#Healthy food is good for you --and can sell, tooyou don't need just to rely on hot dogs and pizza to make a buck at concession stands.
A study led by the University of Iowa examined sales revenues and profits at a booster-run concession stand in Iowa that offered healthy food items from apples to string cheese over two fall seasons.
The club registered stable sales and revenue while profits remained intact. Results appear in the Journal of Public health.
In the fall of 2008 the booster club in Muscatine Iowa took a chance. Researchers from the University of Iowa asked
whether the club would add healthy foods--from apples to string cheese--to its concessions menu. And by the way would it also consider putting healthier ingredients in big sellers like nachos and popcorn?
According to a new study published this week in the Journal of Public health the club netted stable sales and revenues with the healthy food additions over one full season.
and sales of making changes to concession-stand offerings in school settings writes the research team led by Helena Laroche assistant professor in internal medicine and pediatrics at the UI and the study's corresponding author.
it's that there was no hint of any benefit said nutrition expert Christopher Gardner Phd professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research center
and senior author of the study which will be published March 10 in the Annals of Family Medicine.
This digestion difficulty can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea among other symptoms. But many people who report discomfort after consuming dairy products haven't been tested formally for the condition making it difficult to know how many meet the clinical standards for lactose-intolerance Gardner said.
Although many strategies for coping with the condition exist--taking lactase enzyme tablets choosing lactose-free foods--none of them fully eliminates the problem.
and diarrhea or you don't. For the pilot study Gardner's team recruited 16 participants who were tested to confirm their lactose-intolerant status. The test measures the amount of hydrogen in a person's breath after drinking a beverage that contains lactose.
Higher levels of hydrogen as set by a National institutes of health panel are undigested present when lactose ferments in the colon
which to record the severity of four symptoms--gas diarrhea audible bowel sounds and abdominal cramping--on a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being the most severe.
The above story is provided based on materials by Stanford university Medical center. The original article was written by Susan Ipaktchian.
#Spring allergy season is imminent, despite this winters polar vortexthis winter has been one of the coldest on record
but spring allergy season is already beginning and it's time for sufferers to start preparing now.
An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from allergies which are called commonly hay fever. Symptoms include itchy eyes nose and throat;
sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; tearing or dark circles under the eyes. Even with snow still on the ground trees have started budding
and are the first to produce pollen creating major problems for people with allergies said David Rosenstreich M d. director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical center.
The symptoms people experience often resemble a common cold but if it happens every year at this time it's most likely allergies.
An allergy symptom is the result of the immune system overreacting. It mistakes the pollen for a foreign invader
and attacks it which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood.
This inflammation causes many familiar allergy symptoms. People with asthma are affected especially by allergies and may have asthma attacks which can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Asthma often is triggered by allergies; however most people with allergies do not develop asthma. Over-the-counter medications often make people experiencing allergies feel better
but if they experience difficulty breathing or the symptoms become more severe they should seek medical attention.
Antihistamine drugs work by blocking the histamine from affecting these cells. Additionally a physician can prescribe stronger medications if needed.
By taking medicine early you can prevent the symptoms before they begin Dr. Rosenstreich said.
If you start after the symptoms are in full swing it's much harder to stop the allergic reaction than to prevent it from the beginning.
In addition to medications lifestyle changes also can help relieve symptoms. Several to consider include: â#¢Limiting outdoor activities during days with high pollen counts. â#¢Keeping windows closed (at home
or in the car) to keep pollen out. â#¢Installing your air conditioners early since they're ideal for filtering the outside air that comes into your home. â#¢Washing your hair after coming indoors. â#¢Refraining from mowing lawns
or raking leaves because this stirs up pollen and molds. â#¢Avoiding hanging sheets or clothes outside to dry.
There are generally three pollen seasons that vary in different parts of the country. Early spring is typically
when trees pollinate with birch cedar cottonwood and pine trees causing the biggest allergic triggers. Tree pollination in the Northeast has begun already according to Dr. Rosenstreich
and lasts through early June but can be almost year-round in warmer climates. Grass pollen allergies typically arise in late spring
and weeds cause hay fever from the summer through the fall. Ragweed is often one of the biggest offenders in most regions as it can grow in nearly every environment.
