Counting Sheep The NIH Way

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has released a comprehensive 60-page handbook describing the how and why we sleep, and tips on getting enough sleep, such as sticking to a sleep schedule and relaxing before going to bed. Of course, reading a 60-page handbook on sleep might be all the help a person needs to fall asleep.

How much sleep a person needs constantly changes through a person's life: newborns require 16-18 hours, preschoolers 10-12, schoolaged children at least 9, while adults on average need around eight hours of sleep. The handbook also discusses snoring and sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrom, narcolepsy, and parasomnias. About half of all adults snore and African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics are more likely to snore loudly and frequently compared to Caucasians. Alcolhol and sedative taken before going to bed promote snoring.

Sleep Disorder Symptoms

• You consistently take more than 30 minutes each night to fall asleep.
• You consistently awaken more than a few times or for long periods of time each night.
• You take frequent naps.
• You often feel sleepy during the day, especially if you fall asleep at inappropriate times during the day.
  

That Whistle Isn't For You

Jonathan Fishbein, a medical safety officer with the Division of AIDS at NIH, was reininstated after raising allegations of safety problems with federal AIDS research in the US and Africa, sexual harassment of female NIH workers, and the use of foster children to test AIDS drugs. He returned to his position on Dec. 12, 2005 six months after being fired and a two-year battle which prompted congressional and federal investigations. Fishbein was fired for "poor performance" even though he had been recommend for a cash performance bonus weeks before he was terminated.

On June 30, 2005, Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Montana) wrote to NIH Director Elias Zerhouni:

Retaliation against an employee for reporting misconduct or voicing concerns is unacceptable, illegal, and violates the Whistleblower Protection Act. Moreover, it would have a chilling effect on other NIH employees who might make truthful but critical comments about NIH.

Originally, an administrative law judge ruled that Fishbein had no whistleblower protections because he was hired outside the civil service system as special employees; the government subsequently argued that such workers should have some protection if they blow the whistle.

Go Take A Hike

New York transit workers are on strike for the first time in 25 years. The subway and bus system which carries 7 million people daily are closed. Workers are battling over wage hikes, health-care and pension costs and retirement age. The strike violates state law prohibiting strikes by public employees.

Daniel Robert Morena (March 11, 1982-December 9, 2005)

Last Friday afternoon, Daniel Robert Morena, a young male patient, in the Clinical Center of the NIH climbed a eight-foot barrier on the seventh floor and fell into the atrium. He was pronouced dead shortly after arriving at nearby Suburban Hospital. Daniel was a mental health patient suffering from schizophrenia, and he was the first suicide since the NIH started treated mental health about 50 years ago. Today, a memorial service was held in the Lipsett Amphitheater to reflect on the tragic event and to stress importance of our work as scientists and clinicians. It is also important to reflect the seriousness of mental health as a disease.

Daniel had studied about world religions and shown interest in Buddhism. On the memorial service program was a writing by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, a Buddhist monk:

Remembrance

Buddha taught that all life is impermanent and that those who are born must eventually pass from this life. However, everyone has within them the seeds or their past virtues, which has the power to bring a fortunate rebirth in the future.

We pray that through the power of this virtue, through the blessings of the holy beings, and through the force of our heartfelt prayers, our dear freiend, Daniel Morena, will experience great good fortune and everlasting peace and happiness.

We also pray for the bereaved relatives and friends, that they may be comforted in their loss and find peace of mind and strength of heart.

May all beings without exception be released from suffering, and find true happiness and everlasting peace.

Explosions At UK Fuel Depot

Britain's fifth largest fuel depot in Hertfordshire has been hit by massive explosions sending smoke up to 40 miles away. Forty-three people have been injured; two are seriously hurt. Two-thousand people have been evacuated from nearby homes.