- - European weblog on food, health and environment
The 21st century - time to wake
up….
Cancer to be the leading cause of death in
2010 through deadly cocktail of toxins ? We destroy our lungs with cigarettes, feed our
kids fast sugars. trans fats, salt, artificial flavors and colors, chemical sugars,
vaccines, etc. Then we wonder how it is that an increasing percentage of the population
develops chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, cancer, food intolerances,
skin problems and bowel problems. Mercury in fish and thermometers poses a problem for
most, but in tooth fillings or flu shots it doesn't seem to be a problem. Where's the
logic in that? We have the same ambivalence about antibiotics, the 'wonder drug' for
bacterial infections but also the great killer of your intestinal flora. Never mind that
friendly gut bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining long-term health. According to
ancient Chinese wisdom death resides in the bowels.
Acrylamide in food may increase the
risk of breast cancer
Acrylamide is a chemical formed when
frying, roasting, grilling or baking carbohydrate-rich foods at temperatures above 120°C.
Acrylamide is thus found in a number of foods, such as bread, crisps, French fries and
coffee. Tobacco smoking also generates substantial amounts of acrylamide.
“Animal tests have shown acrylamide to
be a carcinogen, but until recently no studies have demonstrated a link between acrylamide
in foods and cancer in humans. Ours is the first epidemiological study using biological
markers for measuring acrylamide exposure, and the first to report a positive association
between acrylamide and breast cancer,” says Henrik Frandsen, senior scientist at the
National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Positive association
The study comprises 374 postmenopausal women who developed breast cancer and 374 healthy
women as controls. All of them are included in the Danish Cancer Society’s
“Diet, Cancer and Health” cohort study which enrolled 29,875 women aged 50 to 64
years in the period 1993-1997.
All previous epidemiological studies have
been based on food frequency questionnaires. The scientists behind this study have instead
used biological markers to be able to more accurately determine the acrylamide levels
ingested by the women participating in the study. The women’s blood has been tested
for the level of acrylamide bound to haemoglobin in red blood cells.
The findings show a positive association
between an increased acrylamide-haemoglobin level and the development of breast cancer
after adjustment for smoking behaviour. The risk of breast cancer doubles with a tenfold
increase in the acrylamide-haemoglobin level. A tenfold increase in the
acrylamide-haemoglobin level corresponds more or less to the difference measured between
the women with the lowest and highest exposure. The study also shows a stronger
association for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Further research required
The findings strengthen the concern that acrylamide is carcinogenic in the quantities to
which ordinary people are exposed through their diet. It should also be noted that a new
Dutch study shows an association between acrylamide in foods and ovarian and endometrial
cancer.
“It is, however, important to stress
that neither study indicates an unambiguous association between acrylamide in foods and
cancer. It is, for example, uncertain whether the observed effect on breast cancer is
instead related to other chemical compounds formed along with acrylamide during the
heating of foods. Another uncertainty is whether some of the acrylamide originates from
sources other than foods,” says Pelle Thonning Olesen, scientist at the National Food
Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
“Further research into the potential
adverse effects of acrylamide is imperative before any definite conclusions can be drawn
on the significance of the substance for cancer in general. At the same time, it
emphasises the importance of continuing the research and initiatives aimed to reduce
acrylamide levels in the human diet,” adds Anne Tjønneland, chief physician at the
Danish Cancer Society.
Read more
The paper in which the new research findings are described is published in the
International Journal of Cancer: Acrylamide exposure and incidence of breast cancer among
postmenopausal women in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health study.
The research project was conducted by
scientists from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark in
collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, the Danish Cancer Society as part
of the HEATOX EU project. See www.heatox.org for information about how to manage the
acrylamide risk.
The project was funded by the EU’s
Sixth Framework Programme and by a grant from the Nordic Council of Ministers and was
completed with support from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark
and the Danish Cancer Society.
Simple test accurately predicts risk of serious jaundice in newborns
A simple test can accurately identify which
newborn babies are at risk for developing dangerous levels of jaundice, according to
researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Researchers Use Magnetism to Target Cells to Animal Arter
Scientists have used magnetic fields and
tiny iron-bearing particles to drive healthy cells to
targeted sites in blood vessels. The research, done in animals, may lead to a new method
of delivering
cells and genes to repair injured or diseased organs in people.
