pot use students high

Pot use students high

Pot use students high, Pot use by teens reaches new peak. According to a new report, one in 15 high school students smokes marijuana regularly. That’s the highest rate in 30 years. Researchers say some teens have the idea that smoking the drug carries little risks, and that could be due to poor restrictions for getting medical marijuana. School anti-drug programs deserve some of the credit for a downward trend in drug use among Pennsylvania middle and high school students, observers say.

Managers of two midstate drug and alcohol agencies said the findings of the 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey show the programs have merit. The survey, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, involved more than 16,000 students and found, in general, that more are saying "no" to drugs and alcohol.
To see the results of the survey, click here.
"Our school districts take a lead role," said Jack Carroll, executive director of the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission. "These reports are an indication they are doing a pretty good job with that."
Jodi Wadel, director of the Franklin/Fulton county Drug & Alcohol Program, said education was a factor in the declines noted in the PAYS survey.
"We are seeing kids make better choices," she said.
Among other things, the PAYS report found that in 2007, 28.6 percent of high school seniors surveyed said they were willing to try marijuana. In 2001, the figure was 40.5 percent.
The findings mirror national trends. Lloyd D. Johnston, a University of Michigan professor and an expert on national drug use data, said national surveys have showed a general decline in student drug use since about 2001.
But Carroll said he was worried about continued funding cutbacks for school anti-drug programs. Most of the money comes from the federal government, he said, and the most recent proposal is for a funding level of $100 million next year, down from $451 million several years ago.
"This data," Carroll said, "is an example of how funds invested in those types of programs are working."

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Ebola vaccine

Ebola vaccine

Ebola vaccine, New vaccine targets Ebola virus. Scientists have developed a vaccine they say could protect against a deadly form of the Ebola virus. A test of the vaccine found that it protected 80 percent of those with the virus. Researchers say the next step is to test it on a strain of Ebola closer to the one that infects humans.

SYDNEY: Ebola, a viral disease that kills as many as 90% of infected humans, may be one step closer to a cure.

Researchers at government institutions in the U.S. have created a vaccine that successfully immunises monkeys against the two most lethal strains of the disease, and have found that it also protects against a newer strain not represented in the vaccine.

There are presently five known strains of Ebola. The deadly disease was discovered in 1976, and the newest strain in 2007.

Deadly pathogen

Since its discovery, Ebola has killed about 1,200 reported victims, according to the World Heath Organisation. There is currently no treatment or cure for the Ebola virus.

“An ideal Ebola vaccine would stimulate broad immunity so that we wouldn’t have to scramble to create entirely new vaccines whenever new virus species are identified,” said Nancy Sullivan of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), lead researcher of the study.

Incubation of the Ebola virus in humans can take between two and 21 days. Death usually follows within two weeks of the first symptoms of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) - which include vomiting, external bleeding and diarrhoea- and is generally the result of massive blood loss.

Previous vaccines

The primary mode of person-to-person transmission of Ebola is through contact with infected blood.

Previous vaccines have been discovered for Ebola, but none that prevent against multiple strains, or show promise to prevent against emerging strains.

Ebola also affects non-human primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys, some species of forest antelope and even porcupines. According to the WHO, humans can contract the disease through contact with infected host animals.

However these animals are not thought to be the source of the disease, and the source is still highly contested. Some bats experimentally infected with Ebola have shown resistance, raising speculation that they may “play a role in maintaining the virus,” according to the WHO’s website.

No symptoms

Four cynomolgus macaques, monkeys whose symptoms of Ebola are similar to humans, were vaccinated with a prime dose followed by a boost, one year later.

Four unvaccinated macaques were exposed to the newest strain of Ebola, not included in the vaccine, and three of them died. All of the four vaccinated animals showed no symptoms of Ebola following exposure to the newest strain.

The prime contained a piece of genetic material that coded for surface proteins of both the Sudan (50% survival rate in humans) and Zaire forms (10% survival rate in humans) of Ebola virus. The boost contained a weakened cold virus that delivered the surface protein of the Zaire virus.

The prime and the boost strategy create immunity through the stimulation of T-cells, which create a strong immune response in the body.

Immunity against several species

Because the vaccine strategy does not rely on antibodies, which can only target exact genetic matches and thus only one species of the virus, the vaccine is able to provide immunity against several species of the Ebola virus.

T-cells, on the other hand, can target viruses that share only small amounts of genetic material, and so, the vaccine may even hold promise in the defence against yet-unknown species of the virus.

“The vaccine tested to provide cross protective immunity Is a strategy that generates high magnitude immune responses,” said Sullivan.

These findings provide hopeful insight for an effective and broad-reaching Ebola vaccine for human use.

“This finding will guide future vaccine design and may open an avenue for developing a single vaccine that works against both known and emerging Ebola virus species,” said NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci, in a press release.

