Top 10 Foods You Should Always Have in Your House

 

Frank Bean/UpperCut Images/Getty Images

Updated September 22, 2014.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

It is easy to realize why cooking your own meals is so beneficial - control of ingredients, limited fat, portion control, and guaranteed freshness. But, it is impossible to put together a meal when you don't have any food in the house. Keeping the fridge fully stocked can be tough, especially if you have an erratic schedule and often wind up throwing food in the garbage due to spoilage. But, just a few simple ingredients can go a long way. If you have certain food items in your house, you are guaranteed to be able to throw together a meal that is tasty, healthy and diabetes friendly.

Frozen vegetables: Contrary to popular belief, frozen vegetables can be just as good as fresh vegetables. They are frozen at their peak freshness, making them rich in vitamins and minerals. Due to their high water and fiber content, vegetables provide bulk to meals and should be used as a base or the foundation of your plate. Filling up on non-starchy vegetables can help to reduce blood pressure, weight and blood sugars. Aim to make 1/2 of your plate non-starchy vegetables. Purchase those without any added sauces, butter, or salt.

• How to Prepare: Pop them in the microwave or steam them with a few tablespoons of water. Sprinkle with olive oil and garlic powder (if you don't have fresh).
• What to do with them: Toss them into salads and soups or use as sandwiches toppers. Build your plate by making vegetables the base, followed by lean protein and a complex carbohydrate. Add leftover vegetables to egg white omelets or an egg scramble.

Canned beans: Beans are rich in filling fiber, lean protein and folate. I prefer to use dried beans, but not everyone has time to cook them. Instead, use canned beans - be sure to rinse them well (to help rid some of the sodium).

• How to Prepare them: No preparation needed. Just open the can, rinse and use. If you'd like to get creative, you can puree them and make them into a spread.
• What to do with them: Add beans to an egg scramble, toss them into a salad, or spread a smear onto a sandwich. Beans can also be added into soups, stews, and side dishes. While beans are healthy they do contain carbohydrate so be sure to factor the carbohydrates into your meal plan. 1/2 cup is about 20g of carbohydrate.

Eggs: Eggs are rich in vitamin D, lutein (a carotenoid that promotes eye health), and protein. While many people avoid eggs due to their cholesterol content, research has led us to understand that it may not be dietary cholesterol that increases blood cholesterol, rather saturated and trans fat intake. If you have high cholesterol, it's best to limit your yolk intake to no more than about 2-3 per week. On the other hand, egg whites are fat free and can be eaten daily.

• How to Prepare: Scramble over low until cooked evenly, or boil in cold water for 5 minutes and rinse under cold water. For more tips on cooking eggs, click here.
• What to do with them: Eggs are versatile - eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Scramble eggs with vegetables and black beans for a ranchero flare or hard boil them and chop them into a salad. Make a vegetable frittata for the week and eat at any time. 

Canned tuna in water: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein, tuna is a wonderful addition to lunch and dinner meals. While the FDA has recommended that we increase our intake of fish, it's important to monitor weekly intake to safely avoid high levels of mercury. To reduce mercury intake, choose light tuna (as opposed to albacore). Consumer reports suggests that a 150lb person can safely eat 5oz of albacore tuna and about 13oz of light tuna weekly. For more information, check out this article.

• How to prepare: Open the can and drain the water (do not get cans in oil) and voila - done.
• What to do with it: Mix tuna with avocado for a healthier version of "tuna salad". Add tuna to whole grain pasta with broccoli for a hearty, high protein, high fiber meal. Mix tuna into salads or make a low-fat tuna melt with low-fat cheese, whole grain bread and mustard instead of mayonnaise.

Whole grain bread: Any bread that has the 100% whole grain stamp or the world whole as the first ingredient is considered a whole grain. Whole grain bread is rich in fiber and b-vitamins. When purchasing, aim to choose one with limited ingredients and opt for those with 90 calories or less. Two slices of bread is about 30 g of carbohydrate so be mindful of your portions. Bread can serve as the carbohydrate in any meal.

• How to prepare: Toast, grill, bake or place in sandwich maker to change things up a bit.
• What to do with it: Use whole grain bread to make french toast or use as a substitute for a bun or bagel (high in carbohydrates and low in fiber).

Quinoa: A gluten-free ancient grain, quinoa comes in a variety of colors - red, white, black. Quinoa is a low glycemic index food rich in protein and fiber. It contains only 160 calories and 30 g of carbohydrate per 1 cup serving (~60 calories less and 15 g carbohydrate less than pasta and rice).

• How to prepare: Read the back of the package, but generally speaking quinoa is prepared: rinse and drain quinoa thoroughly in cold water before cooking. Place 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until water in thoroughly absorbed for about 15 minutes. When done the grain appears soft and translucent.
• What to do with it: Add diced vegetables and beans to eat as a meal or side dish. Toss into salads or eat as hot cereal - a great alternative to oatmeal. I like to heat 2/3 cup cooked white quinoa with 3/4 cup blueberries, 1 tablespoon almond butter and a splash of low-fat milk.

