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Alcohol and Suicide are Linked
(July 14, 2009) - Researchers say many suicides are linked to alcohol. The scientists at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention based that on a 17-state study of violent deaths.
The researchers found almost a quarter of the people who died by suicide and were tested for
alcohol had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Dr. Alex Crosby says the connection between
alcohol and suicide was higher among males and present in a variety of racial, ethnic, and age
groups.
Dr. Crosby says, “Avoid alcohol and then seek help, either through a local health care provider or a
person’s own health care provider. Or they can call the National Crisis Hotline: 1 800-273 TALK.”
The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
(July 14, 2009) - Researchers say many suicides are linked to alcohol. The scientists at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention based that on a 17-state study of violent deaths.
The researchers found almost a quarter of the people who died by suicide and were tested for
alcohol had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Dr. Alex Crosby says the connection between
alcohol and suicide was higher among males and present in a variety of racial, ethnic, and age
groups.
Dr. Crosby says, “Avoid alcohol and then seek help, either through a local health care provider or a
person’s own health care provider. Or they can call the National Crisis Hotline: 1 800-273 TALK.”
The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Past HCN stories:
New Data Say Uninsured Account for Nearly One-Fifth of Emergency Room Visits
(July 15, 2009) - HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released new data from the Nationwide Emergency
Department Sample -- the largest, all-payer emergency department database in the United States. The
Nationwide Emergency Department Sample is designed to help public health experts, policymakers, health care
administrators, researchers, journalists and others find the data they need to answer questions about care that
occurs in U.S. hospital emergency departments.
These data indicate that uninsured persons accounted for nearly one-fifth of the 120 million hospital-based
emergency department visits in 2006.
“Our health care system has forced too many uninsured Americans to depend on the emergency room for the
care they need,” said Secretary Sebelius. “We cannot wait for reform that gives all Americans the high-quality,
affordable care they need and helps prevent illnesses from turning into emergencies.
(July 15, 2009) - HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released new data from the Nationwide Emergency
Department Sample -- the largest, all-payer emergency department database in the United States. The
Nationwide Emergency Department Sample is designed to help public health experts, policymakers, health care
administrators, researchers, journalists and others find the data they need to answer questions about care that
occurs in U.S. hospital emergency departments.
These data indicate that uninsured persons accounted for nearly one-fifth of the 120 million hospital-based
emergency department visits in 2006.
“Our health care system has forced too many uninsured Americans to depend on the emergency room for the
care they need,” said Secretary Sebelius. “We cannot wait for reform that gives all Americans the high-quality,
affordable care they need and helps prevent illnesses from turning into emergencies.
Social smokers limit their smoking to social situations, don’t consider themselves smokers
(July 21, 2009) -There is no safe level of smoking. But Rebecca Schane of the University of California, San Francisco says cessation programs
are set up for daily smokers, not social smokers.
To help social smokers quit, she’s been looking for information about them. She found it in the marketing data of tobacco companies, released
under court order after states sued them.
Schane says social smokers could be persuaded through their worry about secondhand smoke:
[Rebecca Schane speaks] "If you tell a social smoker that their smoking has a negative effect on the people around them, they get very
concerned about that."
Schane’s study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
(July 21, 2009) -There is no safe level of smoking. But Rebecca Schane of the University of California, San Francisco says cessation programs
are set up for daily smokers, not social smokers.
To help social smokers quit, she’s been looking for information about them. She found it in the marketing data of tobacco companies, released
under court order after states sued them.
Schane says social smokers could be persuaded through their worry about secondhand smoke:
[Rebecca Schane speaks] "If you tell a social smoker that their smoking has a negative effect on the people around them, they get very
concerned about that."
Schane’s study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
NIAID Set to Launch Clinical Trials to Test 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Candidates
( July 23, 2009) - Scientists in a network of medical research institutions across the United States are set to begin a series of clinical trials to
gather critical data about influenza vaccines, including two candidate H1N1 flu vaccines. The research will be under the direction of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
"With the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, we have undertaken a collaborative and efficient process of vaccine development that is
proceeding in stepwise fashion," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
After the isolation and characterization of the virus, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generated and distributed a 2009 H1N1
seed virus to vaccine manufacturers for the development of vaccine pilot lots for testing in clinical trials.