There's no reason for people with allergies to suffer Dr. Rosenstreich said. As long as you take the proper precautions you should be able to enjoy the outdoors
and make the most of the warm weather. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Montefiore Medical center.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length e
#Predation on invertebrates by woodland salamanders increases carbon capturewoodland salamanders perform a vital ecological service in American forests by helping to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
Global warming occurs when greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. Woodland salamanders facilitate the capture of this carbon before it is released by feeding on invertebrates (beetles earthworms snails ants etc.
that would otherwise release carbon through consumption of fallen leaves and other forest debris. Woodland salamanders are the most common vertebrate species in American forests;
Dr. Hartwell Welsh Jr. research wildlife biologist at the U s. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) helped conduct a study in Northwestern Calif. that examined how woodland salamander
The renowned evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson once said it is the little things that run the world Dr. Welsh said.
and adaptation in primarily food-focused production systems of Africa says Dr. Cheikh Mbow Senior Scientist Climate Change
When gut microbiota gets out of balanceirritable bowel syndrome (IBS) belongs to the most widespread diseases in Western countries causing up to sixty per cent of the workload of gastrointestinal physicians.
which reduces quality of life considerably as patients perceive it as particularly bothersome. For quite a long time IBS was believed to be a primarily psychological condition.
thus opening up promising paths towards an efficient disease management says Professor Giovanni Barbara (University of Bologna Italy).
This was one of the topics presented at the Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit in Miami FL USA.
On March 8-9 2014 internationally leading experts discussed the latest advances in gut microbiota research and its impact on health.
IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders causing several symptoms which include abdominal pain bowel movements that cause discomfort
and--in nearly all patients--bloating. IBS affects up to 20 percent of the population in Western countries.
This condition represents up to 10 percent of the workload of family physicians and up to 60 per cent of that of gastroenterology practitioners.
Within the range of IBS troubles it is bloating that bothers patients most. A microbiota-based conditionfor quite a long time not only bloating
but IBS in general was perceived frequently as a mainly psychological condition mostly affecting young predominantly female and anxious patients with no detectable abnormalities in their bowels.
Consequently the disease burden was attributed often to an imaginary disorder and the treatment was far from satisfactory.
which characterizes a healthy gut microbiota is disturbed in IBS patients. Probably the best example of this interaction is the discovery that IBS symptoms develop in up to 10 percent of previously healthy subjects after a single episode of gastroenteritis caused by an infection through bacterial pathogens like Salmonella Shighella or Campylobacter
which can severely disrupt the microbiota balance says Prof. Barbara. An additional problem results from the fact that not only infections but also the antibiotics that are used as a remedy may increase the risk for IBS as they too can alter the gut microbiota in a negative way.
Nutrition is keyanother important factor is nutrition. Food that is rich in carbohydrates particularly fiber tends to produce larger amounts of gas than a diet without these ingredients.
in the microbiota of IBS patients thus prolonging and increasing the symptoms However at the same time the gut microbiota of healthy subjects remained stable
Barbara points to is that those IBS patients who have several clear-cut gut symptoms have also more profound changes in their gut microbiota as compared to other patients
but instead combined with mood disorders. This suggests that the troubles of the second group are grounded more socially
whereas the condition of the patients belonging to the first group is based predominantly physiologically--IBS proper so to speak.
What further developments can doctors and patients expect? It is amazing to see how quickly gut microbiota research has gained center stage within gastroenterology in the course of the past few years says Prof.
Barbara. This is due to its crucial role not only for IBS but for gastrointestinal health in general. In order to further improve diagnosis
and treatment we have to identify more of the various functions of the intestinal bacteria.
With regard to clinical applications bacterial functions are even more important than their types. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by American Gastroenterological Association.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length h
#Tuscanys badlands acutely endangeredvast fields of sunflowers sprawling pine trees and slim cypresses as well as vineyards as far as the eye can see--these are typical memories of Tuscany for all those who have been there.
