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Healthy diet heavier on the pocket: Study

A new study has shown that choosing to eat healthy can be expensive. Researchers from the University of Washington looked at the economic impact of following new U.S. dietary guidelines, which recommend eating more potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D and calcium, and avoiding saturated fat and added sugar. These recommendations aimed at curbing the rising number of obese and overweight individuals, but the study findings underline some of the obstacles to adopting new habits.

5 Aug 2011

Oxfam interactive map shows 'food price pressure points'

A new interactive map from Oxfam "shows how poor communities across the world are being hurt by high and volatile food prices. This 'food price pressure points map' provides a global snapshot of the impacts of the global food price crisis," according to the website.

5 Aug 2011

Feed the future working to improve drought resiliency

Food insecurity in the Horn of Africa "is driven by cyclical drought, poor land management practices, limited availability of animal health services, food inflation, conflict over land and water, poor hygiene practices, and lack of dietary diversity," Paul Weisenfeld, assistant to the administrator, Bureau of Food Security at USAID, writes in the agency's "IMPACTblog."

5 Aug 2011

Famine declared in three more regions of Somalia

"The famine gripping parts of southern Somalia has spread to three new areas of the country, with the entire south likely to be declared a famine zone within the next six weeks, the United Nations said on Wednesday," Reuters reports.

5 Aug 2011

Study stresses importance of broad-spectrum sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer

With so many sunscreen options on the market, it can be confusing to know which ones offer the best protection. A new study further emphasizes the importance of selecting a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect the skin against skin cancer and early aging.

5 Aug 2011

Health Affairs report describes ground-breaking effort that aims to prevent opioid abuse

Fatal overdoses involving prescribed opioids tripled in the United States between 1999 and 2006, climbing to almost 14,000 deaths annually-more than cocaine and heroin overdoses combined. Hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to prescription opioid pain medicines such as oxycodone and hydrocodone also increased dramatically in the same period.

5 Aug 2011

Lantibiotic could prevent harmful bacteria in foods

University of Minnesota researchers have discovered and received a patent for a naturally occurring lantibiotic - a peptide produced by a harmless bacteria - that could be added to food to kill harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and listeria.

5 Aug 2011

Report says public-public partnerships can provide safe, affordable water to poor populations

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "triggered a political controversy last week when he implicitly declared that even human rights have a market price," Inter Press Service reports, noting Ban "admitted it is not acceptable that poor slum-dwellers pay five or even 10 times as much for their water as wealthy residents of the same cities."

5 Aug 2011

State roundup: Windfall for Mass. hospitals

Hospitals in Massachusetts will reap an annual windfall of $275 million due to a loophole enshrined in the new health care law. Hospitals in most other states will get less money as a result.

5 Aug 2011

FDA approves first scorpion antivenom

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Anascorp-, an antivenom produced in Mexico and tested in clinical trials conducted through the University of Arizona, for use in treating patients suffering the effects of scorpion sting.

5 Aug 2011

Scientists develop Instant Corn Soy Blend for young children

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a fully cooked food-aid product called Instant Corn Soy Blend that supplements meals, particularly for young children.

5 Aug 2011

Positive results from Antares Pharma VIBEX MTX clinical study on RA

Antares Pharma, Inc. today announced the positive results of a clinical study evaluating VIBEX MTX, a proprietary auto injector product designed to give a rapid subcutaneous injection of methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

5 Aug 2011

MOCON second quarter net sales increase 24% to $9,082,000

MOCON, Inc. today reported its operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

4 Aug 2011

Palatin confirms initiation of AZD2820 Phase 1 trial in obesity

Palatin Technologies, Inc. confirmed today the commencement of a Phase 1 clinical trial of AZD2820, a subcutaneously-administered peptide melanocortin receptor partial agonist, under development as a single-agent therapy for the treatment of obesity.

4 Aug 2011

Boston Therapeutics files chewable metformin ANDA with FDA to treat diabetes

Boston Therapeutics, Inc., a public company registered with the SEC and a developer of diabetes therapeutics, today announced that it has submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for chewable metformin with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

4 Aug 2011

Scientists say antibiotic-resistant salmonella strain may spread worldwide

"Scientists have identified an emerging 'superbug' strain of salmonella that is highly resistant to the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, often used for severe salmonella infections, and say they fear it may spread around the world," according to a study published online Tuesday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Reuters reports.

4 Aug 2011

Columbia Laboratories second quarter total net revenues increase to $19.2 million

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. today reported financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011.

4 Aug 2011

Obama administration issues new guidance on aid to drought-stricken Somalia

The Obama administration on Tuesday issued new guidance stating "the U.S. would not prosecute relief agencies for delivering aid to parts of Somalia controlled by the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab, despite concerns that unrestricted aid in the failed state would be diverted to the wrong hands," Inter Press Service reports.

4 Aug 2011

U.S., Western governments can help prevent 'mass starvation' in Somalia

With the State Department's reassurance to aid groups on Tuesday that they "will not face prosecution if they are forced to pay bribes to al-Shabab or if militants divert some food supplies," organizations still have "the problem of gaining access to famine victims and ensuring the safety of their personnel, a number of whom have been murdered by the militants," a Washington Post editorial says.

4 Aug 2011

Breastfeeding for up to one year after birth can reduce child mortality, UNICEF says

Breastfeeding from birth to six months or a year can reduce deaths among children under five by 13 percent, a fact UNICEF is highlighting during World Breastfeeding Week, which runs through August 7, the International Business Times reports.

4 Aug 2011