Manila - The Philippines on Wednesday launched a programme to immunize about half a million children below 5 years of age this year, to help prevent child deaths from illnesses which kill some 82,000 children every year. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the government allocated 36.4 million pesos (75,800 dollars) to the immunization programme, as part of the "save a child" strategy of the Department of Health.

Washington, Apr 15 : Statins, the most successful class of cholesterol-lowering medicines, have no role in preventing Alzheimer's Disease (AD), according to a new review of studies.

Statins includes medications like atorvastatin (Lipitor) and pravastatin (Pravachol), which are some of the best-selling drugs in the world.

The drugs lower cholesterol by inhibiting a key enzyme used by the body to make it, which decreases cholesterol formation and helps reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol).

Washington, Apr 15 : A new study has linked low aerobic capacity to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and suggested that the resulting liver problems play a crucial step developing obesity-related illnesses.

Poor aerobic fitness is already strongly associated with obesity and its consequent risks of heart disease, strokes and diabetes.

But in case of NAFLD, sufferers accumulate fat in their livers and have high levels of fat in their blood, amplifying the risk factors of obesity.

Washington, Apr 15 : A drug commonly used to treat severe osteoporosis can mend hard-to-heal broken bones of elderly patients at a rate typically seen when they were young kids, say researchers.

The study led by Dr J. Edward Puzas, who heads orthopaedic bone research at the University of Rochester Medical Centre showed that the drug teriparatide, or Forteo can significantly boost our bodies'' bone stem cell production.

London, April 15 : Biologists at the University of Arizona have identified an all-female species of ant, which has dispensed with sex.

The researchers have revealed that the ant species — Mycocepurus smithii — rely upon cloning for reproduction. They say that the queen ants copy themselves to produce genetically identical daughters.

According to the research team, this species cultivates a garden of fungus, which also reproduces asexually.

Biologist Anna Himler, who led the research, revealed that the research team used a battery of tests to verify their findings.

Upon "fingerprinting" DNA of the ant species, the researchers found them all to be clones of the colony''s queen.

Washington, Apr 15 : People with chronic asthma have been offered a new hope in the form of an inhaler that contains two medicines.