Health Highlights: Sept. 16, 2007

Mar. 23 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors of HealthDay:

China Recalls Two Leukemia Drugs

The Chinese government has recalled yet another group of products because of possible adverse medical reactions -- this time drugs designed to fight leukemia.

The Associated Press reports that the drugs -- methotrexate and cytarabin hydrochloride -- were causing leg pains and other problems. China's news agency said that most of the tainted drugs had been recovered but did not say whether any of the medications had been exported, the A.P. said.

The drugs were manufactured by the Shanghai Hualian Pharmaceutical Co., the wire service reported. It said China's State Food and Drug Administration and Health Ministry banned the two leukemia drugs after receiving reports that several children with leukemia who were taking them complained of leg pains and difficulty walking.

A number of products exported from China have had to be recalled during the past two years, ranging from millions of toys that had too much lead content to millions of pounds of pet food additives.

The most highly-publicized case resulted in the July execution of China's top drug regulator because he took bribes and approved substandard drugs that resulted in at least 10 deaths.

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Four Scientists Honored for Important Research and Development

Four scientists, one of them a long-time U.S. government researcher, two others who developed the first prosthetic heart valve, and one who advanced knowledge of the body's immune system, have been awarded the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation awards, which are considered to be the nation's highest medical prize, the New York Times reports.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, 66, who has been director of the U.S. government's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, was honored for his creation and oversight of President George W. Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Africa, (Pepfar) and for a project to fight against bioterrorism, the Times says.