<UL>
<LI>Prenatal alcohol exposure remains the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States</LI>
<LI>Children prenatally exposed to alcohol demonstrate distinct deficits in social and adaptive behavior</LI>
<LI>Researchers have…

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<LI>A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) indicates both a level of intoxication and severity of toxicity</LI>
<LI>Nicotine can significantly reduce the peak BAC among newborn rodents</LI>
<LI>People who drink and smoke at the same time…

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single largest killer of U.S. males and females
• CHD is caused by partial or complete clogging of the coronary arteries that nourish the heart
• Atherosclerosis refers to the accumulation of fatty streak lesions in the coronary arteries…

• In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration approved naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism
• It has since proven to be highly effective for many in recovery, but it does not work for everyone
• A recent study has found that individual metabolism may be a factor in…

• The first step in the metabolism of alcohol is its conversion to acetaldehyde (AcHO)
• AcHO is a highly reactive and toxic chemical that can damage the cells of all living things
• In adults, AcHO is blocked from entering the brain
• The prenatal brain may metabolize…

• The brain is a critical organ system through which alcohol’s effects can lead to intoxication, tolerance and dependence
• Scientists have found a new means to measure directly alcohol concentrations throughout the brain
• The technology is called proton (¹H)…

• Most health campaigns recommend abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy
• Some women nonetheless continue to drink at relatively high levels while pregnant
• This study examines two groups considered most at-risk: American Indians and African Americans
• …

• Adolescence is a time when many begin experimenting with alcohol
• Some adolescents binge drink, that is, drink heavily during a short period of time
• Adolescent brains may be particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol
• Binge drinking during…

• Much of the human body, including the brain, is composed of water
• Sophisticated technology called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is sensitive to water in the body
• Using DTI in a new way, researchers can track water molecules in the brain to examine alcohol’s damaging…

• Numerous studies have shown a link between job stress, job strain and health outcomes
• In general, bus drivers have poorer health than workers in other occupations
• Recent findings show that some bus drivers use after-hours alcohol to cope with work-related stress
…