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Scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning

Using a new molecular genetic technique, scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning. Without the gene, the monkeys lost their sense of balance between reward and the work required to get it, say researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health .

11 Aug 2004

Mexican-Americans have a far higher chance of suffering a stroke than non-Hispanic whites

And, according to a second study published today by the same team, the difference doesn't appear to be related to Mexican-Americans' higher incidence of diabetes, which had been thought to raise their risk of a certain type of stroke.

9 Aug 2004

Binge drinking accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States

Binge drinking and harmful drinking, including both medium to high levels of regular alcohol consumption, account for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States.

9 Aug 2004

Hospital anti-infection strategy probably won't work

Hospital patients increasingly face tenacious bacterial infections because microbes found in hospitals acquire resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. A recent strategy alternating the most commonly used antibiotics has sparked hope of stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance.

9 Aug 2004

New legislation requires cigarettes be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling tobacco

In an effort to strengthen state laws that limit youth access to tobacco products, Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has signed legislation to require cigarette packs be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling any tobacco products.

9 Aug 2004

Reminder to avoid handling bats for risk of rabies

In the wake of an increase in calls reporting human and pet contacts with bats, the Washington Department of Health has reminded people that avoiding bats can protect them from rabies. Bats are not aggressive animals and they generally do not intentionally attack humans.

9 Aug 2004

New health threat, federally-funded health policy based on junk science

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group, today released its latest Through the Looking Glass Report: A New Health Threat: Federally-Funded Health Policy Based on Junk Science.

9 Aug 2004

Latinos living in the United States have high rates of eye disease and visual impairment

Researchers found that Latinos had high rates of diabetic retinopathy, an eye complication of diabetes; and open-angle glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve.

9 Aug 2004

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer while they’re shedding pounds, based on the findings of research published in this month’s edition of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

9 Aug 2004

Three comprehensive reports on cigarette smoking

Two analyze indoor smoking policies in the state’s work places, and in bars and restaurants, and one examines tobacco dependence treatment and referral practices among New Jersey health care providers.

7 Aug 2004

People living with HIV in rural communities may face different barriers to taking proper care of themselves

People who live with HIV in rural areas are less likely to keep up with their treatment schedules if they are problem drinkers, say Tulane University researchers. Overall, about one in three HIV positive people surveyed by the researchers reported skipping at least one dose of their medications in the past week.

7 Aug 2004

Tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media

A study based on the tobacco industry's own documents shows the extent of the tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media on the health effects of secondhand smoke.

7 Aug 2004

Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and Dr. Allen Heimann, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex County confirmed Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus in the Windsor-Essex area.

6 Aug 2004

Illinoisans get legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants

In an effort to ensure that the bottled water that Illinoisans are drinking is safe, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants and private water source operators.

6 Aug 2004

To prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death, National “PAD Coalition” is formed

Vascular Disease Foundation spearheads new national, multidisciplinary organization to educate patients, clinicians on peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

6 Aug 2004

Second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion

Research reported in The Lancet this week details the second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion. The rogue prion responsible for vCJD was identified at postmortem five years after an elderly person received a blood transfusion from a donor who later developed vCJD.

5 Aug 2004

Report shows promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

A new report by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington presents promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

5 Aug 2004

24-year long asthma study is answering doctors' questions about asthma and its causes

Doctors have concluded that children do not usually outgrow asthma after puberty as was previously assumed. There are also other factors that contribute to the onset of asthma in test subjects, including infection and obesity.

5 Aug 2004

Current estimates have cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounting for 17 million deaths annually

Renowned public health specialist, Professor Stephen Leeder, will present the central findings of a report highlighting the disturbing trend towards a growth in cardiovascular disease in developing countries, at a special colloquium to be held at The University of Sydney.

5 Aug 2004

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

The Food and Drug Administration has announced the approvals of Epzicom (abacavir/lamivudine) and Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection.

5 Aug 2004

Public Health News and Research

Scientists have turned procrastinating primates into workaholics by temporarily suppressing a gene in a brain circuit involved in reward learning

Mexican-Americans have a far higher chance of suffering a stroke than non-Hispanic whites

Binge drinking accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States

Hospital anti-infection strategy probably won't work

New legislation requires cigarettes be kept out-of-reach behind sales counters and to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from selling tobacco

Reminder to avoid handling bats for risk of rabies

New health threat, federally-funded health policy based on junk science

Latinos living in the United States have high rates of eye disease and visual impairment

Carb-conscious dieters may be lowering their risk of breast cancer

Three comprehensive reports on cigarette smoking

People living with HIV in rural communities may face different barriers to taking proper care of themselves

Tobacco industry's efforts to influence the print media

Ontario's first probable human case of West Nile virus

Illinoisans get legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants

To prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death, National “PAD Coalition” is formed

Second case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease infection that was probably caused by blood transfusion

Report shows promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

24-year long asthma study is answering doctors' questions about asthma and its causes

Current estimates have cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounting for 17 million deaths annually

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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