A study has found that more than a third of drugs used to fight malaria in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are either of poor quality or simply fake.

Global death rates due to malaria have fallen more than 25 percent in the last 12 years.

But the researchers say this progress will be threatened if unregulated drugs continue to be used.

Al Jazeera’s Tarek Bazley has the story.

The Drug Shock of the Year – FDA Approved, But Beware

By Dr. Mercola

In a dramatic move that shows that the U.S. FDA is softening its stand on bio-pharmed treatments, the agency has approved the country’s first genetically modified plant intended for the treatment of a human disease.

An Israeli firm grew human disease enzymes in carrot cells, and produced a treatment for Gaucher disease that they say shows improvement comparable to a treatment derived from hamster cells. The drug goes by the name Elelyso.

As reported by Popsci, the ability to manipulate the genes of plant cells isn’t new, but until now concerns about human biologics have kept them from gaining traction with the FDA. I don’t even want to think about the potential ramifications of this decision. Many may not know this, but Monsanto, well-known as the leader in biotechnology and genetically engineered foods, is also invested in the medical industry.

Will Biotech Drugs Become the Next Big Battle?

In 1995, The Upjohn Company—a pharmaceutical company founded in Michigan—merged with the Swedish pharmaceutical and biotech company Pharmacia AB, to form Pharmacia & Upjohn.

In 2000, Pharmacia & Upjohn merged with Monsanto Company, at which time the name was changed to Pharmacia. The drug divisions, including Monsanto’s old Searle drug division, were retained in Pharmacia, while the agricultural divisions became a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacia.

A short while later, Pharmacia spun off this agricultural/biotech subsidiary into a “new Monsanto” company, with the agreement that the “new” Monsanto would indemnify Pharmacia against certain liabilities that could be incurred from judgments against Solutia—yet another Monsanto-owned company that creates a variety of plastic materials, which was sued by Alabama residents over long-term PCB contamination.

Pfizer then bought Pharmacia 2002, and today also owns the remainder of Upjohn. Bayer has also acquired certain assets.

As you can see, the past and present connections between all of these mega-corporations are dizzying in their complexity.

Monsanto, as a whole, has such a long history of questionable behavior; I shudder to think what might occur once it gets into the game of genetically engineered drug-crops, which is now right around the corner. We already know that coexistence between conventional or organic and genetically engineered crops is impossible, due to the spread of pollen and seed.

And when it comes to the safety of these genetically engineered crops, Phil Angell, Monsanto’s director of corporate communications back in 1998 probably expressed it best when he told Michael Pollan that:

“Monsanto should not have to vouch for the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is FDA’s job.ⁱ“

Read Full Article Here

Pneumonia Vaccine Shown to Actually Increase Bacterial Infections It Is Supposed to Prevent

By Dr. Mercola

It’s estimated that nearly one in 7 U.S. adults have been diagnosed with sinusitis in the past 12 months, which occurs when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses become irritated.ⁱ In most of these cases (90-98%) a virus is the cause, whereas in 2-10% of cases, a bacterial infection is also present.

These bacterial infections are becoming increasingly drug-resistant and therefore harder and harder to treat, which is why the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently issued new treatment guidelines for sinusitis.

Alarmingly, however, buried on page 16 of their report is the acknowledgement that certain hard-to-treat bacterial infections in children are on the rise because of the widespread use of the conjugated pneumococcal vaccines!

Bacterial Infections on the Rise Since Introduction of the Pneumonia Vaccine

The IDSA report states

” … both the prevalence of H. influenzae (40%– 45%) and proportion of b-lactamase–producing H. influenzae (37%–50%) (extrapolated from middle ear fluid cultures of children with acute otitis media) have markedly increased among other upper respiratory tract infections since the widespread use of conjugated pneumococcal vaccines… Whereas S. pneumoniae was more common than H. influenzae prior to 2000, the prevalence of H. influenzae has clearly increased while that of S. pneumoniae has decreased in the post–pneumococcal vaccine era, such that currently they are approximately equal … “

In the United States the Prevnar vaccine, which is used to prevent pneumoccocal disease that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections in young children, was licensed in 2000 and has been given to infants in four shots between the age of 2 months and 15 months. The vaccine originally covered seven and now covers 13 of the 90-odd strains of the Streptococcus bacteria.

Although pneumoccocal disease caused by seven pneumoccoal strains in the 7-valent Prevnar vaccine declined after widespread use, one pneumoccocal strain called 19A developed super resistance and is now causing pneumoccocal disease that is antibiotic-resistant.

In 2010, the FDA licensed a 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine to cover more strains, including 19A, in an attempt to interrupt transmission of pneumococcal disease, which is associated with over 80 different strains of pneumococcal. The health community has known for years that non-vaccine S. pneumoniae serotypes had not only quickly replaced the seven included in the original Prevnar vaccine, but were also causing invasive non-vaccine-type pneumonia to increase by 71 percent. Writing in the journal Emerging Infectious Disease, researchers stated:ⁱⁱⁱ

“In the Netherlands, PCV-7 [the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine] offered high protection against vaccine-serotype IPD in vaccinated children, but increases of non–vaccine-serotype IPD reduced net vaccine benefits.”

