Health News

As with war, politics, and solving a Scooby Doo mystery, when it comes to saving cash and eating well, nothing is more important than having a plan. Grocery lists keep you from blowing dough on extraneous stuff. Price books give you the best possible food costs. Menu planners ensure you’re not scrambling to put dinner on the table, thus preventing dangerous bouts of crazy.

My own time-tested system combines a half-baked price book, hastily scrawled grocery lists, and yelling, “HON?! What are you in the mood for?” It works for now, but I’m thinking of going the pen-and-paper route. It’s working for Leigh, after all.

Fortunately, there are gazillions of downloadable menu planners, grocery lists, and price books all over the web. Unfortunately, many aren’t free, and involve some kind of weird sign-up or registration. Unless it’s for health insurance or Idol voting (Bowersox 4-evs), I hate doing that.

So, for your organizing pleasure, here are 36 free templates that’ll get you cooking. To know:

• There are no memberships or sign-ups required.
• All files are printable images, PDFs, or Excel spreadsheets.
• To make sure the sites were kosher, I downloaded/opened at least one form from each page. My computer has not virusized yet. (KNOCK ON WOOD.) Still, use at your own risk.
• Again: free.

If you’re craving more than a basic Word document, starred (*) entries go beyond the usual cells and tables. Their artsy graphic designs are Etsy worthy, and will look particularly cute hanging on your fridge.

Readers, if you know of any good templates/spreadsheets/whatever I missed, add ‘em in the comment section. Prettified ones will receive extra bonus points. (Meaning: a quiet “yay” in my small Brooklyn apartment.)

MULTIPLE RESOURCES
These websites include many different kinds of templates.

Better Budgeting
Basic weekly menu planner and weekly dinner planner, along with a grocery list organized by aisle.

Free Printable Grocery List
Dozens of grocery lists and menu planners, both blank and with pre-formatted checklists. Some have cute (but minimal) designs. Click on the sidebar and start printin’.

I’m an Organizing Junkie
Grocery list and weekly menu planner/grocery list combo. Formatted in boxes. A twist!

Keep and Share
Nice compilation of grocery lists for diet restrictions, including gluten-free, kosher, diabetic, lactose-free. Includes a pair of massive two-pagers, as well.

Mom’s Budget
Weekly and monthly meal planners, price logs, pantry inventories, and grocery lists in blue, green, orange, pink, and purple.

Money Saving Mom
Fourteen free downloads, including weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly menu planners as well as a master prep, ingredient, and shopping lists.

COMBINATIONS
Each of these single documents will do double-duty as say, a menu planner AND grocery list.

*A Feathered Nest
Menu planner/grocery list combo that’s super cute without being twee.

About.com
Weekly menu planner and shopping list.

*Carina Gardner
Anthropologie-esque weekly menu planner with a grocery list on the bottom. Nice! (It’s the one pictured at the top.)

*Design Sponge
A weekly menu planner/grocery list combo, as well as blank and checklist-style grocery lists. Cute!

Organized Home
Weekly menu planner and shopping list

*The Project Girl
Menu planner and shopping list, with the best design out of everything here. Very pretty!

Saving Your Cents
Weekly menu planner and shopping list. Simple and clean. Use #1. (The others are already on this list.)

PRICE BOOKS
Excel documents unless otherwise noted.

Cheap Cooking
You have to do a little deleting here, but it should work otherwise.

It’s Your Money
A larger file requiring unzipping.

No Credit Needed
Uncomplicated and easy to figure out. My favorite of these options.

Organized Home
This one’s not an Excel spreadsheet. It’s a fill-in-the-blank-with-your-own-pen-style price book.

MENU PLANNERS

Busy Bee Lifestyle
Weekly planner with separate columns for kids and adults. With a picture of a bee! (Note: I like bees.)

*Disney Family Fun
Dinner planner only, but with a cute, kid-oriented design.

*From the Kitchen of…
Super fun weekly planner. Be aware that it’s a big file, and has to be unzipped. I don’t know why, but it reminds me a little of a Lynda Barry cartoon.

Home Life Weekly
Rainbow colored weekly planner.

The Home School Mom
Has one with a weekly activity planner on the side, and one without. Pretty basic.

Main Street Mom
Super, super basic design. But effective.

Meal Planning Mommies
Weekly plan with “I’m a meal planning mommy!” written across the top. Helpful if you forget who you are, not helpful if you’re male.

Organized Home
Weekly menu planner made especially for notebooks.

*Petit Elefant
This one involves some re-sizing, but has a totally cute format and design.

Unclutterer
Available in spreadsheet or PDF form. Clean and efficient.

Vertex 42
Basic weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly menu planners in both portrait and landscape print styles.

GROCERY LISTS

Excel Template
Three printable spreadsheets of varying sizes, for general-to-specific shopping.

Mom Ready
Simple and straightforward checklist for your weekly trip.

Painted Gold
Simple blank list organized by department.

Pike’s Pickles
PDF files with both a blank list and formatted checklist.

Split Coast Stampers
Another checklist-style Excel spreadsheet. Also in PDF format if you scroll down a little further

Squawkfox
Landscape-style one-page checklist with many attractive boxes. Pretty thorough.

The Ultimatest Grocery List
Huge single-page checklist, with a massive bonus list for vegetarians! Maybe the best option if you’re looking for this kind of thing.

Vertex 42
Blank template organized by category. Handy.

