This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

1. treehugger published an item about a pocket hydrogen fuel cell charger [1]. Great gizmo.

2. and also an item reporting that UK food inspectors studies 558 food items labelled as ‘local’, and found that 18% were undoubtedly not local and 14% were unverifiable [2]. ‘Welsh lamb’ from New Zealand!

3. in the US, the FAA mandated the removal of emergency oxygen masks from aeroplane toilets, in the interests of ‘national security’ [3]. It’s a mad, mad (etc) world, alright.

4. the journal Paediatrics reported that among formula-fed infants or infants weaned before age four months, introduction of solid foods before the age of four months increased the risk of obesity at age three years [4]. Breast fed is best fed at least for the first four months of life. It’s currently unclear when to start solid foods after then.

5. in the US, a CDC report showed continuing improved cancer survival [5]. This further reinforces the adage that ‘cancer’s a word and not a sentence’.

6. a large Australian randomised controlled trial showed that daily suncreeen use cut melanoma risk by over 50% [6]. Sunscreens work, folks.

7. I read of the iPad suit [7]. Pardon me while I visit the vomitorium.

8. I neglected to blog about (centenary) International Women’s Day [8]. I apologise. It was an oversight – not an act of disrespect.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium – comprising eight health-connected items. This week…

1. research showed regular sunscreen use significantly cuts melanoma risk [1]. It cuts the risk of squamous and basal cell cancers too.

2. research showed sunlight exposure cuts the risk of mature-onset diabetes – mediated via vitamin D [2]. But even weak sunscreen – e.g. for melanoma prevention – markedly lowers vitamin D production.

3. research showed daily low-dose aspirin reduces the all-cancers death rate by 34% (and the stomach and bowel cancer death rate by 54%) [3]. It protects against stroke and heart attack too.

4. research showed overweight and obesity are associated with an increased all-cause mortality; and to a lesser degree so is underweight [4]. All-cause mortality is lowest when the Body Mass Index [BMI] is normal or just below normal, i.e. 20.0-24.9.

5. research showed lap band surgery’s effective in people with a lower BMI than that presently deemed acceptable by the US FDA [5]. Thus the FDA’s considering lowering the minimum BMI from 40 to 35 (and from 35 to 30 for people with other health problems).

6. the 16th UN Climate Change Conference [COP16] began in Cancun, Mexico [6a, 6b]. The health connection? It’s obvious. But COP16’s a giant ho hum.

7. I saw this fascinating video about what sits on Oliver Sacks’s office desk [7]. The health connection? He’s a neurologist.

8. darling Indi began a duck egg business unit within Daylesford Organics [8]. The health connection? Indi has the flu. Get well soon, Indi. xxxxx

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.