HEALTH BRIEFING:SMOKING SHOULD be considered an "important" risk factor for schizophrenia, a scientist has claimed.
Prof Boris Quednow of the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Switzerland led new research suggesting smoking increases the impact of schizophrenia genes. Healthy smokers carrying the gene variants responded to an “acoustic stimuli” test in the same way as individuals suffering from the serious mental disorder. The effect appeared to be stronger the more a person smoked.
The study involved more than 1,800 participants who underwent a simple test which involves listening to a sequence of similar clicks.
Brainwave measurements show most people suppress other, irrelevant, stimuli while processing the sounds. Patients with schizophrenia appear to lack this filtering mechanism. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Use of symbol could make donation easier for families
THE PROPOSED inclusion of an organ donor symbol on the new single European driving licence and on the new Irish public service card could make organ donation a simpler and much less traumatic event for families, according to those working in the area.
Although 2011 was a landmark year for organ donation in Ireland, Irish Kidney Association chief executive Mark Murphy said in the future the organ donor logo – indicating an individual’s willingness to be considered for donation – could become a feature of driver’s licences, public service cards, and credit and debit cards.
According to Prof Aiden McCormick of the national liver transplant unit at St Vincent’s Hospital, under the proposal for driver’s licences being considered by the European Commission, an organ donor symbol would be incorporated onto the front of the new laminated licence which will replace the many different styles of licence currently in use in EU member states. “The old driver’s licence has an optional consent to organ donation on the back which was rarely used, but this new system would show at a glance whether a person had indicated that they wished to be an organ donor.”
He said it was important to emphasise that ticking an organ donor symbol on a driver’s licence was not binding or irrevocable, but was an indication of a person’s willingness to be considered. The decision still rested with the next-of-kin.
The Irish Kidney Association is proposing the donor symbol should be included on the public service card which will be given by the Department of Social Protection to hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens by the end of this year. No decision has been made on this proposal.
‘Heart age’ and better food choices spur NUIG apps
CALCULATING ONE'S "heart age" and making healthier food choices are the focus of two mobile phone apps devised by an NUI Galway (NUIG) medical student, writes Lorna Siggins.
Fourth-year medical student Mike McNamara from Ennis, Co Clare, has developed the apps in collaboration with west of Ireland heart and stroke charity Croí. Croí FoodWise uses a “traffic light system” to inform people of their food shopping choices. Users can compare the information on the food label with the values assigned to the colours red (unhealthy choice), or amber and green (healthy choice).
The second app, Croí HeartWise, enables users to calculate heart age by inputting simple information. Dietary and alcohol consumption patterns can be tracked and smoking habits monitored, and this app will calculate how much money can be saved if one quits smoking altogether. A detailed physical activity tracker ensures the user can meet the recommended weekly level of exercise.
The apps are free to download from the App store onto the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices.