childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. the problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. the prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. globally, in 2013 the number of overweight children under the age of five years old, is estimated to be over 42 million. close to 31 mill...

Approximately one million people in India experience cancer pain every year. As in many developing countries, it is typical that cancer is diagnosed in the late stages, when pain is prevalent and often severe. Severe pain destroys a person’s quality of life and dignity. Severe pain also affects families, neighbors and the community: a painful death leaves an indelible mark, especially in India,...

Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a parasitic protozoan that infects the genitourinary tract and produces the most common curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) in sexually active women in all age groups (1). Globally, trichomoniasis affects approximately 57-180 million people, with the majority living in developing countries (2,3). It is predominantly spread via unprotected intercourse with an...

Every year, more than 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer. Over half of them live in the developing world, where the cancer incidence rate has reached pandemic proportions. In 2008 there were upward of 12.4 million estimated new cases of cancer, with approximately two–thirds of the estimated 7 .6 million cancer deaths occurring in low–and middle–income countries [1]. Although low– and m...

Monsanto, the world's largest seed producer, which is the focus of European opposition to genetically modified crops still banned from commercial planting throughout the European Union, has flagged up a new conventional variety of broccoli set to win awards at a major European show this month. The company is hoping that the new broccoli, Bellaverde, will sway the judges at the Fruit Logistica s...

Crops made resistant to herbicides by biotechnology are being widely adopted in various parts of the world. From the genesis of commercialization in 1996 to 2011, herbicide tolerance has consistently been the dominant trait. Those containing transgenes that impart resistance to post-emergence, non-selective herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate will have the major impact. These products...

Canada ranks sixth in the world in wheat production with 27 million tonnes per year. (Canadian farmers also produce 22 million tonnes of other grain crops such as barley, corn, oats and rye.) Canada is the world’s second largest exporter of wheat with 70% of its production exported annually. The herbicide era began in the 1940s with the introduction of 2,4-D, a phenoxy herbicide that was adopte...