Share of Cost, Diagnostic Criteria For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Are Lacking According To Researchers: Current diagnostic procedures for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) fail to adequately reflect research into the broad nature of a traumatic event, according to a study that will appear in the January print issue of Psychological Bulletin.

Share of Cost, TU Delft Develops Pen To Measure And Reduce Stress: In the future, more and more products will be able to interpret what users are feeling and use that information in a smart way. To illustrate the power of this theory, researcher Miguel Bruns Alonso has developed a pen which can measure the stress levels of the person using it, and can actually help to reduce that stress.

Brand Castle, LLC is recalling its licensed Rice Krispies Treats Holiday Village Kit. This recall was initiated because the icing component of the kit contains undeclared egg; no other components of the kit are affected. People who have allergies to egg run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.

Share of Cost, Fresh Funding Gives Hope To A New Generation Of Asthma And Allergy Treatment: Scientists at St George’s, University of London and the University of Manchester have received an additional Seeding Drug Discovery award of £390,000 from the Wellcome Trust to explore a new class of experimental drugs that block the trigger of allergic reactions before symptoms show.

While more than four in five adults (85%) have heard of ‘alcohol units,’ only two in five of these (42%) can equate the term to actual drinks – according to new research published yesterday (4th January) by alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware.1 To help consumers gain a better understanding of units and their own drinking in the New Year, Drinkaware has posted 2.

A collaborative, government-led effort to guide and standardize diagnosis, treatment and management of food allergies has resulted in the release of an official set of recommendations for physicians. The guidelines were published online by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), and available online here.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has released disability employment statistics for January showing that the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 20.1. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 69.5. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.6 percent (down from 15.2 percent a year ago), compared with 9.7 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

An early education program for children from low-income families is estimated to generate $4 to $11 of economic benefits over a child’s lifetime for every dollar spent initially on the program, according to a cost-benefit analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health.

For the analysis, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the Chicago Public Schools’ federally funded Child-Parent Centers (CPCs)(http://www.cps.edu/Schools/Preschools/Pages/Childparentcenter.aspx), established in 1967. The current analysis was part of a longer term effort to evaluate the benefits of intensive early education and parental support on children’s health and development. The researchers surveyed study participants and their parents, and analyzed education, employment, criminal justice and child welfare records for the participants through to age 26. A previous analysis found that children who had been enrolled in CPCs were more likely to go to college, get a full-time job and have health insurance . The same students were less likely to go to prison and less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms.

A cost-benefit analysis of CPC attendees revealed that the greatest benefits were realized among those who joined the program earliest. Children enrolled in preschool CPC received net benefits at age 26 totaling $83,708 per participant in 2007 dollars, compared with children who did not take part in the CPC program. When projected over a lifetime, economic benefits of the program, both to participants and society at large, amounted to nearly $11 for dollar spent, which corresponds to an 18 percent annual rate of return on the original investment.

Because the study did not assign children randomly to the two groups, it cannot prove conclusively that the CPC program resulted in the economic returns that the analysis revealed. However, the study results strongly suggest that the program produced lasting economic benefits — even for children who completed only part of it.

“These findings suggest that high-quality education programs focused on preschool through the elementary grades may produce long term benefits not only for the children enrolled, but for society as well,” said Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D., director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the NIH institute that funded the study. “The findings also provide evidence that combining early education with job skills training and other instruction for parents also may increase benefits for children.”

The analysis was conducted by Arthur J. Reynolds, Ph.D., Judy A. Temple, Ph.D., Barry A.B. White, M.A., and Suh-Ruu Oh, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and Dylan L. Robertson, Ph.D., of the Chicago Public Schools. Their findings appear in the January-February issue of Child Development.

Funded through Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the CPC program is the second-oldest federally funded preschool program (after Head Start) and the oldest intervention providing co-located preschool-to-third-grade services. CPC facilities, located in or near elementary schools in poor Chicago neighborhoods, are staffed by certified teachers and offer instruction in reading and math, small group activities and educational field trips for children ages 3 through 9. The centers also provide meals and health screening. Center staff offer support services such as parenting or job skills training to parents and encourage them to volunteer in the classroom and to help supervise student field trips.