Low-fat Greek yogurt: A great source of calcium, vitamin D and lean protein, Greek yogurt is rich in flavor and smooth in texture.

• How to prepare: Eat as is or freeze and use as a dessert. You can also make dips out of Greek yogurt which can be used as marinades or dipping sauces. 
• What to do with eat: Make parfaits mixed with fresh fruit and chopped nuts for breakfast, toss into your morning smoothie for added protein punch or mix into salad dressings to add creaminess. Low-fat Greek yogurt can serve as substitute for sour cream.

Extra Virgin Olive oil: Rich in monounsaturated fat, olive oil is great for bringing out flavor in salads and vegetables.

• How to prepare: Measure and use. 
• What to do with it: Use a teaspoon in marinades for meat and in salad dressings. Substitute butter for olive oil when roasting vegetables to reduce the saturated fat content.

All natural nut butter: A must have in my house. Peanut, Almond, Cashew, Sunflower butter - all these spreads are rich in healthy fat and protein. Make sure to read the labels because most need to be stirred and refrigerated after opening to prevent spoilage.

• How to prepare: No prep needed, but a good stir is. Because all-natural nut butter contains nothing except nuts and salt, the oil separates and rests on top. Stir well and refrigerate after opening.
• What do with it: For dessert or snack - drizzle some on an apple or 1/2 of a banana. Spread over whole grain toast, or a whole grain waffle and top with slices berries, scoop a tablespoon into hot cereal for an added protein boost or dollup a tablespoon into your morning smoothie. Remember to watch your portion as 1 tablespoon is generally 100 calories and 14 grams of fat (good fat).

100% Pure Canned pumpkin: A nutrition powerhouse, canned pumpkin is rich in vitamin A (can help to promote eye health) and fiber.

• How to prepare it: Check the expiration and open. No additional prep needed. If you want to use a whole pumpkin - you'll have more options: cooking low-carb with pumpkin
• What to do with it: Use in soups, stews and chili or desserts or even breakfast! Use as a substitute for squash in a recipe. Pumpkin is extremely versatile as it can take on savory or sweet flavor. Check out this awesome hot pumpkin cereal recipe!

Resources:

Djoussé L, Kamineni A, Nelson TL, Carnethon M, Mozaffarian D, Siscovick D, Mukamal KJ. Egg consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Accessed on-line: September 8, 2014.

American Heart Association. Eat more chicken, fish, and beans than red meat. Accessed on-line. September 8, 2014.

With Asterion, Lamborghini sees green

 

This is the Lamborghini Asterion. The official word is that it’s a ‘technology demonstrator’, although anyone who knows their Lamborghini history, or classic car onions, will recognise a gentleman’s transcontinental express when they see one.

Two things strike you immediately. Firstly, as you can see, the Asterion is a world away from the wilfully mad conceptual eye candy – step forward the Egoista, Sesto Elemento and Veneno – that Lamborghini has thrilled us with in the past. Secondly, it’s a plug-in hybrid. This is either sacrilege or the only way forward, depending on your view.

“We all know what we have to do. Down the road we see turbocharging and plug-in hybrids. There is no way out – assuming the legislation doesn’t change,” Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann tells TopGear.com.

“Even if we might be granted an exemption – as a small manufacturer – there is also the issue of social acceptance. Things are changing. People are more aware, more sensitive… Many of our customers are entrepreneurs. These people don’t just have passions, they have sharp minds and they know what is going on in the world.

“There are perception issues, like it or not, and when you are perceived as an outlaw you no longer fit into the big picture. So we need to adjust, while remaining consistent to the brand.”

(Chesnot/Getty)

If the Asterion has packed away its six-shooter, it’s still delivering a full-blooded rebel yell. A mid-engine two-seater coupe measuring 4.7m (15.4ft) long, it uses an adapted Aventador carbon fibre monocoque, mostly in the lower section, with a different roof structure, and its wheelbase has been stretched to create more interior space. It borrows the Huracán’s stunning 607bhp 5.2-litre V10 engine, which is hooked up to a blistering dual-clutch seven-speed rear transaxle auto ’box.

But it’s also a parallel hybrid, with an electric motor bolted onto the transaxle that incorporates a starter motor and generator. Two other electric motors are located on the front axle. Between them, they contribute an additional chunk of energy worth 220kW, equivalent to almost 300bhp.

Like the Porsche 918 Spyder, the Asterion uses the motors on the front axle to deliver four-wheel drive, as well as torque vectoring. There’s no mechanical connection between the front and rear axles.

The batteries live in the central tunnel where you’d normally find a propshaft. This benefits both safety and the car’s centre of gravity, Lamborghini claims. Electric power can also be used to fill in gaps in the engine’s torque curve. What’s not to love?

