Cannabis, nicotine use during pregnancy found to increase rate of infant death fourfold

 In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers report that combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with significantly higher risk of poor health outcomes for newborns compared with use of either substance alone.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found infants born to mothers who used both substances throughout pregnancy were at greater risk of being small for gestational size, undergoing preterm delivery, or even death.

With approximately half of individuals who use cannabis in pregnancy also using tobacco or nicotine products, the findings suggest the need for more effective clinical counseling early on, during the preconception and prenatal periods, said the study's corresponding author, Jamie Lo, M.D., M.C.R., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (maternal-fetal medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine and Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center.

"With the growing legalization of cannabis around the country, there is often a perception that cannabis is safe in pregnancy," Lo said. "Because we know that many people who use cannabis often use tobacco or nicotine products, we wanted to better understand the potential health implications on both the pregnant individual and the infant.

"There is still a great deal of stigma around the use of substances during pregnancy," she continued. "With limited research to support official clinical recommendations, it can be a difficult topic for both patients and providers to navigate. Our hope is that this research supports more open and productive conversations that ultimately result in a healthier pregnancy."

Four times the risk of infant death

Researchers evaluated hospital discharge data and vital statistics from more than 3 million pregnant patients with documented cannabis and nicotine use. Compared with people who didn't use any substances, those using cannabis or nicotine alone had increased rates of infant and newborn death, small gestational size and preterm delivery—but the risk was even higher when both cannabis and nicotine were used together.

Most notable was the rate of infant death, which was four times higher in users of both cannabis and nicotine compared with non-users. The rate was nearly two times higher compared with users of just cannabis or nicotine alone.

The research team says these findings can help guide health care professionals with preconception and prenatal counseling, especially regarding the benefits of quitting at least one of the two substances. They also support expanded efforts to educate pregnant people about the risks of cannabis and nicotine.

"We hope that pregnant individuals can abstain from using both cannabis and nicotine products. However, we acknowledge the complexities of individual circumstances may make this goal challenging, and for some patients is simply not realistic," said Adam Crosland, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

"We always strive to meet people where they are and support patients with evidence-based recommendations and treatment options that are both patient-centered and promote the healthiest outcomes possible.

"Our findings suggest that avoiding use of just one of these substances can decrease the pregnancy risks we see when both substances are used together, which is a critical piece of information providers can highlight when counseling patients."

The multidisciplinary research team also included Eliot Spindel, M.D., Ph.D., and Cindy McEvoy, M.D., M.C.R., who are investigating how to mitigate the negative respiratory outcomes among children born to parents who smoke during pregnancy. McEvoy's team found that vitamin C supplementation to pregnant women unable to quit smoking cigarettes significantly improves airway function and respiratory health in their offspring; moreover, these improved outcomes persist through age 5 and these children are in continued follow-up through adolescence.

Looking ahead, researchers will continue to investigate the effects of combined cannabis and nicotine use—including the influence of potency, frequency and timing—in order to better educate pregnant patients about the harms of use. Additionally, the team will continue to explore the viability of prenatal interventions, such as vitamin C supplementation, and other treatment options for individuals who are unable to quit smoking during their pregnancy.

More information: B. Adam Crosland et al, Risk of Adverse Neonatal Outcomes After Combined Prenatal Cannabis and Nicotine Exposure, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10151

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-cannabis-nicotine-pregnancy-infant-death.html

Trojan Tomato: A New GMO Is Designed To Infiltrate America's Gardens

by Sina McCullough via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

As spring gardening approaches, a new contender has entered the fray—the genetically modified (GM) Purple Tomato. Unlike its GM predecessors, the GM Purple Tomato is not destined solely for the fields of commercial agriculture—it has made its debut in the backyards of home gardeners across the United States.

With claims of heightened antioxidant levels and potential health benefits, this novel creation has stirred both excitement and controversy among consumers and scientists alike. Biotech investors hope it can usher in a new era of public trust in genetically engineered foods while skeptics worry the tomatoes’ near-total lack of regulation or review may hide dangers to human health and/or the environment.

Development 

The GM Purple Tomato was engineered by scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences in the UK. Led by biochemist Cathie Martin and her team, the project aimed to harness the natural properties of anthocyanins, compounds found in blueberries and blackberries, to enhance the nutritional profile of tomatoes.

