(February 18, 2009 - Insidermedicine) From Scotland - According to research in the British Medical Journal, smoking risks are apparent regardless of social class or gender. In a study of survival rates among 15,000 people, researchers found that never-smokers in the lowest social class groups had a longer life expectancy than smokers in the highest social classes. In addition, women who smoked lost their natural survival advantage over men.
 
From Atlanta - According to research in the journal Circulation, only a fraction of adolescents could benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs. In a study of over 2,700 adolescents, researchers found that 5.2% to 6.6% had elevated LDL cholesterol levels, but only 0.8% met the criteria for medication. With the rise of childhood obesity, the researchers suggest continually monitoring the lipid levels of children and adolescents.
 
And finally, from Boston - According to a study to be presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Parkinson's disease may be linked to family history of melanoma. In a study of over 130,000 people, researchers found that a history of melanoma in a first-degree relative was linked to nearly twice the risk of developing Parkinson's. These findings indicate that melanoma and Parkinson's share common genetic components.

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