HEALTH - ~ Zinc supplement can reduce infant deaths

Giving zinc as a supplement along with antibiotics can
significantlyreduce mortality by lowering treatment failure in
children suffering from serious infections such as pneumonia and
meningitis,according to a study.
The study, reported in the latest issue of the international medical
journal, The Lancet , has found that babies who were given zinc
supplement were 40 per cent less likely to experience treatment
failure and their risk of death was reduced by 43 per cent.
The study covered 700 babies aged between seven and 120 days — 352of
them were given zinc supplement along with thestandard antibiotics and
the others a placebo. It was funded by the Department of Biotechnology
under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
Speaking to journalists here, DBT Secretary M.K. Bhan said research
had already shown that zinc supplements could help cure diarrhoea and
zinc syrups or dispersible tablets were already available for its
treatment in many countries.
Worldwide, bacterial and other infections account fornearly two-thirds
of deathsin children under five, with around two-fifths of the deaths
occurring within the first month of life. In India, of the one million
neonatal deaths that occur every year, more than a quarter are
attributed to these infections.

HEALTH - ~ Mangoes can help fight flab: Study - Scientists have found the skins of the Irwin and Nam Doc Mai varieties contain compounds that inhibit theformation of human fat cells.

Scientists have found the skins of the Irwin and Nam Doc Mai varieties
contain compounds that inhibit theformation of human fat cells.
~
Eating few mango varietiescould help you lose weight,but only if you
eat the skin you normally throw away, Australian researchers
haveclaimed.
Advising that while eating the wrong variety of this fruit could have
the opposite effect.
University of Queensland scientists have found the skins of the common
Irwin and Nam Doc Mai varieties contain compounds that inhibit the
formation of human fat cells.
On contrary, the skin of theKensington Pride mango has compounds that
promote fat cell growth, according to an AAP report.
Mike Gidley said lab tests involved exposing human fat cells to
extracts from the skin and flesh of three varieties.
He said there was a long way to go, but the findingsopened up the
possibility of a supplement that couldhelp fight obesity.
"The next stage is to identify the useful molecules in the peel that
inhibited fat cell formation," Mr. Gidley said.

STORY - ~ ISS Transit of Venus

ISS Transit of Venus
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2012-06-04 05:59:24 GMT 2012-06-04 13:59:24(Beijing Time) SINA.com
=
High above Earth, astronaut Don Pettit is about to become the first
human to witness and photograph a transit of Venus from space. His
images and commentary will be streamed to Earth during the crossing.

STORY - ~ Diamond Jubilee: St Paul's service to wrapup events

The Queen ended the Diamond Jubilee concert outside Buckingham
Palaceby lighting a beacon in TheMall
The Diamond Jubilee
Stars perform at Jubilee concert
Q&A: Bladder infections
In pictures: Diamond Jubilee concert
Beacons ignited to mark Jubilee
The Queen's Jubilee celebrations will continue with a
glitteringprocession and service ofthanksgiving later, but without her
consort at her side.
The Duke Of Edinburgh remains in hospital with a bladder infection and
will miss the final events marking her 60 years on the throne.
A service at St Paul's Cathedral will be followed by a carriage
procession and, weather allowing, an RAF flypast.
On Monday, Buckingham Palace hosted a star-studded Diamond Jubilee concert.
'Mummy'
The fourth day of celebrations will be a moreformal affair, with the
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, giving a sermon in front
of the Royal Family and leading national figures.
Prime Minister David Cameron will lead the largerepresentation from
the government at St Paul's alongside diplomats and foreign leaders.
After the service, the Queenwill attend a reception at Mansion House -
the officialresidence of the Lord Mayor of London. The Prince of Wales
and Duchess of Cornwall will attend a similar event at the Guildhall.
Analysis
Peter Hunt
News correspondent
A day of celebration which has been planned for years will now have to
be tinkered with at the last moment, because of the absence of one of
the key participants.
Prince Philip has spent the night in hospital. It's the second time
he's been admitted in six months.
While he continues to be treated, a service of thanksgiving at St
Paul's and a lunch in WestminsterHall will go ahead.
Then the Queen will travel by carriage back to Buckingham Palace for
an appearance on the balcony with those who represent the future of an
institution she has nourished - Charles,Camilla, William, Catherine
and Harry. It doesn't harm that at a time of austerity it'll be an
image of just six royals which will be beamed around the world.
The woman who wasn't born to be queen has now reigned for 60 years.
It's a landmark achievement andnow possibly also a bitter-sweet
occasion as well.
Read more from Peter
A City of London Livery companies lunch at Westminster Hall will
follow, after which the royals will take part in a carriage procession
through Whitehall.
Then, weather permitting, they will gather on the balcony at
Buckingham Palace to watch a flypast ofWorld War II aircraft and a
display by the Red Arrows.
Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince
Harry are among the royalsinvolved in Tuesday's events.
Prince Philip, 90, will remain under observation at King Edward VII
Hospital in London, where he was taken on Monday as a"precautionary
measure".
In December, he was treated at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge for
ablocked coronary artery.
At the concert on Monday night, attended by 12,000 people, Charles
paid tributeto his mother, describing her as "mummy" and a"very
special person".
But he added there was a disappointing edge to the night. "The only
sad thing about this evening is that my father couldn't be with us
because, unfortunately, he was taken ill," he said.
Addressing his mother on the stage, he added: "This is our opportunity
to thankyou and my father for always being there for us.
"For inspiring us with your selfless duty and service and for making
us proud tobe British."
Take That star Gary Barlow,who helped organise muchof the concert and
sang a duet with Cheryl Cole, said the prince's illness was"sad,
really sad".
Robbie Williams - who earlier opened the show with Let Me Entertain
You -was the first to perform forthe Queen when he sang big band
classic Mack the Knife.
Other performers included Jessie J, Annie Lennox, Sir Tom Jones,
Madness, StevieWonder and Sir Cliff Richard - singing a medley of his
songs from six different decades.
Comedians including Lee Mack, Rob Brydon, Jimmy Carr and Peter Kay -
dressed as a Beefeater - also performed at the event which was
broadcastby the BBC.
The concert was brought toa close by Sir Paul McCartney who played
hits including Magical Mystery Tour, Let It Be and a spectacular
rendition of Live and Let Die, complete with fireworks and explosions.
After the show, the Queen pressed a diamond-shaped crystal into a pod,
igniting a beacon in The Mall to mark her 60 years on the throne. It
was one of more than 4,000 lit across the UKand the Commonwealth.
See all the latest Diamond Jubilee news and features at bbc.co.uk/diamondjubilee
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