Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Tue, Feb 25 1992 Date: Tue, 25 Feb 92 06:35:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Feb. 25, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FEMALE CONDOM DUE OUT BY FALL: A female condom will go on sale in the USA before fall, says its U.S. manufacturer, Wisconsin Pharmacal Co. The device received conditional approval by a Food and Drug Administration panel in January. For final approval, a six-month study of 200 women to determine its effectiveness must be completed, as well as a post-use analysis to determine rate of tearing. CONDOM SELLS WELL IN SWITZERLAND: Wisconsin Pharmacal Co. says it expects its female condom will receive final approval from the Food and Drug Administration by June. It would market the product as the Reality vaginal pouch. Each can be used once and would be sold in three-packs for about $6.50. Two weeks ago the Swiss firm Uhlmann-Eyraud launched the product in Switzerland and says almost 75,000 have been sold. SOME SENIOR CITIZENS EAT POORLY: Half a million to 1 million people over 65 in the USA are malnourished, according to a report released Monday by the Nutrition Screening Initiative, a coalition of more than 30 health, nutrition and aging groups. "Too many Americans underestimate the value of eating well," said the coalition's Nancy Wellman, past president of the American Dietetic Association. (For more, see special Elderly package below.) MIGRANT WORKERS LACK BENEFITS: A government report out Monday from the General Accounting Office found that migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children often do not get proper medical and health services or Social Security benefits. The report said they have no guaranteed minimum wage and often live in substandard, unsanitary housing. They face health risks from work in pesticide-laden fields. LEVI STRAUSS EXTENDS BENEFITS: Levi Strauss & Co. Monday became the largest U.S. employer to extend health benefits to unmarried partners of its U.S. employees. The policy, which takes effect June 1, applies to any unmarried worker who lives with and shares finances with a lover. Levi says the new policy reflects its desire for a workplace that doesn't discriminate based on sex, race, origin or marital status. COMMENT ON LABEL PLAN ENDS: Tuesday is the last day for public comment on the Food and Drug Administration's food labeling proposals, which include definitions for terms like "low fat" and "light" and rules for disease prevention claims. Final regulations are due in November and go into effect in May 1993. AUTHOR CALLS FOR HEALTH CLASSES: In his book "Ready to Learn: A Mandate for the Nation," Ernest L. Boyer calls for health education classes in every school. He says the classes would ensure that tomorrow's parents understand the impact their health habits have on rearing healthy children. PANEL CONSIDERING RULE CHANGE: A state licensing panel in Alabama is considering a proposed rule to allow paramedics to work in hospital emergency rooms. The state nurses association opposes the plan, saying hospitals were using it to cut costs. Hospitals say they want to use paramedics because it is difficult to find nurses for rural areas. ANTIBACTERIA DRUG APPROVED: Searle said Monday its new quinolone antibacterial agent, Maxaquin, has been approved for marketing in the USA. The pill is designed to help treat complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis caused by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis, the two most prevalent bacteria associated with this lower respiratory infection. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON ELDERLY: SOME LACK INTEREST IN FOOD: Nancy Wellman of the Nutrition Screening Initiative said too many people over 65 suffer from the "tea and toast" syndrome. "They think they're cooking if they make toast." But "it's important to keep a healthy interest in food, and not short-change themselves." The coalition wants Congress to include nutrition screening programs in future legislation. RELATIVES SHOULD GIVE HELP: Eating right "will actually help you stay out of nursing homes and hospitals," Wellman says. "We'd like to see older Americans make an investment in themselves every day by eating healthy." People who have an older relative who's not cooking much should consider dropping off hot meals or easy-to-prepare frozen dinners. MORE FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN: Wellman says older people shouldn't get compulsive about cutting out certain food groups, like dairy products or meats, because that could lead to inadequate nutrition. One way most people, old and young alike, could improve their diets is to eat more fruits (two to four servings a day recommended) and vegetables (three to five servings a day). (End of package.) Health Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002250000D0225 INSU- R K Levi-Strauss-extends-benefits......... A D0225 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM