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The
"hold one's liquor" gene discovered
SAN FRANCISCO
& DENVER — Though it's a trait many
like to brag about, the ability to drink more than others
and not get drunk sets off medical alarm bells as it's
one factor that can lead to alcoholism. Now, in a fruit
fly study, researchers think they've found the gene
responsible for alcohol intolerance; they've wryly dubbed
the gene "hangover." Fruit flies without the hangover
gene displayed markedly fewer signs of inebriation than
normal fruit flies after exposure to ethanol. The authors
suspect humans have a gene similar to hangover. The
study was published online in the August 10th edition
of Nature.
Redheads
can stand the pain
MONTREAL &
EDINBURGH — Redheaded women, it seems, are
a resilient breed. Preliminary studies have found that
Titian ladies -- but not men -- are more resistant to
pain than those with other hair colours. No one yet
knows why, so scientists at the UK-based Medical Research
Council's Human Genetics Unit are launching a study
on this red resistance. Initial research was carried
out by McGill's Professor Jeffrey Mogil who identified
a gene called melanocortin-1, which he linked to both
red hair and pain resistance in women. Researchers hope
that studying this redheaded woman gene will help in
the development of fiery new anesthetics and analgesics.
Scientists
home in on bird flu jab
WASHINGTON —
US scientists appear to be edging closer to the finish
in the race to find a viable vaccine against the bird
flu. US health officials have tested a formula, manufactured
by the French firm Sanofi-Aventis, on 450 healthy adults
under 65. Preliminary results released last week show
that 115 of the participants showed a strong immune
response against the H5N1 strain of the Avian flu --
the strain believed to be behind the millions of bird
deaths in Asia. The US government is so happy with these
findings that they've already bought two million doses
of the vaccine.
Hollywood
defames cigarettes
NORTHBROOK, IL
— A study in the August edition of Chest
found that Hollywood is no great friend of Big Tobacco.
Researchers looked at nearly 450 popular American films
made in the last 15 years and found that villains and
less glamorous characters do the lion's share of onscreen
smoking. Thirty-five percent of villains light up compared
to only 20% of heroes. In terms of socioeconomic status,
about half of the onscreen smokers were poorer characters,
while only about 10% of celluloid smokers were described
as rich. Researchers found smoking prevalence on the
silver screen (23%) is close to real US and Canadian
smoking rates (about 22%).
Skin
drug makes tobacco less addictive
LA JOLLA, CA —
A group of drugs called psoralens, commonly used
in conjunction with ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis
and vitiligo, may also help smokers kick the habit.
Research published in the August 7 advanced online edition
of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology reports
that one type of psoralen, methoxsalen, blocks the breakdown
of nicotine when people smoke. When nicotine fails to
break down, it's believed the cigarettes will cause
fewer cravings. The researchers have yet to test methoxsalen
on smokers and say that more research needs to be done.
Heart
drug fights cancer too
MADISON, WISCONSIN
— Digitalis, which comes from the foxglove
plant and is known to help steady heart rhythms, may
also be effective in battling cancer. University of
Wisconsin scientists have been able to coax the anti-cancer
potential out of digitalis with a new technique, called
neo-glyco-randomization, which manipulates the sugars
in the plant. By changing the way sugars are grouped,
scientists can manipulate how the drug works -- allowing
it to target and kill cancer cells in a laboratory setting.
The results of the test can be found in the August 8
issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences.
Implants
tussle goes to the dogs
WASHINGTON —
The United State's most prominent women's health groups
have formed a coalition in order to pressure the FDA
to reverse its controversial decision to reintroduce
silicone filled breast implants in the US Market. Back
in April an FDA panel voted 7-2 in favour of allowing
the implants to be sold. One of the members of this
coalition, National Organization for Women president
Kim Gandy, told the Associated Press that "(FDA Commissioner)
Lester Crawford is a veterinarian, and now he's treating
women like dogs." Health Canada is holding steady on
its current ban on the sale of the implants.
Rocket
Man's AIDS funding flop
PHILADELPHIA —
Brit pop legend and AIDS activist Elton John seems to
have lost his Midas touch. A July AIDS fundraiser in
Philadelphia didn't raise as much money as anticipated,
and little, if any, of the money collected will go to
local AIDS groups as planned. Organizers had hoped that
the concert would rake in about $2 million, leaving
$1 million to local groups and $1 million for the UK-based
Elton John AIDS Foundation. The fundraising flop may
in part be due to timing -- Bob Geldof's Live 8 concert,
which also raised money for AIDS and featured hot pop
stars like the Black Eyed Peas and Destiny's Child,
happened just two days before in the City of Brotherly
Love.
Popcorn's
killer vapours
WASHINGTON —
People working at popcorn production plants who
are exposed to flavouring vapours may be at an increased
risk of developing lung disease. In the past, severe
airway obstruction and irreversible lung damage have
been reported among popcorn plant employees, but physicians
weren't really sure why. Now results from a study in
the August issue of Chest may point to a reason.
Researchers analyzed coughed-up mucus from 140 workers
at a microwave-popcorn production plant. They found
that high exposure to vapours from flavouring agents
was linked to higher levels of inflammatory cells, which
can lead to lung disease. The study authors, however,
did not find a link between the vapours and obstructed
airways.
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