Beijing  - The bird-flu

Washington, Feb 18 : Cancer survivors are more likely to fail in obtaining or retaining a job as compared to healthy individuals, according to an analysis of previous studies.

The trend is more common in survivors of breast and gastrointestinal cancers, adds the review report.

The researchers behind the analysis say that long-term medical and psychological effects of cancer or its treatment may cause impairments that effect social functioning, including the obtainment or retention of employment.

Almost half of all cancer survivors are younger than 65 years.

Washington, Feb 18 : Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have identified a gene that plays key role in regulating liver cancer progression.

According to researchers, the discovery could one day lead to new-targeted therapeutic strategies to fight the highly aggressive disease.

In the study, researchers found that the astrocyte elevated gene-1, AEG-1, plays a key role in regulating Hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC, or liver cancer in series of cellular models.

London, Feb 18 : A new study suggests that vaccines, which specifically target HIV in the initial stages of infection before it becomes a rapidly replicating, system-wide infection, may be a successful approach in limiting the spread of the disease.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University''s Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute used a vaccination method that involves creating and maintaining resistance by programming a portion of the body''s immune system - effector memory T-cells - to look out for HIV at the site of infection.

Washington, Feb 18 : Researchers have advised asthma patients to continue their medication for long-term benefits even if they have fewer symptoms.

The study led by researchers in Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) has shown that although patients had fewer symptoms five years after stopping the daily medication, they are primed to an attack if they got a bad cold or during weather change.

During the study, more than 1,000 children age 5-12 were treated for mild to moderate asthma over more than four years and followed up for nearly five years after the end of the trial.

Washington, Feb 18 : Two new studies have brought scientists one step closer to the development of a pill that could stave off noise-induced and perhaps even age-related hearing loss in humans.

In the studies, scientists found that vitamin supplements prevented hearing loss in laboratory animals.

The supplements used in the studies are composed of antioxidants - beta carotene and vitamins C and E - and the mineral magnesium.

When administered prior to exposure to loud noise, the supplements prevented both temporary and permanent hearing loss in test animals.