Health trends

E-cigarette companies warned

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week issued warning letters to five electronic cigarette distributors for various violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) including unsubstantiated claims and poor manufacturing practices.

Also, in a letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association, FDA said the agency intends to regulate electronic cigarette and related products in a manner consistent with its mission of protecting the public health. The letter outlines the regulatory pathway for marketing drug products in compliance with the FDCA. The companies receiving warning letters today are: E-CigaretteDirect LLC, Ruyan America Inc, Gamucci America (Smokey Bayou Inc), E-Cig Technology Inc and Johnson's Creek Enterprises LLC.

Source: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Cranberry juice and infections

Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have reported the surprise finding, from a small clinical study, that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from beginning the process of infection.

The data was reported in a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Boston on August 23, 2010, by Terri Camesano, professor of chemical engineering at WPI. "Most of our work with cranberry juice has been with E. coli and urinary tract infections, but we included Staphylococcus aureus in this study because it is a very serious health threat," Camesano said. "This is early data, but the results are surprising." Strains of S. aureus can cause a range of "staph infections", from minor skin rashes to serious bloodstream infections.

Source: ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com

New birth-control implants

Jadelle implants, a replacement to the Norplant contraceptive, is now available at the Beth Jacobs Clinic in St Ann's Bay and in some government clinics here. This contraceptive comprises two rods which release hormones at a controlled rate to prevent pregnancy. They are inserted in the woman's upper arm and can last four to five years.

One of the most important characteristics of the Jadelle is that it is reversible; the contraceptive action stops within two to three days of removal. This alternative to Norplant is easier to insert and remove, which is an advantage for both clients and providers.

Source: Famplan Jamaica