The researchers analyzed records for more than 1,500 children born in 1979 or 1980. Nearly 1,000 children started attending a CPC at age 3 or 4. The remaining children attended another program, or did not go to preschool. Ninety-three percent of the children in the study were African-American and 7 percent were Hispanic.

“The size of the study and the nature of the program suggest these results can be generalized to other settings,” said James A. Griffin, Ph.D., who leads the Early Learning and School Readiness Program of the Child Development and Behavior Branch of the NICHD. “Although some evidence existed from other studies, these findings add significant weight to the idea that investing in early childhood education has returns for individuals and society.”

High-quality instruction from well-qualified teachers, a high level of parental involvement, availability of family services and a low teacher-to-student ratio were particularly important to the success of the program, Dr. Reynolds explained.

Based on the percentage of students who graduated from high school or college, the researchers projected the earnings of children who attended CPCs by the time they turned 65, compared with students who were not enrolled in CPCs. The figures indicated that those who completed high school would make $277,000 more over their lifetimes than their counterparts who did not.

In addition to calculating the value of increased lifetime earnings, the researchers estimated the sum of taxes paid on these earnings. They also added the value of funds that were not spent for remedial education for students held back a grade; the cost of poor health, injury or treatment for depression; and costs for child welfare services or interaction with the judicial system. From these gains and savings, the researchers subtracted the cost of implementing the CPC program: employing teachers and other staff, providing support services, instructional materials and other supplies, and the cost of field trips.

For children enrolled in CPC for the shortest amount of time — beginning in first or second grade — lifetime benefits were about $4 for every dollar spent, a 10 percent annual return on the initial investment. For those with four to six years in the CPC program (this includes at least one year of preschool, kindergarten, and two or three years in elementary school), the researchers estimated an additional $37,357 of net benefits for each participant by age 26, compared with children enrolled in CPC for only one to three years. Over a lifetime, this represents a return of $8.24 for the participant, the participant’s family and society for every dollar spent on the program. The corresponding annual return on the initial investment was 18 percent.

“Children who were enrolled in the CPC program clearly demonstrated a significant return on the initial investment,” said Dr. Reynolds. “These benefits appear to be derived from early gains made in the CPC program on school readiness, achievement, and parental involvement in the children’s schooling.”

Further analysis of subsets of children indicated that the estimated benefits of attending CPCs for certain groups — boys, children living in neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty, and those from high-risk homes — were higher than for other children. For example, children from the highest poverty neighborhoods had returns four to 10 times higher than children living in less disadvantaged areas. Factors included in the evaluation of high-risk homes included parents’ age, income and educational level.

The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute’s Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation’s Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) The Heart Truth campaign will once again bring the Red Dress to life on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, with the debut of the Red Dress Collection 2011. For the first time, the event will be held at Lincoln Center. More than 20 celebrity participants will display the power of the Red Dress, and encourage women to protect their heart health and take action to lower their risk for heart disease.

Heart disease awareness in women has doubled in the last 12 years, and the awareness gap between older and younger women is narrowing. Data also show that women are taking preventive actions. Women who know that heart disease is the leading cause of death are more likely to be physically active and try to lose excess weight.

“Women of all ages are paying attention and choosing to take charge of their heart health,” said Susan Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NHLBI, which has long been at the forefront of women’s heart disease research and the translation of that research into knowledge that directly reaches women. “Women in their 20s and 30s have the power to protect their hearts from later development of disease by adopting simple changes, such as eating well, being physically active, not smoking, and keeping a healthy weight.”

Although heart disease awareness is on the rise, one-third of women still underestimate their own risk for heart disease. Only 16 percent recognize heart disease as the greatest health problem facing women.

To help American women continue to improve their knowledge of heart disease and become further empowered to take action, the NHLBI and its partners will host a number of activities during American Heart Month as part of The Heart Truth campaign.

