Current Events in April 2017

For entertainment consumers who want to try to get along without a big pay-TV bill each month, the task may be a little easier.

Sling TV has announced it is the first over-the-top (OTT) live and on-demand TV service available on LG's smart TV models. Coming soon, the company says it will be available on LG’s 2017 webOS 3.5 enabled-models.

Ben Weinberger, chief product officer at Sling TV, says it's true that consumers increasingly watch TV shows from their mobile devices. But that hasn't changed the fact that a huge chunk of viewers still prefer to watch from the couch in the living room.

“Offering Sling TV on LG’s award-winning, top-of-the-line smart TVs gives viewers more control over how they watch Sling TV so they can view their favorite programs without the need for additional devices or unnecessary input-switching,” Weinberger said.

Matt Durgin, Director of Content Innovation at LG Electronics USA, says hooking up with Sling TV just makes the company's smart TVs that much more appealing.

Wide range of content

“The addition of Sling TV to our strong line-up of premium content apps on our webOS platform gives consumers an incredibly wide range of content options to enjoy on our critically-acclaimed LG Smart TVs led by LG OLED and LG Super UHD,” he said.

Cutting the cord has always been a double edge sword for consumers. On one hand, you save $100 or more a month. On the other hand, you can lose access to live TV programming.

Services like Sling TV have jumped into the void. Its cheapest base package is $20 a month. It provides 30 or more channels like you would get on basic cable, including ESPN, AMC, TNT, History, and Disney.

From now on, Sling TV subscribers can use their internet connection to log in on to most 2016 LG Smart TV webOS 3.0 models.

If you have a new LG Smart TV but don't subscribe to Sling TV, you can check for Sling TV in the LG launcher bar or press “Home,” select “Go to LG Content Store” and search for “Sling.” From there, consumers can sign up for the service directly from the app.

Sling TV's growth may be a metric with which to measure cord-cutting among consumers. According to Statista, the service had 911,000 subscribers in September 2016, a 30% surge since June 2016.

Just a few short years ago, consumers could find trans fats in a variety of food products at the grocery store or in restaurants. But after linking the smallest amounts of these acids to cardiovascular disease, many areas of the country set up restrictions to keep them in line.

However, current guidelines still seem to be somewhere in the middle of the issue. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently allows up to 0.49 grams of trans fats to be present in a product without having to appear on the label, sending health-conscious food shoppers scrambling.

To determine what effect trans fats were having on consumers, researchers from the University of Chicago and Yale School of Medicine conducted a study comparing consumers in areas where trans fats were banned in restaurants and areas where they were not. Even with this limited reduction, the researchers found that people who lived in areas with less trans fats had less hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke.

"The results are impressive, given that the study focused on trans fatty acid bans in restaurants, as opposed to complete bans that included food bought in stores," said senior author Dr. Tamar S. Polonsky. "If we enact a more complete restriction on trans fatty acids, it could mean even more widespread benefits for people long term."

Fewer heart attacks and strokes

The study used data ranging from 2002 to 2013 on New York counties that either had trans fat bans in place for restaurants or did not, focusing on hospital admissions for heart attack and stroke.

The analysis showed that people living areas with bans had significantly fewer hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke three years after the bans were implemented when compared to urban areas that did not have a ban in place. The researchers say that overall decline in combined conditions was an impressive 6.2%.

"It is a pretty substantial decline. Our study highlights the power of public policy to impact the cardiovascular health of a population," said lead author Dr. Eric Brandt.

While the wheels of government are usually slow to turn on these issues, the researchers point out that the FDA has already approved a nationwide ban on partially hydrogenated oils in foods. This could be deeply impactful since the move would essentially eliminate dietary trans fat when it takes effect in 2018.

The full study has been published in JAMA Cardiology.

Spring is here, refineries are switching over to summer-grade fuel blends, and the summer driving season will soon be upon us.

If you own a car, now might be a good time to think about its maintenance. Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, representing auto shops, says today's cars are of higher quality than they once were, but they still require maintenance.

And considering what a new or late-model used car costs these days, that neglect could be expensive.

"By following a proactive auto care plan, the typical car should deliver at least 200,000 miles of safe, dependable, efficient and enjoyable performance," White said.