Well, the usual. All this techy cleverness results in an unavoidable porkiness. In all, the electrification process adds 280kg (617lbs) to the Asterion’s overall weight. That’s a lot of battery cells, cooling gubbins and control electronics, not to mention something of a philosophical about-turn compared to last year’s ultra-skinny carbo fibre-fest, the Sesto Elemento. This is what car industry realpolitik looks like.

But this glass is also defiantly half-full. The Asterion’s total power output is a thumping 907bhp. It’ll do 185mph all-out, and accelerate to 62mph in just over three seconds, while coughing out 98g/km of CO2s. A real-world range of 30 miles on pure electric power is a hell of a party trick. Finally, a claimed overall combined average of 282mpg sounds like silly talk.

(Newspress)

“You can imagine the discussions we had,” Lamborghini’s R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani tells TG.com. “We are Lamborghini, we must be the best in terms of performance and handling. In the end, we decided this concept was the right solution for a technological demonstrator. This is a car you can drive in cities in pure-electric mode, but also a car whose thermodynamic engine delivers the same emotion as a pure Lamborghini.

“At 1,800kg, we are at the upper end of the range of what we feel is acceptable [in terms of weight]. But we have worked, and are continuing to work, very hard to create a true Lamborghini feeling. Believe me, this car does not feel like a Prius.”

After so many barnstorming concepts, the Asterion posed a different challenge for Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department.

“The best suit for this car was the tailored elegance of a Gran Turismo. It’s not all about power,” design boss Felippo Perini says. “I don't like creating concepts that aren’t ready for production. The Asterion proposes a real future Lamborghini, not a fake one. A meaningless concept is also a way of wasting money, and I hate wasting money. We are too small a team to be able to squander our time or effort. We’re not telling lies with this car. It will be drivable.”

He agrees, however, that it’s a slightly softer looking Lamborghini.

“Historically, Lamborghinis don’t have a ‘face’,” he continues. “There are no obvious influences, so I prefer to talk about it more in terms of a ‘flavour’. Otherwise it could end up being retro. What I can say is that the design language is completely different to the Aventador’s and Huracán’s.”

The cabin is lovely, too. The Asterion features ivory leather, for a more luxurious atmosphere, as well as aluminium, forged carbon and titanium.

There’s also more storage space, a rather dull consideration unless you’ve ever tried to find somewhere to put your mobile in an Aventador or Huracán, then watched as your untethered handset bounces around the cabin.

Three drive modes – zero (for full electric), I (for Ibrido), and T (for Térmico) – are available via buttons on the steering wheel. The main dash binnacle has little leather straps on the side.

“We’re using materials in a transgressive way. It's a more human car, more useable,” Alessandro Salvagnin, who oversaw the Asterion’s interior, says. A detachable tablet handles the Asterion’s infotainment, climate control and GPS functions.

Different times require a different sort of Lamborghini. TG approves. Do you?

A version of this story originally appeared on TopGear.com.

 

Brazil election: Voters choosing next president

 

Ms Rousseff (centre) is expected to face either Mr Neves or Ms Silva in a run-off vote

More than 142 million Brazilians are voting to choose the country's next president, following a dramatic election campaign.

Early on, incumbent Dilma Rousseff had been expected to win outright.

However, the death of one of the main candidates and the popularity of his replacement, environmentalist Marina Silva, means the vote is now likely go to a second round.

Ms Rousseff's other main rival is Aecio Neves, a centrist, pro-business figure.

Voting began at 0800 (11:00 GMT), and voters will also select a federal parliament and state governors.

Mr Neves was narrowly ahead of Ms Silva, according to several opinion polls published on Saturday, which all put Ms Rousseff in a commanding lead with about 45%.

Brazil's voting system is all electronic and is likely to deliver a result within an hour or two of polls closing at 22:00GMT.

On the eve of the vote, the Superior Electoral Court moved to dismissed reports that the system was vulnerable to hacking, saying it was "fraud-proof", despite frequent attempts to hack into the ballots.

More than 530,000 voting machines are being used across the country

During Ms Rousseff's tenure as president, unemployment has been lower than under any of her predecessors, at about 5%. The minimum wage has risen and the number of undernourished Brazilians has been falling.

But the past 18 months have been marred by recession and corruption scandals, and protests over poor public services and the World Cup costs.

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Ms Rousseff's centre-left Workers' Party (PT), polls early in the campaign suggested she was well ahead of her leading rivals - who were then Mr Neves and Socialist Eduardo Campos.

But then Mr Campos died in a plane crash and his replacement, Ms Silva, emerged as a surprisingly strong contender.

Last year, thousands of Brazilians protested at what they said was excessive spending on the World Cup

However, the former minister and environmental campaigner has lost ground in recent days.

Most analysts expect no clear winner to emerge in the first round. This mean the top two candidates are likely to face each other in a second round on 26 October.

Voting is mandatory for those aged between 18 and 70.

