A research team led by Nigel Leigh, director of the motor neurone disease care centre at King's College London will conduct a study to assess the impact of the anti-depressant drug lithium as a treatment for motor neurone disease.

Motor neurone disease destroys nerves in the brain that control movement, leaving patients locked in a failing body. There is currently no cure and half die within 14 months of being diagnosed. A small study by Italian researchers suggested that lithium could slow the progression of the disease.

London, Nov 4 : Dispelling the myths surrounding homeopathy, a new research has revealed that claims made by scientists suggesting homeopathy does not have therapeutic effects are ‘seriously flawed’.

A 2005 review, published in The Lancet, of six trials of conventional medicine and 8 studies of homeopathy had revealed that homeopathic medicines are just placebo.

George Lewith, Professor of Health Research at Southampton University claims that the conclusions are ‘not’ reliable.

“The review gave no indication of which trials were analysed nor of the various vital assumptions made about the data,” the Lancet quoted Lewith, as saying.

Washington, Nov 4: A team of researchers has found a fungus that produces a new type of diesel fuel, which holds great promise as it may offer an alternative to fossil fuels.

According to Gary Strobel, from the Montana State University (MSU), who led the research team, the ouput of this particular fungus is “myco-diesel”.

Strobel, who travels the world looking for exotic plants that may contain beneficial microbes, found the diesel-producing fungus in a Patagonia rainforest.

Strobel visited the rainforest in 2002 and collected a variety of specimens, including the branches from an ancient family of trees known as “ulmo.”

Recent survey by the Health and Safety Executive showed 387 asbestos-related deaths in Sunderland since 1981.

The HSE has launched Asbestos: the Hidden Killer campaign in the region which is running up until the end of November on posters and on radio. This survey also showed that 20 tradesmen a week dye from asbestos-related diseases and that number is likely to rise.

Jill Morrell, head of public affairs at the British Lung Foundation, said: “The HSE campaign is vital because research shows that only one in ten tradesmen know that exposure to asbestos can prove fatal. The asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is a cruel disease which as yet has no cure. We must do all we can to prevent more people dying from this preventable disease."

Bangkok - The ninth triennial German Technology Symposium & Exhibition will be held in Bangkok next week despite the gloom created by the US financial meltdown and signs of recession in the US and Europe, organizers said Tuesday.

"Economic crisis or not, people want new technology," said Stefan Buerkle, executive director of the German Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), the chief organizer of the event.

The ninth triennial German Technology Symposium & Exhibition will be held as planned at Central World in Bangkok from November 8 to 11 with some 140 exhibitors and an expected 15,000 visitors from Thailand and neighbouring countries, said Buerkle.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh visited the JN hospital complex in Porompat. He was accompanied by MLA Kh Loken, chairman of the PDA and other officials and engineers of the state PWD.

He made an assessment of the progress of the construction works for the proposed institute of medical sciences at the existing hospital site at Porompat. He also inspected the ongoing construction of the new OPD block and the existing conditions of both the new and old operation theatres as well as the gynaecology ward.