Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse / Alcoholism

• Conference Focuses on Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth
  When: March 13-16, 2003
  Where: Boston, MA
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIAAA provided support for alcohol researchers to attend and present their findings at the 13th Alcohol Policy Conference: Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth: Policy Approaches. At the invitation of NIAAA, Mrs. Hope Taft (First Lady of Ohio) appeared at the conference as one of the opening-day keynote speakers.

This meeting is a forum for researchers, community advocates, and public officials to gather and exchange findings, explore research-based solutions, and consider strategies aimed at minimizing risks associated with alcohol use. More

Next steps:
For conference information, contact Tom Colthurst at tcolthurst@ucsd.com or (858) 551-2951, or visit the conference web site at: www2.edc.org/alcoholpolicy13/index.html.

• Derek Jeter Foundation, NIAAA to Educate Youth about Alcohol and Research
  When: April 24 -25, 2003
  Where: NIAAA Intramural Laboratories, NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIAAA will host students in the Turn 2 Foundation's "Jeter's Leaders" program for a two-day visit to learn about alcohol research. Activities will include sessions on alcohol's effect on the adolescent body, tours of intramural laboratories, and a visit to Capitol Hill to learn how federal alcohol research is funded. More

Next steps:
For more information about the Turn 2 Foundation, visit www.Turn2foundation.org; or contact Fred Donodeo, NIAAA Marketing Analyst at (301) 443-6370 or fdonodeo@mail.nih.gov.

• Materials on Effects of Drinking to Be Distributed at Senior 'Beach Week'
  When: June 1 - 21, 2003
  Where: Ocean City, MD
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIAAA will assist the "Play it Safe" Committee of Ocean City, MD in developing alcohol information materials to be distributed in conjunction with their annual high school senior "beach week" activities. NIAAA will provide research-based messages on the adolescent brain and the effect of drinking on bodily systems, while providing other types of technical assistance as needed. The Play it Safe Committee will assist NIAAA in getting feedback from the participants regarding these messages. More

Next steps:
For more information about the "Play it Safe in Ocean City" program, log onto www.playitsafeoceancity.com; or contact Fred Donodeo, NIAAA Marketing Analyst at (301) 443-6370 or fdonodeo@mail.nih.gov.

• NIAAA College Drinking Experts Share Expertise at State Briefings
  When: February 24, 2003
  Where: Springfield, Illinois
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The Illinois Higher Education Center hosted a regional briefing, "Setting the Standard for Campus and Community Prevention Efforts." NIAAA researchers provided an in-depth look at the implications of NIH's first report on college drinking and how to use that report to improve the effectiveness of campus prevention efforts. College and university presidents, senior administrators and campus prevention staff across the state were invited to attend. More

Next steps:
For additional information please contact Amy Matush, NIAAA Outreach Specialist at amatush@mail.nih.gov or 301-443-0469

• NIAAA Director Speaks at National Hispanic Medical Association Conference
  When: March 21-23, 2003
  Where: Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington DC
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Ting-Kai Li, M.D., Director of NIAAA, gave a talk on Hispanic health disparities related to alcohol abuse and dependence at the March 22, 2003 plenary session of the National Hispanic Medical Association's annual conference. Dr. Li will spoke to Hispanic doctors about NIAAA's efforts to meet the goals of Healthy People 2010, which strives to eliminate health disparities among ethnic and other special populations in the US.

Next steps:
For more information on the conference, visit http://www.nhmamd.org/2003conf.htm, call (202) 628-5895, or contact Judith A. Arroyo, NIAAA, at (301) 402-0717 or Jarroyo@mail.nih.gov.

