Rich vs. Poor Health
The following timeline was created to help illustrate how potential and/or cumulative influence and/or events can impact [for good or for bad] upon individual human health. In some places, bold type highlights were added for quick summary review. [E.M.]
August 2007
2007 - Scientists Raise Alarm / Bisphenol A - August 3rd, 2007: "In an unusual effort targeting a single chemical, several dozen scientists on Thursday [08/02/07] issued a strongly worded consensus statement warning that an estrogenlike compound in plastic is likely to be causing serious reproductive disorders in people. [NP] The compound, bisphenol A or BPA, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in the world and has found its way into the bodies of most human beings. [....] The statement, published online by the journal Reproductive Toxicology, was accompanied by a study by researchers from the national Institute of Health findining uterine damage in newborn animals exposed to BPA. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Scientists raise alarm on chemical), p A3, S.L.P.D., 08/03/07]
2007 - Linked to Dementia / Acid-Inhibiting Drugs? - August 4th, 2007: "Elderly black people who are chronic users of acid-inhibiting drugs in the family that includes Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet have 2 1/2 times the normal risk of developing dementia, Indiana University researchers reported Friday [08/03/07]. [NP] The drugs block production of stomach acid by inhibiting histamine-2 receptors; the stomach releases hydrochloric acid when stimulated by histamines. But they also inhibit the brain's cholinergic system, which is involved in memory and cognition. Low levels of Cholinergic activity have been linked to dementia. In the past, there have been hints that the drugs, known as histamine-2 receptor antagonists, might be linked to dementia, but previous studies have come down on both sides of the question, said Dr. John Morris of Washington University in St. Louis, who was not involved in the study. [NP] 'This is certainly not the final word on the potential risk of these drugs,' he said. 'But what it tells us is that, for older adults, drug use should be considered very carefully.' [NP] GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactures Tagamet and Zantac, did not return calls seeking comment. [NP] The study did not look at Caucasians. [NP] The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It was conducted by Dr. Malaz Boustani." [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Study ties stomach, dementia), p A18, S.L.P.D., 08/04/07]
2007 - Trivia / "21st Century" Socialism? - August 7th, 2007: "[....] According to an economic blueprint for the next six years, free-market capitalism's influence will wane with the rise of state enterprises and mixed public-private firms called social production companies. The goal is to generate money for community programs. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Chavez puts his own spin on '21st century' socialism) by Juan Forero, p A7, S.L.P.D., 08/07/07]
2007 - Life Span Trivia / U.S.A. - August 12th, 2007: "Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Life spans soar, but U.S. falls behind / We're No. 42 - Japan, Europe, small nations do more to improve health.), p A1, S.L.P.D., 08/12/07] - [My bold text. - D.R.D.]
2007 - Introduced for Super Rich / Private Stock Market - August 17th, 2007: "[....] Any private firm can list on Nasdaq's new platform, which is called the Portal Market, and raise money by selling stock to an elite group of shareholders. These companies would remain private and not have to make public their financial statements or submit to federal regulation, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accountability law. [....] The boom in private money has beome so important to the financial system that major investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Citigroup, are setting up rival private stock markets of their own. But none is as large as Portal, which listed the shares of about 600 firms on its first day of trading Wednesday. [....] The private market, Marks [Howard S. Marks, chairman of Oaktree Capital] said, shields companies from regulation and from wild swings in their share prices that are caused by a temporary drop in earnings or a bad rumor. [NP] In just a few years, Nasdaq officials predict, stock offerings on private markets will far exceed IPOs on public exchanges. [....] Portal is the first centralized private stock market for an elite class of investors called Qualified Institutional Buyers, or 'QIBs,' that was created in 1990 by securities rule 144A. This law defined QIBs as investing institutions with at least $100 million in assets. It also allowed private companies to raise money by selling shares only to QIBs and remain exempt from regulatory scrutiny. These firms, however, disclose their financial statements to their investors. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Private stock market is introduced for super rich) by David Cho, p B8, S.L.P.D., 08/17/07]
2007 - Cancer Fighting Foods / Red & Blue? - August 28th, 2007: "Natural pigments that give certain fruit and vegetables a rich red, purple or blue colour act as powerful anti-cancer agents, according to a study by American scientists. [NP] The compounds, found in foods such as aubergines, red cabbage, elderberries and bilberries, restricted the growth of cancer cells and in some cases killed them off entirely, leaving healthy cells unharmed. [....] The research was presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston. [....]" [Based on: Article: (Forget eating your greens: red and blue foods are the cancer fighters / · Health properties detected in new laboratory tests / · Pigment can slow growth or even kill tumour cells) by Ian Sample, science correspondent The Guardian Monday August 20 2007]
*Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/aug/20/sciencenews.cancer - [T.D. - 08/28/07]
2007 - Trans Fat Reduction / Dunkin' Donuts - August 27th, 2007: "[....] The chain says its menu will be 'zero grams trans fat' by Oct. 15 across its 5,400 U.S. restaurants in 34 states. [....] Dunkin' isn't claiming it will become 'trans fat free,' but does say any trans fat in foods including dougnuts, croissants, muffins and cookies will fall below half a gram per serving. Federal regulations allow food labels to say they've got zero grams of trans fat, provided levels fall below the half-gram threshold. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Doh! / Dunkin' Donuts to shoot for zero grams trans fat), p A6, S.L.P.D., 08/27/07]
September 2007