That's a lot more miles than a typical car could be expected to run just two decades ago, but it will require, not just regular oil changes but periodic service of vital systems too. Assuming you're between regular oil changes, here are the things that need attention before the start of summer driving.

Things to check

• Check fluid levels, such as oil, power steering, brake, and transmission. Don't overlook windshield cleaner and coolant.
• Have you brakes checked. It's a good idea to inspect brake linings, rotors and drums every time you change the oil.
• Check tire pressure and tread, looking for uneven wear. Keep an eye out for bulges and bald spots.
• Inspect hoses and belts. This is especially important for older models. Look for cracks and signs of excessive wear.
• Check the heating and air conditioning systems to make sure they are working properly.
• Check wipers for signs of wear.
• Make sure headlights and tail lights are working properly

On its website, Advance Auto Parts also recommends a battery check as part of your spring auto maintenance checklist. While winter can be tough on car batteries, summer can be even tougher.

Depending on where you live, your car's exterior and undercarriage pay be coated with a salty grime. Washing it down with a cleaner formulated for vehicles may keep the finish looking new.

As we reported recently, researchers are coming ever closer to developing a vaccine for the Zika virus. But new findings from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences may throw a wrench into what we thought we knew about the disease.

Associate professor of entomology Chelsea Smartt and her research team recently discovered Zika RNA in a species of mosquito that was previously unconnected to the virus. This could be bad news for consumers, since a greater number of infectious mosquitoes may make containing and targeting the disease more difficult.

Previously, researchers had only found Zika in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but Smartt and her team discovered that the virus was also present in newly-hatched Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

"These results are important because they are the first to show that Aedes albopictus can be infected with Zika virus RNA. . . this study found Zika virus RNA in male mosquitoes, which we can infer also means the Zika virus RNA came from the mother. We need to determine if live Zika virus can also be transmitted in Aedes albopictus," said Smartt.

Dangerous birth defect

Zika virus first gained a foothold in Latin America and has since spread throughout South and Central America. Efforts to contain the disease in the U.S. have been met with mixed results; a recent report detailed that it had spread to 44 states.

The virus can cause fever-like symptoms, but the biggest danger it poses is the microcephaly birth defect that can be passed on to the unborn children of pregnant women. The defect affects brain development and can cause a range of neurologic conditions.

The researchers discovered that Zika RNA had jumped to Aedes albopictus mosquitoes after studying the species in Camacari, Brazil. The team collected 20 female and 19 male Aedes albopictus mosquito eggs and raised them to adulthood. After they had fully grown, the researchers analyzed them and found that they tested positive for Zika RNA.

Protect yourself

The findings indicate that different species of mosquitoes living an area with a high Zika virus density can contain the virus, even if the species had not previously been connected with the disease. The researchers are uncertain if Aedes albopictus mosquitoes can transmit Zika virus to humans, but they caution that consumers should take extra measures to avoid being bitten.

Consumers can protect themselves from mosquito bites by staying indoors during the day when mosquitoes are most active. Wearing long-sleeve pants and shirts when going outdoors, applying approved mosquito repellents, and emptying any standing water where mosquitoes can breed is also recommended.

The full study has been published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

Hearing loss can be caused by damage to your ears, but it can also be a part of getting older. Genetics can even play into it.

But the onset of hearing loss can be so gradual that you aren't very aware of it. In fact, people around you may become aware of it before you do.

One place you'll notice your hearing loss is in a noisy restaurant. As you sit across from someone who is talking to you, you may have trouble separating out the sound of their voice from the din of conversation and clinking silverware around you.

Three types of hearing loss

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are three types of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss, the type most associated with the kind of problem you may be experiencing in the noisy restaurant, occurs when there is damage to the cochlea, or to the nerve pathways to the brain.

This sometimes is caused by the gradual loss of hair cells in the inner ear that vibrate with sounds and send messages to the brain. Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss might be illness, drugs that can affect hearing, exposure to loud noise, or simple aging.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there are issues preventing sounds from being accurately transmitted through the ear canal to the ear drum. It usually involves a reduction in sound volume or the ability to hear very soft sounds. Fortunately this is a type of hearing loss that can often be corrected medically or surgically.