Although this study represents an important first step in developing a human vaccine, this may still be many years in the future. All Ebola vaccines must be tested in formal human clinical trials to determine the safety, efficacy and proper dosage for humans
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/

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FDA hangover pill

FDA hangover pill

FDA hangover pill, FDA approves first hangover pill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has OK'd a new over-the-counter tablet that can help cure hangovers. It's called Blowfish and made up of caffeine and a common pain reliever. It's said to work within 15 minutes and sells for $2.99 a dose, but it is not expected in stores until after the new year.This pill is the ultimate buzzkill.

A new FDA-approved hangover cure has hit the market just in time for holiday party season.

“So many people see hangovers as a shameful or embarrassing thing. I think of them as just a fact of life,” said Brenna Haysom, the creator of Blowfish through the West Village-based Rally Labs LLC.

The over-the-counter drug cocktail combines 1,000 milligrams of aspirin, 120 milligrams of caffeine and a stomach-soothing agent into two effervescent tablets taken the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

Once dissolved in water, the remedy claims to knock out multiple hangover symptoms in just 15 to 30 minutes.

“The magic of the effervescent tablet is that it hits your system much faster than getting a cup of coffee, taking an antacid and taking some aspirin separately,” she said.

The remedy doesn’t give free reign to binge, however. “I definitely don’t encourage people to get obliterated,” warned Haysom, who has been hung up on hangovers since college.

“This is a really effective product for people who have a couple too many: A happy hour that goes a little long, or holiday parties are a perfect example ... and they wake up feeling terrible. This gets you functioning again quickly.”

Haysom drafted the business model while earning undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harvard, but shelved it to spend seven years at a private equity firm in Manhattan.

It wasn’t long before her hard working ifestyle drew her back to making the magic bullet.

“This product comes from personal experience,” she laughed, recalling a particularly boozy business dinner the night before she had to make a major presentation.

“The headache, being so tired, and then the upset stomach ... it definitely was a moment where I was like, there has got to be a better way.”

Blowfish runs $2.99 for a single dose, or $11.99 for a six-pack. It is currently available in Ricky’s NYC stores or online at ForHangovers.com, which offers free shipping and 24-hour courier service in Manhattan. The tablets will hit Duane Reade shelves in January.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll get there before New Year’s Eve,” Haysom said.
nydailynews

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App measures sleep quality

App measures sleep quality

App measures sleep quality, App uses brain waves to track sleep. A new app can measure the quality of the rest you're getting by tracking the amount of time you spend in different stages of sleep. Users wear a headband that measures brain wave activity and other signals. Find out more.

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App measures sleep quality

App measures sleep quality

App measures sleep quality, App uses brain waves to track sleep. A new app can measure the quality of the rest you're getting by tracking the amount of time you spend in different stages of sleep. Users wear a headband that measures brain wave activity and other signals. Find out more.

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Researchers warn of "text neck"

Researchers warn of "text neck"

Researchers warn of "text neck", Researchers are warning of an increase in "text neck"resulting from the abundant use of small tech gadgets. They note that the effects of "text neck" could lead to lifelong pain 

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Study finds green tea may aid weight loss

Study finds green tea may aid weight loss

Study finds green tea may aid weight loss, Green tea may help battle obesity, a new study found. Researchers say that in mice, the tea slows the rate in which the body absorbs fat, thus slowing weight gain

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Cancer spike tied to HPV?

Cancer spike tied to HPV?

Cancer spike tied to HPV? HPV may be tied to cancer spike in men, A spike in throat and neck cancer, mainly in men, may be tied to the human papilloma virus, a new study reveals. Researchers say the cancers, which are usually contracted from oral sex, may surpass another cancer caused by HPV and may be prevented with a controversial vaccine.

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Aggressive mosquitoes invade Vermont

Aggressive mosquitoes invade Vermont

Aggressive mosquitoes invade Vermont. Vermont has invaded by aggressive mosquitoes. Health department
says Mosquitoes can carry Eastern equine encephalitis,

the virus can cause illness in horses, alpacas, llamas and people. although mosquitoes might be more aggressive which has killed emus in the state.

 horses are particularly susceptible to the disease. Mosquito Control District in Brandon treated the area around the emu farm to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes.

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Laughter good medicine for dementia?

Laughter good medicine for dementia?

Laughter good medicine for dementia? A new study in Australia suggests that laughter may be good medicine for elderly people with dementia. Researchers who

followed about 400 nursing home residents found that people who worked with a humor therapist seemed – you guessed it – happier.

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Study finds 'magic mushrooms' create personality changes

Study finds 'magic mushrooms' create personality changes

Study finds 'magic mushrooms' create personality changes.A single dose of 'magic mushrooms' can create presonality changes? Study finds A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms,"

was enough to bring about a  personality change lasting at least a year in nearly 60 percent of the 51 participants in a new study, according to the Johns Hopkins researchers who conducted it.

