London, Nov 3: Scientists from King's College London have launched a major clinical trial to test whether common antidepressant drug lithium can effectively treat motor neurone disease.

Till now, there is no effective cure or treatment for the fatal motor neuron disease, which is commonly found in men and most likely to strike between the ages of 50 and 70.

However, it can affect any adult at any age.

An Italian study had shown that lithium might have a protective effect with MND, but the British scientists said that the findings should be treated with caution.

The researchers said that the study was necessary because positive findings from a small-scale Italian study were "too dramatic too ignore".

Washington, November 3: A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center has shown that the administration of all recommended flu vaccines to kids reduces their likelihood of catching the respiratory virus, due to which many children are hospitalised every year.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, the study included 2,400 from 6 months old to 5 years old in Rochester, Nashville and Cincinnati in
2003-2004 and 2004-2005.

Nasal and throat swabs were used to determine whether children who came to the hospital or participating outpatient practice had the flu.

Washington, November 3: Rockefeller University scientists say that an overlooked and undervalued protein, sarcospan, may ameliorate the most severe form of muscular dystrophy if added to muscle cells.

The researchers write in their study report that in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the mutated dystrophin protein fails to anchor correctly to its membrane glycoprotein complex, causing muscle cells to experience severe contraction-induced damage.

The say that sarcospan is part of the anchoring complex, but because mice without sarcospan do not seem any worse for its absence, it has not received much attention to date.

Guwahati, Nov 3: The Assam Government has decided to constitute a Special Task Force headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank officer to deal with militancy and combat Jehadi forces in the state.

It will be formed in line with the National Security Guards (NSG).

Two battalions of the STF will be raised at the initial stage. The State Government will also form a Security Advisory Council by involving retired police officers to guide the Government in security and law and order-related matters.

Washington - After an historic 20 months of rallies, debates and countless commercials in the most expensive election campaign ever, voters will finally get their chance Tuesday to pick Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain as the next US president.

Across the country, state officials are preparing for record turnout and huge lines at polling stations, a testament to the massive interest that has been generated in an election widely considered the most important in recent memory.