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July 2004 Events * AIDS Group Attends National Black Nurses Association Annual Conference Topic(s): HIV/AIDS, Minority Outreach When: August 4–8, 2004 Where: San Francisco, CA Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Staff from NIAID’s Vaccine Research Center will represent the HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign by delivering a presentation on HIV vaccine research at the National Black Nurses Association conference. In this way, nurses who represent and serve the African American community will gain valuable information about promising emerging technologies in HIV prevention. Next Steps For more information, contact Matthew Murguía at (301) 496-0545. * AIDS Group Attends National Medical Association Convention Topic(s): HIV/AIDS, Minority Outreach When: July 31–August 5, 2004 Where: San Diego, CA Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) To promote the hope, promise, and progress of HIV vaccine research, the HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign is attending the annual National Medical Association (NMA) convention. Representatives of the Campaign, sponsored by NIAID, will conduct a session on HIV vaccine research (Family Practice Section) and distribute campaign materials. NMA promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. Next Steps For more information, contact Matthew Murguía at (301) 496-0545. * Conference to Bridge Drug Abuse Clinical Practice and Treatment Gap Topic(s): Drug Abuse When: September 27–28, 2004 Where: Marriott Renaissance, Detroit, MI Institute: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) A gap exists in the drug abuse field, like others, between clinical practice and scientific research. To help bridge this gap, NIDA is hosting Blending Clinical Practice and Research: Forging Partnerships in the Great Lakes States to Enhance Drug Addiction Treatment. This 2-day conference will bring together clinicians and researchers to examine cutting-edge scientific findings about drug abuse and addiction and ways to apply this knowledge to clinical practice. Among those encouraged to attend are drug treatment counselors, social workers, healthcare providers, criminal justice staff, marriage and family counselors, public health workers, physicians, researchers interested in drug abuse and addiction issues, and the media. Organizing the conference with NIDA are the Great Lakes Clinical Trials Network and Wayne State University. Next Steps The conference costs $100 to attend. For more information and to register, contact Stacy Ringwelski at (240) 485-1700. * Science in the Cinema Continues in July at the AFI Silver Theater Topic(s): Community Outreach, Medical Research Ethics When: May 11–July 13, 2004 Where: AFI Silver Theater, Silver Spring, MD Institute: Office of Science Education (OSE) As part of its annual Science in the Cinema series, the NIH has been showing movies with medical science-related themes. This free festival, sponsored by OSE in partnership with the historic AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center, is being held at the Silver Theater. Screenings are followed by comments from a guest speaker with expertise in the film’s subject area and then by audience questions. The festival began in May. The title and the medical theme of the remaining movie is: o July 13: Miss Evers’ Boys—Tuskegee syphilis experiments, human subjects research, history of medicine The film will begin at 7 p.m. and free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis (there are 400 seats) through the AFI Silver box office the day of the show. The film will have captions and American Sign Language interpreters will be available for the post-film discussion. Science in the Cinema is open to the general public and is intended for a broad range of individuals who enjoy the cinema and have an interest in science and medicine. Next Steps For further information about Science in the Cinema, visit OSE’s Web site at http://science.education.nih.gov/cinema. To request reasonable accommodation, e-mail moorec@mail.nih.gov or call (301) 402-2470 [TTY: (301) 496-9706]. For information about the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, visit the Web site at http://afi.com/silver or call (301) 495-6720. The AFI Silver Theater is at 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, and is easily accessible by Metrorail via the Red Line’s Silver Spring station. * Small Steps. Big Rewards. Campaign Hits the Road in Philadelphia Topic(s): Population Groups When: July 19, 2004 Where: North Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1510 W. Oxford, Philadelphia, PA Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) The Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes campaign begins its national tour this summer to celebrate the small steps people are taking around the country to prevent diabetes. Sponsored by NIDDK's National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), the campaign invites anyone in a city that the campaign visits to join the festivities.The Campaign is tailored to different diabetes high-risk groups. Its first stop, in Philadelphia, is directed at