Health Research: New microscopy may identify best sperm cells ♦ New tool for studying sepsis ♦ Couples' quality of life linked even when one partner dies

New tool for studying sepsis Sepsis is a very complicated and precarious condition. Research groups have now developed a way to use mass spectrometry to measure hundreds of proteins in a single blood sample. With the help of protein patterns it is then possible to determine the severity of the condition and which organs have been damaged

Couples' quality of life linked even when one partner dies When one spouse passes away, his or her characteristics continue to be linked with the surviving spouse's wellbeing.The findings also indicate that this link between the deceased spouse and surviving spouse is as strong as that between partners who are both living

New microscopy may identify best sperm cells New microscopic technology promises to be a game-changer in the field of reproductive assistance. A team of scientists has devised a new method of microscopy allowing scientists to perform clinical sperm analysis for in vitro fertilization without the use of staining, which can affect the viability of sperm samples

Largest-ever study of cornea condition reveals hidden risk factors A large new study reveals previously unknown risk factors associated with an eye condition that causes serious progressive nearsightedness at a relatively young age. The findings, made through the largest-ever clinical study of the condition called keratoconus, could help more people receive newer treatments that can slow the problem and protect their vision.

Health News: Permanent injunction preventing Dallas compounding pharmacy from distributing adulterated drugs ♦ Smart pill smells out the body's fiber factor

Permanent injunction preventing Dallas compounding pharmacy from distributing adulterated drugs The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered a consent decree for permanent injunction January 11 against Downing Labs LLC, its two owners, and the pharmacist-in-charge to prevent them from distributing adulterated drugs in interstate commerce until their processes are compliant with the law. The complaint stems from multiple U.S. FDA investigations which found numerous deficiencies regarding the firm’s sterile drug production.

Inflammation markers could guide depression treatments Depressed patients with signs of systemic inflammation have elevated levels of glutamate in regions of the brain that are important for motivation. These findings suggest which forms of depression may respond best to drugs that target glutamate, such as the anesthetic ketamine.

Gut reaction: Smart pill smells out the body's fiber factor Researchers have conducted the first ever trials of smart pills that can measure intestinal gases inside the body, with surprising results revealing some unexpected ways that fiber affects the gut.

Polymer puts new medical solutions within reach Combining the properties of liquid crystals and hydrogels in just the right proportions creates the potential for new materials that have the same mechanical properties as soft tissues in the body. A material that is water-loving and has structure opens up the door the possibility for artificial blood vessels that are mechanically stealth so they wouldn't be viewed as a foreign body. Now, a newly developed process can create this type of a polymer

Children's Health: Parents in dark about using epinephrine for kids’ food allergies ♦ Long-term benefits of improving your toddler's memory skills ♦

Parents in dark about using epinephrine for kids’ food allergies When a child has a food allergy, it’s critical for pediatricians and allergists to show parents when and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector and to provide a written emergency food allergy action plan for home and school. But many parents say doctors don’t give them this potentially lifesaving information about their children’s emergency care. This communication gap needs to be fixed.

Long-term benefits of improving your toddler's memory skills Preschoolers who score lower on a memory task are likely to score higher on a dropout risk scale at the age of 12, new research shows.The authors offer suggestions for how parents can help kids improve their kid's memory

Physical activity may help keep overweight children fit High body adiposity, low physical activity, and particularly their combination are related to poorer physical fitness among 6-8 year old children. These results suggest that physically active overweight children have better fitness compared to their inactive peers

Immigrant kids' diet is different, less nutritious than mom's The diet of Mexican immigrant children in the US is different from what their mothers eat, according to sociologists, and that may mean kids are trading in the generally healthy diet of their moms for less nutritious American fare.

Women's Health:Pre-pregnancy potato consumption may be linked to gestational diabetes risk ♦ Concerns over prescribed opioid use among pregnant women

Breakthrough in early diagnosis of preeclampsia The ratio of certain messengers in the blood of pregnant women can be used to reliably rule out preeclampsia, and to predict the risk of complications.

Postnatal depression linked to challenges in parenting: Could oxytocin be helpful?Caring for an infant is challenging for any mother -- but especially so for women with postnatal depression, which may lead to adverse effects on child outcomes. Current evidence on postnatal depression and parenting -- including preliminary data on the role of the hormone oxytocin.

Pre-pregnancy potato consumption may be linked to gestational diabetes risk Women who eat more potatoes before pregnancy may have higher rates of gestational diabetes -- the form that occurs during pregnancy -- compared to women who consume fewer potatoes, suggests a new study. The researchers propose that substituting potatoes with other vegetables, legumes or whole grains may help lower gestational diabetes risk.

Concerns over prescribed opioid use among pregnant women The increase in use of prescribed opioids among women during pregnancy has probably contributed to the rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome, argues an expert. In the US, estimates suggest that 14-22% of pregnant women receive an opioid prescription during their pregnancy, and there has been an increase in the prevalence of opioid use disorders among pregnant women.

Health Research: Transcendental Meditation may reduce PTSD symptoms ♦ Long-term opioid use associated with increased risk of depression ♦ The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold

Transcendental Meditation may reduce PTSD symptoms, medication use in active-duty personnel Regular practice of Transcendental Meditation enables some active duty service members battling post-traumatic stress disorder to reduce or even eliminate their psychotropic medication and get better control of their often-debilitating symptoms, researchers report

Long-term opioid use associated with increased risk of depression Opioids may cause short-term improvement in mood, but long-term use imposes risk of new-onset depression, a new study shows. The link was independent of the known contribution of pain to depression, and the study calls on clinicians to consider the contribution of opioid use when depressed mood develops in their patient

Revealed: The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold The freaky, flexible coils of the UTI bacterium let it survive where others cannot. But researchers have unlocked its secrets, advancing the effort to block it from setting up shop in the urinary tract

Sedentary behavior linked to poor health in adults with severe obesity Sedentary behavior is associated with poor cardiovascular health and diabetes in adults with severe obesity, independent of how much exercise they perform, a study showed for the first time. For every hour spent sitting in 10-minute bouts, odds of diabetes increased 15 percent.

Health News; Salmonella Outbreak in Alabama ♦ Researchers closer to better treatment for leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea

Salmonella Outbreak in Alabama Johnny Ray’s in Pelham was closed indefinitely January 8 following four confirmed cases of Salmonella tied to the restaurant. Health officials in Alabama are investigating the outbreak.

Roman toilets gave no clear health benefit, and Romanization actually spread parasites Intestinal parasites such as whipworm became increasingly common across Europe during the Roman Period, despite the apparent improvements the empire brought in sanitation technologies, archaeological evidence shows.

Researchers closer to better treatment for leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea Researchers have obtained the crystal structure of a toxin from the bacterium Clostridium difficile ('C. diff') -- the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea in the United States. They also found that zinc is required to unleash the toxin's damaging effects in the colon. The discoveries are aiding efforts to develop vaccines and other novel therapies to prevent the potentially fatal consequences of C. diff infection

Playing american football may be a risk factor for hypertension As National Football League playoff games are underway, a new article suggests that the toll the sport takes on players' bodies extends beyond head trauma and damage to limbs and joints. The trauma and damage associated with football participation may also be linked to elevations in blood pressure through immune system activation and inflammation.

Brain Research: Cocaine addiction: Scientists discover 'backdoor' into the brain ♦ People who experience rage attacks have smaller 'emotional brains'

Changes in brain connectivity protect against developing bipolar disorder Naturally occurring changes in brain wiring can help patients at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder avert the onset of the illness

Beneficial effects of blocking brain inflammation in an experimental model of Alzheimer's Blocking a receptor in the brain responsible for regulating immune cells could protect against the memory and behavior changes seen in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. It was originally thought that Alzheimer's disease disturbs the brain's immune response, but this latest study adds to evidence that inflammation in the brain can in fact drive the development of the disease. The findings suggest that by reducing this inflammation, progression of the disease could be halted.

