Investigators recruited 300 18 to 30-year-old participants in order to assess whether providing this sort of material on food menus would alter people's decisions when it came to ordering and consumption.

The subjects were split into three different groups: all of the food options were the same, but one group was provided with no additional information, another was shown calorie content, and the final was presented with calorie and the associated exercise information.

Many people may underestimate the exertion required to counteract the consumption of high-calorie foods. According to the British Heart Foundation, a 25-year old who weighs ten stone burns just 445 calories in a one-hour jog – not enough for a McDonald's Big Mac.

The researchers cross-referenced data concerning the diners' consumption habits in each group and found that provision of exercise information was linked with consumption of 100 fewer calories.

It seems that increasing awareness of the physical exertion required to burn off a particular meal is encouraging eaters to make more careful choices. Providing calorie content alone is inadequate to motivate significantly healthier decisions.

The could be because the number of calories is relatively abstract, with many people potentially unaware of the recommended daily allowance and how this should be distributed in meals, drinks and snacks throughout the day.

Translating this figure into something more concrete that anyone can comprehend increases the average person's understanding of the impact of their dietary choices. Adopting this technique on food packaging and in restaurants could therefore help to fight obesity.

However, senior dietician at the BHF Victoria Taylor told the BBC: "While displaying the amount of exercise needed to burn calories is an interesting idea, there's more to a heart-healthy diet than calorie counting."

Diners are also encouraged to take other aspects of nutritional content into account. Keeping within daily guideline amounts for things like salt and saturated fat and consuming adequate vitamins and minerals is vital to maintaining good health and tackling obesity.

Researchers have found a combination of drugs which could lead to more effective treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Published this month in the journal Leukemia, the study is hoped to help address a basic problem of treating CLL.

The CLL which lives in the blood in circulation is relatively easy to kill, however when it occurs in lymph nodes and bone marrow it can be more likely to recur due to resistant CLL cells.

This latest drug combination if gossypol plus navitoclax is designed to target the stubborn CLL cells, inhibiting the protein, BCL-X, allowing the navitoclax to work more effectively to kill the cancer cells.

Commenting on the results, Alan Eastman, senior researcher on the team and professor pharmacology and toxicology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, said: "Both drugs have been given to patients, but never in combination, because no one had the mechanistic rationale for doing that.

"Now we have what we think is the most promising drug combination so far for the treatment of CLL."

A paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that university students, who are often prone to adopting unhealthy drinking habits, could be putting their health at risk and significantly increasing their chance of developing medical problems.

Investigators analysed the healthcare records of two groups of non-smoking students aged between 18 and 25, who had no pre-existing conditions. While one set of young adults abstained from alcohol consumption, the other admitted to binge drinking.

Men who frequently consumed five or more standard alcoholic beverages within a two-hour timeframe were classified as binge drinkers, whereas women who had four drinks in this period would be categorised in this way.

The binge-drinking students involved in the trial typically engaged in this unhealthy practice six times per month for four years. The NHS recommends that men and women do not drink more than one standard beverage per day on a regular basis.

So that they could account for confounding factors in their calculations, the researchers also questioned the participants about aspects such as diet and medical history. They then cross-referenced the data to see whether any trends were apparent.

They found that binge drinkers were far more likely to exhibit signs of cell impairment, with those involved in blood flow likely to be damaged. Older adults who have drank heavily over a long period of time demonstrate similar symptoms.

This issue can increase the risk of cardiovascular ailments, with poor blood flow potentially a contributory factor in the development of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. These conditions can be life threatening.

Co-author Dr Mariann Piano said: "It is important that young adults understand that binge drinking patterns are an extreme form of unhealthy or at-risk drinking and are associated with serious social and medical consequences."

A research team led by Boston Children's Hospital's Informatics Program (CHIP) investigators Dr Rumi Chunara and Dr John Brownstein utilised information readily accessible by the social networking site in order to determine whether any link between the factors could be evidenced.

The provision of comprehensive data in such large samples lends itself extremely well to scientific analysis – official Facebook figures show that the site had 618 million daily active users in December 2012.

In order to gain an understanding of the members' habits, the analysts looked at statuses and other contents that they has posted to their timeline, looked at the pages that users had 'liked' and categorised the relevant interests with regards to health and lifestyle practices.

Analysts were then able to cross-reference information garnered by these means and compare it to regional information concerning body-mass index (BMI) readings. A high score is an indicator of being overweight or obese, since it represents a height-to-weight ratio.