In this 2008 handout photo illustration, genetically modified Purple Tomatoes are seen beside red tomatoes. (John Innes Centre UK via Getty Images)

Using genetic engineering techniques, Martin and her colleagues inserted two genes responsible for purple coloration in edible snapdragon flowers into tomato plants. This process enabled the tomatoes to express the genes from the snapdragon and, subsequently, produce high levels of anthocyanins, thereby imbuing the tomatoes with a distinct purple hue and potentially enhanced health benefits.

According to Norfolk Healthy Produce, the U.S. subsidiary of Norfolk Plant Sciences, the Purple Tomatoes are a “rich source of antioxidants” due to the increased content of anthocyanins. Unlike domesticated tomatoes which contain anthocyanins in the skin, the Purple Tomato contains anthocyanins throughout the whole tomato.

The genesis of the GM Purple Tomato marks a significant milestone in agricultural biotechnology. Unlike previous GM crops primarily targeted at commercial producers, this tomato is the first GM food crop directly marketed to home gardeners in the United States, offering an opportunity for individuals to engage with biotechnology in their own backyard.

According to Norfolk Healthy Produce, more than 13,000 Purple Tomato seed orders have already shipped.

Regulatory Approval 

The GM Purple Tomato was deregulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2022. According to a statement from the USDA, the GM Purple Tomato is not subject to regulation by the USDA because it does not pose a plant pest risk:

“With respect to Norfolk Plant Sciences’ purple tomato, we did not identify any plausible pathways to increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes and issued a response letter indicating the plant is not subject to regulation.”

In 2023, the Purple Tomato received a “no questions” letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means the Purple Tomato is considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) and, therefore, does not require premarket review or approval by the FDA.

To qualify for GRAS status, Norfolk Plant Sciences submitted data from tests conducted internally.

Norfolk Plant Sciences created the Purple Tomato by splicing genes from a purple snapdragon into a tomato. (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock, Getty Images)

The lack of safety testing by the USDA and FDA, as well as reliance on data generated by the company that will profit from approval of its own product, has led to some experts calling for a more comprehensive safety assessment.

Safety Concerns and Health Claims 

Data provided to the FDA by Norfolk Plant Sciences demonstrates the company conducted various safety tests. However, critics argue the tests are insufficient to guarantee the safety of the Purple Tomato for human consumption.

According to an FDA memo dated June 13, 2023, tests conducted by Norfolk Plant Sciences mainly focused on six areas.  Of those, four were relatively straightforward while two have raised safety concerns among experts, according to GM Watch.

1. PCR and Southern blot analysis were conducted by Norfolk Plant Sciences to determine if the snapdragon foreign DNA was inserted into the tomato DNA.

• The company (Norfolk Plant Sciences) stated that insertion of the foreign DNA was confirmed.

2. PCR and sequence comparison of DNA samples were conducted to confirm the stability of the inheritability of the insertion across generations. Plants were bred to determine if the purple phenotype was inherited in a Mendelian segregation fashion.

• The company stated the purple phenotype was inheritable.

3. Compositional analysis was conducted to determine if the Purple Tomato contained similar nutrients at similar levels compared with non-GMO tomatoes, including protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, minerals, carotenoids, vitamins, and alpha-tomatine.

• The company determined the levels of most of the nutritional components to be similar or with “minor differences.”

(The Epoch Times)

4. Norfolk Plant Sciences assessed dietary exposure levels assuming the complete replacement of red tomatoes in the human diet with the Purple Tomato for two days.

• The company concluded the level of dietary exposure to anthocyanins is the same as consuming high-anthocyanin foods.  For example, 8 ounces of Purple Tomato juice is equivalent to consuming 1 cup of blueberries.

The Controversial Tests

1. Bioinformatic analyses were utilized to determine if any open reading frames were generated or disrupted by inserting the foreign DNA. Norfolk Plant Sciences searched the DNA sequences flanking the insertion sequence in the tomatoes.

• The company reported no open reading frames flanking the insertion location.

Since Norfolk Plant Sciences did not assess possible damage to the entire genome using advanced laboratory techniques, geneticist Michael Antoniou expressed concern in a statement published by GM Watch.

“There’s no evidence that the developers of the GM purple tomato have carried out the kind of molecular analyses (proteomics and metabolomics) that could help establish whether they only got the change they want, with no unintended changes. As a result, we don’t know if these tomatoes are safe to eat,” said Mr. Antoniou.

“We must also bear in mind that the GM transformation process (plant tissue culture and plant cells transformation) will inevitably give rise to hundreds if not thousands of sites of unintended DNA damage (mutations). These wide scale mutations can change patterns of gene function and alter biochemistry and composition, with unknown downstream health consequences,” he said.