The third type is called mixed hearing loss, and as the name implies, it has more than one cause. Most often it includes a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss factors.

What to do

If you are developing issues with your hearing, you should first bring it to the attention of your primary care physician. Some corrective treatment may be an option.

If not, you might be ready for hearing aids, which are very different devices than they were just a generation ago. For starters, they are much smaller than in the past. And these days, they're digital, usually resulting in more sound clarity.

But there can be problems with these sophisticated devices because they have to be able to adjust to a diverse set of auditory conditions, such as telephone conversations and noisy restaurants.

That requires a talented audiologist -- someone who is not only knowledgeable about the workings of the inner ear, but who also understands today's sophisticated hearing aids, and is willing to take the time to adjust them to the specific needs of the patient.

You're planning a summer vacation trip and you've picked your destination. Now, you just need to book your flight.

You're probably looking for the lowest fare, the most convenient schedule, and the fewest stops. But you might give some thought to whether you'll buy your ticket outright or use your credit card points.

But wait, why should that be a consideration? Isn't it all the same? Not always.

Personal finance site NerdWallet set up a simulation, booking flights on 20 popular routes, paying cash for some and using points from loyalty programs for others.

Factors influencing value

It found point values differed depending on a variety of factors, including the distance of the flight and the class of the booking. It also found variations based on whether the ticket was one-way or round-trip.

For example, if you're flying to a destination within the U.S., the study found your points are worth more if you fly economy class. Points were worth an average of 1.03 to 1.08 cents each on round trips at the high end of the scale.

If you're using points to fly business class, you will find that your points are worth more on longer flights. In fact, there's quite a bit of difference between flights longer than 1,000 miles -- 1.13 cents as opposed to .72 cents.

Finally, your points are worth more on one-way flights than they are when you purchase a round-trip ticket.

More value on one-way flights

One-way flights usually cost more than flying round-trip, but not when you're paying with points. It might be important if you need the flexibility of one-way scheduling. Usually it would cost more, but when you pay with points it doesn't.

That said, consumers traveling within the U.S. this summer will get the most bang from their airline points if they fly economy and book a round-trip ticket. The point value for those tickets range from 1.03 to 1.08 cents, slightly above the one cent average.

You don't get nearly as much out of your points if you use them for round-trip business or first class, since they average 0.83 to 0.86 cents. If you're flying business class this summer, NerdWallet suggests paying with cash, saving your points for a trip when they'll deliver more value.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 84 model year 2017 Edge vehicles equipped with the optional Panoramic Vista Roof.

The vehicles may have an improperly welded windshield header, reducing the vehicle's lateral structural integrity.

As such, they vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

If the vehicle has reduced lateral structural integrity, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury in the event of a side-impact crash.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the windshield header, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 15, 2017.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C05.

Even veterans of the oil and gas industry are dismayed at the ease with which an energy company can seize a person’s land, especially in the state of Texas. "They're very aggressive,” says Rex White, an 82-year-old Texas attorney who has represented oil and gas companies for decades. Now he is pushing back against oil interests, lobbying for state legislation that would give more power to landowners who typically have no choice other than to allow development on their land.

“There are a number of landowners out there who are subject to condemnation proceedings that are not over,” White says of a new pipeline project crossing private property called the Trans-Pecos pipeline. “And yet the pipeline has taken possession," he tells ConsumerAffairs. Under the Texas property code, an oil and gas operator can begin building on private property even before the company has settled on a payment that both it and the landowner agree on. “That’s why I decided I wanted to change that law."

Cutting Texas off from Mexico, but sending over natural gas 

The United States' relationship with Mexico plays a contrasting role in eminent domain fights along the border. In March, the Department of Homeland Security began sending landowners a notice, “Declaration of Taking," also known as a condemnation letter.

The Department of Homeland Security, they explain in the notice, is ready to pay landowners in exchange for the ability to build President Trump’s multibillion dollar border wall through their private property. If the property owner doesn't agree to the terms, the feds are going to build the wall through their land anyway, the notice spells out, using the power of eminent domain.

