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Smoke out schizophrenia?
By TIMES WIRES
Published June 27, 2006
An estimated 3-million Americans suffer from schizophrenia, which typically causes them to hallucinate, withdraw or ignore unimportant sensory information, which is termed a cognitive symptom. New research is focusing on a drug to treat cognitive symptoms by mimicking nicotine's biochemical effects in the brain. More than 80 percent of schizophrenics are heavy smokers, and scientists believe smoking may be a form of self-medication for this disease. As reported in this month's issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the compound PHA-543,613 is believed to enhance object recognition and the brain's processing of sounds - without the harmful side effects of smoking. Morton Plant obesity talk An estimated 61-million American adults are considered obese, increasing their risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. Morton Plant Mease is offering a free session at which Dr. Rick Gordon will discuss how surgery on the stomach and/or intestines - including gastric bypass and lap band surgeries - can help obese patients lower these risks. The session will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at Morton Plant Hospital, 300 Pinellas St., Clearwater. Reservations are required; call (727) 462-7500. Say yes - to coffee Trying to get someone to say "yes"? Research published in the European Journal of Social Psychology suggests it might be helpful to offer a cup of coffee. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia found that people given the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee were more likely to recall and agree with a persuasive argument than those given orange juice or a placebo. The researchers were asking about people's attitudes toward voluntary euthanasia. Reports in the media * The upcoming issue of AARP The Magazine introduces a column on exercise and health regimens for older adults. The first article offers numerous benefits to exercise, including better memory, quicker healing, increased sexual function, less pain, fewer hot flashes and money saved by not having to treat some illnesses that cause these problems.* The weekly CNBC diabetes report dLifeTV is now being shown in a magazine-style format. The half-hour television news show will have an in-studio anchor and reporters who offer news and information from across America. Typical segments include the expense of caring for diabetes, health insurance issues and the concerns a diabetic faces in fast food restaurants. The show airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on CNBC, and also appears on DirecTV, the Dish Network, Healthy Living Network and on Sirius satellite radio. The related Web site is dLife.com.
[Last modified June 27, 2006, 10:14:08]
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