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People suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions in which psychological stress plays a major role—such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma— may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques according to a new study published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

New research shows that progressively higher levels of daytime sleepiness were inversely correlated with progressively lower levels of vitamin D, especially in African-Americans. The research team said the findings are the first to demonstrate a significant relationship between sleepiness and vitamin D.

Those with emphysema or chronic bronchitis (the two conditions that fall under COPD) need to take extra care in avoiding the flu this year. For COPD sufferers, breathing is difficult under the best conditions—add the flu (a respiratory viral infection) and those obstructed, inflamed airways make the task that much harder.

A new study using brevetoxin-2, a compound produced naturally by marine algae, stimulated nerve cell growth and plasticity in cultured mouse neurons. This research advances a new pharmacological treatment to aid recovery of brain function following a stroke or other traumatic brain injury.