, the book shows that: a). ON RUSSIA: A Russian Prime Minister proposed to President Clinton, in a private meeting in the Oval Office, that both sides reduce deployed nuclear offensive weapons to 1,000 each, with the United States being permitted, as a bonus, to build a small anti-ballistic missile system. This reduction is far below the levels now being negotiated. This grand bargain proposal, designed and catalyzed by Stone, was turned down for political reasons. Underlying this, Stone believes, was an unwillingness to fight with the Defense Department over "extended deterrence"-a still current policy of maintaining the dangerous and unusable option of launching disarming nuclear attacks on Russia. Full release.

Brand America is now ranked #1 by global citizens, according to the GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, a division of GfK Custom Research North America. Results from the 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index(SM) (NBI), which measures the global image of 50 countries, show the United States taking the top spot as the country with the best overall brand, up from seventh last year. "What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States in 2009," explains Simon Anholt, NBI founder and an independent advisor to over a dozen national governments around the world. "Despite recent economic turmoil, the U.S. actually gained significant ground. The results suggest that the new U.S. administration has been well received abroad and the American electorate's decision to vote in President Obama has given the United States the status of the world's most admired country." Full release.

The Oral Cancer Foundation recently initiated a program of donating VELscope® Oral Cancer Screening Systems to free clinics and others located in, and helping communities with, underserved populations. The first recipient of this program is the Native American Community Health Center, commonly known as Native Heath, in Phoenix, Arizona, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. According to Oral Cancer Foundation executive director Brian Hill, "Our intent is to identify free clinics and health service providers in areas that have a high concentration of people who are both at risk for oral cancer and without the financial means to pay for comprehensive oral exams." The Foundation is also careful to ensure that any clinic receiving aid in the form of equipment and materials has at least one dentist on staff that is regularly present to see patients. Full release.

As the first recipients of the H1N1 vaccine are vaccinated, more than half of Americans surveyed (52 percent) do not believe the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, will have a major impact in the United States compared to 44 percent who believe it will, according to the results of a new Deloitte Center for Health Solutions survey. "Most people know that H1N1 is a potentially serious pandemic; however, our survey findings suggest they do not associate the virus as something that could pose a major threat to the U.S., nor do they appear to sense the need for immediate vaccination," said Paul Keckley, Ph.D. and executive director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "The data also suggests that certain parts of the population, particularly the uninsured, are potentially more vulnerable to Swine Flu than others." Full release.

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