Washington, Apr 1 (ANI): A new study has shown that babies born to women who suffered from anxiety or depression prior to pregnancy are likely to sleep poorly at both 6 months and 12 months of age.

The researchers found that preconceptional psychological distress was a strong predictor of infant night waking, irrespective of effects of postnatal depression, bedroom sharing and other confounding factors.

A significant psychological distress prior to conception puts infant at 23-percent increased risk of infant night wakings at 6 months of age and a 22-percent increased risk at 12 months of age.

Washington, April 1 : Those on diet better avoid buffets, for a new study has shown that people tend to underestimate how much of each item is present when faced with a large variety of items.

Joseph P. Redden of the University of Minnesota and Stephen J. Hoch of the University of Pennsylvania came to this conclusion after studying consumers'' perceptions of quantity in a set of experiments.

Their aim was to determine how quantity perceptions influence portion sizes.

"Does a bowl with both red and blue candies seem to have more or less than a bowl with only one colour candy?" the researchers asked.

Washington, Apr 1 : A drug commonly used for treating alcoholism and drug addiction has been found to curb the compulsive behaviour of kleptomaniacs, say researchers.

The research team from the Medical School''s Department of Psychiatry has found that drug Naltrexone significantly reduced kleptomaniacs urge to steal.

During the study, the researchers conducted an eight-week, double-blind trial among 25 men and women ages 17-75, who spent an average of at least one hour a week stealing.

Washington, Apr 1 : Vegetarians may have a healthier diet, but they are at an increased risk of having eating disorders, say researchers.

Researchers from at University of Minnesota, University of Texas and St. John's University have revealed that while vegetarians tend to eat healthier diets and are less likely than non-vegetarians to be overweight or obese, they may be at increased risk for binge eating with loss of control

In addition, former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviours.

Beijing  - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for urgent action to halt an "alarming" rise in the spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

"The situation is already alarming, and it is poised to grow much worse, very quickly," said WHO director-general Margaret Chan.

"If MDR-TB is not vigorously addressed, it stands to replace the mainly drug-susceptible strains currently responsible for 95 per cent of the world's TB cases," Chan said.

Washington, April 1 : University of St Andrews researchers in Scotland have shown that there is truth to the received wisdom that a "rosy" complexion of the skin represents healthiness, while a "green" or "pale" colour indicates illness.

Lead researcher Ian Stephen, from the School of Psychology, points out that several monkey species use redness in their faces or sexual skin to advertise their health status and to attract mates.