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Mother's gene variation can influence alcohol-related disorders in fetus

Exposure to alcohol in the womb doesn't affect all fetuses equally. Why does one woman who drinks alcohol during pregnancy give birth to a child with physical, behavioral or learning problems -- known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder -- while another woman who also drinks has a child without these problems?

24 Mar 2011

Elder abuse victims more likely to suffer from mental disorder, use drugs or alcohol

Victims of severe traumatic elder abuse are more likely to be female, suffer from a neurological or mental disorder, and to abuse drugs or alcohol, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

23 Mar 2011

Biologists decipher molecular code regulating availability of brain channel linked to neuronal excitability

A key question in protein biochemistry is how proteins recognize "correct" interaction partners in a sea of cellular factors. Nowhere is that more critical to know than in the brain, where interactions governing channel protein activity can alter an organism's behavior.

23 Mar 2011

Early smoking onset linked to higher risk of cannabis use

Young people who start smoking at an early age have a much higher risk of starting to use cannabis by the time they turn 17. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of starting to smoke include externalising problem behaviours such as impulsiveness. Smoking, in turn, is a significant risk factor for cannabis use. These results have been confirmed in a project researching smoking at an early age and externalising behaviour as predictors of drug use.

23 Mar 2011

Bowel cancer rate increases to 12% in over 60s in England due to screening test

Bowel cancer rates in 60 to 69 year olds went up by more than 12 per cent in England from 2006 to 2008, according to the latest figures from Cancer Research UK.

23 Mar 2011

Cardiff study discovers protein that protects pancreatic cells against alcohol effects

A Cardiff University-led study has discovered that a protein provides protection against the effects of alcohol in the pancreas.

23 Mar 2011

Breast cancer updates

Many survivors of breast cancer cite stress as a link to the cancer despite no scientific proof of a connection. Experts believe that the root cause here are the lifestyle-related issues - such as smoking and obesity - where there is a clear link to the cancer.

22 Mar 2011

Elderly victims of abuse often use alcohol or drugs: Study

22 Mar 2011

UCSD selects Millennium Labs, Research Institute for NIAAA granted study

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of therapeutic drug monitoring, research and healthcare education, and the Millennium Research Institute, a national non-profit research center, announced today they have been selected by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine to provide laboratory services, including research and analysis, for a new UC San Diego study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.

22 Mar 2011

Victoria tackles underage drinking

Experts are happy with the Victorian Government’s strict attitude towards under-age drinking. The Baillieu Government will introduce legislation into Parliament this week, providing for $7,000 fines for adults who give alcohol to children without parental permission.

21 Mar 2011

Prenatal alcohol exposure another risk for conduct disorder

Alcohol use during pregnancy is common and is associated with significant threats to the health and development of exposed offspring. Despite warnings from the Surgeon General to limit alcohol use if pregnant or contemplating pregnancy, a recent survey by the National Birth Defects Prevention Study(1) found that nearly one-third of women drank alcohol at some time during their pregnancy, with one-fourth of the women surveyed having drunk during the first trimester.

21 Mar 2011

Physical ill-health reduces life expectancy of people with severe mental illness

Physical ill-health is rife among the severely mentally ill in Britain, according to new research published today by the University of East Anglia (UEA).

21 Mar 2011

Scots drinking too much: Report

According to a survey by Britains’s NHS, people of Scotland are drinking too much. Deaths related to alcohol are at an all time high in the country. The survey finds that Scots are consuming an additional 1.2 litres of pure alcohol per year. Alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions are four times higher since the 1980’s. A recent report has also showed that alcohol related deaths were six-fold higher among the poor people.

21 Mar 2011

Despite obesity epidemic life expectancy rises in Europe

Life expectancy in Europe keeps increasing despite the obesity epidemic, with people in Britain reaching an older age than those living in the US, according to an analysis of trends over the last 40 years.

18 Mar 2011

Hazelden, Columbia University to open collegiate addiction recovery residence in N.Y. City

Hazelden, one of the world's largest and most respected private, nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction treatment centers, announced today that it will open a first-of-its-kind collegiate recovery residence called Tribeca Twelve in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood.

17 Mar 2011

ACEP, Poison Control Centers raise awareness about drug poisoning dangers

New visits for drug-related poisoning in the United States continue to rise; therefore, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Association of Poison Control Centers are raising awareness about the dangers of drug poisoning as part of Poison Prevention Week.

17 Mar 2011

Naltrexone may be effective in women with specific genetic variation

Results from a new study suggest that one of the most prescribed medications for alcohol dependence may be more effective in some people. Preliminary results show that naltrexone, one of the only medications approved for treating people with alcohol abuse problems, may only be effective in women and those with a specific genetic variation.

17 Mar 2011

NHS staff concerns laid out in a report

Nearly one third of NHS staff say basic hygiene supplies such as hot water and soap are not always available when they need them. This was revealed in a comprehensive survey of the workforce. A third of workers said they would not be happy with the standard of care provided by their hospital if family or friends needed treatment, or had witnessed potentially dangerous errors in the past month. Many complained of bullying by colleagues and managers. Nearly 40% complained that low staffing levels prevented them from doing their jobs properly. The survey was completed by some 165,000 employees across England’s 388 trusts. This is the eighth annual NHS Staff Survey, collated by the Care Quality Commission watchdog.

16 Mar 2011

Heart disease: The largest killer in Australia

According to a new federal government report, heart disease is the biggest killer in Australia, causing nearly 50,000 deaths a year.

16 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 16, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how some states are putting "their own spin" on health law implementation as well as other developments related to Medicaid cuts, health law waiver tallies and more.

16 Mar 2011