African Americans and the program is called More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes. Campaign Team Member Frenchy Risco is committed to showing African Americans that diabetes prevention is "proven, powerful, and possible." Mr. Risco is a member of Philadelphia’s Fun, Fit & Free, a program dedicated to making a healthy lifestyle easy and affordable for everyone. NDEP Chair James R. Gavin, III, M.D., Ph.D., and NDEP Deputy Director TaWanna Berry, M.A., will lead the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon. The Campaign's next stop will be in San Diego. Details will be forthcoming. Next Steps The Small Steps. Big Rewards. Web site is at www.ndep.nih.gov/campaigns/SmallSteps/SmallSteps_index.htm. For information about future road shows or if you would like to be involved, please contact TaWanna Berry, NDEP Deputy Director, at Tawanna_Berry@nih.gov or (301) 451-5988. * THE EYE SITE Exhibit on Low Vision Will Visit 16 Malls in 2004 Topic(s): Eyes and Vision When: March 1–October 16, 2004 Where: Las Vegas, NV; Casper and Cheyenne, WY; Owensboro and Ashland, KY; Twin Falls, ID; Rutland, VT; Phoenix and Tucson, AZ; Presque Isle, ME Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI) To help people understand low vision (vision problems that interfere with someone's ability to perform everyday activities) and to explain what people with vision loss can do to stay independent, NEI developed THE EYE SITE: A Traveling Exhibit on Low Vision for Shopping Centers. The exhibit will visit 16 shopping malls during 2004, in Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wyoming.Two identical exhibits have been on tour since 2001. By the end of 2003, they had traveled to 57 malls in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Since THE EYE SITE tour was launched, the NEI has: o Provided more than 30 million people with the opportunity to visit the exhibit and learn about low vision. o Distributed more than 50,000 publications. o Worked with more than 65 vision-related organizations to offer nearly 150 public events. Next Steps Members of the public can visit the exhibit during regular business hours at any mall on the tour. For more information, visit THE EYE SITE Web site at www.nei.nih.gov/nehep/eyesite. * V I S I O N Traveling Exhibit Visits Nashville, TN Topic(s): Eyes and Vision When: May 29–October 3, 2004 Where: Nashville, TN Institute: National Eye Institute (NEI) V I S I O N, a traveling exhibit on eye-brain coordination and research into protecting sight, is visiting Tennessee. The exhibit explains how the eye focuses light, how we perceive motion and color, and how the brain processes visual information into a meaningful picture.V I S I O N was developed as part of the NEI’s 25th anniversary celebration. The 2,000-square-foot exhibit illustrates how the eye and brain work together to create vision and how researchers are developing ways to protect our sight from visual disorders and diseases. The exhibit includes 10 interactive modules developed by the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Since the exhibit was launched in 1993, it has visited science museums in 30 cities and been seen by more than 5 million visitors. Next Steps Visitors can see the exhibit during regular museum hours. Find more information on the V I S I O N exhibit Web site at www.nei.nih.gov/education/visionexhibit/index.asp or visit the Adventure Science Center Web site at www.adventuresci.com. Resources * Live Help: AIDSinfo Web Site Offers Private, Personalized Attention Topic(s): HIV/AIDS Format: Web Site Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) An AIDS Web site with all kinds of medical and other information also offers personalized, anonymous attention in either Spanish or English. Visitors to the AIDSinfo Web site, www.aidsinfo.nih.gov, can click on the Live Help button and speak with health specialists in real time by typing in questions on a variety of HIV/AIDS-related topics. The site is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with the NIH and several other federal agencies. Visitors can obtain help in: o Navigating the site. o Locating information on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention guidelines. o Finding information on clinical trials. o Accessing other resources. Live Help is available between noon and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday–Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Next Steps The AIDSinfo site is at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov. For more information, contact Rona Siskind at (301) 435-3732. * Cancer Health Disparities Newsletter Available Topic(s): Cancers Format: Newsletter Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Readers can learn more about efforts to reduce health disparities in cancer by reading a newsletter, Equal Access: Closing the Gap Between Discovery and Delivery. This quarterly newsletter, free for the public, is produced by the NCI's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. The latest issue features a story on Judith Salmon Kaur, M.D., associate professor of oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and her efforts to provide cancer care prevention