A compound that has been linked with 19 deaths has been identified as a contaminant in the blood thinner heparin, federal officials said Wednesday. Health officials are trying to solve how the chemical made its way into the drug. The contaminant, over sulfated chondroitin sulfate, does not occur naturally.

Last month, the questioned heparin was recalled and FDA reports that there have not been any new deaths since that time. The main ingredient from the blood thinner was imported from China

Medical science researchers say they have new insights into what causes hearts to go suddenly out of rhythm, resulting in the deaths of some 300,000 Americans every year. Their insights were announced Thursday, but three years ago, alternative medicine science researchers said they had found a way to prevent it.

Called ventricular fibrillation the disease is responsible for most cardiac deaths and can affect people of every age

Medical science researchers say they have new insights into what causes hearts to go suddenly out of rhythm, resulting in the deaths of some 300,000 Americans every year. Their insights were announced Thursday, but three years ago, alternative medicine science researchers said they had found a way to prevent it.

Called ventricular fibrillation the disease is responsible for most cardiac deaths and can affect people of every age

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing new guidelines that may affect the regulation of alternative and complementary medicines.

The FDA guidance would define a product based on its "intended use." For example based on new the measures if vegetable juice were sold to satisfy thirst, it would not be regulated, while if it were used to treat a medical condition (e.g. dehydration), it would be

Americans spend more than $5.8 billion each year on dietary supplements without an ounce of proof that they work. Health officials argue that supplements claiming to lengthen life and ward of diseases are misleading.

Yet many mainstream physicians are becoming more and more interested in their powers and pushing them on patients