Washington, October 3 : A Cornell University researcher is working to break the inextricable link between obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Ling Qi, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences in Cornell''s College of Human Ecology, says that finding just the right gene could do it.

Washington, October 3 : American researchers at Grinnell College in Iowa may be very close to developing effective treatments for nicotine addiction, for they have uncovered a “key” that may “unlock” certain proteins that respond to the poisonous chemical which is found in tobacco.

Washington, Oct 3 : Scientists from Michigan Technological University have identified 11 new genetic variants linked to Type 2 diabetes.

With the help of Ensemble Learning Approach (ELA) software, the researchers have isolated 11 variations within genes—called single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs or snips, associated with type 2 diabetes.

Washington, Oct 3 : Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified a gene that might help explain fertility problems in humans.

In females, fertility depends upon the growth of a follicle, a structure that ultimately transforms to release a mature egg.

In an ordinary cycle, one follicle, known as the dominant follicle, matures to release an egg, while the rest of the eggs produced in that cycle will die.

Washington, October 3 : Swedish researchers have shown that a derivative of cholesterol is necessary for the formation of brain cells by conducting experiments on mice.

Professor Ernest Arenas, from the medical university Karolinska Institutet, says that the study’s findings may prove helpful for scientists in cultivating dopamine-producing cells outside the body.

Washington, October 3 : The high death toll during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic might be attributed to the misuse of aspirin, says an article.

Published in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases, the article sounds a cautionary note at a time when health experts are discussing their concerns about the novel H1N1 virus.

Washington, Sept 29 : Obese people with sleep apnea may triple the chances of eliminating their sleep problems by losing weight, claims a new study.

More than just loud snoring, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease and a poor quality of life.

New Delhi, Sept 29 : A new study has revealed that regular exercise can help keep prostate cancer at bay.

According to researchers at Duke University Medical Centre, those who were moderately active - anything equivalent to walking at a moderate pace for several hours a week - were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Beijing, Sep. 7 : With the surfacing of 100 new H1N1 cases since Friday, Chinese health experts have warned that the total cases nationwide will soon double to 10,000, as the peak of the outbreak has begun.

“The recent clusters of school outbreaks are just the start of the peak season, which will feature widespread infections.

London, September 7 : American scientists say that a molecular signature that that helps account for the aggressive behaviour of a variety of cancers—such as pancreatic, breast and melanoma—may also help identify patients who are likely to respond to a particular anti-cancer drug.