OurFood - News Archive May 2009 | Do not miss to visit the Database: OurFood.com Climate change endangers food crops:Desert Energy project |
31.05.2009: Nutrient profiling provides exemptions for some food groups [1]
The EFSA wants to elaborate a list of food groups for which specific profiles are needed to ensure that some food products in these groups are eligible to bear claims. Foods high in fat, salt, sugar and certain other nutrients may be prevented from bearing health claims even if they also contain healthy ingredients that would otherwise qualify them to make such claims.
Groups eligible for specific profiling are vegetable oils, spreadable fats, dairy products, cereals and cereal products, fruits and vegetables and fruit/vegetable products, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The food industry argues that juices that are high in fructose or high sugar probiotic yoghurts could loose the right to claims if not protected by such exempting nutrient profiling.
The Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries in the EU (CIAA) nutrient profiles which consider whole diets rather than individual nutrients to show the overall nutritional value of beverages. The European Salt Producers Association (EUSalt) regrets that sodium was listed as harmful while there is no scientific consensus on its impact on human health.
The European Commission’s proposal for a nutrient profiling scheme is part of the EU’s Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation but due to a lack of consensus on various issues it is likely that the adoption is not expected to be signed before 2010. [2]
[1] The setting of nutrient profiles for foods bearing nutrition and health claims pursuant to Article 4 of the Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies pdf Download
[2] Pressermeldung.at: Nutrient profiles scheme sees further delays. 19.March 2009
http://www.pressemeldungen.at/76288/nutrient-profiles-scheme-sees-further-delays/
30.05.2009: The lobby of the food industry made German Minister to change the Food Quality Standards for German nurseries [1]
According to Spiegel Online the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection changed its Quality Standards for food and Catering in German nurseries to meet the need of the food industry. PDF Download [2]
Processed cheese, mayonnaise artificial flavouring and artificial sweetener, not fit for kids, had been been banned in these standards. The German League for Food Law and Food Science ( Bund für Lebensmittelrecht und Lebensamittelkunde BLL) is a mighty lobby of the food industry. The BLL forced the Minister Ilse Aigner to have these food item to be allowed in catering and foods served in nurseries.
The Standard says at page 11 that smell and taste experience of children moulds their perception memory for their adult life. The habituation to a standardized taste to artificial food additives such as flavour enhancers, artificial flavouring, artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, the perception of the flavour diversity of natural food may be lost.
Under the pressure of the BLL the ban of these additives ban of in the Quality Standard was changed to a preference of products who do not contain such food items. [2]
It was important for the industry to have their products not excluded from a market of 2,6 million children under 6 years which are being fed at the German nurseries.
The BLL also criticised the German Society for nutrition (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung DGE) to act “ideologically and disciplinary” and does not quit its campaign “Junk food and sweets have no place in the bread bin”. The BLL says that food psychology recognized that bans of specific products are contra-productive. The President of the BLL is Theo Spettmann, he works for Südzucker, a mighty sugar corporation.
The BLL circular from 29.04.2009 is made public by FoodWatch at PDF Dowload [3]
The DGE had prepared the quality standard by order of the ministry but bowed under the pressure of the BLL and had to endorse the come back of the controversial food items saying that they had to accept the conditions of the market and the consumer behaviour. [4]
The BLL represents the areas of agriculture, food trades, food industry and food sellers ranging from midsized firms to international corporations. The BLL's tasks include facilitating the development of German, European and international food laws and actively supporting the relevant scientific fields.
The bonds with the ministries are very tight as seen at the yearly meeting of the BLL where Minister Ilse Aigner was one speakers. [5]
[1] Spiegel Online: Lebensmittel-Lobby half bei Kita-Standards nach. 29.05.2009
http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,627439,00.html
[2] Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschafdt und Verbraucherschutz: Qualitätsstandards für die Verpflegung in Tageseinrichtungen für Kinder. Erscheinungsdatum: 27.04.2009
Download pdf
[3] Internes Rundschreiben des BLL zu den Qualitätsstandards für die Kita-Verpflegung vom 29. April 2009
DownloadPDF, 302 KB
[4] Foodwatch: Kinderernährung. Lebensmittellobby kocht in Kitas mit. 29.05.2009.
http://www.foodwatch.de/nachrichten/kinderernaehrung/index_ger.html
[5] BLL: BLL Jahrestagung 2009. Wie viel Regulierung brauchen wir? Die Rolle von Wirtschaft, Politik und Wissenschaft.
http://www.bll.de/ http://www.webpk.de/bll_20090507
29.05.2009: Can commercial green tea extract ward of Alzheimer and other diseases? [1]
Antioxidants of green tea may reduce oxidative stress induced by a build up of beta-amyloid protein deposits and brain cell damage and death induced by Alzheimer's disease.
Haque and colleagues 2008 report that green tea extracts in the form of Mitsui Norin's commercial Polyphenon E (PEcomposed of 63% of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, 11% of epicatechin, 6% of (-)-epigallocatechin and 6% of (-)-epicatechin-gallate prevents cognitive impairment in rats.
A solution of 0.5 per cent of the green tea extract was fed to rats. Haque says that humans with a body weight of 50 kg must drink 3 litres/day of such solution to have a similar dose of antioxidants used in the study. However, one litre could be sufficient if other antioxidant rich foods such as high in vitamins A, B, C and E as well as polyphenols were in the every day's diet.
The authors concluded that long-term administration of this commercial green tea extract prevents cognitive deficits caused by oxidative stress, beta-amyloid-induced in rats. The authors stress that it is not known if same positive effects may result in humans.
The food industry eager to present new functional qualities which may be hailed in marketing strategies, is increasingly focused on green tea as ice tea, energy bars, dairy products and backery products. Microencapsulation is being used to hide the bitter note of commercial green tea extracts.
In his study Hague and colleagues point to the fact that a high amount of 15 to 25 gram/day for a normal person of such commercial extracts are needed to produce the Alzheimer protective effects.
Adding traces of such extracts to all kind of foods, drinks and confectioneries will decisively improve the performance of the product on market but its health benefits may be challenged.
The consumer should be aware that these functional products cannot replace drinking green tea , having a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, reducing intake of lean calories and fat.
[1] Haque, Abdul M,; Hashimoto M, Katakura M, Hara Y, Shido O.: Green tea catechins prevent cognitive deficits caused by A-beta-1-40 in rats. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. J Nutr Biochem. 2008 Sep;19(9):619-26. Epub 2008 Feb 15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18280729
26.05.2009: Ethanol may harm car engines [1]
Increased number of car owners report engine damage of their cars caused by ethanol fuel blends. Repair costs mout up to $1,000.
During the Bush administration the agrarian lobby manage to build up heavy government subvention which created the actual ethanol industry. To cope with overcapacity Iowa associations exert pressure on the President and the EPA to increase mandatory ethanol blend up to 15 percent. Engines of the American car market are not fit for such a fuel blend.
Evidences against E15 ethanol fuel blend [2]
According to the Scientific American Journal the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) present evidence which oppose increase fuel blend up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline.
Growth Energy, supported by the fuel industry, says that following extensive E15 blend testing does not affect emissions and does not harm engines. However, EWG doubts on results of this testing and engines will not meet emissions limits if the blend rate is raised. The group also argues that E15 could damage vehicle emission control systems, decrease fuel economy, pose fire risks during transportation and retail, degrade water quality, worsen emissions of some air pollutants and escalate health risks for children and other vulnerable people.
The Scientific American Journal says NMMA highlights the impact on 17 million recreational boats in America which have engines not designed for higher blends.
Ethanol lobby decides on the US President election [3]
Iowa and New Hamshire are the earliest statewide political party primary election. Iowa and Iowa is usually a week before the New Hampshire primary.
Iowa, a farmer's state, are always the first in the nation to give a positive or negative rating on candidates. This rating influences decisively the rest of the voters who do not have time to look after honest political background. So Iowa managed hold this country’s alternative-energy policy hostage for decades now by saying yes or no to a candidate which promises to stand for corn and biodiesel. Once elected, the President has to stand for his promises during the Campaign and work for the reelection. It is so that ethanol legate of the Bush administration holds an iron grip on the new agrarian/fuel politic.
The Iowa Corn association [4]
The Iowa Corn association says that one acre of corn can produce around 500 gallons of ethanol-enough to fuel six cars for one year with a 10 percent ethanol blend. The association promotes E85 fuelling stations in Iowa. However, environment and food industry is seriously compromised monocultures, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Biofuel impact on biodiversity and food crops in Brazil are sacrificed for economic growth. More [5]
Ethanol in Brazil [6]
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says that Brazil’s government required all gasoline stations to offer 20-25% ethanol blend for all cars and a separate pump for vehicles capable of using E100.
Every new car sold in Brazil is a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) capable of using either fuel. FFVs . Older cars had been were equipped to work with E25 cars. Brazil had to introduce the ethanol blend facing 100% dependence on crude oil import. Environment issues did not play a role, non what soever.
The Iowa Renewable Fuel Association omits to say that cars on the American market are not fit for ethanol blends:
American cars are not fit for ethanol blends: Corrosion of fuel delivery pipes [7]
On certain Lexus 2006 through 2008 model vehicles, some ethanol fuels with a low moisture content may corrode the internal surface of the fuel delivery pipes with the creation of pinholes. Fuel leakage may result in fire.
