Communicate these 3 links to everybody who
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Ditta
Video -
Antibiotics and the flu
Growth Hormone Applied To Diabetes
Wound Healing
Slow or troubled healing processes are one
of the many negative outcomes of diabetes and many other human diseases. Diabetes patients
not only show deficient tissue healing of sharp wounds but they are also more prone to
suffer from chronic wounds, such as ulcers in the lower limbs.
Looking for ways to improve the healing process in diabetes patients, the research group
for the Traslacional Investigation of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering of the
“Universidad de Alcalá” managed by Doctor Juan Manuel Bellón and Doctor Julia
Buján and working in collaboration with the CSIC have developed an experimental model
that releases growth hormone (GH) in a gradual and controlled manner directly over the
wounded area. This improves the healing process, with the added advantage that the
localised application method avoids the negative side effects that a systemic
administration of the hormone could raise.
Video - Toxic
chemicals threaten electronics industry workers in Mex
Brain activity measurements
developed at Hebrew University could lead to better devices to move injured or artificial
limbs
Neuroscientists at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem have developed a novel approach for measuring and deciphering
brain activity that holds out promise of providing improved movements of natural or
artificial limbs by those who have been injured or paralyzed.
Neuroscientists have long been working towards achieving a better understanding of the
relationship between brain activity and behavior, and especially between neural activity
in the motor regions of the cortex and hand movements.
In addition to addressing basic scientific
questions, this line of research carries important practical implications, since the
identification of precise relationships would enable neuroscientists to assist in the
construction of devices through which brain signals will activate muscles in a paralyzed
limb or a prosthetic (robotic) arm.
Video - Transportation of Farm Animals Investigation
What’s Been Causing Your Knee to Ache? Smurfs!
A new clinical trial seeks to predict who
is most likely to experience osteoarthritis, and to test whether an experimental treatment
can prevent it altogether. Physicians are setting their sights on people who sustain a
knee injury, seeking to understand why nearly half of them will later go on to develop
osteoarthritis, a debilitating condition that causes pain and disability in more than 20
million Americans each year.
Further
investigative work revealed that LDL uptake and fatty acid oxidation were not involved in
the I-3-C-mediated reduction of apoB secretion. The results indicate that plant indoles
have beneficial effects on lipid synthesis that could contribute to their potential
cardioprotective effect.
St. Jude identifies the specific cell that causes eye cancer, disproving
long-held theory
Investigators
at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified the cell that gives rise to the
eye cancer retinoblastoma, disproving a long-standing principle of nerve growth and
development.
Mayo Clinic clarifies diagnosis for serious blood vessel disease of
brain and spinal cord
Mayo
Clinic has clarified the methods of diagnosis and optimal management of a rare and
little-understood blood vessel disease of the brain and spinal cord that often leads to
stroke or death. Primary central nervous system vasculitis can best be identified through
a combination of diagnostic techniques consisting of angiography, brain biopsy and other
laboratory studies
Immune cells fighting chronic infections become progressively
'exhausted,' ineffective
A
new study of immune cells battling a chronic viral infection shows that the cells, called
T cells, become exhausted by the fight in specific ways, undergoing profound changes that
make them progressively less effective over time. The findings also point to interventions
that would reverse the changes, suggesting that novel therapies could be developed to
reinvigorate T cells that become depleted in their struggle against a virus.
Ability to handle stress, depression linked to variations in brain
structure and function
Researchers
at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in mice that the ability or inability to cope
with stress is linked to specific differences in the way brain cells communicate with each
other.
Study - HPV test beats Pap in detecting cervical cancer
A
new study led by McGill University researchers shows that the human papillomavirus
screening test is far more accurate than the traditional Pap test in detecting cervical
cancer. The first round of the Canadian Cervical Cancer Screening Trial concluded that the
HPV test's ability to accurately detect pre-cancerous lesions without generating false
negatives was 94.6 percent, as opposed to 55.4 percent for the Pap test.
Children
who are obese or who are at risk for obesity show early signs of heart disease similar to
obese adults with heart disease, a study by researchers at Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis has found. Based on this study, these subtle markers can help
physicians predict who could be at risk for heart disease and heart attacks.
