Content about Ohio

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — Arco Health Inc. announced this week the release of a new chewing gum designed to aid users in losing weight and to keep their appetites in check. New Diet-Burst Gum is formulated to make a person feel fuller and quell cravings between meals.

AVON, Ohio — Duck Tape is heading to the runway this Thursday on Lifetime’s “Project Runway,” as season 11’s aspiring designers face the “Unconventional Materials Challenge,” a competition in every season that challenges them to create high-fashion clothing from something other than fabric.

ATLANTA — For the week ended Feb. 9, influenza activity decreased to 3.2% — still above the baseline of 2.2%, but an indicator this year's flu season is on its way out. 

Eleven states and New York City were still experiencing high influenza-like illness activity, while 10 states reported moderate activity.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health on Thursday announced plans to acquire privately held AssuraMed, a provider of medical supplies to patients in the home, for $2.1 billion. 

CINCINNATI — Local Kroger stores will discontinue doubling coupons and will instead lower prices on about 3,500 items, according to a report published in the Business Courier last week. The new everyday lower prices and corresponding shelf tags were rolled out on Monday. 

Kroger will cease doubling coupons up to 50 cents by March and the change is only taking place across the Cincinnati/Dayton division. 

PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Prescription vial manufacturer Rexam has a deal with Rx Timer Cap to adapt the cap to its vials, Rexam said.

Rexam said the partnership would help improve medication adherence. The Rx Timer Cap has a built-in LCD timer that automatically counts the minutes and hours since patients last took their medication.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Spartan Stores, a regional grocery distributor and retailer, has entered into a distribution agreement with Chief Super Market under which Spartan Stores will be its primary wholesale grocery supplier.

Chief operates 12 stores in Northwest and West Central Ohio under the Chief and Rays banners. Spartan Stores stated that it will assume distribution to all of Chief’s banners for grocery, dairy, frozen, bakery and other products in March.

The illegal diversion of prescription medication is a growing problem in this country. Controlled substances have great potential for abuse and addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recreational use of prescription drugs is on the rise; in 2010, 2 million people reported using prescription painkillers for recreational purposes for the first time that year.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble posted a boost in sales and earnings for the second quarter and raised its outlook for the fiscal year, the company announced on Friday.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — According to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center released Thursday, less than 45% of children were vaccinated against the flu during a five-year study period.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Drug maker Prasco Labs has launched an authorized generic version of a drug used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, the company said Monday.

Prasco announced the launch of tranexamic acid tablets in the 650 mg strength, an authorized generic version of Ferring Pharmaceuticals' Lysteda. Authorized generics are branded drugs marketed under their generic names at a discount, usually through third-party companies, to compete with Food and Drug Administration-approved generics.

AKRON, Ohio — Among children who took part in a recent study on the use of hand sanitizer in an environment with limited access to clean water, diarrhea cases were reduced by 30% and respiratory illnesses by more than 11%, GOJO Industries noted in a release issued Tuesday. 

The University of Columbia study was reported in the June 2012 issue of Pan American Journal of Public Health. As part of the study, researchers monitored children's use of alcohol hand sanitizer in conjunction with education to help to reduce life-threatening infections.