[1] Businessweek: The Great Ethanol Scam. Ed Wallace. May 14.2009
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/may2009/bw20090514_058678.htm
[2] Scientific American : Two groups oppose increasing U.S. ethanol blend rate. May 18. 2009.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=two-groups-oppose-increas
[3] The Sunday Papper: Iowa’s ethanol election. 24.08.2007.
http://www.sundaypaper.com/CurrentArticles/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/518/082607-LEFTRIGHT-Iowas-ethanol-election.aspx
[4] Iowa Corn: Creating Opportunities for Lon-Term Iowa Corn Grower Profitability
http://www.iowacorn.org/
[5] Biofuel impact on biodiversity and food crops
http://www.ourfood-news.com/COP_9.pdf
[6] Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: U.S. Government Slow to Act on E15 While Brazil Barrels Toward E30. 1 May 2009.
http://www.iowarfa.org/pr050109.php
[7] Toyota USA Newsroom: Lexus Announces Safety Recall on Select Vehicles. January 16, 2009
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/lexus/lexus-safety-recall.aspx
25.05.2009: Red Bull banned in Germany for its content of cocaine [1]
Red Bull was found by the North Rhine-Westphalia Institute of Health and Work to contain 0.4 milligrams cocaine per liter of cola.
The company says that it probably comes from the extract of the coca plant used as flavouring. Coca leaf extracts from Erythroxylon coca are used in other beverages, however, the addictive components are removed.
Health officials say that the small amount of cocaine in Red Bull poses no health risk, but it violates German narcotics law. The drink is sold in U.S. and Europe. This may be of concern for persons which went through a drug withdrawal. Even traces of narcotics can reignite the addiction. This may also be of importance for muslims who avoid even traces of narcotics because of their religious believes.
Cocaine is the second most popular illegal recreational drug in the U.S. and the U.S. is the world's largest consumer of cocaine Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine which enters the U.S. Through the border with Mexico and Florida. The annual consumption of cocaine in U.S.A. is 300 tonnes, and in Europe 150 Tonnes.
Does Red Bull need cocaine to "give you wings."? In presence of a growing number of drug addicts in U.S. and in Europe special efforts from the food producers and from health officials should be undertaken to avoid even traces of narcotics in any kind of food. It may be a good marketing strategy for energy drinks to contain more than only water, but ingredients should be healthy.
[1] Cocaine Traces Found in Red Bull Cola
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,626705,00.html
24.05.2009: European standards for plastic pipelines for water and gas supply
HD-PE pipes are increasingly used for water and also for gas distribution. These pipes are easy to install. They have high stability against corrosion, high resistance to mechanical damage, and are resistant to chemicals.
The continuous improvement of the material originated three generations of HD-PE: PE 63, PE 80 and PE 100. The PE 100 has increased resistance.
Water pipes are regulated under Directive 89/106/EEC [3]
EU regulations classify water pipes as “construction products”. These regulations define technical specifications and describe how to proceed if special specifications applying for the product are unknown. The regulation 89/106/EEC comprises water pipes as well as gas pipes.
EN 12201 high density polyethylene (HDPE) for drinking water and gas pipes. Standard 05.12.2003. [1]
This standard regulates the requirements be fulfilled by polyethylene pipelines (main and distribution for drinking water. The standard also specifies testing conditions for valves and other components, their welding among themselves or in combined with other material, These specifications must be met under the following requirements: Maximal operational pressure not exceeding 25 bar. Reference temperature is 20°C. The colouring of tubes and additives are specified.
US
Regulations for water pipes
Food grade pipe must comply with
the provisions of Title 21 of the United States FDA Code of Federal
Regulations as being safe for use in food contact applications.
[4]
Pipe systems should also comply with the 3-A Sanitary
Standard [5]
EN 1555-1 Plastics piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels Polyethylene (PE). 2009. [2]
Usually pipe producers meet EN 12201 and EN 1555. The same material may thus be applied for both uses.
[1] IHS: CEN EN 12201-2 Plastics piping systems for water supply - Polyethylene (PE) - Part 2: Pipes.
http://uk.ihs.com/document/abstract/CTKFDBAAAAAAAAAA
[2] IHS: CEN EN 1555-1 Plastics piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels Polyethylene (PE) Part 1: General
http://uk.ihs.com/document/abstract/EQNMEBAAAAAAAAAA
[3] Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to construction products
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989L0106:EN:HTML
[4] FDA-CFR Title 21 Parts 170 to 199
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm
[5] 3-A Sanitary Standard
http://www.3-a.org/technical/papers/rubber.html
May 22. 2009: The fall of Steven Chu from the position of a laureated scientist to a jobholder of a cracked task [1]
Only few month in charge of the US energy secretary Dr. Steven Chu is frustrated because of remarkable oppositions to his work. He has been the director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 2004, where he tried to find solutions to climate change. His inexperience as a politician may now become a setback to its career.
He stresses, in an interview at the BBC, that the US will not be able to cut greenhouse emissions as much as it should due to domestic political opposition. Dr. Chu refering to the awareness of climate tipping points coming closer said in the interview: "But if I am going to say we need to do much, much better I am afraid the US won't get started."
The House of Representatives is debating a climate and energy bill, “The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” [4]. This act is the core strategy of Prof Chu. It may be rejected by senators, many of whom are funded by the energy industry, or be watered in a way to become totally ineffective. Environmentalists quote compromises such as the approval of new coal-fired power plants without carbon capture and store (CCS). In UK the CCS is already binding for new coal plants.
Admitting that photovoltaic in desert areas could provide clean electricity for the entire world Dr. Chu discarded the idea stressing the difficulties to transport the energy to where it is needed. It has to be said that Prof Chu, the EPA and Obama were informed of Desert Energy Project which covers all those problems using long distance DCHV lines according Kurokawa and Fuller. Hydrogen as fuel for transportation may be produced in the region where solar power plants are installed. Cars could run on clean fuel. [2]
U.S.A. Is the bad guy of greenhous gases emission [3]
| Countries | % of CO2 Emission | % of World Population | % of Energy cconsumed | Environment Ranking |
| Germany | 2,94 | 1,26 | 2,97 | g 2 |
| India | 4,46 | 16,98 | 4,82 | 4 |
| Great Britain | 1,95 | 0,91 | 2,05 | 6 |
| South Korea | 1,70 | 0,74 | 1,84 | 38 |
| Japan | 4,33 | 1,95 | 4,49 | 40 |
| Italy | 1,69 | 0,90 | 1,57 | 41 |
| China | 20,02 | 20,07 | 16,00 | 46 |
| Russia | 5,67 | 2,18 | 5,76 | 51 |
| USA | 20,34 | 4,59 | 19,77 | 55 |
| CanadaCanada | 1,92 | 0,50 | 2,30 | 56 |
USA has the highest CO2 emission of all countries with 4,59% of the world population
China has the second country in emissio og CO2 but has 4,5 times higher population.
USA is therefore obliged to move quickly.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 [4]
This act must pass the loophole of the politics where it will be adapted to suit the lobby of oil, gas electricity corporations and carmaker.
Here some of its content :
The legislation has four titles: (1) a “clean energy” title that promotes renewable sources of energy and carbon capture and sequestration technologies, low-carbon transportation fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission; (2) an “energy efficiency” title that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry; (3) a “global warming” title that places limits on the emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and (4) a “transitioning” title that protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.
Renewable Energy: The renewable electricity requirement begins at 6% in 2012 and gradually rises to 25% in 2025. The governor of any state may choose to meet one fifth of this requirement with energy efficiency measures.
Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Developing carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies should ensure a continuing place for coal in the energy future.
Clean Fuels and Vehicles: Establishe a low-carbon transportation fuel standard to promote advanced biofuels and other clean transportation fuels, It authorizes financial support in the form of grants or loan guarantees to cities, large-scale demonstrations of electric vehicles and financial support to car companies to retool their plants to build electric vehicles.
Transportation Efficiency: Harmonize the federal fuel economy standards, any emission standards promulgated by EPA, and the California standards for light-duty vehicles. The EPA is to carry out the SmartWay Transportation Efficiency Program to increase the efficiency of highway trucking.
Global Warming Pollution Reduction Program: The draft establishes a market-based program for reducing global warming pollution from electric utilities, oil companies, large industrial sources, and other covered entities that collectively are responsible for 85% of U.S. global warming emissions. Under this program, covered entities must have tradable federal permits, called “allowances,” for each ton of pollution emitted into the atmosphere. Entities that emit less than 25,000 tons per year of CO2 equivalent are not covered by this program. The program reduces the number of available allowances issued each year to ensure that aggregate emissions from the covered entities are reduced by 3% below 2005 levels in 2012, 20% below 2005 levels in 2020, 42% below 2005 levels in 2030, and 83% below 2005 levels in 2050.
Additional Greenhouse Gas Standards: Creates special programs to reduce emissions of two pollutants that contribute to global warming: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and black carbon. HFCs are chemical products that are used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and insulation, among other things. The draft adds HFCs to the list of similar substances that EPA currently regulates because they deplete the ozone layer. Under this regulatory program, EPA will be directed to phase down the production of HFCs. Black carbon, or soot, is the product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels or biomass. It is a major contributor to warming in the Arctic.
Ensuring Domestic Competitiveness: To ensure that U.S. manufacturers are not put at a disadvantage relative to overseas competitors, the draft authorizes companies in certain industrial sectors to receive “rebates” to compensate for additional costs incurred under the program. Sectors that use large amounts of energy, and produce commodities that are traded globally, would be eligible for the rebates. Foreign manufacturers and importers would be required to pay for and hold special allowances to “cover” the carbon contained in U.S.-bound products.
[1] BBC: US CO2 goals 'to be compromised'. 21 May 2009. US Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the US will not be able to cut greenhouse emissions as much as it should due to domestic political opposition.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8061929.stm
[2] Desert Energy Project: Global Energy Initiative
http://www.desertenergyproject.net/Global_initiative.pdf
[3] Umweltwende in den USA: Obamas Klimaziele stehen auf der Kippe
http://www.spiegel.de/flash/0,5532,19543,00.html
[4] Discussion Draft Summary: The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090331/acesa_summary.pdf
May 22. 2009:Nitrates and nitrites are less detrimental to health as supposed. [1]
Gastrointestinal cancer and methemoglobinemia risk in infants may be increased by nitrates and nitrites in food. Hord, Tang an Bryan 2009, however, claim that the risks and health benefits associated with consumption of dietary nitrate and nitrite from fruits and leafy green vegetables should be re-evaluated. The authors stress that nitrates and nitrites from fruits and vegetables have a protective effect against coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke risk.
80% of dietary nitrates are derived from vegetable consumption. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) studies, using diets low in fat dairy products and 8-10 servings, lowered blood pressure to an extent similar to that achieved with medication. This was attributed to the high calcium, potassium and low sodium concentrations, Hord and colleagues, however, say that the nitrate contained in some fruit and vegetables may be associated with the blood pressure reduction.
Mammalian enzymes were found to have nitrate reductase activity as well bacterial nitrate reductases in mouth and gastrointestinal tract reduce nitrate to nitrite. The authors found a variability on nitrate concentration in vegetables, fruit, juice and fresh and processed meats, varying between 174 to 1222 mg in patterns of the DASH diets.
Risks associated with excessive nitrate and nitrite consumption
Hord and colleagues say that infants under six months exposed to excess nitrite may suffer from methhemoglobinemia and that infants fed home-prepared food are probably my be harmed by high nitrates in foods. Cured and processed meats with added nitrates have also a detrimental effect on health, but there are little evidences of cancer risk associated with cured meat.
The authors stress that any health risk from nitrates in fruits and vegetables are outweighed by their benefits, such as reduction of blood pressure. They call to reconsider the acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels for nitrites and nitrates and suggest to consider nitrates as nutrients.
[1] Hord, N.G.; Tang, Y.; Bryan, N.S.: Food sources of nitrates and nitrites: the physiologic context for potential health benefits. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May 13.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19439460
May 21. 2009: Food industry uses deceiving front of package declaration of confectioneries
Confectioneries are obesity promoter. The marketing strategy is to play it down. In an effort to reduce heart disease cancer and other obesity associated diseases the European commission and some countries are developing schemes for nutrition informations.
The food industry was eager to introduce its scheme to get ahead of mandatory labelling. Here is an example how bad things look healthy. The consumer is deceived. His heart health and his slim figurer are endangered:
| 150 g confectionery Front of Package Declaration: 1 Portion (4 pieces) = 32 g Energy 173 kcal 9% GDA | The real portion: It tasted goo. I ate the whole 150 g. This is a real portion for a day and means: Energy 810 kcal 40.5 % GDA |
 | This
confectionery had 32% of fat of which 11.2% are saturated. The real
calories booster is fat. It is the indicator of calory-dense foods
which you should avoid. |
Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) are based on serving size named by the producer of the food. Serving sice is kept ridiculously low to get good scores.
REMEMBER: do not be deceived by Front of Pack declaration. Choose your foods by what is in 100 g demanded by the 90/496/EEC guideline on the back of the package. [1]
[1] Council Directive 90/496/EEC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31990L0496:EN:HTML
May 21.2009: Obesity is associated with a favourable prognosis in many patients with established cardiovascular disease [1]
Artham et al. 2008 st6ress that obesity is a global epidemic. It is known as a risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, certain cancers, and chronic kidney disease The authors found, however, that, once these conditions develop, obese patients with hypertension, heart failure, and coronary heart disease have a favourable prognosis.
The authors point out that greater efforts on primary prevention of obesity must be done in the field of dietary therapy and regular physical activity.
[1] Artham, S.M.; Lavie, C.J.; Milani, R,V.; Ventura, H.O.: The obesity paradox: impact of obesity on the prevalence and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. Postgrad Med. 2008 Jul;120(2):34-41.
http://www.postgradmed.com/index.php?free=pgm_07_2008?article=1788
May 19.2009: Leaf cutting ants [1]
Leaf-cutting ants such as Atta sexydens and Acromyrmex octospinosus live in Argentina, the south of Brazil including the state of São Paulo. Acromymex spp was imported in the south of the U.S.A. From Argentina by food transportation. The ants cause heavy damage to agriculture and defoliate a tree in one night. It is speculated that if Atta sexdens would spread into tropical Africa, results would be devastating. As the local plants have not developed defensive compounds against leaf cutters and Africa does not have parasites evolved to infect them, the results for both the ecosystem and agriculture would be devastating. [2]
The ants live in obligate symbiosis with fungi of the genus Leucoagaricus, which grows on leaf brought into the nest by the ants. The ants depend on the fungus material as their food. They do not eat the leaves. It is the fungus they grow from which they feed. Pathogenic fungus Escovopsis sp. can overcome the useful Leucoagaricus sp. fungus and the colony starves.
The authors found that ant-associated microorganisms such as Pseudonocardia, Dermacoccus, and Streptomyces control the invasive fungus Escovopsis. The strain Streptomyces sp. produces the antibiotic candicidin which is effective against Escovopsis but does not interfere in the growth of the ant food fungus.
Hygiene strategy of ants avoid changes of their fungal cultivar [3]
Leaf-cutting ants maintain an obligate symbiosis with their fungal garden. The ants and their cultivar have to cope with hundreds of endophytic fungal species which are brought in with the leave cuts.
Endophytes are often a bacterium or fungus, that live within a plant for at least part of its life without causing apparent disease. Endophytes may benefit host plants by preventing pathogenic organisms from colonizing them. Fungal endophytes may outcompete the fungal cultivar of the nest.
Van Baels and colleagues 2009 found that ants control endophytes applying strategies like preferring to cut leaves from low endophyte densities, they reduce the amount of endophytic fungi in leaves before storing them in their nest and the original fungal cultivar inhibits the growth of foreign fungi that might out-grow the cultivar.
Fifty million years of evolution moulded the leaf-cutter ants [4]
Entomologists Ted Schultz and Seán Brady explain that agriculture is a specialized form of symbiosis which evolved in only four animal groups: humans, bark beetles, termites, and ants. Evolution produced the five distinct agricultural systems of the fungus-growing ants, resulting from a single ancestor living 50 million years ago.
In the past 25 million years, four different specialized agricultural systems have evolved, leading to the most recently evolved and best-known fungus-growing ant species-"leaf-cutter ants." Leaf-cutter ants originated recently-less than 10 million years ago.
Ants depend on fungus but the fungus does not depend on the ants [5]
The fungal garden which serves as food for the ant colony is grown from a few strands of the garden of origin. The queen carries them in her mouth on her mating flight to start a new colony.
Mikheyev, Mueller and Abbot 2006 describe evidence of recombination in attine fungal cultivars, contradicting widely held perceptions of obligate clonality. The authors studied the coevolutionary process of the dependence of fungus-farming ants on fungus gardens for food. The researchers found that the ants were dependent on the fungus, but no dependence of the fungus on the ant was stringent. The fungus-growing ants were seen as a coevolutionary integration.
The fungi occasionally reproduce sexually by spores carried by wind. It exchanges genes with other ant-cultivated fungi. According to genetic analysis made by the authors the fungus of Cuba exchanged genes with mainland fungi populations of Central and South America brought in by winds. The fungus is still using its sexual reproduction and is not completely dependent on asexual, clonal reproduction through their ant farmers. This is an example that coevolution does not imply mutual dependence.
Coevolution: In a broad sense, biological coevolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object". Coevolution can occur at multiple levels of biology: it can be as microscopic as correlated mutations between amino acids in a protein, or as macroscopic as covarying traits between different species in an environment. Each party in a coevolutionary relationship exerts selective pressures on the other, thereby affecting each others' evolution. Species-level coevolution includes the evolution of a host species and its parasites, and examples of mutualism evolving through time
A species may evolve in response to a number of other species, each of which is also evolving in response to a set of species. This situation has been referred to as "diffuse coevolution". And, certainly, for many organisms, the biotic (living) environment is the most prominent selective pressure, resulting in evolutionary change. [6]
Yeasts associated with leaf-cutting ants [7]
Carrero and colleagues 1997 isolated 137 yeasts associated with the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908. Candida, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces, Tremella, Trichosporon, Pichia and black yeasts were isolated by the authors. The genus Candida was widely distributed, with C. homilentoma, C. colliculosa-like, C. famata and C. colliculosa being the most prevalent.
Leave-cutting ant control strategies
Chemical control [8]
Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 "Lemon fire ant”: Crush the head of a soldier ant between your fingers. A lemon-like odor characterises this ant.
Atta sexdens piriventris Santschi, 1919 "Southern lemon fire ant”: Same identification as foregoing.
Atta laevigata F. Smith, 1858 "Glas had fire ant ": The largest workers of the colony have a smooth and shining head, similar to glass.
Atta bisphaerica Forel, 1908 "Yellow fire ant": Its colour is brown-yellow not shining.
Atta capiguara Gonçalves, 1944 "grass-cutting ant": It prefers grass instead of leaves. It differs from the foregoing ants in not producing a lemon smell, it is not brilliant,Its head is not brown yellow.
It is recommended to find vertical holes which lead directly to the centre of the colony to apply the liquid poison, powder or fumes. Baits should be left on the trail of the ants. Application of poison must follow the instructions of the producer .
Chemical used in form of gases and powder are applied directly to the nest. Baits are carried to the fungal garden by worker ants but are not accepted by all sort of ants. The strategy varies according to the ant which is to be controlled.
It is difficult to eradicate leaf cutter ants with dust, liquid or granular insecticides because the centre of the nests, with the fungal garden is often missed. Bits are often not accepted. Baits with hydramethylnon are in use to control leaf cutting ants. [9]
Phorid flies [10]
Wuellner and colleagues 2002 suggest biocontrol of leave-cutting ants using phorid flies such as Pseudacteon tricuspis and Pseudacteon obtusus for the control of the red imported fire ant in geographical areas where polygyne colonies dominate, such as Texas. For Florida, where monogyne colonies dominate, Pseudacteon litoralis is being recommended by the authors.
Gyne: Itis the primary reproductive female caste of social insects (especially ants, wasps, and bees of order Hymenoptera). Gynes are those destined to become queens, whereas female workers are typically sterile and cannot become queens. A colony with multiple queens is said to be a polygyne form, where as with only one is a monogyne form. The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is known to have colonies in both polygyne and monogyne forms. [11]
Female phorid flies Pseudacteon obtusus were released in Texas in 2008-2009. The flies inject their eggs into the ants. The resulting larvae migrate to the ant's head where it feeds from the ant's brain and decapitates its host to hatch. [12] [13]
The combination of biocontrol using phorid flies in combination with chemical poisoning of ant colonies is being suggested. The chemical control is very effective, but does not avoid a new infestation from colonies which had been overseen.
Pheromone studies may lead to new biologic control of leave-cutting ants [14]
Insect hormones. More than 90% of insect hormones are neuropeptides. Researchers try to understand the function of insect neuropeptides, which are hormones which have important functions during insect developmental and as adults. With increase knowledge on this matter dependence on poisonous chemicals may be reduced.
Choi, Raina and Vander Meer 2009, studying the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, found the pyrokinin/pheromone-biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN), which is a family of peptides. This pentapeptide stimulates the production of pheromone in female moths, muscle contraction, induction of embryonic diapause, melanization, acceleration of puparium formation, and termination of pupal diapause.
The authors hope to increase knowledge about the regulation of pheromone production their release, and how neuropeptides they influence the development of ants. Researches in this field may create non-insecticide methods for fire ant control by interfering in the normal neuropeptide hormone function.
[1] Haeder, Susanne; Wirth, Rainer; Herz, Hubert; Spiteller, Dieter: Candicidin-producing Streptomyces support leaf-cutting ants to protect their fungus garden against the pathogenic fungus Escovopsis. 2009 106:4742-4746; published online before print March 6, 2009. Doi:10.1073/pnas.0812082106
http://www.pnas.org/content/106/12/4742.abstract
[2] Wikipedia: Atta sexdens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atta_sexdens
[3] Sunshine A. Van Bael, Hermógenes Fernández-Marín, Mariana C. Valencia, Enith I. Rojas, William T. Wcislo, Edward A. Herre. Two fungal symbioses collide: endophytic fungi are not welcome in leaf-cutting ant gardens. Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 2009; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.0196
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2009/03/26/rspb.2009.0196
[4] Schultz, Ted R.; Brady Seán G.: Major evolutionary transitions in ant agriculture. Published online before print March 24, 2008, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711024105 April 8, 2008 vol. 105 no. 14 5435-5440.
http://www.pnas.org/content/105/14/5435.abstract
[5] Mikheyev, Alexander S,; Mueller, Ulrich G,; Abbot, Patrick.: Cryptic sex and many-to-one coevolution in the fungus-growing ant symbiosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jul 11;103(28):10702-6. Epub 2006 Jun 30.
http://www.pnas.org/content/103/28/10702.long
[6] Wikipedia: Coevolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coevolution
[7] Carreiro, Solange Cristina; Pagnocca, Fernando Carlos; Bueno, Odair Correa; Bacci Júnior, Mauricio; Hebling, Maria José Aparecida; da Silva, Osvaldo Aulino: Yeasts associated with nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Journal Springer Netherlands. Volume 71, Number 3 / März 1997. Doi:10.1023/A:1000182108648.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/v549gn058l083132/fulltext.pdf
[8] Sp.gov.br: Formigas cortadeiras
http://www.cati.sp.gov.br/novacati/tecnologias/pragas_agricolas/manual_formigas/formigas_cortadeiras.htm
http://www.cati.sp.gov.br/novacati/tecnologias/pragas_agricolas/manual_formigas/formigas_cortadeiras.htm
[9] AgriLIFE EXTENSION: Insects in the City: Texas leaf cutting ant
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/FastSheets/Ent-1029.html
[10] Wuellner, C.T.; Dall'Aglio-Holvorcem,C.G.; Benso, W.W.; Gilbert, L.E.: Phorid Fly (Diptera: Phoridae) Oviposition Behavior and Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Reaction to Attack Differ According to Phorid Species. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95(2):257-266. 2002 doi: 10.1603/0013-8746(2002)095[0257:PFDPOB]2.0.CO;2
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/0013-8746(2002)095%5B0257%3APFDPOB%5D2.0.CO%3B2
[11] Wikipedia: Gyne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygyne
[12] Gilbert, Lawrence E.; Barr, Charles L.; Calixto, Alejandro A.; Cook, Jerry L.; Drees, Bastian M.; Lebrun, Edward G.; Patrock, Richard J. W.; Plowes, Robert M.; Porter, Sanford D.; Puckete, Robert T.: Introducing Phorid Fly Parasitoids of Red Imported Fire Ant Workers from South America to Texas: Outcomes Vary by Region and by Pseudacteon Species Released. Vol.33, no.1 Southwestern Entomologist. March. 2008.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/66151015/publications/Gilbert_et_al-2008(M-4307).pdf
[13] National Geographic News: Ma"Zombie" Ants Controlled, Decapitated by Flies. May 14, 2009.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/zombie-ants/
[14] Choi, M.Y., Raina, A.K., Vander Meer, R.K. 2009. Pban/pyrokinin peptides in the central nervous system of the fire ant, solenopsis invicta. Cell and Tissue Research.335(2):431-439.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/94n7706h18706r57/fulltext.html
May 16, 2009: Climate Changes influences marine life of northern and southern oceans
Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are threatened by varying algal bloom timing [1]
Koeller and colleagues 2009 report that changing water temperatures and insolation could lead to mismatches between the reproductive cycles of marine organisms and the algal bloom of the North Atlantic. The shrimps had adapted their egg hatching times to the phytoplankton blooms which now varies according to water temperatures. Increasing water temperature causes eggs to hatch too early and be ahead of the spring bloom. Phytoplankton is needed as food for the hatching larvae.
According to the authors northern shrimp, also called pink shrimp, is found in the Gulf of Maine, on the Scotian Shelf and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Newfoundland and Labrador, on the Flemish Cap, off western Greenland and Northern Iceland, in the Barents Sea and off Svalbard. These shrimp populations may decline if temperatures continue to increase unless the shrimp can adapt. Northern shrimp may serve as an early indicator of the impact of climate change .
Krill and the Scotia Sea ecosystem [2]
Murphy and colleagues 2007 stress that the Scotia Sea ecosystem is important for the stability of the circumpolar Southern Ocean system. The Scotia Sea is under the influence of eastward-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and waters from the Weddell-Scotia Confluence. This results in a strong advective flow, eddy and mixing.
The Weddell-Scotia Confluence is the zone separating the waters of the Weddell Sea from those of the Scotia Sea. It influences the summer phytoplankton blooms as a result from the mixing of micronutrients into surface waters. Many species including Antarctic krill, live there and are food for large seabird and marine mammal populations.
The authors say that krill population dynamics and dispersal are subjected to varying winter sea ice distribution and surface temperatures, linked to climate processes such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and regional warming. Another highly interference in the ecology of the region resulted from the fisch industry. El Niño-Southern Oscillation reflects the monthly or seasonal fluctuations in the air pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia. It is is associated with floods, droughts, and other disturbances in a range of locations around the world. These effects, and the irregularity of this phenomenon interferes in the ecology of the region.
The authors expect that major ecological shifts will take place in the Scotia Sea ecosystem over the next two to three decades.
Ocean climate variability influences breeding of seabirds [3]
Wolf and colleagues 2009 examined the influence of ocean climate variability to the reproduction of the seabird Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) along 2500 km of the west coast of North America influenced by the California Current System.