and outreach to Native American communities. Other items of interest include a story about NIH Deputy Director Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D.; a report on the important role of science in molding policy to end health disparities; an article explaining evidence pointing to a link between cancer and obesity; and an announcement of the American Cancer Society's 2003 Humanitarian Award recipients. Next Steps To view the publication, visit http://crchd.nci.nih.gov/news/newsletter.html. * Colloidal Silver Products' Danger Explained in Consumer Advisory Topic(s): Alternative Medicine Format: Consumer Advisory Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) While colloidal silver products are often marketed for various health concerns, these claims are not supported by scientific research. In addition, there is the potential for serious side effects, as well as interaction with prescription drugs. NCCAM's consumer advisory, Colloidal Silver Products, provides more details. Next Steps View this document at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/silver/. To obtain a copy, contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse toll-free at (888) 644-6226 or by e-mail at info@nccam.nih.gov. * Diabetes Care Guide for Pharmacists, Podiatrists, Optometrists, and Dental Professionals Topic(s): Population Groups Format: Brochure Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) A new guide, Working Together to Manage Diabetes, primes health professionals who frequently encounter diabetes patients to educate their patients about diabetes control and prevention. The guide also outlines the diabetes care issues for each of the professional disciplines—pharmacists, podiatrists, optometrists, and dental professionals—while promoting a team approach to caring for people with diabetes. Produced by a work group of NIDDK's National Diabetes Education Program, the guide is accompanied by a poster for providers to hang in their offices, clinics, waiting rooms, or exam rooms. Next Steps Downloadable versions of the guide and poster are available on the NDEP Web site at www.ndep.nih.gov/resources/health.htm. Printed copies will become available in August. To order your free copy, call (800) 438-5383 or fax an order form (available on the Web site) to (301) 634-0716. * Diabetes Information for Patients, Families, Providers, and Insurers now Updated Topic(s): Population Groups Format: Brochure Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Guiding Principles of Diabetes Care: For Health Care Providers, a booklet outlining the essential components of quality diabetes care, has been updated. Produced by NIDDK's National Diabetes Education Program, the booklet provides information not only for people with diabetes, but also for people with pre-diabetes, families of patients, health care providers, and insurers. Next Steps For free copies, call (800) 438-5383 or visit the NDEP Web site at www.ndep.nih.gov/resources/health.htm to read or download an electronic version. * Fact Sheet on Cancer Clusters Topic(s): Cancers Format: FactSheet Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) A disease cluster is the occurrence of more cases than expected of a particular disease within a group of people, a geographic area, or a period of time. Clusters of various diseases have concerned scientists for centuries. Some recent disease clusters include the initial cases of a rare type of pneumonia among homosexual men in the early 1980s that led to the identification of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); the outbreak in 2003 of a respiratory illness, later identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by a previously unknown virus; and periodic outbreaks of food poisoning caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria. Some cancer clusters may be suspected when people report that several family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers have been diagnosed with the same or related cancers. Some amount of clustering may occur simply by chance. Concerned individuals may report a suspected cancer cluster to their local health department or state cancer registry. Next Steps To view the fact sheet, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/3_58.htm. * Gene Therapy for Fighting Cancer: Questions and Answers Topic(s): Cancers, Genetics/Birth Defects Format: Fact Sheet Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Gene therapy is an experimental treatment that involves introducing genetic material into a person's cells to fight disease. Scientists are studying gene therapy for cancer through a number of different approaches. A new NCI fact sheet gives answers to many of the questions the public might have about this therapy. Genes are the biological units of heredity. They determine obvious traits, such as hair and eye color, as well as more subtle characteristics, such as the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Complex characteristics, such as physical strength, may be shaped by the interaction of many different genes, along with environmental influences. Gene therapy is cutting edge and is not yet available except in clinical trials. The approaches under