Chagas disease - inheriting a silent killer

 

By Gabriela Torres BBC Health Check

A silent killer once confined to Latin America now has gone global. The "assassin bug" - which spreads Chagas disease - thrives in countries like Bolivia. But up to 80,000 migrants from Latin America are now living with the illness in Spain - and no one can predict who will get serious health complications.

Every time Briggitte Jordan remembers the first time she heard of Chagas she becomes tearful. When she was a teenager living in Bolivia, Briggitte's mother told her that she'd tested positive for Chagas.

"The doctors didn't give her much information, only that she was another statistic, and what was going to happen was that my mother might die young," she recalls now living in Madrid, nearly 20 years later.

Chagas is spread by the bite of an insect - the "assassin bug" - which infects people with a parasite. If untreated, this can cause organ damage and lead to premature death.

But in the early stages there are few or no symptoms, so getting the word out about the disease is essential.

Football is like a magnet for most Latin Americans, so today Briggitte is at a match at Villaverde sports centre in Madrid. She and her colleagues from Mundo Sano (Healthy World) give out balloons and ribbons to spectators.

Briggitte and her colleagues take every opportunity to talk about Chagas with their fellow Latin American expatriates.

As the whistle blows for half time, traditional Bolivian dance is performed on the pitch, while the talk on the touchline is all about Chagas. They hope myth-busting and accurate information will encourage people to get tested.

And so they should: the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that causes the disease hides inside the muscle fibres of the heart, the digestive system or peripheral nervous system, gradually damaging organs.

By the time they notice symptoms, patients may have developed serious complications in the heart or digestive system.

Briggitte thought her mother would only live until her 40s or 50s. "That's what you hear in our country."

Dreaded result

Continue reading the main story

Why is it called Chagas?

Carlos Chagas was the Brazilian doctor who first described Chagas disease, also called American trypanosomiasis, in 1909.

The son of coffee farmers, it was his uncle who persuaded him to study medicine. After graduating in 1902, he started working with the epidemiologist Oswaldo Cruz in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1909 he was sent to a small town called Lassance to fight a malaria outbreak. It was there where he spotted a peculiar infestation of an insect in rural houses. He also observed that it bit people around their mouth and eyes - hence its nickname "the kissing bug".

Chagas later discovered that the insect had a parasite that could be passed to other animals, such as monkeys, through its bites. He suspected it could also be causing disease in humans.

On April 23rd that year he discovered the presence of the parasite Trypanosoma in the blood of a three-year-old girl. She became his first human case.

The nocturnal insect that spreads Chagas is widespread in the Americas. Officially called Triatoma infestans, its habit of biting humans around the mouth gave it another nickname - 'the kissing bug'.

Like another 2.3m Latin Americans who have moved abroad, Briggitte and her mother migrated to Spain, where they found out that treatment was available.

They also discovered there was a chance Briggitte could have Chagas, since a mother can pass it onto her child before birth.

In parts of the world where the kissing bug doesn't exist, the parasite can still be spread by infected people via blood transfusions, organ transplants, or in the womb.

Outside Latin America, the United States has the highest number of cases, followed by Spain. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 80,000 Latin Americans in Spain - mainly from Bolivia - have either the disease or the parasite. And around 90% of those do not know they have it.

It took Briggitte more than a year to overcome her fears and finally get tested.

"To be honest, I was afraid. I missed one or two appointments and I think it was at the third one that I finally decided to get screened."

After two weeks she got the news that she dreaded: she had tested positive.

Preventing transmission

Even though 70% of people with the Chagas parasite will never develop symptoms, they can still pass it on.

That's why preventing transmission from mother to child is a key challenge, according to Dr Miriam Navarro, a researcher from Mundo Sano, an organisation in Spain that helps to control and eliminate neglected diseases.

"It is compulsory to check blood transfusions and organ transplants, but we don't have a protocol to screen all pregnant women who are from Latin America.

Health workers from Mundo Sano give more in-depth talks to Latin Americans, mainly mothers and young women.

"Even though at the moment many doctors are aware of Chagas disease, there is still a lack of information."

Altagracia Prieto is another Bolivian woman who tested positive. She saw three specialists before the test was offered to her.

"I've always suspected that I had Chagas. We had the insect at home [in Bolivia], but because I never developed symptoms I wanted to believe I didn't have it."

Dr Navarro runs the awareness campaign Madres comprometidas con la enfermedad de Chagas (Mothers against Chagas disease), to get as many people diagnosed as possible.

"The main difficulty that we face is the lack of information from migrants coming from endemic areas."

"We have to let people know that a treatment is available for Chagas disease, a treatment that in many patients works well," adds Navarro.

There are just two drugs available to treat the parasite that causes the illness, benznidazole and nifurtimox.

Both medicines were developed in the 1970s. They have to be taken for two months and each can have strong side effects - such as allergic dermatitis with benznidazole and polyneuropathy - a disease affecting peripheral nerves - with nifurtimox.

