<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…

• 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
• …

• 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)…

• 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…

• 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…

• 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…

• Naltrexone is a prescription medication taken by mouth that helps reduce drinking in alcoholics
• Naltrexone is quickly metabolized in humans by the liver to a metabolite called 6-beta naltrexol
• Researchers have provided the first direct evidence that 6-beta naltrexol may…

• Longer stays in alcohol and drug treatment lead to better post-treatment results
• Factors leading to a successful stay in treatment seem to differ by gender
• For women, staying in treatment was predicted by being unemployed, being married, having higher incomes, and having…

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) leads to strokes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease
• Chronic alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for hypertension
• The human and mouse genomes share a high similarity in their makeup
• A study has found that one…

<UL>
<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…