A Web site is a better source of
information on nutrition than a video game or printed pamphlet, according to a study of
low-income mothers reported in the January issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and
Behavior.
Scientists Discover New, Readily Available Source of Stem Cells
Scientists have discovered a new source of
stems cells and have used them to create muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve and liver
cells in the laboratory. The first report showing the isolation of broad potential stem
cells from the amniotic fluid that surrounds developing embryos was published today in
Nature Biotechnology. “Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource
for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well,” said Anthony Atala, M.D.,
senior researcher and director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest
University School of Medicine. Atala announced the breakthrough with colleagues from Wake
Forest University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School.
Research Suggests New Treatment Suitable for All Patients With Least-Curable
Brain Tumors
New research at Wake Forest University
Baptist Medical Center suggests that a three-drug cocktail may one day improve outcomes in
patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a type of brain tumor with a dismal
prognosis. Two of the drug candidates have been developed, and the team is working on the
third – all targeted to kill or impair cancer cells and spare healthy brain.
Protein in human hair shows promise for regenerating nerves
A protein found in human hair shows promise
for promoting the regeneration of nerve tissue and could lead to a new treatment option
when nerves are cut or crushed from trauma.
In the current issue of Biomaterials, scientists from Wake Forest University School of
Medicine reported that in animal studies the protein keratin was able to speed up nerve
regeneration and improve nerve function compared to current treatment options. “We
found that the nerve repair happened more quickly and consistently, and that functional
recovery was higher,” said Mark Van Dyke, Ph.D., senior author and an assistant
professor of regenerative medicine. “The fact that we were able to accomplish this
with gels made from keratin is pretty remarkable.” Current treatments for repairing
damaged nerves include microsurgery to sew two ends of the nerve together, using a nerve
from another part of the body to replace a damaged section, or placing an empty tube
between the cut ends so that nerve fibers can grow through it and back into the muscle.
Genetic breakthrough offers promise in tackling kidney tumors
Early tests show promising results for a
new treatment for tuberous sclerosis, which can cause tumors in organs throughout the
body. The UK study is led by Cardiff University's Institute of Medical Genetics, which was
the first to identify the genes linked to the disease.
University of Alberta researchers report breakthrough in lowering bad
cholesterol, fatty acid levels
Medical researchers at the University of
Alberta in Edmonton, Canada have found a way to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol and
fatty acids that end up in the blood from food the body metabolizes, a key discovery that
could lead to new drugs to treat and reverse the effects of diabetes and heart disease
related to obesity. Existing drugs called statins are used to lower cholesterol, but do
not treat obesity or diabetes.
Surprise -- cholesterol may actually pose benefits, study shows
Researchers at Texas A&M University
have discovered that lower cholesterol levels can actually reduce muscle gain with
exercising. Lead investigator Steven Riechman, assistant professor of health and
kinesiology, and Simon Sheather, head of the Department of Statistics, along with
colleagues from The Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and the Northern Ontario School
of Medicine, have recently had their findings published in the Journal of Gerontology.
Search for harmonized micronutrient recommendations goes public
EURRECA, a network of scientists, nutrition
societies, consumer organisations, small & medium-sized enterprises and wider
stakeholders across the enlarged EU has launched its public website – www.eurreca.org
– to raise awareness of its work and to engage key stakeholders. EURRECA, funded by
the EC, is helping to address the problem of national variations in micronutrient
recommendations. As populations across Europe become more mobile and multi-national, and
more traditional foods become available internationally, harmonised recommendations are
needed, based on up-to-date science.
New Germany study related to
fruitjuice and obesity
Pattern of beverage consumption and
long-term association with body-weight status in German adolescents – results from
the DONALD study. In conclusion, these results suggest that an increase in energetic
beverage consumption may result in weight gain, at least in adolescent girls.
Overweight people may not know when
they've had enough
Researchers at the US Department of
Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have found new clues to why some people overeat
and gain weight while others don't. Examining how the human brain responds to
"satiety" messages delivered when the stomach is in various stages of fullness,
the scientists have identified brain circuits that motivate the desire to overeat.
Treatments that target these circuits may prove useful in controlling chronic overeating.
