Smoking affects same 'feel good' brain chemical system as heroin
...ce from smoking," says Scott. "We are specifically examining this possibility in ongoing studies." During the smoking of the de-nicotinized cigarettes, the smokers' brains started to show changes in opioid flow. But after they took a 20-minute break from smoking and then smoked regular cigarettes containing ni...New insights into hormone therapy highlight when estrogen best aids brain
...s can be cyclical or constant. Scientists are now examining these variables, in order to shed light on how and...the investigators measured how long the mice spent examining the new object. Because mice have a natural tendency to explore novel objects, mice with good memory...Mixed signals to blame for restless legs syndrome
... between iron deficiency and elevated TH levels by examining the brains of iron deficient rats. After weaning, the rats were divided into two groups. One group was given a normal diet, and the second, an iron deficient diet. Half of those that were given the iron deficient diet were later put on a normal iron ...New understanding of neural circuits may help development of thought-controlled prosthetic devices
... activity." This setup is ideal for examining animals, like songbirds, during their normal behaviors. "We were able to position the electrodes and find nerve cells in the songbird's brain without bothering the bird at all," says Fee. "Because of this ability, we discovered that a particular grou...Laughter helps patients communicate emotion in therapy sessions
...The researchers' next step is a longer-term study, examining how the occurrence of laughter evolves as the therapeutic relationship develops with the ultimate goal of finding any significant relationship between laughter and improved mental health for patients. Marci's co-authors are Erin Moran of MGH and Sco...Abdominal fat indicates severity of metabolic syndrome in obese, postmenopausal women
...Program, was found in 27 women (47 percent). By examining the characteristics in all of the women, Dr. Nicklas and her colleagues discovered that lean mass, intra-abdominal fat and a circulating biomarker of inflammation also known as soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1), were significantly hig...Change in polio vaccine policy eliminates cases of vaccine-associated polio in US
... data in the United States from 1990 through 2003, examining the epidemiology of polio and assessing the association between the vaccine schedule changes and VAPP in the United States. The researchers found that from 1990 through 1999, 61 cases of paralytic polio were reported; 59 (97 percent) of these were V...Postmenopausal women have lower grip strength than premenopausal women
... strength than Caucasian women. "Previous studies examining the relation between menopausal status and physical function have been inconsistent," said Dr. Martha Gulati, one of the principal investigators of the study from Rush University Medical Center. "This is the first longitudinal study to document th...Scientists begin validation study of test to detect recurrence of bladder cancer
... NCI's Early Detection Research Network (EDRN). By examining genetic changes in DNA obtained through urine samp... often fails to detect early tumors. Cystoscopy -- examining the urethra and bladder with a thin lighted scope -- can give patients a false-positive result in ad...Attention to detail can make kids' hospital stays shorter, less costly & less frequent
...lity." Sedman and her colleagues started by examining Mott's performance in the NACHRI database. They looked at how Mott's average hospital stay compared with the national average in a broad range of medical conditions. Such comparisons are made possible through the use of all-patient refined diagnosis-...Health and Wealth in an Aging America: A briefing for journalists
...or the future. What: A briefing for journalists examining various health and wealth topics related to aging. Where: Tavern on the Green Central Park West at 67th Street When: Tuesday, September 28, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (includes lunch) Who: NIA-funded researchers including: Anne Case, Ph.D...New research calls for schools to be more aware of head injuries
New research from the University of Warwick examining return to school and classroom performance following head injury reveals that teachers are often unaware of the injury and that children only very rarely receive specialist help, despite having attention and memory problems. The results show that r...New report highlights lack of minorities in medicine
..., analyzes physician diversity within the state by examining the roles of medical schools, teaching hospitals, secondary education and the state's practice environment. The report highlights the ever-increasing gap between the number of racial and ethnic minorities in Massachusetts and the number of underre...Pediatricians are plentiful, but not in poorer states
...ediatric sub-specialists; Freed notes that a study examining the distribution and use of sub-specialists is forthcoming. The new study also echoes findings of a 2002 study published in Health Affairs that examined the overall distribution of physicians in the United States; it found that as the nation's gross...Parents can provide accurate reports of their children's ADHD symptoms
... teachers. The identified three randomized trials examining either standard or long-acting medications for pediatric ADHD. In all three studies, reports from parents were as accurate as those of teachers in evaluating ADHD symptoms and documenting statistically significant improvements as a result of treatmen...Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate boosts blood vessel function, study suggests
...scientists are publishing sweet results of a study examining chocolate's effects on blood vessel function in healthy people. The team reports that small daily doses of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate consumed over a two-week period improved blood vessels' ability to dilate, or expand. They also report that a par......he results from the first-ever comprehensive study examining the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in Canadian acute care hospitals. Drs. Ross Baker, Peter Norton and colleagues found that 7.5% of patients experienced an adverse event and of that number 37% were judged to have been preventable. The authors poi....... A new study in CMAJ revisits the "10/90 gap" by examining the recent track record of leading medical journals. The authors found that many conditions or diseases common internationally are underrepresented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in leading medical journals. The authors used the Wor...InterAcademy medical panel moves to Trieste
... Countries, a comparative cost-effectiveness study examining the full range of public health options available to developing countries in addressing their most critical health needs. The first volume was published in 2002 by Oxford University Press. The second volume is being funded in part by the Bill and Mel...Alzheimer's pathology reduced, longevity improved in mouse model, Gladstone study shows
...says Mucke. Thus, he says, the researchers will be examining whether partial suppression of Fyn is beneficial. They also will be testing the therapeutic potential of manipulating some of the more specific pathways that Fyn regulates....