Researchers led by Dr. Stephen Dusza of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City, examined data on 360 fifth graders in Massachusetts who were surveyed in 2004 and again three years later in 2007.

The years of “periadolescence” covered by the study (ages 11 to 14) appear to be “a crucial period” when young people often either “increase or decrease their use of sun protection, obtain sunburns, or change their tan-promoting attitudes,” the authors wrote.

“Adolescence and teenage years are tremendously difficult because it is a period of flexing independence, coupled with feelings of invincibility,” they added.

The study was published in the February issue of Pediatrics.

The results of the cautious first-stage test that was designed to examine whether the treatment is safe, had been previously announced by Massachusetts biotech firm Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) Inc.

“The Stargardt’s patient reports that she can see more colour and has better contract and dark adaptation out of the operated eye. In fact, she started using her computer and could even read her watch… (and) says she can even thread a needle now,” Bob Lanza, ACT’s chief scientific officer, said in an email to AFP.

Green Valley

The company said in a statement late on Thursday that “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts in 5 ounce containers with the date January 1, 2012 on the label are being voluntarily recalled. Green Valley said the product was distributed to retail chains and food distribution centers in Texas and other alfalfa products or blends are not affected. There have been no confirmed illnesses related to the recalled product at this point, according to the company.

A random customer sample tested positive for salmonella earlier this month. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

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The test, which measures levels of a protein known as PAM4, was able to identify two-thirds of patients who had pancreatic cancer at an early stage of their disease, according to researchers reporting on Tuesday at the annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

“When a person gets cancer, this protein spills into the bloodstream,” explained Dr. Igor Astsaturov, an assistant professor of medical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Astsaturov, who was not involved with the study, said the results were “certainly welcome news.”

“For providers of care for patients with pancreatic cancer, hampered by their inability to readily detect these cancers in some cases, especially in earlier stages, this shows tremendous promise that blood-based assay can add to our ability to diagnose pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage, thereby impacting patients lives,” said Dr. Morton S. Kahlenberg, a gastrointestinal cancers expert with the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Doribax, known generically as doripenem, is presently approved in the United States for treating adults with complicated urinary tract or abdominal infections but not for any type of pneumonia.

Doribax was still safe and effective for its approved uses in the United States, according to Shaun Mickus, spokesman at Janssen, the J&J unit.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Novartis said operations and shipments had been temporarily stopped at the Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) Lincoln, Nebraska facility for accelerating improvements at the site.

“NCH will take a one-time charge currently estimated at $120 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, relating to the recalls and improvement work at the Lincoln facility,” Novartis said in the statement.

The drugmaker plans to gradually resume operations at its Lincoln site following implementation of planned improvements and in agreement with the FDA.

The researchers from Japan found no difference in gastric cancer risk between people who consumed a lot of isoflavones and those who consumed the least.

An estimated 21,500 Americans were diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2011 and an estimated 10,500 died from it.

“One of the reasons for decline is that people have fridges now, and they use less salt preservatives,” said Khaldoun Almhanna, a medical oncologist at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

It was further added that a recall was unnecessary, providing relief for the product’s manufacturer, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

“Parents may continue to use powdered infant formula, following the manufacturer’s directions on the printed label,” the agencies said in a joint statement.

“We’re pleased with the FDA and CDC testing, which should reassure consumers, healthcare professionals and retailers everywhere about the safety and quality of our products,” Tim Brown, Mead Johnson’s general manager for North America, said in a statement.

“There is currently no evidence to conclude that the infant formula or nursery water was contaminated during manufacturing or shipping,” said an FDA spokesman.

“If you look at the component studies, they are all over the map,” she told Reuters Health, adding that she and her colleagues had hoped to be able to explain that variation.

“We came up relatively empty-handed,” Jessica K. Paulus, who worked on the analysis and of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, said. “It makes it difficult to interpret our findings.” “Both active smoking and exposure to second-hand smoking are some of the strongest risk factors for lung cancer,” said Paulus. “Quitting smoking and quitting soon is associated with reducing your risk of lung cancer.”