That’s the reason U.S. officials introduced the new 13-valent pneumonia vaccine—to hopefully keep the replacement serotypes at bay. However, history suggests that both antibiotics and vaccines may be intricately involved in the evolution of pneumonia superbugs

Read Full Article Here

Gluten sensitivity in mothers linked to mental health issues for the child

By David Gutierrez, 
(NaturalNews) Children born to women with gluten sensitivity may be at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia or other psychiatric diseases later in life, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The researchers emphasized that their study does not prove that gluten sensitivity actually causes schizophrenia, and noted that avoiding gluten while pregnant might eliminate…

Added sugar is the number one culprit in the American health crisis

By Linn Cole,
(NaturalNews) Cancer. Heart disease. High blood pressure. Obesity. Diabetes. Premature aging. What we take for granted as hallmarks of life in the most affluent country on Earth have been popularly linked to everything from genetics to fast food. What if the real answer is so straightforward it’s as near at hand as the closest bottle of Coke? Mounting research pinpoints both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as definitive agents in all of the “epidemics” this generation has become painfully…

Big pharma ‘research’ suggests all people over 50 should take statins every day for life

By D Holt,
(NaturalNews) Big pharma propaganda has reached a new height in the UK this week, with the release of a new study that appears to show the benefits of taking statins. The report goes on to claim that everyone over 50 years of age should be taking the drug on a daily basis, for the rest of their lives. According to the report, the benefits of the statins are to reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke. It then goes on to say that the drug is effective on patients who are classed as not being…

See what a little ‘dew of the sea’ can do for you – rosemary herb

By Kelly Pepper, D.C., 
(NaturalNews) One sprig of rosemary, the “dew of the sea”, can grow into a burly, woody, shrubby plant. Its petite green leaves prove that great things come in small packages. Through the centuries, rosemary has adorned brides, laid beneath pillows as a sleep enhancer, been eaten as a tonic for the digestive tract, and smelled for its promise of memory boost. As such, recent scientific studies are investigating the marvels crammed in its leaves, its extracts, and its oils. Memory and mood Rosemary…

Popular homeopathic cold and flu remedy Oscillococcinum under attack in Canada

By Jonathan Benson, 
(NaturalNews) The pseudo-scientific elite in Canada have launched a new crusade against homeopathy, this time targeting Boiron Laboratories, creator of the popular Oscillococcinum, a cold and flu remedy, and Shoppers Drug Mart, a marketer of this and other Boiron treatments. According to reports, the crux of a new class-action lawsuit alleges that Oscillococcinum is mislabeled because it does not contain measurable amounts of its stated active ingredients. The concept behind how homeopathy works…

Jon Geller, DVM

Like senior people, senior dogs benefit from measures aimed at helping prevent pain and increase comfort. Discomfort can sap your senior dog’s energy, making it harder for him to cope with more serious health problems. Look at your dog’s environment and routines with a comfort-oriented perspective: What can you do to help make life easier for his aging body?

Reduce arthritis pain.
Dogs suffering from osteoarthritis will walk with a stiff gait and may show other signs of pain. These dogs deserve the very best dog bed you can afford. Place it away from drafts and cold rooms.

For the same reason, don’t expect your elderly dog to climb stairs to get to his bed, food, or water. Cover slippery linoleum, wood, or tile floors with carpet runners so he can cross them without the risk of his legs splaying out, which can cause painful muscle injuries and aggravate any existing conditions.

Although most dogs look forward to their daily exercise, keep walks short for arthritic dogs. Joint-health supplements can be helpful for these pets.

Canine Brainpower

Use these tricks to keep your old dog mentally fit.

Joey is edging toward 13. His muzzle and paws are grizzled with gray, his eyes clouded with cataracts, and his hearing certainly isn’t what it used to be. He eats a quality senior diet that helps him maintain a healthy weight and meets his nutritional needs. Joey also takes medications to keep him pain- and symptom-free from canine intervertebral disk disease.

Joey’s owner, Merry Jordan, cajoles him into taking daily walks and drags favorite toys to hidden locations in the house so that the Dachsie can scent his way to his most wanted playthings.

According to Gary Landsberg, DVM, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a partner in Doncaster Animal Clinic, Jordan is doing everything right to mentally stimulate her dog.

“A lot of people [who own senior dogs] stop exercising and interacting with their dogs,” Landsberg says. “Maybe because the dog is suffering from disease or is not capable of doing what she used to do. Or, owners often think it’s not necessary to keep an older dog active. ”

Dr. Kabat-Zinn is founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Medical Center, which has served as the model for mindfulness-based clinical intervention programs at over 400 medical centers and clinics nationwide and abroad. He drew hundreds of people to Lesley University’s Brattle Campus Monday, October 3, 2001, to deliver the Sonnabend Lecture, guiding the packed audience through an exploration of Mindfulness, followed by a meditation exercise. Dr. Kabat-Zinn’s visit coincided with the launching of Lesley’s new program in Mindfulness Studies.

The bi-annual Sonnabend Lecture invites a distinguished practitioner in the field of human services to work with Lesley’s students and faculty, and enrich the academic community.