Massive microRNA scan uncovers leads to treating muscle degeneration
An
increasing number of genes have been linked to muscular dystrophy and related disorders
that cause muscle weakness and wasting, but it's still largely unknown how these genes
cause disease, and, more importantly, how to translate the discoveries into treatments. A
report in PNAS this week finds a wealth of new clues about how muscle function is
regulated by analyzing microRNAs -- tiny bits of code that govern gene expression.
Dairy consumption linked to breast, prostate cancer
A
South Carolina doctor claims that consumption of dairy products can increase your risk of
acquiring breast and prostate cancer. Dr. Robert Bibb of Myrtle Beach is working on a
book, Death by Dairy, about the dangers of a dairy-consuming diet. According to Bibb, a
growing body of evidence supports his contention that the hormones found in dairy products
increase the body's risk of cancer. "There's an association between dairy
[consumption] and hormonally sensitive cancers," he said. "I looked, but I can't
find any other factors that fit epidemiologically."
Aurora Organic Dairy Corporation hit by class action lawsuits over
"organic" milk labels
The
Cornucopia Institute has announced a wave of class action lawsuits against the Boulder,
Colorado-based Aurora Organic Dairy Corporation, which it says is engaged in, "the
largest scandal in the history of the organic industry." The lawsuits allege that
Aurora Organic Dairy Corporation, which supplies organic milk to Wal-Mart, Wild Oats,
Target, Costco, Safeway, and other retailers, is engaged in "consumer fraud,
negligence, and unjust enrichment" by failing to adhere to USDA organic standards
even while selling its milk under the organic label.
Video - Complementary & Alternative Medicine
For Brain Tumors
Patients should ask surgeons about using honey to heal wounds
Honey is enjoying a resurgence as a
wound-healing solution amid rising concerns about antibiotic resistance and a renewed
interest in natural healing. Researchers started to document its success in the early 20th
century but the introduction of antibiotics temporary halted its use.
Insulin, long known as an important
regulator of blood glucose levels, now has a newly appreciated role in brain systems
linked to drug addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders, according to a new report by
researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
U.S. farmers can barely keep up with demand for organic produce
The demand for organic food in the United
States outstrips the supply, according to industry groups such as the Organic Trade
Association (OTA) and Organic Farming Research Foundation. This means that imports of
organic food are rising, but industry leaders want the U.S. government to take steps to
help boost domestic production.
Using electrical energy to zap cancer cells
may sound like a strange idea. But clinical trials at twelve major hospitals around the
country are now testing it against the deadliest form of brain cancer. Neuro-oncologist
Herb Engelhard explains it's based on a new finding that cells are most vulnerable to
electromagnetic fields when they're dividing. In the pilot study in Europe, researchers
led by Yoram Palti of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology tested their prototype
device in ten patients with recurrent GBM. Palti, who invented the device, has formed a
company called NovoCure that's funding the research.
The Phase III trial, which is still recruiting patients, is a randomized controlled study.
Gluten Intolerance, also known as Celiac
Disease, was once thought to be a rare genetic disorder until 2003 when it was discovered
that it is, indeed, quite common. Where once gluten intolerance was thought to affect 1 in
4000 people it is now thought to affect 1 in 133 and researchers expect that number to
drop even lower. Yet, even with this new discovery many people in America are going
undiagnosed.
Government subsidies - the reason why cancer-causing foods are so cheap and
readily available
That bag of chips that you decided to forgo
is significantly cheaper than that bag of organic apples. If you think about it, it
doesn’t really make sense. The bag of chips has gone through several manufacturing
steps, and so has the bag that contains the chips. The apples have gone through no
manufacturing, the bag through some manufacturing. There are labour costs associated with
both products – so why the huge price difference? Two words: government subsides.
Video - HPV controversial vaccine UNSAFE lack of research
Herbs "more helpful" than drugs for period pain
A study involving nearly 3,500 women in
several countries suggests that Chinese herbs might be more effective in relieving
menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression.
A previously unknown coupling between obesity and diabetes
Obesity increases the risk of developing
diabetes, but nobody knows the details of why this is the case. Researchers at the
Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have now identified a protein that may play a role in
increasing the risk. The discovery may in the long term lead to new methods of preventing
type 2 diabetes.
