Apr. 18, 2008 (Investor's Business Daily delivered by Newstex) --

Bias seen tainting medical articles

Drug companies often pay academic scientists to take credit for research articles that are prepared by company-paid medical writers and then published in peer-reviewed journals, say reports in the Journal of the American Medical Assoc. This practice of ghostwriting can lead editors to publish biased research that can result in doctors giving patients improper treatment. The association's journal singles out Merck, but says ghostwriting is not uncommon among drug makers. It's calling for all authors to spell out their roles more clearly.

Plastic baby bottles may be toxic

A chemical widely used in plastic baby bottles and other containers may cause neural and behavioral changes in humans who ingest it, says a report by the U.S. government's National Toxicology Program. The chemical, called bisphenol A or BPA, also has been linked to health problems like breast cancer. In Canada, Wal-Mart Stores and other retailers are pulling containers, including water bottles, with BPA amid news that the country may declare it to be toxic.

Among Americans and Brits, 12% have surreptitiously piggybacked on someone else's wireless Internet connection, a survey by consulting firm Accenture found. Logging onto open, unsecured Wi-Fi is most popular among people ages 18-34. One in 7 Americans said they piggybacked vs. 1 in 11 Brits. Experts warn that data on unsecured Wi-Fi can be read by hackers.

Clothes may monitor your health by analyzing your sweat, say scientists at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology. The researchers use specialty yarns and sensors attached to fabrics in order to determine the amount of potassium, chloride or sodium in a person's sweat and get information about that person's metabolism. The term whaling is being used to describe a new kind of Internet phishing scam targeting executives and wealthy individuals. In one whaling attack, CEOs received e-mails that were falsely identified as federal subpoenas. By clicking on a link that was supposed to direct them to information on the case, the executives unknowingly installed malicious software designed to access private data.

Originally published in the April 18, 2008 version of Investor's Business Daily.

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