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Humans have transformed raw ingredients into food since prehistoric times. But scientists are still looking for new ways to make food taste better and survive longer. The industrial revolution brought the advent of modern food processing technology. The invention of the tin can has revolutionized the way people eat. The motivation behind its invention was simple -- make food last long. Two hundred years on, food scientists are still trying to improve the shelf life of food.

Contrary to recent reports, oral osteoporosis medications that inhibit bone breakdown reduce the risk of jaw problems, based on an analysis of medical claims. Some doctors and dentists had advised patients who take oral osteoporosis medications such as Fosamax and Boniva to postpone dental work, fearing that tooth extractions and other procedures would exacerbate jaw problems purportedly linked to the medication. But the new findings refute the link and suggest the benefits of dentistry likely outweigh the risks for many of these patients.

Just as additives help gasoline burn cleaner, a research report shows that the food industry could take a similar approach toward reducing health risks associated with fatty foods. These "meal additives" would be based on work of researchers who discovered that consuming polyphenols (natural compounds in red wine, fruits, and vegetables) simultaneously with high-fat foods may reduce health risks associated with these foods.

Patients over the age of 60 who have elective surgeries such as joint replacements, hysterectomies and other nonemergency, inpatient procedures, are at an increased risk for long-term cognitive problems, according to a new study.

When a blood vessel clogs up, a localized deficiency of oxygen results, causing the surrounding tissue to die. However, working with mice, scientists have been able to prevent muscular tissue with severe hypoxia from dying. For the medical world, this discovery signifies an important step forward in limiting damage after a heart attack, for example, or for better preservation of organs awaiting transplants.