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Discovery Of Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Factor
Neural stem cells represent the cellular backup of our brain. These cells are capable of self-renewal to form new stem cells or differentiate into neurons, astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. Astrocytes have supportive functions in the environment of neurons, while oligodendrocytes form the myelin layer around axons in order to accelerate neuronal signal transmission. But how does a neural stem cell "know" which way it is supposed to develop? On the molecular level receptors of the Notch family play a significant role in this process. So far, only stimulating extracellular ligands of Notch receptors had been described. Biochemists of Goethe University Medical School now describe a long time assumed but not yet identified soluble Notch inhibitor.

U.N. Calls For Increased Commitment To Help Vulnerable Countries Prepare For Natural Disaster
Instead of responding to natural disasters after they happen, aid should be dedicated to helping countries prepare for future disasters, John Holmes, the U.N."s emergency relief coordinator, said Friday, Reuters reports. "You can"t stop the disasters happening but you can make an enormous difference to whether they kill people and, to some extent at least, have their livelihoods destroyed," Holmes said during a press conference in Geneva that came at the end of a week-long meeting that tackled ideas on how to best prepare poorer countries for natural disasters.
News of the day
Health Canada Confirms No Health Risk From BPA In Baby Food, Powdered Infant Formula, And Bottled Water
As part of its research commitment on bisphenol A (BPA), Health Canada released yesterday the results of studies investigating BPA exposure levels in baby food in glass jars with metal lids, powdered infant formula, and bottled water. The results from these three government studies provide definitive confirmation that baby food products packaged in glass jars with metal lids, powdered infant formula, and bottled water do not pose a health risk. Researchers found that all levels of BPA found in tested products were exceedingly low and all are well below the level established as safe for consumers by the Canadian government. The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) welcomes the latest Canadian study, noting that these findings confirm industry"s own research that shows BPA levels in food containers are negligible.
Endocrinology

Two Major Companies Could Join Wal-Mart In Backing Employer Mandate

Target, the second-largest U.S. discount retailer, and Kelly Services, a temporary worker agency, said "they may support Wal-Mart Stores Inc."s call for mandatory medical insurance by large companies as part of a proposed overhaul of U.S. health care," Bloomberg reports. Wal-Mart, the nation"s largest retailer, favors the employer mandate, a position that has drawn fire form the industry"s main trade group, the National Retail Federation. "The positions of the two companies signal a widening split in the business community over the issue, a core element of President Barack Obama"s proposed changes." "Labor unions and allies of Democrats crafting an overhaul of the nation"s health system insist an employer mandate is essential to making health coverage broader and more affordable," Bloomberg reports. However, an executive for Wegmans, a supermarket chain that opposes the employer mandate said it would be costly for businesses and that "[i]t"s more important for folks to have jobs." Both Target and Kelly said their support hinged on what conditions, such as provisions that constrain the costs of insurance, are part of the final package (Rosenkrantz and Przybyla, 7/14). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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