Washington. Mar 16: A new study has revealed that people who have lost cells in the hippocampus area of the brain are more likely to develop dementia.

For the study, researchers involved 64 people with Alzheimer''s disease, 44 people with mild cognitive impairment, which is the stage of memory problems that precedes Alzheimer''s disease, and 34 people with no memory or thinking problems.

They performed MRI scans on all of the participants at the beginning of the study and again an average of a year and a half later.

Washington, Mar 17: Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have identified a novel signalling pathway that can be a potential target for heart failure therapy.

The pathway plays a significant role in the production of aldosterone, a hormone that promotes heart failure after a myocardial infarction.

Aldosterone production is mediated by a protein called beta-arrestin-1. Aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex and its levels are elevated in chronic heart failure.

Beijing, Mar. 17: The potentially cancerous toxic chemical, Lentine, has been found in five brands of hair dye in China.

According to a China Daily report, local consumer authorities said in Guangzhou yesterday that while the link between hair dye and cancer is still unproved, the five well-known international brands found with the toxic substance included Revlon Color Silk, Ecosystem No 1 Hair Colorant, Sewame Eshine Colorants, Kangchen 3in1 and Ouwaiya hair dye (natural black).

London, Mar 17 : Eating a daily portion of mushrooms could slash the risk of breast cancer by two thirds, new research has found.

The study, carried out in China, also showed that women who combined a mushroom diet with regular consumption of green tea saw an even greater benefit. The risk among women in this group was reduced by almost 90 per cent.

Scientists found that women consuming at least a third of an ounce of fresh mushrooms every day were 64 per cent less likely to develop a tumour.

Dried mushrooms had a slightly less protective effect, reducing the risk by around half.

Washington, Mar 16 : Hand-washing, a clean environment, appropriate infection barriers, and early identification of patients at high risk of colonization with a transmissible microorganism are some of the infection control strategies adopted by hospitals for antibiotic-resistant organisms.

A review of the control strategies has revealed the above measures after looking at the most effective methods, and the supporting evidence to control hospital infection.

Washington, March 16 : A new study suggests that opting not to receive immediate treatment may be safe for men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, and who are at minimal risk of cancer progression, if they are closely monitored.

Dr. Scott Eggener, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center, says that the study addresses an important question as to when to actively treat versus when to observe and closely monitor.

Radiation therapy and surgery are effective treatments, but they can be associated with serious long-term side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction.