'Silent' heart attacks more common
So-called silent heart attacks, where sufferers aren't aware they've had one, may be far more common and deadlier than suspected, say US researchers who have developed a new technique for detecting them. Most methods can pinpoint only certain types of silent attack known as Q waves. But of 185 coronary patients with no record of heart failure, the Duke University team found that 35 per cent had suffered a silent attack. Two years on, this group had a 17-times higher risk of death from heart problems than those with no damage and an 11-times greater risk of death from any cause, Reuters reports.
New paint kills harmful microbes
US researchers have invented a paint that can kill superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and significantly reduce their transmission. The antimicrobial paint, designed to be used in hospitals, kills disease-causing bacteria, mould, fungi and viruses and is the most potent yet developed, say Yuyu Sun and Zhengbing Cao of the University of South Dakota. The paint remains potent for a long time and can be reactivated, WebMD reports.
Sunshine for mums helps babies grow
Children whose mothers were exposed to more sunlight during the last trimester of their pregnancies than normal appear to have stronger and larger bones, say British researchers, based on studies of almost 7,000 10-year-olds and their mothers. The key is probably vitamin D, and the University of Bristol team says the study highlights the beneficial role of the so-called sunshine drug. Bone mass acquired early in life helps reduce the risk of fractures in later years, Reuters reports.