Health Behavior News ServiceA resource for the news media and public to find the best and most recent evidence-based scientific research to help people make decisions about their health and health care.Government Official Says Bird Flu Spread "A Time Bomb Waiting to Go Off"- (Found June 19, 2008 ) One of the government's top scientists said Monday that the spread of bird flu to the United States is a "time bomb waiting to go off" but that federal and industry efforts to produce a vaccine are progressing. 912http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1126 Suicidal Substance Abusers Fare Better as Inpatients, Study Finds- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Suicidal veterans who were treated for addictions as inpatients were significantly more likely to abstain from alcohol and drugs after six months than those who were treated as outpatients, according to a new study. 914http://www.hbns.org/toolsForJournalists/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1124 Key Areas of Brain Smaller in Alcoholic Teens- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Regions of the brain involved in complex thinking and emotional control are smaller in teens who abuse alcohol than in those who do not, according to a new study in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 914http://www.hbns.org/toolsForJournalists/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1125 Patients Who Choose Own Depression Treatment Do Better- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Patients who chose their own treatment for depression had better outcomes than patients whose treatment was determined by their physicians alone, a new study of veterans has found. 915http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1122 Adolescents Exposed to Violence Face Future Health Risks- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Teenagers exposed to violence show biological changes that could affect their physical and emotional health for years to come, according to a new study. 915http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1123 Drop in Tobacco Use May Just Be Smoke and Mirrors- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Studies that report lower smoking rates during pregnancy may be flawed by the social stigma attached to mothers-to-be who light up but dont admit it, suggests a new analysis. 831http://www.hbns.org/news/tobacco08-31-05.cfm Benzodiazepines Effective Against Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Tranquilizers work better than placebos at treating the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome but they may not work better than other drugs, according to a new review of recent studies. 829http://www.hbns.org/news/seizures08-29-05.cfm Robot-Assisted Prostate Surgery Has Possible Benefits, Higher Costs- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Although minimally invasive prostate removal aided by a robot can lead to less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer complications, there is no evidence that the procedure improves cure rates, according to a new technology assessment. 829http://www.hbns.org/news/robot08-29-05.cfm Doctors Should Stop Prescribing Antibiotics for the Common Cold, Review Advises- (Found June 19, 2008 ) Antibiotics should not be prescribed to patients with the common cold because there is scant evidence they stop other infections, and the benefits do not outweigh the risks, according to a new systematic review of current evidence. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/commoncold07-19-05.cfm Secretin Should Not Be Used To Treat Autism, Researchers Say- (Found June 19, 2008 ) The intestinal hormone secretin, considered by some to be a promising drug in the treatment of autism, does not improve the symptoms and should not be used to treat the disorder, according to a new review of studies. 719http://www.hbns.org/news/autism07-19-05.cfm |