According to this study the northern region presented seasonally variable but high food for the birds. The south was aseasonal, and low food productivity. Auklet timing of breeding in the southern population was not significantly related to local conditions. The breeding of northern populations, however, was found to be influenced by oceanographic signals preceding high prey availability.
The authors concluded that Auklets populations in the northern and central regions of this ecosystem are sensitive to changes in timing and variability of ocean climate conditions.
[1] Koeller P, Fuentes-Yaco C, Platt T, Sathyendranath S, Richards A, Ouellet P, Orr D, Skúladóttir U, Wieland K, Savard L, Aschan M: Basin-scale coherence in phenology of shrimps and phytoplankton in the North Atlantic Ocean. Science. 2009 May 8;324(5928):791-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19423827
[2] Murphy, E.J. et al. 2007: Spatial and temporal operation of the Scotia Sea ecosystem: a review of large-scale links in a krill centred food web. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2007 Jan 29;362(1477):113-48.
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/362/1477/113.long
[3] Wolf SG, Sydeman WJ, Hipfner JM, Abraham CL, Tershy BR, Croll DA.: Range-wide reproductive consequences of ocean climate variability for the seabird Cassin's Auklet. Ecology. 2009 Mar;90(3):742-53
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19341144
May 15. 2009: Introducing the Federal Menu-Labeling Bill [1]
According to the Center for Science in the Puiblic Interest Americans get a third of their calories from, and spend half of their food dollars on, meals outside the home. At table-service chains like Ruby Tuesday, Macaroni Grill, and Chili’s, it’s easy to find 1,000-calorie appetizers, 1,000-calorie entrees, and 1,000-calorie desserts. Access to nutrition information at restaurants is more important than ever, particularly given that a number of studies link eating out with higher caloric intake and obesity.
The MEAL act [2]
Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act would require fast-food and other chain restaurants to post calories on menu boards and food display tags and calories, saturated plus trans fat, carbohydrates, and sodium on printed menus.
The MEAL act would apply to chains with 20 or more outlets and would exclude small mom-and-pop restaurants and custom orders or temporary menu items at chain restaurants. The MEAL act requires information on calories, sodium, saturated and trans fat, and carbohydrates. Studies show the total number of calories that individuals derive from food outside the home has increased steadily over time.
Best results of New York City labelling policy for restaurants [3]
According to a survey 90 percent of New Yorkers have read the nutrition information on menus in chain restaurants, and a remarkable 82 percent say menu labeling has affected what they order.
The LEAN act [4]
Under the LEAN act nutrition information would not be required to be posted on the menu. Restaurants would have the option to post information through a variety of formats that people rarely see. LEAN also would overturn existing menu labeling policies and prevent other states and localities from passing restaurant labelling policies.
The National Restaurant Association strongly supports the legislation’s goal to replace a patchwork of inconsistent state and local ordinances with a national standard for chain restaurants that empowers consumers to make the choices that are best for them and their families.
Mandatory menu nutrition facts labelling at restaurants should be introduced Europe and other countries with obesity problems.
[1] CSPI: Lawmakers to Introduce Federal Menu-Labeling Bill: MEAL Act Would Require Calorie Labeling Chain-Restaurant Menus and Menu Boards. May 14, 2009
http://cspinet.org/new/200905141.html
[2] Congresswoman Rosa L. De Lauro: Harkin, DeLauro Build On Local Nutrition Efforts with Federal Restaurant Menu Labeling Initiative. May 14. 2009.
http://delauro.house.gov/release.cfm?id=2547
[3] CSPI: New York City rave reviews for nutrition labeling
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/nyc_review_fact_sheet.pdf
[4] National Restaurant Association Applauds LEAN Act Introduction in U.S. House and Senate. News March, 11.2009.
http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pressrelease.cfm?ID=1756
13.05.2009: Food marketing exagerate polyphenol rich fruits and juices health effects [1]
The açaí palm is native to Central and South America, from Belize southward to Brazil and Peru. These palms grow mainly in swamps and floodplains. Açaí palms are fast-growing, and are cultivated for both their fruits and for their superior hearts of palm. Global demand for the fruit has expanded rapidly in recent years, and açaí is now cultivated for that purpose primarily. [2]
According to David Heber and colleagues 2008 claims to have superior antioxidants or the new marketing term “superfoods” and “superfruits” including acai, mangosteen, noni, sea
buckthorn, and Chinese wolfberry (goji). is based on in vitro antioxidant assays, and most of them lack clinical evidence of the effects on physiological function. Many foods are highlighted as disease fighting foods, awakening hope to cure cancer, Alzheimers disease, coronary artery diseases, improve sexual activity. The food and beverage industry and food supplement manufacturers explore the fears, the hope and eagerness to improve physical status or to look after anti-ageing products.
The industry commercialised ready-to-drink polyphenol-rich beverages supported by heavy marketing activities covering health, sport and wellness.
The Heber compared the antioxidant content and the in vitro inhibition of LDL (average) of polyphenol-rich beverages on market. The researchers found that açaí was in the middle of these products, far behind pomegranade juice (Punica granatum) (97%), Red wine (69%), Concorde grape juice (38.4%), blueberry juice (48.6%))and black cherry juice (34.2%), cranberry juice (38.8%), açaí (19.6%).
Other beverages presented low inhibition, such as orange juice(10.3%), apple juice (1,4%), iced green tea (12.5%), iced black tea (11.8%) and iced white tea (8.4%).
The authors say that some beverages must be consumed in much larger amounts to have the same effect of pomegranade juice or red wine. These two do have effects in humans including anti-inflammatory effects.
No weight reduction and other miraculous effects with açaí pills [3] [4]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is warning consumers not to enroll online in supposedly free trials of diet products made with the trendy Brazilian berry açaí. The Center says that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that açaí pills will reduce body weight, flatten tummies, cleanse colons, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other commonly advertised functions.
Ecology of the Amazon region endangered by worldwide açaí marketing [5]
Profitable market for palm hearts and açaí products exert great pressure on the Amazon ecology. The natural rainforest lands are clear-cut for mass cultivation of açaí, following a project of planting 5 billion açaí trees in the next 10 years.
Soy plantations, cattle farming and exotic plantations like açaí endanger nature, deprive poor native population of açaí as affordable food. In 2008 Marina Silva resigned as environment minister after the Amazon development project was taken away from her and given to the Harvard Professor Roberto Mangabeira Unger who wants to include the Amazon Region in one of the greatest agro-industry project ever seen. It will boost Brazilian ethanol production to replace 5% of crude oil by 20025. The sustainable use of the açaí palm by the local population and indian tribes is changed to a mass-production to feed the international market. [6]
Embrapa undermining the sustainability of the Amazon Region [7]
Embrapa, a department of the Brazilian government, forces the development of açaí production and export.
Embrapa says that already 200,000 km² of the region were deforested to give place for cattle farming, soy and sugar cane plantation. This is an area which is bigger than Swiss and Austria summed together. Covering such an area with a monoculture of palms repeat the errors of Indonesia and the palm oil production for biodiesel. Revenues will not benefit the local indigenous population, but enrich commercial entities from abroad. Embrapa admits that the heavy export cause shortage of açaí at the local market and exploding price make it unaffordable for the poor population which used it as staple food.
Plantations are located around the Marajó Island at Cametá, Furos de Breves e Arari Ajuru, Abaetetuba, Igarapé-Miri, Ponta de Pedras, Limoeiro e Mocajuba,which account for 90% of the commercial production.
According to Embrapa the annual production of 15 thousand hectares finaced by the state, and other plantations is 160,000 Tons, but will increase as soon new plantations start to produce fruits, which is estimated to become 8 tons/hectare.
Embrapa product especifications for açaí
-Açaí dense , or special (Type A): Pulp extracted with water. Total solids over 14%, appearance is very dense .
- Açaí medium or regular (Type B): Pulp extracted with water. Total solids between 11% and 14%. Appearance is dense.
- Açaí thin or popular (Tipe C) Pulp extracted with water. Total solids between 8% and 11%, appearance is less dense.
Sanitation: with 10 to 60 minutes immersion in a solution of chlorine (20 ppm to 50 ppm active chlorine)
Pasteurisation: Pasteurisation is recommended by 80°C to 85°C during 10 seconds in a tubular heat exchanger. Final temperatur of the proiduct should be 5°C.
Deep freezing: -18 ºC a -20 ºC or below.
Spay-drying: To the production of acai powder temperatures of 135 ºC a 140 ºC are used. Outlet temperature of the system is 85 ºC a 90 ºC. Allied pressure is 4,9 a 6,2 kg/cm2. The powder should be packed in aluminized plastic bags.
Peach-palm [8]
Peach-palm also known as pupunheira, and pupunha in Brazil. Bactris gasipaes. The fruit is frequently stewed in salted water. It is used to make compotes and jellies, or also used to make flour and edible oil. This palm is fast growing. Harvest of heart of palm can be accomplished 18 to 24 months after planting. The plant is a substitute for açaí palm to produce hearts of palm. Its commercial cultivation increases environment degradation of the lower Amazon.
