New IOM report links Agent Orange exposure to risk of birth defect in Vietnam Vets' children
Article Abstract:
The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) has concluded that there is some evidence suggesting that children of Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may have a higher risk of spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect characterized by incomplete closure of the spinal column. The IOM report is the second biennial report mandated by Congress in the Agent Orange Act of 1991. The link between Agent Orange and spina bifida comes from studies such as Operation Ranch Hand, which revealed that the incidence of spina bifida in children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange was 4 cases per 1,000 births compared to the incidence in the general population of 5 cases per 10,000 births. The report also confirmed that there is some evidence suggesting that exposure to Agent Orange may be linked to peripheral nerve disorders, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma and cancer of the respiratory tract.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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Clues found to tobacco addiction
Article Abstract:
An unidentified chemical in cigarette smoke appears to inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO B), which breaks down the neurotransmitter dopamine. This would lead to an increase in dopamine, which is involved in feelings of pleasure. A 1996 study found that brain MAO B levels in smokers were about 40% lower than in nonsmokers. Nicotine also causes dopamine levels to increase, so the two chemicals could work together to cause increased dopamine levels. This would explain why cigarettes are addicting and why so many drug addicts are smokers. Cigarettes could be a gateway drug that leads to the use of other addictive substances. The MAO B inhibition caused by cigarettes could also explain why smokers are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease, a disorder caused by decreased dopamine levels. MAO inhibitors used to treat Parkinson's disease could also help many smokers quit.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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A "Safer" Cigarette? Prove It, Say Critics
Article Abstract:
R. J. Reynolds has introduced a new type of cigarette that may reduce the risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases among smokers. Sold under the brand name Eclipse, the cigarette only heats the tobacco rather than burning it. According to the company, smoke from the cigarette contains lower levels of carcinogens than conventional cigarettes. However, nicotine has adverse effects on the heart. The cigarette also contains glass fibers that could be inhaled into the lungs. The announcement prompted the leaders of health advocacy groups to urge Congress to pass legislation giving the FDA the power to regulate cigarettes.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2000
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