Patient Safety Blog

Federal officials have identified the contaminant that was found in the blood-thinning medication heparin in 11 countries.

Chinese officials have denied that this contaminant has caused any deaths. As for U.S. officials, here is what one of them says:

Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s drug center, said that German regulators uncovered a cluster of illnesses among dialysis patients who took contaminated heparin. She said Chinese officials had conceded that heparin produced in their country contained a contaminant, though they say it was not connected to the illnesses.

“Heparin should not be contaminated, regardless of whether or not that contamination caused acute adverse events,” Dr. Woodcock said. “We are fairly confident based on the biological information that we have had that this contaminant is capable of triggering these adverse reactions.”

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Earlier this month, the anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drug heparin was linked to 19 deaths in the U.S.A. as well as several hundred allergic reactions. A contaminant was thought to be the cause of these deaths, and now the Food and Drug Administration has said they have identified the contaminant:

The contaminant, the regulators said, is a chemically altered form of chondroitin sulfate, a dietary supplement made from animal cartilage that is widely used to treat joint pain. The agency’s announcement followed a report Wednesday in The New York Times that was the first publicly to identify the modified substance as the likely contaminant.

Disturbingly, in that same article, the regulators implied that they believe the contaminant was intentionally mixed with the heparin.

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Those who drink a can of diet soda a day are 34% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than those who don't.

"Metabolic syndrome" is a cluster of symptoms that are risk factors for heart disease.

The reason for this link is still unknown: it might be chemical or it might have something to do with other behaviors that are, for whatever reason, common to diet soda drinkers.

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Botox is a neurotoxin used to relax muscles. People take it to relieve pain as well as for cosmetic purposes.

However, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is arguing that it should come with a much stronger warning label because of 16 deaths and many serious injuries that the drug has been associated with.

For more information:

Botox, also known as Botulinum toxin type A

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A new study, presented to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, has found that consumption of energy drinks is linked to heart disease and high blood pressure. The linked article contains a description of the study.

These results are unsurprising because most energy drinks contain caffeine. Any problems associated with coffee, particularly excessive coffee drinking habits, are therefore likely to show up with energy drinks as well.

Particularly risky activities include taking the energy drink before or during exercise, or in conjunction with alcohol.

Useful resources:

Brown University’s advisory page on energy drinks

ScienceDaily article on the subject

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ConAgra, the world's largest popcorn supplier, has announced on Tuesday September 4th that it will stop using diacetyl--a synthetic butter flavoring.

Diacetyl has been linked to lung disease in workers, who developed severe symptoms (extreme wheezing, for example) after inhaling the vapors of this synthetic butter while on the job. The disease is known as bronchiolitis obliterans and can cause death or leave patients with no hope but lung transplants.

In dropping diacetyl, ConAgra---which produces the popular Act II and Orville Redenbacher brands of popcorn--is following in the footsteps of Pop Weaver, another large popcorn supplier, which pulled diacetyl one month previously.

For more information on diacetyl and its effects, see the following links:

Preventing Lung Disease in Workers Who Use or Make Flavorings (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Bronchiolitis Obliterans: The Disease Explained

Food Navigator

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