 

Symptoms

• Acute phase: It usually passes unnoticed or it has mild ones that are not unique to Chagas, such as fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting. The most recognised marker of this phase is the swelling of eyelids on the side of the face near the bite wound.
• Chronic phase: After remaining silent for decades, some people develop cardiac and intestinal complications, which can include enlargement of the heart, heart failure, altered heart rhythm and cardiac arrest, or enlarged oesophagus or colon.

"However, this is what we currently have and they are effective," says Navarro, who also explains that the latest research shows that treatment before pregnancy prevents transmission to the child.

That is what motivated Briggitte to make up her mind to be treated. She was 25 and wanted to have a family, but didn't want to pass the parasite on to her future offspring.

Her body rejected benznidazole and she had to go for the second drug option. Five years after the treatment, the levels of antibodies show a significant reduction in the level of parasite infection in her body.

Currently there is no specific test for Chagas, so the only way to detect its presence is by checking the levels of specific antibodies. After the treatment, the patient has to be tested regularly for those levels.

Together with Altagracia and two other Bolivian mothers who have Chagas, Briggitte now takes every opportunity to talk to people in Spain - especially mothers or young women - about this silent killer.

They go to churches, football matches and pubs. They have a free help-line for people to call and even accompany them to hospital to get screened - because they know how difficult that first step can be for those fearing the worst.

As for her own condition, Briggitte has learned to be positive about it.

"I'm very calm, because watching my daughter and knowing that she doesn't have it is a relief."

Vitamin D significantly improves symptoms of winter-related atopic dermatitis in children

 

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A study conducted in more than 100 Mongolian schoolchildren found that daily treatment with a vitamin D supplement significantly reduced the symptoms of winter-related atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. Led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physician, the report in the October issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology supports the results of a preliminary study that showed similar results in a small group of children in Boston.                     

"While we don't know the exact proportion of patients with atopic dermatitis whose symptoms worsen in the winter, the problem is common," says Carlos Camargo, MD, DrPH, MGH Department of Emergency Medicine. "In this large group of patients, who probably had low levels of vitamin D, taking daily vitamin D supplements -- which are inexpensive, safe and widely available -- proved to be quite helpful." Camargo led both the earlier Boston pilot study and the current investigation, which was performed in collaboration with investigators from the Health Sciences University of Mongolia.

A chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin, atopic dermatitis is uncomfortable and makes patients more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Symptoms of the disorder -- most commonly seen in children -- often worsen during wintertime. While controlled administration of ultraviolet light, which can stimulate the production of vitamin D in the skin, is a common treatment for severe atopic dermatitis, the possibility that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the seasonal worsening of symptoms had received little consideration prior to the Boston study. That investigation involved only 11 children but provided preliminary support for the hypothesis.

The current study, conducted in collaboration with the National Dermatology Center in Mongolia, enrolled 107 children, ages 2 to 17, from nine outpatient clinics in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The participants -- all of whom had a history of atopic dermatitis symptoms worsening either during cold weather or around the transition from autumn to winter -- were randomly divided into two groups. One group received a daily vitamin D dose of 1000 IU while the other received a placebo -- both delivered in odorless, colorless and tasteless drops. Neither the children's parents nor the study investigators knew to which group participants had been assigned.

Standard evaluations of atopic dermatitis symptoms were conducted at the outset of the trial and at the end of the month-long study period, and parents were also asked whether they saw any improvement in their child's condition. At the end of the month, children receiving the vitamin D supplement had an average 29 percent improvement on the primary assessment tool used, compared with 16 percent improvement in the placebo group. Additional assessments -- including the report from parents -- also showed significantly greater improvement among children receiving vitamin D.

While data gathered at the outset of the study could not determine whether or not participating children were deficient in vitamin D, the authors note that an even larger study of Ulaanbaatar children conducted at the same time found significant vitamin D deficiency in 98 percent of participants, supporting the probability that the children in this study were also deficient. While future studies are needed to assess the value of vitamin D treatment in adults and in children with year-round symptoms, Camargo -- a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School -- says that parents of children with symptoms that worsen in the winter should try a vitamin D supplement for a few weeks when symptoms flare to see if it helps. He encourages parents to discuss this study and their plan with their primary care provider.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Massachusetts General Hospital. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Carlos A. Camargo, D. Ganmaa, Robert Sidbury, Kh. Erdenedelger, N. Radnaakhand, B. Khandsuren. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation for winter-related atopic dermatitis in children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2014; 134 (4): 831 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.002

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Study questions the prescription for drug resistance

 

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In response to the rise of drug-resistant pathogens, doctors are routinely cautioned against overprescribing antimicrobials. But when a patient has a confirmed bacterial infection, the advice is to treat aggressively to quash the infection before the bacteria can develop resistance.                    

A new study questions the accepted wisdom that aggressive treatment with high drug dosages and long durations is always the best way to stem the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens. The review of nearly 70 studies of antimicrobial resistance, which was authored by researchers at Princeton and other leading institutions and published last week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals the lack of evidence behind the practice of aggressive treatment in many cases.