2. Assessment of new peptides of equal or greater than 30 amino acids at the insertion site of the foreign DNA was conducted to rule out toxicity or allergenicity concerns.

• The company identified one “putative” peptide, however, they stated, “this peptide has no homology to any known allergen or protein and there was no evidence this sequence is transcribed in tomato.” They concluded the results “do not raise food safety concerns.”

Allergenicity is an ongoing concern regarding the genetic modification of food. For example, a study published in Nature in 1999 reported that bean plants were genetically modified to produce higher levels of methionine and cysteine but were discarded because the expressed protein of the transgene was highly allergenic.

While Norfolk Plant Sciences did not identify a match with any known allergens, that does not guarantee the peptide formed through the process of gene modification is not an allergen. Given that nearly 11 percent of adults and 5.6 million children in the United States have food allergies, it may be prudent to apply the precautionary principle when modifying our food’s genetic makeup.

The Test That Everyone Talked About

Although not included in the 2023 FDA memo, Norfolk Plant Sciences, in conjunction with Cathie Martin, published a pilot feeding study in 2008 in Nature Biotechnology that examined the effects of Purple Tomato supplementation on the life span of cancer-susceptible mice.

According to the study, mice fed the GM tomato lived longer—by an average of 40 days than those fed non-GM red tomatoes.

Publication of the pilot study prompted the John Innes Centre to publish a press release titled, “Purple tomatoes may keep cancer at bay.” (Norfolk Plant Sciences is a spinoff company from the John Innes Centre.)

https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/trojan-tomato-new-gmo-designed-infiltrate-americas-gardens

Bioventus ups guidance

 

• Raises Full-Year 2024 Financial Guidance Reflecting Enhanced Revenue Growth and Strong Execution of Strategic Priorities
• Accelerated First Quarter Revenue Growth by 8.7%, Organic Growth* by 15.3%
• Gross Margin Expanded 620 bps and Adjusted Gross Margin* 190 bps

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/05/07/2876526/0/en/Bioventus-Reports-First-Quarter-Financial-Results.html

Trump Classified Document Trial Postponed Indefinitely Days After 'Mishandled Evidence' Bombshell

 One day after postponing a filing deadline in Donald Trump's classified documents case, Judge Aileen M. Cannon has postponed the whole thing indefinitely.

In a Tuesday decision Cannon vacated (canceled) Trump's May 20 trial date, and wrote that setting a new date given the enormous stack of pre-trial matters would be "imprudent."

On Monday, Cannon postponed a filing deadline for Trump's team to provide a list of classified documents they want to present at trial - which was supposed to be filed by this Thursday. Cannon did not announce a new deadline, perhaps the first clue into today's decision.

The move also comes after special counsel Jack Smith's team admitted that the classified files at the heart of the case had been tampered with, and they needed more time to assess that revelation.

Smith also misled the court, after originally telling U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that the boxes remained "in their original, intact form as seized," when in a footnote they conceded that they removed classified documents and left placeholder sheets, which prosecutors acknowledged has created an "inconsistent" record - in which some of the documents are no longer in the same order as they appear in digital scans made in the fall of 2022.

"The Government acknowledges that this is inconsistent with what Government counsel previously understood and represented to the Court," the footnote reads, according to Just the News.

The finding comes after Cannon ordered a review into whether the FBI may have seized legally privileged records in response to a request from Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-classified-document-trial-postponed-indefinitely-days-after-mishandled-evidence

Biden betrays Israel with Hamas ‘deal’ that wasn’t

 Joe Biden betrayed Israel last night.

Hamas announced with great fanfare that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal. There were celebrations in Gaza, and the White House said it was “reviewing” the deal.

Except: The Israelis knew nothing about it. 

The supposed agreement wasn’t even on the table. Hamas had changed the terms of a previous treaty to one more favorable to the terror group. To take just one horrific alteration: Rather than turn over hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, Hamas would surrender dead bodies of the hostages it had killed. 

That Hamas would try to pull this ruse, with the help of negotiators in Egypt and Qatar, is typical. It wants to pretend that Israel was the one “rejecting” a ceasefire it never knew about. Anti-Israel protesters in the US and a compliant media would eat it up, and they did. 

But there’s a shameful twist. Axios reports that the US was aware of the Hamas deal but did not brief Israeli officials.

