 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Community Info Health News
 How To Reach Us: St. Louis Front Page Community News P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 http://www.slfp.com Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com  |
 |
McDonnell Foundation Awards Grants for Research Linking Brain and Behavior ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 2, 2002 - The officers of the St. Louis-based James S. McDonnell Foundation have awarded three grants totaling over $695,000 for research. The awards extend the Foundation's ongoing funding program, The 21st Century Science Initiative. Now in its third year, the 21st Century Science Initiative awards two types of grants in three program areas: Bridging Brain, Mind, Behavior, Brain Cancer Research and Studying Complex Systems. In a statement, Foundation Vice President, Dr. Susan Fitzpatrick, said "The Foundation's programs derive from James S McDonnell's vision that progress comes when research and scholarship pushes the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding forward. The 21st Century Science Initiative gives scientists the resources and flexibility needed to tackle tough problems." The three new collaborative activity awards, supporting multidisciplinary teams of scientists are in the category of Bridging Brain, Mind and Behavior. They are: New School University, New York, New York $104,950 over one year in support of a collaborative research team studying how memories of significant and/or traumatic events are altered over time. In the aftermath of the horrific events of September 11, the psychology research community has a key opportunity to better understand how individual and collective memories are influenced by a tragedy of unprecedented magnitude. Experts in the study of memory, William Hirst of New School University and Elizabeth Phelps of New York University, will lead the team. They have formed a national consortium of memory researchers who will study how individual memories of this event were formed and changed over time through surveys and data analysis of 1,500 participants. State University of New Jersey - Rutgers, Newark, New Jersey $310,000 over three years, to support a multi-institutional, multi-national collaborative study investigating the neural substrates of category learning. The team involved is a diverse group of researchers who whose shared expertise should improve the design of experiments and their ultimate interpretation. The cognitive tasks used to probe category learning provide researchers with a well-characterized behavior linking neurology, psychology, and behavioral science. In addition, a special initiative grant was awarded for research supporting the development of experimental approaches important for furthering the aims of the Bridging Brain, Mind, and Behavior program. Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis $590,198 over three years to establish new ways of studying neural connectivity in transgenic mice models. The researchers plan to improve transgenic and imaging technology which will refine current research capabilities.  St. Louis Ranks 24th in Spring Allergy Cities ST. LOUIS, (NEWSTREAM), March 30, 2002 - The mild winter and recent warm weather means spring allergy season is in "full bloom" across much of the nation. For the 40 million Americans who suffer from nasal allergies, the early spring could mean more severe symptoms than in years past.
It is estimated that over 687,735 people in St. Louis, MO, which ranks 24th, will suffer from spring allergens including Birch, Box Elder and Oak. Over 1,591,727 in San Francisco, which ranks 6th, will suffer from Elm, Alder and Oak. In Tampa, FL, 765,834 will suffer from Grass, Oak and Cedar. "Ideally, you should try to avoid allergens but this isn't always a realistic option, especially when you're surrounded by airborne allergens such as pollen," explains Dr. Robert Overholt, an allergist with a private practice in Knoxville, TN, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Fortunately, there are effective medications to treat nasal allergies and relieve those bothersome symptoms," added Dr. Overholt. According to the World Health Organization and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, anti-inflammatory nasal sprays (also known as intranasal corticosteroids) are considered a first-line therapy for allergic rhinitis (or nasal allergies). Experts recognize intranasal corticosteroids as a highly effective medication class for controlling nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The first step in the management of nasal allergies is avoidance when possible. Dr. Overholt suggests some practical tips, such as: 1) When the pollen count is exceptionally high, spend more time indoors, in an air-conditioned room; 2) When driving, keep your car windows closed and your air-conditioner on; 3) Avoid walks through parks or gardens and hiking through the woods. For those people with nasal allergy symptoms, Dr. Overholt recommends seeing an allergy specialist, who may prescribe medication, such as antihistamines, decongestants and/or intranasal corticosteroids to help allergy sufferers find relief even in the worst allergy seasons. According to Multidata/SDI,13 of the 100 markets evaluated, the Top 25 Worst Spring Allergy Cities based on the most prevalent spring allergens and the percentage of population affected are, in order: Rank, City, Predominant Pollens, Population Affected By Allergies. 1 Tampa, FL, Grass, Oak, Cedar, 765,834 2 Louisville, KY Grass, Oak, Box Elder 347,588 3 Orlando, FL Oak, Cedar, Grass 592,088 4 Rochester, NY Birch, Oak, Ash 214,076 5 Greensboro, NC Birch, Oak, Hickory 321,768 6 San Francisco, CA Elm, Alder, Oak 1,591,727 7 Las Vegas, NV Elm, Alder, Grass 356,166 8 Austin, TX Cedar, Oak, Grass 321,509 9 Little Rock, AR Oak, Hickory, Grass 343,143 10 Savannah, GA Birch, Oak, Hickory 164,295 11 Dallas, TX Cedar, Oak, Grass 1,401,839 12 Wilmington, DE Birch, Box Elder, Oak 73,139 13 Greenville, SC Oak, Hickory, Birch 416,106 14 Charleston, WV Birch, Box Elder, Oak 277,950 15 Seattle, WA Ash, Birch, Alder 976,385 16 Cincinnati, OH Birch, Box Elder, Oak 441,664 17 Tulsa, OK Cedar, Oak, Grass 329,906 18 Indianapolis, IN Birch, Oak, Box Elder 511,910 19 Charlotte, NC Oak, Hickory, Birch 485,704 20 Knoxville, TN Oak, Hickory, Birch 266,050 21 Nashville, TN Oak, Hickory, Birch 491,970 22 Dayton, OH Birch, Box Elder, Oak 274,804 23 Lubbock, TX Cedar, Oak, Grass 108,447 24 St. Louis, MO Birch, Box Elder, Oak 687,735 25 Washington, DC Oak, Ash, Birch 1,150,386 Archived Stories: St. Louis is Ranked Ninth Fattest City Kids Not as Healthy and Fit as They Could Be Asthma Is A Growing Concern in St. Louis More Americans Change Their Eating Habits Due to Heath and Nutrition Concerns TFTC Challenges Comfrey Products Promoted via Internet What's the Difference Between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke? Think Sparklers Are Safe? Think Again, Says SLUCare Opthalmologist Four-day Local Pollen Forecast Desktop Tool Helps Allergy Suffers Electronic Meal and Health Management Tool  The SLFP.com - Community Info is presented in conjunction with the St. Louis Front Page and Southwest Illinois News. The sites are owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan St. Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group . |
|
 www.slfp.com |