( July 23, 2009) - Scientists in a network of medical research institutions across the United States are set to begin a series of clinical trials to
gather critical data about influenza vaccines, including two candidate H1N1 flu vaccines. The research will be under the direction of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
"With the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, we have undertaken a collaborative and efficient process of vaccine development that is
proceeding in stepwise fashion," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
After the isolation and characterization of the virus, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generated and distributed a 2009 H1N1
seed virus to vaccine manufacturers for the development of vaccine pilot lots for testing in clinical trials.
"Now, NIAID will use our longstanding vaccine clinical trials infrastructure — the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units — to help quickly evaluate
these pilot lots to determine whether the vaccines are safe and to assess their ability to induce protective immune responses," says Dr. Fauci.
"These data will be factored into the decision about how and if to implement a 2009 H1N1 flu immunization program this fall."
Initial studies will look at whether one or two 15 microgram doses of H1N1 vaccine are needed to induce a potentially protective immune response
in healthy adult volunteers (aged 18 to 64 years old) and elderly people (aged 65 and older). Researchers also will assess whether one or two 30
microgram doses are needed. The doses will be given 21 days apart, testing two manufacturers’ vaccines (Sanofi Pasteur and CSL Biotherapies).
If early information from those trials indicates that these vaccines are safe, similar trials in healthy children (aged 6 months to 17 years old) will
begin.
A concurrent set of trials will look at the safety and immune response in healthy adult and elderly volunteers who are given the seasonal flu
vaccine along with a 15 microgram dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine would be given to different sets of volunteers either before,
after, or at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine. If early information from those studies indicates that these vaccines are safe, similar trials in
healthy children (aged 6 months to 17 years old) will start.
A panel of outside experts will conduct a close review of the safety data from these trials to spot any safety concerns in real time. Information from
these studies in healthy people will help public health officials develop recommendations for immunization schedules, including the optimal dosage
and number of doses for multiple age and groups, including adults, the elderly, and children. Data may also be used to support decisions about
the best recommendations for people in high risk groups, including pregnant women and people whose immune systems are weakened or
otherwise compromised.
The trials are being conducted in a compressed timeframe in a race against the possible autumn resurgence of 2009 H1N1 flu infections that may
occur at the same time as seasonal influenza virus strains begin to circulate widely in the Northern Hemisphere.
these pilot lots to determine whether the vaccines are safe and to assess their ability to induce protective immune responses," says Dr. Fauci.
"These data will be factored into the decision about how and if to implement a 2009 H1N1 flu immunization program this fall."
Initial studies will look at whether one or two 15 microgram doses of H1N1 vaccine are needed to induce a potentially protective immune response
in healthy adult volunteers (aged 18 to 64 years old) and elderly people (aged 65 and older). Researchers also will assess whether one or two 30
microgram doses are needed. The doses will be given 21 days apart, testing two manufacturers’ vaccines (Sanofi Pasteur and CSL Biotherapies).
If early information from those trials indicates that these vaccines are safe, similar trials in healthy children (aged 6 months to 17 years old) will
begin.
A concurrent set of trials will look at the safety and immune response in healthy adult and elderly volunteers who are given the seasonal flu
vaccine along with a 15 microgram dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine would be given to different sets of volunteers either before,
after, or at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine. If early information from those studies indicates that these vaccines are safe, similar trials in
healthy children (aged 6 months to 17 years old) will start.
A panel of outside experts will conduct a close review of the safety data from these trials to spot any safety concerns in real time. Information from
these studies in healthy people will help public health officials develop recommendations for immunization schedules, including the optimal dosage
and number of doses for multiple age and groups, including adults, the elderly, and children. Data may also be used to support decisions about
the best recommendations for people in high risk groups, including pregnant women and people whose immune systems are weakened or
otherwise compromised.
