Morphine, as little as a single dose, blocks the brain’s ability to strengthen connections at inhibitory synapses, according to new Brown University research published in Nature.The findings, uncovered in the laboratory of Brown scientist Julie Kauer, may help explain the origins of addiction in the brain. The research also supports a provocative new theory of addiction as a disease of learning and memory. [click link for full article]

An anti-reflux valve developed to help esophageal cancer patients also has been shown to help those with bile duct obstruction, according to Kulwinder S. Dua, M.D., a research physician at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The study, using the anti-reflux biliary stent in patients with cancer of the pancreas or bile duct, appears in the May issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy journal. [click link for full article]

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a challenge of a lower court ruling in favor of a Wisconsin antiabortion group’s constitutional challenge to the McCain-Feingold federal campaign finance law, the New York Times reports (Greenhouse, New York Times, 4/26). [click link for full article]

Mental Health America expresses its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and classmates of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shooting victims. As details surrounding the shootings continue to unfold, Mental Health America recognizes that this tragedy affects people across the country. It developed the below guidelines to help educators, students and parents respond and cope with this tragedy. [click link for full article]

A Statement by Dr. David Shern, Ph.D. Mental Health America President and CEOThe shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University affects Americans across the nation. [click link for full article]

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has released A Family Guide to Mental Health: What You Need to Know, oriented especially to African-American families affected by medical illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The 15-page booklet outlines symptoms and treatment options for each illness, along with NAMI education and support programs, and other information resources. [click link for full article]

Statement of Ken Duckworth, MD NAMI Medical DirectorThe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) extends its sympathy to all the families who have lost loved ones in the terrible tragedy at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. We are an organization of individuals and families whose lives have been affected by serious mental illnesses. [click link for full article]

Lawmakers earlier this week held a briefing to promote a bill (HR 1078) that would encourage physicians to develop a personalized “survivorship care plan” for cancer survivors, CQ HealthBeat reports. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va. [click link for full article]

The Texas House on Wednesday voted 135-2 to pass (HB 1098) a Senate-approved bill that would prevent mandatory vaccination for middle school girls in the state until 2011, the New York Times reports (Blumenthal, New York Times, 4/26). Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Feb. [click link for full article]

Two newspapers on Thursday published editorials related to a study released Monday by the board of trustees for Medicare and Social Security that found the Medicare hospital trust fund will become insolvent by 2019, one year later than estimated in 2006. According to the report, Medicare expenditures in 2006 totaled $408 billion and accounted for about 3.1% of U.S. gross domestic product and by 2030 will account for more than 6.5% of GDP. [click link for full article]