Health & environment

• 17 January 2012, 14:29 Vitamin D no cure for lung disease

  Prior research suggested that up to three quarters of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are deficient in the vitamin.

• 17 January 2012, 09:55 London 2012: Mass gathering risks disease spreading

  Mass gatherings, such as the London 2012 Olympics, can be a hotbed of diseases from across the world, public health experts have warned.

• 13 January 2012, 15:26 Israeli firm develops scanning system to tackle into brain diseases

  An Israeli company has developed a system that scans the brain and provides a three dimensional image of the nerve cell connectivity.

• 12 January 2012, 16:33 World's smallest frog discovered

  A frog species that appears to be the world's smallest has been discovered in Papua New Guinea by a US-based team.

• 12 January 2012, 09:59 Breastfed babies 'are more cranky and cry more'

  New mums should be advised that it is normal for their baby to cry more if they are breastfed, say experts.

• 11 January 2012, 17:26 Middle-aged surgeons 'are safest'

  If you are due to have an operation, it might be worth checking the age of your surgeon beforehand, say researchers who claim age influences acumen.

• 11 January 2012, 14:19 Russia to form 11 new nature reserves, 20 parks, 3 refuges by 2020

  “The concept is seeking to preserve natural and cultural heritage," Natural Resources Minister said.

• 11 January 2012, 09:22 Bereavement raises heart attack risk, says study

  The newly bereaved are at greatly increased risk of heart attack after the death of a close loved one, US researchers say.

• 11 January 2012, 09:12 Rabies quarantine imposed in some territories in Tatarstan

  The dangerous disease has been found in the villages of Churakaevo and Betki.

• 10 January 2012, 13:06 Tatarstan to switch to European infant mortality registration system

  Statistics from now on include babies born alive with a weight of 500 grams at pregnancy of at least 22 weeks.

• 29 December 2011, 12:09 Diet patterns may keep brain from shrinking: study

  People with diets high in several vitamins or in omega 3 fatty acids are less likely to have the brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's disease.

• 29 December 2011, 10:00 Power cuts hit 26 settlements in Tatarstan

  Power supply will approximately be restored by 2 pm.

• 27 December 2011, 17:15 More time at school 'boosts IQ'

  Spending more time at school may increase intelligence, according to a study of Norwegian men.

• 27 December 2011, 09:30 Healthcare modernisation programme discussed in Kazan

  Equipping medical institutions and observing medical help standards in Tatarstan was discussed.

• 23 December 2011, 16:31 Science names HIV study 2011 Breakthrough of Year

  The journal Science on Thursday chose the HPTN 052 clinical trial, an international HIV prevention trial as the 2011 Breakthrough of the Year.

• 21 December 2011, 11:32 New approach to malaria vaccine revealed by Oxford researchers

  A potential new malaria vaccine has shown promise in animal studies, according to research.

• 21 December 2011, 09:26 Metal undergoes novel transition under extreme pressure

  Under extreme pressures and temperatures, one of the main materials of the Earth's interior has exhibited a never-before-seen transition.

• 21 December 2011, 09:08 Kolskaya platform disaster will not cause environmental damage - WWF

  "There will be no major ecological consequences. It is above all a human disaster," Chestin said.

• 20 December 2011, 09:25 Death toll from tropical storm in Philippines rises to 684

  Ramos said they expect the death toll to increase in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, noting that retrieval operations were still continuing.

• 19 December 2011, 13:34 Tatarstan can take leading positions in transplantology – Sergey Gotie

  To do that, the republic needs to keep up the positive trends, he says.