Readers, whatchoo got? The comments are open!

~~~
If you like this article, you might also enjoy:

• Cheap Healthy Good’s Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Equipment
• Information Central: 32 Free Food Charts, Checklists, and Wallet-Sized Guides
• Pantry of the Gods

This is the text of a talk I gave to the La Leche League Ireland Conference on 7 March 2010. The accompanying PowerPoint presentation is attached to the posting of this blog on our website. See: http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog070310

Many thanks for the invitation to speak at the Conference. I bring greetings from everyone at Baby Milk Action. No doubt many of you are in contact with Patti Rundall, our Policy Director, and Sarah Hansen, our Office Manager.

I’ve been asked to speak on the topic: “What is your milk worth?”

And I’ve been thinking about the different ways to answer this. My immediate thought was there’s a short answer and a long answer.

Here’s the short answer. [SLIDE: Baby Quinn poster]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a smile is worth a thousand more.

But I guess you do want some words from me too, so here’s the long answer.

What’s your milk worth?

Well, a La Leche League Conference doesn’t need me to explain how babies without breastmilk suffer greater short and long-term illness. Your milk is worth better health for your babies, which is priceless.

But I’m going to try to be a bit more precise than priceless.

So how does Euros 130/litre sound for the value of breastmilk? [SLIDE: € 130/l]

That’s how much neonatal units in hospitals in the UK pay to milk banks – but that’s not for the milk, that for the processing costs of the milk bank that collects and pasturises it. Premature babies fed on it have better chances of surviving.

That’s one figure. We can also consider the number of lives lost through babies not being breastfed and the cost to our health services. Breastmilk is the most locally produced natural food there is – replacement feeds require processing and transport which has an environmental impact. Mothers aren’t paid to breastfeed their babies, but if they don’t breastfeed, they have to pay for breastmilk substitutes, so we can think about the cost of that and the multi-billion Euro industry that has arisen and the harm that it does.

I imagine as you’ve asked me here from Baby Milk Action you’d like to know something about company marketing and what can be done to stop it. We can also turn this question around and ask, “What is breastmilk worth to us?” What will we do to defend breastfeeding.

These are the issues I’m going to explore in a bit more depth, starting with breastmilk being worth Euros 130/litre for neonatology units.

A litre will provide nourishment and protection to many babies, of course, as a few millitres is enough to fill the stomach of a premature baby. [SLIDE: Stomach sizes]

This image shows the stomach size of a normal new-born baby to get an idea. This comes from a reliable source – the LLL International website.

The reduction in Necrotising Enterocolitis is one of the main reasons for having donor milk for babies if they cannot receive their mother’s milk while in intensive care or undergoing Kangeroo care. NEC is where the tissue of the bowel dies and it is a big killer of premature babies. I visited the donor milk bank in Chester this week and they rarely have cases of NEC. Breastfeeding has sometimes been described as the continuation of the placenta and it finishes the job of the development of the digestive system.

Other hospitals where babies are dying from NEC are starting to source donor breastmilk from Chester. And just last month the National Institute for Clinical Excellence published its guidelines. I know there is a milk bank across the border in Irvinestown Health Centre in County Fermanagh and I understand it operates across Ireland and is providing donor milk to 700 babies per year. Like many milk banks, I also understand it relies to some extent on fundraising.

The figure I gave for the cost of processing human milk comes from Chester which is a charity and has to raise all its operating costs itself, about € 130,000 per year, and it processes 1000 litres. Someone once said, wouldn’t it be strange if health had all the money it needed and the army had to hold jumble sales for weapons. But in the world we live in, it is breastfeeding supporters who hold the jumble sales.

But that does not mean the work is not professional. [SLIDE: Chester conference] Chester is holding a milk bank conference in May – you can find out more information on their website. You’ll be able to find the notes for my talk on the Baby Milk Action website next week, but here is the address of the Chester site if you want to note it. This is particularly relevant to Neonatologists, so you might like to suggest your contacts attend.

The mothers who donate the milk are volunteers, of course. They do it, because they know the value of breastmilk.

I started out with Baby Quinn. A picture of contentment. But not just contentment. It is a picture of nurture and protection coming from the living substance that is breastmilk and the warm and love with which it is delivered.

You know better than me that breastfed babies are optimally fed. Denied breastmilk and fed with cow’s milk or soya milk, however much it is processed and adapted, they will have greater risk of short and long-term illness. Breastfeeding is worth life and health.

And illness costs not only the individual, but society as a whole. In 2006 we made a submission to the UK government as it was revising our Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations to implement a revised EU Directive. We made a submission calling for the government to implement the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent, relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly in legislation. [SLIDE: The Code]

The Code and Resolutions, for short, set out how companies can and cannot market their products and came about as a direct result of the Nestlé boycott and wider campaign. The Code itself was adopted in 1981 and aims to protect breastfeeding and babies fed on formula.

Governments are called on to implement it and we asked our government to do so. We had built a coalition called the Baby Feeding Law Group [SLIDE: BFLG], consisting of the major health worker organisations and mother support groups and the submission (shown left) had the backing of all these organisations. If you don’t have such a coalition in Ireland, then it might be something to think about.

One of the questions in the UK Government consultation was about costs and we pulled together the figures available to us to make an economic case for protecting breastfeeding. [SLIDE: NICE report]

In the UK, a NICE costing report evaluated possible savings from Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation. They said.

“The evaluation assumes that a 10% improvement in initiation rates is a realistic target.

“On the basis of medical literature we assume that an increase in the number of babies that breastfeed will lead to a reduction in healthcare expenditure because of avoided cases of otitis media, gastroenteritis and asthma. On the basis of an annual birth rate of 605,634 a 10% improvement in breastfeeding would mean that 60,563 additional babies would be breastfed.”

[SLIDE: Cost savings]

• about 17,000 cases of otitis media avoided at a saving of £509,000.

• almost 3900 cases of gastroenteritis being avoided, at a saving of £2.6 million

• over 1500 cases of asthma being avoided, at a saving of £2.6 million.

• a reduction in the cost of teats and formula of £102,000

NICE. Postnatal care: routine postnatal care of women and their babies. Costing report: Implementing NICE guidance in England. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 2006. pp 36. www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=345136

A US Study looked at savings to their welfare scheme from breastfeeding. [SLIDE: WIC]

Compared with formula-feeding, breastfeeding each infant enrolled in WIC saved US$478 (€350) in WIC costs and Medicaid expenditures (the US welfare schemes) during the first 6 months of the infant’s life.

Montgomery DL, Splett PL. Economic benefit of breast-feeding infants enrolled in WIC. J Am Diet Assoc 1997 Apr;97(4):379-85 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9120189

They also looked at broader savings to the economy [SLIDE: 3.6 billion]

The US study found a minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved if breastfeeding was increased from current levels (64 percent in-hospital, 29 percent at 6 months) to those recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General (75 and 50 percent), for each year at the higher rate. Pro rata to the population of Ireland, this equates to € 40 million per year of improved breastfeeding.

Figure based on treatment of only three childhood illnesses: otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis.

This does not count the savings of the cost of formula.

It does include the loss of earnings of the 720 babies who were estimated to die each year in the US from Necrotizing Enterocolitis who would not have died if breastfed.

Weimer. The economic benefits of breastfeeding: A review and analysis, Food Assistance & Nutrition Research Report No. 13. Wash.D.C., USDA, 2001. www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/FANRR13/

In our submission in the UK, we recommended the government commission research on environmental impacts of babies not being breastfed – our figures are out of date. There is no food more locally produced and unprocessed than breastmilk. For formula we need to consider: [SLIDE: Environmental impact]

• Methane from cows is a greenhouse gas. Transport and processing impact.

• Resources used for packaging: 86,000 tons of tin plate would be used each year if every US baby was formula fed, with 550 million discarded tins (1991 figures).

• In 1987, 4.5 million feeding bottles were sold in Pakistan alone.

• A formula-fed 3-month old baby requires a litre of water a day for preparing formula and the equivalent of 73 kg of firewood per year, contributing to deforestation in poor countries.

Radford, A. Breastmilk: A world resource, Baby Milk Action, Cambridge, UK, 1991. www.babymilkaction.org/pdfs/worldresource91.pdf

The UK Government, like the Irish Government, did not listen to the calls for implementing the Code and Resolutions and has done the bare minimum to implement the EU Directive. [SLIDE: Montoring report]. We produce monitoring reports on behalf of the Baby Feeding Law Group, which show the strategies companies are using. You see advertising for follow-on formula on television and idealising claims on formula labels, as well as promotion to health workers, sponsored events, misleading information and so on. The same as you have in Ireland. This is a Cow & Gate mailout after the company signed up a mother. [SLIDE: Sore boobs]

I bought some formula yesterday from the supermarket and I want to demonstrate what the companies are doing. [Formula Race - you had to be there to appreciate this!].

But these claims are misleading. Let’s look at the claims made about LCPs – Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids. [SLIDE: LCPs]

Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term

It has been suggested that low levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) found in formula milk may contribute to lower IQ levels and vision skills in term infants. Some milk formulas with added LCPUFA are commercially available. This review found that feeding term infants with milk formula enriched with LCPUFA had no proven benefit regarding vision, cognition or physical growth.

Simmer K, Patole S, Rao SC. Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000376. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000376.pub2. www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000376.html

[SLIDE: DH study]

Mothers are misled. ‘Myths stop women giving babies the best start in life’ Department of Health survey, May 2004:

“Myth: Over a third (34%) of women believe that modern infant formula milks are very similar or the same as breast milk

“Fact: Infant formula milk does not contain the antibodies, living cells, enzymes or hormones present in breastmilk. Breastmilk is designed for each individual baby and changes over time whereas infant formula milk is designed for every baby.”

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Pressreleases/DH_4081944

So these and other claims are untrue, but companies base their marketing strategies upon them. This can have a devastating impact in developing countries where access to health care to treat sick infants is often lacking.

According to the Lancet series on child survival, improved breastfeeding could save 1.3 million under-5 babies every year.

[SLIDE: Lancet]

By improved breastfeeding, they mean 90% exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months, with continued breastfeeding for 99% of babies during the first year. We are a long way from that at present. But if it were not for breastfeeding, many more millions of babies would die each year.

Improving breastfeeding rates in the 42 countries where most under-5 deaths occur, could prevent 13% of those under-5 deaths. [SLIDE: Lancet comparison] That’s more than would be saved by:

• universal provision of safe water and sanitation (3%)

• universal provision of HIB, Tetanus and Measles vaccines (4%, 2%, 1%).

(Combined total 10%)

Appropriate introduction of complementary foods could save a further 6%.

[SLIDE: World Bank estimate] The World Bank has estimated that meeting the health Millenium Development Goals of providing universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2015 at US$ 30 billion (€22 billion) per year. Of course, there needs to be the improvements to water, sanitation and vaccination, but this give an indication of the value of increasing breastfeeding, which could save more lives. Indeed, many of the children who survive unhealthy conditions would have died if they had not been breastfed.

The Costs of Attaining the Millennium Development Goals, World Bank, accessed March 2010, www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/mdgassessment.pdf

Where is the money and support for breastfeeding? Putting money into breastfeeding support and taking action over marketing are political decisions. And the baby food industry is big money. [SLIDE: Baby food industry]

The retail value of the global baby food market in 2008 according to analysts Euromonitor was € 23 billion. Two-thirds of this is formula. So there’s about a € 15.3 billion industry because of babies not receiving breastmilk. Let’s consider that some babies cannot be breastfed because they are abandoned or orphaned without access to alternative supplies of breastmilk or because the mother cannot breastfeed for medical reasons. Formula is essential for some babies, so let’s knock off the formula required as a nutritional medicine and reduce the sum to € 15 billion to reflect the value of the breastmilk that is being substituted.

To defend this market, companies battle against regulation. According to Euromonitor: [SLIDE: Industry action].

“The industry is fighting a rearguard action against regulation on a country-by-country basis,”

“Government Regulation a Growing Constraint”.

“There are significant international variations in the regulations governing the marketing of milk formula, which are reflected in sales differences across countries.”

To finish, I want to turn this question around and ask you: “What is your milk worth?” By which I mean, what are you doing to defend breastfeeding?

In the discussion about the Politics of Breastfeeding yesterday, people were wanting to know what they could do. We’ll be able to explore this more in the discussion, but I want to see if I can inspire you with a story from the Philippines. This is a country where, according to WHO, 16,000 babies die every year because they are not breastfed.

In 2006 the Department of Health introduced regulations to stop companies marketing formula as if it would turn babies into geniuses. [SLIDES: Abbott, Nestlé].

Abbott’s formula had an IQ logo, with the word ‘eye’ in the letter ‘I’, suggesting it benefits visual and mental development. Nestlé undermined the legally required ‘breastmilk is best for babies’ message with a colourful logo claiming its formula contains, “Brain Building Blocks”. These are referring the the LCPs I mentioned before – where the Cochrane Library review found such claims are not proven.

The pharmaceutical companies that make formula took the government to the Supreme Court and the US Chamber of Commerce wrote to the President demanding the law be struck down or American companies would pull out of the country.

Here’s what happened next [SLIDES: Philippine campaign - showing demonstrations, media work, letter-writing campaigns, petitions, UNICEF DVD, culminating in the 'brave breasts' protest outside the Supreme Court. Also see Update 40].

Now, topless protests might not be the thing to do in Ireland. But next time you see an advertisement you might like to remember this story and think, “What is breastmilk worth?” [SLIDE: Action ideas]

Is it worth a letter to the Advertising Standards Authority? Sending violations to La Leche Leage? Starting a campaign in Ireland?

[SLIDE: International ideas - boycott] Supporting the boycott of Nestlé, worst of the companies? Writing to all companies about practices that harm health. Our current priority is Nestlé’s new strategy of claiming its formula ‘protects’ babies. This is about the LCPs we hear about earlier. This label shows that campaigning works. It is from Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries and Nestlé refused to translate it into the national language until we campaigned and shamed it on UK television.

Here’s the challenge facing you in Ireland. [SLIDE: Breastfeeding rates]

“Ireland is in the unenviable position of having the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe and this has been the situation for at least two generations.

“Currently only about 40% of new mothers in Ireland initiate breastfeeding and many of these cease doing do so before their infants are four months old.”

Fallon M, Breastfeeding in Ireland, Department of Health and Children, Accessed March 2010, www.equality.ie/index.asp?docID=586

I understand the situation has improved slightly from this figure, but rates are still low.

Here’s the hope. [SLIDE: The hope]

La Leche League Ireland exists.

You have come to the Conference.

You know what your milk is worth!!

[SLIDE: Contact us]

Baby Milk Action can help. So do please visit our website and stay in touch. Also look out for an online training course on monitoring which is being added to our website.

This review from the Journal of Emergency Medicine (full text via Medscape) may be the best evidence synthesis available on the topic. It deals with all the studies and focuses both on the use of tPA in general as well as the new extended window. Concerning the latter question here’s the author’s bottom line:

The publication of the ECASS III trial has produced much excitement and discussion in the Stroke community. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the European Stroke Organisation have both recommended treatment with IV tPA up to 4.5 h from symptom onset for appropriate patients. At this time, treatment with IV tPA for acute stroke beyond 3 h from symptom onset remains without FDA approval, but it has been endorsed by a Scientific Advisory from the American Heart Association Stroke Council.

The paper notes that many tPA associated head bleeds may be of little clinical importance, partly because those who suffer them tend to have large infarcts already destined for bad outcome. This was illustrated in a 2007 paper cited by the author:

Background and Purpose—A clinically relevant number needed to harm for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-related symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) would greatly assist therapeuticdecision-making.

Methods—A 15-variable prognostic model was derived from a placebo group enrolled in National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke tPA Trials 1 and 2 and used to predict final global disability outcome for patients with tPA-related SICH had they been treated with placebo, rather than tPA, and not experienced SICH.

Conclusions—Most patients who experience SICH have severe baseline infarcts and already are destined for poor outcomes. For every 100 patients treated with tPA, approximately 1 will experience a severely disabled or fatal final outcome as a result of tPA-related SICH.

In other words the clinically relevant number need to harm is higher than one might expect.

But there’s more than one way to interpret the NINDS data as illustrated by this recent analysis:

Methods
We used the original data from the NINDS trials to create graphs showing the effect of treatment on neurologic function in all 624 individual patients in the trial. Our goal was to show detailed graphics of the 90-day outcomes, stratified on relevant confounders and effect modifiers.

Results
Final outcomes were highly dependent on stroke severity. In many graphs, the small difference between groups favored tissue plasminogen activator, particularly when baseline NIHSS score was between roughly 5 and 22. These differences diminish or disappear when 90-day change in NIHSS is graphed. Our graphs fail to support the time-is-brain hypothesis.

From a new paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine:

Conclusion: ICS therapy decreases inflammation and can attenuate decline in lung function in steroid-naive patients with moderate to severe COPD. Adding LABAs does not enhance these effects.

Dr. Centeno is offering stem cell therapies for orthopedic damage with remarkable results. Is this the future of stem cells in the US?

