Health

Philip J. Hilts, 74, Dies; Reporter Exposed a Big-Tobacco Cover-up

Published

3 years ago

April 29, 2022

Philip J. Hilts, 74, Dies; Reporter Exposed a Big-Tobacco Cover-up

Philip J. Hilts, who as a science reporter for The New York Occasions in 1994 uncovered a tobacco firm’s decades-long cover-up of its personal analysis exhibiting that tobacco was dangerous and nicotine was addictive, died on April 23 in Lebanon, N.H. He was 74.

The trigger was problems of liver illness, his son Ben stated.

Mr. Hilts was a longtime journalist, writing for The Occasions, The Washington Submit and different publications, and was the writer of six nonfiction books on scientific, medical and social matters.

His work on tobacco made headlines not solely in The Occasions but in addition throughout the nation. In 1994, he obtained inside paperwork exhibiting that executives of the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company have been battling whether or not to open up to the surgeon common what they knew in 1963 concerning the hazards of smoking; their very own analysis confirmed that cigarettes have been addictive and precipitated lung most cancers or predisposed individuals to it.

The Brown & Williamson executives, Mr. Hilts wrote, “selected to stay silent, to maintain their analysis outcomes secret, to cease work on a safer cigarette and to pursue a authorized and public relations technique of admitting nothing.”

Mr. Hilts’s article, on the entrance web page of The Occasions, appeared a month after prime executives of the seven greatest American tobacco corporations testified earlier than Congress that nicotine was not addictive. Two years later, they have been all beneath federal investigation for probably mendacity beneath oath and have been not main their corporations.

The Justice Division finally dropped its felony investigation into whether or not the executives had perjured themselves. However in 1998, 4 tobacco corporations and 46 states reached what was the biggest civil litigation settlement in American historical past, with the businesses agreeing to pay the states $206 billion over 25 years. Thousands and thousands of inside firm paperwork of the kind that Mr. Hilts and different information organizations had relied on have been made public within the course of.

Mr. Hilts additionally broke main tales about breast implants, contraceptives and deceit within the beauty machine trade. He was among the many first reporters to cowl the AIDS epidemic.

An adventurous sort — he was a scuba diver and world traveler — he wrote a dispatch from an energetic volcano a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean. He coated the confessions of a healer in Zambia who claimed to be “curing” AIDS. And he examined a law-enforcement apply of utilizing hypnosis to “refresh” the reminiscences of witnesses; his findings of issues with hypnosis led to the discharge of 4 males from jail.

Most not too long ago, he served as director of the Knight Science Journalism Program on the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how, from 2008 to 2014.

His books embody “Smokescreen: The Fact Behind the Tobacco Trade Cowl-Up” (1996), which examined the trade’s 40-year disinformation marketing campaign on cigarette smoking; “Defending America’s Well being: The FDA, Enterprise and One Hundred Years of Regulation” (2003), a historical past of the Meals and Drug Administration; and “Rx for Survival: Why We Should Rise to the World Well being Problem” (2005), through which he described how rich nations will help battle the specter of new and resurgent outbreaks of illness around the globe.

Philip James Hilts was born on Could 10, 1947, in Chicago. His father, Edward, was a nonfiction author who additionally wrote historic fiction for youngsters. His mom, Katherine (Bonn) Hilts, labored at a Sears retailer in a number of departments, together with as a switchboard operator.

Philip was one among seven youngsters and grew up primarily in Hinsdale, Sick., a suburb west of Chicago.

After highschool, he served briefly within the service provider marine earlier than attending Georgetown College in Washington, from 1965 to 1967. He then dropped out and hitchhiked to San Francisco to take part within the “Summer time of Love,” when the hippie and counterculture actions have been in full bloom.

He returned to Georgetown in 1969 however by no means graduated, deciding as a substitute to take up journalism. He undertook brief stints as a reporter and photographer at small suburban newspapers and at The Washington Every day Information in Washington, D.C., and The Rocky Mountain Information in Denver earlier than changing into a contract journal author.

He joined The Washington Submit as a employees author within the Nineteen Eighties, taking trip for a Nieman fellowship at Harvard from 1984-85. He moved over to The Occasions’s Washington bureau in 1989 as a employees author till 1996, when he grew to become a contract author till 2002.

Mr. Hilts obtained a number of journalism fellowships, together with one which despatched him to Botswana, the place he taught journalism. Most of his fellowships have been dedicated to science writing.

He married Mary Donna McKeown, a fellow reporter at The Washington Every day Information, in 1974; she died in 1987. In 1993, he married Carisa Cunningham, who on the time labored for nonprofit AIDS organizations; they divorced in 2011. He married Una MacDowell, who was a researcher in math and science schooling, in 2013. They lived in Cambridge, Mass., and Rochester, Vt. He died in a hospital.

Along with his spouse and his son Ben, he’s survived by one other son, Sean; two daughters, Alexis and Kate Hilts; a grandson; 4 brothers, Edward, Paul, Michael and Mark; two sisters, Jeanne Younger and Elizabeth Hilts; and two youngsters from his spouse’s first marriage, William and Nora MacDowell Coon.

