Trending News Today: Cellphone Use Linked to Two Forms of Cancer

Since the rise in use of cellphones, there has been a long standing debate on whether or not cellphones cause negative health effects. A new US government study on rats has, in fact, revealed a link between cellphones and cancer, reported The Wall Street Journal. The National Toxicology Program conducted a multiyear, peer-reviewed study, finding low incidences of 2 different types of tumors in male exposed to radio frequencies commonly emitted by cellphones. The 2 forms of tumors were gliomas of the brain and schwannomas of the heart.

A strain of bacteria was found to be resistant to antibiotics of last resort for the first time, reported The Washington Post. Last month, a strain of E.coli was found in the urine of a 49-year-old Pennsylvania woman who was resistant to the antibiotic colistin. Colistin is used for particularly dangerous types of superbugs, including a family of bacteria called CRE, and in certain circumstances, these superbugs can kill up to 50% of infected patients. Top US public health officials are concerned that this could be the end of antibiotics. “It basically shows us that the end of the road isn’t very far away for antibiotics, that we may be in a situation where we have patients in our intensive-care units, or patients getting urinary tract infections for which we do not have antibiotics,” said Tom Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I’ve been there for TB patients. I’ve cared for patients for whom there are no drugs left. It is a feeling of such horror and helplessness. This is not where we need to be.”

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc rejected the joint takeover approach the manufacturer received this spring from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co and TPG, a private equity firm. According to The Wall Street Journal, the approach occurred before Valeant named Joseph Papa as the new chief executive. There was no firm price included, and at this time, there are no current talks ongoing. Papa was hired in late spring and the board is currently looking to give the CEO more time to create a course for the company, according to the report.