Study suggests chimpanzees ingest soil to enhance anti-malarial properties of
plants
The deliberate ingestion of soil, or
‘geophagy’, has important health benefits for chimpanzees, according to Sabrina
Krief and her colleagues from the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris,
France. Far from being a dysfunctional behavior, geophagy has evolved as a practice for
maintaining health amongst chimpanzees. In this particular study (1), to be published
online this week in Springer’s journal Naturwissenschaften, geophagy increases the
potency of ingested plants with anti-malarial properties.
Researchers from the European Molecular
Biology Laboratory have discovered that proteins that regulate the body's iron household
play a vital role in making sure enough nutrients and water are absorbed in the intestine.
Mice lacking these proteins suffer from weight loss and dehydration, the scientists report
in the current issue of Cell Metabolism.
How less can be more when treating some kidney cancers
A new Mayo Clinic study suggests that
removing the entire kidney from younger patients with small kidney tumors may lead to
decreased overall survival compared with an operation that removes the tumor but leaves
the kidney intact.
Understanding the have-knots - The role of stress in just about everything
A study now reveals that stress causes
deterioration in everything from your gums to your heart and can make you more susceptible
to everything from the common cold to cancer. Thanks to new research crossing the
disciplines of psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and genetics, the mechanisms underlying
the connection are rapidly becoming understood.
Device prevents potential errors in children's medications
A device designed to eliminate mistakes
made while mixing compounds at a hospital pharmacy was 100 percent accurate in identifying
the proper formulations of seven intravenous drugs.
Each year, cardiovascular disease kills
more Americans than cancer. And while most people are aware that lifestyle choices such as
eating right, getting enough exercise and quitting smoking can help prevent cardiovascular
disease, they may not know that by just brushing and flossing their teeth each day, they
might also be avoiding this potentially lethal condition.
A new scientific review of the most current
research shows the link between eating oatmeal and cholesterol reduction to be stronger
than when the FDA initially approved the health claim's appearance on food labels in 1997.
Dr. James W. Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of
Kentucky College of Medicine, co-authors "The Oatmeal-Cholesterol Connection: 10
Years Later" in the January/February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Lifestyle
Medicine. Anderson presents a contemporary analysis to determine if newer studies
are consistent with the original conclusion reached by the FDA. His report says studies
conducted during the past 15 years have, without exception, shown total cholesterol levels
are lowered through oat consumption; low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the "bad"
cholesterol) is reduced without adverse effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL, the "good" cholesterol), or triglyceride concentrations.
UT Southwestern researchers uncover
mechanisms of common inherited mental retardation
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical
Center are uncovering how brain cells are affected in Fragile X syndrome, the most common
cause of inherited mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism.
Heart attacks may not be reserved for the
hostile and driven among us -- anxious, fearful people also have a higher risk, U.S.
researchers reported on Tuesday.
For the first time, scientists have proof
in human subjects that a derivative of an ingredient in red wine combats some symptoms of
aging. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals announced the results here on Monday at the JPMorgan
Healthcare Conference. Resveratol, naturally found in red wine, stimulates a gene known as
SIRT1, which has been linked with extended lifespans in rodents. The new study is the
first time similar effects have been replicated in humans.
Study Reveals Evidence Of The Healing Properties Of Clay
This study is just the beginning; an
awakening for the sleeping world and the medical powers-that-be that clay is a serious
contender in the field of safe healing. The missing element in advancing the interest in
clays has been group research studies, which is proof for the FDA. The pioneer who is
responsible for this study is Thierry Brunet De Courssou, who pursued the work his mother
started and broke through to Dr. Williams.
Antidepressants, Bipolar Disorder and the Chemical Enslavement of Humankind by
Drug Companies
Big Pharma is constantly looking for new
ways to develop its markets and generate more profits. This is the inescapable directive
of all corporations: Be more profitable, regardless of the cost to society. In Big
Pharma's case, the pursuit of this mission inevitably leads to the targeting of an
ever-increasing selection of pharmaceutical consumers who have the potential to become
lifelong customers.
Dairy Consumption Increases Parkinson's Risk in Men
Consumption of dairy products, especially
milk, increases a man's risk of contracting Parkinson's disease, according to a recent
study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Previous studies have established a link between Parkinson's -- a degenerative central
nervous system disorder that commonly causes the impairment of motor skills, including
speech -- and the consumption of dairy. However, the mechanism for this effect is not yet
understood.