Paradigm Shift in Alzheimers´s Research opens the Door for New Treatments:
Intraneural Aß aggregation triggers neuron loss
Latest research by Professor Thomas Bayer
from University Medicine Center Göttingen carries the promise of developing new
treatments. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder
characterized by extensive neuronal degeneration and the development of neuritic amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Neuronal and synaptic losses in AD are correlated
with dementia and occur in specific brain areas involved in memory processing.
Long-standing evidence shows that progressive cerebral deposition of Aß plays a seminal
role in the pathogenesis of AD. There is great interest, therefore, in understanding the
proteolytic processing of APP, the precursor of Aß, and its proteases responsible for
generating Aß. Ragged peptides with a major species beginning with phenylalanine at
position 4 of Ab have been reported already in 1985 by Masters et al.1.
Study Finds Driving Abilities Not Impaired By Moderate, Long-Term Pain
Medication Use
Moderate, long-term pain medication use
does not impair a person?s ability to drive safely, according to a study by Dr. Asokumar
Buvanendran, associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology at Rush University Medical
Center, Chicago.
Study Finds Anti-Convulsant Drug Decreases Pain, Expedites Movement in Knee
Replacement Patients
The drug pregabalin administered before and
after knee replacement surgery, significantly decreased patient pain while increasing and
expediting mobility after surgery, according to a study by Asokumar Buvanendran, MD,
director of Orthopedic Anesthesia and associate professor of Anesthesiology at Rush
University Medical Center, Chicago.
Ear infection superbug discovered to be resistant to all pediatric antibiotics
Researchers have discovered a strain of
bacteria resistant to all approved drugs used to fight ear infections in children,
according to an article to be published tomorrow in the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
How schizophrenia develops - Major clues discovered
We know that something happens during brain
development that contributes to schizophrenia. A glitch in the process that turns genes on
and off in the brain -- a specific "epigenetic" flaw -- appears to be part of
the problem.
Study shows some athletic men may risk low bone density
According to the National Osteoporosis
Foundation, osteoporosis affects more than 2 million men in the United States and nearly
12 million more have osteopenia -- clinically significant low bone density that is less
severe than osteoporosis. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri-Columbia has
found that men engaging predominantly in low-impact forms of exercise have an increased
incidence of osteopenia -- a condition resulting in two times the risk of bone fracture.
Farm children appear to have a lower risk
of asthma than their urban counterparts or even those living in a nonagricultural rural
environment, according to a University of Alberta study.
Gold nanorods shed light on new approach to fighting cancer
Researchers have shown how tiny 'nanorods'
of gold can be triggered by a laser beam to blast holes in the membranes of tumor cells,
setting in motion a complex biochemical mechanism that leads to a tumor cell's
self-destruction.
National study -- kids' bike injuries are major public health concern
Researchers at Nationwide Children's
Hospital concluded that bicycle-related injuries among US children may be a more
significant public health concern than first thought.
Mammography continues to be the method of
choice for the early detection of breast cancer. However, because this technique is not as
selective or specific as one would wish, and does not deliver reliable results for every
level of tissue density, alternatives are being sought. Near-infrared fluorescence
mammography, which works with rays of near-infrared (NIR) light instead of X-rays, is a
highly promising technique—although effective contrast agents have thus far been
lacking. A team led by John V. Frangioni at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of
the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, has developed a contrast agent that
makes visible the microcalcifications related to malignant breast tumors. The researchers
report in the journal Angewandte Chemie that in validation trials in swine their new
contrast agent distinguishes specific calcium salts in soft tissues, as well as depicting
bones.
New research on structure of bones raises questions for treatment of
osteoporosis
Researchers have discovered that the
structure of human bones is vastly different than previously believed -- findings which
will have implications for how some debilitating bone disorders are treated.
Is the spleen able to prohibit tumor cell proliferation?
An interesting case of isolated splenic
metastasis from colonic cancer was found by Dr. Adolfo Pisanu from Universita degli Studi
di Cagliari. Only 41 similar cases has been recorded so far. This rareness suggests the
existence of some mechanism prohibiting tumor cell proliferation in the spleen, but the
reason for this is not clearly understood.
New evidence that genetics plays a key role
in obesity is published today in the International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and
Applications. The findings relate to the genetics of modern Pima Indians who have an
unusually high rate of obesity but could be extrapolated to all people. Their obesity is
thought to be linked to a thrifty metabolism that allowed them to metabolize food more
efficiently in times when little was available but causes problems when food is in
abundance.
