Washington, Apr 15 : Purdue University scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that factors other than genes could be involved in the development of obesity.

Researchers say they have uncovered evidence that genetically identical cells store widely differing amounts of fat, depending on subtle variations in how the cells process insulin.

Learning the precise mechanism responsible for fat storage in cells could lead to methods for controlling obesity.

On Thursday, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston witnessed the second face transplant operation performed in the United States and the seventh in the world.

The surgeon who led this surgery said that he and his team are "cautiously optimistic" over the recovery of the patient.

"So far he is doing very, very well," said Dr. Bohdan Pomahac.

In another case of racial discrimination, a study revealed that black patients with lung cancer were less likely than white patients to receive recommended chemotherapy and surgery.

The study said that disparity in lung cancer treatments were as large in 2002 as they were back in the early 1990s, despite efforts to decrease those inequalities in treatment.

According to researchers, depression in heart patients can in most probability lead to heart failure despite the usage of anti depressants.

"Our data suggest that depression is an important and emerging risk factor for heart failure among patients with coronary heart disease," Heidi May of Intermountain Medical Center in Utah, whose study appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said in a statement.

Washington - A group of 10 Pakistani girls and young women managed to convince their parents that it would be a good idea to come to the United States to play football. The team members, between the ages of 12 and 21, are in Washington with three coaches through a State Department programme, to hone their football skills - training for a sport that has a scanty audience and little support back home.

All members of the Young Rising Stars Female Football Club (YRS), they battle with ease the deep ambivalence in conservative Muslim society about girls playing sport.

Washington - International donors have raised 324 million dollars in aid to help Haiti - one of the world's poorest nations - cope with the economic crisis and a year of devastating hurricanes. The conference in Washington was attended by representatives from more than 40 countries and international groups hoping to help the Caribbean nation build a stabile democracy after decades of violence and military coups.