| Genes behind drug addiction tracked
Chinese scientists have found a way to track genes and biological pathways linked to drug addiction, unraveling potential ways to treat drug abuse and disorders.
"We have found 396 addiction-related genes and identified five pathways that are common to addiction to four different substances: cocaine, opium, nicotine and alcohol," the director of the center for bioinformatics of the life science college under Peking University, Wei Liping, told China Daily yesterday.
"The research provides a more complete picture of drug addiction, as genetic factors contribute to about 60 percent of the vulnerability to drug addiction," she said.
Wei said identifying common pathways meant that treatment targeting these pathways may be more effective for a wide range of addictive disorders.
Brit’s an indisputable drug addict
It seems almost everyone has an opinion about Britney Spears' fall from pop grace. “Loveline" host Dr. Drew Pinsky recently joined the chorus in an interview with Us Weekly. The addiction-medicine specialist shared his informed opinion on what's wrong in Brit's life and whether or not there's still hope for the singer. “(Britney) is a drug addict," Dr. Drew insisted. “It is an indisputable point." To back up his claim, he told Us, “We know that she is a drug addict because she's been admitted to a treatment center. You can't be admitted unless you've met criteria for addiction." When asked if Brit's problems could be traced to attaining pop success at such an early age, Dr. Drew wouldn't entertain the blame game. “Her mental health has almost nothing to do with her career." But he does believe her mega-stardom makes it harder to help her.
Addiction genes can be tracked
NEW DELHI: Chinese scientists have devised a novel technique to identify genes and other biological pathways associated with drug addiction.
Their work attains significance as it may pave the way for potential ways to treat drug abuse and disorders.
"We have found 396 addiction-related genes and identified five pathways that are common to addiction to four different substances: cocaine, opium, nicotine and alcohol," the China Daily quoted Wei Liping, the director of the centre for bioinformatics of the life science college under Peking University, as saying.
"The research provides a more complete picture of drug addiction, as genetic factors contribute to about 60 per cent of the vulnerability to drug addiction," she said.
She said that tracking common pathways gives the hope that the effectiveness of therapies that target such pathways may be boosted to treat a wide range of addictive disorders.
New Pete Drama
Pete Doherty's making headlines again. And it ain't his music that's being talked about. The Sun newspaper has published shocking pictures, allegedly of Pete. The grainy pictures show a brunette-haired man injecting himself with a substance, which the paper alleges is heroin. The paper claims the pictures were taken at Pete's home, hours after the MTV European Music Awards in Germany. When contacted by Sky Showbiz about the images, Pete's management said: "No comment." Meanwhile, Pete is featured in the latest edition of NME magazine, telling them his chances of staying out of trouble with the law are "slim". Pete, who recently completed a stint in rehab, told NME: "It's hard work.
PNG women must stay united
The editorial did not seem to reflect that attitude at all and I thought that is another case for women to keep their own counsel and strengthen their resolve and make sure that they present a united front.
I feel compelled to congratulate the Prime Minister and his Deputy for the very brave stand they have made on this issue. Yes, there is some sense to what Mr Nape argues about no special treatment for women but they have had it so bad for millenniums and our own culture is so heavily masochistic that a special treatment is not a special favor but a must if we are to see woman advancing into decision making positions in PNG.
As Dame Carol said this was a short-term stop gap measure. Come 2011, it is hoped the laws are changed so that women are given a certain number of seats reserved in Parliament for them.
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