Financial relationships between industry and medical schools, teaching
hospitals highly prevalent
In a national survey of department chairs
at medical schools and teaching hospitals, more than half report relationships with
industry, including receiving financial and in-kind support, according to a study in the
Oct. 17 issue of JAMA. The authors suggest that these findings underscore the need for the
disclosure and management of these relationships.
Acupuncture reduces pain, need for opioids after surgery
Using acupuncture before and during surgery
significantly reduces the level of pain and the amount of potent painkillers needed by
patients after the surgery is over, according to Duke University Medical Center
anesthesiologists who combined data from 15 small randomized acupuncture clinical trials.
Eating garlic is one of the best ways to
lower high blood pressure and protect yourself from cardiovascular disease. A new study
from the UAB shows this protective effect is closely linked to how much hydrogen sulfide
is produced from garlic compounds interacting with red blood cells. The researchers found
this interaction triggered red blood cells to release H2S, which then led to the
relaxation of blood vessels.
Capsule Endoscopy Turning Up Undiagnosed Cases of Crohn’s Disease
A small capsule that takes
“snapshots” of the small intestine as it moves through the digestive tract
helped doctors spot cases of Crohn’s disease that had gone undiagnosed for up to 15
years, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Reporting this week at the American College of Gastroenterology’s meeting in
Philadelphia, the researchers said that of 198 video capsule endoscopies that were
performed to evaluate unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, physicians found six cases of
Crohn’s disease that hadn’t been diagnosed previously, despite the patients
having colonoscopies and a variety of other imaging tests. The study is the first to
evaluate the prevalence of the Crohn’s disease (about 3 percent) among patients
having capsule endoscopy to evaluate unexplained bleeding.
Nuclear receptors in control of cholesterol transport
In the 'classical' concept of reverse
cholesterol transport, the liver is often referred to as being the only organ capable to
eliminate cholesterol via excretion into bile. However, recent studies have indicated that
the intestine is an important secretory organ for cholesterol as well. The studies
described in the thesis of Jelske van der Veen allow the conclusion that the intestine may
be a promising target organ for nuclear receptor interference in order to stimulate
reverse cholesterol transport. Nuclear receptor activation may modulate direct intestinal
cholesterol excretion independent of biliary cholesterol secretion. It could therefore be
an attractive approach to develop novel drugs for treatment or prevention of
atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
How can levels of disease burden (and
avoidable disease burden) be estimated?
One of the main objectives of environmental policy in the Netherlands is to contribute to
improved public health. One way of doing this is to reduce harmful effects such as
exposure to particulate matter or noise. To be able to decide the best way of achieving an
improvement, information is needed about the scale of health impairment experienced by the
public at large and how this can be affected by intervention. There are various metrics
for quantifying health impairment. Three are discussed here.
A commonly used term in the healthcare
sector is the QALY (quality-adjusted life year), which is used to determine the health
benefits obtainable from medical services. A QALY represents a year’s living in full
health. Years lived in less than perfect health are translated into healthy years. A
medical service can be rated in terms of the number of QALYs gained, making it possible to
compare the various options against each other in terms of effectiveness. Estimating the
costs for each option per QALY gained then allows the costs to be taken into account when
making decisions about the allocation of resources.
For some time now, environmental policy has been using a related metric, the DALY
(disability-adjusted life year). A DALY represents a year in full health that is retained.
Unlike QALY calculations, for which the starting point is the state of health before
intervention, DALY calculations are based on an achievable standard lifespan. The QALY and
DALY are also substantially in agreement about the way in which health gains (or avoidable
disease burden) are estimated.
Finally, there is a third method for
expressing avoidable disease burden numerically, namely in monetary terms. In this
instance, the burden of disease is expressed as a monetary value rather than in terms of a
specially developed metric.
In this advisory report, a Committee of the
Health Council of the Netherlands has evaluated these three metrics in terms of their
applicability to environmental policy and for the setting of priorities in particular.
DALY suitable in many cases
The Committee believes that QALY and DALY can be used for comparing the impact of various
environmental factors on health. Moreover, they can be used for comparing the extent to
which measures can restrict those effects. This could also be combined with a cost per
QALY gained or DALY avoided.
