Vitamin D levels associated with survival in lymphoma patients
Science Daily
A new study has found that the amount of vitamin D in patients being treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was strongly associated with cancer progression and overall survival. The results will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in New Orleans.More

Industry coalition reissues advisory against use of dietary supplements as swine flu remedy, cure
Natural Products Association
The trade associations of the dietary supplement industry reaffirmed the industry's support for the responsible sale and use of health-promoting vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements. As noted in a similar statement issued on May 1, 2009, these organizations are unaware of any scientific data supporting the use of dietary supplements to treat the H1N1 virus (popularly known as "swine flu,") and recognize that federal law does not allow dietary supplements to claim to treat any diseases, including H1N1.More

NPA member benefit — Save on holiday shipping with FedEx
Natural Products Association
FedEx and the Natural Products Association would like to help association members with their holiday shipping needs. As a member of Natural Products Association, you can receive discounts on select FedEx services. It's the FedEx Advantage — another great advantage for members of Natural Products Association. Visit the FedEx Web site for holiday shipping information and helpful shipping tips.More

EPA issues consumer alert: Unscrupulous vendors market unapproved flu disinfectant products
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is warning consumers to beware of unscrupulous vendors who may market ineffective and unregistered products or services that claim to disinfect surfaces or entire rooms against the H1N1 influenza virus. In the current flu-conscious climate, heightened anxiety about the spread of the H1N1 virus has bred false claims in the marketplace. More

Obama praises Senate health care deal
Reuters
After four days of private talks, Senate negotiators agreed to replace a government-run public insurance option with a non-profit approach featuring private insurers, potentially resolving the bill's biggest stumbling block. "The Senate made critical progress last night with a creative new framework that I believe will help pave the way for final passage and an historic achievement," Obama said at an event attended by congressional leaders.More

The cowardly manager's guide to dealing with poor performers
Great Leadership By Dan McCarthy
Dealing with a poor performer has to be one of the hardest responsibilities of a leader. Great leaders confront performance issues head on. They provide feedback, coaching, counseling, and if all else fails, real leaders fire underperformers. It's all part of earning your scars as a leader. Cowardly managers come up with all kind of creative ways to avoid dealing with performance issues.More

Retailers to receive $1 billion from Visa/MasterCard lawsuit this week
National Retail Federation
More than half a million retailers should begin receiving checks totaling over $1 billion this week as the result of a federal judge's approval of an early payout of funds remaining from the 2003 settlement of a lawsuit brought by NRF and others against Visa and MasterCard's debit card practices.More

From color to brand
GCI magazine
The rate of very cool looking plastic bottles, with a rainbow of amazing colors and effects, hitting the shelves seems to be on a constant rise. It's a scenario written about in these pages monthly. There are more and more brands with growing lines competing for less shelf space and less consumer cash. Though it's easy to appreciate brand and supplier efforts realized in finished bottles, it's also easy to take the importance of color and effects, and their impact on brand success, for granted.More

Soy waste compound may protect against inflammation
AP-FoodTechnology.com
A compound often discarded as waste in soy-processing plants may stop inflammation, and protect against chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, says new research. A soy protein called lunasin was found to significantly reduce levels of the pro-inflammatory compound interleukin-6, according to results from the University of Illinois.More

Study: Encapsulating aloe vera improves bioavailability
CosmeticsDesign.com
Encapsulating aloe vera extract in liposomes could help it penetrate the skin and enhance its potential as a skin care active, according to a recent study. Scientists in Japan claim that aloe vera's potential as a skin care and anti-aging active is hampered by an inability to cross the stratum corneum.More

Urban beehives can help honeybees to buzz again
London Press Service
Bees do more than make honey, they help to pollinate farmland crops to trees, flowers and garden vegetables. Without them food production would drop enormously. Now, the latest designed beehive, launched by a U.K. company, will make it easy for anyone — from amateurs to seasoned apiarists - to help bees find a home almost anywhere, from a small garden, rooftop, even a balcony area in a block of flats. More

New York City council speaker to unveil policy on food for the city
The New York Times
Christine C. Quinn, the city council speaker, is to unveil a long-term plan on food policy, a plan she says goes beyond the issues of trans fats and sugary sodas to address the production, transportation and sales of food in New York City. Her initiative, called FoodWorks New York, is meant to build on the efforts of the Bloomberg's administration's food policy coordinator, Benjamin Thomases, whose office improves access to food for low-income New Yorkers. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg first established the food policy coordinator's office in 2007.More

Try meditation to lower your blood pressure and protect your heart
U.S. News and World Report
Meditation is no longer just for the groovy folk. A just published study in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests the practice may bring cardiovascular and mental-health benefits. The research, conducted at American University in Washington, followed 298 students, half of whom practiced transcendental meditation for 20 minutes once or twice daily over three months and half of whom did not.More