Yet at the same time that the government is preparing to build a new barrier between the United States and Mexico, federal and local agencies are also allowing pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners to seize sections of Texas ranchers' land for the Trans-Pecos Pipeline. The project delivers natural gas to Mexico as part of a deal with Mexico's utility commission and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

As Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners explains of its project; “The Trans-Pecos Pipeline is a Texas intrastate pipeline designed to transport 1.4 billion cubic feet per day of clean-burning natural gas as part of an agreement with Comisión Federal de Electricidad, Mexico’s federal electricity commission.”

Though Energy Transfer Partners has told federal and local authorities that the Trans-Pecos pipeline would also benefit Texas communities along the route, and has rationalized its use of eminent domain by styling itself as a local public utility, there is minimal evidence that Energy Transfer Partners actually intends to supply the natural gas to the Texas towns the project passes through, as ConsumerAffairs reported several months ago.

Now concerns about losing sections of land to further oil and gas development or to a border fence are spurring local lawmakers and advocates to try to strengthen landowners’ rights. "I just find it odd that the most powerful nation in the world is so uncomfortable it has to build a fence to protect itself,” White remarks.

Farmers, hunters and conservationists unite against wall and lax land seizure

A coalition of hunters, conservationists, farmers, and ranchers are lobbying Texas lawmakers to support a bill that would reform the state’s eminent domain laws and offer landowners more protections against industry and the federal government. While not revoking an energy company’s rights to begin construction while dollar amounts are still in dispute, Senator Lois Kolkhorst's SB740 would at least give landowners facing condemnation more rights during the construction process, such as ensuring that landowners be compensated for all damages to their crops and for land experts' and attorney’s fees.

The bill demands that companies “lock and close all gates and fences as necessary to prevent damage to or destruction of livestock” and “repair and restore areas used or damaged outside the easement area to their original condition or better.”

Currently, ranchers complain that companies do little to offset the disruption to their land and in testimony have praised SB740 as a measure that would help landowners get adequate compensation. "A growing state with a strong appetite for new development has put a target on Texas private property,” writes the Texas Farm Bureau on its website, “leaving landowners searching for a fair offer and process in eminent domain cases.”

Hunters also have a vested interest in keeping the land pristine and protecting wildlife habitats. The Texas Wildlife Association, the group representing state ranching and hunting interests, has expressed similar concerns about a border wall’s effect on the local ecology. Such a wall, the TWA said, would “interrupt landowner/livestock/wildlife access to water from the Rio Grande, harm property values, and impair critical wildlife movement corridors for species such as black bears, mountain lions, white-tailed and mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep, among others.”

And park rangers note that one massive section of the Texas-Mexico border lies in the middle of a federally-recognized park, the Big Bend National Park. A natural barrier exists in the form of the vast Chihuahuan desert and mountain ranges on either side. The actual border is drawn along the Rio Grande River, raising further concerns about the wall’s effect on the local environment. The dangers to the local ecology are uniting an unlikely coalition of environmentalists and conservative Republican landowners.

“We’re really witnessing a rise in real Republicans,” says Nicol Ragland, a filmmaker who is filming and producing a documentary about the Trans-Pecos Pipeline and eminent domain laws in Texas.

Slow change

But SB740 does not go as far as some would like. Rex White, the oil and gas attorney, recently crafted a proposed amendment that would force companies to delay construction until all of the legal proceedings are complete. However, White doubts his amendment will get tacked on thanks to the heavy political weight that oil and gas interests still carry. “Most of the oil and gas associations are against any change,” he says.

Any reform for now is likely to remain slow and still  favorable to industries, or at least the oil and gas industry. Texas Governor Greg Abbott several years ago appointed Energy Transfer Partners’ CEO Kelcy Warren to serve on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Board, a move showing the strong hold that energy interests have over the state’s environmental and conservation regulations. The wildlife board itself has still not officially approved the nomination.

Last week, Sierra Club’s Texas director testified against Warren’s appointment to the board. “We don’t know how many existing or proposed pipelines either intersect or otherwise affect Parks and Wildlife land that are associated in one way or another with Energy Transfer Partners, its parent - Energy Transfer Equity - or other entities connected to its parent," he said.

Last week, the price of gold rose to its highest level in five months. After plunging in the aftermath of last November's election, prices were at their best since last June, finishing at $1,286 an ounce.