The trials are being conducted in a compressed timeframe in a race against the possible autumn resurgence of 2009 H1N1 flu infections that may
occur at the same time as seasonal influenza virus strains begin to circulate widely in the Northern Hemisphere.
Researchers see signs that, in video games, what you play in the game affects how you act in real life
( July 22, 2009) - Brad Bushman of the University of Michigan and his colleagues conducted three studies about how kids, teens and
college students acted after playing games. One of the studies was done in the United States and was supported by the National
Institutes of Health.
Bushman says the studies showed a relationship between violent games and hurting others. But he says they also showed a relationship
between kinder games and helping others.
So Bushman says games can either help or hurt. And he advises parents to monitor their kids’ games:
[Brad Bushman speaks] "They can either play the games with the children or at least watch their children play the games."
Bushman’s report was in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
( July 22, 2009) - Brad Bushman of the University of Michigan and his colleagues conducted three studies about how kids, teens and
college students acted after playing games. One of the studies was done in the United States and was supported by the National
Institutes of Health.
Bushman says the studies showed a relationship between violent games and hurting others. But he says they also showed a relationship
between kinder games and helping others.
So Bushman says games can either help or hurt. And he advises parents to monitor their kids’ games:
[Brad Bushman speaks] "They can either play the games with the children or at least watch their children play the games."
Bushman’s report was in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Complications from Gestational Diabetes affect Mom and Baby
(July 24, 2007) - Gestational diabetes is diabetes during pregnancy. It can lead to problems with the birth – for instance, the
babies tend to be large, which can cause trauma in the mother or baby during delivery.
Sometimes, diabetes continues after the birth. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lucy England says these
women probably had diabetes before pregnancy and didn’t realize it – and now need to get their diabetes under control.
Generally, blood sugar levels return to normal after the birth. But England says women who’ve had gestational diabetes are
at higher risk that diabetes may develop again.
[Lucy England speaks] "People at increased risk for diabetes can actually delay or prevent the development of diabetes by
eating healthy foods, managing their weight, and increasing their physical activity."
(July 24, 2007) - Gestational diabetes is diabetes during pregnancy. It can lead to problems with the birth – for instance, the
babies tend to be large, which can cause trauma in the mother or baby during delivery.
Sometimes, diabetes continues after the birth. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lucy England says these
women probably had diabetes before pregnancy and didn’t realize it – and now need to get their diabetes under control.
Generally, blood sugar levels return to normal after the birth. But England says women who’ve had gestational diabetes are
at higher risk that diabetes may develop again.
[Lucy England speaks] "People at increased risk for diabetes can actually delay or prevent the development of diabetes by
eating healthy foods, managing their weight, and increasing their physical activity."
Study: Vitamin D Increases Health Growth in Girls
Vitamin D is good for a lot of things, and one study indicates girls who get enough D are more likely to grow
taller as opposed to wider.
Researcher Richard Kremer of McGill University in Canada, with Dr. Vicente Gilsanz at the University of
Southern California, found that in data on California girls. Kremer says girls with normal levels of vitamin D had
more height. He says girls with insufficient vitamin D were heavier, especially with belly fat.
``The difference was about 7 kilos, which I believe would be about 17 or 18 pounds’’, said Kremer.
Kremer says his study can’t prove the variation in vitamin D made the difference. But he notes lack of D can
cause fat to accumulate.
The study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism was supported by the National Institutes of
Health.
Vitamin D is good for a lot of things, and one study indicates girls who get enough D are more likely to grow
taller as opposed to wider.
Researcher Richard Kremer of McGill University in Canada, with Dr. Vicente Gilsanz at the University of
Southern California, found that in data on California girls. Kremer says girls with normal levels of vitamin D had
more height. He says girls with insufficient vitamin D were heavier, especially with belly fat.
``The difference was about 7 kilos, which I believe would be about 17 or 18 pounds’’, said Kremer.
Kremer says his study can’t prove the variation in vitamin D made the difference. But he notes lack of D can
cause fat to accumulate.
The study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism was supported by the National Institutes of
Health.