Study finds 'magic mushrooms' create personality changes.

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Kids on ADHD meds rose steadily

Kids on ADHD meds rose steadily.

Kids on ADHD meds rose steadily. Keeping track of changes in the prescription of ADHD and depression drugs on kids is vital, as there is concern about both the overuse and inadequate use of these medications, Shatin and Drinkard point out.

Overuse creates concern, in part, because the long-range effects of the drugs on the developing brain are unknown, the researchers note. On the other hand, some worry that not treating children with ADHD or depression could result in social and academic problems in the long run.
Prescriptions for a drug class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression and anxiety, rose by 62% over the same period, according to findings published in the March-April issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics. SSRIs include brand names like Prozac and Zoloft.
For the study, UnitedHealth researchers Drs. Deborah Shatin and Carol R. Drinkard looked at the use of certain types of psychiatric drugs among health plan enrollees younger than 20, who numbered about 500,000 in 1995 and more than 740,000 .
They found that the prevalence of stimulant drugs, SSRIs and other types of antidepressants grew steadily during the study period. Children aged 10 to 14 were the most frequent users of stimulants, while SSRIs were most commonly prescribed for 15- to 19-year-olds.
Overall, the proportion of stimulant users in the health plans grew from about 24 per 1,000 kids to 30 per 1,000, the report indicates. SSRI use increased from about 8 per 1,000 to nearly 13 out of 1,000 kids.

According to the researchers, their findings are in line with past studies of US children and teens. They note the prevalence of ADHD may be increasing because of changes in the criteria for diagnosing the disorder, which could explain the increases in medication use.
Prescriptions for drugs to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression in children and teens grew steadily during the late 1990s, according to a study of one US managed care organization.such as Ritalin and Adderall, increased 26% between 1995 and 1999 among children and teens enrolled in six health plans. All of the plans were affiliated with UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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Canada unveils larger, graphic anti-smoking labels

Canada unveils larger, graphic anti-smoking labels

Canada unveils larger, graphic anti-smoking labels,The new labels have to cover 75 percent of the front and back of each pack of cigarettes and small cigars, and will be mandatory by the middle of next year. Existing anti-smoking labels cover 50 percent of a pack.

The 16 labels include pictures of a woman dying of lung cancer in a hospital bed, a man with a hole in this throat after surgery for smoking-related larynx cancer, and a close-up shot of a diseased and cancerous tongue.
"We want to make the images larger and more noticeable and more understandable ... The images are pretty gross. They can be a little bit scary as well, but that is the reality of smoking," said federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
"Over time, people get used to seeing the old pictures so we want to grab people's attention once again," she said at an event to unveil the images.
Tobacco manufacturers and importers will have until March 21 2012 to switch over to the new labels and retailers must only carry packs with the bigger warnings by June 19.
"It's fantastic ... the evidence is that the larger the size (of the label), the larger the impact," said Rob Cunningham, a policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society.
Only Uruguay, which requires warning labels to cover 80 percent of a package, has tougher regulations, he said.
The adult smoking rate in Canada fell to a record low 17 percent in 2010 from 24 percent in 2000, a year before the first warning labels started to appear.
The Canadian Public Health Association welcomed the move, while noting that smoking was "the single most preventable cause of disease,

disability and premature death in Canada".
In the United States, several large tobacco companies are suing the federal Food and Drug Administration for requiring more graphic health warnings on packages no later than September 2012. The labels variously include pictures of bodies, diseased lungs and rotting teeth.
Major producers of tobacco sold in Canada include R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co, Japan Tobacco's JTI-Macdonald unit, Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc, which is partly owned by Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd, a unit of British American Tobacco.
Imperial Tobacco said the new labels were "poor policy for political gain" and would not cut the number of smokers.

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Paranoid Parrot

 Paranoid Parrot can be paranoid about anything: its own health, other peoples’ intentions, and various monsters of the mind…

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Foods Relieve Stress

Foods Relieve Stress

 Foods Relieve Stress. The idea that all types of stress-including psychological stress, physical exertion, lack of sleep, etc.-are the same, or can be relieved by consumption of particular foods, does not have any basis in research. Too many different factors, both physical and psychological, contribute to stress. Unless you know the root cause of the stress, it's difficult to know what foods and nutrients might be helpful in reducing or preventing it.


We realize that some people try to reduce their stress by overeating, or by eating highly pleasurable treats. Although common sense tells us that our stress will only be made worse by unhealthy eating, we want to emphasize the importance of approaching stress with healthy changes rather than unhealthy ones. When feeling stressed, the best steps a person can usually take do not involve food. They involve physical relaxation and deliberate focus on breathing and on releasing stressful thoughts. Although we don't try to provide comprehensive lifestyle change information on our website, you might be interested in taking a look at some typical stress reduction steps offered by Susan Lark, MD, at the following website address: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1205.

