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High pressure technology holds promise for decontamination of dairy products

The AZTI-Tecnalia technological centre, in a project undertaken by the Tecnolat and Llet de Catalunya dairy product companies within the FUTURAL project, has verified that, as an alternative to the traditional heat treatment for decontamination of a number of dairy products, high pressure technology is highly recommendable. In fact, according to a press release from Tecnolat, the results, especially with ready-to-eat fruit products and in the inactivation of moulds and yeasts in other dairy products, "were highly positive and promising".

24 Dec 2010

$1.1 billion Martek sale measures success of UMD-Mtech 'grads'

The latest success of Martek Biosciences, a rising-star among Maryland biotechs, began more than a decade ago in a plain, brick building on the University of Maryland campus. With a good idea and early-stage nurturing from the university's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), the company has been able to grow into a major international business.

24 Dec 2010

Near-complete data sets from fruit fly and roundworm genomes

An Ontario researcher has played a key role in the development of a new resource that will help genomics researchers around the world find new ways to prevent and treat cancer.

24 Dec 2010

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

The Candie's Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization, announced today that it welcomes the news that in 2009, the teen birth rate dropped to an all time low. The Candie's Foundation aims to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of teen pregnancy through public service announcement (PSA) campaigns.

24 Dec 2010

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

Twenty-two percent of all admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2008 were for patients born the year that Franklin D. Roosevelt was first inaugurated President of the United States or earlier, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

24 Dec 2010

New derivation of stem cells from fat cells hold promise for therapeutic, cosmetic benefits

Two studies appearing in the current issue of Cell Transplantation 19(10) discuss stem cells derived from adipose (fat) cells and their potential use in plastic surgery and tissue reconstruction. The studies are now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/ .

24 Dec 2010

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

A new study that reviews more than four decades of medical journal articles about the impact of health information technology (HIT) and electronic communications on medication adherence concludes that while there is evidence to suggest that simple electronic reminders are an effective and low-cost means to improve adherence, there are few studies that show how HIT can be leveraged to more thoughtfully engage or motivate patients to take medications as prescribed.

24 Dec 2010

AMPK activates autophagy by activating ATG1 enzyme

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have discovered how AMPK, a metabolic master switch that springs into gear when cells run low on energy, revs up a cellular recycling program to free up essential molecular building blocks in times of need.

24 Dec 2010

60% of type 2 diabetics who use insulin would switch to a less expensive biosimilar insulin if available

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 60 percent of surveyed type 2 diabetes patients in the U.S. who currently use insulin indicate they would request that their doctor switch them to a less expensive biosimilar insulin if such an agent became available.

24 Dec 2010

New York Times reports on how foreign governments, investors are pushing some African farmers off land

"Across Africa and the developing world, a new global land rush is gobbling up large expanses of arable land. Despite their ageless traditions, stunned villagers are discovering that African governments typically own their land and have been leasing it, often at bargain prices, to private investors and foreign governments for decades to come," the New York Times writes in an article that examines the factors contributing to investors' growing interest in such land.

24 Dec 2010

Good Clostridia prevents development of allergies and inflammatory bowel disease

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have discovered that specific gut-dwelling bacteria control key immune cells that combat allergies and autoimmune diseases. The paper describing these findings was published in today's issue of the journal Science, and technology originating from the work is being advanced by start-up Vedanta Biosciences.

24 Dec 2010

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

A compound which acts in the opposite way as growth hormone can reverse some of the signs of aging, a research team that includes a Saint Louis University physician has shown. The finding may be counter-intuitive to some older adults who take growth hormone, thinking it will help revitalize them.

24 Dec 2010

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

The only way to learn if your water source has hexavalent chromium is to check with your public water supplier and request a water quality report, said NJIT Professor Taha Marhaba, a civil/environmental engineer. Most municipal or city engineers should be able to provide such a report upon request. Additional information specifically about hexavalent chromium levels may also be available.

