Bronchiolitis Obliterans—Popcorn Lung—Threatens Workers in a Number of Industries
Research indicates that bronchiolitis obliterans, a potentially life threatening respiratory condition, is a serious concern for workers in a growing number of industries. In cases of bronchiolitis obliterans, the bronchioles in the lungs are compressed and narrowed by scar tissue and/or inflammation, resulting in extreme shortness of breath, Law360 explains. In severe cases, the patient [...]
Sandoz Recalls Two Lots of Methotrexate Sodium Injectable; Particulate Matter Found in Vials
Sandoz, a division of Novartis, has initiated a voluntary nationwide recall of two lots of methotrexate sodium injectable product after the discovery of particulate matter in vials during a routine quality examination of retained samples. Sandoz announced the recall in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the recall announcement, the [...]
GE MAVRIC SL MRI Sequence Improves Metal Joint Device Imaging, May Help Reveal Failed Joints Before Symptoms Appear
GE Healthcare just released an MRI technique meant to improve soft tissue and bone imaging in patients implanted with metal joint devices. The MAVRIC SL improves the way in which these joint devices are seen on imaging, reducing distortion that makes it impossible to see the soft tissue surrounding the implant, according to Medgadget. The [...]
Judge Orders DePuy to Produce Compliance Reports
The federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Texas over Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics’ unit’s Pinnacle hip implants ordered that the device maker provide compliance monitoring reports. In excess of 900 cases are included into this MDL, which is in the U.S. District Court for Northern Texas under Judge Ed Kinkeade, according to [...]
Canadian Health Agency Issues New Thalidomide Advisory
Celgene, Inc., in cooperation with Health Canada, the government health regulatory agency, has issued a safety warning about an increased risk of second primary malignancies associated with the drug Thalomid (thalidomide). Health Canada has authorized the use of Thalomid in very limited circumstances to treat multiple myeloma in patients 65 years of age and older [...]
Statin Drugs May Reduce Benefits of Exercise for Obese Adults
University of Missouri researchers have found that statin drugs, widely prescribed to lower blood cholesterol, can hinder the positive effects of exercise for overweight adults. John Thyfault, an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri (MU), said “if patients start exercising and taking statins at the same time, it seems [...]
Medtronic Announces Cuts in Worldwide Workforce
Minnesota-based medical device maker Medtronic has announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs worldwide. This is the third consecutive year the company has cut its workforce. Medtronic said the cuts, about half of which will be in the United States, are a response to slow growth among some of the company’s key products, reports the (St. [...]
Camp Lejeune Cleanup Continues
Camp Lejeune, the site of what is considered the worst drinking water contamination in United States history, continues to be the focus of an ongoing, massive cleanup. The former Hadnot Point fuel farm at the Marine Corps’ Base Camp Lejeune was ordered closed in the 1980s and is where a 15-foot thick layer of gasoline [...]
Intuitive Robotic Surgery Case Goes to Jury
Jury deliberations begin today in the first case to come to trial against Intuitive Surgical Inc. over injuries allegedly connected to the da Vinci robotic surgery system. A judge in Kitsap County (Washington) Superior Court turned the case over to the jury after a five-week trial. Lawyers for the estate of Fred Taylor claimed that [...]
FDA Review Raises Concerns About Merck Sleep Drug Suvorexant
Although Merck & Co.’s experimental insomnia drug suvorexant has proven effective in clinical trials, the drug may also have dangerous side effects, including causing daytime drowsiness and suicidal thinking. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a review of suvorexant, before a public meeting scheduled for today, CBS/The Associated Press (CBS/AP) reports.
