(October 27, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From the UK - According to research in Nature Biotechnology, scientists have developed a genetically modified tomato that could help fight cancer and increase life span. Researchers took genes from a snapdragon plant, inserted them into tomato plants and grew purple tomatoes that are high in anthocyanins, which have been shown in previous studies to protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers.

From Houston - According to research presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, patients with pneumonia are more likely to suffer from acute coronary syndrome. In a study of over 200 patients, researchers found that nearly 11% of those with pneumonia had acute coronary syndrome, compared to 1.5% of controls. However, the study was unable to determine causation, and researchers are unsure whether pneumonia makes people more susceptible to mild heart failure, or vice versa.

And finally, from San Francisco - According to research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, physical activity can improve mental function in the elderly. In a study of over 2,700 elderly women, those who were the most active were better able to to plan and execute daily tasks than those who were less active. Unlike previous studies which relied on self-reporting, the current study made use of a device called an actigraph, which continuously measures motion.

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