By contrast Professor Dr. Beate Michalzik from the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena and her colleagues are interested in the more barren aspects of the region in Central Italy:
#Healthy midlife diet may prevent dementia laterhealthy dietary choices in midlife may prevent dementia in later years according a doctoral thesis published at the University of Eastern Finland.
The results showed that those who ate the healthiest diet at the average age of 50 had an almost 90 per cent lower risk of dementia in a 14-year follow-up study than those
The study was the first in the world to investigate the relationship between a healthy diet as early as in midlife and the risk of developing dementia later on.
and dementia using a healthy diet index based on the consumption of a variety of foods.
Previous studies on diet and dementia have focused mainly on the impact of single dietary components.
and increased risk of dementiathe impact of dietary fats on cognitive performance and the risk of dementia was studied separately as well.
and memory functions and to an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment in a 21-year follow-up.
It was shown also that a higher saturated fat intake was associated with an increased risk of dementia among those carrying a genetic risk factor of Alzheimer's disease the epsilon 4 variant of the apolipoprotein E (Apoe) gene.
Even those who are genetically susceptible can at least delay the onset of the disease by favouring vegetable oils oil-based spreads
In addition those consuming 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily had a smaller risk of dementia than those consuming less or more.
Dr Adam Hayward of the University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant sciences said:
Our results will enable the management of captive and semi-captive elephants to be tailored to maximise fertility reducing strain on the wild population.
The spread of diseases for instance is one of the reasons why deer feeding has been banned in many regions of North america.
and technology leaders including Dr. Charles Wyman our president and CEO who will take this novel catalyst from the lab to the marketplace.
#Birds of all feathers and global flu diversitya group of international scientists have completed the first global inventory of flu strains in birds by reviewing more than 50 published studies
and the emergence of disease that can ultimately impact human health and livelihoods. The research published in the journal PLOS ONE
and performed as part of the USAID PREDICT project identified over 116 avian flu strains in wild birds.
Avian flu outbreaks come with no warning. In 2013 an H7n9 avian flu strain caused a deadly outbreak in people in China.
This surprised virologists as the strain had caused never before disease in humans. To date there have been more than 300 clinical cases of H7n9 with a 33 percent mortality rate.
This year another strain known to infect birds H10n8 has caused human cases for the first time. As was the case in the H7n9 outbreak most direct bird-to-human spillover events
(when a virus jumps from one species to another) of avian flu can be traced back to human contact with domestic poultry.
Although avian flu strain diversity often originates in wild birds it is the mixing of viruses among poultry pigs
and people that substantially heightens the disease risk in humans. In an effort to improve preparedness scientists are looking to better understand
and monitor the diversity of all avian flu viruses--not just those known to cause disease.
Completing the first global inventory of flu strains in birds is a key step in building that understanding.
This snapshot of the world of flu virus diversity in birds is the outcome of many years of ecology
and evolution as viewed through the lens of surveillance methods utilized by scientists from around the world said study lead and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Associate Director of Wildlife Epidemiology Dr. Sarah Olson.
Understanding the natural diversity of viruses is critically important to identifying health risks. But authorities face a challenge both in focusing efforts in the right places
and adequately financing surveillance to describe global flu diversity. To address this the authors introduced a new method
which borrows on approaches used by ecologists to estimate the diversity of flu viruses in a particular location.
With this approach health authorities can design surveillance programs to detect a given percentage of flu virus diversity.
The scientists also looked at patterns of flu diversity in different bird hosts. Mallards carry the highest number of strains at 89
and ruddy turnstones were second with 45. The more a strain was shared across wild bird types the more likely it was to be found in domestic birds a risk factor for spillover events.
They also noted that some strains could be specific to certain bird types. For example gulls and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) carried ten strains that have not been identified in any other bird order.
According to Dr. Olson This inventory isn't about blaming wild birds but it allows us to map
what we know and informs our understanding of what drives viral diversity and the emergence of rare viral strains that can infect people.
Given that flu viruses can jump from domestic poultry to people ongoing efforts at improving biosecurity at poultry farms
and markets remain key to outbreak prevention. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Wildlife Conservation Society.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference e
#Earths mantle plasticity explained: Missing mechanism for deforming olivine-rich rocksearth's mantle is a solid layer that undergoes slow continuous convective motion.