At his dying, Mr. Hilts was ending a e book about Lynn Margulis, a biologist whose analysis into the origin of cells helped remodel the research of evolution, and who was married for a time to the astronomer Carl Sagan.

Health

How Kathy Bates Lost 100 Lbs—Plus Her Tips for Sustainable Weight Loss

Published

8 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

How Kathy Bates Lost 100 Lbs—Plus Her Tips for Sustainable Weight Loss

Kathy Bates Weight Loss: Tips That Helped Her Lose 100 Lbs | Woman’s World

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Health

California fires and mental health toll: Celebrities and therapists offer tips

Published

9 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

California fires and mental health toll: Celebrities and therapists offer tips

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As Los Angeles battles the worst wildfires in the city’s history, thousands of people have been displaced or have seen their homes burn to the ground.

Around 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate and some 10,000 structures were destroyed, according to the Associated Press. At least 10 people have died as a result of the blazes.

The devastation of the fires has undoubtedly taken a grave toll on the psyches of those affected, experts agree.

STEVE GUTTENBERG CALLS LA WILDFIRES ‘GREAT EQUALIZER,’ URGES PEOPLE TO LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER

Fox News Digital spoke with celebrities and mental health experts, who offered the following guidance for the people impacted.

Recognize your feelings

For those who have experienced a loss from the fires, common reactions include shock, disbelief and confusion, according to David Kessler, a grief counselor in Los Angeles and founder of Grief.com.

“I call it grief brain,” he told Fox News Digital.

Luke Dexter reacts as he sifts through the remains of his father’s fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) (AP Newsroom)

“Your mind is trying to comprehend what happened, and it’s a hard thing for it to do, because this is unimaginable that your house, your safety, is suddenly gone.”

Not all grief is related to death, Kessler noted, as there are many different types of losses.

“I always say grief is a change you didn’t want — and certainly a fire is a change we didn’t want,” he added.

WHAT IS PTSD? SYMPTOMS THAT CAN EMERGE AFTER EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EVENT

It’s important to “self-validate” the reality of the loss, he said.

“People might give you toxic positivity of, ‘well, at least no one died,’” he said. “And while that’s true, the reality is you still have lost your home. Don’t let anyone minimize that.”

“The loss of a home is devastating and it can take years to recover.”

“I think we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness.”

Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health.

“I’ve seen so much tragedy the last three or four days that I’ve got to be careful to … keep a hold of my mind,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“And I think that we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness. And it’s going to be really tough because this is like nothing you’ve ever seen.”

Home on fire with an inset of Steve Guttenberg wearing a mask

Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health. (AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images; Fox News)

Gutenberg noted that while it’s “very normal” to be down, he is trying not to let himself “go down that hole.”

“But I’m pretty sad about this,” he added.

HOW TO COPE WITH ‘COLLECTIVE GRIEF’ WHEN MASS TRAGEDY STRIKES

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., noted that the grief following the Los Angeles fires is “profound.”

“It’s not just about the physical loss of homes or belongings — it’s also about the sense of safety and normalcy that has been lost,” he told Fox News Digital.

“It’s important for people to feel emotions and not ignore them. This is a normal reaction to such overwhelming loss and tragedy.”

Reach out for support

Guttenberg emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with others and drawing support from the community during a disaster of this magnitude.

“We’re social animals — we need people,” he said. “So I’m reaching out to my friends. There’s no way to meet right now because it’s so dangerous — so the best thing you cn do … is call and reach out and maybe you can drive somewhere.”

Experts agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us.” (AP Newsroom)

Most of the people in town have evacuated, he pointed out. “There’s probably 10% of the population left here. Or less.”

Kessler reiterated that connection is critical after this type of trauma. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us. People equal safety,” he said.

“We need other people around us. People equal safety.”

Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington, agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss.

“We need God and we need each other. Community is vital,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Family, friends and neighbors care about you. God sends His love through these people. Reject isolation. Don’t shut down and don’t shut people out.”

Take action

“In times of crisis such as this, regaining even small amounts of control can be grounding,” Alpert said.

He recommends creating a plan for what’s next, whether it’s finding temporary housing, accessing local resources or starting the process of rebuilding.

“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”

Ben Treger hugs his wife Sarah Treger after finding his grandfather’s watches at the remains of their Pacific Palisades home on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. “If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” one expert advised. (Juan Carlo/Imagn)

Kessler agreed, noting that people who are in the area but did not experience loss may feel a sense of relief mixed with guilt.

“If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” he advised.

In the longer term, advocacy efforts can be a powerful tool in dealing with trauma, Alpert noted.

MIKE POSNER REVEALS HOW FAITH REDIRECTED HIS LIFE, OFFERS ADVICE ON SPENDING HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY

“Working to improve fire prevention policies, supporting relief efforts or helping neighbors rebuild can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment during this difficult time,” he said.

Some people may be angry about the systems that failed to prevent the fires in the first place, Alpert acknowledged, and this anger can be a “powerful motivator.”