2007 - Trivia / Drug Safety, U.S.A. - September 12th, 2007: "The number of serious adverse events and deaths attributed to perscription medications has nearly tripled since the Food and Drug Administration initiated a system in 1998 to make it easier to report significant side effects, researchers said Monday [09/11/07]. [NP] Twenty percent of drugs accounted for 87.1 percent of adverse effects, and the biggest offensers were painkillers and drugs that modify the immune system to treat arthritis, according to the report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Study raises concerns about safety of drugs / Number of adverse reactions attributed to perscription drugs has almost tripled, researchers find.) by Thomas H. Maugh II, p A3, S.L.P.D., 09/12/07]
2007 - Financed with Borrowed Money / U.S. National Debt - September 21st, 2007: "Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress Wednesday [09/20/07] that the government will hit the current debt ceiling on Oct. 1. [....] The limit is $8.965 trillion. [....] This month, the Senate Finance Committee approved increasing the limit on the debt to $9.82 trillion. That boost of $850 billion would be the fifth since President George W. Bush took office in 2001. [....] The national debt is the total accumulation of annual budget deficits, which must be financed with borrowed money. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Treasury chief says debt lid is tightening / He calls on Congress to quickly raise the ceiling beyond $9 trillion.) by Martin Crutsinger, p C2, S.L.P.D., 09/21/07]
2007 - No Link? / Thimsersal & Autism - September 27th, 2007: "No link found between drug in vaccines, maladies in kids / Research involving thimerosal [New England Journal of Medicine - 09/27/07] did not address autism." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 09/27/07]
2007 - Delayed Approval / Chemical for Farming, U.S.A. - September 29th, 2007: "The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday [09/28/07] delayed approval of a new toxic fumigant for use by fruit and vegetable farmers after more than 50 prominent scientists had objected that the chemical was too dangerous. [....] The fumigant ['methyl iodide, also called iodomethane'] was developed to replace the highly effective fumigant methyl bromide, which is banned by an international treaty because it depletes the Earth's ozone layer." [Based on: News Services article (EPA delays approval of chemical for farming), p. A19, S.L.P.D., 09/29/07]
*Trivia: "Despite the protests of more than 50 scientists, including five Nobel Laureates in chemistry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday [10/05/06] approved use of a new, highly toxic fumigant, mainly for strawberry fields. [NP] The new pesticide, methyl iodide, is a neurotoxin and carcinogen. EPA officials said Friday that they carefully evaluated the risks and decided to approve its use for one year. [Based on: News Services article (EPA approves pesticide despite scientists' protest), p. A22, S.L.P.D., 09/29/07]
October 2007
2007 - Aspartame is Safe? - October 1st, 2007: "Aspartame, a popular artificial sweetner, is safe, says a new study out of the University of Maryland. [NP] Researchers looked over more than 500 studies and reports dating to the 1970s and found no evidence that the sweetener causes cancer, nerve damage or other health problems in humans. [NP] The study is published in the September issue of Critical Reviews in Toxicology. [NP] Aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose, the accepted standard for sweetness. So while aspartame has the same number of calories as sugar on a weight-to-weight basis, it can be added to food or pharmaceuticals at a fraction of what would be needed with sucrose to achieve the same sweetness, with far fewer calories. [NP] Aspartame is known generally as Equal or NutraSweet. It's also the sweetner in more than 6,000 consumer foods and medications such as chewable vitamins. Its weakness: It loses its sweetness in cooking." [Based on: Heath Notes article (Aspartame is safe, a new study says), p H2, S.L.P.D., 10/01/07]
2007 - Self-discipline may fight dementia - October 2nd, 2007: "[....] The new findings, appearing in Monday's Archives of General Psychiatry [10/01/07], come from an analysis of personality tests and medical exams of 997 older Catholic proests, nuns and brothers who participated in the Religious Orders Study." [Based on: A.P. article (Self-discipline may fight dementia / Purposeful people are shown to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's.) by Carla K. Johnson, p A3, S.L.P.D., 10/02/07]
2007 - Trivia / Germ Lab Accidents, U.S.A. - October 3rd, 2007: "Accidents reported at U.S. labs handling deadly germs, toxins ['more than 100 accidents and missing shipments since 2003']" [Based on: Title A.P. article by Larry Margasak, p A5, S.L.P.D., 10/03/07]
2007 - Can Raise Risk of Cardiac Disease / Bad Relationships? - October 9th, 2007: "A lousy marriage might literally make you sick. [NP] Marital strife and other bad persoal relationships can raise your risk for heart disease, researchers reported Monday [10/08/07]. What it likely boils down to is stress - a well-known contributor to health problems, as well as a potential byproduct of troubled relationships, the scientists said. [....] That includes partners, close relatives and friends. [NP] The study, in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, follows previous research that has linked health problems with being single and having few close relationships. In the new study, researchers focused more on the quality of marriage and other important relationships. [NP] 'What we add here is that, "OK, being married is in general good, but be careful about the kind of person you have married." The quality of the relationship matters,' said lead author Roberto De Vogli, a researcher with University College in London. [....] Another recent study also looked at quality of relationships but had different results. There was no association between marital woes in general and risks for heart disease or early death. But it did find, over a 10-year follow-up, that women who keep silent during marital arguments had an increased risk of dying compared with wives who expressed their feelings during fights. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Heart Broken / Bad relationships can raise risk of cardiac disease, study says), p A5, S.L.P.D., 10/09/07]
2007 - Recall / Infant Cold Medicines, U.S.A. - October 12th, 2007: "Infant cold medicines are pulled / What's being recalled *Infant medications by Dimetapp, Little Colds, Pediacare, Robitussin, Triaminic and Tylenol. / Why? Concerns about safety and effictiveness *The FDA cites side effects, some deaths linked to the products." [Based on: Article title & Subtitles, p A1, S.L.P.D., 10/12/07]
*Commentary: "Only a drug can cure disease." LOL! - D.R.D.
