from National Cancer Institute
Results from an ongoing study of workers employed at plants that used or produced formaldehyde continue to show a possible link between formaldehyde exposure and death from cancers of the blood and lymphatic system, particularly myeloid leukemia. More

IOM Releases Guide to Recent Studies and Workshops on Pandemic Flu
from IOM
Cases of the novel strain of H1N1 (Swine Origin [SO]) influenza that spread rapidly through Mexico in April 2009 now span the globe, and pandemic response plans are being activated to meet the threat to public health. More

NIDA Launches Drug Use Screening Tools for Physicians
from NIDA
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, today unveiled its first comprehensive Physicians' Outreach Initiative, NIDAMED, which gives medical professionals tools and resources to screen their patients for tobacco, alcohol, illicit, and nonmedical prescription drug use. More

Pool Chemical-Associated Health Events in Public and Residential Settings
from CDC via MMWR
Swimming is the second most popular exercise in the United States, with approximately 339 million swimming visits to recreational water venues, including disinfected ones (e.g., pools, water parks, and interactive fountains), each year. Pool chemicals are added to the water in these venues to prevent transmission of infectious pathogens. More

NIDA Study Suggests Low-Key Anti-Smoking Ads Are More Likely to Be Remembered than Attention-Grabbing Messages
from NIDA
Repeated use of addictive drugs such as cocaine causes long-lasting changes in parts of the brain involved in motivation and reward, among others, yet the precise mechanisms by which these changes are maintained are poorly understood. More

Flow of Potassium into Cells Implicated in Schizophrenia
from NIMH
A study on schizophrenia has implicated machinery that maintains the flow of potassium in cells and revealed a potential molecular target for new treatments. More

Thinning Tissue in Right Half of Brain Signals Increased Risk of Inherited Depression
from NIMH
In cases of familial depression, changes in tissue thickness in key brain structures in the right half of the brain may increase a person's risk for developing depression, according to NIMH-funded researchers. More