Chinese scientists investigating the spread of airborne influenzas have reportedly combined genetic material from avian (H5N1) and swine (H1N1) flu strains to create more than 100 different hybrid viruses, five of which proved contagious among mammals. Ying Zhang, et al., “H5N1 Hybrid Viruses Bearing 2009/H1N1 Virus Genes Transmit in Guinea Pigs by Respiratory Droplet,” Science, May 2013. According to the study, researchers engineered 127 reassortant viruses using “a duck isolate of H5N1, specifically retaining its hemagglutinin (HA) gene throughout, and a highly transmissible, humaninfective H1N1 virus,” then tested the reassortants in mice “as a correlate for virulence in humans” and in guinea pigs, “which have both avian and mammalian types of airway receptor,” as a test of transmissibility. The results evidently showed that in addition to H5 HA gene mutations, which “improve affinity for human-like airway receptors,” specific H1N1 genes enhanced mammal-to-mammal transmission, including “the polymerase PA gene and nonstructural protein…
Category Archives Scientific/Technical Items
A recent study has allegedly concluded that food commercials increased brain activity in adolescent viewers regardless of body weight. Ashley Gearhardt, et al., “Relation of Obesity to Neural Activation in Response to Food Commercials,” Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, May 2013. Researchers with Yale University’s Rudd Center for Policy & Obesity, the University of Michigan and the Oregon Research Institute apparently used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brain activity of 30 adolescents described as either normal weight (10 participants), overweight (eight participants) or obese (12 participants), who viewed a TV show interspersed with 20 food and 20 non-food commercials. The study’s authors then asked participants “to list five commercials that they had seen during the television program they just viewed to measure top-of-mind recall” and “to rate how much they liked the products/companies featured in the advertisements on a 5-point Likert scale” and “how familiar they were with…
A recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allegedly found that “approximately 13% of adults’ total caloric intakes came from added sugars between 2005 and 2010” despite government recommendations that “no more than 5% to 15% of calories should come from solid fats and added sugars.” R. Bethene Ervin, et al., “Consumption of Added Sugars Among U.S. Adults, 2005-2010,” NCHS Data Brief, May 2013. Based on data from the Natonal Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010, the report also suggested that (i) “men consumed a larger amount of calories from added sugars than women, but not when their added sugar intakes were expressed as a percentage of total calories,” and (ii) “the percentage of calories from added sugars increased with increasing age for children and adolescents, but there was no difference in added sugars consumption between income groups.” In addition, CDC researchers noted that…
The Society of Biological Psychiatry has dedicated the May 1, 2013, edition of its flagship journal, Biological Psychiatry, to the debate over whether “food is, or can be addictive.” According to its introduction, the special issue explores (i) whether food and drugs of abuse share common neurobiological mechanisms; (ii) whether the addiction model can “reasonably” be adopted for binge eating; (iii) the possibility of shared vulnerabilities, such as stress, that can affect “the likelihood of a relapse for drug addiction and obesity”; and (iv) the key differences between food and drug addiction models. To this end, it includes articles that address the theories, concepts and evidence behind food addiction models; addiction risk factors and susceptibility; neural adaptations and reward circuits; and the prevalence of binge eating disorder, among other topics. Additional details about commentary authored by Ashley Gearhardt and Kelly Brownell for this special edition appear in Issue 450 of…
British-based researchers who closely examined alcohol industry submissions to a 2008 Scottish government consultation on “Changing Scotland’s relationship with alcohol” have distilled the arguments presented and contend that they misrepresent the scientific evidence and should not be considered persuasive. Jim McCambridge, et al., “Industry Use of Evidence to Influence Alcohol Policy: A Case Study of Submissions to the 2008 Scottish Government Consultation,” PLOS Medicine, April 2013. Observing that industry actors “consistently oppose[] whole-population approaches, . . . favouring instead targeted interventions that focus on a supposedly problematic minority of drinkers and emphasising the role of individual responsibility,” and faulting their use of relevant research literature, the authors “suggest that the public interest is not served by industry actors’ involvement in the interpretation of research evidence” and that “[c]ommercial conflicts of interest should be made explicit.” They further warn policy makers to “treat industry actors’ interpretation of research evidence with extreme…
