(September 15, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From Baltimore - According to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, broccoli may help those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Sulforapane, a compound found in broccoli, has been shown to help prevent damage to lung cells by increasing the activity of a particular gene in the cells. This finding comes in the wake of recent studies showing broccoli's protective effects against conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

From Detroit - According to a study in the journal Cancer Research, an experimental breast cancer vaccine has been shown to fight tumors. In a study of mice, researchers found that the vaccine was able to eliminate tumors associated with HER2 positive cancer, including those that had developed resistance to drug treatment. HER2 positive cancers account for 20% to 30% of all breast cancers.

And finally, from Boston - According to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating fish during pregnancy may result in higher development scores in children. Researchers found that the children of mothers who ate 58g of fish per day achieved higher developmental scores at 18 months than the children of mothers who ate only 5g of fish per day. To minimize exposure to contaminants such as mercury, experts recommend that pregnant women consume no more than 340g of seafood per week.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.