This is a fascinating review of the molecular biology of cancer by Stratton et al in Nature . . Cancer is responsible for one in eight deaths worldwide and includes more than 100 distinct diseases with diverse risk factors and epidemiology in most of the cell types and organs of the human body. The cancers…
Read moreIt is well established that dietary restriction, which involves limiting nutrient intake below normal levels but without reaching malnutrition, extends lifespan, youthfulness, age-associated traits and diseases, including cognitive deterioration and cancer in most, if not all, species – probably including humans, This might be due to the evolutionary advantage of keeping alive under suboptimal nutrient…
Read moreOn May 22, WHO and UNICEF change the definition of new case severe acute malnutrition based on the 2006 WHO growth standards.’ Before the global food crisis, a 2006 review estimated that 13 million children had such malnutrition.’ By January, 2009, aid agencies reported about 19 million affected. Calls were made for the disease-burden demand…
Read moreThe Times of July 13th 2009 describes how El Nino, the warming of the Pacific Ocean that creates chaos in global weather patterns, is on its way back, threatening droughts, floods, crop failure and social unrest. Scientists at America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), warn that a new bout of El Nino is under…
Read moreThe Nutrition Research Review of 2009 contains an interesting review and meta-analysis of the effect of weight loss on all-cause mortality risk Overweight and obesity are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, although the range of body weights that is optimal for health is controversial. It is less clear whether weight loss benefits longevity and…
Read moreAn Evidence-Based Position Statement on theManagement of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by an American College of Gastroenterology IBS Task Force Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disordercharacterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habitfor at least 3 months. With this publication, an AmericanCollege of Gastroenterology Task Force updates the2002 Monograph on IBS in light of…
Read moreThis is a very interesting and relevant review by Trzeciakiewicz et in Nutrition Research Review of recent research, which has given insights into dietary components that may optimise bone health and stimulate bone formation.The vertebrate skeleton is composed of two specialised tissues, cartilage and bone. Bone is essential as its main role is to provide…
Read moreGlobal Warming induced migraton.Migration from the farms has long been a feature of the dry areas of Western Africa. Rural life becomes more difficult and populations move to the cities and urban life. As Global Warming progresses so people will find farming impossible and will move in search of sustenance and work. 10 % of…
Read moreHIV is a grave problem in sub-Saharan and the basic treatment is antiretroviral therapy. Mortality is high during the first few months of treatment, significantly associated with weight loss i.e. reduced BMI. How can the BMI be increased?The most commonly used supplement in food aid programmes is corn-soy blended flour, a cheap fortified cereal-legume combination…
Read moreThe use of statistics in randomised controlled trials is central to the whole exercise and it is a terrible waste of everyone’s time when this is neglected. This timely paper in the BMJ id worth the attention of anyone undertaking such trials.The importance of sample size determination in randomised controlled trials has been widely asserted,…
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