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

U.S Senate Passes Genetic Anti-Discrimination Bill

In a 95-0 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday to protect the jobs and health insurance of people who learn through genetic testing that they may be susceptible to serious diseases.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which now goes back the House of Representatives, forbids employers from using genetic information in the hiring, firing or promotion of workers and bars health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine eligibility, the Associated Press reported.

"For the first time we act to prevent discrimination before it has taken firm hold and that's why this legislation is unique and groundbreaking," said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), one of the sponsors of the bill.

She noted there are more than 1,100 genetic tests currently available but they're "absolutely useless" if people don't use them or take part in clinical trials because they're worried about discrimination.

The bill, which could be approved by the House early next week, is supported by the White House, the AP reported.

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Electric Simmer Wax Pots Pose Fire and Shock Hazard

About 830,00 electric simmer wax pots distributed by Waxcessories of Dracut, Mass., have been recalled because they have wire connections that can come loose and pose a fire and electric shock hazard.

So far, there have been 161 reports of problems with the wire connections, but no reports of injuries or damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Chinese-made simmer pots were sold in a variety of styles and were designed to melt scented wax in a ceramic cup, which sits on a ceramic base that contains a 40-watt bulb, socket and electric cord. The recall includes all designs of the electric simmer pots and all item numbers.

The pots were sold at gift and novelty shops across the United States from April 2002 through April 2008 for between $17 and $25.

Consumers should stop using the simmer pots and contact Waxcessories for instructions on how to receive a free replacement product. Contact the company at 1-800-899-5884.

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Heart Disease Becoming a Major Problem in India

India could account for 60 percent of heart disease cases worldwide within two years, says a study by Canadian and Indian researchers.

They analyzed data on nearly 21,000 heart attack patients admitted to 89 hospitals in 50 cities across India and found that many heart disease risk factors were the same as elsewhere in the world, such as tobacco use, high blood pressure, and diets rich in saturated fat, BBC News reported.

However, certain risk factors were unique to India, such as the time it takes to get access to medical help. On average, it took 300 minutes to reach a hospital, which is twice as long as in rich nations, the study found. Due to financial constraints, many patients couldn't afford an ambulance and had to use private or public transport to get to a hospital.

The researchers also found that many patients can't afford routine treatments and that many of the Indian heart attack patients were three to six years younger than heart attack patients in richer nations, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal The Lancet.

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Proximity to Mercury Pollution Source Linked to Autism Risk

The first study to show a statistical relationship between autism and proximity to industrial sites that release mercury has been published by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Their analysis of data from 1,040 Texas school districts and data from 39 coal-fired power plants and 56 industrial facilities in the state showed that autism rates decreased by one percent to two percent for each 10 miles of distance from a mercury pollution source.

Among the other findings:

  • For every 1,000 pounds of mercury released by all industrial sources in Texas in 1998, there was a corresponding 2.6 percent increase in autism rates in Texas school districts in 2002.
  • For every 1,000 pounds of mercury released by Texas power plants in 1998, there was a corresponding 3.7 percent increase in autism rates in Texas school districts in 2002.

The research appears in the journal Health & Place.

"This study was not designed to understand which individuals in the population are at risk due to mercury exposure. However, it does suggest generally that there is greater autism risk closer to the polluting source," lead author Raymond Palmer, associate professor of family and community medicine, said in a prepared statement.

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Experts Stress Importance of Childhood Vaccinations

As part of National Infant Immunization Week (April 19-26), parents, caregivers and health providers are being reminded of the benefits of vaccination and the importance of routine childhood vaccination.

"A substantial number of children in the United States still aren't adequately protected from vaccine-preventable diseases," Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a prepared statement.

"The suffering or death of even one child from a vaccine-preventable disease is an unnecessary human tragedy. Let us renew our efforts to ensure that no child, adolescent or adult will have to needlessly suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease," she said.

Schuchat said there are vaccines to protect children against 15 diseases before the age of 2, yet more than 20 percent of 2-year-olds in the United States aren't fully immunized against infectious diseases to which they're especially vulnerable.

While vaccinating infants is especially important because they're more vulnerable to many diseases than older children and adults, "it's important for adults to also be vaccinated to keep themselves healthy and to keep from spreading infections to vulnerable people, including children," Schuchat said.

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New Law Strengthens Mad Cow Disease Safeguards

Certain cattle materials that carry the highest risk of mad cow disease cannot be included in any animal feed, including pet food, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration final regulation announced Wednesday.

The prohibited materials include the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older. The entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption is also prohibited, unless the cattle are less than 30 months old, or the brains and spinal cords have been removed, the FDA said.

It's believed the risk of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- BSE) is extremely low in cattle less than 30 months old.

The final rule is effective a year from now in order to give the livestock, meat, rendering, and feed industries time to adapt their practices to the new regulation, which is designed to strengthen existing safeguards against mad cow disease, the FDA said.