Almost a third of the estimated 3.2 million Americans with hepatitis C, as well as millions around the world, take silymarin, an extract of milk thistle, with the hope of alleviating their symptoms and preventing disease progression. The supplement is alleged to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties.

The results of the first national survey to measure public awareness and the prevalence of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) were just published in the American Journal of Public Health. The survey, conducted by the American Legacy Foundation, showed that 40.2 percent of Americans have heard of e-cigarettes and over 70 percent of this group believe they are less harmful than regular cigarettes.

Last week, the European Medicines Agency the EU analog of our FDA announced that it is, for the first time, recommending a gene therapy product for the treatment of a rare disease called lipoprotein lipase deficiency.

In addition to the usual supplement craze, some people in New York City are willing to pay more than $2.50 dollars for a bottle of a new brand of molecule water. The big secret behind the label? It comes straight from the tap!

On a lighter note, we are pleased to see someone other than ACSH point out the ridiculous health remedies touted by many popular television talk shows and news programs. In a Los Angeles Times article, reporter Chris Woolston takes celebrity doctors to task for doling out false or misleading medical tips.

A survey just published in the CDC s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report revealed that 1 in 13 or about 8 percent of pregnant women drink alcohol. The report also noted that about 1.4 percent of pregnant women binge-drink defined as having four or more drinks on one occasion.

This year, the U.S. is going to have the worst outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) since 1959, according to a new report from the CDC. It s a resurgence that is very troubling, since it most likely reflects a further decline in the rate of routine immunizations in certain regions of the country although other factors may be responsible as well.

A recent Gallup poll of 1,000 adults from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia has revealed that more Americans believe obesity now outranks cigarette smoking as a national health problem.

As the Alzheimer s Association International Conference 2012 in Vancouver, Canada wraps up today, we find ourselves inundated with new findings related to the disease. Among these were two studies revealing that binge drinking among older people increases the risk of cognitive decline and memory loss.

We d like to applaud former ACSH trustee Dr. Betsy McCaughey, whose recent op-ed in the Daily News discusses the current state of hospital hygiene or lack thereof.