A recent study investigating the link between dietary phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and the production of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), “a proatherosclerotic metabolite,” has concluded that “the production of TMAO from dietary phosphatidylcholine is dependent on metabolism by the intestinal microbiota.” W.H. Wilson Tang, et al., “Intestinal Microbial Metabolism of Phosphatidylcholine and Cardiovascular Risk,” The New England Journal of Medicine, April 2013. During the first phase of the study, researchers administered a dietary phosphatidylcholine challenge (two hard-boiled eggs and 250 mg of deuterium [d9]-labeled phosphatidylcholine) to 40 healthy adults, then analyzed participants’ plasma and urinary TMAO levels as well as their plasma choline and betaine levels. The study’s authors also performed the same analyses after six participants took a week-long course of antibiotics to suppress their gut microbiota and after the effects of the antibiotics had worn off. According to the study, the researchers not only observed “time-dependent increases in levels of both TMAO…
A recent study has reportedly claimed that “restricting larger-sized drinks may have the unintended consequence of increasing soda consumption rather than decreasing it.” Brent Wilson, et al., “Regulating the Way to Obesity: Unintended Consequences of Limiting Sugary Drink Sizes,” PLoS One, April 2013. Researchers apparently conducted a behavioral simulation in which 100 University of California, San Diego, students “were offered varying food and drink menus” that replaced larger drink offerings with bundles of smaller drinks. According to the study, the menus given to participants included: (i) an Unregulated menu offering 16-oz., 24-oz. or 32-oz. drinks for sale; (ii) a Bundle menu offering 16-oz. drinks, a bundle of two 12-oz. drinks, or a bundle of two 16-oz. drinks for sale; and (iii) a No Bundle menu offering only 16-oz. drinks for sale. The results evidently showed that participants bought “significantly more ounces of soda from the Bundle menu than from the…
A new study has purportedly linked a “Western-style” diet to a greater risk of premature death in middle-age adults. Tasnime Akbaraly, et al., “Does Overall Diet in Midlife Predict Future Aging Phenotypes? A Cohort Study,” American Journal of Medicine, May 2013. Using data from the British Whitehall II cohort study, researchers evidently examined the dietary patterns and adherence to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)—“a validated index of diet quality”—of 5,350 adults with a mean age of 51 years. After a 16-year followup that included screenings conducted every 5 years, the study’s authors apparently categorized participant outcomes into the following groups: (i) “ideal aging, defined as free of chronic conditions and high performance in physical, mental and cognitive functioning tests—4.0 percent”; (ii) “nonfatal cardiovascular event—12.7 percent”; (iii) “cardiovascular death—2.8 percent”; (iv) “noncardiovascular death—7.3 percent”; and (v) “normal aging—73.2 percent.” Based on these classifications, the study’s authors reported that subjects “with…
In a recent paper, a member of European Food Safety Authority and Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety genetically modified organism (GMO) panels has explored whether biosafety data provided to regulatory authorities by companies developing GMOs should be protected from disclosure. K.M. Nielsen, “Biosafety Data as Confidential Business Information,” PLOS Biology, 2013. Noting that standards or criteria as to what constitutes “legitimate” confidential business information (CBI) in GM product applications are lacking, the author argues that CBI claims are used indiscriminately and prevent independent research and monitoring. The article concludes with the author’s suggested criteria for “warranted CBI claims.” Among other things, the criteria would exclude from protection “information present in patent documents or for information not considered to be or not under confidentiality agreements in other companies/locations/countries.”
A recent study has allegedly linked L-carnitine, a nutrient found in red meat and commonly used as an additive in energy drinks, to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Robert Koeth, “Intestinal microbiota metabolism of L-carnitine, a nutrient in red meat, promotes atherosclerosis,” Nature Medicine, April 2013. According to the study, L-carnitine, like the trimethylamine-containing compound choline, forms a proatherogenic compound known as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) when metabolized by intestinal microbiota. Given the “markedly” increased ingestion of L-carnitine in industrial societies, researchers apparently set out to examine the effects of the nutrient on CVD risk using isotope tracer studies in humans as well as animal models. In particular, the study’s authors reportedly “tested the carnitine and TMAO levels of omnivores, vegans and vegetarians, and examined the clinical data of 2,595 patients undergoing elective cardiac evaluations,” in addition to examining “the cardiac effects of a carnitine-enhanced diet in normal mice compared…
