Washington, Nov 23 : Neuroscientists at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have made a major breakthrough in brain research by uncovering a mechanism vital to the development of the hippocampus—the most important region of the brain.

Hippocampus is crucial to the formation of memories, and the lifelong production and integration of new nerve cells.

QBI''s Associate Professor Linda Richards said that there wasn’t much known about the early development of hippocampus.

In the study, the researchers were trying to find out how the brain forms during embryonic and foetal development.

Washington, Nov 17: Long term vitamin E or vitamin C supplementation has no significant effect in protecting against cancer, according to a new study.

The Physicians'' Health Study II is a large-scale, long-term, randomised clinical trial, which was conducted by 14,641 physicians who were at least 50 years old at enrollment.

All the physicians participating in the study were given 400 IU of vitamin E every other day or its placebo, or 500 mg of vitamin C daily or its placebo.

The subjects were followed for up to 10 years for the development of cancer with high rates of completion of annual questionnaires, and the confirmation of reported cancer endpoints.

Washington, Nov 16 : Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have found that a protein, known to inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer, works in part by forcing cancer cells to eat themselves until they die.

Senior author Naoto T. Ueno, M. D., Ph. D. associate professor of breast medical oncology, said that the researchers also found that expression of the protein, known as PEA-15, is an independent indicator of a woman''s prospects for surviving ovarian cancer. 

An analysis of ovarian cancer tumours from 395 women showed those with high expression of the PEA-15 had a median survival time of 50.2 months compared with 33.5 months for women with low levels of the protein in their tumours.

Washington, Nov 16 : The irritating pain in your legs after climbing the stairs could reveal more than just your age—it could indicate that you might be suffering from peripheral vascular disease (PVD) – a disease of the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. 

PVD occurs when fatty deposits known as plaque build up in the inner lining of artery walls, causing a narrowing of the vessels that carry blood to the legs. 

Symptoms of PVD include pain, numbness, aching or heaviness in the leg muscles when walking or climbing stairs. Symptoms may also include cramping in the legs, buttocks, thighs, calves and feet.

London, Nov 16 : Research on cancer drug is entering a whole new era, which will lead to more successful drugs for patients, according to a charity. 

Experts at Cancer Research UK have said that improved knowledge of cancer''s biology means 18 percent of new drugs, compared to 5 percent previously - will become standard treatments. 

The hunt for cancer drugs is conducted on a large scale, but there is also a massive failure rate, as promising candidates fall by the wayside in clinical trials. 

Although scientists can learn lessons even from expensive failures, this costs drug firms and charities such as Cancer Research UK many millions.

New York - The United Nations on Friday joined some 800 monuments and landmark sites around the world in commemorating World Diabetes Day by lighting its building in blue.

Other sites include the Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Niagara Falls, the Tower of London, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Alamo in Texas.