Washington, Mar 20 : Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health say that hospital practices like supplementing newborns with formula or water, or giving them pacifiers, might reduces new mothers’ chances to breastfeed their child.

The new study showed that among first-time mothers, 70 percent reported an intention to exclusively breastfeed, but only 50 percent achieved that goal at one week.

The researchers suggest that hospital practices were strongly related to those outcomes.

Washington, Mar 20 : Eating out in restaurants, laid back attitude towards exercise, and leading high-risk lifestyles are some of the barriers that stop patients with type 2 diabetes from controlling their condition, say researchers.

In the study involving 8,900 patients, the researchers from Hong Kong and Northern Ireland listed some of the psychosocial, socio-economic, physical, environmental and cultural factors that prove to be major barriers to effective diabetes care.

Washington, Mar 20 : Singer Rihanna, who was allegedly attacked by Chris Brown and left her with horrific injuries, has been urged by fellow entertainer Salt-N-Pepa star Sandra ''''Pepa'''' Denton to get rid of him.

Denton, who was allegedly beaten at the hand''''s of her ex-husband Anthony Criss throughout their decade-long relationship, urged the `Umbrella' hitmaker to take a bold step and leave Brown.

Washington, Mar 20 : Legendary actress Dame Helen Mirren has expressed her grief over Natasha Richardson's death.

"Natasha was a great actress, a fantastic mother, a loving wife and a whirlwind of energy, with an infectious love of life expressed firstly by her wonderful deep laugh," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"Anyone who knew her will be in mourning today. I hope that Liam and her sons are helped in their pain by the great love and sympathy that is coming to them from people all over the world," she added.

Washington, Mar 20 : Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have begun testing a vaccine to prevent colon cancer.

If shown to be effective, it might spare patients the risk and inconvenience of repeated invasive surveillance tests, such as colonoscopy, that are now necessary to spot and remove precancerous polyps.

Washington, Mar 20 : Want to know how much you will enjoy an experience? Well, then ask a stranger, suggests a new study, which found that another person''s experience is often more informative than your own best guess.

The study was led by Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University and author of the 2007 bestseller "Stumbling on Happiness," along with Matthew Killingsworth and Rebecca Eyre, also of Harvard, and Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia.