Food Research: Proof-of-concept for low-cost drug made in lettuce ♦ One in three Americans to need more vitamin E ♦ Soda tax boosts retail prices of sugary drinks

Proteins from rice: raw materials instead of waste Proteins remain after starch is extracted from rice. Until now, this valuable raw material was disposed of by rice starch producers at great expense. A new process is being developed to split proteins into smaller pieces, or peptides, and then clean them. The peptides can be put to good use in products such as cosmetics or nutritional supplements.

Proof-of-concept for low-cost drug made in lettuce Scientists have used a plant-based system to make shelf-stable drugs. The researchers confirmed the viability of their method for FDA approval and human use, producing an effective drug that promotes tolerance to clotting factors, which could be taken by hemophilia patients, using freeze-dried lettuce leaves

Soda tax boosts retail prices of sugary drinks, A new study addresses questions about the efficacy of a voter-approved soda tax passed in 2014. Voters in Berkeley approved the first excise tax in the country on sugar-sweetened beverages, but questions soon arose about whether the move would have its desired effect by increasing the retail price of soda. The latest signs say yes.

Metabolic syndrome leads one in three Americans to need more vitamin E One-third of Americans who have a cluster of health problems that add up to metabolic syndrome don't absorb dietary vitamin E as effectively as healthy people.

Cardiovascular Research: Treatment of type 2 diabetes may reduce heart disease, ♦ Bacterial cause behind fatal heart complications ♦ Metabolic syndrome face higher cardiovascular death

Many people in emergency department for chest pain don't need admitted Chest pain sends 7 million Americans to the ED each year. About half are admitted for further observation, testing or treatment. A new study finds a very low short-term risk for life-threatening cardiac events among patients with chest pain who have normal test results

Early detection, treatment of type 2 diabetes may reduce heart disease, mortality Screening to identify Type 2 diabetes followed by early treatment could result in substantial health benefits.

Bacterial cause behind fatal heart complications discovered A key cause of life threatening heart complications has been identified by researchers. The heart infections studied frequently follow severe infections with the bacteria responsible for pneumonia and meningitis.

Copd is independent risk factor for cardiovascular death, but not risk of stroke Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is associated with increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular disease such as heart failure or a heart attack, as well as diseases not associated with the heart. However, COPD is not by itself associated with increased likelihood of having a stroke or a systemic embolism.

People with metabolic syndrome face higher cardiovascular death risk People who have metabolic syndrome are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people who do not have the condition, and having diabetes or high blood pressure worsens the risk.

Childrens Health: Infant growth affected environmental pollutants ♦ Nuts lower teenagers' risk of metabolic syndrome ♦ Keep kids home from school + more

Infant growth affected by exposure to environmental pollutants  Even though the levels of two environmental pollutants have declined over the last 20 years, they may still have adverse effects on children's development. The researchers found that maternal levels of DDE ( levels to which the fetuses were exposed to in utero) were significantly associated with rapid growth in early life. They also found that levels of PCB153 in milk were associated with decreased infant growth.Continue Reading

Nuts may help lower teenagers' risk of metabolic syndrome  Modest consumption of nuts every day is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile among adolescents, a new analysis of a large national database shows Continue Reading

When to keep kids home from school  For many reasons, a child being home from school while sick can be stressful. Parents worry about the severity of their child’s illness and about the child missing school, all while trying to shuffle work schedules to be home Continue Reading

Parents' depression can lead to toddlers in trouble  A father's or mother’s depression during the first years of parenting can put their toddlers at risk of developing troubling behaviors such as hitting, lying, anxiety and sadness during a critical time of development Continue Reading

New quality measures approved for childhood sleep apnea  A work group of physicians from leading academic medical centers across the United States has developed new quality measures for the detection and treatment of childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially morbid, life-altering condition that affects hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents nationwide.Continue Reading