Cocaine addiction: Scientists discover 'backdoor' into the brain Individuals addicted to cocaine may have difficulty in controlling their addiction because of a previously-unknown 'back door' into the brain, circumventing their self-control,

People who experience rage attacks have smaller 'emotional brains' Neuroimaging studies suggest that frontolimbic regions of the brain, structures that regulate emotions, play an important role in the biology of aggressive behavior. A new article reports that individuals with intermittent explosive disorder (IED) have significantly lower gray matter volume in these frontolimbic brain structures. In other words, these people have smaller "emotional brains."

Immunity Research: Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function ♦ Compound found to trigger innate immunity against viruses

Compound found to trigger innate immunity against viruses A drug-like molecule can activate innate immunity and induce genes to control infection in a range of RNA viruses, including West Nile, dengue, hepatitis C, influenza A, respiratory syncytial, Nipah, Lassa and Ebola.

Neanderthal genes gave modern humans an immunity boost, allergies When modern humans met Neanderthals in Europe and the two species began interbreeding many thousands of years ago, the exchange left humans with gene variations that have increased the ability of those who carry them to ward off infection. This inheritance from Neanderthals may have also left some people more prone to allergies.

Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function A hormone that extends lifespan in mice by 40% is produced by specialized cells in the thymus gland, according to a new study. The team also found that increasing the levels of this hormone, called FGF21, protects against the loss of immune function that comes with age.
Novel mechanism that helps activated dendritic cells to initiate effective immunity Phagocytosis represents a critical innate barrier against infection and serves the clearance of extracellular microbes, infected and dying cells. Different immune cells use phagocytosis for microbial killing, but in dendritic cells (DCs) it mainly serves the processing and presentation of specific molecules (antigens) that are able to alert the immune system and to initiate immune responses. Researchers describe now a mechanism of how the fusion between phagosomes and lysosomes influences the presentation of antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I molecules to cytotoxic T cells, a process called cross-presentation

Cardiovascular Research: Atherosclerosis is Alzheimer's disease of blood vessels ♦ Taking statins before heart surgery can help reduce post-surgical complications

Atherosclerosis is Alzheimer's disease of blood vessels In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up on the inner walls of arteries that deliver blood to the body. Studying mice and tissue samples from the arteries of patients, researchers now suggest this accumulation is driven, at least in part, by processes similar to the plaque formation implicated in brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson'

Heart valves made from tissue rather than metal may be better for middle-aged patients Patients between the ages of 40 and 70 who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR) may fare better with tissue-based valves rather than metal-based valves.

Taking statins before heart surgery can help reduce post-surgical complications Using statins before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery can help reduce cardiac complications, such as atrial fibrillation, following surgery and also can reduce the risk of death during and after surgery.

Even small reductions in kidney function may damage heart, blood vessels Even small reductions in kidney function are associated with heart and blood vessel damage

Food Research: Making sure food from your garden is safe to eat ♦ Bottle feeding E. coli to calves could prevent food poisoning ♦ Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased visceral fat

Coffee flour offers a potentially healthier way of enjoying java Scientists are developing the flour milled from a new invention -- par baked coffee beans -- both as a food ingredient and a nutritional supplement.

Making sure food from your garden is safe to eat This May 25, 2013 photo shows French breakfast radishes at the Bayview Farmer’s Market in Langley, Wash., that are typical of many edibles that are eaten raw. They need to be washed before serving to remove dirt and bacteria as well as any residual pesticides. This photo …

Bottle feeding E. coli to calves could prevent food poisoning Scientists in Nova Scotia are trying to come up with a way to prevent cattle from hosting the toxic strain of E. coli that can make humans sick if they eat meat contaminated with the bacteria.  Food safety research scientist Martin Kalmokoff, who works at the Atlantic Food and Agriculture Research Centre in Kentville, said the research is trying to figure out why certain types of …

Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased visceral fat Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages every day was associated with an increase in a particular type of body fat that may affect diabetes and heart disease risk.

Boosting brain’s waste disposal system may slow neurodegenerative diseases

The researchers showed that rolipram activates the brain’s garbage disposal system, eliminating excess tau proteins (glowing red dots).Columbia University Medical Center

Several neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are characterized by proteins that accumulate in the brain. One protein, called tau, clumps into twisted threads known as tangles. These are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and several other neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies.

