Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for July 23, 2000


Study: too much sugar, not enough milk may damage U.S. teens' health

A major new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found a significant decline in milk consumption and a sharp increase in sugar-laden soft drinks among US teenagers between 1965 and 1996. This shift is linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including strokes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateJul 23, 2000

Alcohol researchers suggest specific binding site for anesthetics and alcohols

A team of researchers has identified a specific binding site for alcohols and anesthetics on brain proteins, which could lead to new pharmacologic interventions for addiction and substance abuse. This breakthrough finding builds upon previous studies suggesting that alcohols interact with specific protein molecules in the brain.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2000

Low-dose oral contraceptives are as protective against ovarian cancer as are older, high-dose pills, find University of Pittsburgh researchers

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that low-dose oral contraceptives offer a 40% reduced risk of ovarian cancer, similar to high-dose pills. The protection begins soon after use and continues for at least 30 years after stopping.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateJul 23, 2000