But how do these rocks deform thus making such motion possible given that minerals such as olivine (the main constituent of the upper mantle) do not exhibit enough defects in their crystal lattice to explain the deformations observed in nature?
A team led by the Unitã Matã riaux et Transformations (CNRS/Universitã Lille 1/Ecole Nationale Supã rieure de Chimie de Lille) has provided an unexpected answer
when subjected to a mechanical stress. The findings which have just been published in Nature go well beyond the scope of the geosciences:
When mechanical stress is applied the disclinations enable the grain boundaries to move thus allowing olivine to deform in any direction.
By way of a'blind test'Cherubini recently asked 10 experts in five tree-ring laboratories in various countries to date the same wood samples from olive-tree branches.
Adding the metal-resistant bacteria enables the plants to cope with stress better resulting in reduced levels of phenolics.
Study lead author Dr Rebecca Kinaston and colleague Associate Professor Hallie Buckley at the Department of Anatomy carried out the research in collaboration with the Vanuatu National Museum and researchers from the University of Marseilles and CNRS (UMR 7269 and UMR 7041) in France
and The Australian National University Canberra. Dr Kinaston says the study is the most detailed analysis of Lapita diet ever undertaken
and provides intriguing insights into the sociocultural elements of their society. It was a unique opportunity to assess the lifeways of a colonising population on a tropical Pacific island she says.
Dr Kinaston says it appears that the new colonists rather than relying mainly on a transported landscape of the crop plants
and treated preferentially Dr Kinaston says. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by University of Otago.
and Africa in an attempt to alleviate malnutrition. But exposed to hot climates tropical diseases
and sub-optimal housing the cows produce much less milk and the costs of feed and husbandry far exceed those of native breeds.
Human and livestock disease are treated generally as separate problems but sick animals can make people sick.
In low-and middle-income nations 13 livestock-related zoonoses (diseases transferable between animals and humans) cause 2. 4 billion cases of human illness and 2. 2
Animal management should include measures to control transmissible diseases by improving hygiene quarantining new arrivals on farms
and establishing coordinated sustained surveillance for diseases that cross the boundaries of species or countries.
but for undernourished communities there are health benefits to consuming healthy animal products. However the goal of public health should be a balanced diet across all countries with a target of no more than 300 grams of red meat per person per week.
Close to one billion of the world's poorest people rely on livestock for their livelihood. Traditional animal husbandry supplies more than just food.
Professor Mark Eisler Chair in Global Farm animal Health in the School of Veterinary Sciences and Cabot Institute at the University of Bristol said:
#Stricter controls of wastewater reuse on crops needed to meet WHO guidelineswastewater used to irrigate agricultural crops in countries where water is scarce may contribute to significant public health risks such as diarrheal disease in children from rotavirus.
A new study of these risks found that wastewater used to irrigate vegetable plots in Asian countries poses health risks that may exceed World health organization (WHO) guidelines.
The authors recommend that stricter wastewater regulation may be needed to protect the health of farmers and consumers worldwide.
and protozoa that can contaminate food and cause disease. Asia accounts for the majority of the worldâ##s reuse of wastewater in irrigation
and given that China is the worldâ##s most populous country millions of people may be exposed to health risks from contamination.
Although health studies can trace the incidence of disease in a population conducting extensive experimental work
Food systems researchers Hoi-Fei Mok and Andrew J. Hamilton of The University of Melbourne in Australia instead created a statistical model to characterize the health risks posed by wastewater used to grow Asian vegetables The reach of the Asian vegetable
and a probabilistic rotavirus disease burden model for their consumptionâ#recently appeared in the electronic version of the journal Risk Analysis published by the Society for Risk Analysis. The researchers first determined the volume of water retained by three commonly grown Asian vegetables
and then used a statistical model to estimate rotavirus disease burdens associated with wastewater irrigation. Rotavirus is associated with diarrheal disease in children
and was chosen as the focus of the study because diarrheal disease is associated with 74 percent of wastewater-related deaths 90 percent
of which occur in children. According to THE WHO diarrheal disease is the second leading global cause of death in children under five years old
and is responsible for the deaths of approximately 760000 children each year. Diarrhea can last several days
and can leave the body without the water and salts that are necessary for survival.