Our cells have a waste disposal system that works like a combination garbage disposal and recycler. The system, called a proteasome, is a hollow, cylindrical structure that breaks down defective proteins into smaller pieces. The pieces can then be recycled into new proteins needed by the cell.

A research team led by Dr. Karen E. Duff at Columbia University set out to assess whether abnormal tau buildup might be due to defects in proteasome function. The study was supported by NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Results appeared in the January 2016 issue of Nature Medicine.

The researchers used a genetically engineered mouse model of tauopathy. The mice accumulate tau and develop cognitive deficits. The team found that tau accumulation was associated with decreased proteasome activity. Using a cell culture model, they determined that tau aggregates impair proteasome function.

Proteasome function is activated by a pathway involving protein kinase A and cyclic AMP (cAMP). The scientists hypothesized that activating this pathway might increase proteasome function.

When the genetically engineered mice were given a drug that increases cAMP levels (rolipram), they showed increased proteasome function, reduced aggregated tau levels, and improved cognitive performance. The drug was effective in the early stages of degeneration, but not in the later stages of tauopathy. It had no effect on normal healthy mice.

“These results show, for the first time, that you can activate the proteasome in the brain using a drug and effectively slow down the disease, or prevent it from taking a hold,” Duff says. “The proteasome system we are studying also degrades proteins associated with a number of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, frontotemporal degeneration, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We may be able to apply these findings to other disorders that accumulate proteins.”

The researchers plan to search libraries of FDA-approved drugs or new molecules for compounds that work more efficiently than rolipram or activate proteasomes by different pathways.

Australia: Quick Cook Chicken Meatballs recalled

Quick Cook Chicken Meatballs 500g packs recalled with Best before dates of 19 Jan 2016, 20 Jan 2016, 22 Jan 2016, 23 Jan 2016 and Batch Code APN/EAN: 9310037147793

The Meatballs have Incorrect best before dates on the label.The product has already passed its true Best Before Date and may cause illness if consumed.

The product was sold in New South Wales by Woolworths and supplied by Inghams Enterprises

Customers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full cash refund.

Great Britain: Brie de Meaux à la Truffe recalled due to Listeria contamination

Fromagerie Beillevaire UK has recalled a batch of its ‘Brie de Meaux à la Truffe’ with a ‘use by’ date of 22 January 2016 because high levels of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes have been found in the product.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause foodborne illness, particularly among key vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, unborn and newborn babies, those over 60 years old, and anyone with reduced immunity.

Risk

High levels of Listeria monocytogenes in Fromagerie Beillevaire UK, Brie de Meaux à la Truffe.

Product details

Product: Fromagerie Beillevaire UK, Brie de Meaux à la Truffe

'Use by' date: 22 January 2016

Batch number: 1505523

No other Fromagerie Beillevaire UK products are known to be affected.

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund or call Fromagerie Beillevaire UK Ltd on 01322 438 017 with any queries.

Trying to conceive soon after a pregnancy loss may increase chances of live birth

NIH study finds no reason for delaying pregnancy attempts after a loss without complications.

Couples who attempt to conceive within three months after losing an early pregnancy, defined as less than 20 weeks gestation, have the same chances, if not greater, of achieving a live birth than those who wait for three months or more, according to a National Institutes of Health study.

This finding, published today in Obstetrics & Gynecology, questions traditional advice that couples should wait at least three months after a loss before attempting a new pregnancy. The World Health Organization, for example, recommends waiting a minimum of six months between a pregnancy loss and a subsequent attempt.

“Couples often seek counseling on how long they should wait until attempting to conceive again,” said Enrique Schisterman, Ph.D., chief of the Epidemiology Branch at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and senior author of the study. “Our data suggest that women who try for a new pregnancy within three months can conceive as quickly, if not quicker, than women who wait for three months or more.”

Previous studies of pregnancy spacing have focused on when women should become pregnant after experiencing a loss, but few have addressed the question of when couples should start trying to conceive.

