A Medical Device Daily
X-rays, viruses and compounds found in grilled meats have joined the official list of known or suspected cancer-causing agents.
The list, issued every two years by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (both Research Triangle Park, North Carolina), also adds chemicals used in textile dyes, paints and inks.
“For the first time ever, viruses are listed in the report: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and some human papillomaviruses that cause common sexually transmitted diseases,“ the NIEHS said in a statement.
They include the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, which can cause liver cancer, and human papillomaviruses, also known as human wart viruses, which are sexually transmitted and can cause cervical cancer.
About 1 million U.S. residents are chronically infected with hepatitis B and 3 million with hepatitis C virus, both of which can be transmitted by injected drug use, sexual contact and blood transfusions.
An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. are infected with genital wart viruses, which often produce no symptoms, and 5.5 million new people are infected each year.
“Other new listings include lead and lead compounds, X-rays, compounds found in grilled meats, and a host of substances used in textile dyes, paints and inks,“ the NIEHS said.
It added: “X-radiation and gamma-radiation are listed in the report as 'known human carcinogens' because human studies show that exposure to these kinds of radiation causes many types of cancer including leukemia and cancers of the thyroid, breast and lung. The risk of developing cancers due to these forms of ionizing radiation depends to some extent on age at the time of exposure.“
Children exposed to high levels of X-rays have a higher risk of leukemia and thyroid cancer, while men and women exposed to chest area X-rays at certain times can have higher risks of breast and lung cancer.
“Exposure to X-radiation and gamma radiation has also been shown to cause cancer of the salivary glands, stomach, colon, bladder, ovaries, central nervous system and skin,“ the NIEHS said.
The report said that of the total worldwide exposure to X-radiation and gamma-radiation, 55% is from low-dose medical diagnosis such as bone, chest and dental X-rays, and 43% is from natural sources like radon. Other sources, such as industry, scientific research, military weapons testing, nuclear accidents and nuclear power generation, account for about 2% of exposure.
Industrial chemicals added to the suspected carcinogen list include naphthalene, an ingredient in mothballs and toilet bowl deodorants, and lead used to make lead-acid storage batteries, ammunition and cable coverings.
Also included on the list are heterocyclic amine compounds, which are formed when meats and eggs are cooked or grilled at high temperatures and also are found in cigarette smoke.
ClaimRemedi agreement amended
Cash Technologies (Los Angeles) reported that its Heuristic Technologies subsidiary has signed an amendment to its agreement with ClaimRemedi (Santa Rosa, California), a California developer of healthcare-related data processing software.
Subject to certain minimum transaction volume requirements, the agreement grants Heuristic the exclusive worldwide right to use, sell or sub-license ClaimRemedi's medical claims processing software. The amend- ment also extends the term of the agreement from three to eight years.
ClaimRemedi's software permits healthcare insurers and providers to electronically analyze these medical claims and identify and correct data errors, providing “dramatic reductions“ in processing costs, according to the company. n
U.S. distribution rights go to Zimmer
Zimmer Holdings (Warsaw, Indiana), a worldwide leader in the orthopedics industry, said it has acquired U.S. distribution rights for the Palacos line of bone cement products manufactured by Heraeus Kulzer (Hanau,Germany), a producer of orthopedic bone cement products and other healthcare technologies.
The Palacos line is a recognized market leader in cemented orthopedic surgical procedures, Zimmer said. Under the new distribution agreement, it expects to begin selling Palacos and other Heraeus Kulzer bone cements in 2Q05following an introduction at this month's American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting, and will become the exclusive U.S. distributor for these products in January 2006.