National Wear Red Day: Friday, Feb. 4

The Heart Truth organizers will again sponsor National Wear Red Day, when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. This year, the campaign is encouraging participants to snap a picture of themselves or a group and share their action steps online to support heart health.

Red Dress Fashion Show: Wednesday, Feb. 9

The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection 2011 will open Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. More than 20 celebrity participants will showcase the power of the Red Dress to encourage women to take action to protect their heart health. Featuring nearly 70 top fashion houses and 150 celebrities since its inception, this annual event — made possible through a partnership with the fashion industry — has helped to establish the Red Dress as one of the most recognizable health symbols in the country.

This year’s Red Dress Collection is presented by Diet Coke with national sponsor Swarovski and partners Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and AOL.

“For four years, Diet Coke has been a passionate supporter of The Heart Truth. This year we’re offering consumers more ways than ever to participate in the effort. We invite consumers nationwide to join us in capturing flags to help raise awareness and funding for heart health programs,” said William White, group director of Coke North America. “We are dedicated to encouraging new generations of people to be active, stay extraordinary and become advocates for heart health.”

Celebrity participants in this year’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Show include: The Biggest Loser’s Alison Sweeney, Today Show host Ann Curry, The Good Wife’s Archie Punjabi, reality television star Audrina Patridge, So You Think You Can Dance’s Cat Deeley, television actress and Cover Girl Dania Ramirez, actress and former fashion model Denise Richards, actress and burlesque artist Dita Von Teese, Californication’s Eva Amurri, recording artist Eve, actress and model Garcelle Beauvais, talk show host Gayle King, E! anchor Giuliana Rancic, singer and actress Julianne Hough, former professional boxer Laila Ali, television and screen actress Linda Gray, singer Patti LaBelle, Law & Order: SVU’s Stephanie March, Three’s Company/Step by Step actress Suzanne Somers, and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson. *

Participating designers in the 2011 Collection include: Alberta Ferretti, Badgley Mischka, Catherine Malandrino, Carmen Marc Valvo, Chris Benz, Daniel Swarovski, David Meister, Donna Karan, Ina Soltani, Matthew Williamson, Monique Lhuillier, Naeem Khan, Notte by Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Pamella Roland, A Pea in the Pod, Tadashi Shoji, Tracy Reese, Zac Posen, and Zang Toi.

Panel Discussion on Women and Heart Disease: Tuesday, Feb. 8

A special panel discussion, In the Prime of her Life: An Update on Women and Cardiovascular Disease, will be held at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. In addition to Dr. Shurin, the event will feature Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic and associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. Other panel participants include the NHLBI’s Nakela Cook, M.D., and Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, M.D.

Following the discussion and a lunch reception, audience members can continue the conversation with heart disease survivors.

The Paley Center for Media is at 25 West 52 Street, New York, NY 10019. To see all participating experts and a schedule of events, visit www.mayoclinic.org/news/heartdiseasemediabriefing.html.

Community Action Grants: Tuesday, Feb. 1

For the fourth consecutive year, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) will award grants across the United States to help communities encourage heart disease awareness and foster action, especially among women of color, women with low incomes, and women who live in rural areas.

This year’s recipients include:

• Cardiology Associates Foundation, Jonesboro, Ark.
• YWCA Middle Rio Grande, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Wheaton Franciscan St. Joseph, Glendale, Wis.
• SWAH Empowerment, Inc., Sparta, Ga.
• The Hope Heart Institute, Bellevue,Wash.
• Community Health Network Foundation, Berlin, Wis.
• Covenant Health, Knoxville, Tenn.

To date, 23 grants have been awarded by the FNIH as part of a public-private partnership with the NHLBI in support of The Heart Truth. Funding for the grants is provided by partners of The Heart Truth.

Red Dress Auction

For the third year in a row, The Heart Truth is partnering with Clothes Off Our Back, an organization that hosts charity auctions with proceeds benefitting children’s charities, to drive awareness of heart disease in women through an online auction. The auction features a selection of designer dresses and jewelry worn by celebrities in The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Show. The auction kicked off in January with an opportunity to win two tickets to this year’s fashion show. Items will continue to be auctioned off through early March. For more details, visit www.clothesoffourback.org. Proceeds will benefit the FNIH in support of women’s heart health education and research.

