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The holidays are here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has its list. Parents and gift buyers are encouraged to check it twice. CPSC has issued its annual holiday safety messages, joined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Safe Kids Worldwide, to remind parents to be diligent when making holiday shopping choices.

"CPSC, CBP and industry activity has been with one goal in mind, to keep the toys our children play with the safest in the world," says Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Vigorous inspection of toys, testing and law enforcement have made toys the safest this season."

For 2007, the commission has reports of 18 toy-related deaths, and CPSC staff estimates that there were about 170,100 toy-related injuries to children under 15 treated in hospital emergency rooms. Most of the deaths were associated with airway obstruction from small toys, drowning or motor vehicle accidents during play. Most of the injuries were lacerations, contusion and abrasions; the head and face was the area most frequently affected.

The top five toy hazards:

• Scooters and Other Riding Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times and be sized to fit.
• Small Balls and Other Toys with Small Parts – For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Balloons – Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Keep un-inflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
• Magnets – For children under age 6, avoid building or play sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
• Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.

With the increased popularity of secondhand stores and online vendors, gift-givers should be especially vigilant to prevent the sale or purchase of hazardous products that have been recalled, banned or do not meet current safety standards. Before placing products in the second-hand market, check its recall status at www.cpsc.gov. Buyers should make sure their gifts do not include any of the recalled toys or children's products on CPSC's Web site.

Keep updated about all recalls here.

(11-18-08)

Twenty-five thousand cases of human papillomavirus-associated cancers occurred in 38 states and the District of Columbia annually during 1998-2003, according to studies conducted by CDC. The report, "Assessing the Burden of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers in the United States (ABHACUS)," was published online and appears in the November 15, 2008, supplement edition of Cancer.

"These estimates of HPV-associated cancers were collected prior to the development of the HPV vaccine," says Dr. Mona Saraiya, medical officer in CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and coordinator of the studies. This gives us baseline data to measure the impact of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening programs in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers and pre-cancers."

This first analysis of the largest, most comprehensive assessment of HPV-associated cancer data to date in the United States used cancer registry data from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

The top HPV-associated cancer sites were cervix, oral cavity and oropharynx, anus, vulva, penis and vagina. HPV is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different types. More than 30 of these HPV types can be sexually transmitted. Most people with HPV infection do not develop symptoms or health problems. Some HPV types can cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus and penis. Other HPV types can cause genital warts.

Significant findings include (age-adjusted rates are presented in parentheses where appropriate and are per 100,000 persons):

• Cervix: More HPV-associated cancers occur in the cervix than any other site – about 10,800 per year. The incidence rate of cervical cancer was 8.9 women during 1998-2003. Black and Hispanic women had higher rates of cervical cancer (12.6 and 14.2, respectively) than white and non-Hispanic women (both 8.4).
• Oral Cavity and Oropharynx: Cancers in some areas of the head and neck (oral cavity and oropharynx) are more likely to be HPV-associated than other areas. There were nearly 7,400 potentially HPV-associated cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx per year – nearly 5,700 among men and about 1,700 among women. Incidence rates for a subset of the HPV-associated cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx (cancers of the tonsil and cancers of the base of the tongue) were higher in men than women. These cancers significantly increased (3.0 percent) per year during the reporting period.
• Anal: There were more than 3,000 HPV-associated anal cancers per year – about 1,900 in women and 1,100 in men. HPV-associated anal cancer occurs more frequently among women (1.5) compared to men (1.0). Whites had the highest rates among women (1.6), while blacks had the highest rates among men (1.2).
• Vulvar: There were about 2,300 new cases of vulvar cancer each year during the study period. In contrast to cervical cancer, white women (1.8) had higher rates of vulvar cancer than black (1.3) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4) women.
• Penile: Penile cancer is relatively rare, striking about 800 men each year. Incidence rates were higher among Hispanic men (1.3) than non-Hispanic men (0.8).
• Vaginal: About 600 women a year developed vaginal cancers. Incidence rates were higher among black women than white women (0.7 and 0.4, respectively), and incidence rates were lowest among Asian/Pacific Islander women (0.3).
• Women with a history of cervical cancer have an increased risk of developing subsequent in situ (non-invasive) cancers of the vagina and vulva, as well as invasive cancers of the vagina, vulva and rectum.

For information on gynecologic cancers, visit www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic.

(11-18-08)

High-profile celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna are often photographed traveling internationally, sometimes to underdeveloped countries, with their young children in tow. While they make traveling with children seem safe and easy, there are real dangers to consider when traveling to the underdeveloped and tropical regions of the world with young children.

"Depending on the final destination, there are certain vaccines that may be recommended to help keep children safe during travel," says Dr. Andrea Summer, member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and associate professor of pediatrics at Medical University of South Carolina. "The most common infectious health threats to children traveling to underdeveloped, tropical regions of the world may result from exposure to contaminated food and water, and disease carrying insects. With the help of available destination-specific vaccines such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever and yellow fever, parents can feel more comfortable traveling with young children."

