Personal Genetic Tests Facing Scrutiny

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS: Triclosan Comes under Scrutiny

Triclosan, the antimicrobial agent marketed for its germ-fighting capability in personal care products, is coming under close scrutiny. In April 2010 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is conducting a scientific and regulatory review of triclosan in FDAregulated products, with publication of results expected in spring 2011. The agency also is collaborating with the U.S. En...

HCHO Emissions Debate Invites Scrutiny of Lab Tests, Economics

F or longevity, few issues in the forest products industry rival the formaldehyde (HCHO) debate. The issue came to the fore in the mid-1970s as increased use of HCHO-emitting board products in more tightly constructed homes led to numerous complaints. As a result. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) ruled in 1985 that the HCHO level of air in mobile homes would be limited to 0.4 par...

Genetic Dissection of Diabetes: Facing the Giant

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited disorder of childhood and is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (1). CF is most common among Caucasian individuals, with a prevalence of 1 in 2,500 newborns (2). CF can be diagnosed before birth by genetic testing or by a sweat test in early childhood (3,4). Complications of CF inclu...

Under Scrutiny

Folic acid under scrutiny

A consideration of the absorption and metabolism of folic acid in human subjects is timely, owing to the recent recommendation by the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition that a mandatory folic acid fortification programme be implemented in the UK. In this issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, Wright et al. take us through the processes of absorption and metabolism of...