November 2007
2007 - Exporting Electronic Waste / U.S.A. - November 19th, 2007: "[....] While there are no precise figures, activists estimate that 50 to 80 percent of the 300,000 to 400,000 tons of electronics collected for recycling in the U.S. each year ends up overseas. [....] 'It is being recycled, but it's being recycled in the most horrific way you can imagine,' said Jim Puckett of the Basel Action Network, a Seattle-based environmental group. 'We're preserving our own environment but contaminating the rest of the world.' [....] The EPA recognizes the problem but doesn't believe that stopping exports is the solution, said Matt Hale, who heads the agency's office of solid waste. Because most electronics are manufactured abroad, it makes sense to recycle them abroad, he said. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (U.S. struggling to police pollution from electronic waste / EPA is seeking system to certify companies that recycle responsibly.), p A3, S.L.P.D., 11/19/07]
January 2008
2008 - Helps Prevent Allergies / Breast-Feeding - January 7th, 2008: "Breast-feeding babies helps prevent allergies / American Academy of pediatrics also tosses earlier guidelines restricting certain foods from mothers' and babies' diets." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p A2, S.L.P.D., 01/07/08]
2008 - 'What to Eat for What Ails You' / How to Treat Illnesses by Changing the Food and Vitamins in Your Diet - January 7th, 2008: "Winnie Yu says she wrote 'What to Eat for What Ails You' for those who want to learn how to help treat or control medical conditions through diet and nutrition. [NP] She asks why doctors don't tell patients what to eat when they're diagnosed with an illness instead of simply telling them what medication to take. [NP] She contends that nutritional information could be helpful in controlling or improving the patient's health. [....] As a final note, Yu says that the remedies she lists have been checked by health care professionals who use nutrition to help their patients." [Based on: Healthy & Fit article (How food can substitute for medicine) by Carolyn Olson, p H3, S.L.P.D., 01/07/08]
2008 - Health Care Spending / U.S.A. - January 8th, 2008: "[....] Overall, health care spending in the United States continued its upward climb, rising 6.7 percent in 2006 to reach $2.1 trillion, or $7,026 per person. The 6.5 percent increase in 2005 was the smallest jump since 1999. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Health care costs rose in 2006 / Medicare picks up more of the tab for drugs, but out-of-pocket health spending increases, study states), p A3, S.L.P.D., 01/08/08]
2008 - Autism Not Linked to Thimerosal / Study Says - January 8th, 2008: [....] The preservative thimerosal hasn't been used in childhood vaccines since 2001, but it is used in some flu shots. [....] Results were published in January's issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. The study did not explore why there was an increase in autism cases." [Based on: A.P. article (Autism not linked to thimerosal, study finds / Cases of disorder continued to increase in California even after use of vaccine preservative was discontinued.) by Alicia Chang, p A3, S.L.P.D., 01/08/08]
2008 - Trivia / Celebrex Suit - January 11th, 2008: "A New York state court has ruled that plantiffs suing Pfizer Inc. over its pain medication Celebrex do not have reliable scientific evidence to prove the drug can cause heart attacks and strokes at the 200-milligram dose. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (CELEBREX LAWSUIT / New York state court rules plantiffs lack scientific evidence), p B2, S.L.P.D., 01/11/08]
2008 - New Stem Cell Technique - January 11th, 2008: "[....] In June, scientists in Japan and Wisconsin said they had made cells very similar to embryonic stem cells from adult skin cells, without involving embroys. But that technique so far requires the use of gene-altered viruses that contaminate the cells and limit their biomedical potential. [NP] By contrast, the new work shows for the first time that healthy, normal embryonic stem cells can be cultivated directly from embryos without destroying them. [....] The new technique involves the careful removal of a single cell from a newly formed eight-cell embryo and coaxing that cell to divide repeatedly until it forms a self-replenishing colony of embryonic stem cells. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (New stem cell technique may overcome some objections / Cell colonies are said to be created without harming embryos.) by Rick Weiss, p A3, S.L.P.D., 01/11/08]
2008 - Cloned Meat & Milk? / U.S.A. - January 16th, 2008: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared on Tuesday [01/15/08] that meat and milk from cloned cattle, swine and goats are as safe to consume as food from conventionally bred animals. [....] Currently between 95 and 99 percent of clones don't live past gestation of their first year of life, prompting concerns about animal welfare, as well as human safety. [....]" [Based on: St. Louis Post-Dispatch article (Meat and milk from clones are safe, FDA says) by Georgina Gustin, p A1 & A5, 01/16/08]
2008 - Trivia / Colon Polyps - January 17th, 2008: "[....] There are two major types of colon polyps. One is a hyperplastic polyp, and it is almost never a cancer threat. The other is an adenoma. More than 90 percent of adenomas do not become cancerous, but the remaining 10 percent can turn into cancer. By looking at a polyp, the doctor cannot tell whether it is a dangerous one; it must be examined microscopically. Up to 40 percent of people older than 60 have at least one colon polyp. [....]" [Based on: Article (Colon polyps can be the beginning of cancer) by Dr. Donohue, p EV2, S.L.P.D., 01/17/08]
2008 - We're all on steroids - January 28th, 2008: "What's the big hullabaloo about atheletes taking steroids and growth hormones? The Food and Drug Administration has been force-feeding every man, woman and child in America steroids, bovine growth hormones, penicillin and antibiotics ever since Monsanto invented the technology and developed enough clout with the FDA to pillage the food supply of this nation at will. [NP] With no labels. [NP] I doubt if young atheletes ever have had a drink of milk in their baby bottles that wasn't laced with BGH. These young atheletes are the Round-Up Ready Generation. [NP] If any person is surprises that the FDA now is going to force feed us cloned meat - with no labeling - I suggest that he beam himself back to this planet for a refresher course on the workings of the FDA." [Based on: Opinion Page article (We're all on steroids) by Rick Reyering, p B8, S.L.P.D., 01/28/08] - [My brackets. NP = new paragraph. - D.R.D.]
