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Acne bacterium may also cause infections all over the body

A bacterium which causes acne and is commonly found on the skin, is now known to cause infections all over the body. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)5 has been associated with infections of artificial joints and heart valves (endocarditis), as well as eye infections and chest infections - which are common at this time of year.

12 Jan 2011

BiAqua, DSM enter partnership for strain and process development of BiAqua Ferritin

DSM BioSolutions, Royal DSM's microbial fermentation contract manufacturing business, and BiAqua B.V., an innovator in delivering bio-based solutions for serious water contamination issues, today announced that they have entered into an agreement for strain development, process development and production of "BiAqua Ferritin" for BiAqua's core technology to address bio-fouling and arsenic contamination in the water sector.

11 Jan 2011

Report urges Minnesotans to protect, preserve water resources

The University of Minnesota's Water Resources Center has authored a first-ever, comprehensive report designed to protect and preserve Minnesota's lakes, rivers and groundwater for the 21st century and beyond.

6 Jan 2011

UFCW applauds President Obama for signing new food safety regulations

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union today applauded President Obama for signing into law a new overhaul of our nation's food safety system, which was passed by Congress last year. U.S. food safety regulations have been sorely in need of updating and this new law makes significant progress by strengthening oversight and consumer protection.

6 Jan 2011

Hepatitis A scare at Long Island church

Health officials have warned that parishioners who received Holy Communion during Christmas Mass at a church on Long Island may have been exposed to hepatitis A and may need vaccinated as soon as possible. Particularly those who received Communion at the 10.30am and 12pm (local time) masses on December 25, 2010, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park should get the shots.

4 Jan 2011

New food safety standards for manufacturers, processors

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, expected to be signed into law shortly by President Barack Obama, will set the bar higher for food manufacturers, processors and importers, as well as retailers of private label products, according to attorney Janice Lai, a partner in LeClairRyan's Hartford office.

30 Dec 2010

Health and Safety Watch tracks over 500 food and product advisories and recalls in 2010

This year Health and Safety Watch tracked more than 500 advisories and recalls issued for food and products in Canada. The events included everything from the recent Quaker Canada cereal bar recall due to the possible presence of peanuts, to big ticket items such as GE dishwashers recalled due to possible fire hazards.

30 Dec 2010

TFAH applauds Congress for final passage of FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010

Trust for America's Health applauded Congress today for final passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. Because of the bill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will have the authority it needs to help prevent foodborne illnesses for the first time ever.

23 Dec 2010

New nanoparticle-based diagnostic platform provides rapid detection of sepsis

Blood poisoning can be fatal. If you suffer from sepsis, you used to have to wait as much as 48 hours for laboratory findings. A new diagnostic platform as big as a credit card will now supply the analysis after as little as an hour. This system is based on nanoparticles that are automatically guided by magnetic forces.

22 Dec 2010

Contamination with potential disease-causing bacteria is commonly found on hands of anesthesia providers

Contaminating bacteria are very commonly found on the hands of anesthesia providers, with high rates of transmission to the surgical field during operations, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.

22 Dec 2010

Military health: Philanthropy, not the Pentagon, leads to quality care for brain-injured soldiers

To see what cognitive therapy looked like, ProPublica and NPR spent several days with McKinney and fellow soldiers and veterans at Project Share, a charity to help brain-damaged soldiers. (This article is part of an ongoing investigation.) The program is based out of the Shepherd Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury in Atlanta, a nationally recognized hospital for head injuries (Miller and Zwerdling, 12/21).

22 Dec 2010

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to virus

The latest research from the University College London, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and University of Oxford, England suggests that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not caused by the virus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus). The team says that earlier research that linked the virus to CFS was faulty because of contamination of mouse cell DNA samples in the laboratory.

21 Dec 2010

Tap water cancer chemical detected

A new analysis has revealed a potential carcinogen in the tap water of 31 U.S. cities and experts are looking for ways to reduce exposure of the communities. The chemical called hexavalent chromium, got public attention in the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich” and has been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals by the National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health.

21 Dec 2010

Researchers develop new malaria vaccine strategy based on ingestion of genetically modified starch

Researchers from two laboratories in northern France have successfully vaccinated and protected mice by feeding them starch derived from green algae and genetically modified to carry vaccine proteins.

21 Dec 2010

New communication toolkit could improve information and advice on emerging food risks

Improvements in the delivery of information and advice on emerging food risks could lead to fewer food-related illnesses, a reduction in economic losses related to food scares, and improved consumer confidence in foods.

20 Dec 2010

FDA warns against consumption of Sally Jackson cheese due to risk of E. coli O157:H7

The FDA, in cooperation with other state and local public health agencies, is warning consumers not to eat any Sally Jackson cheeses. The products were processed under conditions that create a significant risk of contamination of the unpasteurized raw milk and finished cheese, and Sally Jackson cheeses have been identified as one possible source of eight cases of E. coli O157 infections in an ongoing investigation.

20 Dec 2010

40% of global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens

This book provides geographic perspectives and approaches for use in assessing the distribution of environmental health hazards and disease outcomes among disadvantaged population groups. Estimates suggest that about 40 per cent of the global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens in the physical environment.

17 Dec 2010

Sustainable Phosphorus Summit, Feb. 3-5, 2011

What element is commonly found in every living creature on Earth yet may become scarce in our lifetimes? If you answer phosphorus, you-d be one of only a few individuals in tune with scientists and governments aware of limitations in this mined resource.

17 Dec 2010

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Cold plasma jets could be a safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections, says a study published this week in the January issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

15 Dec 2010

Unique device eliminates cold and flu germs in eco-friendly way

Bresslergroup, an award-winning new product development firm, has designed a unique device that allows a person to easily disinfect an entire room without labor or hazardous chemicals.

15 Dec 2010

Contamination News and Research

Acne bacterium may also cause infections all over the body

BiAqua, DSM enter partnership for strain and process development of BiAqua Ferritin

Report urges Minnesotans to protect, preserve water resources

UFCW applauds President Obama for signing new food safety regulations

Hepatitis A scare at Long Island church

New food safety standards for manufacturers, processors

Health and Safety Watch tracks over 500 food and product advisories and recalls in 2010

TFAH applauds Congress for final passage of FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010

New nanoparticle-based diagnostic platform provides rapid detection of sepsis

Contamination with potential disease-causing bacteria is commonly found on hands of anesthesia providers

Military health: Philanthropy, not the Pentagon, leads to quality care for brain-injured soldiers

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to virus

Tap water cancer chemical detected

Researchers develop new malaria vaccine strategy based on ingestion of genetically modified starch

New communication toolkit could improve information and advice on emerging food risks

FDA warns against consumption of Sally Jackson cheese due to risk of E. coli O157:H7

40% of global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens

Sustainable Phosphorus Summit, Feb. 3-5, 2011

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Unique device eliminates cold and flu germs in eco-friendly way

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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