Fed: Check Up Column for Friday, December 29, 2006

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2006
Fed: Check Up Column for Friday, December 29, 2006



A ROUND-UP OF ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH



COMMON PARASITE ALTERS SEX BEHAVIOUR

Around eight million Australians are infected with a common parasite that makes women
more attractive and men more stupid, new research has revealed.

The Toxoplasma gondii parasite is common to 40 per cent of the world's population and
has long been thought to have no affect on healthy people.

But new research by the Sydney University of Technology found that the parasite affected
men and women in different ways.

Infected men were more anti-social, less educated, had lower IQs and were deemed less
attractive to women.

Infected women, on the other hand, were more friendly, outgoing, promiscuous and attractive
to men than non-infected women.

However, there are serious side-effects to the parasite which can be dangerous to pregnant
women and to people with weakened immune systems.



ALGAE ACID POSSIBLE DEPRESSION REMEDY

An acid extracted from algae is being hailed by a New Zealand company for its beneficial
effect on anything from heart disease to dyslexia and depression.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is one of two omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids normally
found in fish and is also linked to lightening symptoms of depression.

New Zealand company Photonz says it is leading the charge in producing the acid, by
using new technology to extract it.

It has already filed three patents on its method of extraction and says it plans to
genetically engineer EPA in Australia, Europe and America.



RESEARCHERS SIZE UP CHILDRENS SHOES

A research project will investigate the impact of shoes have on a child's growth.

The study, undertaken by the University of Sydney's Faculty of Health Science, is part
of The Children Walking Well Project, funded by the Australian Research Council.

The project will explore the effect of footwear on a child's foot mechanics and factors
influencing footwear purchases.

Project leader Damien O'Meara said there was confusion about children's footwear because
shoe companies used marketing terms, such as "arch support" or "motion control", carelessly.

Sydney-based primary school children in grade one to six are being sought for the study.



TEENS TARGETED IN ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN

The federal government has singled out teenagers in its latest anti-smoking campaign,
putting $25 million into advertising to warn youngsters off the habit.

Around 45,000 Australian teenagers will start smoking in 2007 and about half of them
will die from smoking-related diseases, parliamentary secretary for health Christopher
Pyne said.

The most recent figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare are positive,
with the rate for those aged over 14 who smoke daily falling 1.1 per cent.

But Mr Pyne warned against complacency, with smoking killing more than 19,000 Australians
each year.



INFLUENZA MARKET OPENS TRADING

If this American futures market is booming, you can hold the celebrations because it
probably means you're going to get sick.

Influenza experts came up with a novel way of predicting outbreaks by creating a futures
market for influenza activity, borrowing the idea from economists.

Health care workers buy shares if they see an increased number of flu cases and sell
if there is a decreased number, making high share prices a key indicator of an upcoming
outbreak.

A preliminary test in Iowa proved highly successful, with outbreak activity levels
accurately predicted at the end of the week 71 per cent of the time.

The influenza prediction market will be presented in the January 15 issue of Clinical
Infectious Diseases.

AAP cj/jjs

KEYWORD: CHECKUP

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