February 2008
2008 - Mercury Pollution Controls / U.S.A. - February 9th, 2008: "A federal appeals court said Friday [02/08/08] that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year. [NP] A three-judge panel unanimously struck down a mercury-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency three years ago. The plan established an emissions trading process in which some plants could avoid installing the best mercury control technology available by buying pollution credits. [....] Seventeen states as well as environmental and health groups joined in a suit to block the regulation, saying it did not adequately protect public health. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Court strikes down EPA's policy to control mercury pollution), p A32, S.L.P.D., 02/09/08]
2008 - Toxic Trailers / U.S. Hurricane Victims - February 15th, 2008: "FEMA admits [02/14/08] trailers are toxic / Hurricane victims will have to move due to high levels of formaldehyde fumes" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article by Michael Kunzelman, p A3, S.L.P.D., 02/15/08]
2008 - Record Beef Recall / U.S.A. - February 18th, 2008: "USDA issues large meat recall ['143 million pounds of beef' - 02/17/08] / 'EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS' * Meatpacker may have led sick animals to slaughter." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Washington Post article, p A2, S.L.P.D., 02/18/08]
2008 - Accumulating in Environment & People? / Flame Retardant Chemical [Deca] / U.S.A. - February 29th, 2008: "[....] Toxicologist Deborah Rice was appointed chairwoman of an EPA scientific panel reviewing the chemical [deca] a year ago. Federal records show that she was removed from the panel in August after the American Chemistry Council, the lobbying group for chemical manufacturers, complained to a top-ranking EPA official that she was biased. [....] In February 2007, around the time the EPA panel was convened, Rice testified before the Maine Legislature in support of a state ban on the compound ['a brominated compound known as deca'] because scientific evidence shows it is toxic and accumulating in the environment and people. [NP] Chemical industry lobbyists say Rice's comments to the legislature, as well as similar comments to the media, show that she is a biased advocate who has compromised the integrity of the EPA's review of the flame retardant." [Based on: News Services article (EPA dismisses critic of flame retardant), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/29/08]
March 2008
2008 - Trivia / Vaccines & Autism - March 6th, 2008: "Vaccine may have led to autism-like symptoms [in Georgia girl]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article by Marilynn Marchione, p A3, S.L.P.D., 03/06/08]
2008 - Contaminated Heparin / U.S.A. - March 6th, 2008: "Some of Baxter International's recalled blood thinner heparin contained large amounts of a contaminant that might explain hundreds of serious side effects. And the government said Wednesday [03/05/08] it's investigating whether what appears to be a fake ingredient got there by accident or by fraud. [....] Baxter said the contaminant further points suspicion at ingredient suppliers in China, which are under scrutiny after a wave of recalls involving food, drug and toy imports." [Based on: News Services article (Recalled blood thinner carried contaminant), p A6, S.L.P.D., 03/06/08]
2008 - Reusing Needles & Syringes / Nevada Clinic, U.S.A. - March 6th, 2008: "[....] In Las Vegas, clinic staff told inspectors they had been ordered by management to reuse the vials and syringes. Brian Labus, senior epidemiologist at the Southern Nevada Health District, described the practice as an unwritten but long-practiced policy. [NP] Investigators were told the practice was an attempt to cut costs, according to a letter of complaint from the city." [Based on: A.P. article (40,000 affected by scandal over needles / Clinic in Las Vegas was reusing needles and syringes.), p A3, S.L.P.D., 03/06/08]
2008 - Homeowner Equity / U.S.A. - March 7th, 2008: "Americans' percentage of equity in their houses fell below 50 percent for the first time on record since 1945, the Federal Reserve said Thursday [03/06/08]. Homeowners' portion of equity slipped to downwardly revised 49.6 percent in the second quarter of 2007, the central bank reported in its quarterly U.S. Flow of Funds Accounts, and declined further to 47.9 percent in the fourth quarter - the third straight quarter it was under 50 percent. [NP] That marks the first time homeowners' debt on their houses exceeds their equity since the Fed started tracking the data in 1945. [NP] The total value of equity also fell for the third straight quarter to $9.65 trillion from a downwardly revised $9.93 trillion in the third quarter. [NP] Home equity, which is equal to the percentage of a house's market value minus mortgage-related debt, has steadily decreased even as house prices jumped earlier this decade due to a surge in cash-out refinances, home equity loans and lines of credit and an increase in 100 percent or more house financing. [NP] Economists expect this figure to drop even further as declining house prices eat into the value of most Americans' single largest asset. [NP] Moody's Economy.com estimates that 8.8 million homeowners, or about 10.3 percent of houses, will have zero or negative equity by the end of the month. Even more disturbing, about 13.8 million households, or 15.9 percent, will be 'upside down' if prices fall 20 percent from their peak. [NP] The latest Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index showed U.S. house prices plunging 8.9 percent in the final quarter of 2007 compared with the previous year, the steepest decline in the 20-year history of the index." [Based on: A.P. article (Homeowner equity dips below 50 percent) by J.W. Elphinstone, p B3, S.L.P.D., 03/07/08] - [My brackets. NP = New paragraph. - D.R.D.]
2008 - Laced with Drug Residue / U.S. Drinking Water - March 10th, 2008: "[....] In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas - from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky. [NP] St. Louis was not included in AP's report. St. Louis-area water quality officials were not available for comment Sunday [03/09/08]. [....] The situation is undoubtedly worse than suggested by the positive test results in the major population centers documented by the AP. [....] The AP's investigation also indicates that watersheds, the natural sources of most of the nation's water supply, also are contaminated. Tests were conducted in the watersheds of 35 of the 62 major providers surveyed by the AP, and pharmaceuticals were detected in 28. [....] Pharmaceuticals in waterways are damaging wildlife across the nation and around the globe, research shows. Notably, male fish are being feminized, creating egg yolk proteins, a process usually restricted to females. Pharmaceuticals also are affecting sentinel species at the foundation of the pyramid of life - such as earth worms in the wild and zooplankton in the laboratory, studies show. [NP] Some scientists stress that the research is extremely limited, and there are too many unknowns. They say, though, that the documented health problems in wildlife are disconcerting." [Based on: A.P. article (U.S. drinking water is laced with drug residue / Impact on people of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals is unclear.) by Martha Mendoza & Justin Pritchard, p A2, S.L.P.D., 03/10/08]