For additional information, visit www.hearttruth.gov or email your inquiry to media@hearttruth.org.

Please Note:
* Participants in The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection 2011 Fashion Show were confirmed at time of release and are subject to change.

About The Heart Truth

The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease and is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, the NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

The centerpiece of The Heart Truth is the Red Dress, which was introduced as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 by the NHLBI. The Red Dress® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action. To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation’s Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

The Heart Truth, its logo, and The Red Dress are registered trademarks of HHS.
National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and the American Heart Association.

Resources:

• February 2010, Journal of the American Heart Association, “Twelve-Year Follow-Up of American Women’s Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Barriers to Heart Health.” Abstract available at: http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/early/2010/02/10/CIRCOUTCOMES.109.915538.short
• Heart Disease in Women: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hdw/hdw_whatis.html
• What is heart disease? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hdw/hdw_whatis.html
• The Heart Truth campaign website: www.hearttruth.gov

Scientists have developed a new tuberculosis vaccine that targets proteins from both early and later stages of the disease. The new vaccine, called H56, prevents TB in infected mice more effectively than the current vaccine. These findings offer hope for a better defense against the disease, which kills nearly 2 million people every year. TB is a bacterial infection of the lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. A vaccine called Bacille Calmette Guerin, or BCG, is currently used against TB. However, BCG is not completely effective, and can’t prevent reactivation of latent TB in people who carry the bacterium but don’t have disease symptoms.

Dr. Claus Aagaard and Dr. Peter Andersen at the Staten Serum Institut in Denmark, supported by an international team of collaborators, hypothesized that a vaccine targeting both the active and latent stages of TB might give better protection. They created a triple fusion protein called H56. It combines 2 proteins that the bacteria produces in the early stages of infection with another produced during later-stage infection. The study was funded by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information see http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/january2011/01312011tuberculosis.htm

Just last month, the President signed a bill that provides a temporary extension of unemployment benefits for those who are still out of work and have, or were about to, become ineligible for further unemployment benefits. But if you’re struggling, like the other 15.1 million Americans starting out 2011 in the unemployment line, you should know that more government help is out there. Benefits.gov and CareerOneStop.org offer a variety of programs and free, easy-to-use tools to help guide you to reemployment.

CareerOneStop.org, a grant-funded government program within the U.S. Department of Labor, is a resource for anyone who is out of work, looking for training, interested in changing careers or furthering their education.

The CareerOneStop Worker ReEmployment website is dedicated to assisting the unemployed with everything from answering questions about complex unemployment benefits, to suggesting other government resources for those in need of help with childcare, groceries, or any other necessities.

CareerOneStop’s Job Search website is a one-stop shop for every stage of your job search. Here, you can get help preparing for your search, find state job banks and recruiting and staffing services, get tips on how to apply for jobs you’re interested in and read guidance on how to handle an offer.

If the New Year means that you’re looking to start over, try CareerOneStop’s mySkills myFuture website to match your current skills with a new career! You can also find a local One-Stop Career Center by using the America’s Service Locator.

Whether you are unemployed or just looking for help to make ends meet, visit Benefits.gov to use our confidential Benefit Finder for a personalized list of the Federal and state programs you may be eligible to receive from over 1,000 on the site.

You can also browse our “Career Development Assistance” category page for a list of government assistance programs that may help you move one step closer to turning unemployment into reemployment.

Share of Cost, For The First Time In Resveratrol Biology Longevinex Exhibits L-Shaped Safety Curve: It was Paracelsus, the Renaissance physician (1493-1541 A.D.) who first said “the dose makes the poison.” So, you can drink too much wine, or ingest too much resveratrol, but in an unprecedented study, heart researchers report they couldn’t find a toxic dose for Longevinex®, a resveratrol-based dietary supplement.