• NIAAA Researchers Present at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals 4th Annual Juvenile and Family Drug Court Training Conference
  When: January 8, 2003
  Where: Washington, DC
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

  NIAAA hosted a pre-conference workshop at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) 4th Annual Juvenile and Family Drug Court Training Conference. During a session moderated by Raye Litten, Chief, NIAAA Treatment Research Branch, NIAAA researchers Robert Swift, M.D., Ph. D. and Darlene Moak, M.D. presented on medications utilized in treating alcoholism. An overarching concept behind this conference is to use the drug court model as a vehicle to bring collective resources of a community into the recovery process of each individual and their family. More

  Next steps:
  For more information about the conference visit www.nadcp.org/events/ or contact Amy Matush, NIAAA Outreach Specialist at amatush@mail.nih.gov or (301) 443-0469.

Cancer

• New National Cancer Institute Studies Focus On Cancer-Prone Families
  Institute: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

The NCI is conducting four new studies focusing on cancer-prone families. Researchers seek to learn which genes cause familial or hereditary cancer, how these genes work, why some families are at higher risk, and the types of monitoring and intervention strategies that are best for members of cancer-prone families. More

Next steps:
Individuals who wish to be considered for participation in one of these studies may contact the cancer genetics referral nurse, Stephanie Steinbart, at 1 (800) 518-8474.

Children's Health

• Winners of National "How I Get a Heap of Sleep" Contest Announced
  When: January 28, 2003
  Where: Shadd Elementary School, Washington, DC
  Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Shadd Elementary School students met Garfield the Cat when prizes were awarded to three "How I Get a Heap of Sleep" contest winners. The contest, which challenged children to describe what they do before bed to help them sleep, was part of the "Sleep Well. Do Well. Star Sleeper" Campaign to teach children and their parents about the importance of sleep. It was offered to children nationwide through online and classroom promotions, including a lesson plan sent to 44,000 second and third grade classrooms. More

Next steps:
Information about the Star Sleeper Campaign is available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/
sleep/starslp/index.htm.

Diabetes

• New Diabetes Prevention Campaign Extended to Organizations, Industry
  When: February 12, 2003
  Where: Washington, D.C.
  Institute: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease

  The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is co-sponsored by the NIDDK and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. In February, 200 partner organizations met in Washington, DC, to extend the partnership from the diabetes community to organizations and industry that are interested in physical activity and nutrition. "Small Steps. Big Rewards" is the new diabetes prevention campaign that is based on the scientific results of a multi-center clinical trial that showed that a lifestyle intervention including modest improvements in physical activity and nutrition can result in substantial benefits in preventing type 2 diabetes. HHS Deputy Secretary Claude Allen emphasized the benefits of the NDEP message to the African American community and Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona emphasized the need for the message of physical activity to reach the American public to help curb the current epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

  Next steps:
  A "Game Plan for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes" for health care providers and people at risk for type 2 diabetes and campaign information are available at http://ndep.nih.gov/get-info/dpi.htm or by calling (800) 438-5383. Joanne Gallivan, NIDDK/OCPL is Director of the NDEP and can be reached at (301) 496-3583.

Ear Infections

• Don't call for an antibiotic—It's an ear infection!
  When: May/June 2003
  Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  NIDCD is addressing growing concerns about the over-prescription antibiotics for otitis media (ear infection) by convening an expert panel working group that will develop strategies to encourage appropriate use of antibiotics. Pediatricians, otolaryngologists, nursing professionals, audiologists, basic scientists and communication experts will discuss strategies for: (1) communicating with parents and caregivers about appropriate antibiotic use and discouraging "asking and demanding" behaviors that are contributing to antibiotic resistance; and (2) aiding physicians and other health professionals in identifying and discouraging behaviors leading to antibiotic resistance in the context of scientific evidence. The strategies developed during this working group will guide an ongoing NIDCD effort to address this issue. More

  Next steps:
  For additional information, contact Marin P. Allen, Ph.D., Communication Director, at marin_allen@nih.gov or (301) 496-7243 or Lonnie Lisle at lislel@nidcd.nih.gov.