Multiple skin cancer risk behaviors
are common among US adults
Sunlight's ultraviolet rays can damage your
skin year-round. Yet a new study by behavioral researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center
shows that most American adults engage in multiple behaviors that boost their risk of skin
cancer by increasing their exposure to UV rays.
US ranks last among other industrialized nations on preventable deaths
The United States places last among 19
countries when it comes to deaths that could have been prevented by access to timely and
effective health care, according to new research supported by the Commonwealth Fund and
published in the January/February issue of Health Affairs. While other nations
dramatically improved these rates between 1997-98 and 2002-03, the US improved only
slightly.
Loss of a small portion of chromosome 16,
known as 16p11.2, is significantly associated with autism researchers report in the
journal Human Molecular Genetics. Although this genetic microdeletion occurred in only 4
out of 712 subjects with autism (0.6 percent), it is the second most common recurrent
genomic disorder associated with autism, which affects about 1 out of 160 children in the
United States.
Colonoscopy fears overcome when patients support patients
University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine researchers found that patients who received telephone mentoring from a trained
"peer coach" were two times more likely to keep their first colonoscopy
appointment than those who received an educational brochure about the procedure in the
mail or received no peer or literature support.
Trichloroethylene is a risk factor for parkinsonism
A new study found strong evidence that
trichloroethylene is a risk factor for parkinsonism, a group of nervous disorders with
symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.
Infants with birthmarks received less oxygen in womb
A hemangioma is a benign tumor of cells
that line blood vessels, appearing during the first few weeks of life as a large birthmark
or lesion. A study published in Pediatric Dermatology reveals that a disturbance of oxygen
depletion was found in placentas of babies who developed infantile hemangioma.
Breast-Feeding Seems to Protect Against Some Allergies
Atopic disease -- which includes eczema,
asthma and food allergies -- may be delayed or even prevented in high-risk infants if they
are exclusively breast-fed for at least four months or fed infant formula without cow milk
protein.
Vitamin B-12 Function May Be Diminished By Excessive Folate
In a study of adults aged 20 and over,
researchers at Tufts University showed that homocysteine and methylmalonic acid are at
much higher levels in individuals who have a combination of vitamin B12 deficiency and
high blood folate levels than in individuals who are also vitamin B12 deficient but have
normal folate levels.
Consumers in Europe: survey on
services provided to EU citizens
A new publication released today by the
Directorate General of Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) and the Statistical
Office of the European Communities (ESTAT), has collected comprehensive data on
services of general interest that play a central role in the economic and social lives of
European consumers. The data covers services such as energy, transport, electricity,
telecommunications, Internet, postal services and banking services. The analysis covers
the perception of consumers regarding the affordability and quality of the services. This
new approach of compiling all the different sector studies into one report, this provides
a more complete picture of the overall
level of satisfaction of EU citizens with regard to services of general interest. At the
same time, sector-specific data is highlighted in each section, for example two thirds of
citizens consider electricity affordable while the remaining third does not; 26% of
citizens also believe that their interests regarding electricity supply are not well
protected; 38% of EU citizens highlighted the practical difficulties in switching from one
mobile operator to a different one.
For further information and to view the
report, please visit:
The Radiowave Therapy Research Institute
was founded in January 2006 for the purpose of studying radiowave therapy as was practiced
by Dr John Holt over a 30 year period. The Radiowave Therapy Research Institute is a
purpose built facility offering state of the art medical assistance and facilities. The
Institute is privately funded.
UAB research could improve the prognosis and treatment of lung cancer
A group of scientists at the Universitat
Autònoma de Barcelona, has published research on an enzyme that is detected in large
quantities only in lung cancers. This enzyme can appear even when the cancer has not yet
developed. Thus this molecule would serve as a good marker in the diagnosis and prognosis
of the disease. The research is of great interest for potential future therapeutical
applications as well.
A 90 minute daytime nap helps speed up the
process of long-term memory consolidation, a recent study conducted at the Center for
Brain and Behavior Research at the University of Haifa found.
Bacterial infections in premature babies more common than previously realized
Premature babies are subject to a host of
threats that can result in fetal/neonatal disease. In a study published in the January
2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers found that
genital mycoplasmas are a frequent cause of congenital fetal infection. 23 percent of
neonates born between 23 and 32 weeks of gestation have positive umbilical blood cultures
for two genital mycoplasmas (bacteria lacking cell walls): Ureaplasma urealyticum and
Mycoplasma hominis.