On top of that, the alternative –
expressing the burden of avoidable disease as a monetary amount – creates
opportunities for comparison with other types of impacts of a measure: the impact on the
natural environment, mobility, the economy and so forth. The burden of disease can then be
included in a social cost-benefit analysis of environmental measures. This is an analysis
of all the favourable (benefits) and unfavourable (costs) effects, irrespective of who is
affected, in which the costs and benefits are expressed (where possible) in monetary
terms.
Whether the burden of disease is expressed
in QALYs/DALYs or monetary units is important for ordering environmental factors by the
extent to which they impair health. However, it is not possible to determine which metric
is a better representation of the normative ‘reality’. This is because both
types of metric rely on people’s valuations of lifespan and health, and changes to
them. The Committee’s preference is for the QALY and DALY concept when setting
priorities based on health-based considerations. The principal reason for this is that the
concept was specifically developed to quantify health and any changes to it.
Monetary units are preferable when it is
necessary to compare an avoidable burden of disease with the other effects of specific
measures or social activities. They come into their own, for example, in decision-making
about projects involving e.g. infrastructure and spatial planning.
There are no fundamental methodological
differences between the QALY and the DALY that make either one clearly more suitable than
the other for application in environmental policy. Moreover, they seem to produce the same
sequence when environmental questions are ranked by their burden of disease (although that
observation is based on just a single study). Because of the way practices (including
international practices) in environmental fields have developed, the Committee prefers the
DALY to the QALY for use in these areas.
When environmental problems are ranked according to the burden of disease expressed in
monetary units, a different sequence is obtained. As there are no direct studies into the
relationship between the burden of disease in DALYs and in monetary units, the Committee
proposes that such research should be carried out. The results of such a study could
provide greater insights into the opportunities for integrating DALYs into cost-benefit
analyses. It would then be possible to combine the benefits of both methods.
Taking background information about the
figures into account
In theory, the number of DALYs could be used to indicate the magnitude of the
environmentally-related burden of disease (and avoidable burden of disease). The costs per
DALY avoided can then also be determined if necessary. The number of DALYs can give an
indication of the scope of the harm to health in the general population due to an
environmental factor (such as particulate matter), making clear what proportion of this
can be avoided through a specific measure (e.g. particulate filters for cars). It is
important to be aware that the figures are not all equally solidly based.
The limited validity of the numbers is
primarily related to the normative choices that are inherent in the application of the
DALY concept. An example of this is the way it deals with the time that elapses before any
health impairment becomes manifest. In general, people prefer immediate results. The
estimated social burden of disease in DALYs can take this into account: effects that
appear immediately (such as asthma attacks) are weighted more heavily than effects that
are only anticipated in ten or twenty years’ time (such as mortality due to cancer).
This relationship can however be modified; the extent to which this is done is a matter of
choice. However, that choice does have implications for policy. If late effects are given
a lower weighting, measures that only have a longer-term impact will score relatively
unfavourably.
The second reason why a figure is not
definitive is that there may be differences in the solidity of the data upon which
estimates of the burden of disease in DALYs are based. In some cases, for example,
evidence of a harmful effect of an environmental factor may be restricted to animal
studies. The figure for the burden of disease is less reliable in such a case than if it
was supplemented by data from human epidemiological studies. Another example is that
health impairment occurring in the shorter term can be determined more accurately than
health impairment that becomes manifest in the longer term. This is something else not
shown in the results for the estimation of the burden of disease.
The Committee believes that the burden (and
avoidable burden) of disease expressed as a single figure is not informative enough for
balanced decision-making about the environmental policy that is to be implemented. Its
opinion is that background material needs to be included that provides insights into the
quality of the data used and the choices that were made during the calculations, such as
the demarcation of ‘health impairment’ (e.g. whether or not to include
hindrances due to environmental factors such as noise), plus the relative weightings of
early and long-term health impairment as described above.
This does not mean that the numbers do not
provide any useful information; it is merely something that has to be taken into account.
Using simpler metrics (such as the probability of mortality) would be of limited use,
because the data on exposure and effects which is used for these metrics is largely the
same. Moreover, important information about impacts on health is then left unused.