In the current study, researchers analyzed data from the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction (EAGeR) trial, a multi site block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial  that took place from 2007 to 2011. The trial, which evaluated the effect of daily low-dose aspirin on reproductive outcomes in women with a history of pregnancy loss, enrolled 1,228 women aged 18 to 40 years. NICHD investigators concentrated on 1,083 of these women, more than 99 percent of whom had lost a pregnancy at less than 20 weeks gestation. None of the women had either of two potential complications of pregnancy: a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy or a molar pregnancy (growth of abnormal fetal tissue in the uterus).  The participants were followed for up to six menstrual cycles and, if they became pregnant, until the outcome of their pregnancy was known.

The researchers found that more than 76 percent of the women attempted to conceive within 3 months after losing a pregnancy. Compared to those who waited longer, this group was more likely to become pregnant (69 percent vs. 51 percent) and to have a pregnancy leading to a live birth (53 percent vs. 36 percent). The investigators did not observe any increase in the risk of pregnancy complications in this group.

“While we found no physiological reason for delaying attempts at conception following a pregnancy loss, couples may need time to heal emotionally before they try again,” said Karen Schliep, Ph.D., primary author of the study. “For those who are ready, our findings suggest that conventional recommendations for waiting at least three months after a loss may be unwarranted.”

Cancer Research:Early trial shows injectable agent illuminates cancer during surgery ♦ Painkiller tapped to become future cancer-killer ♦ Potential therapy targets for triple-negative breast cancer

Early trial shows injectable agent illuminates cancer during surgery A new injectable agent has been tested that causes cancer cells in a tumor to fluoresce, potentially increasing a surgeon's ability to locate and remove all of a cancerous tumor on the first attempt.

Unusual drug target, drug generate exciting preclinical results in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer A doctor treating a patient with a potentially fatal metastatic breast tumor would be very pleased to find, after administering a round of treatment, that the primary tumor had undergone a change in character – from aggressive to static, and no longer shedding cells that can colonize distant organs of the body. Indeed, most patients with breast and other forms of cancer who succumb to the illness do so because of the cancer’s unstoppable spread.

Painkiller tapped to become future cancer-killer Diclofenac, a common painkiller, has significant anti-cancer properties, according to researchers. Like other drugs examined by the ReDO project, diclofenac is cheap and readily accessible -- and as it's already present in many medicine cabinets, it has been carefully tested.

Study reveals potential therapy targets for triple-negative breast cancer In cancer, cell signaling pathways are the critical chain of events that can either quash or quicken disease progression. A new study has revealed new information about how molecules called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) interact with HIF-1, a signaling pathway that is overexpressed in many cancers. HIF-1 has been shown to regulate breast cancer progression.

Children's Health: Low-income communities more likely to face childhood obesity ♦ Study examines the downside of larger families ♦ Preschoolers who eat their veggies just as likely to eat junk food

Low-income communities more likely to face childhood obesity Race matters less than expected in study showing relationship between poverty and obesity. Although obesity rates were higher among African-American and Hispanic kids, the relationship disappeared when factoring in family income,

Even children with higher IQs behave better when their sleep apnea is fixed Many doctors will ask about quality of sleep when children have problems at school, but new research shows it's just as important to pay attention to how high achievers are sleeping.

Study examines the downside of larger families Large families often capture the public's attention, from 'The Brady Bunch' to '19 Kids and Counting.' But new research by economists offers strong evidence that children in larger families are more likely to fall behind in cognitive achievement and have behavioral and other problems.

Preschoolers who eat their veggies just as likely to eat junk food Public-health experts have long expected that kids who eat more carrots and apples are less likely to eat a lot of candy and fries, but new research is calling that into question.

