Lifelines is compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson.
• HEART RISK: People who have experienced trauma could be up to six times more likely to have a heart attack, according to research presented at a recent conference in the US. The study looked at 12 cases involving 50,000 people exposed to urban disasters, war, child abuse and sexual assault.
In one particular study of 2,490 veterans from the Vietnam war, 54 had post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 30 of whom had had a heart attack.
• DIET THREAT: Insufficient physical activity and poor diet could soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death in the US. A comprehensive study of mortality data has shown that the numbers of deaths caused by poor diet and physical inactivity has almost matched that caused by tobacco.
Researchers expect the situation to worsen as the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity means that deaths related to it are likely to increase substantially in the next few years.
• DIARRHOEA VACCINE: A new vaccine to protect travellers from diarrhoea has shown good results in trials. The vaccine, taken as a drink, is designed to protect against the most common causes of diarrhoea.
Tests to date have indicated the vaccine is safe. One dose was enough to trigger immune activity in about 50 per cent of recipients; while two doses resulted in about 70 per cent protection. The vaccine is made from inactive salmonella bacteria combined with chemicals from the E. coli bug.
• RIGHT FOOD: 'The ethics of eating' is the provocative title of a conference in the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin tomorrow. Patrick O'Reilly, director of GM food producer Monsanto Ireland, will face Green Party MEP, Nuala Ahern in a debate on GM food technology. Dr Patrick Wall will present recent research on the growing obesity crisis and Tom Arnold from the UN Task Force on Hunger will speak about the ethics, politics and policies of world hunger.
Registration on tel: 01 6764222 or email g.mclean@rai.ie