Aside from preventive vaccines, there are other precautions parents should take to ensure a safe trip for their children. For this reason, Dr. Summer offers tips to keep children safe:

• Animals: Very often children are drawn to animals. However, animals in developing countries are usually not required to have vaccines like they are in the United States and can carry a variety of transmittable diseases including rabies. For this reason it can be dangerous for children to have contact with animals.
• Mosquitoes: Insects such as mosquitoes are cause for concern in tropical areas because of the many diseases they can spread to humans, including Dengue fever and malaria, which are potentially fatal. There are many physical barriers parents can use to protect children, which include long pants and long sleeve shirts, bed nets and DEET-based repellents.
• Toxins: Parents should research if there will be toxins in developing countries that may not be considered toxins in the United States. Such toxins may include plants or flowers that contain poisons, insecticides, lead-based paints or rodent bait.
• Vaccines: Children should be up-to-date on all routine vaccines, including an annual flu shot, before international travel. Destination-specific vaccines may also be recommended.
• Water Safety: Parents need to provide children with the proper safety devices for water activities, such as life preservers. Underdeveloped and rural areas may not have these devices available.
• Motor Vehicle Safety: Because motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of child mortality during travel, parents are advised to bring a car seat or booster seat with them, since these may not always be available in developing countries. Parents should also consider traveling during the day, as many roads may be dangerous to travel at night.

"Prevention doesn't end when travelers return home," says Dr. Summer. "There are various post-travel symptoms, such as fever, persistent or bloody diarrhea and respiratory infections that parents should watch for in children, as they can be indicators of a more serious problem and require immediate medical attention."

(11-18-08)

Research suggests U.S. motorists are growing increasingly cynical about the relevance of speed limits, and a new study indicates many motorists are more likely to think they can drive safely while speeding as long as they won't get caught.

"So the faster you think you can go before getting a ticket, the more likely you are to think safety's not compromised at higher speeds," says Fred Mannering, a professor of civil engineering at Purdue University.

Mannering used a series of mathematical equations in "multinomial logit models" to calculate probabilities based on data from a survey of 988 motorists in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where Purdue is located. Findings generally agree with other data taken in recent years.

"For whatever reason, respect for speed limits seems to have deteriorated," Mannering says. "A 2002 survey indicated two-thirds of all drivers reported they exceeded the posted speed limit, and roughly one-third reported driving 10 mph faster than most other vehicles. These figures are even more disturbing when you consider that they're self-reported and likely to be understating the degree of speeding problems."

(11-18-08)

Every second a person in the world suffers a devastating stroke. In the United States, more than 600,000 people experience strokes every year, and the total number of stroke survivors is estimated by authorities to be more than four million. The result of these occurrences is damaged brain tissue that appears to be irreversible. A staggering 50 percent of those who survive are left with lifelong infirmities affecting speech, movement and even thought.

Imagine watching a loved one suddenly rendered silent and helpless with crippling brain damage said to be incurable. But what if they could fully recover? Roger Maxwell, author of the new book Taking Charge of Your Stroke Recovery: A Personal Recovery Workbook (www.takingchargebooks.com), suffered a massive stroke in his late 40's. Advised he could only "cross his fingers and wait" when insurance-paid hospital rehab ended and left him severely disabled, Maxwell realized he had to take charge of his own stroke recovery.

Maxwell recognized that searching for the keys to recovery from stroke in reams of medical literature was like finding inventions in massive engineering reports – something he was expert at doing. Through his research, Maxwell developed unique methods to rehabilitate his physical health and mental functions. He succeeded overwhelmingly, teaching himself to speak and walk again, to jog and ultimately to run marathons. He now enjoys life unhampered by any disabilities. He shares the following little-known facts about stroke recovery:

• Far more stroke survivors can fully recover from the effects of stroke than currently do. While you are a unique individual, the brain's structure and function are virtually the same in everyone, so each person has the same capacity to recover if the right things are done. Many scientific studies and reports over the past two decades confirm this.
• Stroke survivors need to take charge of their stroke recovery to fully recover from stroke. If stroke survivors just wait to see if they will recover while doing nothing, they might not. They have to take action.
• You can prevent your stroke from becoming a "life sentence"! Being disabled by stroke is like being in prison – and the prison is the stroke survivor's body. It is worth time and effort to get out of prison!
• Good brain nutrition is important. We know that cutting off oxygen to the brain for 10 minutes can cause irreparable damage. Likewise, the presence or absence of certain nutrients can have a rapid and profound effect on your brain. The right diet and nutrients are crucial to maximum brain healing and health!
• Doing the right exercises the right way is key. Intensive, aggressive and repetitive exercise and practice are the best at helping people improve anything, including recovering from stroke disabilities.

(11-18-08)

There may be a silver – and healthy – lining to the miserable cloud of allergy symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, tearing and itching may just help prevent cancer – particularly colon, skin, bladder, mouth, throat, uterus and cervix, lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer, according to a new Cornell study.

These cancers, interestingly, involve organs that "interface directly with the external environment," says Paul Sherman, Cornell professor of neurobiology and behavior, who led the study. He and colleagues analyzed 646 studies on allergies and cancers published over the past 50 years, putting together "the most comprehensive database yet available" on allergies and cancers.