[1] Seeram, Navindra P.; Airam, Michael; Zhang, Yanjun;Henning, Nusanne M.; Feng, Lydia; Dreher, Mark; Heber, David: Comparison of Antioxidant Potency of Commonly Consumed Polyphenol-Rich Beverages in the United States. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2008, 56, 1415–1422 1415
http://www.pomwonderful.com/pdf/Antioxidant_Beverage_Study.pdf
[2] Wikipedia: Acai palm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acai
[3] CSPI: Consumers Warned of Web-Based Açai Scams. Companies Use Fake Blogs, Fake Endorsements, Fishy Science, and Hard-to-Cancel Credit Card Transactions to Bilk Consumers. March 23.2009
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200903231.html
[4] BBB warns of acai berry weight-loss scam Tom Barlow Jan 8th 2009.
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/01/08/bbb-warms-of-acai-berry-weight-loss-scam/
[5] Rain-Tree Nutrition: Tropical Plant Database.: Acai (Euterpe oleracea)
http://www.rain-tree.com/acai.htm
[6] Our Food.com: Biofuel impact on biodiversity and food crops
http://www.ourfood-news.com/Biofuel_Impact.html
[7] Embrapa: Sistema de produção do açaí
http://sistemaproducao.cnptia.embrapa.br/FontesHTML/Acai/SistemaProducaoAcai_2ed/paginas/intro.htm
[8] Wikipedia: Bactris gasipaes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactris_gasipaes
12.05.2009: Six faked journals from Elsevier launch another discredit scandal on scientific publications [1]
The scientific press faces another discredit caused by six faked publications in form of scientific journals. Only favourable results are published in these journal published by Elsevier Journals. A series of professors act as authors being sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, such as Merck and others.
Ghostwriters is a service maintained by MECC’s, medical education and communication companies. Articles are written for medical journals that appear under the names of acquainted scientists and professors, which take only a glance on what they sign for. Articles may be controlled, modified and changed by the sponsoring company. Data are used to support directly or indirectly the marketing of products.
The latest Elsevier scandal sum to some of foregoing faked scientific literature:
Dr. Scott Reuben [2]
Dr. Scott Reuben published at least 21 articles concerning pain drugs, which are suspected to slow postoperative healing. The journal Anesthesia \& Analgesia published some of Reuben's fraudulent papers concerning the drugs. The journal is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press
Prof. Kim Tae-kook [3]
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) suspended the bioscience professor Kim Tae-kook for the fabrication of data in two papers, published in Science in July 2005 and Nature Chemical Biology in July 2006, according to the Korea Times.
Kim's 2006 paper suggested ideas for increasing the human lifespan by "reprogramming" cells.
It was one of Kim's students who first suspected the credibility of Kim's research.
Prof. Hwang Woo-suk [4]
In January 2006 the Science journal had to retract two Korean papers written by Hwang Woo-suk after his stem-cell cloning research was found to have faked data. Both scientist, Kim and Hwang have now discredited Korean scientific work.
Hwang Woo-suk was a professor of theriogenology and biotechnology at Seoul National University (dismissed on March 20,2006) who rose to fame after claiming a series of remarkable breakthroughs in the field of stem cell research. Until November 2005, he was considered one of the pioneering experts in the field of stem cell research, best known for two articles published in the journal Science in 2004 and 2005 where he fraudulently reported to have succeeded in creating human embryonic stem cells by cloning.
Prof. Friedhelm Herrmann [5]
German professor Friedhelm Herrmann, leading cancer research specialist at the universities of Mainz, Freiburg and Ulm and the Max-Delbrück institute for molecular medicine in Berlin, faked about 80 papers. These papers were published in respected US and European journals. Many of them were withdrawn but their impact on medical research is unknown. Professor Ulf Rapp who
analysed the fraud said that the group around Herrmann developed an aversion to using genuine data.
The guardian states that faking scientific research is not a criminal offence under German law.
Two faked studies on the effect of electromagnetic fields [6]
Diem et al 2005: Cultured human and rat cells were reported to presented DNA strand
breaks when exposed to intermittent and continuous radiofrequency electromagnetic
fields used in mobile phones. [7]
Schwarz et al 2008: The authors report that UMTS exposure may cause genetic alterations in human cultured fibroblastsin some but not with lymphocytes. [8]
Alexander Lerchl from the University of Bremen unveiled the fake of the two studies of the leading authors Hugo Rüdiger and Franz Adkofer. The faked studies of the university Vienna were the core of REFLEX, a 3 Million Euro project of the European Commission held between 2000 and 2004.
Printed scientific publications are being dishonoured by such scandals. Such deceiving procedures are used to market not only drugs but also foods, beverages and food supplements. The marketing strategy of international food corporations uses undefined terms like “antioxidants” “free radicals” “bioflavonoids” “detoxification” exaggerate the properties of their products which sometimes are lower than average quality or even do not exist.
[1]Laika's MedLibLog: Merck’s Ghostwriters, Haunted Papers and Fake Elsevier Journals
http://laikaspoetnik.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/mercks-ghostwriters-haunted-papers-and-fake-elsevier-journals/
[2] Scientific American: A Medical Madoff: Anesthesiologist Faked Data in 21 Studies. 11.03.2009.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-medical-madoff-anesthestesiologist-faked-data
[3] Couzin, Jennifer; Normile, Dennis: Scientific misconduct: Two Papers From Korean Lab Found to Lack Scientific Truth Science 14 March 2008: Vol. 319. no. 5869, pp. 1468 - 1469
DOI: 10.1126/science.319.5869.1468
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/319/5869/1468?ck=nck
[4] Wikipedia: Hwang Woo-Suk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwang\_Woo-Suk
[5] Guardian.co.uk: German scientist 'faked cancer research'. 8.11.1999
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/1999/nov/08/2
[6] Lerchl, Alexander: Letter to the Editor: Comments on “Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induce genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in lymphocytes" by Schwarz et al. (Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2008: doi 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5).
http://www.laborjournal.de/editorials/zweifelhaft.pdf
[7] Diem et al 2005 Diem, Elisabeth; Schwarz,
Claudia; Adlkofer; Franz; Jahn, Oswald; Rüdiger, Hugo: Nonthermal DNA breakage by mobile phone radiation (1800 MHz) in human fibroblasts and transformed GFSH-R17 rat granulosa cells in vitro. Mutation Researche/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. Volume 583, Isue 2, 6 June 2005, Pages 178-183. Doi:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2005.03.006 Received 30 May 2003; revised; 23 March 2005. Available online 24 May 2005.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15869902
[8] Adlkofer et al 2008 Claudia Schwarz, Elisabeth Kratochvil, Alexander Pilger, Niels Kuster, Franz Adlkofer, Hugo W. R\"udiger: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (UMTS, 1,950 MHz) induced genotoxic effects in vitro in human fibroblasts but not in Lymphocytes. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg ISBN 0340-0131 (Print) 1432-1246 (Online).Doi: 10.1007/s00420-008-0305-5
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18278508
10.05.2009: Doubts on the effect on Tamiflu to treat swine flu [1]
Prof. Bernd Mühlbauer, director of the Institute of Pharmacology at the Clinical Centre Bremen, Germany calls for human studies on the effectiveness of Tamiflu before million of Euro are being spent to built a stock sufficient for 20 percent of the population, as demanded by the German National Pandemic Plan.
Up to date only laboratory studies were conducted to verify the effect of the drug on swine influenza virus. Mühlbauer says that other influenza drugs reduce flu only by the average of one day. He fears that the drug is prescribed too often in an irresponsible manner.
The German pharmacology expert says that the drug should be stocked only for risk patients, medical personal, police and fireman. Only such groups should receive prophylactic drugs in case of a pandemic.
H1N1 influenza may present atypical Symptoms [2]
According to Fatima S. Dawood the H1N1 virus causes common influenza signs of fever, cough, and sore throat, additional diarrhea and vomiting may also occur in one fourth of cases. The CDC recommends, therefore, to look after an association of signs of seasonal influenza and atypical gastrointestinal signs. A wide clinical spectrum similar to that seen among persons infected with earlier strains of swine-origin influenza viruses are reported.
Two groups of H1 virus have evolved from the 1918 pandemic influenza virus [3] [4]
The present H1 viruses is derived from Eurasian rather than North American swine flu lineages.
Other sporadic human influenza cases caused by triple-reassortant viruses occurred before the current outbreak and appeared to be transmitted from pigs to humans. CDC cautions that sporadic cases of triple-assortment influenza infections in humans who have had contact with pigs may be sentinels for a larger outbreak.
The 2 groups of viruses differ in their infective potential. They evolved from viruses from 1918 and have subsequently evolved. Dr. Robert Beshe says that infections are caused by remnants of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus.
In case of flu signs the CDC stresses to consider recent history of exposure to pigs, domesticated fowl, or wild birds, especially when human flu viruses are not in circulation in the community.
