Washington, Mar 17 : A gene that causes obesity could also lead to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women, a new study has suggested.

The FTO gene has recently been shown to influence a person''s predisposition to obesity, and is now the first gene to be associated convincingly with susceptibility to PCOS.

Washington, Mar 17 : R&B star Rihanna has dismissed reports she is in negotiations to star in a remake of Whitney Houston''s 1992 classic `The Bodyguard'.

Reports claimed that the `Umbrella' hitmaker would be playing Houston's role in the updated version of the hit romantic drama, reports Contactmusic.

Rihanna has been keeping a low profile since an alleged bust-up with her boyfriend Chris Brown last month but sources said that she is planning to return to the public eye with a move to Hollywood.

Washington, Mar 17 : A steroid nasal spray has been found to reduce symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a new study led by Indian origin scientist.

Researchers led by Neil S. Sachanandani from Washington University School of Medicine have found that an aqueous nasal spray containing corticosteroid budesonide has been shown to be safe and beneficial for those with chronic rhinosinusitis and recurring allergies.

Washington, March 17: While moderate physical activity is known to be beneficial to health, researchers are now suggesting people to walk 150 minutes a week, which is equivalent to 30 minutes each day 5 times a week.

Researchers at the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, point out that pedometers widely used as a physical activity monitoring tool are unable to measure activity intensity.

They have determined that a rate of at least 100 steps per minute achieves moderate intensity activity.

Washington, Mar. 17: President Barack Obama''s approval rating is down into the 50''s for the first time since he took office, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press.

Obama has a 59 percent approval rating and a 26 percent disapproval rating in the poll, which quizzed 1,308 adults by phone (including 326 who were called on their cell phone) from March 9 to 12.

This is down from Pew''s poll last month, which showed Obama with 64 percent approval and 17 percent disapproval.

Washington, Mar. 17: The United States has decided to bar the entry of Uzi Arad, who is expected to be Israel’s new national security adviser, for nearly two years on the grounds that he is an intelligence risk.

According to the Washington Times, Arad, a former member and director of intelligence for the Mossad, Israel''s spy service, is mentioned in the indictment of Lawrence Franklin, a former Pentagon analyst who pleaded guilty in 2005 to providing classified information about Iran in a conversation with two employees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).