Malaria could encourage mother-to-child transmission of HIV by making pregnant women produce a chemical that boosts HIV replication, say scientists in Cameroon.

November 18, 2005

Climate change is warming oceans, rivers and lakes and threatening fish stocks already under pressure from over fishing, pollution and habitat loss, the environmentalist group WWF warned on Friday. The decline in numbers of fish could have a devastating impact on human populations, particularly in poorer countries that rely on fish for protein, it said in a report.

November 19, 2005

The key to reducing hunger is not merely calling for more political will, but building it, said David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a US-based citizens' movement to end hunger, during the opening ceremony of FAO’s governing Conference today.

Brain: Over time, As it is a depressant, alcohol can trigger episodes of depression, anxiety and lethargy, Blood: Alcohol kills the oxygen-carrying red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, Cancer: Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to an increase in the risk of most cancers, Reproductive Organs: Heavy drinking causes a drop in testosterone levels in men, and causes testicular shrinkage and impotence. In females, menstrual cycles can be disrupted and fertility is affected.

November 13, 2005

Why is it that when we lose a tooth our jawbone doesn't become infected, even though our mouth is teeming with bacteria? It turns out that bone has a previously unknown immune system all of its own, a discovery that could help doctors perform bone grafts and treat gum disease.

November 21, 2005

The US Food and Drug Administration said Friday there was insufficient evidence to tie the flu drug Tamiflu to the deaths of 12 Japanese children or to hallucinations, encephalitis and other symptoms suffered by some Japanese patients.

November 22, 2005

Almost a year after the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami, scientists are busy installing buoys off the coast of Sumatra to help with future warning systems. At the same time, experts and politicians are meeting to discuss how the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean might be similarly protected.

November 24, 2005

A potential barrier to sexually transmitted diseases for women has been developed by scientists working on a revolutionary medical breakthrough called RNA interference. The researchers have produced an anti-viral cream women could apply before sex and which may continue to provide protection against viruses such as HIV and herpes for days.