HEALTH

PALATINE, Ill. — In support of its December launch of the pseudoehedrine product Nexafed, Acura Pharmaceuticals recently kicked off a national e-mail campaign to help drive pharmacists to the Nexafed website with content specifically designed for the pharmacist audience, including infographics, graphic representations of study data and a behind-the-scenes look at Nexafed's abuse-deterrent technology.

NEW YORK — Convenience retailer 7-Eleven has jumped on the "fresh" bandwagon, according to a report published last week in the New York Times. And while 7-Eleven has been serving up fresh for more than a decade with its variety of hot dogs and breakfast fare, now the focus is on fresh food items that will fit within a consumer's diet plan, too. 

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Researchers at the University of Gothenburg along with the Chalmers University of Technology earlier this month demonstrated that an altered gut microbiota in humans is associated with symptomatic atherosclerosis and stroke. 

These findings were presented in a study published in Nature Communications on Dec. 4.

CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. — ProPhase Labs recently announced that its Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy will sponsor a New Jersey television personality to help raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, Maine for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. 

On Jan. 1, "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino will take the plunge as part of the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge New Year’s Day event. 

This is Vinny’s second year doing the Polar Bear Plunge, ProPhase noted.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — A new product from the PediaCare line is designed to keep children hydrated when they have a cold or flu.

Prestige Brands Holdings announced the launch of PediaCare Cold & Flu Hydration, designed to ensure children get needed fluids and electrolytes. The product replenishes nutrients lost from illness and provides immune-boosting antioxidants, with less sugar than sports drinks, soda and juices.

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles-based entrepreneur says he's built a better breath mint.

The breath tablet InFresh promises to "systematically eliminate" bad breath rather than masking it, as other products do. The product is a concentrated tablet that uses chlorophyll to eliminate the causes of bad breath, creater Elias Chavando said. Chavando came up with the idea in 2000 and worked with physicians and homeopathic product experts to develop it.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A single lot of a congestion-relief product has been recalled due to bacterial contamination found in a sample, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Nutra Pharma will introduce a stronger version of its OTC pain reliever, the company said Wednesday.

Nutra Pharma — which is developing treatments for such diseases as HIV, multiple sclerosis and adrenomyeloneuropathy — announced the planned introduction of Nyloxin Military Strength in order to combat opiate abuse and overuse of NSAIDs by military personnel.