Nitrates, leafy green vegetables linked to lower glaucoma risk

BOSTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Eating more leafy green vegetables -- such as lettuce, kale and spinach -- can significantly lower the risk of developing primary open-angle glaucoma, or POAG, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School found increasing dietary nitrate intake, specifically with leafy greens, improves blood flow in the eyes and can help decrease risk for the condition.

POAG is characterized by slow pressure building in the eye, to which the cornea adjusts, leaving no swelling or other symptoms indicating a problem. Roughly one percent of Americans have the the condition, according to The Glaucoma Foundation, but do not know until their vision is impaired, when damage is generally irreversible.

For the study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers followed up with 63,893 women in the Nurses Health Study and 41,094 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who did not have POAG at two-year intervals during the course of the studies.

During the follow-up period, researchers identified 1,483 cases of POAG. Study participants were divided into five groups based on nitrate intake. Those reporting greater consumption of leafy green vegetables resulting in higher nitrate intake were 20 to 30 percent less likely to develop POAG.

Participants with higher nitrate intake also were 40 to 50 percent less likely to develop a sub-type of the condition called early paracentral visual field loss, caused by dysfunction of blood flow autoregulation.

"These findings could have important implications for POAG if the association of higher dietary nitrate and green leafy vegetable intake with a lower POAG risk is confirmed in observational or intervention studies," researchers wrote. (Full Story)

English shoppers steal £26.7m worth of plastic bags since 5p charge introduced

#retailproblems

(Telegraph.co.uk) Nearly £27m worth of plastic bags are believed to have been stolen in England since the 5p government charge was introduced last year.

Large businesses have had to charge for single-use plastic bags in England since October 2015. Similar measures were already in place in Scotland and Wales, where carrier bag uptake reduced drastically.

However, half of English shoppers say they have taken a plastic bag without paying, according to a poll by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk. The research suggests £26.7m worth of carrier bags have been stolen.

The thefts may have taken place at self-checkouts, which rely on customer honesty about how many bags they have taken.

Asked why they stole the bags, 37pc of the light-fingered shoppers said they did not want to pay the charge because “it results in companies making more money”.

Over a quarter said they thought it was a waste of money, while 22pc said they did it because no one would notice.

Researchers asked 2,784 people about their plastic bag habits, finding 51pc admitted to stealing bags, taking an average of three a month.

The results were then extrapolated to estimate that £26,671,664 worth of bags had been taken.

South Carolina Woman arrested for biting off part of Walmart employee’s finger

Myrtle Beach police arrested a woman for biting off part of a Walmart Employee’s finger during an altercation early Sunday morning.

About 2:10 p.m., loss prevention officers at the Walmart at 541 Seaboard Street witnessed Carolynn Wright, 23, allegedly concealing merchandise.

Two employees tried to stop Wright as she was leaving the store. A physical altercation ensued.

According to the police report, Wright punched one of the employees in the head, causing bleeding. Wright then bit down on another employee’s finger, biting a portion of it off.

A customer witnessed the incident and attempted to call 911 but dropped her phone. Wright grabbed it and while the witness tried to get it back, Wright allegedly grabbed the customer by the hair. The customer punched Wright to free herself.

Wright fled the store and got into a van. According to the report, the owner of the van told police he did not know about the altercation. He told police that when Wright got into the car, she told him to “run.” He asked her “what?” and she said “drive.” He saw someone standing in front of his van, blocking him. Wright again told him “drive.”

Police arrived and apprehended Wright.

According to the police report, the items Wright was allegedly shoplifting totaled $40.07 and included condoms, lubricant, panties, a camisole, bra and other clothing.

Wright faces assault and battery charges.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article54245865.html#storylink=cpy

Microsoft no longer updating versions of Internet Explorer

(ajc.com) - One Microsoft product will no longer get updates.

Gizmodo reported that Microsoft will no longer update older versions of its Internet Explorer browser.

Microsoft said in a statement that updates, including technical support and security updates, to Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10 ends Tuesday.

The news means that users who still use those versions should update their browser to Internet Explorer 11 or use other browsers.

“Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer,” the statement said. “Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important.

“Microsoft encourages customers to upgrade and stay up-to-date on the latest browser for a faster, more secure browsing experience.”

Microsoft said that Internet Explorer 11 will be the last version of the browser and will still be updated. (Full Story)

South Korea calls for tough sanctions response to North Korea nuclear test

(Reuters) South Korea warned North Korea on Wednesday that the United States and its allies were working on sanctions to inflict "bone-numbing pain" after its latest nuclear test, and called on China to do its part to rein in its isolated neighbor.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted nearly unanimously late on Tuesday to pass legislation to broaden sanctions on the North's nuclear program.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an expansion of the size and power of his isolated country's nuclear arsenal, state media reported on Wednesday.

Last week's nuclear test was North Korea's fourth, although the United States and experts doubt the North's claim that it was of a more powerful hydrogen bomb, as the blast was roughly the same size as that from an atomic bomb test in 2013.

Israel: It's far too late for a 2 state solution

Re-unification ?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has only a razor-thin majority in one of the most right-wing Knessets in Israeli history.

President Barack Obama has tossed the ball to his successor. Recently, accounts have emerged of the U.S. administration giving up on there ever being two states and beginning to focus on what a one-state solution looks like.

And then there’s the ongoing violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank that has been called “a leaderless intifada.” This violence has cemented additional layers of distrust of Palestinians to the ones Jewish Israelis already harbor. The hatred is calcifying.

Orthodox Faithful Mark Christmas With Services, Celebration

= For much of the Orthodox Christian world, Thursday is celebrated as Christmas Day. Believers in Russia, Ukraine, and parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East flocked to churches for the holiday.

Some Orthodox churches follow the liturgical calendar observed by the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches and celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25. (Full Story)