(February 23, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

From Sweden - Scientists may have made a breakthrough in childhood cancer research, according to a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. For 20 years, researchers studied 165 children with a type of childhood cancer that is particularly aggressive, known as neuroblastoma. Using novel genetic techniques, researchers were able to define the different DNA patterns of the neuroblastoma tumors.

From Switzerland - According to a report published online in the British Medical Journal, children's fitness improves with more school based activity programs.  Researchers studied over 500 schoolchildren, randomizing one group to receive their standard physical education lessons and an intervention group to receive an additional two lessons designed by experts on top of their weekly routine. The intervention group showed better aerobic fitness, a relative decrease in body fat, and lower cardiovascular risk than the control group.

And finally, from Seattle - According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hospitalized older adults are at increased risk of cognitive decline. Researchers studied nearly 3,000 adults 65 years and older; nearly 1300 were hospitalized during the study for non critical illness while 1600 were not hospitalized at all. Results showed that hospitalized patients had a 40% increased risk of later developing dementia.