“Two Israeli officials said the feeling is that ‘Israel got played’ by the U.S. and the mediators who drafted ‘a new deal’ and weren’t transparent about it,” the outlet says.

Just as those same officials are willing to give Iran everything and more for the terrible nuclear deal, so Biden would  bend over backwards for Hamas if only it will placate the Israel-haters on his left. 

But this is beyond the pale. To push through an agreement without Israel’s input? To let Hamas, which attacked Israel, killed, raped and took hostages, dictate the terms? The US is siding with terrorists!

It’s no wonder Israel decided to begin its Rafah operation last night. When its supposed “closest ally” doesn’t have its back, it has no choice. Israel must stop this threat to its existence.

Biden could have been a partner in that. Instead, he went down in ignominy as a traitor to a friend.

https://nypost.com/2024/05/07/opinion/biden-betrays-israel-with-hamas-deal-that-wasnt/

WTI Dips After API Reports Across-The-Board Inventory Builds

 Oil prices ended the day flat today (after touching the lowest level in almost two months on news reports said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated OPEC+ could move to raise crude production).

Novak told Russia's Interfax news agency that the possibility of increasing oil production within the OPEC+ framework was still being analyzed.

"It always depends on the current situation; the balance of supply and demand. Everything is analyzed. Now there is no need to forecast anything. We need to look at how the market is feeling," he said, according to Interfax.

OPEC+ has largely been expected to roll over existing voluntary cuts of 2.2 million barrels a day beyond the second quarter.

But crude recovered, finding technical support ahead of tonight's API inventory data.

API

• Crude +509k (-1.40mm exp)

• Cushing +1.339mm

• Gasoline +1.46mm

• Distillates +1.713mm

Inventories rose across the whole complex according to API...

Source: Bloomberg

WTI tested its 100DMA for the third day in a row, and rejected it (for the third day in a row)...

And dipped after the inventory builds...

Overall, "oil is lower because a renewed battle between Israel and Hamas, in isolation, does not really affect oil-producing nations," Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at CFRA Research, told MarketWatch.

If Iran is "subsequently encouraged to do more direct attacks on Israel, it may be different," he said, but the market is "discounting this possibility."

Finally, President Biden will use crude oil from the strategic petroleum reserve should the need arise, energy adviser Amos Hochstein has said, noting there was enough oil in the reserve.

"We have been replenishing into the SPR for the last several months. I think we have sufficient supply in the SPR to address any kind of concern in the economy if we need it," Hochstein said, speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, as quoted by Reuters.

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/wti-dips-after-api-reports-across-board-inventory-builds

Chemicals in car interiors may cause cancer — and they’re required by US law: Study

 Tens of millions of Americans each day breathe in carcinogenic chemicals that are woven into the interiors of their cars, a new study has found.

While opening a window can help reduce the risk, only reforms can keep people safe, researchers wrote in a study in Environmental Science and Technology.  

Approximately 124 million Americans commute each day, spending an average of an hour in their cars.

By federal law, the interior of these vehicles are required to contain flame retardants, or chemicals that make it harder for them to combust in a crash.

These chemicals have been a legally mandated part of modern cars since the 1970s, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) passed a law requiring their use.

It’s arguable how effective this protection is. 

Patrick Morrison, of the International Association of Firefighters, said in a statement on the study that these chemicals do little to prevent blazes — but instead simply make them “smokier and more toxic.” 

What the study conclusively demonstrates is that any such protection comes at a price. 

Virtually all cars investigated by Duke University researchers contained the chemical tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate, or TCIPP — which the U.S. National Toxicology Program is investigating as a potential carcinogen.

Most cars also had two other phosphate-based flame retardants that the state of California is investigating as potential carcinogens: Those chemicals are tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP).

All three chemicals are linked to reproductive and neurological problems — particularly because they don’t stay in the fabrics they’re woven into.

 Flame retardant chemicals off-gas or leach from the seat and interior fabrics into the air, — especially in hot weather, when car interiors can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Advocates argue that the risks of these chemicals outweigh the benefits. 

But health researchers have found that the average U.S. child has lost up to 5 IQ points from exposure to flame retardants in cars and furniture. And adults with the highest levels of flame retardants in their blood face a risk of death by cancer that is four times greater than those with the lowest levels, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Morrison, of the firefighters advocacy group, added that “firefighters are concerned that flame retardants contribute to their very high cancer rates.”

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4649281-chemicals-car-interiors-cancer-required-federal-law-study/