Why is the precious metal soaring again? There are a couple of reasons.

Gold is usually a safe haven when there is fear of turmoil. President Trump's sudden and unexpected rocket attack on a Syrian airfield and building tension with North Korea have created new geopolitical uncertainty.

Also last week, Trump gave an interview in which he said he thought the dollar is too strong. A strong dollar makes U.S. exports more expensive.

Trump's comments caused the dollar's value to sink on world currency exchanges, and since gold is priced in dollars, that caused the relative price of gold to rise.

The fear factor

Gold is traditionally impacted by the fear factor. When there is fear of political or economic upheaval, the price normally goes up.

Financial advisors often suggest everyone's portfolio should contain a little gold as a hedge against uncertainty, but that doesn't mean you need to rush out and buy it at these prices.

Mitsubishi analyst Jonathan Butler told Canada's The Globe and Mail that the precious metal has moved into “overbought territory” after its recent run-up. Still, there are plenty of analysts who think the long-term outlook for the precious metal is bullish.

In an interview with CNBC, U.S. Global Investors CEO Frank Holmes attributed much of gold's recent moves to real interest rates.

“What we saw last year is real interest rates in the U.S. went positive and gold sold off, then (this year) they went negative again, and gold has had a rally,” he told the business news network.

How to buy it

Holmes recommends that 10% of investors' portfolios be weighted in gold. The question is, how to buy it. There are several ways, and your politics and level of fear might influence your choice.

Conservatives, for example, tend to like physical gold – gold they can stash away in case the economy collapses. During the Obama years, cable TV was cluttered with commercials for physical gold bars and coins.

While you might feel secure having gold in your possession, you have to have a secure way to store it. Also, you should exercise caution when buying gold coins to make sure you understand how much gold they actually contain and how much the dealer is marking them up.

Gold stocks

An easier way to own gold is by owning gold stocks, which you can buy and sell through your online brokerage account. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), for example, is an exchange traded fund (ETF) that tries to reflect the moving price of physical gold bullion. It actually holds the physical gold so you don't have to. You buy shares, just like you would stocks, making it easier to liquidate your holdings than if you were holding physical gold yourself.

Another way to get gold exposure is to own gold mining stocks. These ETFs invest in shares of various gold mining companies.

The stock price tends to rise and fall with the price of gold, but there is the added advantage of owning a piece of actual companies that tend to be well-run and may return a portion of their profits in the form of dividends.

An experienced and knowledgeable dealer can help you find the best prices for gold, silver, and other precious metals. The ConsumerAffairs Buyers Guide to Gold can help. It contains reviews from both experts and consumers and compares many of the larger dealers. You should also be sure to consult with your financial advisor about any investment. 

Now that you've filed your taxes, maybe you should turn your attention to another financial matter. This might be a good time to check your credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.

While checking your credit report will alert you to fraudulent activity on your account, a much more likely event is to discover incorrect information that could lower your credit score.

Under federal law, you are entitled to a free copy of your report each year from all three agencies by going to one source -- www.annualcreditreport.com. Download all three copies and carefully review them.

The reports should contain pretty much the same information, but sometimes one report will contain information not included in the other two. That's fine -- what you are looking for is information that is incorrect, such as having an account 90 days late when it was always paid on time.

The dispute procedure

The procedure for challenging information is pretty similar at all three agencies. Equifax urges consumers to review their credit report each year and file a dispute if something is wrong. There is no charge for that.

Equifax says it will complete its review within 30 days of receiving a dispute. It will contact you with the results using your preferred mode of communication.

If Equifax finds the report contains an error, it will fix it without any further action from the consumer.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) says not all credit report errors have the same impact -- some may be more consequential than others. It advises consumers to immediately address information in the credit report that clearly belongs to someone else.

Negative information

Also, you need to know the credit limits on your credit cards, because if they are listed as lower than they actually are, it will lower your credit score. Also, look for really old information. In general, negative information more than seven years old must be removed from your credit report.

Under law, if the credit agency determines the information is correct and must stay in the report, consumers may submit a statement of dispute of up to 100 words, explaining the circumstances, which becomes part of the credit report.