Health News: Diet To Lower Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Ranked Easiest ♦ Sheffield shop’s booze licence revoked after illegal alcohol seized ♦ New potential treatment for colorectal cancer discovered

Diet To Lower Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Ranked Easiest US News and World Report has just released its compiled survey on the Best Diets of 2016. Guess what? DASH diet continues to stay on top as the easiest to follow diet out of 38 popular healthy diets evaluated by health experts. The magazine surveyed a number of well-renowned experts who ranked the diets based on health benefits, nutritional

Sheffield shop’s booze licence revoked after illegal alcohol seized A Sheffield off-licence owner has been caught selling illegal booze in his shop – just six weeks after he was convicted for similar offences. Jigar Patel has had his licence revoked in relation to two off-licences he owned after Trading Standards inspectors found illegal alcohol. The illicit booze was discovered on sale just six weeks after Patel was convicted of similar offences …

New potential treatment for colorectal cancer discovered A small molecule drug combined with chemotherapy may deliver a synergistic benefit for colorectal cancer patients, new research suggests. has demonstrated the efficiency of a small molecule drug, PRIMA-1met, in inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells. Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the large intestine

One hookah tobacco smoking session delivers 25 times the tar of a single cigarette As cigarette smoking rates fall, more people are smoking tobacco from hookahs: communal pipes that enable users to draw tobacco smoke through water. A new meta-analysis shows that hookah smokers are inhaling a large load of toxicants

Cardiovascular Research:Using nanoparticles to combat arteriosclerosis ♦ Using skin to save the hear ♦ Detecting when, why deadly blood clots form

Using nanoparticles to combat arteriosclerosis In industrialized countries, a high number of people suffer from arteriosclerosis -- with fatal consequences: Deposits in the arteries lead to strokes and heart attacks. Researchers have now developed a method for guiding replacement cells to diseased vascular segments using nanoparticles. They demonstrated in mice that the fresh cells actually exert their curative effect in these segments. However, much research remains to be done prior to use in humans.

Detecting when, why deadly blood clots form A better assay for testing blood's clotting tendency, also known as hemostasis, has been devised. Researchers say it could one day prove lifesaving in a variety of clinical situations in which a patient's health is jeopardized by abnormal blood coagulation and platelet function.

Using skin to save the heart Cell therapies for heart ailments involve transplanting over a billion heart cells to the patient's heart. Many of these cells fail to engraft, however, compromising the benefits. One reason for the poor engraftment is that normally the heart cell population is a mixture of cells with different maturation. Researchers have now identified an ideal maturation stage that enhances engraftment and may reduce the number of cells required for therapy.

Potential heart disorder cause, treatment identified A novel therapy tested scientists for treating a fatal heart disorder in dogs might ultimately help in diagnosing and treating heart disease in humans. The team also identified potential causes of inherited dilated cardiomyopathy or "weak heart."

Weight Loss Research:MIND diet repeatedly ranked among best ♦ Higher fat variation of DASH diet lowers blood pressure, triglycerides ♦ People face subconscious urges to over-eat in winter

People face subconscious urges to over-eat in winter People have evolved to have subconscious urges to over-eat, and limited ability to avoid becoming obese, especially in winter.

MIND diet repeatedly ranked among best A diet proven to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 53 percent in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously has also been ranked as the easiest diet to follow by U.S. News & World Report.

Eat less and be happy: Is it possible? Small, uncertain incentives stimulate the same reward center of the brain as food, new brain-imaging research reveals. In a new article, the authors offer food for thought on why we overeat and how we can be just as happy not doing it.

Research raises concerns over long-term use of chromium diet pills Chromium is partially converted into a carcinogenic form when it enters cells, with increased risk associated with taking the nutritional supplement in high doses or in the long term..

Higher fat variation of DASH diet lowers blood pressure, triglycerides A higher fat DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet lowered blood pressure to the same extent as the DASH diet, but also reduced triglycerides and did not significantly raise LDL cholesterol, scientists report at the conclusion of their study

Asafoetida Powder recalled due to Salmonella

Shakti Group USA LLC of New Brunswick, NJ is recalling 50 gm and 100 gm sizes of L.G Compounded Asafoetida Powder, both coded with Lot Number: 2323 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection withSalmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

L.G COMPOUNDED ASAFOETIDA POWDER was distributed to OH, NJ, VA, NH, and PA through retail stores.

The product is packaged in a white screw cap plastic bottle with UPC 840222000149, Lot Number: 2323.

Consumers who have purchased L.G COMPOUNDED ASAFOETIDA POWDER are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-609-357-9181 between the hours of 8am - 5pm EST from Monday - Saturday.