[1] Spiegel Online: Schweinegrippe, Pharmakologe zweifelt an Wirksamkeit von Tamiflu. 10.05.2009
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/0,1518,623867,00.html
[2] Fatimah S. Dawood et al: Emergence of a Novel Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1)
Virus in Humans. This article (10.1056/NEJMoa0903810) was published at NEJM.org on May 7, 2009. N Engl J Med 2009;361.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/NEJMoa0903810.pdf
[3] Vivek Shinde et al: Triple-Reassortant Swine Influenza A (H1) in Humans in the United States, 2005–2009. Published at www.nejm.org May 7, 2009 (10.1056/NEJMoa0903812)
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa0903812?query=TOC
[4] Belshe, Robert B.: Implications of the Emergence of a Novel H1 Influenza Virus. Published at www.nejm.org May 7, 2009 (10.1056/NEJMe0903995)
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMe0903995
09.05.2009: Reduction of energy intake is more effective than exercise [1] [2]
Swinburn and Eggers 2004 compares obesity with a train driving downhill. According to the authors movement inertia, mechanical dysfunction, psychological dysfunction, cyclical dieting, and socioeconomic disadvantage are factors promoting weight gain, moulding an “obesogenic” environment. The social, personal, cognitive, physiological factors which slow weight gain are weak compared with the obesogenic ones.
In a recent study Swinburn and colleagues 2009 say that over-eating causes obesity of developed countries. Physical activity cannot compensate the excess calories. American adults increased the average weight by four kilograms, and children eight kilograms during the past three decades.
According to the study adults increased weight despite having increased physical activity. Changes in physical activity of children had no impact on growing children obesity. To regain average weigt of people in the 70s, children should reduce 350 calories a day (one can of soda and a small portion of French fries or walk for an extra two-and-a-half hours a day) and adults 500 calories (one Big Mac burger or walking two hours a day). Reducing intake is there a feasible solution compared with a daily two hours extra walk.
The authors call for a stronger emphasis on the energy intake side than on the physical activity side.
The Dutch Obesity Intervention in Teenagers program and reduction of sugary beverages [3]
The program was designed to increase awareness of obesity and change the behaviours of school children appears reduced the intake of sugary beverages and also improved body composition in girls alone, but did not seem to affect other behaviours. The program included lessons in biology, physical education and lifestyle changes over eight months.
Reduction of sugary beverages were 287 millilitres per day less for boys and 249 millilitres per day less for girls, and 12 months later 233 millilitres per day less for boys and 271 millilitres per day less for girls compared with children of schools not participating with the program. Skinfold measures showed beneficial effects of the program as a result of reduced intake of sugary beverages. Other behavioural measure such as consumption of snacks or in walking or biking to school were not altered by the program.
The authors stress that reducing intake of sugar-containing beverages should therefore be considered a good behavioural target for future interventions aimed at the prevention of overweight among adolescents. Reduction of consumption of sugar-containing beverages in both boys and girls should be focused in future interventions.
[1] Swinburn, Boyd; Egger, Garry: The runaway weight gain train: too many accelerators, not
enough brakes. BMJ 2004;329;736-739 doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7468.736
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/329/7468/736
[2] Swinburn BA, Sacks G, Lo SK, Westerterp KR, Rush EC, Rosenbaum M, Luke A, Schoeller DA, Delany JP, Butte NF, Ravussin E.: Estimating the changes in energy flux that characterize the rise in obesity prevalence. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr 15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19369382
[3] Singh, Amika S.; Chin A Paw, Marijke J. M.; Brug, Johannes; van Mechelen, Willem: Dutch Obesity Intervention in Teenagers: Effectiveness of a School-Based Program on Body Composition and Behavior. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2009; 163 (4): 309 DOI: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.2
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/163/4/309
08.05.2009: Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) Misleads consumer [1]
GDA means Guideline Daily Amount and shows the amount of calories, sugar, fats and salt
etc. in a portion of a food product and the percentage of the guideline daily amount of these nutrients. [2]
According to the Campaign “Stop-GDA” the GDA system was created and implemented by the biggest international food companies which produce sweets, chips and soft drinks. GDA is now part of the EU proposal for a regulation on food information and follows the industrial system.
Food companies use the loopholes of the system to play down negative facts of their products.
The Stop-GDA campaign therefore strongly recommends the complete removal of GDA from the proposal, both as mandatory and voluntary information.
The campaign unveils some of the weak points of GDA:
GDA does not support healthy eating: GDA gives better scores for diet soda compared with milk. GDA is focused on fats, sugar and salt. Natural and healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits,whole grains, milk, fish and meats contain vitamines, antioxidants and fibre which are absent in most of these products.
Small portion hides the facts: GDA is based on portions. The industry can determine the size of portions used to calculate their GDA. To get low values for their labels theoretical portions are kept ridiculous low. The smaller the portion, the healthier a product looks.
GDA uses daily calories for adults, but not for children: GDA is always based on the 2000 calories needed by a 40 year old woman. The 2000 calories/day are used to calculate the GDA for foods marketed for 2 years old children.
Sugar reference: Natural sugar occurs in many healthy foods, especially milk and fruits-and it’s always accompanied by other vital nutrients. The difference between added sugar (empty calories) and natural sugar which is always accompanied by other vital nutrients. A soda may get better GDA scores as orange juice.
WHO and Nordic Nutrition Recommendations set a daily limit for added sugar at 50 g. The industry and the EU sets a daily limit for total sugar at 90 g (=added + natural sugar).
EFSA regulation on nutrition labelling proposal [3]
The European Commission's new regulation on nutrition labelling proposal, demands the labelling of nutrients as a percentage of reference intake levels. It is similar to the GDA scheme of the food industry with upper reference levels for energy (2000kcal), total fat (70g), saturated fat (20g), total sugars (90g) and salt (6g, or 2.4g sodium) calculated for an average woman. A lower intake limit of 230g for carbohydrates, corresponding to 46 per cent of total energy is, however, set too low for the EU countries, which are generally between 50 and 55 per cent of intake. The panel therefore proposed a labelling reference intake for carbohydrate at 260g, 52 per cent of energy for a 2000kcal diet.
Conclusion [1]
The “Stop-GDA” campaign concludes that Guideline Daily Amount is misleading consumers because of many insoluble system errors. GDA cannot replace mandatory 100 g/ml food labelling, and should not be legitimized by EU - not even as voluntary food information. The campaign urges the complete removal of GDA from the proposal for EU regulation on food information to consumers.
Consumer should fight for the mandatory 100 g/ml food labelling to maintained because it does not contain loopholes. It is the best way to choose a dressing with low fat or a salami with the lowest salt. No comparison is possible if one salami producer uses 15 g as serving and another 25 g, what a mess!
[1] Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) No thank you! Version 9/19th February 2009
http://stopgda.eu/video/GDA%20handout%2009.pdf
[2] The What's inside Guide
http://www.whatsinsideguide.com/TheGDAlabel.aspx
[3] European Food Safety Authority: Review of labelling reference intake values - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the review of labelling reference intake values for selected nutritional elements
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902511922.htm
07.05.2009: Green tea reduces periodontal disease [1]
Kushivama and colleagues 2009 report that routine intake of green tea may promote healthy teeth and gums. Three indicators of periodontal disease were examined in this study: periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment loss of gum tissue, and bleeding on probing of the gum tissue. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, cardiovascular disease and diabetes may also be associated.
Symptoms of periodontal disease were reduced by the antioxidant catechin of green tea. In this study the authors suggest that green tea interferes with the body's inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria, promoting periodontal health.
[1] Kushiyama, Mitoshi; Shimazaki, Yoshihiro; Murakami, Masatoshi; Yamashita, Yoshihisa: Relationship Between Intake of Green Tea and Periodontal Disease. Journal of Periodontology, 2009; 80 (3): 372 DOI: 10.1902/jop.2009.080510
http://www.joponline.org/doi/abs/10.1902/jop.2009.080510
05.05.2009: German IT company “ExploSYS” developed an Influenza - Pandemic - Planning - Simulator InfluSim [1] [2] [3]
The epidemiologist Prof Dr. Martin Eichner, from the German city Tübingen, together with the mathematician Markus Schwehm developed an “Influenza-Pandemic-Planning-Simulator InfluSim” which will support decision makers at airports, medical centres, health departments and governments to find the best measures to counter pandemics.
The simulator received input from the German Robert Koch Virus institute and will be distributed by ExploSYS. The developers say that simulation shows that even closing the borders to a country with disease cases, the pandemic will get through, because no border can be absolutely leak proof. For such events the pandemic simulator shows where the first cases are expected to turn up.
Influenza A H1N1 avian flu virus continues to spread [4] [5]
The WHO on its report of May 4, 2009 says that the influenza A (H1N1) virus continues to spread geographically, with 1025 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with the virus and 26 deaths.
The health organization sees the virus moving south, but no community-level transmission is being reported right now.
WHO pandemic alert level is being maintained at phase 5. An increase to phase 6 will take place when community-level transmission is occurring in more than 1 WHO region. Currently, such outbreaks are taking place only in North America.
The spectrum of illness varies from very mild to fatal cases occurring in young, healthy people infected by the influenza viruis H1N1. Severe pneumonia, 40% to 50% of patients developing diarrhoea are some signs of the disease.
WHO says that the incubation of a regular influenza is about 5 days. With H1N1 there is uncertainty about whether it is 6, 7, or 8 days. Dr. Besser from the CDC expects all states to have confirmed cases, ongoing hospitalizations and additional deaths.