24 Dec 2010

China emerging as world leader in stem-cell R&D

Recent breakthroughs show that China is emerging as a world leader in stem-cell research and development, says Emerging Healthcare Solutions President and CEO Cindy Morrissey.

24 Dec 2010

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Archives of Surgery: Profile Of Inpatient Operating Room Procedures In U.S. Hospitals In 2007 - Understanding operating room (OR) procedures in the hospital "is critical in debates about how to improve the population's health while attempting to constrain growth in health care costs," write the authors of this study that provides an overview of inpatient operating room procedures in the U.S. from 1997 to 2007.

24 Dec 2010

Scientists tweak gene to mimick heart-strengthening effects of endurance training in sedentary mice

By tweaking a single gene, scientists have mimicked in sedentary mice the heart-strengthening effects of two weeks of endurance training, according to a report from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

24 Dec 2010

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

"Dilma Rousseff had barely been confirmed as Brazil's new president in November when she made her first foreign visit, to Mozambique," which "included a symbolic stop-off at a pharmaceutical factory that is under construction in preparation for opening in 2014. … The plant will produce a range of medicines for one of its leading lusophone - Portuguese-speaking - African partners, marking the resurgent power and growing reach of its sponsor, Brazil's own state-led drug sector," the Financial Times writes in an article that examines the partnerships Brazil is establishing at home and abroad.

24 Dec 2010

Silencing of specific genes of germinal cell lines reduces brain tumors

Scientists at IRB Barcelona have discovered that some brain tumours in larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster use the genetic programme of germline cells to grow. The removal of some of these genes leads to healthy brains. This finding demonstrates that these genes are crucial for tumour development. The study, headed by ICREA researcher Cayetano Gonz-lez, is published today in the prestigious journal Science.

24 Dec 2010

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

Scientific American examines how, in an attempt to improve early recognition of viruses that could give rise to pandemics in people, such as last year's H1N1 swine flu, scientists are looking to better understand "the viruses that infect the estimated 941 million domesticated pigs around the world." However, as the article notes, "[i]ntensive monitoring of pig viruses is unlikely to come any time soon … Most pork-producing countries do not test their pigs at all, and in some that do - such as the U.S. - the testing is done on behalf of the pork producers.

24 Dec 2010

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

A report (.pdf), released Wednesday, on breastfeeding practices in 33 countries found that out of 78 million infants born each year, about 42 million do not receive an optimal amount of breastfeeding, IANS/Sify News reports (12/22).

24 Dec 2010

Research News and Research

High pressure technology holds promise for decontamination of dairy products

$1.1 billion Martek sale measures success of UMD-Mtech 'grads'

Near-complete data sets from fruit fly and roundworm genomes

The Candie's Foundation welcomes drop in teen birth rates, says more work still to be done

22% of hospital admissions in 2008 were for patients over 75 years old: AHRQ

New derivation of stem cells from fat cells hold promise for therapeutic, cosmetic benefits

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

AMPK activates autophagy by activating ATG1 enzyme

60% of type 2 diabetics who use insulin would switch to a less expensive biosimilar insulin if available

New York Times reports on how foreign governments, investors are pushing some African farmers off land

Good Clostridia prevents development of allergies and inflammatory bowel disease

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

Five-stage reverse osmosis best for removal of hexavalent chromium from drinking water

China emerging as world leader in stem-cell R&D

Research Roundup: Surgery and health costs; ACOs and independent doctors; Stroke's long-term effects; Improving low-income care

Scientists tweak gene to mimick heart-strengthening effects of endurance training in sedentary mice

Financial Times examines how Brazil's state-run drug sector is engaging in partnerships at home, abroad

Silencing of specific genes of germinal cell lines reduces brain tumors

Scientific American examines efforts to increase influenza virus monitoring in pigs to prevent pandemics in humans

Report examines infant, child feeding practices in 33 countries

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