If you?ve ever had a urinary tract infection, you?ve probably heard of the home remedy of drinking cranberry juice.  Scientists are still not exactly sure how the fruit juice functions as a natural antibiotic, but a new study has provided a bit more insight.

The bacteria responsible for more than 95 percent of urinary tract infections are a pathogenic strain of E. coli.  These bacteria have tiny arm-like appendages called fimbriae that anchor them to the surfaces of urinary tract cells.

Live Science reports:

?... [C]ranberry juice blocks the E. coli fimbriae from grabbing onto urinary tract cells. Cranberries contain large amounts of a chemical called proanthocyanidin, or PAC. PAC functions almost like a shield -- it forces the fimbriae to crumple so they can?t attach to surface of the cells in the urinary tract.?

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reviewed health department inspection reports at all 107 North American arenas and stadiums that are home to Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association.

At 30 of the venues, more than half of the concession stands or restaurants had been cited for at least one "critical" or "major" health violation. These violations pose a risk for food borne illnesses that can make someone sick or even prove fatal.

One of the most dangerous violations was food not being properly cooked, reheated or held at safe temperatures, because that allows the growth dangerous bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus aureus.

In addition, according to ESPN:

?In the past few years, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and Angel Stadium in Anaheim were cited with dozens of critical violations for rodent infestations. The violations ended up on local TV stations and in newspapers. Lucas Oil Stadium faced $3,500 in fines, and the violations in Anaheim angered officials with the city, which owns the stadium.?

Babies whose mothers are attentive and caring tend to grow up happy and well-adjusted children -- and the psychological benefits may extend well beyond childhood.

A new study followed nearly 500 infants into their 30?s.  It found that babies who receive above-average levels of affection and attention from their mothers are less likely to grow up to be emotionally distressed, anxious, or hostile adults.

CNN reports:

?What's more, the link between the emotional health of adults and their mothers' affection was evident even though the mothers and babies were observed for a single day, when the babies were just 8 months old.?

Humans lack a key enzyme found in many animals and plants that reverses severe sun damage.  For the first time, researchers have witnessed how this enzyme works at the atomic level to repair sun-damaged DNA.

Scientists were able to observe the enzyme, called photolyase, inject a single electron and proton into an injured strand of DNA. These subatomic particles healed the damage in a fraction of a second.

According to Physorg:

?[Researchers] synthesized DNA in the lab and exposed it to ultraviolet light, producing damage similar to that of sunburn, then added photolyase enzymes. Using ultrafast light pulses, they took a series of ?snapshots? to reveal how the enzyme repaired the DNA at the atomic level.?

A new analysis by the Environmental Working Group suggests Americans are being exposed to bisphenol-A through a surprising route: paper receipts.

EWG found bisphenol-A on 40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food.

According to the Washington Post:

?Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the environmental group, says BPA's prevalence on receipts could help explain why the chemical can be detected in the urine of an estimated 93 percent of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.?

Research suggests that low doses of bisphenol-A can interfere with your endocrine system and cause a range of health effects, including reproductive problems and cancer.

A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment.  What?s more, at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication.

To address the issue of insomnia, an overwhelming 96 percent of the clinicians recommended at least one prescription medication in a typical month and 88 percent recommended an over-the-counter medication. The sleep medications prescribed ranged from antihistamines to sedating medications to antidepressants.

According to Eurekalert:

?The researchers report that past studies have found that behavioral treatments such as relaxation techniques, sleep restriction and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective for childhood insomnia ... [L]ittle data exists about the safety and effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep disturbances in children and adolescents. In addition, there are currently no medications specifically approved for use as hypnotics in children under the age of 18.?