University of California, Irvine infectious
disease researchers have shown the effectiveness of a potential alternative to the
existing smallpox vaccine that can replace the current biodefense stockpile for this
lethal virus.
Mini 'stress tests' could help condition heart to survive major attack
People who experience brief periods of
blocked blood flow may be better conditioned to survive a full-blown heart attack later,
according to new research from the University of Cincinnati.
A new study from Danish researchers has
found that childless men have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer than fathers, and
that, paradoxically, the more children a father has, the lower the risk of the disease.
Pollution shrinks fetus size - Brisbane study finds
Exposure to air pollution significantly
reduces fetus size during pregnancy, according to a new study by Brisbane scientists.
Queensland University of Technology senior research fellow Dr. Adrian Barnett said the
study compared the fetus sizes of more than 15,000 ultrasound scans in Brisbane to air
pollution levels within a 14km radius of the city.
UCLA scientists restore walking after spinal cord injury
A UCLA study demonstrates that the nervous
system can reorganize itself after spinal cord injury and use new pathways to restore the
cellular communication required for walking. Published in the January edition of Nature
Medicine, the discovery could lead to new therapies for the estimated 250,000 Americans
who suffer from paralysis following traumatic spinal cord injuries.
Study of sugars on cell surface identifies key factor in flu infection
Scientists have identified a new factor
critical for influenza viruses to infect the human upper respiratory tract -- a necessary
step for sustaining spread between people. The research offers additional insight into how
the H5N1 avian flu virus currently circulating in birds would have to change in order to
gain a foothold in human populations.
NIGMS-funded researchers have solved the
structure of an enzyme (PIK3CA) that is mutated in cancers of the colon, brain, stomach,
breast, lung, and others.
The Breast Cancer Gene in Men
Carries Increased Risks
Men who have a BRCA-1 or -2 gene mutation
have twice the normal risk of prostate cancer, triple the normal risk of pancreas cancer,
and 7 times more likely to develop breast cancer (it can happen in men, too.)
Dr. Robert Verkerk, scientific advisor to
the NHF and executive and scientific director of the ANH, indicated that this was a
critical time to re-appraise the principles and methods applied to and in risk assessment.
“This area of risk assessment is really the ticking time bomb for natural
health,” said Dr. Verkerk.
Definitely cutting back on the
‘wrong’ kinds of Carbohydrates such as Cakes, Confectioneries, Bread, Polished
rice and the like will be mandatory for weight-loss, but replacing them with high protein
foods is- just as from the points above-unnecessary and actually harmful for overall
health and fitness.
EU project finds synbiotics good for diet and health
An EU-funded project has demonstrated that
both the composition and activity of gut microflora, which plays an important role in
preserving health, can be improved through the addition of prebiotics and probiotics to an
individual's diet. Whilst probiotic bacteria are already known to have positive effects on
human gastrointestinal health, the mechanisms of these effects are still not fully
understood. The EU Microfunction project sought to determine the efficacy of probiotics,
prebiotics and synbiotics (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that supports the
growth of probiotics).
Department of Research Writing at NAR
reports iodine in shrimps results in irritation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
When iodine enters the blood stream, it irritates the hair follicles and sebaceous glands
and results in increase production of sebum.
Out with stainless steel, in with copper?
It might be a new hospital trend — not for looks, but for germ-fighting. Some
intensive-care units in New York and South Carolina are about to get copper fittings as
part of a project to test if drug-resistant bacteria survive better on hospitals'
ubiquitous stainless steel than on copper.
Fermented foods are a big trigger for some
migraine sufferers; this includes aged cheeses, red wines, beer and yogurt, in addition to
chocolate. Additives to foods, such as monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrate and aspartame
can also trigger migraines.
Cryptococcal disease is a very rare fungal
disease caused by the Cryptococcus fungus that can affect the lungs (pneumonia) and
nervous system (meningitis) in humans. It often affects otherwise healthy people with no
obvious signs of immunocompromise. In rare cases, this disease can be fatal.
Researchers are preparing for clinical
trials examining whether high doses of vitamin C, administered intravenously, can slow the
spread of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
A Canadian-led study has confirmed that a
common blood enzyme seems to decrease the severity of allergic reactions, a finding that
could lead the way to developing drugs that protect against life-threatening allergies.