The FDA has yet to approve stem cell therapies for general use in medicine, but that hasn’t stopped doctors in Colorado from providing them anyway. Chris Centeno and John Schultz have boldly formed Regenerative Sciences Inc. in Broomfield, Colorado. RSI provides its patients with the Regenexx procedure, an adult stem cell transplant that uses your own cells (autologous) to treat joint injuries and bone damage. There’s no surgery needed. A needle extracts bone marrow, RSI isolates the stem cells and cultures them in your own blood, and then these cells are injected into the area where they are needed. They’ve treated 348+ patients with 800+ injections and show no signs of slowing down. According to RSI’s own surveys, 89% of their knee patients showed marked improvement, as did 75% of their hip patients! Within months some patients can walk or run in ways they haven’t been able to in years. We’ve seen these kinds of results from stem cell treatments before, but only in horses and dogs. That’s because human stem cell therapies like this one aren’t approved by the FDA. How can Centeno and Schultz flaunt the lack of federal approval? They claim that Regenexx is solely used as a part of their medical practice, only within the state of Colorado, and as such is no more regulated by the FDA than it would be by the FAA or the Department of Motor Vehicles. I had a chance to talk with Dr. Centeno over the phone and learn more about Regenexx and RSI. For hundreds of patients, he and his team are providing a remarkable hope. They’ve brought lab-cultured medical stem cell therapies to the US. Finally.

Stem cells have been a focal point for hype and hope for years now. Besides healing horses and dogs, they have promising effects on diabetes, corneal blindness, even HIV. It’s pretty clear that they’re also the future of organ transplants. Just the news of a stem cell related development or patent will cause a biotech company’s stocks to soar. The FDA, which regulates all interstate drug sales and related clinical trials is not trying to keep Americans from these “miraculous” cures, it’s simply trying to make sure they are safe first. Apparently, that’s taking too long. Medical tourism agencies are starting to cater to those seeking stem cell treatments. Whether or not they are ready for widespread medical use, stem cell therapies are in high demand, not just in the US but around the world. It’s no longer a question of when we will have access to these treatments, it’s a question of how.

A severely damaged knee healed to a remarkable degree. Must be stem cells. RSI is offering adult stem cell therapies in the US. That’s an important first, but what will happen without FDA approval?

Patient’s interested in the Regenexx procedure face what seems to be a fairly standard experience for autologous stem cell transplants. It takes 20-40 minutes to extract the cells from hip bone marrow with limited anesthesia, and blood is also taken. Over a month RSI’s lab will isolate mesenchymal (multipotent) adult stem cells and multiply them until they have 1 to 10 million. Typically, a patient will receive an injection into the treated area once a month for three months. Positive results are sometimes seen quickly (in 1 to 3 months) but will hopefully develop within 6 to 9 months. Importantly, there’s no down time as a result of the procedure. Patients can leave the clinic and go home after each injection.  A round of Regenexx (extraction, cultivation,  and 3 injections) costs $7000-$8500. Those who produce exceptional numbers of stem cells can use subsequent injections (even in other parts of the body) for around $3500. Most insurances will not cover the treatment.
The fact that RSI isolates and cultures (multiplies) the cells is a big difference from other clinics that offer stem cell therapies. That process allows the lab to create enough mesenchymal stem cells  to really have an effect on the area in which they are injected. Many clinics around the world will take blood, marrow, or tissue and then spin out the stem cells in a centrifuge, injecting them back in on the same day. That style  of therapy could possibly be effective, but it is far less likely than with a dose of millions of multipotent stem cells. There are several doctors around the US that will provide such ’single-visit’ stem cell therapies, but as far as I know RSI is the only that offers the lab cultured mesenchymal therapy in the US. Dr. Centeno has confirmed that he’s the only one, that he knows of, openly using this particular procedure in the US.
In the past, I have been very skeptical of stem cell treatment centers in other countries. I’d like to turn that same critical eye to Regenexx. It’s only fair. First, let’s look at the success RSI is selling. Autologous transplants are offered in the hands, hips, knees, shoulders, back (non-spinal cord injury), ankles, and bone fractures. For each of these procedures you can find many ardent and exceptionally encouraging patient testimonials on their website, or their YouTube channel, along with a flood of supportive media. Here’s a clip from a local news Channel which is pretty indicative of the rest:

Overall, RSI is claiming around 80% patient satisfaction according to its own surveys. That’s incredible, especially when you see some of their patients walking and running again on joints that have experienced years of chronic damage. It also seems Centeno and Schultz have the documented evidence to back up the claims for Regenexx’s success. RSI provides case studies for each of its treatments as well as published scientific research. According to my conversation with Centeno, RSI is currently working on a comprehensive statistical analysis of their more popular treatments so they can publish quantitative results in a peer review journal. In other words, they’ll soon publish the hard numbers – X% of patients feel Y% better Z months after the procedure.
Importantly, RSI seems to be upfront with patients about the limits of their own technique. The website FAQ clearly states that not all results will be like the testimonials, and they even have adedicated page explaining that stem cell therapies won’t work for everyone. Furthermore, RSI has published the largest study of risks and complications associated with stem cell treatments yet produced in the US (N=227). That paper demonstrates the very low harm associated with stem cell therapies – much lower than the alternative surgery(published in Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy). Centeno told me that if we’re really worried that autologous stem cell therapies are going to hurt someone, this paper pretty much shows they won’t.
The concerns most people have with RSI are not medical, they’re political. Many applaud Centeno and Schultz for supplying the public with the cutting edge technology they demand, but worry about the manner in which it has been accomplished. Skirting FDA approval for a technique through the arguments they use opens the gate to a host of problems. If RSI can provide Regenexx because it is a doctor’s procedure not involved in interstate commerce, does that mean someone else can do the same for another treatment? What are the limits of such procedures? How does a patient know if a doctor’s therapy is safe, or effective, if it hasn’t undergone peer review and government inspection?
During my conversation with Dr. Centeno, he pointed out that doctors and surgeons are developing new procedures all the time. Surgeons will often create new devices for their own use in surgery, doctors routinely try out new dosing regimes, or therapies on their patients. This is part of the medical profession.
Still, it’s possible that even though RSI is doing what many other doctors routinely do (develop a new therapy for use in their own practice) that the federal government could try to bring them to court. The FDA seems to have taken the stance that all stem cells (whether used autologously or not) are drugs. As such, they would need FDA approval, and would likely only be developed by large pharmaceutical companies.
According to Lee Buckler of Cell Therapy Blog, Centeno’s already received a warning letter from the FDA. Centeno clarified that this is actually an “untitled letter” which has no bearing on regulation. He pointed me to this explanation on untitled letters. RSI has faced concerns from the New York Department of Health, and went so far as to pursue a provisional license, even though they are no where near NY state. Clearly RSI is hoping to avoid bureaucratic problems or at least be very prepared for them if they do arise.  Perhaps with enough positive results they can avoid legal battles and even convince insurance companies to cover Regenexx.
Hopefully so. Just look as these results. They’re pretty damn amazing. If you accept the success rates, and the possibilities for long term healing…I know people who need this. I really want them to be able to get it.
Centeno says he is working with others to provide the framework through which many more patients could receive mesenchymal stem cell therapies. He’s on the board of the International Cell Medicine Society (ICMS) which is working to track stem cell therapy patients through a registry, as well as certify stem cell clinics for practice. Through conferences and seminars, doctors are trained in IVF to work in fertility clinics. Centeno explained to me that a similar practice could instruct and track physicians interested in providing lab cultured autologous stem cell therapies. In other words, the technique used by RSI could become a regularly seen procedure in specialty clinics across the country. That may mean more patients could have access to stem cells soon.
One way or another, I know they will. FDA approval is slow, but it’s coming. Athersys has a patent for a stem cell derived drug, other companies have therapies in clinical trials. Those treatments will be here some day. In the meantime, RSI is filling in the gap. Their work may even catch on as a trend. If largely successful, insurance companies may pay for it and the federal government may end up grandfathering Regenexx in at some point. It could happen. What’s certain is that the public demand for stem cell therapies is real, growing, and seemingly justified. When that sort of pressure for a technology exists nobody can keep it down.
**Update: It has been pointed out that we have neglected to consider the long term effects of stem cell therapies. This is an oversight on our part, but the reality is that there is no conclusive understanding of what the long term effects of stem cells treatments will be. We do not know if a stem cell treatment will be effective 5-10 years after it is administered, and we know of no large study that has conclusively reviewed patients for cancer, or any long term side effect 5-10 years after a stem cell injection. I believe that part of what ICMS is trying to do (reviewing clinics, tracking patients results over the long term) may yield a better understanding in the future.**
[image credit: Denver Business Journal, Regenerative Science Inc]
[video credit: ABC 7 News in Denver via Regenexx (copyright status unknown)]
[Sources: Regenerative Sciences Inc, ABC 7 News in Denver, Lee Buckler , RSI Blog, Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy]

NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY

March 2010 Volume 28 Number 3, pp 181 – 292

Visit Nature Biotechnology online to browse the journal.

Now available at http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=129&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Please note that you need to be a subscriber to enjoy full text access to Nature Biotechnology online. To purchase a subscription, please visit:
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=23&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Alternatively, to recommend a subscription to your library, please visit
