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Recently, scientists have made new discoveries regarding stem cells that can potentially revolutionize the field of dentistry. Regenerative medicine started in 1998 with the discovery of human embryonic stem cells, [...]

Shortly before Congressman James Langevin cast his vote last month to relax federal rules on funding of stem cell research, the Rhode Island Democrat told his colleagues, 'I believe one [...]

The food label is an important tool for improving the public's understanding of the health benefits of following a nutritious diet. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has continued to study food labels with its Food Label and Package Survey (FLAPS). Data from the 2000-2001 FLAPS characterize various aspects of the labeling of processed, packaged foods, including nutrition labeling and various types of label claims. The FDA used a multistage, representative sample of food products from the Information Resources Inc (IRI) 1999 supermarket database as the basis for the FLAPS sample. The final FLAPS database consists of 1,281 foods. An estimated 98.3% of FDA-regulated processed, packaged foods sold annually have nutrition labels, with an additional 1.7% of products exempt from nutrition labeling requirements. Health claims (4.4%), structure/function claims (6.2%), and nutrient content claims (49.7%) were identified on food labels. In addition to the resource this survey provides to CFSAN in assessing health and nutrition information on the food label, registered dietitians and other health professionals can use FLAPS data to assist consumers in choosing a more nutritious diet to improve their health and well-being. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:952-958.

In June 2000, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) organized a review of the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The review concluded that condoms were effective in protecting against transmission of HIV to women and men and in reducing the risk of men becoming infected with gonorrhoea. Evidence for the effectiveness of condoms in preventing other STIs was considered to be insufficient. We review the findings of prospective studies published after June 2000 that evaluated the effectiveness of condoms in preventing STIs. We searched Medline for publications in English and included other articles, reports, and abstracts of which we were aware, These prospective studies, published since June 2000, show that condom use is associated with statistically significant protection of men and women against several other types of STIs, including chlamydial infection, gonorrhoea, herpes simplex virus type 2, and syphilis. Condoms may also be associated with protecting women against trichomoniasis. While no published prospective study has found protection against genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, two studies reported that condom use was associated with higher rates of regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and clearance of cervical HPV infection in women and with regression of HPV-associated penile lesions in men. Research findings available since the NIH review add considerably to the evidence of the effectiveness of condoms against STIs. Although condoms are not 100% effective, partial protection can substantially reduce the spread of STIs within populations. Keywords Condoms/utilization; Sexually transmitted diseases/prevention and control; Herpes genitalis/prevention and control;Gonorrhea/ prevention and control; Chlamydia infections/prevention and control; Trichomonas vaginitis/prevention and control; Syphilis/prevention and control; Papillomavirus, Human; Prospective studies; Review literature (source: MeSH, NHM). Mots cles Condom/utilisation; Maladies sexuellement transmissibles/ prevention et controle; Herpes genital/prevention et controle; Gonococcie/prevention et controle; Chlamydia, Infection/prevention et controle;Vaginite trichomonas/prevention et controle; Syphilis/ prevention et controle; Papillomavirus humain; Etude prospective; Revue de la litterature (source: MeSH, INSERM). Palabras clave Condones/utilizacion; Enfermedades sexualmente transmisibles/prevencion y control; Herpes genital/prevencion y control; Gonorrea/prevencion y control; Infecciones por chlamydia/ prevencion y control; Vaginitis por trichomonas/prevencion y control; Sifilis/prevencion y control; Papilomavirus humano; Estudios prospectivos; Literatura de revision (fuente: DeCS, BIREME). [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ACII], Introduction In June 2000, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration and the [...]

Objective To compare quantities consumed per eating occasion in 1989-1991 and 1994-1996 was the objective of this study. Design This study was a comparison over time. Subjects/setting Subjects were respondents in the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (OSFII) in 1989-1991 or 1994-1996. Intake data were processed and analyzed to provide estimates of amounts of commonly eaten foods consumed per eating occasion. Statistical analyses performed Approximate t tests were used to compare quantities of foods consumed by 1989-1991 and 1994-1996 survey respondents. Analyses were conducted for all persons aged 2 years and over and for 10 age and sex groups. Significance was set at .001. Results Significant differences in amounts consumed were reported for approximately one third of the 107 foods examined. Larger amounts were reported in 1994-199 6 by all persons aged 2 years and over and selected age/sex subgroups for several foods including soft drinks, coffee, tea, and ready to-eat cereal. Smaller amounts were reported for fewer foods: margarine, mayonnaise, chicken, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. Applications/conclusions Amounts of foods consumed per eating occasion are widely used for the formation of public policy, counseling, and dietary assessment. Changes in amounts consumed should be monitored to evaluate the need for revisions in policy and diet assessment protocols. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:41-47., There is widespread interest in the amount of foods and beverages Americans consume either at an eating occasion or in a day; there is also interest regarding whether the amounts [...]

The arguments of agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the manufacture, advertising, and distribution of tobacco products are based on data which show an increase in the number of youth smokers. FDA data show that the number of eight and tenth grade smokers had increased by some 34% during the period of 1991 to 1995. However, long term data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which covers the period from 1971 to 1993, show a contrary trend.

The private research by AIDS victim-activists Jim Corti and Martin Delaney into non-approved drugs, that were later found to prevent the onset of AIDS, was harassed by the FDA as unscientific. The press was also involved in discrediting their efforts to gain more rapid approval for drugs such as ribavirin, isoprinosine and compound Q. In most cases the press accepted the information released by the FDA and scientists whose careers were tied up in the traditional approval process without seeking the other side of the story., In his new book, 'Acceptable Risks,' Jonathan Kwitny chronicles the story of two men, Martin Delaney and Jim Corti, who sacrificed their careers to help find life-extending drugs for AIDS [...]