"We found that while there are many studies that test for resistance emergence between different drug regimes, surprisingly few have looked at the topic of how varying drug dosage might affect the emergence and spread of resistance," said Ruthie Birger, a Princeton graduate student who works with C. Jessica Metcalf, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and public affairs at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School, and Bryan Grenfell, the Kathryn Briger and Sarah Fenton Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs in Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School. Birger, Metcalf and Grenfell coauthored the paper with colleagues from 16 universities. "We are a long way from having the evidence for the best treatment decisions with respect to resistance for a range of diseases," Birger said.

Microbes such as bacteria and parasites can evade today's powerful drugs by undergoing genetic mutations that enable them to avoid being killed by the drug. For example, bacteria can develop enzymes that degrade certain antibiotics. The logic behind aggressive treatment goes something like this: kill off as many microbes as you can so that few will be around to evolve into resistant forms.

But some scientists have observed a different outcome in mice infected with both an already-resistant strain of malaria and a non-resistant strain. The high-dose drug treatment killed off the non-resistant malarial parasites, leaving the resistant strains to multiply and make the mice even sicker.

The idea that aggressive treatment may backfire against malarial parasites led the authors of the current study to comb the scientific literature to examine whether the same may be true for other types of microbes such as bacteria. The few studies that they found -- mostly in laboratory cell cultures rather than animal models or patients -- suggest that the picture is complicated, and depends on whether the resistance is new or existing, how many mutations are necessary for the pathogen to become resistant, and how long the drugs have been in use. "It's remarkable how little we know about this topic," said Metcalf. "The malaria study conducted by Silvie Huijben and colleagues at Pennsylvania State University is an inspiring step towards developing an evidence base for these important issues."

In the current analysis, the study authors found that drug resistance is governed by two factors: the abundance of the pathogen and the strength of the selection pressure that drives the pathogen to evolve. Aggressive treatment deals with the first factor by killing off as much pathogen as possible, while moderate treatment may, for some pathogens, reduce the ability for the resistant pathogen to thrive (for example, by maintaining the competitive advantage of a co-infecting drug-sensitive strain of the pathogen) but still reduce total pathogen levels sufficiently that the patient can recover.

Finding the ideal dose and duration of treatment, one that cures the patient without aiding the spread of resistance, will likely be done on a disease by disease basis, the authors found.

One possibility is that moderate treatment might be best used against already-resistant microbes to prevent their spread. Moderate treatment may also be best for drugs that have been on the market for several years with plenty of time for resistant strains to develop.

Aggressive treatment might be best for pathogens that develop resistance slowly, over the course of several mutations. High doses early in the process could be effective at heading off the development of resistance.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Princeton University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. R. D. Kouyos, C. J. E. Metcalf, R. Birger, E. Y. Klein, P. Abel zur Wiesch, P. Ankomah, N. Arinaminpathy, T. L. Bogich, S. Bonhoeffer, C. Brower, G. Chi-Johnston, T. Cohen, T. Day, B. Greenhouse, S. Huijben, J. Metlay, N. Mideo, L. C. Pollitt, A. F. Read, D. L. Smith, C. Standley, N. Wale, B. Grenfell. The path of least resistance: aggressive or moderate treatment? Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2014; 281 (1794): 20140566 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0566

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Blackout Buddy H2O runs on water to provide emergency lighting

 

Eton's Blackout Buddy H2O is small and stowable

It's the big paradox of emergency-use flashlights ... by the time you eventually need to use them, their batteries have died. Eton's new Blackout Buddy H2O, however, will reportedly still work after sitting for up to 10 years. And to turn it on, you just add water.

This latest member of the Blackout Buddy line has a magnesium-oxide battery, which starts delivering power to the light's three LEDs when exposed to H2O. To initially fire it up, you dip it into a small cup of water, or pour water into its battery compartment. After that, it will keep going continuously for up to 72 hours – if it starts to dim within that time, you simply add more water.

The device is only about the size of a cigarette lighter (so it can easily be stashed), and is claimed to even work underwater.

It is a one-time-use product, so it's just as well that its battery contains no toxic mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium or lead. It also only costs US$10, so you won't be throwing away an expensive item once you're done with it.

Source: Eton via Popular Science

 

About the Author

An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away. 

 All articles by Ben Coxworth

LG G3 vs. HTC One (M8): A closer look

 

Gizmag goes hands-on to compare the LG G3 (left) with the HTC One (M8) (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag.com)

Both the HTC One (M8) and LG G3 are powerful, top-tier Android handsets – and are easily two of the best smartphones of 2014. But do any of their key differences tip the scales one way or the other? Read on, as Gizmag goes hands-on to compare the two smartphones.

Size is one of the most obvious differences between the LG G3 and HTC One (M8). While the devices' heights are practically identical (just a 0.1 mm difference), there’s a more notable discrepancy when it comes to width. There the G3 is 6 percent wider than the One M8. It’s not a big difference, but the One feels a bit more comfortable in my hand than its rival. The HTC device is also 6 percent thicker. Both handsets, however, have curved backs and, in practice, neither feels noticeably thinner than the other.