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R Thomas Marketing recalling supplements for erectile dysfunction

R Thomas Marketing LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots of the following products to the consumer level:

• Black Ant: BIG BOX (20 small boxes / 4 capsules per box / 80 capsules total)
• Herb Viagra: BIG BOX (20 small boxes / 4 capsules per box / 80 capsules)
• Real Skill: BIG BOX (20 small boxes / 4 capsules per box / 80 capsules)
• Stree Overlord: BIG BOX (20 small boxes / 4 capsules per box / 80 capsules)
• Weekend Prince: BIG BOX (24 individual cards / 2 capsules per card / 48 capsules)
• African Black Ant: BIG BOX (8 small boxes / 6 capsules per box / 48 capsules)

These products were tested by the FDA and found to contain Sildenafil, a PDE-5 Inhibitor which is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction (ED) making this tainted dietary supplement and unapproved drug. recalling supplements for erectile dysfunction is not listed on the product labels.

Risk Statement: This undeclared active ingredient poses a threat to consumers because Sildenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. Additionally, the product may cause side effects, such as headaches and flushing.

Out of an abundance of caution, R. Thomas Marketing is also recalling all lots of the following products previously sold at the consumer level because these products were sourced from the same vendors as the above-mentioned products and may have resulted in similar misbranding or the likelihood for misbranding to occur in the future:

• Bull: CASE (10 packs / 3 capsules per can / 30 capsules)
• Bulls Genital: CASE (10 Cans / 10 capsules per can / 100 capsules)
• Zhonghua Niu Bian: BIG BOX (6 small boxes / 6 capsules per box / 36 capsules)
• African Superman: BIG BOX (6 small boxes / 8 capsules per box / 48 capsules)
• Bigger Longer More Time More Sperms: BIG BOX (6 small boxes / 6 capsules per small box / 36 capsules)
• Black Ant King: BIG BOX (10 capsules / can / 12 cans per box / 120 capsules)
• Black Storm: SMALL BOX (6 capsules)
• Germany Niubian: BIG BOX (10 small boxes / 24 capsules per box / 240 capsules)
• Happy Passengers: BIG BOX (30 small boxes / 1 capsule per box / 30 capsules)
• Plant Vigra: BIG BOX / (18 cans / 6 capsules per can / 108 capsules)
• Hard Ten Days: BIG BOX (6 small boxes / 6 capsules per box / 36 capsules)
• Man King: BIG BOX (8 small boxes / 5 capsules per box / 40 capsules)
• Mojo Risen: BIG BOX (24 individual cards / 2 capsules per card/ 48 capsules)
• Night Man: SMALL BOX (6 capsules)
• Tiger King: BIG BOX (10 small bottles / 10 capsules per bottle / 100 capsules)
• Samurai-X: BIG BOX (24 individually wrapped capsules)
• Super Hard: BIG BOX (20 small boxes / 6 capsules per box / 120 capsules)
• Zhen Gong: BIG BOX (16 small boxes / 2 capsules per box / 32 capsules)

These products were marketed as dietary supplements for male sexual enhancement. The products are packaged in accordance with the respective identifiers listed above. All lots of the specified products sold by R Thomas Marketing via internet sales from September 2013 to present are included in this recall. The products were mainly sold through the following websites:

http://streeoverlord.us/
http://herbsviagra.com/
http://realskill.org/
http://www.blackantpills.us/
http://africanblackantpills.org/
http://africanblackantpills.com/
http://buddypills.com/
http://hobuck.com/
http://maleenhancers.net/
http://www.raffu.com/
http://africablackantking.net/

The products were sold through numerous websites (approximately 80), but these were the most commonly used. R Thomas Marketing is notifying its customers by issuing a press release and by direct notification via email.

Consumers and retailers that have any of these above mentioned products should stop using and/or distributing this product immediately and arrange return of the products to:

Attn: RECALL NOTICE
R Thomas Marketing LLC
20 Passaic St.
Trenton, NJ 08618

Consumers with questions regarding this voluntary recall can contact R Thomas Marketing LLC by email at rthomasmarketingbiz@gmail.com and/or calling at 914-278-0212. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these drug products.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail or FAX: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addresses form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

This recall and market action are being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.