The study revealed "a strong relationship" between allergies and cancer in environmentally exposed tissues, Sherman says. This relationship seldom exists, he notes, between allergies and cancers of tissues that are not directly exposed to the environment, such as cancers of the breast and prostate, as well as myelocytic leukemia and myeloma. The study also found that allergies linked to tissues that are exposed to environmental factors – eczema, hives, hay fever and animal and food allergies – are most strongly associated with lower rates of cancers in exposed tissues.

The study is published in The Quarterly Review of Biology.

(11-18-08)

People with Alzheimer's disease who also have diabetes or high blood pressure may die sooner than people without such disorders, according to a study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 323 people who had no memory problems when first tested but later developed dementia. Memory tests and physical exams were then given every 18 months. The study found that after an Alzheimer's diagnosis was made, people with diabetes were twice as likely to die sooner than those without diabetes who had Alzheimer's disease. People with Alzheimer's disease who had high blood pressure were two-and-a-half times more likely to die sooner than those with normal blood pressure.

"Studies show that the average lifespan of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's can be anywhere from three to nine years," says study author Dr. Yaakov Stern, professor at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain and director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Division of Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "For that person and their caregiver, every minute counts. Here we have two controllable factors that may drastically affect how long that person can survive." Dr. Stern is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study also looked at how race could affect how long a person lives with Alzheimer's disease. It found Hispanic people live for eight years after diagnosis, about four years longer than non-Hispanic white people do. African-Americans live an average of five years, longer than non-Hispanic whites but not as long as Hispanic people. However, after adjusting for gender and other factors, the results were no longer significant.

"Though these findings were not significant, they are intriguing and warrant further research as to whether race affects survival time in people with Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Stern.

For more information, visit www.aan.com.

(11-18-08)

People with more education and more mentally demanding occupations may have protection against the memory loss that precedes Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 242 people with Alzheimer's disease, 72 people with mild cognitive impairment and 144 people with no memory problems. Mild cognitive impairment is a transition stage when some memory problems are occurring beyond what is normal for a person's age but not the serious problems of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers tested the participants' memory and cognitive skills and used brain scans to measure the amount of brain glucose metabolism, which shows how much the brain has been affected by the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's disease. The participants were followed for an average of 14 months. During that time, 21 of the people with mild cognitive impairment developed Alzheimer's disease.

The study found that in people with the same level of memory impairment, people with more education and more mentally demanding jobs had significantly more changes and damage in their brains from Alzheimer's disease than people with less education and less mentally demanding jobs.

"The theory is that education and demanding jobs create a buffer against the effects of dementia on the brain, or a cognitive reserve," says study author Dr. Valentina Garibotto of the San Raffaele University and Scientific Institute and the National Institute of Neuroscience in Milan, Italy. "Their brains are able to compensate for the damage and allow them to maintain functioning in spite of damage. There are two possible explanations. The brain could be made stronger through education and occupational challenges. Or genetic factors that enabled people to achieve higher education and occupational achievement might determine the amount of brain reserve. It isn't possible to determine which accounts for our findings."

The results were found in both people with Alzheimer's and people with mild cognitive impairment who developed Alzheimer's during the study, suggesting that the cognitive reserve is already in effect during the mild cognitive impairment phase before Alzheimer's begins, Dr. Garibotto says.

People with Alzheimer's disease and people with mild cognitive impairment who developed Alzheimer's during the study had metabolic dysfunction in the areas of the brain consistent with Alzheimer's disease, whereas the healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment who did not develop Alzheimer's disease had no brain metabolism problems.

For more information, visit www.aan.com.

(11-11-08)

A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of 265 people with an average age of 68 who had a stroke and were able to walk on their own. Other stroke risk factors and other diseases and conditions that might interfere with their ability to exercise were considered. The participants were interviewed after filling out a questionnaire about their exercise habits and the number of hours they were active during a one-week period.

The study found that the top 25 percent of people who exercised the most were two-and-a-half-times more likely to suffer a less severe stroke compared with people who were in the bottom quarter of the group. The most active also had a better chance of long-term recovery.

"Exercise is one possible risk factor for stroke that can be controlled," says study author Dr. Lars-Henrik Krarup of the Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. "Staying fit doesn't have to be a scheduled regimen. For the people in this study, exercise included light housework, taking a walk outside, lawn care, gardening or participating in a sport." Dr. Krarup says the study also suggests the importance of stroke awareness programs and prevention campaigns.

To learn the five signs of stroke, visit www.giveme5forstroke.org.

(11-11-08)

A new American Academy of Peditrics (AAP) policy statement recommends that all children, 6 months through age 18, receive an annual influenza vaccine. The policy statement expands the previous recommendations to include all school-aged children, the population most likely to contract the disease and need influenza-related medical care.

The policy statement, which mirrors a similar recommendation earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calls for all children to be immunized during the 2008-2009 influenza season. The policy statement also recommends that household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions and healthy children younger than age 5, pregnant women and health care professionals, also receive a flu vaccine each year. Influenza vaccine administration should begin as soon as the vaccine becomes available, and immunization efforts should continue until May 1.

(11-11-08)