(August 19, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From Boston - According to research from Harvard Medical School, taking art classes can improve the diagnostic skills of medical students. After a program of elective art classes was started at Harvard, researchers found that studying art helped medical students make up to 38% more accurate observations. The researchers found that aspects of art study such as pattern recognition helped medical students develop a "visual literacy" that improved their powers of observation.

From Washington - According to research in the journal Circulation, poor sleep habits among teens can lead to high blood pressure. In a study of 238 13-to-16-year olds, researchers found that those who slept fewer than 6.5 hours a night had over twice the risk for high blood pressure. While the teens surveyed got an average of 7.7 hours of sleep per night, for their age group a full 9 hours is recommended.

And finally, from Philadelphia - According to the American Chemical Society, some fruit juices may block the absorption of certain drugs. Researchers studied healthy volunteers who took an antihistamine with either grapefruit juice or water and found that in those that took the drug with juice only half the drug was absorbed by the body. To date, grapefruit, orange and apple juices have been shown to interact with certain drugs, and it is recommended that you consult your physician before taking medications with fruit juices.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Allison Chow.