London, Feb 24: Naked mole rats live for nearly 30 years longer than any other rodent, and scientists reckon that these animals may hold the secret to longevity.

The oxidising compounds produced in the bodies gradually wear down DNA and proteins, hence causing ageing by destroying the cells.

But, surprisingly, naked mole rats have almost equivalent levels of oxidants to mice that live to be just three and a half years.

For the study, Rochelle Buffenstein of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and colleagues extracted liver tissue from both species, and treated it with chemicals that "unravel" proteins to reveal damage.

Washington, Feb 24: Babies born in the high mould season, which generally encompasses the fall and winter months, are at increased risk of developing early symptoms of asthma, suggests a new study.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that newborns whose first few months of life coincide with high pollen and mould seasons have three times the odds of developing wheezing - often an early sign of asthma - by age 2 compared with those born at other times of the year.

The study results have been reported online in the journal Thorax.

Washington, February 24: A group of scientists say that alcoholism may be treated with the help of a drug that is prescribed for male and female infertility as well as menstrual disorders.

Researchers at the UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center came to this conclusion after analysing the findings of a study, which showed that "alcoholic" rodents, when injected with the drug cabergoline, decreased their alcohol consumption and alcohol-seeking behaviour and were less likely to relapse.

London, Feb 24 : Women who consume more calcium appear to have lower risk of developing certain cancers, a new study has found.

The research found that low fat milk, cheese and yoghurts could reduce the risk of some cancers by almost a quarter in women.

According to the study, which included almost 500,000 people, women who consumed the most calcium from dairy products or supplements were 23 per cent less likely to develop cancer than woman with the lowest consumption of calcium.

Manila - The Philippines' agriculture department has ordered the extermination of some 6,000 pigs afflicted with the Ebola Reston virus, a senior official said Tuesday.

Davinio Catbagan, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry, said the culling of the hogs in a farm in Pandi town, Bulacan province, 35 kilometres north of Manila, will be done within two to three days.

Beijing - At least 70 people in southern China have been sickened after eating pig organs tainted with a banned food additive, a newspaper reported Monday.

Three people remained in hospital in Guangzhou after consuming the organs containing the banned substance clenbuterol, which is used to build muscle and is also banned in sport, the China Daily said, citing local health officials.

The patients complained of stomach pains and diarrhoea after eating organs bought at local markets since Thursday.

The organs originated from pigs raised on farms in Hunan province.