Washington, Oct 30 : Intense media coverage makes infectious diseases seem more dangerous, according to a new study from McMaster University.

The scientists indicated that diseases like bird flu, which can be seen in print media quite frequently, are considered more serious than similar diseases that do not get a similar coverage, as in the case of yellow fever.

Washington, Oct 30 : Helping children face their fears may be the best way to help them manage their anxieties, suggests a new research.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Chicago.

The research, which identified similarities between cognitive behavioral therapy administered in a clinical practice and protocols recommended in common treatment manuals, showed that as children were taught to face their fears, their ability to function increased.

Washington, Oct 30 : Eating grapes can help fight high blood pressure and lower signs of heart muscle damage, suggests a new study.

What’s more, intake of grapes can improve heart function, the study in lab rats found.

The new study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences, gives tantalizing clues to the potential of grapes in reducing cardiovascular risk. The effect is thought to be due to the high level of phytochemicals – naturally occurring antioxidants – that grapes contain.

The study was performed in laboratory rats. The researchers noted that while these study results are extremely encouraging, more research needs to be done.

Washington, Oct 30 : A new research has given chubby people the perfect excuse to go ahead and gorge on their favourite sweets in the festive season: fat cells in the obese produce melanin, a common antioxidant, in excess.

In the report, researchers have described the discovery that may allow some obese people avoid common obesity-related metabolic problems without actually losing weight.

Even more promising is that some of the antioxidant drugs that can mimic

the melanin effect are FDA-approved and available, the boffins found.

This availability would greatly speed the development of new treatments, should they prove effective in clinical trials.

According to a new study high blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) do not increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The protein CRP is a part of the body's inflammatory immune response and earlier studies had suggested that this protein could be linked to events that culminate in the formation of a blood clot, which can go on to cause a potentially deadly heart attack or stroke.

LG Electronics India, a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, has decided to hike prices of its products in almost all categories from November 1 to offset the sharp depreciation of rupee against the dollar.

Amitabh Tiwari, Head of Electronics Department, LG Electronics India said,, “We have decided to hike prices from November 1 ranging from up to 5 per cent across almost all product categories, as we are unable to take further hits on account of rupee depreciation.”