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=106&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Bioentrepreneur: an online resource for budding business in the life sciences.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=181&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

Attention: Chemists and Biologists Can you increase the stability of a nucleic acid? Your solution to increase the stability of small molecule RNA could win $20,000.

Click here to find out how. http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=207&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=====================================================================

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

Dharmacon Duet siRNA Libraries are paired libraries of siGENOME and ON-TARGETplus SMARTpool siRNA reagents for higher confidence,
cost-effective siRNA screening.

> Raise confidence in primary screen results with two highly functional SMARTpool siRNA reagents
> Including ON-TARGETplus SMARTpools allows stratification of the most valid hits all within your primary screen

http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=205&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=====================================================================

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

Now is the time – Help bring new multiple sclerosis treatments to market.

$3 million in funding available now for innovative research and commercial development proposals.

Who can apply?
> Seed and early stage companies
> Academic investigators
Click here to submit your proposal: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=42&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Fast ForwardSM – Driving promising research discoveries into development – faster.

=====================================================================

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

BIOPARTNERING

Visit our Biopartnering site to view Company Profiles and Partnership Opportunities:

http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=201&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=====================================================================

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

Natureevents Directory 2010
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=148&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

The FREE digital edition of the Natureevents Directory 2010 is now available!

Visit www.natureevents.com to download the complete resource forglobal scientific events and start planning your conference attendancefor the year ahead.

To advertise events please contact natureevents@nature.com

=====================================================================

———————-
EDITORIALS
———————-
America's got talent – can it keep it? p181
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-181
To remain competitive in biotech, policymakers should pay more attention to retaining skilled foreign workers than to fixating on illegal immigration.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=104&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

H1N1dsight is a wonderful thing p182
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-182
Criticisms of the response of governments and of the pharmaceutical industry to the threat of the H1N1 epidemic are wide of the mark.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=100&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
NEWS
———————-
Ark's gene therapy stumbles at the finish line pp183 – 184
Peter Mitchell
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-183
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=99&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Monsanto's alfalfa reaches Supreme Court p184
Boonsri Dickinson
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-184
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=101&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

GSK/Sirtris compounds dogged by assay artifacts pp185 – 186
Charlie Schmidt
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-185
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=50&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

US biodefense contracts continue to lure biotechs pp187 – 188
Catherine Shaffer
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-187
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=48&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Ride 'n Drive on government waste p188
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-188
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=46&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Melanoma vaccine for dogs p189
Suzanne Elvidge
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-189a
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=44&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Biotechs go virtual p189
Susan Aldridge
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-189b
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=57&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Chinese institute makes bold sequencing play pp189 – 191
John Fox and Jim Kling
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-189c
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=56&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

RNAi delivery shop p191
Nazlie Latefi
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-191a
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=52&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Brazil boosts bioscience p191
Ricardo Bonalume Neto
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-191b
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=51&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Patent income tax slashed p192
Asher Mullard
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-192a
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=60&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Abbott hit with record fine p192
Michael Francisco
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-192b
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=59&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Resuscitated deCODE refocuses on diagnostics p192
Mark Ratner
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-192c
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=11&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

NEWS FEATURES
One year in – Obama's biotech scorecard pp193 – 196
Jeffrey L Fox
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-193
As healthcare reform falters, the biotech industry awaits the fate of biosimilars and tax credits. Jeff Fox reports.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=10&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

The lengthening handshake pp197 – 199
Randy Osborne
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-197
Although mergers and acquisitions (M&As) failed to hit the heights some analysts had predicted in 2009, a new type of tiered transaction rose to prominence[mdash]the structured deal. Randy Osborne reports.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=9&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
BIOENTREPRENEUR
———————-
BUILDING A BUSINESS
Seeking the biotech eBay
Nuala Moran
doi:10.1038/bioe.2010.1
Internet exchanges suggest an easy route to sourcing and licensing technology, but can biotech intellectual property be packaged up and sold in this way?
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=8&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
OPINION AND COMMENT
———————-
CORRESPONDENCE
Oversulfated chondroitin sulfate is not the sole contaminant in heparin pp203 – 207
Jing Pan et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-203
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=4&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Reply to Oversulfated chondroitin sulfate is not the sole contaminant in heparin pp207 – 211
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-207
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=3&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Why FDA recruitment of 'critics' is a problem p212
Henry I Miller
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-212a
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=2&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Genetic exceptionalism pp212 – 213
William Bains
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-212b
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=1&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
FEATURES
———————-
Lost in migration pp214 – 229
George S Mack and Andrew Marshall
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-214
Combinations of cytostatic treatments and chemotherapies currently in clinical practice offer limited hope for patients whose cancers have spread. But increasing understanding of the processes underlying metastasis may one day provide other therapeutic options.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=7&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

PATENTS
Patenting biotech beyond the central dogma pp230 – 233
George Wu
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-230
Biotech inventors and patent practitioners alike need to be aware of new interpretations of what is considered patentable, and draft claims that extend beyond biological principles.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=6&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Recent patent applications in DNA diagnostics p234
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-234
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=24&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
NEWS AND VIEWS
———————-
Genetic therapy for spinal muscular atrophy pp235 – 237
Alex MacKenzie
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-235
A severe inherited neuromuscular disease is corrected in mice by intravenous gene delivery.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=26&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Targeting leukemia stem cells pp237 – 238
Hanna K A Mikkola, Caius G Radu and Owen N Witte
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-237
Acute myeloid leukemia stem cells can be made susceptible to chemotherapy by inducing them to divide.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=25&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Cellular targets for influenza drugs pp239 – 240
Ji-Young Min and Kanta Subbarao
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-239
High-throughput RNAi screens in human cells suggest new approaches to curb influenza virus infection.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=28&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Navigating genomic maps of cancer cells pp241 – 242
Marcel P van der Brug and Claes Wahlestedt
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-241
What can we learn from the first genome sequences obtained from cancerous cells?
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=27&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Grass genomics on the wild side p242
Craig Mak
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-242
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=18&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
———————-