way are described in this question-and-answer format fact sheet, along with risks and problems to overcome. Next Steps To view the fact sheet, visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/7_18.htm. * Gestational Diabetes Facts Explained in New Booklet Topic(s): Pregnancy and Reproduction Format: Brochure Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) What I need to Know About Gestational Diabetes is an easy-to-read booklet about diabetes in pregnancy designed for women, their families, and friends. Published by NIDDK, the booklet defines gestational diabetes, explains its causes and diagnosis, and outlines treatments. In addition, it includes strategies for preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes later in life. Next Steps This booklet is available at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/index.htm. To order hard copies, contact the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at (800) 860-8747 or use the online catalog at www.catalog.niddk.nih.gov. Single copies are free; packages of 25 cost $5. * New Overview of Neuroscience Research on Alcohol and the Brain Topic(s): Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism Format: Brochure Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Alcoholism, like other addictions, is a brain disorder. People wishing to read more about research into how alcohol affects the brain and how the resulting changes contribute to alcohol dependence can find out via a free brochure issued by NIAAA. Entitled Alcohol Alert No. 61: Neuroscience Research and Therapeutic Targets, the brochure provides an overview of this subject. Advances in neuroscience have shown that chronic heavy drinking causes long-term—and perhaps permanent—changes in the way the brain responds to alcohol. Other research has revealed that genes shape how an individual experiences alcohol, such as how intoxicating, pleasant, or sedating it is, and how susceptible he or she is to developing alcohol use disorders. These parallel insights from neuroscience research are paving the way for new medications that will improve alcoholism treatment and relapse prevention. This brochure addresses what research is showing about how stressful life experiences affect the brain and how they may contribute to alcohol dependence and relapse to drinking. Beyond understanding alcohol's effects on the brain, research is trying to identify neurologic targets for potential medications. The brochure contains a brief review of medications that have come out of this work and are now in clinical trials or clinical use. Next Steps To order a copy of this Alcohol Alert, contact NIAAA at (301) 443-3860. To access the online version or download a PDF file, visit www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alalerts.htm. * New Tools for Health Care Practitioners Treating Diabetes Patients Topic(s): Population Groups Format: Web Site Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) A new Web site for health care providers who treat diabetes patients, www.BetterDiabetesCare.nih.gov, offers tools, resources, models, and links to ensure that patients receive optimal care. The site is directed at primary care providers, educators, and specialists, and is designed to make a difference in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. NIDDK's National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), producer of the new site, will feature it at major health professional conferences around the country. NDEP's team of diabetes experts asserts that better evidence-based patient-centered care is needed to effectively manage diabetes and to prevent the serious complications associated with this disease. Next Steps For a copy of a BetterDiabetesCare.nih.gov PowerPoint presentation either to use as is or to adapt for meetings and presentations, contact Kristin Donnelly at kdonnelly@hagersharp.com or (202) 842-3600. * Questions and Answers about Using Magnets to Treat Pain Topic(s): Alternative Medicine Format: Research Report Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) People interested in learning more about the use of magnets to treat pain can read a new Research Report from NCCAM. The report provides an overview of the use of magnets for pain, summarizes current scientific knowledge about their effectiveness for this purpose, and suggests additional sources of information. Next Steps View this document at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/magnet/magnet.htm. To obtain a copy, contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse toll-free at (888) 644-6226 or e-mail info@nccam.nih.gov. * Spanish Diabetes Care Lesson Plans Available for Employers Topic(s): Population Groups Format: Web Site Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) More than 18.2 million Americans have diabetes and many of them are employed in our workforce. Companies wishing to educate their employees about diabetes now have online access to free Spanish-language lesson plans, as well as English versions. The lesson plans can serve as a basis for a variety of health education activities, such as a lecture series on health issues, a diabetes support group, or a group of "lunch and