Health Disparities

• Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop
  Where: Baltimore, MD
  Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

  A new NHLBI report, Mobilizing African American Communities to Address Disparities in Cardiovascular Health: The Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop, summarizes strategies that have been used in Baltimore, Maryland, to implement community heart health education and outreach activities for black Americans living in public housing developments. More

• NIAAA Director Speaks at National Hispanic Medical Association Conference
  When: March 21-23, 2003
  Where: Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington DC
  Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

  Ting-Kai Li, M.D., Director of NIAAA, gave a talk on Hispanic health disparities related to alcohol abuse and dependence at the March 22, 2003 plenary session of the National Hispanic Medical Association's annual conference. Dr. Li will spoke to Hispanic doctors about NIAAA's efforts to meet the goals of Healthy People 2010, which strives to eliminate health disparities among ethnic and other special populations in the US.

  Next steps:
  For more information on the conference, visit http://www.nhmamd.org/2003conf.htm, call (202) 628-5895, or contact Judith A. Arroyo, NIAAA, at (301) 402-0717 or Jarroyo@mail.nih.gov.

Hearing Disorders and Deafness

• Prevent Hearing Loss: Always Wear Ear Protection While Shooting
  Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

WISE EARS!, NIDCD's national campaign to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, has been focusing its attention on shooter safety by instructing hunters and shooters to avoid noise-induced hearing loss by wearing ear protection. WISE EARS! participated in the 2002 Outdoor Writers Association of America conference to encourage outdoor writers to cover the topic of noise-induced hearing loss and produced a one-page flier on prevention of noise-induced hearing loss that will appear in the 2003 Hunter Handbook. The annual publication is distributed to hunting and shooting instructors for classroom use. More

Next steps:
Is there a place on the NIDCD web site about shooter safety?

• Sertoma and WISE EARS!
  Institute: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  Sertoma International (SERvice TO MAnkind), a 25,000-strong volunteer civic service organization whose focus is on communication disorders, is sending a four-page brochure and CD about noise-induced hearing loss to its members. The materials were developed by NIDCD's WISE EARS!, national campaign to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Sertoma, a WISE EARS! coalition member, will also distribute the brochure to the public via its clubs. Schools and workplaces will receive this brochure, in addition to the WISE EARS! I Love What I Hear! publication and the WISE EARS! at Work information fact sheet. Sertoma is also developing newspaper ads and public service announcements for their clubs to use.

  Next steps:
  For additional information, visit the Sertoma web site at www.sertoma.org.

Heart and Circulation

• Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop
  Where: Baltimore, MD
  Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

  A new NHLBI report, Mobilizing African American Communities to Address Disparities in Cardiovascular Health: The Baltimore City Health Partnership Strategy Development Workshop, summarizes strategies that have been used in Baltimore, Maryland, to implement community heart health education and outreach activities for black Americans living in public housing developments. More

  Next steps:
  Go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/other/balt_rpt.htm.

• Fourth Annual Public Interest Organization Meeting
  When: February 5, 2003
  Where: Bethesda, MD
  Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

  Representatives of 49 public organizations met on February 5 to exchange ideas with one another and with NHLBI staff; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council members; and leaders of professional societies. The meeting provided opportunities for organization representatives to explore collaborations with professional and public groups and with the NHLBI. More

  Next Steps:
  A meeting summary will be available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/public/pinterest.htm.

Stroke

• Symposium Addresses Improved Access to Treatments for Stroke Patients
  When: December 12-13, 2002
  Where: Arlington, Virginia
  Institute: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

  An NINDS-sponsored symposium, "Improving the Chain of Recovery for Acute Stroke in Your Community," was held to develop a consensus and unify the medical community in the recognition that thrombolytic treatment works and should be used and that early treatment for strokes has many benefits. Experts at the conference developed recommendations concerning the creation of systems that will improve treatment and benefit more stroke patients. Once finalized, the recommendations will be widely circulated. More

  Next steps:
  A Webcast of the symposium can be viewed at www.strokesymposium.org. For additional information, contact the NINDS Office of Communications and Public Liaison at (301) 496-5751.
  
  

^ TOP OF PAGE