Research highlights p243
Markus Elsner, Laura DeFrancesco and Craig Mak
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-243
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=17&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
———————-
PRIMER
What is flux balance analysis? pp245 – 248
Jeffrey D Orth, Ines Thiele and Bernhard O Palsson
doi:10.1038/nbt.1614
Flux balance analysis is a mathematical approach for analyzing the flow of metabolites through a metabolic network. This primer covers the theoretical basis of the approach, several practical examples and a software toolbox for performing the calculations.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=21&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
RESEARCH
———————-
ARTICLES
Nutrient-sensitized screening for drugs that shift energy metabolism from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis pp249 – 255
Vishal M Gohil et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1606
Many diseases are characterized by shifts in cellular energy metabolism. Gohil et al. use a quantitative, nutrient-sensitized screen to identify drugs that affect the relative rates of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, and demonstrate the protective capacity of an approved antiemetic in models of cardiac and cerebral ischemia.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=19&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=22&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Harnessing chaperone-mediated autophagy for the selective degradation of mutant huntingtin protein pp256 – 263
Peter O Bauer et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1608
Decreasing levels of mutant, but not normal, huntingtin (HTT) protein remains a major obstacle to treating Huntington's disease (HD). Bauer et al. show that a fusion of polyglutamine-and HSC70-binding motifs specifically targets mutant HTT for degradation by chaperone-mediated autophagy and ameliorates the phenotype of a mouse model of HD.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=71&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=72&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Directed evolution of a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent for noninvasive imaging of dopamine pp264 – 270
Mikhail G Shapiro et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1609
Magnetic resonance imaging of hemoglobin in the brain can detect blood flow associated with neural activity, but direct imaging of neurotransmitters would provide a more sensitive measure of neural signal processing. Shapiro et al. use directed evolution to generate a protein probe that enables magnetic resonance imaging of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=69&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=70&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

LETTERS
Rescue of the spinal muscular atrophy phenotype in a mouse model by early postnatal delivery of SMN pp271 – 274
Kevin D Foust et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1610
Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive disease of motor neurons caused by lack of the SMN gene. Foust et al. achieve long-term correction of the disease phenotype in a mouse model by intravenous delivery of SMN using the viral vector scAAV9.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=67&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=68&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Induction of cell cycle entry eliminates human leukemia stem cells in a mouse model of AML pp275 – 280
Yoriko Saito et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1607
In acute myeloid leukemia, a sub-population of quiescent cancer cells, called leukemia stem cells, is thought to be responsible for chemotherapy resistance and eventual recurrence of the disease. Saito et al. show that treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor can overcome resistance to standard therapy by inducing cell cycle entry of the leukemia stem cells.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=78&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=79&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Isotopic labeling of terminal amines in complex samples identifies protein N-termini and protease cleavage products pp281 – 288
Oded Kleifeld et al.
doi:10.1038/nbt.1611
Many proteases are important drug targets, but identification of their substrates remains challenging. By using polymers to selectively isolate N-terminal peptides generated by proteolysis of complex samples, Kleifeld et al. identify substrates of clinically relevant proteases with broad specificity.
Abstract: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=75&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
Article: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=77&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

———————-
CAREERS AND RECRUITMENT
———————-
The importance of foreign-born talent for US innovation pp289 – 291
Yeonji No and John P Walsh
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-289
A survey suggests that foreign-born scientists and engineers play a major role in scientific and innovation output in the United States.
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=93&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

PEOPLE
People p292
doi:10.1038/nbt0310-292
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=94&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=========================== ADVERTISEMENT ===========================

FREE ARTICLES FROM SciBX

Neurology: Methylene-specific oxidation in natural products
Full text: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=159&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
PDF: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=155&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Neurology: Targeting serotonin autoreceptors to boost antidepressant efficacy
Full text: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=154&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
PDF: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=153&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

Cancer: Targeting CXCR1 in breast cancer growth and metastasis
Full text:http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=33&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
PDF: http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=32&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

ACCESS MORE THAN 40 FREE ARTICLES from the SciBX Cover Story Archive
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=5&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0

=====================================================================

You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to
receive it. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time,
by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at:
http://links.ealert.nature.com/ctt?kn=64&m=34685620&r=MTc3MTg2NzE2NgS2&b=2&j=Njg2NDE4ODgS1&mt=1&rt=0
(You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant).

For further technical assistance, please contact our registration department:
registration@nature.com

For print subscription enquiries, please contact our subscription department:
subscriptions@nature.com

For other enquiries, please contact our customer feedback department:
feedback@nature.com

Nature Publishing Group | 75 Varick Street, 9th Floor | New York |
NY 10013-1917 | USA

Nature Publishing Group's worldwide offices:
London – Paris – Munich – New Delhi – Tokyo – Melbourne –
San Diego – San Francisco – Washington – New York – Boston

(c) Copyright 2010 Nature Publishing Group

=====================================================================

Green Kitchen is a bi-weekly column about nutritious, inexpensive, and ethical food and cooking. It’s penned by the lovely Jaime Green.

Winter is not an easy time to eat locally in the Northeastern U.S. I hear it’s already spring in California (at least judging by the weather and produce), and Florida has its famed citrus. Though still seasonal by the time they get here, in transit those Sunshine State oranges have incurred the carbon debt and nutrient loss of shipment and storage, not to mention the wear and tear of a big chain supermarket.

Local, seasonal food is the holy grail of the conscientious urban eater. Okay, a garden would be better; there’s no trucking required, and the food is as fresh as can be. But when you live in a one-bedroom with east-facing windows that look onto another building, your growing options are scarce. (See also: last summer’s failed herb garden. The basil and rosemary died for lack of sun.)

So, I try to shop as much as possible at the greenmarket. Chatting with the farmer isn’t quite the same as getting my hands dirty, but it will do for now. At least the food comes from not-too-far away.

But February! Jeez, February, you break my heart. Sure, the seafood guys are still at the market, along with the wineries, the goat cheese lady, and the bags of locally braided pretzels, but produce is scarce. Thin on the ground. Thin in the air. Generally pretty trim. (Quoting Eddie Izzard might not help, but it makes me feel better.)

Last weekend, in terms of produce, my local farmers market boasted: mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, and squash. Not exactly a variety of nutrients therein. I left with an onion and two apples in my canvas bag. I knew the apples had been in storage since the fall, almost as long as the acorn squash on my kitchen table.

The squash’s stripes had gone from green to orange, but that’s the point of winter squash, right? With their thick skins and all? To stay good for months? Sure. Local from last December still equals local. Local in a lazy kitchen.

Roasting a halved acorn squash with butter and brown sugar is tasty enough, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by this recipe from Epicurious and this one I posted on CHG a while back (plus a little old fashioned making-it-up-as-I-went) I ended up with a sweet, flavorful-but-not-spicy side dish that I’m very happy with.

Seasoning the apples and squash separately gives a little more variety to the dish; the squash receives more of the sweet-tasting garam masala, while the apples get a heavier hand with the curry powder. A splash of apple juice keeps everything moist, though you could probably roast this, too, with maybe a touch more oil.

Note: though the rind was very pretty, it didn’t make for easy eating. I added peeling to the instructions so you don’t have to pull shards of squash skin from your mouth. Additionally, the prices below reflect greenmarket/local apples, squash, and onions. In general, buying them there is fresher, kinder to the environment, and more supportive of my local economy. In this case, it’s cheaper than supermarket produce, as well.

Not having had the foresight, freezer space, or extra dough to lay in a frozen store of last summer’s veggies, I do what I can. But it’s nice, when you can, to go whole hog (whole local, grass-fed, ethically raised hog) and make an entire dish from foods (relatively) nearby.

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Autumn Apple Salad
• Curried Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Apples, and Sweet Potatoes

