Read article – Margaret Karagas, chair and professor of epidemiology and professor of community and family medicine, is quoted about the Food and Drug Administration’s recent proposed limit of 100 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal, saying that this common starter food is a leading source of exposure to the toxin. “Data are still emerging on whether this level is sufficient, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction,” says Karagas.

Read article – Quotes H. Gilbert Welch, professor of medicine, community and family medicine, and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, about how the public is going through a confusing debate about breast cancer screening, but it’s really “a course correction” prompted by more awareness of its risks and benefits to various groups of women. “All they heard for years was, ‘there are only benefits.'” says Welch.

Audio interview – As a guest on “Vermont Edition,” Steven Fiering, professor of microbiology and immunology and genetics, discusses his recent research using plant virus particles to trigger an immune system reaction against tumors in mice.

Read article – In this opinion piece, Andrew Pomerantz, associate professor of psychiatry, discusses the evolution of integrated care at the Veterans Health Administration and its applicability to health care in general.

Read article – Lisa Schwartz, professor of medicine, community and family medicine, and of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, is quoted about how the FDA has set a disturbing precedent by approving an untested dose of the new insomnia drug Belsomra. “For a deadly cancer with limited treatment this gamble might make sense, but not for a condition like insomnia and where Belsomra doesn’t appear to work any better, or more safely, than available treatments,” says Schwartz.

Read article –  Cathleen Beaver, assistant professor of medicine, is quoted about how the health benefits of chocolate come from flavonoids, plant-based products found in chocolate. Foods containing flavonoids are associated with having the power to fight many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. “The good news is that chocolate is healthy,” says Beaver. “We used to think that because of the fat and high calories, that it was not, but recent studies show definite benefits.”

Read article – Quotes James Sargent, the Scott M. and Lisa G. Stuart Professor of Pediatric Oncology and professor of pediatrics and of community and family medicine, about how restricting paid tobacco product placement in movies coincided with a significant drop in the amount of time characters in movies were seen smoking on screen.