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Opiate drugs such as morphine leave animals more vulnerable to stress

A new study has found that opiate drugs such as morphine leave animals more vulnerable to stress. This means that stress and opiates are in a vicious cycle: Not only does stress trigger drug use, but in return the drug leaves animals more vulnerable to stress.

30 Aug 2005

Australian National University facility to help reveal secrets of life

High technology that will enhance the ability of biologists to conduct cutting-edge research has been opened at the Research School of Biological Sciences (RSBS) at the Australian National University.

30 Aug 2005

Genetic makeup may detemine likely success of quit smoking therapies

A study by researchers at the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine indicates that a smoker's genetic make-up may affect whether they quit or not while using either bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) such as the nicotine patch or nasal spray.

30 Aug 2005

Scientific panel aims to reduce incidence of heat illnesses, heat stroke during preseason practices for high school players

New guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) emphasize fluid replacement and acclimatization to the heat, as well as practice uniform and other modifications in order to reduce the risk for heat exhaustion and exertional heat stroke in young football players.

30 Aug 2005

Better management of asthma possible

Better management of asthma in the community is not only possible, but has the potential to reduce the impact of the disease on people’s lives, according to a report by the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) , a collaborating unit of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

30 Aug 2005

Outcomes of perineal laceration repair following childbirth

Women who have third-or fourth-degree perineal laceration repairs following the birth of their first baby have considerably different outcomes that can adversely impact quality of life and have implications on subsequent deliveries, according to Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.

30 Aug 2005

Severely restricting calories over decades won't dramatically extend life span

Severely restricting calories over decades may add a few years to a human life span, but will not enable humans to live to 125 and beyond, as many have speculated, evolutionary biologists report.

30 Aug 2005

Which herbs and dietary supplements can help children with nausea, constipation and similar gastrointestinal problems?

As more parents choose home remedies for their children's gastrointestinal complaints, the question arises, which ones really work?

30 Aug 2005

Teenage drug use can lead to adult addiction and heart attack

A new study from the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne may help explain why people who experimented with amphetamines, such as 'speed', as teenagers are more likely to become addicted and more susceptible to heart attack following re-use of the drug as adults.

30 Aug 2005

Blood flow into the brain may play a larger role in the development of dementia than previously believed

Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brains of elderly patients with and without dementia related to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

30 Aug 2005

Bush pushing seniors to sign up for prescription drug benefit program

Senior citizens skeptical about signing up for a new Medicare prescription drug benefit program, are being urged by President George Bush to enroll in the scheme which is promising a choice of plans with monthly premiums as low as $20.

30 Aug 2005

Asthmatics don't need to hear the word "wheeze"

According to a new study, as far as asthmatics are concerned, just the mention of words such as "wheeze" can activate an attack.

30 Aug 2005

Aspirin shown to be beneficial before heart surgery

Surgeons who have been advising their patients to avoid taking aspirin in the days before surgery because they feared it could cause bleeding, will be reassured by the results of a new study.

30 Aug 2005

Statins reduce heart attack deaths by 50%

According to a U.S. study, giving a heart attack patient a statin drug as soon as possible reduces the chance he or she will die by 50 percent.

30 Aug 2005

Good old fashioned soap and water the answer for "superbug"

Superbugs are bacteria that have mutated to become resistant to common antibiotics which are no longer any use against them.

30 Aug 2005

Daydreaming linked to Alzheimer's disease

According to new research, Alzheimer's disease may be due to abnormalities in the regions of the brain that operate the "default state", a term used to describe the cognitive state people defer to when musing, daydreaming, or thinking to themselves.

30 Aug 2005