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Penn study on gut cell regeneration reconciles long-standing research controversy

The lining of the intestine regenerates itself every few days as compared to say red blood cells that turn over every four months. The cells that help to absorb food and liquid that humans consume are constantly being produced. The various cell types that do this come from stem cells that reside deep in the inner recesses of the accordion-like folds of the intestines, called villi and crypts.

11 Nov 2011

Former U.N. SG Annan criticizes G20 for not taking more action on climate change that affects food security

Speaking at the launch of Stanford University's Center for Food Security and the Environment at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies on Thursday, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan "criticized world leaders ... for failing to take bold action on climate change, which he said threatens to worsen the food crisis that has already left a billion people hungry," ABC News reports.

11 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: Conservatives still reeling from DC Circuit ruling on health law; Minn. lawmaker upsets plans for federal grants

"President Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave," exclaimed Maureen Martin of the Heartland Institute. A "Lazy Endorsement of Obamacare," read the headline on an article on National Review Online.

11 Nov 2011

Health benefits of nut consumption

A recent scientific study has revealed the relationship between nut consumption and a high level of serotonin metabolites (an important neurotransmitter) in patients with metabolic syndrome, who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

11 Nov 2011

Olfactory sensory neurons in older people show unexpected response to odor

Scientists studying how the sense of smell changes as people age, found that olfactory sensory neurons in those 60 and over showed an unexpected response to odor that made it more difficult to distinguish specific smells, putting them at greater risk from dangerous chemicals and poor nutrition.

11 Nov 2011

USAID releases new issue of Frontlines

The November/December issue of USAID's Frontlines focuses on the agency's 50th anniversary and food security in the Horn of Africa. In his "Insights" column, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah writes, "As we continue to shape a brighter future for generations to come, we must rededicate ourselves to continually improve the way we work and strengthen our capacity to deliver meaningful results for people around the world and at home."

11 Nov 2011

FDA draft guidance aims to foster early-stage development of medical devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a draft guidance aimed at fostering early-stage development of medical devices within the United States. Doing early-stage development is important to help stimulate U.S.-based innovation and contribute to medical research.

11 Nov 2011

Action on climate change required to prevent harm to health, development, reports say

"A lack of action on climate change and habitat destruction will threaten the progress of developing countries," because environmental sustainability affects "a wide range of social issues," including "health, education, income, gender disparities and energy production, combined with protection of the ecosystem," according to the U.N. Development Program (UNDP)'s Human Development Report 2011, titled, "Sustainability and Equity: a Better Future for All," VOA News reports.

11 Nov 2011

FDA licenses NYBC's HEMACORD stem cell product

The Food and Drug Administration has licensed HEMACORD for allogeneic hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cell transplantation, the first such approval of a stem cell product in the world.

11 Nov 2011

President of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauds FDA's aggressive action

Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: We applaud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for taking aggressive action to stop illegal tobacco sales to America's children, which is an important component of the landmark 2009 law granting the agency authority over tobacco products.

11 Nov 2011

School lunches improve health outcomes of children

The federally funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides free and reduced-price meals to more than 31 million children every school day, according to its website.

11 Nov 2011

Watson receives FDA approval for generic Kadian ANDA

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for morphine sulfate extended-release capsules USP, the generic equivalent of Actavis' Kadian.

11 Nov 2011

Novartis files suit against Watson over generic Exelon

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market rivastigmine transdermal system patches, 4.6 mg/24 hr and 9.5 mg/24 hr.

11 Nov 2011

NYBC receives FDA approval for HEMACORD HPC-C cell therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved HEMACORD, the first licensed hematopoietic progenitor cells-cord (HPC-C) cell therapy.

10 Nov 2011

Small mistakes in the kitchen can lead to food-borne illness

At Thanksgiving, small mistakes in the kitchen can lead to food-borne illness. Dr. Ben Chapman, food-safety specialist and assistant professor of family and consumer sciences at North Carolina State University, can offer suggestions to ensure your Thanksgiving meal is a safe one.

10 Nov 2011

FDA claims withdrawal process for animal antibiotics as too hard

On Monday, in a disappointing move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied two citizen petitions that asked the Agency to ban certain uses of antibiotics in food animals.

10 Nov 2011

IRCM peptide chemist listed as inventor on two U.S. patents

In 2010, after more than 10 years of basic research, Dr. Peter W. Schiller, a world-renowned peptide chemist and Director of the Chemical Biology and Peptide research unit at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montr-al (IRCM), and his international collaborators were the listed inventors on two U.S. patents awarded to the institute and covering different uses of a unique class of peptide compounds initially synthesized in Dr. Schiller's laboratory at the IRCM.

10 Nov 2011

U.N. official urges donors to provide more relief for flooding in Central America

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg on Tuesday "urged donors to give generously to assist Nicaragua and El Salvador cope with the aftermath of the recent floods, saying that the scale of the disaster is beyond what the small Central American nations can handle on their own," the U.N. News Centre reports.

10 Nov 2011

Obese premenopausal women may benefit from dairy food consumption

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that consumption of dairy foods and higher protein resulted in improvements in markers of bone formation and reductions in markers of bone degradation in overweight and obese young women over 16 weeks of diet- and exercise-induced weight loss.

10 Nov 2011

eButton combines the powers of cameras, GPS, and other sensors to combat obesity

People attempting to lose weight won't need to track their daily food intake anymore, thanks to a wearable, picture-taking device created at the University of Pittsburgh. eButton -- a device worn on the chest (like a pin) that contains a miniature camera, accelerometer, GPS, and other sensors -- captures data and information of health activities, eliminating the need for daily self-reporting.

10 Nov 2011