Research Unveils New Hope for Deadly Childhood Disease
Investigators at the University of
Rochester Medical Center have uncovered a promising drug therapy that offers a ray of hope
for children with Batten disease ? a rare neurodegenerative disease that strikes seemingly
healthy kids, progressively robs them of their abilities to see, reason and move, and
ultimately kills them in their young twenties.
Burning biofuels may be worse than coal and oil, say experts
Using biofuels made from corn, sugar cane
and soy could have a greater environmental impact than burning fossil fuels, according to
experts. Although the fuels themselves emit fewer greenhouse gases, they all have higher
costs in terms of biodiversity loss and destruction of farmland.
From this new estimate, it appears that
pharmaceutical companies spend almost twice as much on promotion as they do on R&D.
These numbers clearly show how promotion predominates over R&D in the pharmaceutical
industry, contrary to the industry's claim. While the amount spent on promotion is not in
itself a confirmation of Kefauver's depiction of the pharmaceutical industry, it confirms
the public image of a marketing-driven industry and provides an important argument to
petition in favor of transforming the workings of the industry in the direction of more
research and less promotion.
Will Alternative and Mainstream Medicine Ever Be Friends?
Perhaps the key to a harmonious coexistence
of conventional and alternative medicines is a kind of divorce. Scientists, who are more
qualified than any New Age practitioners or lay person to determine the value of unproven
treatments, need to conduct research that will once and for all divorce the sensational
claims of these treatments from any actual therapeutic qualities they might have. Then
they have to be taken, one by one, into the laboratory. One thing is certain,
however-alternative medicines can no longer be ignored.
Researchers uncover key trigger for potent cancer-fighting marine product
An unexpected discovery in marine
biomedical laboratories at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has led to
new, key information about the fundamental biological processes inside a marine organism
that creates a natural product currently being tested to treat cancer in humans.
Strength training of neck muscles relieves chronic pain
A new study found that specific strength
training exercises led to significant prolonged relief of neck muscle pain, while general
fitness training resulted in only a small amount of pain reduction.
100 percent of people carry at least 1 type of pesticide
A study carried out by the Department of
Radiology and Physical Medicine at the University of Granada found that all subjects
analyzed carried at least one kind of persistent organic compound, substances
internationally classified as potentially harmful to one's health. More pesticides,
fungicides and insecticides were detected in women than in men, and in adults rather than
younger people.
Women who undergo removal of one or both of
their ovaries before menopause have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia,
according to a new study published in the online version of the journal Neurology.
Men are waking up to the enormous benefits of natural health and nutrition
It's time for men to pay as much attention
to natural health as women. Currently, women dominate the readership of natural health
newsletters and magazines.
Soda Manufacturers Attempt to Downplay Sodium Benzoate Link to Hyperactivity
In response to a recent study that linked
common soft drink additive sodium benzoate to increased hyperactivity in children, the
British Soft Drink Association downplayed the significance of the new findings.
Bristol-Myers Squibb to Pay Half a Billion Dollars to Settle Doctor Kickback
Charges and Avoid Prosecution
the federal government charged that
Bristol-Myers Squibb paid out illegal gifts to doctors and health-care providers between
2000 in 2003 to encourage them to promote and prescribe the company's drugs. The company
was also accused of artificial and fraudulent price inflation in order to defraud public
health-care programs on prescription costs and of paying wholesalers and retailers to
stock Bristol-Myers Squibb drugs. In addition, the government charged the company with
illegally promoting the prescription of Abilify, an atypical antipsychotic, for
non-approved, "off-label" use on children and dementia patients.
Apple peels contain twelve
anti-cancer compounds called "triterpenoids"
Apple peels contain as many as a dozen
cancer-fighting chemical compounds, according to a study conducted by researchers at
Cornell University and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
"We found that several compounds have potent anti-proliferative activities against
human liver, colon and breast cancer cells, and may be partially responsible for the
anti-cancer activities of whole apples," said Rui Hai Liu, an associate professor of
food science.
Canadian researchers published the findings
of a randomized, double blind study designed to assess the effects of Neptune Krill Oil
(NKO) on levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic inflammation. The
study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
Fluorescent Lighting in Schools Found to Give Children Headaches
Lighting conditions in British schools are
overwhelmingly inappropriate and are likely to give children headaches and concentration
problems, according to a new study presented at the annual conference of the British
Educational Research Association in London.
