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Biosensor detects sexually transmitted disease in a jiffy

LONDON - A new biosensor can promptly detect the presence of Candida albicans yeast, usually found in a person infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

Costa Rica reports 1st swine flu death outside N. America; Japan quarantines travellers

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica reported the death of a 53-year-old patient with swine flu on Saturday, the first death from the epidemic outside of a North American nation, while Japanese authorities scrambled to limit contacts with their first confirmed cases of the disease.

Costa Rica’s health minister confirms swine flu death _ the first in Central America

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s health minister confirmed the death of a 53-year-old patient with swine flu on Saturday, the first death from the epidemic outside of a North American nation.

Bangladesh PM’s husband dead

DHAKA - M.A. Wazed Miah, husband of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was 67.

30-year study finds non-smokers live longer, have healthier hearts

LONDON - A 30-year study on the health and lifestyle habits of 54,000 Norwegians has found that non-smokers had healthier hearts and also lived longer than smokers.

British Hindu vows fight ‘to the end’ for open air cremation

NEW DELHI - Davinder Kumar Ghai, a devout British Hindu whose plea to be cremated in the open was turned down by Britain’s high court, has vowed to continue his fight, saying the final rites of Hindus ‘must be done with dignity’.

With husband unwell, Hasina may alter America tour plans

DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may be forced to alter her plans to visit North America due to her husband’s failing health, media reports said Saturday.

Mexico says most flu victims got sick before alert

MEXICO CITY - Almost 90 percent of the 45 swine flu fatalities recorded till date in Mexico began to feel the symptoms before authorities knew of the existence of the new AH1N1 virus, the country’s health secretary said Friday.

Money can really buy longer and healthier life

LONDON - It’s official: Money is the key to enjoying longer and healthier life.

According to a new study, for the Economic and Social Research Council, people with more wealth and better education are less likely to develop illness and tend to die later than those who are poorer and less welleducated.

Old Parkinson’s drug tweaked into a diabetes treatment to try to reset metabolism

WASHINGTON — People with Type 2 diabetes may soon get a very different treatment approach: A drug that helps control blood sugar via the brain — an idea sparked, surprisingly, by the metabolism of migrating birds.

Lice can be nice too, for our immune system

LONDON - Wild mice have given experts some clues into why some parasites like lice are important for the conditioning of our ‘natural’ immune system.

Giving up smoking and bad habits can improve senior’s health

WASHINGTON - Previous smokers easily outpaced current smokers in physical activity, suggesting that giving up such bad habits can positively impact a senior’s health later in life.

GlaxoSmithKline posts 13 percent drop in 1Q net profit as US pharma business slumps

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline, the world’s second largest drug maker by revenues, posted a 13 percent drop in net profit for the first quarter on Wednesday, as strong sales in Europe and emerging markets were offset by a poor performance in its U.S. pharmaceutical business.

Witnessing violence traumatic for school kids

LONDON - Schoolchildren who witness violence, shootouts or hear gunshots is traumatised by them, a new study confirms.

Senator says Medicare program to focus on ‘wellness’ to prevent needless hospital stays

WASHINGTON — Older Americans could see big changes in Medicare as a result of a health care overhaul, lawmakers and experts said Tuesday as Congress began working on the sweeping legislation.

Eat tart cherries, reduce risk of heart diseases

WASHINGTON - Eating just one and a half servings of tart cherries could boost your antioxidant activity and cut risk factors for heart diseases, says the latest research.

British South Asian kids ‘less active’

LONDON - British South Asian kids are less active than their peers from other ethnic groups, a new study has found.

An Indian diabetic cure for Hollywood star Halle Berry

NEW DELHI - With an Oscar statuette under her belt, Hollywood is at Halle Berry’s feet. However, life has never been a bed of roses for this brilliant actress, as she has had to battle one of the world’s most common illnesses - diabetes.

Poor aerobic fitness linked to fatty liver disease

WASHINGTON - A new study has linked low aerobic capacity to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and suggested that the resulting liver problems play a crucial step developing obesity-related illnesses.

Kids lacking self-control more likely to gain extra weight by their pre-teen years

WASHINGTON - Kids lacking an ability to regulate their behaviour, or to delay gratification in exchange for a larger reward, are more likely to become overweight by their pre-teen years, according to a study.

Personality traits reinforce longevity in families of centenarians

WASHINGTON - Longevity tends to run in families and is reinforced by specific personality traits among children of centenarians.