Scientists have successfully identified the cells responsible for the onset of leukemia, considered to be the most common form of child cancer, through the help of 4-year old twins, one of which was diagnosed with the disease.

According to the scientists, a set of pre-leukemic cells was present in 4-year old twins Olivia and Isabella Murphy. The cells were possibly obtained via a genetic mutation as early as their months inside their mother's womb

Health experts in England have called on parents to have their infants, particularly those under a year old, to receive their vaccinations to avoid serious illness such as pneumonia and meningitis.

Data showed that one in six children remain unvaccinated and health officials warned that it could lead to an increase in the number of teens and adults who suffer permanent disability due to pneumococcal infection

A five-fold hike in penalties will be imposed by China's State Environmental Protection Administration on individuals and firms that pollute drinking water resources by discharging toxic substances. The drastic hike in fines will place the maximum fine at $67,600 (500,000 yuan).

For those who dump solid waste and other types of pollutants, the penalty will be $27,000 (200,000 yuan), a 20-fold increase from present levels. The draft policy lifts the $135,000 (1 million yuan) ceiling on fines for water polluters. Once the policy is approved, polluters will have to pay from 20 percent to 30 percent of the direct economic loss that was caused by their dumping activity

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center say that the function of the frequently discarded appendix is to produce and protects good germs for your gut. This theory is explained in an online edition of the Journal of Theoretical Biology. According to the study, there are massive amounts of bacteria in the human digestive system. Most of it is good and helps digest food. But sometimes this bacteria dies off or is purged from the intestines.

When the diseases such as cholera or dysentery cause bacterial purging, the bacteria in the appendix are safely harbored. According to the researchers, the appendix's job is to "reboot" the digestive system when that happens

Sidney Taurel, chairman and chief executive officer, Eli Lilly and Company, is calling on the health care industry, medical community and U.S. government to actively collaborate on a health information technology system that would provide more rapid and useful insights on the effectiveness of medicines while improving drug safety.

During a speech at Cleveland clinic to some of the industry's leading decision makers he proposed his peers in establishing a health care "Information Revolution