(November 23, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

From Germany -  Stress-induced hypertension may arise from variation of the phosducin gene, according to a report published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Researchers generated mice that did not have the phosducin gene, finding that they had higher baseline blood pressure than normal mice as well as a higher blood pressure response to stress. When this gene was studied in humans, researchers found that one particular phosducin gene variation was also associated with higher baseline blood pressure.

From New York - Most cancer patients who receive chemotherapy consequently suffer from insomnia. Researchers surveyed over 800 cancer patients who had undergone their first two chemotherapy treatments. Results showed that three quarters of these patients suffered from either insomnia or other sleep-related disorders. This research was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

And finally, from Washington - According to a report published in the journal Pediatrics, children in home-based daycare watch twice as much TV has those in center-based daycare. Researchers studied nearly 170 different child care programs. Preschool aged children in home based daycares watched an average of 2.4 hours of TV a day, while children in center based daycares watched only 0 .4 hours per day.