The additional information should ensure that the figures do not start leading lives of
their own and that we do not lose sight of the principal characteristics of the burden of
disease to which they refer. This information must be weighted increasingly heavily as the
questions or measures that are being compared with one another diverge further. That is
the only way to produce a meaningful comparison that can contribute to a carefully
considered ranking of problems and prioritisation of measures. Sensitivity analyses must
furthermore be provided along with estimates of disease burden (and avoidable disease
burden) wherever possible. A sensitivity analysis provides more than just insights into
the consequences of the uncertainties and value judgements: it also shows the relative
importance of individual variables.
Research to further improve the validity of
the DALY
Further research could reduce the uncertainties that are inextricably linked to
application of the DALY in the environmental field. Both the characteristics of the DALY
approach and the underlying data about exposure and effect are determining factors for the
reliability of the estimates of the burden of disease. Progress can be made in the DALY
method by, for example, increasing the reliability of the estimates for the duration of
relevant health conditions.
The underlying data has a major influence
on the estimate. After all, the figure cannot be more reliable than the data on which it
is based. However, there are often shortcomings in the data. Examples are the risks due to
hormone disrupters and nano-materials. The burden of disease due to either of these cannot
currently be determined. It is therefore desirable that further investment should be made
in gathering more and better data about exposure and effect. Consideration should also be
given here to multiple exposures and to interactions between environmental factors. The
interactions of environmental factors with other factors that affect health (such as
social and economic factors) also require further exploration. Given that application of
all three metrics is based on the same data about exposure and effects, such improvements
will have a positive effect on the estimates of the burden of disease from all three
methods. This two-pronged approach (improving the actual DALY method and gathering better
basic data) will contribute to further increases in the reliability of the figures. This
will allow health-based environmental policy to be strengthened still further.
Level of oxytocin in pregnant women predicts mother-child bond
In animals, oxytocin, dubbed 'the hormone
of love and bonding,' is critically important for the development of parenting, is
elicited during sexual intercourse, and is involved in maintaining close relationships.
These findings implicate oxytocin in the bonding process, but little research has been
done on this relationship in humans. Ruth Feldman conducted the first study to demonstrate
the links between oxytocin and bonding in human mothers.
Impact of elevated homocysteine levels on vision under study
Homocysteine, an amino acid believed to
contribute to heart attack, stroke and dementia, likely also is a player in retinal damage
and vision loss, researchers say.
Testosterone turns male juncos into blustery hunks -- and bad dads
The ability to ramp up testosterone
production appears to drive male dark-eyed juncos to find and win mates, but it comes with
an evolutionary cost. Big fluctuations in testosterone may also cause males to lose
interest in parenting their own young, scientists have learned.
Expecting an afternoon nap can reduce blood pressure
Where does the benefit lie in an afternoon
nap? Is it in the nap itself -- or in the anticipation of taking a snooze? Researchers in
the United Kingdom have found that the time just before you fall asleep is where
beneficial cardiovascular changes take place.
Review of probiotic research finds only Bifantis can claim efficacy vs. placebo
for IBS symptoms
University of Michigan researchers analyzed
trials of probiotics in IBS treatment and found only Bifantis, the sole ingredient in
Align, showed significant improvement.
Enhanced DNA-repair mechanism can cause breast cancer
Although defects in the "breast cancer
gene," BRCA1, have long been known to increase the risk for breast cancer, exactly
how the defects lead to tumor growth has remained a mystery. Now scientists provide
insight into how the normal BRCA1 gene suppresses the growth of tumors as well as the
nature of the genetic instability that leads to cancer when BRCA1 is defective.
First colonoscopy with removal of polyps linked to reduction in colon cancer
death
Using a model from the National Polyp Study
data, researchers found a dramatic reduction in expected colorectal cancer deaths with
screening colonoscopy that cleared the colon of precancerous polyps -- whether or not
there were follow-up exams -- suggesting the initial screening with
"polypectomy" may account for mortality reduction.
Mesalamine linked to cancer protection for high risk inflammatory bowel disease
patients
Mesalamine use among patients with
inflammatory bowel disease was associated with a decrease in incidence of colorectal
cancer when comparing cases and controls. Patients with IBD are at significantly higher
than average risk for colorectal cancer and should be screened more frequently, but
another study revealed many don't get recommended tests.
