Diabetes is a life-long disease that is on the increase around the world. It brings a myriad of complications to the lives of those with the disease and to their caregivers. The economic losses on both a personal and employment fronts are increasing as well. News coming from research conducted at Harvard by Professor Douglas Melton has raised the hopes that diabetes will be cured. For many years, researchers had tried to transplant the cells that produce insulin into a diabetic person’s pancreas. The cells were quickly identified by the immune system and dispatched. Encapsulating the cells with a coating that allowed crucial materials in and out worked, but only for a short time. Scar tissue grew and blocked the tiny channels. Professor Melton and his team have found a promising new way to coat the insulin producing cells. Taking material from brown algae(seaweed), they produced a substance that shields the transplanted cells from the immune system, yet allows the transport of vital materials. Tests on mice are very promising. The transplanted cells produced insulin and they survived the length of the experiment --more than six months. The cells were injected into the body cavity of the mice. While it is early days for this research, if it proves successful, the economic benefits will be staggering. In 2009 the American Diabetes Association published a breakdown of costs in their country due to diabetes. At that time there were 30 million people with the disease in the US. It was estimated that each of the sufferers was paying about $13, 700 a year in medical expenses. When one disease is generating approximately USD 245 billion each year in one country, the effect on the medical industry will be significant. Currently one in eight health dollars in the US is consumed with diabetes care, both directly and on chronic conditions arising. WHO estimated the global annual mortality from diabetes in 2008 to be 1.3 million. That figure was expected to rise. In 2008 lower limb amputations in developed countries were 10 times more prevalent in those with diabetes. Sources: Medical News Today American Diabetes Association World Health Organization
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The water supply for the city was switched from Detroit to a line carrying water from the Flint River in March 2014. The water was corrosive to the lead in the city’s pipes and dissolved it into the general supply. It was to be a temporary measure until a new line from Lake Huron was constructed. The water supply was switched back in October. The city of 100 000 stopped the Detroit supply after water rates were raised.
There is no safe level of lead. It is a neurotoxin which means that it particularly attacks nerves and brain cells. The most vulnerable are children and fetuses as their brains are growing fastest. The damage is permanent. Some new studies indicate that damage may affect children born to those affected. Law suits have already started. It has been reported that the Environmental Protection Agency advised the city authorities that anti-corrosive measures should be taken before switching water sources. That, apparently, was never done. So what was started as a money saving move has turned into a health nightmare for the residents. It has also engendered a multi-million dollar bill to clean the system and to provide for future therapy and health costs to the children. To add to the woes of Flint residents is an outbreak of Legionnaire Disease. Two months after switching to the river water, a spike in the cases was noted. To date 87 cases have been identified and ten deaths. The disease is associated with warm, contaminated water. Sources: Michigan News Live Al Jazeera Giant food corporation, Campbell’s has announced its support for US labelling of GM products. In any case, they have announced that they will be phasing in new labels that will disclose the probable presence of GM products in their offerings. The new labels will also have a web site address so that interested consumers may get more specific information. Campbell Soup Company is famous for its red and white labels, but it is a giant purveyor of food products and their announcement will likely put pressure on the US government and other food purveyors. Campbell’s also markets under Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Plum Organics and V8 brands. Their first new labels will be on the canned spaghetti product called Spaghetti Os. Vermont is the first state to phase in GM labelling. It will be effective in July of this year. There will continue to be some anomalies. For instance, the plain SpaghettiOs will come under the new regs but the cans with meat balls will not as they are regulated by two different federal agencies. The announcement by Campbell may seem odd as the company recently funded campaigns to oppose mandatory labelling of GM foods in California and Washington State where the proposals were defeated. Their stance is that a uniform countrywide mandatory standard is necessary. We now believe that proposing a mandatory national solution is necessary. Printing a clear and simple statement on the label is the best solution for consumers and for Campbell. Campbell Soup Company The company is taking pains to make it clear that they are not questioning the safety or nutritional validity of the GM products in their offerings. Up to 75% of their products contain the big four GM products – corn, canola, soybeans, sugar beets. Campbell has also announced that they are phasing out the use of artificial colour and flavours in their products. The company, founded in 1869, also owns the following brands. Bolthouse Farms, Arnott’s, Swanson, Pace, Royal Dansk, Kjeldsens, Garden Fresh Gourmet. Sources: GM Watch Campbell Soup Company
He came to the attention of authorities for his abusive behavior to his wife. Eventually he became dependent on her for his care.
Awareness of the danger to athletes is growing. A movie currently making the rounds is Concussion which is based on facts surrounding professional American football players. Society has known for many years that repeated blows to the head damage the brain. We even have a trite saying to describe a person so damaged – punch drunk. Some professional athletes are bequeathing their brains to researchers so that more can be learned about the trauma. The CDC has page called Heads Up with information for parents and coaches about how to prevent and/or recognize concussion when it happens. The brain can be injured when the skull is either jerked abruptly or a blow causes the brain to bounce against the inside of the bony case, or to twist inside it. In the past, many head injuries were laughed off because people did not know the seriousness of the injury as sometimes there are no overt signs. One sign that is always indicative of a concussion is loss of consciousness, even for a moment. It should mean a trip to emergency even if the person claims to be fine. Related reading by same writer: NFL players risk permanent brain damage Sources: Journal of American Medical Association CDC Heads Up |
Barbara McPherson
Blogger, gardener, farmer. Working toward food security and a 30 foot
diet. Addicted to reading. Love this planet, especially my little corner
on Vancouver Island, Canada Archives
October 2016
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