[1] Netzeitung: Pandemie im Computer. Tübinger Wissenschaftler simulieren die Ausbreitung von Grippewellen. Ihr Programm soll als Entscheidungshilfe bei der Bekämpfung einer drohenden Pandemie dienen. 11.11.2005
http://www.netzeitung.de/wissenschaft/367288.html
[2] Bio Regio Stern: ExploSYS Simulation biologic Systems
http://www.bioregio-stern.de/node/253
[3] Modelling group at the Department of Medical Biometry, University of Tübingen: Software
http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/modeling/Mod_Pub_Software_en.html
[4] WHO: Swine flu
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/
[5] One-stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information: Pandemic Flu.gov
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
05.05.2009: Formation of Methylmercury in the North Pacifi Ocean [1]
Sunderland and colleagues 2009 report that mercury levels of samples of water from the Pacific Ocean in 2006 were approximately 30 percent higher than those measured in the mid-1990s.
The authors found that algae from the surface fall to deeper water when they dye. There they settle, forming the particulate organic carbon which is decomposed by bacteria. Together with mercury II brought down from the surface methylmercury is produced.
Tuna from the Pacific ocean is a predator which accumulates methylmercury, accounting for 40% of the mercury ingested by humans. Marine fish and shell fish account for 75 percent of human exposure to mercury. Pregnant women who consume mercury can harm their children.
Mercury gets into the atmosphere by emissions from land-based combustion facilities. Increasing mercury content of the water of the ocean results from fallout near the Asian coasts and is transported on long range by strong circulating currents.
[1] Sunderland, Elsie M.; Krabbenhoft, David P.: Moreau, John W.; Strode, Sarah A.; Landing, William M.: Sunderland et al. Mercury sources, distribution, and bioavailability in the North Pacific Ocean: Insights from data and models. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 2009; 23 (2): GB2010 DOI: 10.1029/2008GB003425
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2008GB003425.shtml
04.05.2009: Beetles and fungus killing trees and shrubs may endanger avocado plantations
Goldspotted oak borer kills oaks in Southern California [1]
According to Coleman and Seybold the Southern California beetle Agrilus coxalis is a wood-boring beetle. It is also known as goldspotted oak borer. Larval feeding kills patches and strips of the phloem and cambium resulting in crown die back followed by mortality.
Oaks (Quercus spp.) are the dominant tree species in Southern California, but 67% of the trees were attacked by the beetle. Their reduction of oaks by the pest will reduce wildlife diversity and increase fire danger. The trees are getting more succeptible to the beetle because of the stress imposed by drought and climate change.
Ambrosia beetle may endanger U.S. Avocado trees [2] [3]
According to Koch and Smith 2009 the avocado production may be seriously hit by the Redbay Ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff), mowing to the south of the USA.
Lauret wilt is a disease of redbay and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees caused by the fungus Raffaelae lauricola. The fungus lives in association with the Ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) which bores into the sapwood of redbay and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees. The female beetle carries spores of the fungus Raffaelea lauricola. The beetles and their larvae feed from the fungus, which germinates in the sapwood and cause tree death, a plant disease called laurel.
Avocado trees (Persea americana) and other Lauraceae trees of the coastal Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are endangered.
The authors stress that Raffaelea lauricola differs from other Raffaelea species in its DNA sequence and spore sizes and grows faster than similar fungi. It also harms shrubs like the pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) [4] and pondspice(Litsea aestivalis, L.) [5]
Some authors suggest the use of fungicides to protect avocado trees other opt to isolate and remove any infected trees as soon as they begin to show signs of wilting.
Disruption of human caused, long-distance dispersal, however, are seen by Koch and Smith, as the most effective measure to control the spread of the beetle and fungus.
California Bay Laurel is also a tree which was found succeptible to the fungus Raffaelae lauiricola. Another fungus which can infect the California laurel is oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum causing a disease known as Sudden Oak Death. The pathogen will take advantage of wounding, but it is not necessary for infection to occur. [6]
[1] Coleman, Tom W.; Seybold, Steven J. : Previously unrecorded damage to oak, Quercus spp., in southern California by the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 2008; 84 (4): 288 DOI: 10.3956/2008-18.1
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.3956/2008-18.1
[2] Koch, Frank H.; Smith, William D.; Spatio-Termporal Analysis of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Invasion in the southeastern U.S.
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr-nrs-p-36papers/32koch-f-p-36.pdf
[3] Stephen W. Fraedrich Laurel Wilt of Redbay and Sassafras: Will Avocados be Next? April 3.2009. United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service
http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/news/153
[4] Missuri Department of Conservation: Endangered species guidesheet. MDC-Online.
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/endangered/endanger/pondberr/
[5] USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Plant Profile for Litsea aestivalis (L.)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LIAE
[6] Wikipedia: Sudden Oak Death
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_oak_death
03.05.2009: Hair-like protrusions on the surface of bacteria may turn them dangerous to premature babies [1]
Giovanna Marchini and colleagues 2009 found that Staphylococcus epidermis, a coagulase-negative staphylococci, which normally reside on the skin of healthy people can cause serious infections in premature babies, attaching to the child's skin and mucous membranes and cause serious infections.
The researchers found hair-like protrusions on the surface of the bacteria which adhere the bacteria to the host's cells. According to Marchini, an antimicrobial substance LL37 is found at the skin and lungs and inhibit the growth of the bacteria in older people. This may explain the human co-existence with certain microbes, such as intestinal bacteria which produces Vitamin K and others involved in the development of an immune system.
[1] Nelson, Annika; Hultenby, Kjell; Hell, Éva; Riedel, Hilde M.; Brismar, Hjalmar; Flock, Jan-Ingmar; Lundahl, Joachim; Giske, Christian G.; Marchini. Giovanna: Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from newborn infants express pilus-like structures and are inhibited by the cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide LL37. Pediatric Research, 22 April 2009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19390494
03.05.2009: Nonradioactive fluorescent biomarker substances for biomedical and research [1]
Fluorescent organic dyes are widely used as nonradioactive labels in biological analysis or as biomarkers in biomedical applications. Synthetic fluorescent molecules should exhibiting high extinction coefficients, high quantum yields, narrow emission bands, and photostability.
According to Song Lin Niu and colleagues 2009 available fluorescent substances have poor water solubility, and low resistance to the formation of nonfluorescent dimer and higher aggregates.
The authors report two methods to introduce (poly)sulfonated linkers onto 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) which are water-soluble.
The spectral properties of the resulting water-soluble BODIPY derivatives were found to present good characteristics under physiological conditions making them attractive as biomarkers.
[1] Niu, Song Lin; Ulrich, Gilles; Ziessel, Raymond; Kiss, Agneta; Renard, Pierre-Yves; Romieu Anthony: Water-Soluble BODIPY Derivatives. Org. Lett., Article ASAP. Publication Date (Web): April 20, 2009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19379006
03.05.2009: Egypt culls swines to prevent swine influenza pandemic [1]
The Health Minister of Egypt ordered the culling of Egypt's 400,000 pigs. Pigs are seen as unclean, Haram by muslims.
The culling should help to protect against swine flu. Egypt had been hit by the last H5N1 avian influenza and fears another flu pandemic. There are no infections of swine flu reported yet, a pandemic flu strain could, however, spread quickly through the heavy crowded region. A member of the Cabinet called the conditions of the swine farms in Egypt as unhealthy, being a hazard in themselves, even without the swine flu.
A compensation of £120 per pig were offered, but the farmers doubt that the money will ever be payed and they claim the loss of their livelihood. They say that the pigs are feeding from 6,000 tonnes of organic rubbish produced in he region every day and they do not know how the food scraps should be handled otherwise.
The UN food experts say pork meat is safe
The UN food experts call the culling decision a mistake, stressing that the newly mutated H1N1 virus is not found in pigs. The animals can be the vessels for the "genetic reassortment" that produces new strains, but pork meat is safe to eat because it must be cooked anyhow.
Canadian swine herd infected with H1N1 by farme worker returning from Mexico [2]
Pigs in Alberta were infected with H1N1 by a farm worker who fell ill after returning from Mexico. Pigs can be infected by flu virus from human and avian virus. The pig is able to mix its own flu virus with the human and the avian type. The result is a dangerous pandemic form of influenza.
Import restrictions on pork
Russia and China imposed an import ban of pork from USA, Canada and Mexico.
[1] Times Online: Egyptian Christians riot after swine flu cull. April 29, 2009.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6193785.ece
[2] Canadian pigs infected with H1N1 virus: official. Ca News Yahoo. May 2,2009.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090502/canada/health_flu_canada_pigs_1
02.05.2009: Bioship to detect Listeria monocitogenes, a food poisoning bacteria [1]
Bhunia and colleagues 2009 developed a biosensor to detect Listeria monocitogenes. Whioch could not easily be detected using antibodies. The researchers used heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), a eukaryotic mitochondrial chaperon protein which is a receptor for Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) during Listeria monocytogenes infection.
The authors concluded that Hsp60, immobilized on the surface of streptavidin-coated silicon dioxide biochip sensor platform may be used for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. They report that the capture efficiency of Listeria monocytogenes was 83 times greater than another Listeria receptor, the monoclonal antibody, mAb-C11E9.
[1] Koo, Ok Kyung; Liu, YiShao; Shuaib, Salamat; Bhattacharya, Shantanu; Ladisch, Michael R.;Bashir, Rashid; Bhunia, Arun K.: Targeted Capture of Pathogenic Bacteria Using a Mammalian Cell Receptor Coupled with Dielectrophoresis on a Biochip. Analytical Chemistry, 2009; 81 (8): 3094 DOI: 10.1021/ac9000833
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac9000833