2 studies highlight the risks and significant health-care costs of NSAIDs
injury
New studies highlight the risks and
significant health care costs of GI injury and bleeding from the use of NSAIDs. According
to a survey conducted at Eastern Virginia Medical School, 22 percent of respondents did
not think NSAIDs were important to mention to their doctor, revealing a common
misperception about these over-the-counter remedies.
Researchers warn that gastric bypass surgery may cause post-op nutrient
deficiencies
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can
emerge after gastric bypass surgery, which can impact the absorption of vitamins, minerals
and micronutrients, such as calcium and zinc, causing potentially serious complications.
Obesity strongest risk factor for colorectal cancer among women; greater than
smoking
A study of women's risk of colorectal
cancer found obesity is the strongest risk factor for colorectal neoplasia, an even
stronger association than smoking. Of the patients who had colorectal neoplasia, 20
percent were obese and 14 percent were smokers.
Fresh fruits and vegetables retain antioxidants long after purchase
The next time you think about throwing out
those aging strawberries or very ripe grapes, consider this: Belgian scientists report
that fruits and vegetables do not lose any antioxidant content in the days after purchase,
even as tell-tale signs of spoilage appear. In some cases, antioxidant levels actually
rise.
Anti-alternative "Quackbusters" Have Giant Court Losses on Two
Continents
Recent rulings in Amsterdam, Pennsylvania
and the Supreme Court of California are heavy blows to the Quackwatch anti-chiropractic
and anti-alternative medicine organizations.
Contact: Jeanne GUICQUERO
Chargée de clientčle
Actus Finance & Communication
11, rue Quentin Bauchart - 75008 Paris
Tél. : 00.33.1.53.67.35.81
Fax : 00.33.1 53 67 36 37
jguicquero@actus.fr
Via www.lanutrition.fr > Agenda octobre 2007
Ditta
Video - Host Karen Allyn interviews Mary Enig, Ph.D., nutritional biochemist
and author of "Eat Fat, Lose Fat".
Commission launches consultation on SCENIHR report on the safety of DEHP
and its alternatives in medical devices
The Commission launched today a public
consultation on the preliminary report of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly
Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) on the "Safety of medical devices containing
DEHP-plasticized PVC or other plasticizers on neonates and other groups possibly at
risk." The online consultation, which will run until 26 November 2007, aims to gather
feedback on the toxicity evaluation of DEHP and its alternative plasticizers in medical
devices.
The preliminary report of the SCENIHR
concludes that in many cases the exposure to DEHP during medical procedures may be
significant and may exceed the toxic doses observed in animal studies. The high exposure
during some medical treatments raises concerns, even in the absence of clinical or
epidemiological evidence, for harmful effects on humans. For certain uses of DEHP,
alternative and less toxic plasticizers
for PVC are available, but a risk assessment of these available alternative plasticizers
could not be performed due to a lack of use and human exposure data from medical devices.
The SCENIHR recommends that risks and benefits of using alternative plasticizers should be
evaluated case by case.
DEHP is a plasticizer that is added to
polyvinylchloride (PVC) to make it flexible, resilient and easier to handle. Plasticizers
are not chemically bound to PVC, and may therefore leach into the surrounding environment,
including the human body. DEHP-plasticized PVC is used in medical devices, where
flexibility is essential. Examples include blood bags, catheters, dialysis equipments,
gastrointestinal tubes, tubing systems used for neonates and respiratory therapy, etc.
Video - MSG discussion: Power Hour interviews Carol Hoernlein
EU agenda - 22 / 23 oct - pesticides
A.Points for vote
1. Exchange of views and possible final opinion on a draft Commission Regulation
amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council
to establish Annex II, Annex III and Annex IV (SANCO 1825/2007 rev 1).
2. Exchange of views and possible final
opinion a draft Commission Directive amending
Council Directives 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards the maximum
residue levels of: acetamiprid, atrazine, deltamethrin, imazalil, indoxacarb,
pendimethalin, pymethrozine, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin
(SANCO 00950/2007 rev. 3)
3. Exchange of views and agreement on SPS
notification on a draft Commission Directive
amending Council Directives 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards the
maximum residue levels of: cyfluthrin, famoxadone, glyphosate, methoxyfenozide,
spiroxamin, tepraloxydim, thiophanate-methyl (SANCO 01782/2007/2007 rev. 1)
4. Exchange of views and possible final
opinion on a draft Commission Recommendation
concerning a co-ordinated Community monitoring programme for 2008 to ensure
compliance with maximum residue levels of pesticide residues in and on cereals and
certain other products of plant origin and national monitoring programmes for 2009
(SANCO/1613/2007 rev 1).
