Health Highlights: March 13, 2008

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The number of violence-related hospitalizations increased by 24,000 between 2002 and 2005, the report said. In 2005, about 23 percent of violence-related hospitalizations involved uninsured patients and 27 percent involved Medicaid recipients.

Among the other findings:

About 66 percent of all violence-related hospital patients had attempted suicide or injured themselves on purpose; about 31 percent were victims of attempted murder, fights, rape or other assaults; and about four percent were victims of sexual or other abuse.More than half the patients admitted for self-inflicted injuries had mixed or overdosed on drugs.Crushing and internal injuries, skull and facial fractures, and head injuries were the main reasons for admitting half of the assault victims.Nearly 52 percent of abuse cases involved children. About one-third of them were victims of child neglect, physical and psychological abuse, or physical assault such as shaken baby syndrome.

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Toy Sundae Sets Pose Choking Hazard

A potential choking hazard has prompted the recall of about 22,000 Play Wonder toy sundae sets distributed by Battat Inc. of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and sold at Target stores from December 2006 through December 2007.

The recalled toy includes six wooden scoops of ice cream, three cherries that attach to the top of the ice cream scoops, banana slices, a spoon and bowl. The wooden cherries pose a choking hazard to young children, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall affects model number DPCI-204-12-0526, which can be found on the packaging.

There have been no reports of injuries, the CPSC said.

Consumers with the recalled toy sundae sets should take them away from children and return the toy to any Target store for a full refund. For more information, phone Battat Inc. at 1-800-247-6144.

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EPA Announces Modest Tightening of Smog Standards

Ignoring its own scientific advisory panel's recommendation for a much stricter smog standard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced only a modest tightening of the standard.