Health Research:Scientists identify promising new melanoma drug ♦ Retinal nerve cells grown in the lab ♦ MRI reveals weight loss protects knees

Scientists identify promising new melanoma drug A new, first-in-class compound halts tumor growth by disrupting protein production, report scientists, who say that the new drug may show promise for treating skin cancers that are resistant or unresponsive to today's leading therapies. In the United States, 5 million people are treated annually for skin cancer, and 9,000 people die from the deadliest form -- melanoma.

Retinal nerve cells grown in the lab A method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain.

Method to prevent lethal bone marrow transplant complication discovered Researchers discover method to prevent graft-versus-host disease, a dangerous and common complication of bone marrow transplants.

MRI reveals weight loss protects knees Obese people who lose a substantial amount of weight can significantly slow the degeneration of their knee cartilage.

Health Research:Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans ♦ Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

City-wide effort boosts NYC's colorectal cancer screening rates Work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in New York City have resulted in a 40 percent increase in screening rates over four years.

Treatment for sickle cell disease may help protect patients' kidney function After six months of treatment with hydroxyurea, sickle cell disease patients' kidney function, as measured by the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, improved significantly.

Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

Children exposed to marijuana in the womb show a significant improvement in their ability to track moving objects at age four. But researchers are warning that the results do not mean marijuana has a beneficial effect on fetal development.

Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans Fat cells produced by stem cells from the bone marrow may be linked to chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and some cancers.

Children's Health:Better fine motor skills with delayed cord clamping ♦ Communication made easier for children with cerebral palsy ♦ 'Do' is better than 'don't' when it comes to eating better

Infusions of donor bone marrow cells help children with inherited skin blistering Promising results from a trial of a new stem-cell based therapy for a rare and debilitating skin condition suggest that the therapy, involving infusions of stem cells, provide pain relief and to reduce the severity of this skin condition for which no cure currently exists.

Better fine motor skills with delayed cord clamping The importance of the umbilical cord for both the fetus and for newborn infants was demonstrated by researchers several years ago, in a study that received great international acclaim. In a follow-up study, the researchers have now been able to show an association between delayed cord clamping (DCC) and children's fine motor skills at the age of four years, especially in boys.

Communication made easier for children with cerebral palsy A European initiative has developed a new brain-computer interface system to enhance communication skills of people with cerebral palsy from childhood, improving the relationship with their environment and the expression of emotions.

'Do' is better than 'don't' when it comes to eating better Tell your child or spouse what they can eat and not what they can't, experts advise. Telling your child to eat an apple so they stay healthy will work better than telling them not to eat the cookie because it will make them fat. A new discovery shows that 'Don't' messages don't work for most of us.

Strength-based parenting improves children's resilience and stress levels Children are more likely to use their strengths to effectively cope with minor stress in their life if they have parents who adopt a strength-based approach to parenting. Strength-based parenting is an approach where parents deliberately identify and cultivate positive states, processes and qualities in their children.