Washington, April 2 : Children who had low weight at the time of their birth may be at an increased risk of inflammatory processes in adulthood, which are linked with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, according to a study.

While various studies have suggested that babies with lower weight at birth are at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases, there has been little understanding to explain why.

Washington, Apr 2: Portuguese researchers have identified a vital component of olive oil that gives greatest protection from heart attack and stroke.

Lead researcher Fatima Paiva-Martins from University of Porto has discovered an antioxidant called DHPEA-EDA that protects red blood cells from damage more than any other part of olive oil.

“These findings provide the scientific basis for the clear health benefits that have been seen in people who have olive oil in their diet," said Paiva-Martins.

London, Apr 2 : Scientists have revealed that exposure to common infections might lead to the development of childhood leukaemia.

The researchers claimed to have identified a molecule called TGF, produced by the body in response to infection, which appears to trigger multiplication of pre-cancerous stem cells at the expense of its healthy counterparts.

Researchers had previously identified a genetic mutation linked to stimulation of pre-leukaemic cells. It is believed to occur in 1 in 100 newborns and one in 100 of these children develop leukaemia.

Washington, April 2 : An omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils has shown some promise to reduce the size of tumours and enhance the positive effects of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, while limiting its harmful side effects.

A. M. El-Mowafy, a professor at Mansoura University in Egypt, studied the effects of the fatty acid Docosahexanoic acid (DHA) on solid tumours growing in mice.

The researcher also studied how this fatty acid interacts with the drug cisplatin, which is known to cause kidney damage.

Washington, April 2: While most people appear to be extremely stressed amidst the ongoing recession, a study has suggested that stress may further worsen their financial troubles.

Anthony J. Porcelli and Mauricio R. Delgado, both psychologists at Rutgers University, have found that acute stress affects risk taking during financial decision making.

They conducted a study in which a group of volunteers chose between various financial gambles, after being asked to immerse their hand for a period of time in either ice-cold or room-temperature water.

Washington, Apr 1 : Chronic insomnia with short sleep duration is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension, according to a new study.

In the study, researchers found that participants with insomnia and an objectively measured, severely short sleep duration of less than five hours had a risk for hypertension that was 500 percent higher than participants without insomnia who slept more than six hours.

People with insomnia and moderately short sleep duration of five to six hours had a risk for hypertension that was 350 percent higher than normal sleepers.