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A strange group of fossil mammals, heretofore only known in South America, has been discovered on the island of Madagascar and in India. The unexpected discoveries were announced in this week's issue of the journal Nature by an international team of researchers. The team was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by paleontologist David Krause of the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

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In an effort to expand its work in one of the most critical areas facing social work professionals, the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work has established the National Research and Training Center on Social Work and HIV/AIDS.

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Aviron announced today, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Biologicals of Rixensart, Belgium, the start of a Phase I clinical trial of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Epstein-Barr virus belongs to the herpes virus family and is the cause of infectious mononucleosis.

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Immune system function is decreased in alcoholics and alcohol abusers with liver disease, making them more susceptible to infections and disease. Recent research done at the University of Iowa suggests that alcohol, rather than the liver disease, is largely responsible for the decrease in immune system function -- perhaps by decreasing the number of immune system cells. Sporadic alcohol intake, or binge drinking, may contribute to that cell loss, according to Dr. Robert Cook, professor of pathology at the UI College of Medicine and Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

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Researchers reported today that a new cancer treatment called proton beam therapy significantly increased the long-term control of some cancers compared to conventional radiation therapy, and that plans for larger trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are being developed.

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New research presented today argues for more widespread use of a technology, studies come on the heels of an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that it is accelerating its review of uses for this technology, which is known as PET, or positron emission tomography.

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A noninvasive radiosurgical technique may ultimately replace surgery for many patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders whose symptoms cannot be controlled by medicine, according to results of a preliminary study presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Today's larger, lighter television sets can pose a serious risk to young children who may be crushed or otherwise seriously injured when they pull the TVs off their stands, according to two studies presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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BOSTON, Mass. (Dec. 8, 1997) ó A number of new anti-epileptic drugs introduced in the last several years are providing millions of epilepsy patients with new hope for this often devastating disorder. Which drugs work when ó and for whom ó will be part of the discussion at the 1997 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) Dec. 5ñ10 at The Westin Copley Place in Boston.

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Some injuries are so closely associated with the activities that give rise to them -- from "tennis elbow" to "preacher's knee" and "snowboarder's ankle" -- that their scientific names have been eclipsed by their more common descriptive names, even among medical professionals. Some interesting and unusual eponyms for occupational and sports-related injuries -- and how they are diagnosed -- were presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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The most common test used to diagnose blocked arteries in the heart -- coronary angiogram -- is being challenged by a safe, painless and less expensive technology that researchers say may soon be widely available.

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Mayo Clinic News Briefs: 1) Pacemaker-like Procedure Helps Painful Nerve Problems; 2) Outcome Study Documents the Effectiveness of Breast Reduction; 3) Artificial Sphincter Helps People with Urinary Incontinence; 4) Telemedicine Useful for Speech Disorders

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A recent advance in vaccine technology, the DNA vaccination, will offer new safer and chaper vaccines and may revolutionize the practice of human immunization, says a report released by the American Academy of Microbiology.

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Calcium channel blockers and certain kinds of diuretics are associated with brain damage and memory loss, according to a report in today's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society -- another in a string of adverse findings about calcium channel blockers. The latest results come from an analysis of participants with high blood pressure in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), the largest study ever of the natural progression of heart disease and stroke in the elderly.

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Current controversies in breast cancer are explored in this issue, including: cost-effectiveness of mammography screening; benefits of screening versus risk of death from breast cancer; gender politics role in the screening debate; and the need for screening in women under 40; appropriate treatments for breast cancer in situ and an article debating the need for high-risk women to undergo hormone replacement therapy.

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-- For people undergoing balloon angioplasty to reopen disease-clogged blood vessels to the heart, the best insurance policy against needing the more serious coronary artery bypass surgery months or years later, may be the timely insertion of small flexible metal coils called "stents," say researchers today in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

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For the first time, in a large study, researchers have linked an exaggerated response to mental stress to blood vessel blockages that can trigger heart attacks and strokes. The findings appear in today's American Heart Association journal Circulation.

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The misdiagnosis of heart attack and other life-threatening conditions in emergency rooms can be dramatically decreased and millions in health care dollars saved by performing prompt radiologic imaging of patients with chest pain before they are admitted to the hospital. Information on the topic was presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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An important radiological study shows for the first time that the new protease inhibitor drugs for AIDS not only can halt the progression of brain disease caused by the HIV virus as seen on brain scans, but in some cases may reverse it.

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The cause of wrist pain some golfers experience that is not diagnosed with x-rays may well be due to stress fractures, according to researchers who are finding the tiny breaks with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Their study on the cause of "golfer's wrist" is being presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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The use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to diagnose the cause of unexplained headaches can be cost-effective for society -- even when the MR findings are negative, according to information presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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For the 23 million Americans who suffer from the debilitating effects of migraine, a new drug may offer relief. ZOMIG (zolmitriptan) 2.5mg. and 5.0mg. tablets, an oral medication for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults, was cleared for marketing today in the United States.

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A widely available digital technology that can be adapted to create 3-D pictures of the breast is showing promise in ruling out breast cancer in women who have had suspicious findings on mammograms, and may help avoid surgical biopsies. Information on the technology was presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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On the heels of a National Cancer Institute recommendation that women 40 and older have regular mammograms, two studies suggest annual mammography screening for breast cancer is not only safe but cost-effective. The studies were presented here today at the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Criteria commonly used to determine whether people at risk for stroke should have surgery or drug therapy may underestimate the risk in women, while overestimating it in men, according to information presented here today during the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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Pregnant women not only expect prenatal ultrasound, they are so anxious to have it done they are willing to pay for it themselves, according to a survey presented here today at the 83rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

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The blood brain barrier has long been regarded as the body's most formidable gatekeeper. It is a virtual fortress of blood vessels that forms a protective barrier between the blood and brain, screening any chemical that attempts to access the brain's inner sanctum. But the blood brain barrier's protective role can be a drawback, as it also blocks access to substances that would be good for the brain. One such substance is vitamin C, an antioxidant that is essential to keep the central nervous system functioning properly.