If we look at preventing stress (rather than reducing it once it has already occurred), there are many more potential food-related options. Foods components that act as stimulants, like caffeine, can be problematic in contributing to stress. For this reason, we recommend that caffeine-containing foods like coffee, tea, or chocolate be eaten in limited amounts. Because stress can involve disruption of our blood sugar levels as well as our immune system activity, we also recommend that meal plans be developed in a way that will support blood sugar consistency and immune system balance. Blood sugar consistency requires us to avoid concentrated sugar foods like fruit juice, dried fruit, and all added-sugar foods. It also requires us to consume whole, natural foods that are high in fiber and that provide a minimal amount of protein. Keeping our blood sugar stabilized is one way to help prevent stress.

In the immune system category, avoiding foods that cause adverse reactions is also worthwhile in stress prevention. You can find detailed information on allergy-producing foods in our article on the "Allergy Avoidance Diet."

One particular set of nutrients-the B-complex vitamins-appear especially important in prevention of stress. We like all of the vegetables, especially the dark green leafy vegetables, as sources of B-complex vitamins. We also like whole grains for this same reason.

The timing of meals is also important in prevention of stress. In general, one of the best guidelines to follow is: eat the most before you do the most, and don't eat a lot when you are not going to be doing much (physically) afterward. For example, eating a large amount of food within an hour or so before bedtime (more than 250-300 calories' worth of food) is usually problematic, especially if the food is high in protein or fat. The amount of time your body will spend digesting this food is too great and may end up interfering with the quality of your sleep. Similarly, skipping lunch and working out later in the afternoon can be a problem because your body will lack the nutritional support it needs to stay vital throughout the exercise. Timing your meal pattern to match your day's activity pattern can help avoid nutritional stress-and some psychological stress as well.

Read more »

Foods Relieve Stress

Foods Relieve Stress

 Foods Relieve Stress. The idea that all types of stress-including psychological stress, physical exertion, lack of sleep, etc.-are the same, or can be relieved by consumption of particular foods, does not have any basis in research. Too many different factors, both physical and psychological, contribute to stress. Unless you know the root cause of the stress, it's difficult to know what foods and nutrients might be helpful in reducing or preventing it.


We realize that some people try to reduce their stress by overeating, or by eating highly pleasurable treats. Although common sense tells us that our stress will only be made worse by unhealthy eating, we want to emphasize the importance of approaching stress with healthy changes rather than unhealthy ones. When feeling stressed, the best steps a person can usually take do not involve food. They involve physical relaxation and deliberate focus on breathing and on releasing stressful thoughts. Although we don't try to provide comprehensive lifestyle change information on our website, you might be interested in taking a look at some typical stress reduction steps offered by Susan Lark, MD, at the following website address: http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1205.

If we look at preventing stress (rather than reducing it once it has already occurred), there are many more potential food-related options. Foods components that act as stimulants, like caffeine, can be problematic in contributing to stress. For this reason, we recommend that caffeine-containing foods like coffee, tea, or chocolate be eaten in limited amounts. Because stress can involve disruption of our blood sugar levels as well as our immune system activity, we also recommend that meal plans be developed in a way that will support blood sugar consistency and immune system balance. Blood sugar consistency requires us to avoid concentrated sugar foods like fruit juice, dried fruit, and all added-sugar foods. It also requires us to consume whole, natural foods that are high in fiber and that provide a minimal amount of protein. Keeping our blood sugar stabilized is one way to help prevent stress.

In the immune system category, avoiding foods that cause adverse reactions is also worthwhile in stress prevention. You can find detailed information on allergy-producing foods in our article on the "Allergy Avoidance Diet."

One particular set of nutrients-the B-complex vitamins-appear especially important in prevention of stress. We like all of the vegetables, especially the dark green leafy vegetables, as sources of B-complex vitamins. We also like whole grains for this same reason.

The timing of meals is also important in prevention of stress. In general, one of the best guidelines to follow is: eat the most before you do the most, and don't eat a lot when you are not going to be doing much (physically) afterward. For example, eating a large amount of food within an hour or so before bedtime (more than 250-300 calories' worth of food) is usually problematic, especially if the food is high in protein or fat. The amount of time your body will spend digesting this food is too great and may end up interfering with the quality of your sleep. Similarly, skipping lunch and working out later in the afternoon can be a problem because your body will lack the nutritional support it needs to stay vital throughout the exercise. Timing your meal pattern to match your day's activity pattern can help avoid nutritional stress-and some psychological stress as well.

Read more »