Visible inequality breeds more inequality

Experiments suggest that when people can see wealth inequality in their social network, this propels further inequality through reduced cooperation and reduced social connectivity. News & Views comment on Nishi et al, Nature 526, 2015, p. 426-429

Cooking with elaborate recipes can reduce the formation of mutagenic heterocyclic amines and promote comutagenic amines

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are foodborne carcinogens which formation is highly dependent on cooking conditions. HCAs have been commonly quantified in food items prepared with simple procedures. This approach is suitable for elucidating HCAs’ formation, but it reflects partially the contamination in consumed food. In the current investigation, the generation of HCAs has been investigated in fried beef items prepared with elaborated cooking recipes, and their occurrence has been compared with control beef fried without the addition of other ingredients than oil. The food recipes that included a variety of food ingredients had lower yields of mutagenic HCAs (≥ 47% reduction, with individual HCA levels ranging between 0.01 and 2.22 ng/g) with respect to the control beef. In contrast, the co-mutagens norharman and harman were formed generally at greater levels (up to 3 times the contamination in the control fried beef) in the items prepared including greater variety of ingredients

Summary Report of PQRI Workshop on Nanomaterial in Drug Products: Current Experience and Management of Potential Risks

At the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) Workshop held last January 14-15, 2014, participants from academia, industry, and governmental agencies involved in the development and regulation of nanomedicines discussed the current state of characterization, formulation development, manufacturing, and nonclinical safety evaluation of nanomaterial-containing drug products for human use. The workshop discussions identified areas where additional understanding of material attributes, absorption, biodistribution, cellular and tissue uptake, and disposition of nanosized particles would continue to inform their safe use in drug products. Analytical techniques and methods used for in vitro characterization and stability testing of formulations containing nanomaterials were discussed, along with their advantages and limitations. Areas where additional regulatory guidance and material characterization standards would help in the development and approval of nanomedicines were explored. Representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Health Canada, and European Medicines Agency (EMA) presented information about the diversity of nanomaterials in approved and newly developed drug products. USFDA, Health Canada, and EMA regulators discussed the applicability of current regulatory policies in presentations and open discussion. Information contained in several of the recent EMA reflection papers was discussed in detail, along with their scope and intent to enhance scientific understanding about disposition, efficacy, and safety of nanomaterials introduced in vivo and regulatory requirements for testing and market authorization. Opportunities for interaction with regulatory agencies during the lifecycle of nanomedicines were also addressed at the meeting. This is a summary of the workshop presentations and discussions, including considerations for future regulatory guidance on drug products containing nanomaterials

A review of dihydroxyacetone.

Introduction: Recently the sunless tanning industry has experienced rapid growth due to public education on the dangers of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the skin and improvements in sunless tanning products. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a 3-carbon sugar approved as a color additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and found in sunless tanning products for external use. It reacts with amino acids in the stratum corneum to impart a tanned color to the skin. Formulations typically contain 3% to 5% DHA and can be sprayed on at home or applied as a cream or lotion. DHA has been used in tanning booths and airbrushed by technicians, which is beyond the scope of approval for the color additive. We review the literature on DHA including the published safety data, the current regulations on its use, its clinical utility, and the possible photoprotective properties of this product. Methods and results: We reviewed published in vivo and in vitro studies where DHA had been used. Clinical safety investigations were few in number with limited sample sizes. DHA is approved by the FDA as a color additive in sunless tanners for external application, not including the mucous membranes of the lips. The FDA cautions tanning booth customers against unwanted DHA exposure, recommending that customers shield their eyes, lips, and mucous membranes and refrain from ingestion or inhalation of DHA. While the FDA regulates spray tanning products, state and local health authorities regulate the tanning booth. Despite reports of very modest photoprotective effects (SPF 1-3), DHA is not a sunscreen, and as such, it cannot provide any protection from exposure to the sun’s UVR. Literature reports indicate that DHA has been used as camouflage for vitiligo patients and as an adjunct to psoralen-ultraviolet A therapy in psoriasis. While not indicated for the treatment of fungal infections, DHA has also demonstrated fungicidal properties. Reported side-effects included xanthotrichia and allergic contact dermatitis. Conclusion: DHA is an FDA-approved color additive used in sunless tanners. The literature shows that it has a good safety profile, with no to minimal photoprotective property, as would be expected, since DHA is not a sunscreen ingredient. With its wide-spread use, additional studies on its safety, especially on its potential effects upon inhalation, are warranted