The United States Supreme Court ruled — unanimously — that Monsanto Corp., the leading innovator and marketer of GM agricultural products, could enforce its contractual patent protections for its “Roundup Ready” soybeans. Roundup is glyphosate, Monsanto’s herbicide in use since the early 1970s. Crops with the Roundup-Ready gene are resistant to its effects, while the [...]
The post Score one for GM agriculture — and patent protections appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Search results
Most adults will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives. It is the fifth most common reason for primary care office visits and medical expenditures for low back pain have been increasing since 1997. Spinal injection therapy is one treatment option for low back pain, but recent studies indicate that there [...]
The post Can injection therapy help low back pain sufferers? appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Watching your waistline? A new report suggests that smoking weed might be for you. Despite munchie myths, it was found that the BMI of the pot smoking community reflects a reduced prevalence of obesity. The study reported in the American Journal of Medicine sought to better understand the effects of marijuana on insulin levels in [...]
The post Toke up and slim down? appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
In the wake of a defeated attempt in California to require labeling of genetically engineered foods and ingredients, multiple other states are jumping on that disabled bandwagon. Washington State has such a bill pending, and Vermont’s House voted in favor of a labeling bill earlier this month. Now, the Connecticut Senate has also taken the [...]
The post GMO foolishness spreads to Northeast appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Those who are trying to impede the spread of the reduced-harm nicotine delivery device known as the e-cigarette will find their task at least a bit harder henceforth. One of the pseudo-arguments against smokers using this technology to help them quit is that young people who are non-smokers might find the devices attractive, try [...]
The post Anti e-cigarette propaganda exposed appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
A new meta-analysis suggests that breast cancer may be more deadly for women who have cosmetic implants, largely thought to be a result of receiving the diagnosis at a later stage. Study authors explain that the breast implants are “radio-opaque” — meaning they appear “light” on the dark breast tissue background — which makes it [...]
The post Breast implants linked to greater risk of dying from breast cancer? Not so fast. appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Josh Bloom in Medical Progress Today
The pharmaceutical industry does many wonderful things, yet most people regard it as one step below head lice on the food chain.
This week, Merck, with some questionable help from the FDA, gave more ammunition to industry critics, who typically maintain that the industry contributes little innovation, and is simply concerned with profits.
Well, that didn’t last long. Wrigley has taken its new caffeinated gum off the market while the Food and Drug Administration investigates the effect of caffeine on children and adolescents. Each of the eight pieces of Alert Energy gum contained about 40 milligrams of caffeine — about the equivalent as half a cup of coffee. [...]
The post Caffeinated gum taken off the market appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) is at it again, seizing any opportunity to promote its obsessive crusade against sugary drinks. Today marks the day when the New York State Appellate Division will take its turn, sizing up the case of the New York City Board of Health — actually [...]
The post Attack on sugary drinks by the NYC Department of Health continues appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
The federal government told a judge on Monday it will take steps to comply with orders to make emergency contraception available to anyone, regardless of age. The change of heart will allow for Teva’s Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) to be available over the counter immediately after the FDA receives and approves an application by Teva [...]
The post Obama switches to Plan B in contraception battle appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) have been a mainstay of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. Such treatment is not without risk for some sufferers, however, says a new, preliminary study covered by MedPage Today. People with rheumatoid arthritis have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, and NSAIDS have been shown to also [...]
The post Caution advised for NSAID arthritis treatment appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Every so often a really ingenious idea pops up that ends up making a real difference.
Not satisfied with demonizing soda, the New York City Health Department has announced that even more categories of beverages — sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened teas, and fruit-flavored drinks — are bad for health because of their sugar content. In its press release, the DOH warns that such drinks may contain more sugar “than a [...]
The post City Department of Health attacks more beverages appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
A large, U.K. government-supported study, The Pesticide Users’ Health Study, 1987-2005 (PUHS) was released this week. This huge evaluation of various health outcomes focused on mortality and cancer incidence data collected from 59,000 male and 4,000 female certified pesticide commercial users over almost two decades. The results, which are sure to come as a welcome [...]
The post For longer life and less cancer: Pesticides!? appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Organic foods benefit from what’s known as a “halo” effect. People believe that because they are not produced with synthetic pesticides they are more healthful. As a result, they also gain the misguided reputation of being safer. That this is not true is obvious from a recent lawsuit in California. Lynda Brackenridge is suing Costco [...]
The post Hepatitis A outbreak: Was it the (organic) berries? appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
In an effort to increase rates of flu vaccination among elementary school age children, researchers from the UC Davis Health System, the Monroe County, NY Department of Public Health, the University of Rochester Medical Center and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the key may be offering the flu vaccination at [...]
The post A convenient way to vaccinate more kids against the flu, and save more lives appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Here at ACSH, we’ve said it numerous times: prolonged sitting isn’t good for the body. As if we needed more proof to get moving, several recent studies point to the health risks of too much sitting. “The chair is out to kill us,” says James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. [...]
The post Off your rockers: too much sitting is harmful appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
A survey of general practitioners in the UK and Sweden revealed that a sizable fraction of them wrongly believed that it’s the nicotine in cigarette smoke that harms health. The online survey was undertaken by UK tobacco giant BAT, and they got responses from 100 British and 120 Swedish physicians. (The study itself is not [...]
The post What doctors don’t know about nicotine can hurt…you! appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Did the pharmaceutical industry paint itself into a corner this time? Maybe yes. According to an article that appeared in FiercePharma, one of the premier websites covering the drug industry, the recent, radical change in the strategy of the drug industry—out of traditional disease areas and into oncology—may have backfired. A record 11 oncology drugs [...]
The post Expensive, but modestly useful new cancer drugs: What to do? appeared first on Health & Science Dispatch.
Cross Talk, one of the shows on RT.com, a Russian-based English language quas-propaganda site which says it is the largest news service on YouTube, with a reach of 1 billion viewers (?), did a segment on the over-pharmacating of America. In a live debate, host Peter Lavelle and two participants (with obvious agendas) took a decidedly anti-pharmaceutical position, leaving ACSH s Dr. Josh Bloom as the fall guy.
The European Parliament will be meeting next week in Brussels, and they may be confronted with a populist uprising based on sound science, a most unusual occurrence.
According to a new CDC report, fatalities from overdosing on painkillers are on the rise among women. Compared to 1999, this rate is now five times higher. (It s also three times higher in men).
Clinton Leaf, author of The Truth in Small Doses: Why We re Losing the War on Cancer
We at ACSH are heartened to know that America has gotten a little safer this week.
Self-proclaimed vaccine expert Jenny McCarthy will soon become a co-host on The View, where she will no doubt be sharing her medical acumen with millions of people who will devour every word.
Pagination
ACSH relies on donors like you. If you enjoy our work, please contribute.
Make your tax-deductible gift today!