~~~

Curried Apples and Acorn Squash
Serves 4

1 acorn squash
2 apples, cubed (I used something that looked like Galas, but I bet Granny Smiths would add a nice tartness. I’d avoid anything mushy like Macs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c apple juice or cider
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder
1 T maple syrup
1 t garam masala
½ t powdered ginger
¼ t salt
dash of nutmeg
1 ½ T butter
1 T olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil (or not, if you like scrubbing).

2) Peel and cut the squash into cubes, 1 to 1½ inches on a side.

3) In a bowl mix 1 T olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 t garam masala, ½ t powdered ginger, ¼ t salt, and a dash of curry powder. Add squash cubes and toss to coat.

4) Spread into your baking pan, in as close to in a single layer as possible. Bake about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice for even cooking.

5) Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, a sprinkle of salt, and sauté until tender, maybe 12 minutes.

6) Add 1 t curry powder and a dash of nutmeg and stir for 1 minute.

7) Add apples and saute a few more minutes, until the apples are hot. Transfer to a bowl to wait for the squash.

Once the squash’s 25 minutes are up, add the apple mixture to the squash in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ c apple juice, and stir together. Bake another 20 minutes or so, until the squash is tender.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber and Price per Serving
237 calories, 9.6 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, $0.93 (4 servings)

Calculations
1 acorn squash: 345 calories, 1g fat, 13g fiber, $1.00
2 apples: 143 calories, 0.5g fat, 6.5g fiber, $1.25
1 medium onion: 106 calories, 0g fat, 3g fiber, $0.75
¼ c apple juice or cider: 30 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.15
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder: negligible calories or fat, 0.5g fiber, $0.04
1 T maple syrup: 52 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.25
1 t garam masala: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.02
½ t powdered ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
¼ t salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
dash of nutmeg: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
1 ½ T butter: 153 calories, 17g fat, 0g fiber, $0.11
1 T olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, $0.12
TOTALS: 949 calories, 38.5g fat, 23g fiber, $3.72
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 237 calories, 9.6g fat, 5.8g fiber, $0.93

Green Kitchen is a bi-weekly column about nutritious, inexpensive, and ethical food and cooking. It’s penned by the lovely Jaime Green.

Winter is not an easy time to eat locally in the Northeastern U.S. I hear it’s already spring in California (at least judging by the weather and produce), and Florida has its famed citrus. Though still seasonal by the time they get here, in transit those Sunshine State oranges have incurred the carbon debt and nutrient loss of shipment and storage, not to mention the wear and tear of a big chain supermarket.

Local, seasonal food is the holy grail of the conscientious urban eater. Okay, a garden would be better; there’s no trucking required, and the food is as fresh as can be. But when you live in a one-bedroom with east-facing windows that look onto another building, your growing options are scarce. (See also: last summer’s failed herb garden. The basil and rosemary died for lack of sun.)

So, I try to shop as much as possible at the greenmarket. Chatting with the farmer isn’t quite the same as getting my hands dirty, but it will do for now. At least the food comes from not-too-far away.

But February! Jeez, February, you break my heart. Sure, the seafood guys are still at the market, along with the wineries, the goat cheese lady, and the bags of locally braided pretzels, but produce is scarce. Thin on the ground. Thin in the air. Generally pretty trim. (Quoting Eddie Izzard might not help, but it makes me feel better.)

Last weekend, in terms of produce, my local farmers market boasted: mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, and squash. Not exactly a variety of nutrients therein. I left with an onion and two apples in my canvas bag. I knew the apples had been in storage since the fall, almost as long as the acorn squash on my kitchen table.

The squash’s stripes had gone from green to orange, but that’s the point of winter squash, right? With their thick skins and all? To stay good for months? Sure. Local from last December still equals local. Local in a lazy kitchen.

Roasting a halved acorn squash with butter and brown sugar is tasty enough, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by this recipe from Epicurious and this one I posted on CHG a while back (plus a little old fashioned making-it-up-as-I-went) I ended up with a sweet, flavorful-but-not-spicy side dish that I’m very happy with.

Seasoning the apples and squash separately gives a little more variety to the dish; the squash receives more of the sweet-tasting garam masala, while the apples get a heavier hand with the curry powder. A splash of apple juice keeps everything moist, though you could probably roast this, too, with maybe a touch more oil.

Note: though the rind was very pretty, it didn’t make for easy eating. I added peeling to the instructions so you don’t have to pull shards of squash skin from your mouth. Additionally, the prices below reflect greenmarket/local apples, squash, and onions. In general, buying them there is fresher, kinder to the environment, and more supportive of my local economy. In this case, it’s cheaper than supermarket produce, as well.

Not having had the foresight, freezer space, or extra dough to lay in a frozen store of last summer’s veggies, I do what I can. But it’s nice, when you can, to go whole hog (whole local, grass-fed, ethically raised hog) and make an entire dish from foods (relatively) nearby.

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Autumn Apple Salad
• Curried Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Apples, and Sweet Potatoes

~~~

Curried Apples and Acorn Squash
Serves 4

1 acorn squash
2 apples, cubed (I used something that looked like Galas, but I bet Granny Smiths would add a nice tartness. I’d avoid anything mushy like Macs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c apple juice or cider
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder
1 T maple syrup
1 t garam masala
½ t powdered ginger
¼ t salt
dash of nutmeg
1 ½ T butter
1 T olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil (or not, if you like scrubbing).

2) Peel and cut the squash into cubes, 1 to 1½ inches on a side.

3) In a bowl mix 1 T olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 t garam masala, ½ t powdered ginger, ¼ t salt, and a dash of curry powder. Add squash cubes and toss to coat.

4) Spread into your baking pan, in as close to in a single layer as possible. Bake about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice for even cooking.

5) Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, a sprinkle of salt, and sauté until tender, maybe 12 minutes.

6) Add 1 t curry powder and a dash of nutmeg and stir for 1 minute.

7) Add apples and saute a few more minutes, until the apples are hot. Transfer to a bowl to wait for the squash.

Once the squash’s 25 minutes are up, add the apple mixture to the squash in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ c apple juice, and stir together. Bake another 20 minutes or so, until the squash is tender.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber and Price per Serving
237 calories, 9.6 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, $0.93 (4 servings)

Calculations
1 acorn squash: 345 calories, 1g fat, 13g fiber, $1.00
2 apples: 143 calories, 0.5g fat, 6.5g fiber, $1.25
1 medium onion: 106 calories, 0g fat, 3g fiber, $0.75
¼ c apple juice or cider: 30 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.15
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder: negligible calories or fat, 0.5g fiber, $0.04
1 T maple syrup: 52 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.25
1 t garam masala: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.02
½ t powdered ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
¼ t salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
dash of nutmeg: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
1 ½ T butter: 153 calories, 17g fat, 0g fiber, $0.11
1 T olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, $0.12
TOTALS: 949 calories, 38.5g fat, 23g fiber, $3.72
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 237 calories, 9.6g fat, 5.8g fiber, $0.93

Green Kitchen is a bi-weekly column about nutritious, inexpensive, and ethical food and cooking. It’s penned by the lovely Jaime Green.

Winter is not an easy time to eat locally in the Northeastern U.S. I hear it’s already spring in California (at least judging by the weather and produce), and Florida has its famed citrus. Though still seasonal by the time they get here, in transit those Sunshine State oranges have incurred the carbon debt and nutrient loss of shipment and storage, not to mention the wear and tear of a big chain supermarket.

Local, seasonal food is the holy grail of the conscientious urban eater. Okay, a garden would be better; there’s no trucking required, and the food is as fresh as can be. But when you live in a one-bedroom with east-facing windows that look onto another building, your growing options are scarce. (See also: last summer’s failed herb garden. The basil and rosemary died for lack of sun.)

So, I try to shop as much as possible at the greenmarket. Chatting with the farmer isn’t quite the same as getting my hands dirty, but it will do for now. At least the food comes from not-too-far away.

But February! Jeez, February, you break my heart. Sure, the seafood guys are still at the market, along with the wineries, the goat cheese lady, and the bags of locally braided pretzels, but produce is scarce. Thin on the ground. Thin in the air. Generally pretty trim. (Quoting Eddie Izzard might not help, but it makes me feel better.)

Last weekend, in terms of produce, my local farmers market boasted: mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, and squash. Not exactly a variety of nutrients therein. I left with an onion and two apples in my canvas bag. I knew the apples had been in storage since the fall, almost as long as the acorn squash on my kitchen table.

The squash’s stripes had gone from green to orange, but that’s the point of winter squash, right? With their thick skins and all? To stay good for months? Sure. Local from last December still equals local. Local in a lazy kitchen.

Roasting a halved acorn squash with butter and brown sugar is tasty enough, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by this recipe from Epicurious and this one I posted on CHG a while back (plus a little old fashioned making-it-up-as-I-went) I ended up with a sweet, flavorful-but-not-spicy side dish that I’m very happy with.

Seasoning the apples and squash separately gives a little more variety to the dish; the squash receives more of the sweet-tasting garam masala, while the apples get a heavier hand with the curry powder. A splash of apple juice keeps everything moist, though you could probably roast this, too, with maybe a touch more oil.

Note: though the rind was very pretty, it didn’t make for easy eating. I added peeling to the instructions so you don’t have to pull shards of squash skin from your mouth. Additionally, the prices below reflect greenmarket/local apples, squash, and onions. In general, buying them there is fresher, kinder to the environment, and more supportive of my local economy. In this case, it’s cheaper than supermarket produce, as well.

Not having had the foresight, freezer space, or extra dough to lay in a frozen store of last summer’s veggies, I do what I can. But it’s nice, when you can, to go whole hog (whole local, grass-fed, ethically raised hog) and make an entire dish from foods (relatively) nearby.

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Autumn Apple Salad
• Curried Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Apples, and Sweet Potatoes

~~~

Curried Apples and Acorn Squash
Serves 4

1 acorn squash
2 apples, cubed (I used something that looked like Galas, but I bet Granny Smiths would add a nice tartness. I’d avoid anything mushy like Macs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c apple juice or cider
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder
1 T maple syrup
1 t garam masala
½ t powdered ginger
¼ t salt
dash of nutmeg
1 ½ T butter
1 T olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil (or not, if you like scrubbing).