The data they used had been accumulated as part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System-Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (BRFSS-SMART), and New York City's EpiQuery Community Health Survey (CHS).

Geographic relationships between obesity rates and Facebook activity were apparent, with increased BMIs in a particular area linked to prevalence of television-based interests.

On the other hand, regions in which Facebook members had a profile which suggested they were fit and healthy, perhaps because they had statuses about going to the gym or 'liked' cycling, tended to have lower obesity rates.

Dr Brownstein said: "The tight correlation between Facebook users' interests and obesity data suggest that this kind of social network analysis could help generate real-time estimates of obesity levels in an area, help target public health campaigns that would promote healthy behavior change, and assess the success of those campaigns."

Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) used atomic-level imaging techniques so that they could analyse the biological composition of the virus particles and learn more about the fusion glycoprotein.

This region adapts once the virus finds a host – a human cell – to latch onto. The area is particularly vulnerable to neutralisation from infection-fighting immune cells, and so understanding its structure is crucial.

Increasing understanding of the shape of this area before fusion facilitates the development of vaccines which promote the production of complementary antibodies. These are proteins that lock onto sites on a pathogen in order to break it down, destroy it and prevent infection.

Rapid immune response to a virus invasion is vital for the prevention of serious infection, and preparing the body to attack via means of a vaccine is extremely important. Exposing the body to a weakened form of the virus promotes production of relevant antibodies and increases preparedness and the chance of favourable outcomes in the event of future infection.

Targeting medical problems prevalent in childhood can be particularly effective, since the immaturity of youngsters' immune systems means they are more prone to serious side-effects when a virus enters the body.

According to the researchers, the vast majority of children under the age of three are infected by RSV at some stage. It is most harmful in those under one, often causing hospitalisation and serious health problems.

When older children and adults are infected, they usually suffer with symptoms associated with the common cold. However, the virus is responsible for 40 to 50 per cent of bronchitis cases in infants, according to the NHS.

Approximately 20,000 of these youngsters are admitted within a year of developing the condition due to complications. Implementing a vaccination scheme could, therefore, have a hugely beneficial impact on youngsters' health.

Around one million youngsters in England who have not had the MMR jab are set to receive the treatment, in a bid to eliminate the threat posed by the current epidemic.

MMR is an acronym for the conditions against which it protects the patient – namely, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). They are all highly infectious and can have extremely serious – even fatal – consequences should they be contracted. These include meningitis, pneumonia, deafness and swelling of the brain, known as encephalitis.

For pregnant women, they can be especially dangerous as the diseases can also cause problems for the unborn child, which could even result in miscarriage for the expectant mother.

The jab was introduced in 1988, since when it has been rare that children have developed these illnesses. However, when there is a measles outbreak – such as there is at the moment, with almost 1,000 cases in Swansea, for example – it is arguably vital that children at risk are up to date with their immunity.

On this occasion, the vaccination rollout will focus on youngsters aged ten to sixteen, with authorities claiming to already have 1.2 million jabs ready to be administered. It is hoped the rollout will be completed by September.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, has urged parents to make sure their children are protected from developing the illnesses. He said: "If you think your child has not had one or even two doses of MMR, for goodness sake contact your GP and get it sorted out."

Official statistics from Public Health England reveal there has been 587 confirmed cases of measles in the first three months of this year.

University of California San Francisco (UCSF) researchers conducted an investigation in order to determine what the best course of therapy was for patients affected by this nonfatal form of the disease.

Preventing unneeded operations is important, since it reduces wastage of resources in the healthcare sector while improving conditions for patients, alleviating unnecessary cost, inconvenience and pain.

Taking measures which ensure the most favourable outcomes is of course desirable, but doctors experience extreme difficulty determining whether the potential harm resulting from surgery is worthwhile.

Lead author and UCSF professor of dermatology Dr Eleni Linos said: "It can be very challenging to decide whether and how to treat patients with non-melanoma skin cancer who have limited life expectancy, especially when the tumors are asymptomatic."

Guidelines currently enforced in the US dictate that non-melanoma skin cancers must be treated, but the scientists warn that taking this tack without considering potential implications in terms of side-effects could be detrimental to patients' health and wellbeing.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, reveals that many elderly patients are too frail to properly recover following a surgery to remove a cancerous skin growth. There are also difficulties associated with self-care, with cases of poor wound healing due to poor dressing and cleansing.

The cancer itself does not typically have an impact on an elderly patient's quality of life or survival, so conducting an operation is unlikely to be worthwhile. Doctors are therefore urged to consider the risk before recommending the procedure, especially in frail and vulnerable over-85s.

