Wurzburg, Germany  - Gourmets consider the artichoke a tasty delicacy, but for people with digestive problems its bitterness is a helpful natural cure.

"The use of artichoke leaves is scientifically recognized in treating stomach and intestinal problems, above all when they are caused by liver or gall bladder dysfunction," said Johannes Gottfried Mayer of a medical research group at the University of Wurzburg.

The report released on Friday indicates that, even though the overall prevalence rate is small (up to 0.5%), there is rising HIV occurrence among susceptible groups at increased risk for HIV virus, comprising sex workers and their customers, and injecting drug users and their partners.

The report, titled "HIV and AIDS in South Asia: An Economic Development Risk" said that despite prevention plans, targeting susceptible groups at high infection risk, are increasing proportionally, these concentrated outbreaks can further escalate.

Melanotan I and Melanotan II popularly sold as "injectable tan" can lead to worrying changes in skin moles. Medical experts have issued warning regarding use of such tanning jab as these products are not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness and that its side-effects were unknown. These products are advertised and sold illegally on the internet and in some tanning salons and body building gyms.

Two recent cases of women who had injected "Melanotan" shortly before noticing the problem of skin moles highlighted the risk from these tanning jab.

Geneva  - United Nations agencies and other groups started a polio vaccine campaign Friday which aims to immunize 53 million children in West Africa over the course of the next month.

The vaccination campaign will take place in two rounds and will target eight countries, including Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

The large campaign, which has received funding from numerous donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was in response to a polio outbreak last year, which spread from northern Nigeria to six other nearby countries.

According to a new study if you want to lose weight it doesn't matter which diet you choose but what matters is how much or little you eat.

Recent study revealed that capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their fiery flavor can also help in relieving joint and muscle pain. Study indicated that capsaicin flips on nerve-ending receptors that sense both pain and heat.

Lead researcher, Feng Qin, an associate professor at the university's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said: "The receptor acts like a gate to the neurons. When stimulated it opens, letting outside calcium enter the cells until the receptor shuts down, a process called desensitization."