Washington, Nov 7 : For the first time ever, MIT engineers have attached tiny "backpacks" in cells, allowing them to deliver chemotherapy agents, diagnose tumours or become building blocks for tissue engineering.

According to Michael Rubner, director of MIT''s Center for Materials Science and Engineering and senior author of a paper on the work, this is the first time anyone has attached such a synthetic patch to a cell.

The polymer patch system consists of three layers, each with a different function, stacked onto a surface. The bottom layer tethers the polymer to the surface, the middle layer contains the payload, and the top layer serves as a "hook" that catches and binds cells.

Washington, Nov 7 : Staying active, acting early and learning the warning signs of lymphedema – an adverse effect of breast cancer treatment caused by damage to the lymph system – can help women fighting the deadly disease avoid developing chronic lymphedema.

That’s what the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has suggested that women can learn more about how to protect themselves from this common and distressing adverse effect of treatment.

Washington, Nov 7 : Growth hormone therapy can significantly increase height in children with short stature, says a new study.

The study involving 150 short children, followed over a period of 20 years showed that growth hormone was effective in increasing the final height of in GH deficient children with short stature, as well as non GH deficient kids. However, further studies are still required.

The kids were randomized to no treatment, low GH dosage, or high GH dosage. The treatment could increase their height to nearly eight inches.

Washington, Nov 7 : In a new study, researchers at the UC Davis M. I. N. D. Institute found that infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited unusual exploration of objects long before being diagnosed.

These findings could help paediatricians diagnose and treat autism earlier, reducing some of the social and educational challenges associated with the disorder.

While studying a group of kids at high risk for developing autism, the researchers found that those eventually diagnosed with the disorder were more likely to spin, repetitively rotate, stare at and look out of the corners of their eyes at simple objects, including a baby bottle and a rattle, as early as 12 months of age.

Washington, November 7 : Nerves damaged by brain or spinal cord injury may be regenerated by silencing natural growth inhibitors, according to a new study.

Researchers at Children''s Hospital Boston conducted an experiment on mice by temporarily silencing genes that prevent mature neurons from regenerating, and causing them to recover and re-grow vigorously after damage.

Dr. Zhigang He, Associate Professor of Neurology who is also the senior author of the paper, highlights the fact that currently there is no treatment for spinal cord or brain injury because injured neurons cannot regenerate.

Washington, Nov 7 : Regular exercise and a calcium-rich diet can effectively reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, which is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, say researchers.

The researchers found that adults who reported little or no daily exercise were twice as likely to develop the condition.

While those who failed to consume calcium-rich foods regularly were 1.5 times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, than those who ate calcium-rich diets.

The researchers surveyed nearly 5,077 Illinois adults asking about their chronic health conditions, exercise habits and their intake of fruit, vegetables and other sources of calcium.