Scientists in the United States and Britain are calling for a fresh look at Celebrex and other medications similar to Vioxx, the arthritis drug pulled from the market last week after a study suggested it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The European Medicines Agency in London announced Wednesday it would review all cox-2 inhibitor drugs in the wake of Merck & Co.'s decision to voluntarily withdraw Vioxx.

In the United States, a cardiologist who had researched these drugs published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine suggesting problems might extend to the entire class of medications, not just Vioxx.

Another doctor, Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic, writing in the same journal charged that the Food and Drug Administration did not do everything needed to make sure the drug was safe. Topol called for a congressional review of the matter.

An FDA spokeswoman said the agency had no comment. Last week, FDA officials said problems were limited to Vioxx.

Pfizer, which makes Celebrex and a newer, similar drug called Bextra, disputed the medical journal reports and said its drugs are safe.

The medical journal published two reports on the issue Wednesday on the Internet - more than two weeks ahead of their planned print publication - to help inform doctors and patients considering whether to stop using the drugs.

Studies done five years ago when Celebrex and Merck's Vioxx were approved suggest the same mechanism that inhibits inflammation and makes the drugs easier on the stomach than traditional painkillers also blocks a substance that prevents heart problems, according to cardiologist Garret FitzGerald.

Long-term studies are not yet available on Bextra.

30-year mortgage rates climbing to nearly 6%

WASHINGTON - Mortgage rates around the country went up this week, with 30-year mortgages climbing to the highest level since early September.

Freddie Mac, in its weekly survey released Thursday, reported that rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 5.82 percent for the week ending Oct. 7. That was up sharply from 5.72 percent last week and marked the highest rate since the week ending Sept. 9, when 30-year mortgage rates averaged 5.83 percent.

For 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, rates increased this week to 5.24 percent, compared with 5.12 percent last week. Rates on one-year adjustable rate mortgages climbed to 4.08 percent, up from 3.97 percent.

- The Associated Press