`I can see clearly now …’

            ATLANTA - Newswise noted Georgia Institute of Technology scientists are developing the System for Wearable Audio Navigation (SWAN) designed to help the visually-impaired, firefighters, soldiers, and others navigate their way in unknown territory, particularly when vision is obstructed or impaired. SWAN, with a small laptop, proprietary tracking chip, and bone-conduction headphones, provides audio cues to guide the person from place to place, with or without vision. “We are excited by the possibilities for people who are blind and visually-impaired to use the SWAN auditory system,” said Susan B. Green, executive director, Center for the Visually Impaired. “Consumer involvement is crucial in the design and evaluation of successful assistive technology, so CVI is happy to collaborate with Georgia Tech to provide volunteers who are blind and visually-impaired for focus groups, interviews, and evaluation of the system.”

                        GENEVA - Reuters Health noted more people kill themselves each year than die from wars and murders combined. Most suicides could be prevented, two international experts on suicide said. Some 20-60 million try to kill themselves each year, but only about a million of them succeed, said World Health Organization mental health official Dr. Jose Manoel Bertolote. The ones who end their lives "are tragic situations where help could have been provided," said Brian Mishara, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention in Gondrin , France . The two spoke at a U.N. seminar marking World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide rates could be cut if countries would limit access to pesticides, guns, and medication and do a better job of treating those with depression, alcoholism, and schizophrenia, Mishara said. About a third of all suicides around the world are caused by pesticides, said Bertolote. Dentists, veterinarians, and doctors are particularly at risk - not due to their high-stress professions but because they have access to lethal chemicals and know how to handle them, Bertolote said. Those who lose a job abruptly are more likely to kill themselves than people living in poor social conditions for long periods, he said. People living in countries where suicide is illegal like Singapore , Lebanon , and India are less likely to seek help if they have suicidal thoughts, for fear the government may punish them, Mishara said. "Those laws don't appear to have a dissuasive effect, but rather make it more difficult for people to come forth and get help," he said.

            WASHINGTON - On Dec. 5, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice issued the first installment of a technical assistance document on improving compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities, and facilities. The document, to be released in parts over the next ten months, is entitled "The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments." It’s designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. It will teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access. The first installment includes: Chapter 1, ADA Basics: Statutes and Regulations; Chapter 2, ADA Coordinator: Notice and Grievance Procedure; Chapter 2, Addendum: Title II Checklist. While state and local governments aren’t required to use the tool kit, the department encourages its use as one effective means of complying with the requirements of Title II.

            ANN ARBOR , MI - Raloxifene protects postmenopausal women from developing invasive breast cancer whether they’re at high or low risk, states a study noted by Newswisw published in Clinical Cancer Research. It shows the drug appears to reduce risk in women with a family history of breast cancer to a similar level to women without affected relatives. Compared with a placebo drug, the study found use of raloxifene was tied to a 58% cut in breast cancer risk in women without a family history of the disease, and an 89% cut in risk for women with a family history of breast cancer. Scientists say they can’t explain why protection seems greatest in women who may be predisposed genetically to develop the disease. “We don’t know what to make of this observation,” said Dr. Marc E. Lippman, professor in the Dept. of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan and the study’s lead author. “It could be due to chance, or there may be other factors we don’t know about. Our bottom-line analysis as to why raloxifene universally reduces the risk of developing invasive cancer in women without a family history is it interferes with duration and concentration of estrogen, which is a tumor promoter in the majority of breast cancers,” said Dr. Lippman. The team analyzed the first large study of raloxifene, which tested the ability of the drug to prevent vertebral fractures in 7,705 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The other endpoint of this trial was the drug’s effect on breast cancer development; results demonstrated a 72% drop in invasive breast cancer incidence after four years of raloxifene versus placebo.

            NEW YORK - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with moderate to severe memory loss improved memory taking rivastigmine, states a study in the journal Neurology. Scientists examined 134 TBI men and women at 19 U.S. centers and found attention and verbal memory test scores significantly improved among severely impaired patients who took rivastigmine for 12 weeks versus placebo patients. In one test, 30% of patients remembered five or more additional words versus 10% in the placebo group. Rivastigmine is thought to enhance acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning. “With an estimated 1.5 million people suffering [TBI] each year, rivastigmine shows promising results for patients with moderate to severe memory loss,” said lead author Dr. Jonathan M. Silver, of the New York School of Medicine. While rivastigmine improved memory loss for those with moderate to severe memory impairment, the study found it wasn’t as helpful with less severe memory loss. “The beneficial effect of rivastigmine may not become apparent unless there is significant depletion of cholinergic activity in relevant brain regions causing a more profound impairment in memory or attention,” said Dr. Silver. “This is an area where research will be required to confirm these findings and to better define who may have the best response with rivastigmine.” The study found rivastigmine was safe and well-tolerated. The most common side effects were nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, dizziness, and vomiting, each of which was reported in at least 10% of patients in the rivastigmine group.

            ROCHESTER , MN - If you think you’re the only one who experiences involuntary urine loss, think again, Newswise noted. It’s a very common woe, particularly in menopausal years. Overall, it’s twice as common in women as men. Incontinence has various types, but those that affect women most are: Stress incontinence, where urine leaks when you sneeze, laugh, cough, or perform a vigorous activity. Urge incontinence, where leakage is preceded by a sudden, intense urge to urinate. Incontinence isn’t something you have to endure. Specific exercises and diet changes may help. The Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource outlines possible strategies including: Exercises called Kegels strengthen your urinary sphincter and pelvic muscles. A physical therapist, nurse, or doctor can teach you proper techniques. Bladder training involves gradually lengthening the time between bathroom visits until you’re able to “hold it” for longer periods. Avoiding caffeine, carbonated beverages, citrus products, and foods with high concentrations of vitamin C may improve your bladder control. Extra weight can place pressure on your bladder, so weight loss may help. Devices don’t cure incontinence, but they can help manage it. Options include a small, tampon-like device inserted temporarily into the urethra to prevent leakage, for example during sports. Another option is a pessary, a device inserted into the vagina. It’s worn all day and supports the bladder. When these ways don’t help, medication and surgery are options.