“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”

“Use that energy to demand better, but don’t get stuck on the anger,” he advised.

“By holding leaders accountable for the policies — or lack thereof — that contributed to this devastation, and by asking the right questions and demanding answers, you might start to feel better.”

Seek professional help as needed

“The L.A. fires no doubt will not just leave physical scars, but deep emotional ones, too,” Alpert said.

“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.”

“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.” (iStock)

In many cases, this can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of this condition can include vivid memories of the fires, nightmares, hypervigilance or avoidance of anything that reminds someone of the event, Alpert said.

“It’s important to see this not as weakness, but rather, the mind’s and body’s way of trying to cope with extreme stress.”

“While the fires were devastating, they don’t diminish your strength or character.”

As you seek help, it’s also important to understand that PTSD doesn’t define you, he added.

“It’s a part of your experience, not your identity. While the fires were devastating, they didn’t diminish your strength or character.”

Lean on your faith

For those who have experienced traumatic grief, Kessler emphasized the importance of faith and spirituality.

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“They help ground us in a world full of fear,” he said. “And when we’ve lost everything, it can feel like our faith is the one thing we have to hold onto.”

During a time of crisis, Guttenberg said it’s important to “rely on anything that you believe in.”

Cesar Plaza becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9, 2025. “It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” a pastor told Fox News Digital. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Newsroom)

“If you believe in your mom and dad, you rely on them, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your family. God, the universe.”

Above all, he added, “Just remember, you’re not alone. God is always with you. Jesus is always with you. You’ve got to hang on to that.”

Find ways to exercise gratitude

During times of hardship, it’s important to recognize the good things that are still in your life, Pastor Bradley said.

“It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” he told Fox News Digital.

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“You need to be intentional to take inventory of the blessings in your life. For example, you might lose a home or business, but you still have family.”

This mindset will help you keep a healthy perspective and protect gratitude, Bradley added.

Health

Scientists May Be Able to Make Grapefruits Compatible With Medications They Currently Interfere With

Published

20 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Scientists May Be Able to Make Grapefruits Compatible With Medications They Currently Interfere With

You may be among the millions of people who have seen a surprisingly specific warning like this on the labels of drugs you take:

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.

Such warnings are issued for dozens of substances, including docetaxel, a cancer drug; erythromycin, an antibiotic; and some statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to more than a third of American adults over 40.

The problem is a set of molecules, furanocoumarins. High levels of furanocoumarins interfere with human liver enzymes, among other processes. In their presence, medications can build up to unhealthy levels in the body. And grapefruits and some related citrus fruits are full of them.

But there is no such warning for other kinds of citrus, such as mandarins and other oranges. Citrus researchers at the Volcani Center in Israel reported Wednesday in the journal The New Phytologist that, by crossing mandarins and grapefruit, they’ve uncovered genes that produce furanocoumarins in some citrus fruits. It’s a finding that opens the possibility of creating grapefruit that doesn’t require a warning label.

Scientists had worked out the compounds’ structures and pieced together a basic flowchart of how they are made years ago, said Yoram Eyal, a professor at the Volcani Center. But the precise identities of enzymes catalyzing the process — the proteins that snip off a branch here, or add a piece there — remained mysterious. He and his colleagues knew that one way to identify them was to breed citrus high in furanocoumarins with those without. If the offspring of such a cross had varying levels of the substances, it should be possible, by digging into their genetics, to pinpoint the genes for the proteins.

“We were afraid to approach it, because it’s very time-consuming and it takes many years,” he said, noting how involved it can be to grow new trees from seeds and assess their genetics. “But finally, we decided we have to dive in.”

When they examined the offspring of a mandarin and a grapefruit, the researchers saw something remarkable. Fifty percent of the young plants had high levels of furanocourmains, and 50 percent had none. That particular signature meant something very specific, in terms of how the ability to make these substances is inherited.

“We saw there was only one gene that could have controlled it,” said Livnat Goldenberg, a Volcani Center researcher who is the lead author of the new study.

The researchers soon identified the gene controlling the production of furanocoumarins in leaves and fruit, which produces an enzyme called 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, or 2OGD for short. Mandarins, it turns out, have a mutated form of this gene that keeps the enzyme from functioning properly. This version cropped up in all the mandarin and orange varieties the researchers checked, explaining why they do not cause the same problems as grapefruit in people taking prescription medications. In these plants, furanocoumarin production is paused.

With gene editing technology, it should be possible to alter the gene in grapefruit as well, Dr. Eyal suggests. The team at the Volcani Center is now exploring that project.

Looking at how widespread this mutated version is in mandarins and some other citrus, the scientists speculate that some gene nearby on the genome must play an important role in a highly prized trait. A long-ago citrus breeder, selecting for some unknown quality, must have unwittingly spread this furanocoumarin-busting version of the gene to an ancestor of modern varieties of mandarins and oranges.

All these years later, that person’s work is coming to light, under the gaze of geneticists, who may, someday, put grapefruit back on the menu.