In our 'studies you don't need to read' category is this bit of economic insight from the February edition of Addiction;  the more alcoholic beverages cost, the less likely people are to drink. And when they do drink, they drink less.

After analyzing 112 studies spanning nearly four decades, researchers documented a concrete association between the amount of alcohol people drink and its cost. 

Yes, it was unclear before that we should make alcohol something only rich people can have, thus widening the social and cultural gap before have's and have not's even further.

HUMANS have actively changed the coats of domestic animals by cherry-picking rare genetic mutations, causing variations such as different colours, bands and spots, according to a new study. 

Although the study was carried out on pigs, the results can explain the evolution in the coat colors of all domesticated animals as they all express the same melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, one of the genes that controls coat colour in animals. 

The study also explains for the first time why there is a stark contrast between the coat colors of wild and domestic animals and gives further insight into the process of evolution, particularly since animals were first domesticated about 10,000 years ago. 

DALLAS, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Menlo Worldwide Government Services leverages One Network's Transportation and Logistics Network solution to establish enterprise-wide centralized management, planning, collaboration and execution for USTRANSCOM DTCI program.

NOIDA, India and LONDON, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Solution Will be Targeted at Institutions With Loan Origination Needs and Positions Misys and HCL as the Leading Providers of STP Solutions for Commercial Lenders

A new technology solution for banks originating commercial loans is to be brought to market as a result of an extended alliance between Misys plc (LSE: MSY), the global application software and services company, and the HCL CapitalStream Lending Group, a division of HCL Technologies which provides straight through processing (STP) solutions for lending operations.

TOKYO, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan; President, Dr. Yuzuru Matsuda) announced on January 15 (Tokyo Time) that it has decided to continue the domestic development of its proprietary anti-Parkinson's disease drug KW-6002 (generic name: Istradefylline) and move it forward with a Phase 3 clinical trial in Japan.

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Smith Nephew's Advanced Wound Management division (LSE: SN; NYSE: SNN) announced that on Tuesday, the Specialist Patents Court in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales granted Kinetic Concepts, Inc (NYSE: KCI) a temporary injunction prohibiting Smith Nephew from commercializing foam dressing kits for negative pressure wound therapy in the United Kingdom. The temporary injunction will remain in place until the court can rule on the patent infringement action that KCI filed in the United Kingdom against Smith Nephew in December 2008. An early trial date has been ordered for the next available court date after March 23, 2009 to be confirmed by the Court.

SUWANEE, Georgia, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Classroom technology combines traditional whiteboard surface with interactive performance

PolyVision, a Steelcase company, today introduces eno(TM), a revolutionary new interactive whiteboard. PolyVision's breakthrough solution combines the simplicity and ease of a traditional whiteboard surface with interactive performance -- all without cords, cables or costly installation.

eno is the first three-in-one interactive whiteboard solution -- dry-erase marker, magnetic and multimedia -- giving teachers a flexible, versatile tool that keeps pace with the demands of today's students. It delivers true interactive performance, engaging today's students with high-tech multimedia, multisensory, multidimensional lessons.

HIGH WYCOMBE, England, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Introduces Flagship VITROS(R) 5600 Integrated System and High-Capacity VITROS(R) 3600 Immunodiagnostic System

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics today announced commercial availability in Europe(*) for two new clinical laboratory systems, the flagship VITROS(R) 5600 Integrated System and the high-capacity VITROS(R) 3600 Immunodiagnostic System. These next generation diagnostic platforms are uniquely designed based on world-class VITROS(R) technologies to address the needs of the modern clinical laboratory, giving patients and clinicians high-quality and reliable test results.

LONDON, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

For the first time, scientists can prove that Deeside Mineral Water actually slows the signs of ageing and does so 50% more effectively than other tested waters on the market.

In the first of two new research studies, Deeside Mineral Water was rigorously tested against other major international market leading brands of bottled water. The study was undertaken by scientists at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and confirmed that Deeside Mineral Water is 50% more effective than other waters tested in suppressing free radicals.

LONDON, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

David Pruce, Director of Policy and Communications at the Society commented:

The Society welcomes initiatives relating to greater self care support and believes that the reclassification of certain therapeutic categories of medicines from POM to P can enhance customer choice, convenience and access to medicines.