Most people who die from diarrhea actually die from severe dehydration and fluid loss. Based on their findings the researchers concluded that the probability curves of the annual disease burden â#oeexceeded the WHOÂ##s threshold for acceptable level of risk from wastewater reuse by two to three orders of magnitude
. â#Some vegetables posed greater risk than others because leaf shape affects the amount of wastewater
and contaminants that are retained. Vegetables such as bok choy posed the least risk and choy sum the greatest risk
The probability of rotavirus infection is affected by uncertainty in virus concentration and variation in vegetable consumption.
The dose-response model which characterizes the relationship between exposure level to contaminants and the probability of developing disease is a source of uncertainty in the risk assessment.
The rotavirus infection rates were based on data from an infectivity trial in adults but rotavirus primarily affects children.
Lower doses induce infectivity in children faster than adults so the estimated disease burdens from the researchersâ##statistical model may underestimate the actual risk to children.
Collecting rotavirus infectivity data for children would improve the accuracy of risk assessments of the threat.
Considering the global increase in wastewater use for agricultural irrigation assessing the health risks from reuse schemes is necessary to develop better wastewater management policies to protect public health.
Roundwormsthe banana variety Yangambi km5 produces toxic substances that kill the nematode Radopholus similis a roundworm that infects the root tissue of banana plants--to the frustration of farmers worldwide.
and Dirk De Waele (Laboratory for Tropical Crop Improvement) bodes well for the Grande Naine the export banana par excellence which is very susceptible to the roundworms.
This roundworm infects banana crops worldwide. The nematodes are invisible to the naked eye but they can penetrate the roots of banana plants by the thousands.
Lesions in the roots also make the plant more susceptible to other diseases. Eventually the roots begin to rot.
In the final stage of the disease the plant topples over its fruit bunch inexorably lost.
Synthetic pesticides are toxic and expensive. Moreover pesticides usually do not actually kill the nematodes they just temporarily paralyze them.
We have wondered always how the Yangambi km5 fights off roundworms. This study offers an answer.
Enter the Yangambi km5 a variety first grown in the 1950's at a Belgian research station in Yangambi DR Congo.
Researchers have wondered always how the Yangambi km5 manages to fight off roundworms says De Waele. This study goes a long way in answering that.
and other types of stress derived of climate change? A research group of the Universidad Politã cnica de Madrid (UPM) led by Luis GÃ mez a professor of the Forestry School
These trees are also more tolerant to drought to the presence of weed-killer to in vitro and ex vitro crops to contamination
and other ways of abiotic stress that have applied an interest for forestry. This work is a continuation of a project started by of a research team of the UPM a decade ago.
This study focuses on mechanisms that plant cells use to protect themselves from stress factors.
They are so fundamental that the obtained poplars in this work can resist other stress factors.
To find out about tobacco exposure researchers based themselves on urine samples collected during the medical check-up in the third trimester of pregnancy
he is a researcher at the UPV/EHU's department of Preventative Medicine and Public health as well as a participant in the research.
Passive tobacco increases the risk of miscarriage. Nevertheless the problem mainly affects the child's development;
In addition and although to a lesser extent these infants have a greater sudden death rate and a greater risk of suffering cancer and respiratory disease in childhood as well.
Health education is crucial for protecting women and fetuses in particular. Cotinine the tobacco markerin the set of questions that the women in the study responded to they were asked about the lifestyles that could be linked to tobacco for example in
Nicotine is not toxic for the body; it creates an addiction but it is not particularly harmful.
However as it appears in high doses in tobacco it is used usually as a marker to monitor tobacco consumption.
Mishra was the primary author of a paper with his advisor and UAH associate professor of atmospheric science Dr. John Mecikalski UAH Earth System Science Center principle researcher James
Moisture data are derived from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES GOES data are inputted into the Atmosphere-Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) model previously developed by Dr. Mecikalski and others.
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