Hamburg, Germany  - German researchers have found that the symptoms of cystic fibrosis can be prevented in an animal model by spraying amiloride into the lungs of young mice.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that leads to the dehydration of the mucous membranes in the lungs, intestines and other organs. It is the most common, life-shortening genetic disease in Western Europe and North America.

The Heidelberg University Hospital researchers have succeeded in preventing cystic fibrosis lung disease in an animal model by spraying amiloride into the lungs of young mice. This is the first therapy to successfully attack the root cause of the widespread hereditary disease in a living organism.

Hamburg  - Diabetics not only are at higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, they are also more susceptible to diseases of the eyes, kidneys and nervous system.

But in cases where blood-sugar levels are well controlled, and blood pressure and blood fat levels reduced, the risk is lower, according to Jens Kroeger from Germany's Centre for Diabetology in Hamburg.

Berlin  - People who suffer from lactose intolerance can still handle small amounts of the substance, according to the German Federal Association of Apothecaries.

Those suffering from lactose intolerance have small amounts of the enzyme needed for processing the sugar, meaning they should be able to process six to 12 grams of the substance per meal.

That means sufferers should also be able to swallow tablets containing lactose as the tablets usually have no more than 200 micrograms of lactose. Anyone who has problems with the tablet should look into lactase preparations, which help to digest lactose.

Wellington, Mar 15 : Can''t get to sleep? Well, then stay up, say researchers at Auckland University who have discovered a potential breakthrough treatment for insomnia.

According to scientists, the key to sleeplessness is to force bad sleepers to spend less time in bed.

First, insomniacs are first told to keep a detailed diary of the time they spend in bed asleep and awake. Then, they are told to change their habits, reducing the time they spend in bed each night by the number of hours they would usually spend lying awake.

London, Mar 15 : Popular bath products for kids contain cancer-causing chemicals, says a new study.

According to a research carried out in the United States, many of the top-selling brands contain formaldehyde, which is used to embalm corpses.

Out of the 28 products tested for formaldehyde in an independent laboratory, 23 contained it, reports Sky News.

Washington, March 15 : Companies can improve their bottom lines if they invest in health programs for employees, with an eye on reducing medical claim costs, according to a study.

"It''s a win-win opportunity - employers and employees can benefit from a healthier workforce," said LuAnn Heinen, vice president of the National Business Group on Health and the lead author of the study paper.

Describing their study in The Milbank Quaterly, Heinen and co-author Helen Darling revealed that they analysed four employer-sponsored wellness programs targeting a combined 75,000 employees.