HEALTH

ATLANTA — While flu activity declined slightly from the week prior, incidence of influenza-like illness rates remained above the national baseline for the week ended Feb. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

Six states were still experiencing high ILI activity, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.

OMAHA, Neb. — A study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that vitamin D as an add-on therapy could provide some relief for chronic hives, a condition with no cure and few treatment options.

Jill Poole, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, was principal investigator of a study in the Feb. 7 edition of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The two-year study looked at the role of over-the-counter vitamin D3 as a supplemental treatment for chronic hives.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Rainbow Light recently released the results of a study conducted by Wiest & Co. that demonstrates that product labels are more important in influencing vitamin and supplement consumer purchases than previously thought. 

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Merz North America recently launched Mederma PM, a new one-of-a-kind scar cream formulated to work at night, when skin naturally regenerates faster.  

Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream is formulated to complement this nighttime activity with Tripeptol, a skin-nourishing complex with peptides, collagen and antioxidants to promote healthy-looking skin and help skin fight free radical damage. 

ST. LOUIS — New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that people who struggle with mood problems or addiction can safely quit smoking and that kicking the habit is associated with improved mental health, the university announced earlier this week. 

SLOUGH, England — Reckitt Benckiser has line extended its Mucinex franchise into the year-round allergy sector with Mucinex Allergy, Heather Allen, Reckitt Benckiser EVP category development, told analysts Wednesday. 

"Super fantastic launch in the U.S.," she said. "Allergy is a $2.5 billion market in the U.S. More than 75% of Mucinex users also take an allergy treatment, and now, we're able to offer them Mucinex Allergy, maximum strength, non-drowsy antihistamine, acts fast and lasts for 24 hours."

SILVER SPRING, Md. — After meeting for two days earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration's Arthritis Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted 16-9 against changing the label of naproxen to highlight a lower cardiovascular risk profile as compared to other NSAIDs, according to published reports. 

Those advisory panels who voted against the change felt the data were insufficient to say naproxen was safer than other NSAIDs.