5. AQC Guidelines (point to be noted).
B.Points for discussion
1. Exchange of views on a draft Commission Directive amending Council Directives
86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards the maximum residue levels of:
pyrimiphos-methyl, methomyl, captan, dimethoate, ethephon, fenamiphos,
fenarimol, folpet, malathion, methamidophos, procymidone, vinclozolin,
benfuracarb, carbosulfan, oxydemethon-methyl, thiodicarb (SANCO 00763/2007 rev.
0)
2. Oxamyl MRLs – data on variability.
3. Dithiocarbamates and ETU – data/studies for processed commodities
4. Future amendments to Annexes II, III, IV
and to Regulation 396/2005. National MRLs
setting before final implementation Reg. (EC) No 396/2005.
5. First establishment of Annexes V, VI and VII to Regulation 396/2005
6. News from the European Food Safety Authority
7. EFSA model for the risk assessment of MRLs under Reg. (EC) No 396/2005
8. CODEX Committee on pesticide residues (2008).
9. Residue section data requirements of Directive 91/414/EEC. State of play and
development of guidance documents, including OECD Guidance documents.
10. Guidance document on residue extrapolation.
11. Pre-harvest intervals of zero days.
12. News from FVO
a. Monotoring report 2005
b. Mission reports (Turkey- Bulgaria)
13. News from RASFF
a. Carbaryl in wine – Overview replies from the Member States
b. Captan in wine grapes
Computerized training of working memory is a promising therapeutic strategy in
ADHD
ADHD is an increasingly frequent complex
mental disorder in children with partly devastating consequences for the child's further
development and the families. Torkel Klingberg presents new and very promising strategies
of research to develop more appropriate treatments that specifically refer to the
patient's basic neuropsychological dysfunctions and mechanisms.
Leading researchers to reveal comprehensive dos and don'ts for prostate cancer
Researchers will share new research on how
eating common foods such as tomatoes and fish, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding
meats cooked at high temperatures may help prevent prostate cancer, and help men live
healthier and longer after diagnosis. More widespread studies, in combination with newer
technologies in gene research, are substantiating some long-held hypotheses. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/g-lrt101207.php
Cigarette smoking may accelerate disability in those with MS
Persons with multiple sclerosis who smoke
risk increasing the amount of brain tissue shrinkage, a consequence of MS, and the
subsequent severity of their disease, new research conducted at the Buffalo Neuroimaging
Analysis Center (BNAC) at the University at Buffalo has shown.
The cow as a killer of the climate: This
inglorious role is well-enough recognized. Now, a team of German scientists from the
Institute of Soil Ecology of the GSF – National Research Center for Environment and
Health and Czech colleagues at the Budweis Academy of Science have been able to show that
bovine animals can also boost the production of this climate gas in soil
International team of scientists warns of climate change's impact on
global river flow
A global analysis of the potential effect
of climate change on river basins indicates that many rivers impacted by dams or extensive
development will require significant management interventions to protect ecosystems and
people, according to an article published today in the online version of Frontiers in
Ecology and the Environment.
Portal vein thrombosis is common in extraportal vein obstruction
The etiology and pathogenesis of portal
vein thrombosis is unclear. A two-year study led by Dr. Pankaj Jain and Dr. Sandeep
Nijhawan from Sawai Man Singh Hospital investigated 118 patients with portal vein
thrombosis. Among the 118 patients with portal vein thrombosis, 42.4 percent had liver
malignancy (primary or metastatic), 15.3 percent had cirrhosis, 6 percent pancreatitis
(acute or chronic), 5 percent had hypercoagulable state and 31.3 percent were idiopathic.
Red lipsticks contain "surprisingly high levels of lead
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
said Friday it would investigate reports by an advocacy group that certain popular,
U.S.-made red lipsticks contain "surprisingly high levels of lead." The FDA said
previous claims "have not generally been supported" by analysis, but will
nonetheless look into the matter.