learn" sessions. They are provided via the diabetesatwork.org Web site, which is sponsored in part by NIDDK's National Diabetes Education Program. The lesson plans address a wide range of diabetes-related topics, such as nutrition and physical activity, general medical care, emotional well-being, and cardiovascular health. Each plan includes objectives, a script to guide the lesson, overhead masters, participant handouts, and suggestions for props and group activities, along with recommendatios of ways to shorten a given lesson. While the lesson plans focus on diabetes issues, many can be adapted for general health and wellness programs. Next Steps For information about Spanish-language lesson plans and other resources for educating employees about diabetes, see www.DiabetesAtWork.org. Announcements * Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Topic(s): Complementary and Alternative Medicine When: June 22, 2004 Where: Nationwide Institute: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) To further inform people about the use of non-conventional medicine in treating cancer, NCCAM Director Stephen E. Straus, M.D., presented "An Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer." He spoke through a free telephone education workshop and more than 1,200 individuals registered to listen in. A question-and-answer session was included. Designed for people with cancer and their family and friends, the teleconference was a collaboration between the NCCAM, CancerCare, and the American Society for Clinical Oncology. Next Steps You may listen to the Telephone Education Workshop on the CancerCare Web site at www.cancercare.org/TelephoneEducationWorkshopArchive/TelephoneEducationWorkshopArchive.cfm?ID=8408&c=410. * HIV Prevention Leadership Summit Topic(s): HIV/AIDS When: June 16–19, 2004 Where: Atlanta, GA Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Americans' awareness and knowledge of HIV vaccine research, as well as their attitudes toward it, were the subject of a poster presentation by the NIAID-funded HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign. The Campaign made the presentation at this year’s HIV Prevention Leadership Summit. The Summit brings together leaders in HIV prevention, such as health departments, community-based organizations, assistance providers, and Federal agencies. Collaborating with the Global Campaign for Microbicides, the HIV Campaign also held a session on new technologies in HIV prevention. Next Steps For more information, contact Matthew Murguía at (301) 496-0545. * Malaria Vaccine Lab Welcomes Local Science Writers Topic(s): Infectious Diseases, Malaria When: June 23, 2004 Where: Rockville, MD Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Malaria is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease that hits millions of people every year, especially in Africa. To highlight the progress being made toward a malaria vaccine, NIAID invited members of the Washington D.C.-based D.C. Science Writers Association to visit its malaria research lab. Thirty-five members attended. A malaria vaccine would be the first vaccine developed against a parasitic disease. Lee Hall, M.D., who oversees NIAID’s grants and contracts on malaria vaccines, described the global economic impact of malaria, while Carole Long, Ph.D., chief immunologist of NIAID’s malaria vaccine development laboratory, discussed the lab’s distinctive approach to vaccine development, including its international efforts. Allan Saul, Ph.D., co-chief of the laboratory, helped address writers' questions during the subsequent Q&A session, after which laboratory researchers led tours of the lab. Malaria is caused by one-celled parasites that are carried by Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease sickens as many as half a billion people each year, and kills at least one million, mostly African children under five. Next Steps For more information, contact Anne Oplinger at (301) 435-8596. * Report on Autism Research Completed for Congress Topic(s): Autism Where: Bethesda, MD Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) The U.S. Congress, as part of its budget proceedings for fiscal year 2003, asked for a report on the current state of autism research and its planned direction. A panel of scientists, convened by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), produced a report, The Congressional Appropriations Committee Report on the State of Autism Research 2004. The report includes: o A summary of the activities that followed Congress' request. o The development of a draft version of an autism research matrix of action items that could be used in planning for research in the years ahead. o The public rollout and discussion of that draft matrix at the recent Autism Summit. o The adoption of an initial version of the matrix by the IACC. The document includes specific action items of the matrix, along with explanatory notes and initial plans for implementation. It includes a background summary on the state of autism research in the major areas: epidemiology, genetics, neurobiology, and treatment. Next Steps The report, in a PDF format, is available on the NIMH Web site at www.nimh.nih.gov/autismiacc/CongApprCommRep.pdf.