Negative information that is true has to stay in the report, in most cases for up to seven years. Unpaid judgments can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer, while some information has no limit on how long it can be reported.

If a company tells you it can remove negative information from your credit report, NFCC says you should watch out. It says these companies generally charge high fees and deliver little that you can't do yourself for free.

Teaching kids about money and key economic concepts can set the stage for a more financially secure adulthood. But new research suggests many children aren’t getting a proper financial education from their parents.

Findings from the Junior Achievement-Jackson Children’s Financial Literacy Survey revealed that 33% of youngsters haven’t been taught how to get or earn money.

The poll of 500 elementary school-aged children and their parents also revealed that 41% of children had not been taught how to spend money. Additionally, nearly half (47%) had not learned how to give money to help people.

While a kindergartner might not need more than a general knowledge of financial concepts, experts say parents should start getting more specific with kids when they are around 8 to 10 years old.

Concepts to teach

By the time your child is a teenager, they should have a clear understanding of key money concepts, such as what it takes to pay for your family’s style of living and how much you sock away in savings, according to the authors of Guerilla Parenting: How to Raise an Entrepreneur.

“The main reason that you need to educate your kids on money is that, if you do not, they will always be asking you for it,” Jerry Lynch, a financial adviser and owner of JFL Consulting quipped in an interview with CNBC.com.

Here are a few things parents should teach kids about money:

• Wants Vs. Needs. A want may sometimes feel like a need in the mind of a child, but it’s important to help children distinguish between the two. Help your child learn that wants are things you desire and needs are necessities you can’t live without.
• The cost of food. Teach your child how much food costs in your home. You can even take it a step further by teaching them how to stretch a dollar at the grocery store by using coupons and a calculator.
• How credit cards work. Help teenagers understand that credit cards aren’t a source of free money. To help your child learn to use credit wisely, the financial experts at American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) recommend allowing them to borrow money from you. If they miss a payment, don’t hesitate to charge a small late fee.
• How much you save and why. It’s important for kids to see their parents thinking about money, planning for the financial future, and doing their best to handle their money well. Teach them how to save smartly and arm them with an understanding of why it’s important to have savings.
• How much the family spends on various things. Help your child understand how much money your family spends on vacations and entertainment, clothes and gear, music and extracurricular activities. Clue them in on why the family will be vacationing in the U.S. instead of jetting off to France.

Importance of discussions

The simplest way to make a positive impact on your child's financial future is to have more conversations about money, according to Jackson Charitable Foundation Executive Director Danielle Robinson. 

"As adults, it's our responsibility to help children feel less confused and more motivated about money,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA.

“Simply helping your child open and manage a bank account to save for something specific such as pocket money for an upcoming vacation or even college is a great way to help kids learn to achieve financial freedom and excite kids about money, especially when they see it accumulate."

A condition that causes life-threatening heart damage is quietly taking the lives of Americans, and less than 1% of all consumers who are infected are being treated for it.

Chagas disease, called the “silent killer” by researchers, affects nearly 300,000 people in the U.S., according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is caused by a parasite called the triatomine bug, which can be found throughout North, South, and Central America. Around 30% of those who are infected go on to develop serious cardiac, digestive, and neurological disorders, and a recent study suggests that prevention efforts need to be stepped up to deal with the threat.

"Without treatment many Chagas patients are at risk of a ‘silent death’ due to heart failure. Our study ... underscores the critical importance of early detection and treatment to tackle this public health challenge in the US," said lead author Dr. Sheba Meymandi, director of the Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Affects consumers nationwide

The study examined 4,755 Latin American-born residents of Los Angeles County to see how pervasive Chagas disease is in a select population; the disease is one of the leading causes of heart disease in Latin America. The researchers found that 1.24% of the participants tested positive for the condition.

Although the tests were focused on Latin American-born residents in a specific area, Meymandi and her colleagues believe that as many as 30,000 people may be infected in the greater Los Angeles area, which corroborates findings from the CDC which estimates that 300,000 people are infected nationwide. The team cites the need for further research to determine exactly how pervasive the disease is in certain areas of the country.

"The bugs that transmit Chagas disease live in 27 states -- the whole southern half of the country, and we know they sometimes infect people, but we need further research to determine how often this takes place," said researcher Colin Forsyth.

