Washington: Among women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in California, the percentage undergoing a double mastectomy increased substantially between 1998 and 2011, although this procedure was not associated with a lower risk of death than breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, according to a study in the recent issue of JAMA.

Hamilton: Branded or trademarked diets have similar levels of effectiveness; the key is sticking to it, a research study has found.

New York: Like conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) may function as a “gateway drug”—a drug that lowers the threshold for addiction to other substances, such as marijuana and cocaine—according to the 120th Shattuck lecture, presented to the Massachusetts Medical Society by Columbia researchers Denise and Eric Kandel and published today in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Minnepolis: Sleep difficulties may be linked to faster rates of decline in brain volume, according to a study published in the recent issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Food intake – both in terms of quantity and quality influence the nutrition/health status as well as overall wellbeing of the individuals. Therefore, for maintaining physical and mental health, adequate amounts of all essential nutrients must be included in our diet right from infancy until old age.

Washington: A study examining whether overweight or obese teens are at higher risk for substance abuse finds both good and bad news: weight status has no correlation with alcohol or marijuana use but is linked to regular cigarette smoking.