2008 - Five or More Medications / One-Third of U.S. Adults? - March 19th, 2008: "[....] Nearly one-third of adults take five or more medications. Many of them are getting those drugs from different physicians and pharmacies, making it difficult for any one medical professional to keep track of possible conflicts. Free-samples from physicians, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements and vitamins make it easier for interactions to slip through the cracks. [....]" [Based on: Article (ONE THIRD of Americans take five or more medications. / ST.MARY'S HEALTH CENTER started a program to AVOID BAD INTERACTIONS) by Mary Jo Feldstein, pp. B1 & B6, S.L.P.D., 03/19/08]
2008 - Radioactive Waste / Missouri River Floodplain - March 27th, 2008: "Dumping high-level radioactive residues in an unlined hole in the ground in the Missouri River floodplain at Earth City was illegal in 1973. And it is wrong. Leaving those wastes at the West Lake landfill site, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now proposes, perpetuates that crime and endangers the next 23 million generations of humans living nearby and downstream from it. [NP] Leaving radioactive material in the floodplain upstream from St. Louis' drinking water intakes puts generations at risk of genetic mutations, cancers, birth defects and disorders of the reproductive, immune, cardiovascular and endrocrine systems. Genetic damage can be passed down to successive generations. Must our grandchildren be burdened with such a toxic inheritance? [NP] In 1973, someone - whose identity never was investigated sufficiently - paid truck drivers to haul radioactive waste from Latty Avenue in Hazelwood to the West Lake landfill on St. Charles Rock Road near Earth City. The waste was left over from two decades of Mallinckrodt's uranium processing for the U.S. government in the 1940s and 1950s. [NP] Similar radioactive wastes had been stockpiled at a site north of Lambert Airport until they were excavated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and shipped out of state to a federally licensed waste facility. Wastes also are being removed from the downtown Mallinckrodt site, the Latty Avenue site in Hazelwood and Coldwater Creek. [NP] Authority to clean up those sites is the responsibility of the Corps of Engineers under a program called the Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program, and the cleanup is proceeding. The West Lake site, however, falls under the EPA's Superfund program, which has been gutted for decades and rendered virtually impotent. Thus, this site will not be cleaned up. Instead, it only will be covered over, literally, with clay and rock. [NP] That leaves a radioactive time bomb in a floodplain. It is subject to the relentless flow of groundwater through the highly porous river bottom soil - an underground conduit for contaminated water to flow into the major source of St. Louis' drinking water: the Missouri River. [NP] Above ground, meanwhile, the risk is flooding. By leaving the wastes where they are, the EPA is counting on the Earth City levee to stand for more than 700 million years between the Missouri River and some of the hottest uranium residues on the planet. [....] As the uranium at West Lake decays over time, it gives birth to different radioactive substances: radium, actinium, radon, polonium, radioactive lead, bismuth and thallium. Some of these cell-damaging elements are difficult to detect in drinking water. And they make an attractive target for suicidal terrorists. [NP] The EPA has ignored the West Lake site for 30 years, allowing contaminants to erode from the surface onto adjacent properties where unwitting workers have pushed around piles of it with earth movers. It is hardly secure. It is extremely unsafe. [NP] At 6 p.m. today [03/27/08] in the multi-purpose room at the Bridgeton Community Center (420 Fee Fee Road), the EPA is scheduled to present its plan for the future of the West Lake landfill and the St. Louis drinking water sources downstream. However, concerned local citizens bellieve that authority for the site should be transferred from the EPA to the Corps of Engineers, something only Congress can do. [NP] It is time to call out the corps." [Based on: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Other Views page) article (THE ENVIRONMENT / Radioactive wastes on flood plain: LET THE CORPS HAUL IT AWAY) by Kathleen Logan Smith (Executive director of Missouri Coalition for the Environment), p. D9, S.L.P.D., 03/27/08] - [My brackets. NP = New paragraph. - D.R.D.]
*Link: http://www.moenviron.org/News_Articles.asp#westlake2
April 2008
2008 - Neurodegeneration Link? / Excessive Amounts of Aspartame - April 3rd, 2008: "03-Apr-2008 - Excessive intake of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in the brain to function normally, suggests a new review that could fan the flames of controversy over the sweetener. [NP] The review, by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo and published recently in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicated that high consumption of the sweetener may lead to neurodegeneration. [....] They found aspartame can disturb the metabolism of amino acids, protein structure and metabolism, the integrity of nucleic acids, neuronal function and endocrine balances. It also may change the brain concentrations of catecholamines, which include norepinephrine, epinephrine and domapine. [NP] Additionally, they said the breakdown of aspartame causes nerves to fire excessively, which can indirectly lead to a high rate of neuron depolarisation. [NP] The researchers added: "The energy systems for certain required enzyme reactions become compromised, thus indirectly leading to the inability of enzymes to function optimally. [NP] 'The ATP stores [adenosine triphosphate] in the cells are depleted, indicating that low concentrations of glucose are present in the cells, and this in turn will indirectly decrease the synthesis of acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).' [NP] Furthermore, the functioning of glutamate as an excitatory neurotransmitter is inhibited as a result of the intracellular calcium uptake being altered, and mitochondria are damaged, which the researchers said could lead to apoptosis (cell death) of cells and also a decreased rate of oxidative metabolism. [NP] As a result of their study, the researchers said more testing is required to further determine the health effects on aspartame and bring an end to the controversy." [Based on Staff Reporter article [See Link] (Review raises questions over aspartame and brain health)] - [NP] Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008, doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866 / "Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain" Authors: P. Humphries, E. Pretorius, H. Naude"
*Link: http://foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?id=84424
2008 - Trivia / Heparin Deaths, U.S.A. - April 9th, 2008: "More deaths have been reported in the case of contaminated batches of the blood thinner heparin, bringing the total to 62 - triple the previous estimate, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday [04/08/08]. The fatal reactions began last November." [Based on: News Services article (Heparin deaths), p A4, S.L.P.D., 04/09/08]
2008 - Trivia / Bisphenol A - April 16th, 2008: "A controversial, estrogenlike chemical in plastic [bisphenol A, or BPA] could be harming the development of children's brains and reproductive organs, a federal health agency [National Institutes of Health] concluded in a report [National Toxicology Program report] released Tuesday [04/15/08]." [Based on: News Services article (U.S. raises concern about chemical used in plastic), p A3, S.L.P.D., 04/16/08]