The finish on the two handsets may look similar, but there’s a significant difference in build materials. The HTC handset features an aluminium construction that’s cold to the touch, while the G3 opts for a faux metal (plastic) back cover.

Both approaches have their positives. While the One feels a little more premium in the hand, the G3’s plastic construction helps it to shed some weight, coming in at 7 percent lighter. This sort of thing tends to come down to personal preference, and it’s worth seeing how the devices feel in your hand before making a decision.

What’s far more noticeable is the significant disparity in display size. At 5.5-inches, the G3’s screen gives you 21 percent more display real estate:

Considering the similar dimensions of the handsets, the extra screen space is a big win for LG’s device. While the difference isn’t quite as pronounced as say, the One (M8) vs. the iPhone 5S, the G3’s display feels significantly roomier than its rival’s, whether you’re browsing the web, reading books or thumbing through your image gallery.

Despite its larger size, the G3's screen also packs in 11 percent more pixels per inch. It's hard to get too nitpicky about this pixel discrepancy, as the G3's Quad HD screen is bordering on overkill, but we can still appreciate the difference. Just know that it basically comes down to "incredibly sharp" vs. "very sharp."

While the G3's display is significantly larger and sharper than the One’s, its colors aren’t quite as vibrant. Its contrast could also be a little better. Both devices are solid in this respect, but content on the G3 looks a touch muted in comparison.

Given that the G3 packs the same processor as the One (M8), and at least as much RAM (it ships with either 2 GB or 3 GB depending on which storage tier you buy), there are a couple of performance issues that we have to attribute to the device’s Quad HD display. While performance on the HTC device is consistently buttery-smooth, things aren’t quite as snappy on the G3 ... at least not when you take it out of the box. There are no significant issues, but things like navigating the UI and opening and closing apps are a touch laggy.

Luckily, there is a fairly simple way to all but eliminate this issue. If you head into the G3’s settings menu and switch from Dalvik to Android runtime (ART), things instantly speed up. After making the change, excepting the occasional stutter, performance was roughly equal to the One's. And despite this being an experimental setting, I didn’t notice any stability issues. Enabling ART is a straightforward process, and you’ll find full details on how to do so in our full review.

The G3’s screen also isn’t quite as battery-friendly as the One’s. With the display set to 75 percent brightness, the handset managed 6 hours 20 minutes of continuous video streaming over Wi-Fi. Under the same conditions, the One ran for 9 hours 20 minutes before giving out. That’s 47 percent more running time on the M8 – a big win for HTC.

Under typical use, the G3's battery life wasn't too much of a concern. Despite coming dangerously close to conking out on some of our heavier-use days, we think it will still be an all-day phone for all but the biggest power users. The G3 also has a removable back cover, making battery replacement a breeze.

Another area where the One clearly wins out against the G3 is audio. With its dual front-facing speakers (dubbed BoomSound by HTC's marketing department), the One M8 provides clearer, bassier audio than the G3's single rear speaker does. It’s not that there's anything wrong with the G3’s speaker, it's more that the One’s is unusually good – at least by smartphone standards.

In our review, we found it easy to recommend the One’s camera. Despite packing just 4 megapixels (HTC calls them “Ultrapixels”), it produces some great results. The handset is fitted with dual rear lenses, allowing post-snap effects such as refocusing. Applying the effects is sometimes a little hit-and-miss, but in general they add significant value to the device’s camera. The One's camera is also quite good in low-lit conditions.

All things considered, though, we’d have to give the G3’s 13 MP shooter the prize for best optics. Tapping the device’s display to focus the camera will result in an instant snap. The handset features laser autofocusing, meaning that that process takes place in literally less time than it takes to blink. Both handsets capture shots with bright colors and good contrast, but the laser tech on the G3 makes it easier to take great pictures.

Another area where the One shines is its Extreme Power Saving Mode. This is a battery-saving feature that shuts down everything but the most essential apps and processes. It helps to keep you on the grid in a pinch. When you consider that the One's battery life is already better than the G3's, the power saving mode is the icing on the cake for anyone who’s routinely away from a power point for extended periods of time.

As far as design goes, both devices are plenty attractive. And while we’d say the metallic back of the One is a touch prettier than the G3's faux metal finish, the minimal bezels on the G3's front packs a visual punch of its own. The sides of LG's phone, which are completely devoid of buttons, also give it a slick, clean look. The G3 is also the more colorful of the two smartphones, available in violet, gold and burgundy, as well as the more standard black and white options. The One ships in gray, silver and gold.

So, all things considered, can we crown either of these devices as King of the Android flagships? The answer is, of course, no. Each device wins out against the other in a number of key categories. The LG has that huge screen and superior camera, while the HTC hits back with a higher-end build, zippier out-of-the-box performance, better audio and longer battery life. Both phones are terrific; you just need to figure out which combination of slightly different strengths and weaknesses works better for you.

