Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Timeline: Significant events in the history of Juul
The following are some significant events in the history of Juul. 2007— Stanford design graduates James Monsees and Adam Bowen found Ploom Inc, drawing from their thesis project on a new kind of cigarette.
Anxiety, depression tied to more ER visits with childhood asthma
When young people with asthma have anxiety, depression or both, they're more likely to visit the emergency room than if they didn't have these mood disorders, a new study suggests. Compared to young people with asthma but without either mood disorder, those with anxiety were 22% more likely to visit the emergency room for an asthma attack, and those with depression were 43% more likely to go to the ER for asthma flares. And when kids had both anxiety and depression, they were 80% more likely to visit the ER for asthma.
Patients more likely to seek psychiatric help after weight-loss surgery
After weight-loss surgery, patients may be more likely to need mental health services, including psychiatric hospitalizations, a new study suggests. Based on data for nearly 25,000 patients, bariatric surgery was linked to a greater than three-fold increased risk of admission to the emergency room and a three-fold increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization in the years following surgery, researchers report in JAMA Psychiatry.
Juul Labs suspends advertising in U.S., replaces CEO
Juul Labs said on Wednesday it would suspend all broadcast, print and digital product advertising in the United States, and replaced Chief Executive Officer Kevin Burns with Altria Group Inc executive K.C. Crosthwaite. Crosthwaite is senior vice president and chief strategy and growth officer at Altria.
Juul boss exits in vaping crisis as Philip Morris, Altria axe merger talks
The chief executive of e-cigarette maker Juul stepped down on Wednesday as merger talks between its biggest investor Altria and Philip Morris collapsed in the face of a regulatory backlash against vaping that could reshape the industry. Juul Labs, in which tobacco giant Altria Group Inc owns a 35% stake, is facing intense scrutiny in its home market as teen use of e-cigarettes surges. The company, which faces a U.S. ban on some products, said on Wednesday that it would suspend all advertising in the country.
Health workers aim to save lives of mothers and babies with smartphone data
Community health workers in India and Uganda are to be armed with smartphones and tablets that use data analytics, risk maps and social media trends to help save the lives of vulnerable mothers and babies. The $100 million project, funded by the philanthropic Rockefeller Foundation, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and others, will be extended to 10 countries in all and aims to prevent the premature deaths of 6 million women and children by 2030.
Health Canada says four more companies recalling versions of Zantac
Health Canada said on Wednesday four more companies were recalling heartburn drug ranitidine, commonly known by its brand name Zantac, after presence of a probable cancer-causing impurity was found in some of the drugs. The companies recalling the drugs include Apotex Inc, Pro Doc Limitée, Sanis Health Inc and Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC, along with Novartis AG's recall, which was announced last week.
Competition can help overweight people get moving
People who are overweight or obese may get more physical activity when they participate in step-counting contests than when they simply use activity trackers to monitor their own steps, a recent experiment suggests. Researchers asked 602 overweight and obese adults to wear step trackers and set goals to increase their daily steps. Then researchers sorted participants into four groups: one that only counted steps, and three different groups that also had games designed to inspire more movement through encouragement, prizes or competition.
Enanta Pharma's NASH drug meets mid-stage study goal
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday its drug to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) met the main goal of reducing levels of elevated liver enzymes in a mid-stage study. NASH is a chronic liver disease characterized by excess fat, inflammation and cell damage in liver that can cause fibrosis or scarring of the organ, ultimately leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Special Report: New frontier in health fraud - Genetic tests of the elderly
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (Reuters) - The genetic-screening sales reps turn out at health fairs, houses of religion, parks and elder enclaves, offering seniors a chance to learn if they or their loved ones are at risk of developing cancer. All they need, the reps say, is a free cheek swab. In truth, U.S. federal investigators say, some of the sales representatives are part of a burgeoning industry that threatens to become what multiple government investigators call the next big frontier in healthcare fraud: genetic testing, which is reaping millions of dollars from unnecessary tests that target senior citizens.