2) Peel and cut the squash into cubes, 1 to 1½ inches on a side.

3) In a bowl mix 1 T olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 t garam masala, ½ t powdered ginger, ¼ t salt, and a dash of curry powder. Add squash cubes and toss to coat.

4) Spread into your baking pan, in as close to in a single layer as possible. Bake about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice for even cooking.

5) Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, a sprinkle of salt, and sauté until tender, maybe 12 minutes.

6) Add 1 t curry powder and a dash of nutmeg and stir for 1 minute.

7) Add apples and saute a few more minutes, until the apples are hot. Transfer to a bowl to wait for the squash.

Once the squash’s 25 minutes are up, add the apple mixture to the squash in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ c apple juice, and stir together. Bake another 20 minutes or so, until the squash is tender.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber and Price per Serving
237 calories, 9.6 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, $0.93 (4 servings)

Calculations
1 acorn squash: 345 calories, 1g fat, 13g fiber, $1.00
2 apples: 143 calories, 0.5g fat, 6.5g fiber, $1.25
1 medium onion: 106 calories, 0g fat, 3g fiber, $0.75
¼ c apple juice or cider: 30 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.15
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder: negligible calories or fat, 0.5g fiber, $0.04
1 T maple syrup: 52 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.25
1 t garam masala: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.02
½ t powdered ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
¼ t salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
dash of nutmeg: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
1 ½ T butter: 153 calories, 17g fat, 0g fiber, $0.11
1 T olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, $0.12
TOTALS: 949 calories, 38.5g fat, 23g fiber, $3.72
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 237 calories, 9.6g fat, 5.8g fiber, $0.93

Green Kitchen is a bi-weekly column about nutritious, inexpensive, and ethical food and cooking. It’s penned by the lovely Jaime Green.

Winter is not an easy time to eat locally in the Northeastern U.S. I hear it’s already spring in California (at least judging by the weather and produce), and Florida has its famed citrus. Though still seasonal by the time they get here, in transit those Sunshine State oranges have incurred the carbon debt and nutrient loss of shipment and storage, not to mention the wear and tear of a big chain supermarket.

Local, seasonal food is the holy grail of the conscientious urban eater. Okay, a garden would be better; there’s no trucking required, and the food is as fresh as can be. But when you live in a one-bedroom with east-facing windows that look onto another building, your growing options are scarce. (See also: last summer’s failed herb garden. The basil and rosemary died for lack of sun.)

So, I try to shop as much as possible at the greenmarket. Chatting with the farmer isn’t quite the same as getting my hands dirty, but it will do for now. At least the food comes from not-too-far away.

But February! Jeez, February, you break my heart. Sure, the seafood guys are still at the market, along with the wineries, the goat cheese lady, and the bags of locally braided pretzels, but produce is scarce. Thin on the ground. Thin in the air. Generally pretty trim. (Quoting Eddie Izzard might not help, but it makes me feel better.)

Last weekend, in terms of produce, my local farmers market boasted: mushrooms, onions, potatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, and squash. Not exactly a variety of nutrients therein. I left with an onion and two apples in my canvas bag. I knew the apples had been in storage since the fall, almost as long as the acorn squash on my kitchen table.

The squash’s stripes had gone from green to orange, but that’s the point of winter squash, right? With their thick skins and all? To stay good for months? Sure. Local from last December still equals local. Local in a lazy kitchen.

Roasting a halved acorn squash with butter and brown sugar is tasty enough, but I wanted to try something new. Inspired by this recipe from Epicurious and this one I posted on CHG a while back (plus a little old fashioned making-it-up-as-I-went) I ended up with a sweet, flavorful-but-not-spicy side dish that I’m very happy with.

Seasoning the apples and squash separately gives a little more variety to the dish; the squash receives more of the sweet-tasting garam masala, while the apples get a heavier hand with the curry powder. A splash of apple juice keeps everything moist, though you could probably roast this, too, with maybe a touch more oil.

Note: though the rind was very pretty, it didn’t make for easy eating. I added peeling to the instructions so you don’t have to pull shards of squash skin from your mouth. Additionally, the prices below reflect greenmarket/local apples, squash, and onions. In general, buying them there is fresher, kinder to the environment, and more supportive of my local economy. In this case, it’s cheaper than supermarket produce, as well.

Not having had the foresight, freezer space, or extra dough to lay in a frozen store of last summer’s veggies, I do what I can. But it’s nice, when you can, to go whole hog (whole local, grass-fed, ethically raised hog) and make an entire dish from foods (relatively) nearby.

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Autumn Apple Salad
• Curried Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops, Apples, and Sweet Potatoes

~~~

Curried Apples and Acorn Squash
Serves 4

1 acorn squash
2 apples, cubed (I used something that looked like Galas, but I bet Granny Smiths would add a nice tartness. I’d avoid anything mushy like Macs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
¼ c apple juice or cider
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder
1 T maple syrup
1 t garam masala
½ t powdered ginger
¼ t salt
dash of nutmeg
1 ½ T butter
1 T olive oil

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil (or not, if you like scrubbing).

2) Peel and cut the squash into cubes, 1 to 1½ inches on a side.

3) In a bowl mix 1 T olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 t garam masala, ½ t powdered ginger, ¼ t salt, and a dash of curry powder. Add squash cubes and toss to coat.

4) Spread into your baking pan, in as close to in a single layer as possible. Bake about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice for even cooking.

5) Meanwhile, melt 1 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, a sprinkle of salt, and sauté until tender, maybe 12 minutes.

6) Add 1 t curry powder and a dash of nutmeg and stir for 1 minute.

7) Add apples and saute a few more minutes, until the apples are hot. Transfer to a bowl to wait for the squash.

Once the squash’s 25 minutes are up, add the apple mixture to the squash in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ c apple juice, and stir together. Bake another 20 minutes or so, until the squash is tender.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber and Price per Serving
237 calories, 9.6 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, $0.93 (4 servings)

Calculations
1 acorn squash: 345 calories, 1g fat, 13g fiber, $1.00
2 apples: 143 calories, 0.5g fat, 6.5g fiber, $1.25
1 medium onion: 106 calories, 0g fat, 3g fiber, $0.75
¼ c apple juice or cider: 30 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.15
1 t (plus a dash) curry powder: negligible calories or fat, 0.5g fiber, $0.04
1 T maple syrup: 52 calories, negligible fat or fiber, $0.25
1 t garam masala: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.02
½ t powdered ginger: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
¼ t salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
dash of nutmeg: negligible calories, fat, fiber, $0.01
1 ½ T butter: 153 calories, 17g fat, 0g fiber, $0.11
1 T olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, $0.12
TOTALS: 949 calories, 38.5g fat, 23g fiber, $3.72
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 237 calories, 9.6g fat, 5.8g fiber, $0.93