(September 17, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

From Taiwan - According to a report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, newborns vaccinated against hepatitis B have significantly reduced risk of liver cancer later in life. Researchers from Taiwan followed vaccinated infants for 20 years. They found that children vaccinated against Hep B were at nearly 70% reduced risk of developing liver cancer in early adulthood.

From San Francisco - Disposable surgical masks do not effectively block respiratory infections, according to a report presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Researchers studied nearly 2,000 health care workers randomly assigned to wear either disposable surgical masks, fit tested N95 masks or non-fit tested N95 masks. N95 masks were 56% effective against respiratory infections, 75% against the flu in particular, while disposable surgical masks offered little protection at all.

And finally, from the UK - Early exposure to even small amounts of lead can put a child at risk for emotional and intellectual problems later in life, according to a report published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. Researchers took blood samples from over 500 2 year olds, assessing their school performance at ages 7 and 8. They found that children who had higher lead levels at age two had poorer reading, writing and spelling grades 5 years later and were more likely to demonstrate antisocial behavior.