Munich - Condoms can help support the healing process of viral infections that affect the cervix, according to the Munich-based professional association for German gynaecologists.

Mutations that occur in cells affected by the human papilloma virus (HPV) are better contained when condoms are used because they the prevent the virus from spreading, the association said. In addition they protect from other sexually transmitted diseases that can slow down the healing process.

Hamburg  - Ventilating a home was no problem in the past because even when windows were kept shut, there was a constant exchange of air through poorly insulated exterior walls, joints, and cracks.

This uncontrolled ventilation wasted a lot of energy, though, and made the home's occupants turn up the heat. To save energy, buildings in Germany have been better insulated and equipped with modern windows in recent years.

But the new, airtight windows with heat-insulating glazing have a negative side. "Unless ventilation methods are changed, air moisture caused by showering, cooking, and washing isn't drawn out of living quarters, kitchens, and bathrooms," noted Dirk Petersen, who works for Hamburg's consumer advice centre.

Cologne, Germany  - A crying baby should never be shaken as this can cause severe brain damage or even death, Germany's professional association for paediatricians said in Cologne.

Parents should first leave the room or count to 10 and take a deep breath before acting hastily and doing something they later bitterly regret, the association advises. A paediatrician could recommend a nearby outpatient clinic that can make the interaction with a difficult infant easier.

Bad Wildungen, Germany  - The most common symptoms of an acute urinary tract infection are a burning sensation during urination, pain in the lower abdomen, and an unusually frequent urge to pass water - with only small amounts passed.

An inflammation confined to the urethra and bladder is not dangerous for an otherwise healthy person. But all cases should be treated to prevent complications.

London, Nov 9 : A new research has suggested that people with persistent heartburn should be considered for early surgery to prevent a lifetime of popping pills.

The surgery involves wrapping a piece of the stomach around the oesophagus to create a new valve to prevent acid backing up from the stomach. 

It used to be done by opening up the chest cavity, but with the advent of keyhole surgery is now a lot safer.

In conducting their study, researchers at the University of Aberdeen coordinated a trial of laparoscopic fundoplication surgery for 800 patients at 21 hospitals throughout Britain. 

London, November 9 : A 38-year-old sterile woman is due to give birth to the world’s first baby conceived after a full ovary transplant.

A woman will soon deliver a child conceived from transplanted ovaries - a major breakthrough in infertility treatment that will make it first of its kind.

The woman, who became infertile after attaining early menopause aged 15, had been implanted with healthy ovaries taken from her twin sister making it possible for her to become pregnant without IVF aid.

The Londoner, who had been suffering with osteoporosis since her teen years, saw her periods return after the pioneering procedure led in the US by Dr Sherman Silber, at the Infertility Center of St Louis in Missouri.