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Two AHCPR-funded research projects appear in the November 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The first study is about the use of insulin in the management of type-2 diabetes. The other is about treating chest pain effectively without a costly hospital admission.

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The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) is consolidating two existing components to create the Center for Practice and Technology Assessment (CPTA), which will oversee the Agency's Evidence-based Practice Program. CPTA will house the existing Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, and will include the functions of the previous Center for Health Care Technology. The consolidation, designed to improve efficiency, is being announced in today's Federal Register.

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Five new papers supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) present findings and suggestions that could be used to improve the quality of medical care.

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A new report released by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) finds that smoking cessation interventions are cost-effective. While all types of cessation treatment were found to be cost-effective, those involving more intensive counseling and the nicotine patch proved to be especially worthwhile. Smoking cessation interventions are less costly than other preventive medical interventions such as the treatment of high cholesterol.

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New Scientist Tip Sheet for 11-26-97

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A physician reporting at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting this week will describe how the Digital Holographyô System from VoxelÆ (NASDAQ:VOXL) improves display of cerebral vasculature and reduces or eliminates image artifacts in patients with surgical hardware. Additionally, Voxel will introduce software for previewing three-dimensional holograms on a computer.

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When it comes to lung cancer diagnosis sometimes less is more, even in the high-tech world of medicine. That is the message of a University of Iowa study showing that the analysis of sputum -- a low-cost, low-risk method for detecting lung cancer -- makes more sense as an initial diagnostic test for many patients than the more expensive invasive methods. In addition, the potential national savings in testing costs with the adoption of sputum analysis would be at least $30 million per year.

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You are invited to cover the AHA's 23rd International Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation, which will be held February 5-7, 1998 at the Omni Rosen in Orlando. This is the largest conference in the world that draws together medical scientists and physicians engaged in research and treatment of stroke, the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious disability. More than 1,500 scientists are expected to attend from the United States and other nations

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Tips related to chem/bio warfare 1. Chemical microsensors detect signs of munitions or toxins. 2. PCR technology tell if pathogens are natural outbreak -- or not. 3. Acoustic signature reveals container contents. 4. Modeling bioagent dispersals in urban settings. 5. A lab tool for bioanalysis is now used in the field by the Army. 6. Remote detection technology aids defense against terrorism.

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Research on women in management positions suggests that women are cracking, but still rarely breaking through, the corporate "glass ceiling." The study, co-authored by Jodi S. Goodman, assistant professor of organizational behavior at Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management, notes that only 3 percent to 5 percent of top managers are women.

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A Purdue biochemist has identified plant genes that could soon help the wood industry produce paper with less waste and livestock get more nutrition out of their feed.

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While identifying a new cancer-fighting tumor suppressor gene called ARF, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have made another, potentially more far-reaching discovery, that a single genetic locus called INK4a encodes protein products that regulate the most frequently targeted biochemical pathways in human cancers.

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Cornell University Professor of Human Development Ritch Savin-Williams analyzes developmental milestones and turning points of 180 gay young men with generous excerpts from their poignant and diverse personal stories.

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December Online Tipsheet from the American Psychiatric Association: 1) Antidepressants and Sexual Dysfunction: Women Fare Better than Men, 2) Child Abuse Linked to Multiple Personality Disorder, 3) Poor Quality of Life for PTSD Vietnam Vets, 4) ECT Effective Among Elderly, 5) Public and Private Health System Treatment Both Work for Children

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The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has established a program to conduct research and demonstrate technologies related to fine particle matter, an air pollutant that affects human health and the environment.

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A recent discovery by a team of scientists, working in part through the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Center for Biological Timing, challenges the strongly-held belief that 24-hour rhythms (biological clocks) are centrally controlled by the brain.

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People with type 2 diabetes are routinely encouraged to strictly control their blood sugar at near-normal levels, but a new study indicates this is extremely difficult to do through conventional use of insulin. The study evaluates how effective, safe and costly insulin treatment is in a typical setting.

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1) Scientists demonstrate new need to preserve biodiversity, 2) U.S. Research and Development (R&D) expenditures exceed expectations, 3) Carbon, not sulfate, prevails in polluted D.C. air

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Newly Released Study Recommends Genetic Testing of Gynecologic Cancer Victims in this High Risk Group, Regardless of Family History

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On Dec. 1, more than 100 countries will send delegations to the United Nations Kyoto Conference of the Parties to discuss limiting greenhouse gas emissions. North Carolina State University experts have researched this important environmental issue, taken part in worldwide conferences debating the actions needed to help ensure the world's environmental health, and have studied the policies motivating the politics. Call on them if you'd like to localize your coverage of the Kyoto Conference.

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The University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center has developed a home health monitoring system that allows older patients to test their own blood at home and transmit the results electronically to the hospital.

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An ancient type of marine community typical of 450 million years ago has resurfaced in Antarctic fossils of near-modern age. A National Science Foundation-sponsored expedition to Seymour Island off the Antarctic Peninsula unearthed an ecological anomaly: fossil communities only 40-million-years-old dominated by brittle stars and sea lilies (marine invertebrates like starfish).

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A new University of Michigan spin-off company---IntraLase Corporation---will develop and market a new generation of lasers for high-precision medical applications. The lasers will cut delicate structures, such as the cornea of the eye, while avoiding damage to overlying or adjacent tissue---something not possible with current clinical laser technology.