Health News: Blue Bell agrees to Listeria testing and reporting regime ♦ Family genetics study reveals new clues to autism risk ♦ E-skin and pocket-sized diagnostic devices

Blue Bell agrees to Listeria testing and reporting regime The president and CEO of Blue Bell Creameries signed voluntary agreements with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry holding the company to a detailed Listeria testing and reporting regime before selling any ice cream made at its headquarters plant in Brenham, TX, or the

Psychotic hallucinations, delusions rarely precede violence Mass shootings at the hands of unhinged loners - such as those in Aurora, Colo.; Santa Barbara, Calif., and Newtown, Conn. -- perpetuate a commonly held belief that mental illness triggers violent crimes. But a new study shows that hallucinations and delusions associated with psychiatric disorders seldom foreshadow acts of aggression

Alcohol treatment programs prove effective in cutting reoffending Offenders enrolled in alcohol treatment programs as part of their sentence are significantly less likely to be charged or reconvicted in the 12 months following their program. Alcohol misuse is associated with about 50 per cent of all violent crimes and 73 per cent of all domestic violence incidents

Family genetics study reveals new clues to autism risk A study of almost 2,400 children with autism, their parents and unaffected siblings has provided new insights into the genetics of the condition. Researchers found that certain inherited mutations that truncate the formation of proteins were more common in children with autism. These gene variations were more likely to be passed from mothers who then developed the condition

E-skin and pocket-sized diagnostic devices give patients the power back Wearable E-skin that can measure heart rate and blood pressure, and paper diagnostic machines the size of a credit card that can give instant readings on blood and saliva samples are two new bio-sensing technologies. Biosensors can detect and analyze data to give patients information on their heart rate and blood pressure, blood sugar and hormone levels, and even test whether they are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This detection technology is a step forward in personal medicine, giving patients real-time information about how their bodies are functioning and suggesting suitable treatments.