Loukola et al Linkage of nicotine dependence and smoking behavior on 10q, 7q and 11p in twins with homogeneous genetic background. The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2008) vol 8, 209–219Why do some people tolerate and become dependent upon smoking tobacco and others do not. It important to study the genetic determinants of smoking behavior and the key…
Read moreThere is a belief that preservatives and colour can cause or exacerbate hyperactive behaviour in children. One trial supported this view, the European Food Safety Authority was luke warm about the interpretation of the results. Attention deficit hyperactivity is a multifactorial condition, treatment is centred on three main strategies.DrugsBehavioural therapyDietary modificationThe first and the second…
Read moreI have long felt that our population is one that has survived massive upheavals over the last few hundred years, the black death, emigration, starvation, war and tuberculosis .There is little to support this , but there is an interesting paper written on fish which is heavily fished in Nature vol 452 pp 835-839.. Christian…
Read moreThe genetic make up of populations and even apparently similar races is not uniform. The exciting developments in mapping populations reveal all manner of varieties. Fuzhong Xue et al report a molecular biological which analyses the presence of a significant boundary between the populations of north and south in China.. This had previously been indicated…
Read moreLing Yang1, et al (2008) Potential association of INSIG2 rs7566605 polymorphism with body weight in a Chinese subpopulation European Journal of Human Genetics 16, 759–761Herbert et al reported association with obesity of a common DNA variant rs7566605 at 10 kb upstream of the INSIG2 gene. Ling Yang analyzed rs7566605 polymorphism in 3125 Chinese in a…
Read moreDuring 2008 the Lancet has run a fascinating series of articles on malnutrition and deprivation. These are profound contributions to our understanding and knowledge. There is of course correspondence coming in to the Lancet concerning these articles and reveal the complexities of straight forward and sensible ideas.Bhutta at al Lancet 2008 vol 371 pp 417-40…
Read morePrivate Eye has an important article on Biofuels. ( Private Eye 16th May 2008 p 15 )Papers and Health Journals are beginning to feel unease about the use of valuable land to grow crops to make these fuels. Last year the European Union decided to sell its remaining grain stocks at knockdown prices just before…
Read moreI have just returned from a holiday in the Auverne France. Fun and lots of good food.A striking feature of both the cities and rural areas is the seemingly uncommon occurrence of the obesity which is so commonly seen in Britain. This includes school children . There must be many reasons for this but amongst…
Read moreDisorders of growth either too little or too much are of great importance to clinical nutritionists. This book is an important source of information in this field. Such a topic covers so many fields, social, nutritional, genetic , public health, emotional to mention but a few.Growth is one marker of health within and between communities.…
Read moreWang et al 2008 Upper intestinal lipids trigger a gut-brain-liver axis to regulate glucose production Nature vol 452, 1012-1016Thaler and Cummings 2008, Food Alert Nature vol 452, 941-42Energy and glucose homeostasis are regulated by food intake and liver glucose production, respectively. The upper intestine has a critical role in nutrient digestion and absorption. Upper intestinal…
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