HEALTH Tidbits

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Organic cows less resistant to antibiotics

DENVER, July 22 (UPI) -- Dairy cattle raised on organic farms are

less likely to develop resistance to antibiotics than those raised on

conventional farms.

According to a study presented at a meeting of the American

Veterinary Medical Association, antibiotics are routinely used on

conventional farms to ward off infections, while on organic farms use

is limited, the Rocky Mountain News reported.

During a two-month period, less than 10 percent of organic farms

reported using penicillin while more than 70 percent of conventional

farms reported doing so, said John Kaneene of Michigan State

University.

Doctors are noticing humans, swine, poultry and cattle are

developing a resistance to commonly used antibiotics and new strains

of bacteria have appeared that do not respond to drugs used to fight

bacterial infections.

" It's suspected that resistant bacteria can spread to humans who eat

food from animals that were routinely injected with the drugs, "

Kaneene said.

 

GM farming fails official UK backing

LONDON, July 22 (UPI) -- A British science review of genetically

modified crops indicates there is little economic value in the current

generation of GM crops for food and feed.

The London Daily Telegraph said while the crops apparently pose no

significant health threat, it is not yet possible to give such crops a

clean bill of health because of continuing uncertainties.

A panel of 25 scientists studied more than 600 papers on GM crops.

The panel said there was some evidence GM crops might accelerate a

decline in farmland biodiversity and the scientists warned too little

is known about the impact of GM foods on human health.

The newspaper said scientists believe more study is needed,

especially on allergenic effects of GM crops, the impact of GM crops

on farmland biodiversity and soil ecology, and on the consequences of

gene flow.

 

Free, on-line scientific journals planned

CHICAGO, July 22 (UPI) -- The general public may soon have easy

Internet access to easy-to-understand scientific information, thanks

to two professors.

Michael Eisen, a University of California-Berkeley professor, and

Dr. Patrick Brown, a Stanford University School of Medicine professor,

are launching on-line journals that will be available to the public

without charge.

Eisen told the Chicago Tribune many people hoping to learn about

effective screening methods for prostate cancer, for example, are

often required to pay for the information. He said " that should be a

public scandal. "

Eisen and Brown are creating two on-line science journals -- one in

chemistry and the other covering biology -- for the Public Library of

Science.

The Tribune said PLoS Biology will launch in October, and PLoS

Medicine by mid-2004. Both will provide summaries written in

easy-to-understand language, countering concerns the average person

does not understand medical and scientific jargon.

The newspaper said the new services might alter the course of

scientific publishing.

 

 

© Copyright 2003 by United Press International. All rights reserved.

 

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