Vitamin D
Medical group proposes higher minimum intake
WASHINGTON -- A flurry of recent research indicating that vitamin
D may have a dizzying array of health benefits has reignited an
intense debate over whether federal guidelines for the "sunshine
vitamin" are outdated, leaving millions unnecessarily vulnerable to
cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other ailments.
The studies have produced evidence that low levels of vitamin D
make men more likely to have heart attacks, breast and colon cancer
victims less likely to survive, kidney disease victims more likely
to die, and children more likely to develop diabetes. Two other
studies suggest that higher vitamin D levels reduce the risk of
dying prematurely from any cause.
In response to these and earlier findings, several medical
societies are considering new recommendations for a minimum daily
vitamin D intake. The American Medical Association recently called
for the government to update its guidelines, and federal officials
are planning to launch that effort.
But many leading experts caution that it remains premature for
people to start taking large doses of vitamin D. While the new
research is provocative, experts argue that the benefits remain far
from proven. Vitamin D can be toxic at high doses, and some studies
suggest it could increase the risk for some health problems,
experts say. No one knows what consequences might emerge from
exposing millions of people to megadoses of the vitamin for long
periods.
Diabetes
FDA panel urges more testing for medicines
WASHINGTON -- Diabetes drugs should face tougher safety standards
that could cost manufacturers millions but protect patients from
unforeseen heart risks, a government panel has recommended.
Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted 14-2 on
Wednesday that all new diabetes drugs should undergo longer studies
to assure they don't increase risks of heart problems. The agency
currently doesn't screen for heart risks associated with diabetes
drugs.
The opinions from diabetes experts, cardiologists and
statisticians come less than a year after the FDA was criticized for
its handling of heart risks connected with a widely used
GlaxoSmithKline pill. The drug was approved in 1999, but the agency
didn't add a warning about potential heart risks until last
November.
Surgery
Doctor fined for severing 33-year-old's penis
BUCHAREST, Romania -- A court has ordered a Romanian surgeon to
pay $795,000 in compensation to a patient whose penis he
accidentally severed during an operation.
In July 2004, Dr. Naum Ciomu made a surgical error while
operating on the man's testicles, severing the penis instead of
making an incision to the testicle.
The Bucharest Magistrates Court ruled Friday that Ciomu had been
"superficial" in his approach to the operation, ordered the fine and
handed Ciomu a one-year suspended prison sentence. The ruling can be
appealed.
A piece of muscle from the man's arm has now been attached to
where his penis was, but its function is aesthetic.
"You don't have to be an expert to realize that the 33-year-old
victim does not have a good state of mind," said Mihai Olariu, the
victim's lawyer.
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