If you're still stumped, feel free to check out our full reviews of the LG G3 and HTC One (M8). And if you want to throw Samsung's latest flagship into the mix, you can hit up our hands-on comparisons between the Galaxy S5 and LG G3 and between the Galaxy S5 and One M8.

Mark your calendars: Apple expected to hold iPad event on Oct. 16

 

If the report is accurate, we could see Tim Cook telling us about the next iPad Air (and iPad mini) on October 16 (image simulated)

With iPhones out of the way, the Apple spotlight is now ready to shift to iPads. We now reportedly know when the company will be pulling back the curtain on its next-gen tablets: Oct. 16.

The report comes from Re/code, which says that the company will be unveiling the "latest updates to its iPad line." That likely means the iPad Air 2 (or, if you prefer, 6th-gen iPad) and 3rd-gen iPad mini. The new tablets are rumored to receive Touch ID fingerprint sensors and faster A8 processors.

The report also supports 9to5Mac's report that the event will include an iMac with Retina Display. An iMac with a 4K or 5K screen would be Apple's first high-resolution desktop PC.

Apple will also be revealing OS X Yosemite, the latest version of the Mac's operating system. Announced in June, the update gives OS X a flat-design makeover, along with iPhone syncing (Handoff), improved Spotlight search and iCloud Drive.

None of this is confirmed yet, but Re/code has a great track record with Apple event rumors. Stay tuned to Gizmag for the latest on the remaining 2014 Apple announcements.

Sources: Re/code, 9to5Mac

About the Author

Will Shanklin is Gizmag's Mobile Tech Editor, and has been part of the team since 2012. Will has a Master's degree from U.C. Irvine and a Bachelor's from West Virginia University. He currently lives in New Mexico with his wife, Jessica.
All articles by Will Shanklin

 

Honda announces 2015 VFR800X Crossrunner

 

The 2015 VFR800X Crossrunner in Candy Arcadian Red livery

Introduced in 2011, the Crossrunner motorcycle marked Honda's attempt to square the circle between grungy off-road machines and the exquisitely polished garage trophies of the urban market. The latest version of the premium adventure sports tourer has now been revealed at Intermot – and it warrants a closer look.

The latest version of the Crossover “X” range of multipurpose motorcycles based on a sports touring platform and an upright riding position, it takes cues from the 2014 VFR800F, but with a greater emphasis on the Crossrunner concept with a focus on performance. Honda also took the opportunity to tweak the styling with a more beaky front cowl contrasting with the short front mudguard. The livery includes light silver mechanical parts, matt black engine cover and wheels, and a choice of three color schemes.

At the heart of the VFR800X is its liquid-cooled, electric-start, four-stroke 16-valve, 782 cc, DOHC 90° V-4 engine with PGM-FI electronic fuel injection. It’s also tricked out with Honda’s HYPER VTEC system with a refined two to four valve transition, depending on engine rpms; a new 4-2-1-1 exhaust system; and smaller, denser dual radiator units set in front of the engine for a slimmer look. The takeaway from all this is 104 bhp (78 kW) and 55 ft-lb (75 Nm) of torque, with more of both available in the low-to midrange.

Behind the powerplant is a constant-mesh six-speed gearbox and Honda's Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system that senses an imminent loss of rear wheel traction and reduces torque enough for the tire to retain its grip.

Holding all this in place is the diamond triple-box; aluminum twin-spar frame with a revised subframe that Honda says is stiffer and lighter, while retaining the visuals of the VFR800F. In addition, there’s a sump guard to protect the engine underside from road debris. Since comfort was one of the design specs, the seat is adjustable with two height options.

The 10-spoke die-cast aluminum wheels are backed in front by a 43-mm HMAS cartridge-type suspension using a telescopic fork with stepless preload. In the back is a pro-link suspension with gas-charged damper, 35-step preload, and stepless rebound damping adjustment. ABS brakes are standard.

Meanwhile, in front of the rider is a redesigned LCD instrument display including fuel meter, fuel consumption, water temperature, gear-position indicator, ambient temperature, and clock. In front of this is the X signature LED headlamp, and on either side are the five-stage heated grips. Automatic turn signal cancelling is also featured.

"For this development of the VFR800X Crossrunner we wanted to create a premium motorcycle with a ‘ready-for-action’ feeling, for customers to use with maximum enjoyment everyday," says Yoichi Inayama, Large Project Leader (LPL) VFR800X Crossrunner. "The styling demanded beautifully functional parts, and light proportions with minimal fairings. We wanted an upright position giving great visibility and agile handling so the rider can attack any corner with confidence. And refinements to the V4 engine had to deliver responsive and enjoyable power. Our new VFR800X Crossrunner has fulfilled these goals and follows the VFR tradition: it has an array of advanced technologies including LED headlights, our Honda Selectable Torque Control system and automatic turn signal canceller."

Source: Honda