2008 - Declared a Toxin / Bisphenol A, Canada - April 19th, 2008: "Canada has become the first country to declare bisphenol A, a chemical used in hundreds of common household products, a toxin. It immediately declared a ban on the sale, import and advertising of baby bottles made with the chemical. [NP] The move Friday [04/18/08] follows an announcement by Wal-Mart that the retail giant has halted sales in its Canadian stores of baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, food containers and water bottles made with bisphenol A. The company will convert its U.S. stock by early next year, a company spokesman said. [NP] Likewise, Nalgene, a maker of sport water bottles, says it will stop using the chemical." [Based on: News Services article (Canada declares common chemical to be a toxin), p A26, S.L.P.D., 04/19/08]
2008 - Food Crisis / Around the World - April 23rd, 2008: "More than 100 million people are being driven deeper into poverty by a 'silent tsunami' of sharply rising food prices, which has sparked riots around the world and threaten U.N.-backed feeding programs for 20 million children, the top U.N. food official said Tuesday [04/22/08]." [Based on: Washington Post article (Food crisis drives people into poverty), p A8, S.L.P.D., 04/23/08]
2008 - Political Interference? / Environmental Protection, U.S.A. - April 24th, 2008: "Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday [04/23/08] by an advocacy group. [NP] The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work. [....] In the survey, the EPA scientists described an agency suffering from low morale as senior managers and the White House Office of Management and Budget frequently second-guess scientific findings and change work conducted by EPA's scientists, the report said. [NP ] The survey covered employees at EPA headquarters, in each of the agency's 10 regions around the country and at more than a dozen research laboratories. The highest number of complaints about political interference came from scientists who are directly involved in writing regulations and those who conduct risk assessments such as determining a chemical cancer risk for humans. [....] Donaghy [Timothy Donaghy] said the EPA's management was aware of the survey, concluded by the Center for Survey Statistics & Methodology at Iowa State University. He said while some EPA managers initially instructed employees not to participate, the EPA's general counsel's office later sent an e-mail to employees saying they could participate on their private time." [Based on: A.P. article (EPA scientists allege political interference), p A3, S.L.P.D., 04/24/08]
2008 - Warnings Urged / Lasik Eye Surgery - April 26th, 2008: "[....] And while the vast majority benefit - most see 20-20 or even better - about one in four people who seeks Lasik is not a good candidate. A small fraction, perhaps 1 percent or fewer, suffer serious, life-changing side effects: worse vision, serious dry eye, glare, inability to drive at night. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Warnings about Lasik eye surgery are argued), p A21, S.L.P.D., 04/26/08]
May 2008
2008 - Perchlorate Contamination / U.S. Drinking Water - May 7th, 2008: "An EPA official said Tuesday [05/06/08] there's a 'distinct possibility' the agency won't take action to rid drinking water of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient [perchlorate] that has contaminated public water supplies around the country. [NP] The toxin interferes with thyroid function and poses develomental health risks, particularly to fetuses. [NP] Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at EPA, said the agency has yet to determine whether regulating perchlorate in drinking water would do much good." [Based on: News Services article (EPA probably won't regulate toxin in water), p A3, S.L.P.D., 05/07/08]
2008 - Silver Nanoparticles / Toxic to Good Bacteria? - May 12th, 2008: "[....] 'Because of the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products ['... being used to kill odor-causing bacteria in socks and in disinfecting washing machines.'], the risk that the material will be released into sewage lines, wastewater treatment facilities and eventually into rivers, streams and lakes is of concern,' said Hu [University of Missouri Assistant Professor Zhiqiang Hu], an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. 'We found that silver nanoparticles are extremely toxic. The nanoparticles destroy the benign species of bacteria that are used for wastewater treatment. It basically halts the reproduction activity of the good bacteria.' [NP] Hu warned that silver nanoparticles in wastewater sludge - which is often used as fertilizer - could kill bacteria in the soil and harm food crops. [....]" [Based on: Title for Metro section article (UNDER THE MICROSCOPE / Tiny particles seen as big threat / Extremely small bits of silver used in some products may kill bacteria that help clean wastewater.), p C2, S.L.P.D., 05/12/08]
2008 - Cancer Risk? / "Nanotubes" - May 21st, 2008: "Microscopic high-tech 'nanotubes' that are being made for use in a wide variety of consumer products cause the same kind of damage in the body as asbestos does, according to a study in mice that is raising alarm among workplace safety experts and others. [NP] Within days of being injected into mice, the nanotubes - which are increasingly used in electronic components, sporting goods and dozens of other products - triggered a kind of cellular reaction that over a period of years typically leads to mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer, researchers said. [NP] Only longer versions of the vanishingly small fibers have that toxic effect, the study found. And further studies must be done on whether the engineered motes can cause problems when inhaled, the way most people might be exposed to them when incinerating or otherwise destroying nano products." [Based on: Washington Post article ('Nanotubes' may be cancer risk), p A2, S.L.P.D., 05/21/08]
June 2008
2008 - Clue to Alzheimer's / Tau Protiens? - June 23rd, 2008: "Researchers have uncovered a new clue to the cause of Alzheimer's disease. [NP] The brains of people with the memory-robbing form of dementia are cluttered with a plaque made up of beta-amyloid, a sticky protein. But there long has been a question whether this is the cause of the disease or a side effect. Also involved are tangles of a protein called tau; some scientists suspect this is the cause. [NP] Now, researchers have caused Alzheimer's symptoms in rats by injecting them with one particular form of beta-amyloid. Injections with other forms of beta-amyloid did not cause illness, which may explain why some people have beta-amyloid plaque in their brains but do not show disease symptoms. [NP] The findings were reported in Sunday's [06/22/08] online edition of the journal Nature Medicine." [Based on: News Services article (WASHINGTON / Researchers find clue to cause of Alzheimer's), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 06/23/08]
2008 - Increase in Diabetes / U.S.A. - June 26th, 2008: "The number of Americans with diabetes has grown to about 24 million people, or roughly 8 percent of the U.S. population, the government said Tuesday [06/24/08]. [....] Nationally, after adjusting for population age differences among various groups, the rate of diagnosed diabetes was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (16.5 percent). This was followed by blacks (11.8 percent) and Hispanics (10.4 percent). The rate for Asian-Americans was 7.5 percent, with whites at 6.6 percent. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (More Americans have diabetes, study finds / Disease now strikes one in 10 adults in St. Louis, reflecting a dramatic surge nationwide.), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 06/26/08]
