Washington, Mar 29 : Drug-eluting stents are much safer and superior to bare metal stents in preventing death and heart attacks among cardiac patients, according to researchers from Duke University Medical Center.

For their study, the researchers tested drug-eluting stents among 262,700 "real-world" patients enrolled in a nationwide registry of cardiovascular disease.

The study is the largest of its kind to date, and may finally put an end to years of controversy over the safety of the devices.

London, Mar 29 : British scientists are on their way to provide double bonanza to women looking for boob-jobs: a stem cell therapy that offers "natural" breast enlargement - and cuts stomach or thigh fat in the process.

The treatment, which can enhance cup size, involves extracting stem cells from spare fat on the stomach or thighs and growing them in a woman's breasts.

Taipei  - Fish pedicures are becoming hot in Taiwan, but authorities are pouring cold water on the practice by questioning the effect of the treatment, a newspaper said on Sunday.

Some spa operators in Taiwan, like those in Japan, South Korea and other countries, have imported a special kind of toothless fish to nibble the feet of bathers in their pools, claiming the fish remove dead skin, give a pedicure and treat psoriasis and other ailments.

London, Mar 28 : Traditional parenting methods such as breastfeeding, discipline are likely to bring up well adjusted kids, say researchers.

In the study involving 1,136 mothers, the researchers found that breastfeeding is associated with more positive parenting practices that can continue beyond infancy.

According to the Institute of Education in London, breastfeeding for at least six months not only helps improve mother-child relationships, it also boost kids' health and educational development.

London, March 28: Cambridge University researchers say that the time spent in education may reduce people’s risk of dementia later in life.

The researchers compared the mental abilities of elderly people, and found that those born after the school leaving age was raised in the country fared better.

Based on that observation, the researchers came to the conclusion that further changes to the school leaving age could improve mental abilities and curb dementia rates more.

Relevance of yoga, traces of which date back to Indus Valley Civilization around 2,000 BCE, in the modern world was explored when Swami Sitaramananda, internationally respected yoga virtuoso; and Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; met at Grass Valley in California (USA).

Other topics discussed were spiritual dimension of yoga, realization through Vedanta, maya (universal illusion) and True Reality, manaskara (mind-work), realization of Self, future of yoga, etc.

Zed pointed out that yoga would continue to live and grow, as it was the reservoir of something basic in the human spirit and soul.