Few treatment options

Beyond the United States, statistics for Chagas disease are no less unsettling. Experts estimate that there are 5.7 million infected people worldwide, many of which hail from 21 Latin American countries.

The CDC says that Chagas disease usually comes with an acute or chronic stage immediately after infection that may last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. However, infections may be mild or asymptomatic and usually include fever and swelling around the site where the parasite entered the skin. In severe cases, inflammation of the heart muscle or the lining around the brain may also be present.

Currently, there are two drugs that are known to kill the parasites called benznidazole and nifurtimox. However, despite being available for over 40 years, the researchers say that neither has been registered for use in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They believe that providing access to these drugs and developing newer and better treatments will be vital towards curbing incidence rates.

The full study has been published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Last August, we reported on Consumer Federation of America (CFA) findings which showed that off-road vehicle deaths were up 10% year-over-year. Advocates pointed to the use of “off-highway vehicles” (OHVs) on roadways as a major factor in the uptick.

While taking ATVs and other such vehicles on busy streets is certainly dangerous, a new study suggests that the age of riders may be an even bigger risk factor. Researchers from Wake Forest say that young children who ride ATVs are especially susceptible to severe injury.

“The injuries children sustain from ATV-related accidents are frequently more severe than injuries received from motor vehicle crashes,” says lead author Dr. Thomas Pranikoff.

Many crash victims under 16

Pranikoff and his colleagues analyzed data from 16 published studies conducted between 2000 and 2010 on the causes and risk factors of ATV-related injuries for American children, as well as the most recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The information showed that nearly 100,000 ATV-related injuries that occurred during the period were serious enough to warrant an emergency room visit. Of that number, around 25% of the crash victims were under the age of 16.

And, perhaps more worrying, were the statistics related to fatal injuries. The researchers found that as more powerful ATVs were released on the market, more accidents involving rollovers, collision with stationary objects, and ejection from the vehicle occurred. The underuse of safety equipment also contributed to the uptick in injuries, the researchers said.

New approach needed

Pranikoff explains that current legislation and programs to reduce ATV injury rates have been largely ineffective, and that coming up with a new approach to reach young riders will be vital going forward.

"As ATV use continues to rise in the United States with bigger and faster machines becoming more prominent, research to define effective means of changing ATV-riding behaviors in children, whether implemented in hospital, school or other settings, will be crucial in reducing pediatric injury and death," he said.

The full study has been published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Traces of Fido or Fluffy around the house -- whether in the form of pet odors, chewed furniture, or scratched-up floors -- can be a major deterrent to would-be buyers.

In fact, approximately two-thirds of realtors surveyed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said they advise animal-owning sellers to rid their home of any evidence of pet damage or animal scents before opening their doors to potential buyers.

Appealing to buyers who may not love pets as much as you do can boost your chances of getting top dollar for your house. Here's where to focus your cleaning efforts in order to return your home to its pre-pet inhabited state. 

Outside

While a spacious backyard is a plus in the eyes of most buyers, pet-related landmines and holes typically aren’t on a buyer’s list of wants. To get your yard visitor-ready, the real estate experts at Re/Max recommend filling in any doggy-dug holes and scooping the poop.

Additionally, be sure to check your fencing, deck, and porch for any marks from scratching or chewing. Most pet-related scratches and damage can be easily repaired with a little sandpaper and stain.

Inside

First impressions are everything, but dog toys and pet odors don’t exactly enhance a home’s initial appeal. Get your home ready for its closeup by ousting any evidence of pets, including:

• Pet belongings. Collect toys, bowls, beds, crates, cat trees, and litter boxes and keep them out of sight. The experts at Re/Max also recommend hiding pet photos.
• Scents. Get rid of potentially off-putting animal scents by lighting candles, opening windows, or hiring a professional carpet cleaning crew to deodorize your domicile.
• Scratches. If your hardwood floors have a few battle scars to show for their years of being trodden upon by pets, consider having them resurfaced.
• Your pet(s). Leaving your pet in the house during showings isn’t the best idea. They could dart out an open door or pose a liability issue if they behave in a less-than-friendly manner toward strangers. If you can’t take your pets with you, let a friend or relative care for them or board them at a kennel.