The NHS estimates that there are around 10,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer every year, and old age is a risk factor for the condition. Ensuring a more tactical treatment course with regards to this factor could therefore provide huge populations of patients with a better quality of life.

While it is well-known that trees produce oxygen, and thereby contribute in a positive way to the balance of gases in the air, a substance produced by them called isoprene – which also presents several benefits for the plant – has now been proved to have a negative impact on the environment and people's health.

Environmentalists and biologists have known for quite some time that isoprene was used by trees to protect their leaves from oxygen damage and also from temperature fluctuations, both from natural and unnatural causes.

However, in 2004 teams learned that this substance in fact led to the production of particles which could get lodged in lungs – leading to pulmonary cancer and asthma – damaging them and other tissue, as well as cause problems for the environment.

Nevertheless, it was not known exactly how this came about, which is what scientists have now discovered as life science investigations continue to reveal more secrets about the world around us.

Assistant professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the Gillings School of Global Public Health Jason Surratt revealed that isoprene, once it comes into direct contact with sunlight, chemically alters when it reacts with man-made nitrous oxides. This is what creates the particles that can be damaging to both human health and the environment.

These unnaturally produced oxides enter the atmosphere via a number of means, including numerous types of vehicular transport and coal plants, for example. "The work presents a dramatic new wrinkle in the arguments for reducing man-made pollutants worldwide," said Surratt.

As he continued, we are unable to get rid of isoprene – that would mean cutting down trees, which is far from a viable solution to the problem. "We can work on reducing these man-made emissions to cut down the production of fine particulate matter," he added.

The reality is that originally isoprene is purely a beneficial substance. It is only because of nitrous oxide pollution brought about by humans that it has become harmful to its own environment.

The NHS estimates that 100,000 people in the UK are affected by the neurological condition, and the MS Society report entitled A lottery of treatment and care: MS services across the UK showcases considerable discrepancies between the care administered to patients.

The largest-ever survey of MS sufferers in the country suggests healthcare workers are failing to provide these people with the treatment and assistance they need to maintain a higher level of independence.

The condition results when a person's immune system, which is responsible for destroying harmful pathogens in attempts to prevent infection, mistakenly identifies the body's own tissues as harmful and begins to attack them.

In the case of MS, these cells destroy the myelin which surrounds nerves. This insulates and protects the fibres, and damage or elimination results in serious problems with the nervous and neurological system.

Patients often experience loss of vision since nerves cannot effectively communicate this type of information to the brain, while issues with mobility, coordination and numbness are also often witnessed.

A significant number of people require assistance with their MS through the provision of home adaptations, wheelchairs and other aids, although the charity found that there is somewhat of a 'postcode lottery' when it comes to distribution of help.

Director for policy and research Nick Rijke said: "Our survey findings worryingly suggest that the likelihood of someone receiving a life changing treatment or service is often based on luck – like where they live or how helpful their healthcare professional is – rather than their genuine clinical need."

In attempts to promote the provision of tailored and effective care to all MS patients, the organisation has launched an e-petition. It wants the UK to increase MS drug prescription rates and improve provision of aid so that patients benefit from a superior quality of life.

Police already have devices at hand that can give a quick and relatively accurate reading of alcohol content in breath, which facilitates the effective use of resources in terms of making arrests and classifying violations.

However, officers can experience more difficulty determining whether a driver has consumed illegal drugs, and so must more frequently take suspects to the station. A roadside kit to assist the recognition of drug-driving criminals would offer significant advantages.

Breath analysis is particularly convenient, since it is a non-invasive procedure that is easy to administer. Those asked to complete the test are unable to claim that they cannot provide a sample, and have less ability to tamper with it.

In order to determine whether this kind of solution was feasible, Karolinska Institute researchers analysed breath samples taken from 40 drug emergency clinic patients in Stockholm. They wanted to determine whether there were unique identifiers associated with drug use present.

They analysed the prevalence and types of non-volatile compounds, small particles which can be an indicator of inhaled substances or blood composition. Analysis was conducted with aid from liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques.

Researchers tested for the presence of 12 different substances, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, then cross-referenced the information against data concerning the participants' recent drug usage in order to establish whether there were any trends.

They found that illegal substances could be detected in breath. Lead author Professor Olof Beck said: "Considering the samples were taken 24 hours after the intake of drugs, we were surprised to find that there was still high detectability for most drugs."

However, he suggests that future scientific investigation is conducted in order to verify the trends, and to determine whether the measure is appropriately effective and accurate when compared to results from blood tests.