July 2008
2008 - Use of Prostate Drugs Questioned / U.S.A. - July 9th, 2008: "A prostate cancer study found that widely used testerone-blocking drugs did not improve survival chances for older men whose disease hadn't spread. [NP] In fact, men given the drugs alone were slightly more likely to die of prostate cancer during the next six years than men who'd gotten medical monitoring but no or delayed treatment, another common treatment approach. [NP] The results appear in today's Journal of the American Medical Association." [Based on: News Services article (Prostate cancer study questions use of drugs), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 07/09/08]
2008 - To Forgive is Divine? - July 21th, 2008: "Forget the saturated fats, smoking and couch potato-ing for a moment. Holding a grudge may do as much damage to your cardiovascular system as a tacky lifestyle. [NP] 'Holding a grudge appears to affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems,' says a recent edition of the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource newsletter. Other research has found that forgiveness also helps mental health, says the HealthSource newslatter. [NP] The strain of holding a grudge elevates blood pressure, increases muscle tension and heart rates, and intensifies the stressful feeling of being less in control, it says. [NP] The HealthSource offered the following tips to help learn how to forgive: *Acknowledge the pain and anger felt as a result of someone else's actions. You must look at a situation honestly. *Recognize that healing requires change. *Find a new way to think about the person who has caused the pain; what was happening in that person's life to make him or her err. *Experience emotional relief with increased compassion and self-examination to make sure you're not inflicting similar pain on others. [NP] Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting or condoning, the newslatter says. 'It's acknowledging and lettying go of hurt ... anger and resentment.' " [Based on: Healthy & Fit article (To forgive is divine ... for mental health), p. H2, S.L.P.D., 07/21/08]
August 2008
2008 - Trivia / Exercise Pill? - August 1st, 2008: "[....] In experiments on mice that did no exercise, the chemical compound known as AICAR allowed them to run 44 percent farther on a treadmill than those that did not receive the drug. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Exercise of the future? Open bottle; swallow pill), p A2, S.L.P.D., 08/01/08]
2008 - Breakthrough / Stem Cell Research - August 1st, 2008: "Reaching a milestone in stem cell research, scientists at Harvard and Columbia universities reported Thursday [07/31/08] that they created the first stem cell lines from a sick person, then coaxed these cells to become nerve cells genetically matched to those that had gone bad in a patient's spinal cord. [NP] In a paper published online in the journal Science, the team claimed success at creating in the laboratory a plentiful supply of cells that have the same genetic makeup as a patient with a particular disease. [NP] The work was done with patients suffering from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, but the researchers said the same technique can be used to study many other genetic diseases. [NP] By comparing diseased cells to normal cells in a Petri dish, scientists hope to better understand what causes disease and test new drugs." [Based on: News Services article (Breakthrough achieved in stem cell research), p A3, S.L.P.D., 08/01/08]
2008 - Electronic & Toxic Waste / Dumped in Poor Countries? - August 6th, 2008: "Greenpeace called on the world's electronics companies Tuesday [08/05/08] to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their products, saying toxic waste from wealthy nations' gadgets ends up being dumped in poor countries despite laws prohibiting it. [NP] The environmental watchdog made the appeal in a new report on the electronic waste trade, which it said was spreading from Asia to West Africa - particularly Ghana, where discarded TVs and computers that contain toxic materials are being dismantled by children as young as 5. [NP] Many of the old computers, monitors and television sets that end up in Ghana come from the European Union, despite laws there prohibiting the export of such hazardous materials, Greenpeace said." [Based on: News Services article (Electronics firms are asked to ban toxins in products), p A8, S.L.P.D., 08/06/08]
2008 - Not Dangerous? / Bisphenol A - August 16th, 2008: "Despite ongoing safety concerns from parents, consumer groups and politicians, a chemical used in baby bottles, canned food and other items is not dangerous, federal regulators said Friday [08/15/08]. [NP] Food and Drug Administration scientists said the trace amounts of bisphenol A that leach out of food containers are not a threat." [Based on: News Services article (FDA says chemical is not a threat to people), p A20, S.L.P.D., 08/16/08]
2008 - Reprogrammed Cells - August 28th, 2008: "Researchers convert adult cells from one type to another ['published online Wednesday (08/27/08) by the journal Nature'] / PROSPECTS? - Scientists hope reprogramming cells will help treat afflictions such as diabetes. / MORAL CLARITY - The technique poses no ethical issues, critics of stem cell research say." [Based on: Title & Subtitles for Washington Post article by Rob Stein, p A2, S.L.P.D., 08/28/08]
September 2008
2008 - Clue to Cancers / Genetic Pathways? - September 5th, 2008: "[....] The three studies, published in the journals Science and Nature, mark a milestone in cancer genetics. [....] The big discovery involved cancer's genetic chaos. No tumors were identical. The typical pancreatic cancer contained 63 genetic alterations and the average brain tumor 60, Hopkins researchers reported in Science. [NP] Fortunately, 'genes don't work alone,' said Hopkin's Dr. Kenneth Kinzler, who led the pancreatic work. Figure out which genes cluster in which pathways and 'a simpler picture emerges.' [....] The pathways do different things. Some allow damaged DNA to escape repair. Some switched off protective factors meant to suppress tumors. [NP] Finding drugs that block those pathways will not be easy, said Dr. Bert Vogelstein of Hopkins and the Howard Huges Medical Institute, who oversaw the research. But companies already are researching drugs to block a particular enzyme pathway implicated in the studies. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Genetic pathways called clue to cancers / Research suggests that if drugs can block such pathways, they could help large groups of patients.) by Lauran Neergaard, p A3, S.L.P.D., 09/05/08]
2008 - Stronger FDA Warnings / Remicade, Humira and Cimzia - September 5th, 2008: "The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday [09/04/08] on the drugs Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia, widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections." [Based on: News Services article (FDA warnings), p A2, S.L.P.D., 09/05/08]
