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Millenium Development Goals ignore mental health

Mental disorders are a major cause of sickness, disability, and premature mortality in developing countries. Treating mental disorders is crucial to achieving goals such as eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality, and improving maternal health.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 12, 2005

US specialists call for heart patients to be screened for psychological distress

Research by Dr Amy Ferketich and Dr Philip Binkley found that men and women with heart disease in the US experience high levels of psychological distress, with only a third seeking mental health support. The study analyzed data from over 17,000 individuals with different forms of heart disease, highlighting the need for clinicians to c...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateJun 8, 2005

Group therapy does not improve survival In early-stage breast cancer patients

A recent study found that group therapy did not improve survival rates in early-stage breast cancer patients. The researchers, led by David W. Kissane, evaluated the impact of cognitive-existential group therapy (CEGT) on survival and found no significant difference between those receiving CEGT and those not receiving it.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateSep 27, 2004

Needle-exchange program found to reduce emergency room visits among intravenous drug users

A study of 373 intravenous drug users found significant reductions in emergency department use among those using needle-exchange programs, including Hispanics, men, and those with mental illness. The study suggests that needle-exchange-based health care services can reduce emergency department use among high-risk IDUs.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJun 27, 2002

Odor test may help doctors more accurately predict Alzheimer's disease

Researchers found that 19 out of 47 people with mild cognitive impairment who had difficulty identifying smells went on to develop Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that the inability to recognize smells, combined with a lack of awareness about impaired olfactory senses, may be used as a predictor of impending Alzheimer's disease.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Aging·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateAug 27, 2000

In initial gene therapy trial, Jefferson scientists report successful gene transfer in Canavan disease

Researchers at Jefferson Medical College successfully introduced a therapeutic gene into the brain of two children with Canavan disease, showing decreased NAA concentration and increased myelin. The gene transfer demonstrated positive neurological improvements in the patients, offering hope for future use of gene therapy for brain dise...

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateJul 30, 2000

Zoonotic diseases symposium focus

Experts examine parasitic and infectious diseases that can be spread by animals to people, highlighting the importance of integrated perspectives on human-animal interaction. The symposium aims to create a forum for discussing public health and food safety issues related to animal-human relationships.

Hope protects bereaved, HIV-positive men

A new study suggests that hope plays a vital role in maintaining the health of HIV-positive men who have lost a loved one to AIDS. The researchers found that optimistic expectations and feelings of control over the disease are associated with a slower rate of progression of HIV-related illness.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalHealth Psychology·DateJul 9, 1999

Gladstone/UCSF team discovers interaction of two brain proteins may be key factor in development of Alzheimer's disease

A team of scientists has found a critical interaction between two brain proteins that could help explain the death of nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery reveals that normal APP provides a protective function against cell death, while mutant forms do not.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 1999

Dietary Supplements Could Put A Stop To A Royal Curse

Researchers have discovered naturally occurring enzymes that can detoxify porphyrins, building blocks of haemoglobin, in a potential breakthrough for treating variegate porphyria. This rare disorder was passed down through the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin Prince William of Gloucester.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateMay 19, 1999