The inflation rate continues to fall in the third consecutive week. It now stands at 8.84 per cent during the week ended November 15 from 8.90 per cent in the previous week. It would bring more respite for the union government who is facing criticism on price rise and internal security issues. However, inflation rate is still high and above the comfortable limits fixed by the reserve bank. It was at 3.35 per cent during the same week of last year.

The recent terror attack on the financial capital of the country would affect the aviation sector in forthcoming Christmas holiday season in December. Airlines would move very cautiously to terror-struck Mumbai after recent large scale terrorist attacks in various prominent locations of the city. However, almost all domestic carriers continued with their air services to Mumbai despite low traffic due to the recent terrorist attack. The attack happened in the season in which carriers are expecting good earning due to Christmas.

Scientists have found clues that resveratrol, a minor ingredient of red wine can increase life span. The ingredient has shown to be effective on laboratory mice.

The scientists at Harvard Medical School, believe that the integrity of chromosomes is changed due to aging. Resveratrol activates a protein known as sirtuin that restores the chromosomes to health.

The study, published in the journal Cell, shows that DNA damage a breakdown in the cell’s ability to understand which genes are switched on and which are switched off. This plays a critical role in aging.

Indonesian AIDS commission has rejected a plan by the lawmakers of Papua province which requires microchips to be implanted in  HIV/ AIDS patients to monitor the spread of disease.  

It is expected that the bill would be passed on a majority vote and would implemented in January 2009. The implicit reason behind the bill is to track sexually active people who have HIV/AIDS who could be prosecuted if they are suspected of infecting others. According to lawmakers, the proposed bill would also give a permission to the authorities to identify and ultimately punish "sexually aggressive,” HIV-positive individuals.

CT Scan can produce 64- slice image of blocked arteries. Though the images cannot be termed as equivalent to the tradition method of detecting blocked arteries using angiography, they are good enough to show the condition of the patient.

The scan method is much safer for many patients, according to researchers who published a study today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Angiography is a complicated procedure that involves inserting a guide wire and catheter into the groin, threading them through the blood vessels to the heart. Thus the dye that allows blockages to be visible through X-ray is injected.

The recent revelation by the Health Minister P K Sreemathy in the Kerala Assembly that there was no mechanism available now to monitor the quality of medicines, worth Rs 1,800 crore a year, being sold through 15,000 outlets in the State brought sorry condition of the medical services in the limelight.