2008 - FDA Gidelines / Genetically Engineered Animals - September 19th, 2008: "[....] The agency [FDA] has been reviewing genetically engineered animals and animal products since the early 1990s but had never formally or publicly clarified the approval process for bringing them to the marketplace. On Thursday [09/18/08], it issued guidelines for the first time. [....]" [Based on: Article (FDA sets rules for modified meat, fish / It will not require labeling, but the agency will regulate genetically engineered animals designed for human use or consumption.) by Georgina Gustin, p A3, S.L.P.D., 09/19/08]
October 2008
2008 - Stem Cell Research / Men's Testicals - October 9th, 2008: "Cells taken from men's testicles seem as versatile as the stem cells derived from embryos, researchers reported Wednesday [10/08/08] in what may be yet another new approach in a burgeoning scientific field." [Based on: News Services article (Stem cells), p A2, S.L.P.D., 10/09/08]
2008 - BPA Declared Toxic Substance / Canada - October 19th, 2008: "Canada said it was declaring a controversial chemical widely used in food packaging a toxic substance, allowing it to carry out a promised ban on plastic baby bottles made with bisphenol A. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (TOTONTO / Chemical BPA is ruled a toxic substance), p. A12, S.L.P.D.,10/19/08]
2008 - FDA Approval / Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - October 21st, 2008: "The government [U.S.A.] has approved the first noninvasive brain stimulator to treat depression - a device that beams magnetic pulses through the skull. [....] Called transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS, this gentler approach isn't for everyone. The Food and Drug Administration approved Neuronetics Inc.'s NeuroStar therapy specifically for patients who had no relief from their first antidepressant, offering them a different option than trying pill after pill. [NP] 'We're opning up a whole new area of medicine,' says Dr. Mark George of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, who helped pioneer use of TMS in depression. [NP] While there's a big need for innovative approaches - at least one in five depression patients is treatment-resistant - the question is just how much benefit TMS offers. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Magnetic therapy approved for depression) by Lauran Neergaard, p. A2, S.L.P.D.,10/21/08]
November 2008
2008 - Trivia / Cancer Genome - November 6th, 2008: "For the first time, researchers have decoded all the genes of a person with cancer and found a set of mutations that may have caused the disease or aided its progression. [....] Though the research involved leukemia, the same techniques can also be used to study other cancers. [NP] 'This is the first of many of these whole cancer genomes to be sequenced,' said Richard Wilson, director of the Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University in St. Louis and the senior author of the study. 'They'll give us a whole bunch of clues about what's going on in the DNA when cancer starts to bloom.' [NP] The mutations - genetic mistakes - found in this research were not inborn, but developed later in life, as do most mutations that cause cancer. (Only 5 percent to 10 percent of all cancers are thought to be hereditary.) [....] The study is being published today in the journal Nature. [....] Until now, Wilson said, most work on cancer mutations has focused on just a few hundred genes already suspected of being involved in the disease, not the 20,000 or so genes that make up the full human genome. [....] Indeed, eight of the 10 mutations his group discovered would not have been found with the more traditional approach. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (Scientists here make first map of cancer's full DNA) by Denise Grady, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 11/06/08]
2008 - Young Obese Kids / U.S.A. - November 12th, 2008: "Obese children as young as 10 had the arteries of 45-year-olds and other heart abnormalities that greatly raise their risk of heart disease, say doctors who used ultrasound tests to take a peek inside. [NP] The studies were reported Tuesday [11/11/08] at an American Heart Association conference. [NP] About a third of American children are overweight and one-fifth are obese. Research increasingly shows that fat kids become fat adults, with higher risks for many health problems." [Based on: News Services article (NEW ORLEANS / Young obese kids have old arteries, doctors say), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 11/12/08]
2008 - Downward Spiral? / U.S. Economy - November 12th, 2008: "[....] 'Foreclosures hurt families, their neighbors, whole communities and the overall housing market,' said James Lockhart, the housing finance agency's director. 'We need to stop this downward spiral.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (STEMMING THE MORTGAGE CRISIS / Efforts aim to help folks keep homes / MODIFYING LOANS QUICKLY - That's the goal of new action by government, industry and Citigroup.) by Alan Zibel, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 11/12/08]
2008 - Real Medical Condition? / Gulf War Illness - November 18th, 2008: "Gulf War illness is a real medical condition that has affected at least 175,000 combat veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, according to a report released Monday [11/17/08]. [NP] However, research into causes of the malady has 'not been effective,' and the report by the congressionally mandated Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illness suggested that politics or financial concerns might have played a role." [Based on: News Services article (WASHINGTON / First Gulf War illnesses are real, report says), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 11/18/08]
December 2008
2008 - Personality Disorder / Almost 1 in 5 Young American Adults? - December 2nd, 2008: "Almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interfers with everyday life, and even more abuse alcohol or drugs, researchers reported Monday [12/01/08] in the Archives of General Psychiatry." [Based on: News Services article (Mental health), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 12/02/08]
2008 - Stevia Debut / Coca-Cola Co. - December 16th, 2008: "Coca-Cola Co. will begin selling products this week that are made with a new zero-calorie sweetner, stevia, despite there still being no official nod from the government; but rival PepsiCo Inc. said Monday that it wouldn't follow suit." [Based on: Article (COCA-COLA / Stevia will debut), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 12/16/08]
2008 - Expected in Stores Soon / Stevia Drinks - December 19th, 2008: "[....] Stevia, a diet sweetener that is a natural substance, was approved on Wednesday [12/17/08] by the FDA. By Thursday, the first stevia-sweetened soft drink, Sprite Green by Coca-Cola, was on its way to stores. [NP] Pepsi said its first stevia product, SoBe Lifewater, should hit store shelves next week, and Trop50, a stevia-sweetened light orange juice product, is due out in January. [NP] Dr. Pepper Snapple, the No. 3 soft drink company, said in Thuraday it will market stevia within a few weeks. [NP] By this time next year, the supermarket shelves may be filled with stevia drinks - and little packets of stevia are likely to be on restaurant tables everywhere. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article (First sodas using new diet sweetener stevia expected to be in stores soon), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 12/19/08]
Pre-1945 / 1945 / 1980 / 2000 / 2009
Please send comments, corrections, and/or feedback to: etznab@aol.com. Please entitle your mail: "Rich vs. Poor Response."