Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK), a sugar-regulating enzyme that was thought to protect against cancer actually promotes a deadly form of leukaemia, new studies have revealed.

Researchers from Stanford University in California believe the finding may lead to new drugs for the hard-to-treat cancer that affects babies. New data shows that GSK3 fuels a deadly white blood cell cancer that accounts for between 5 and 10 percent of child and adult leukaemias

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM) has called off plans for a study chelation, a controversial type of treatment for autism after the agency expressed its doubts in the procedure's safety.

Chelation is a type of therapy in which a man-made amino acid, called EDTA, is added to the blood, and it has been used to treat heavy metal poisoning. It is used by many as alternative medical therapy for children with the condition

Two brothers who sold about 3 tons of contaminated milk to the Sanlu Group a day are arrested in Hebei province on Sunday after it caused the deaths of two infants in China.

The brothers have been running a private milk collecting station since May 2004 and their milk has been rejected by Sanlu previously. They face charges of producing and selling toxic and hazardous food

A legal opinion expected to be issued Monday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission's general counsel sets higher lead standards on children's products effective Feb. 10.

By Feb. 10, the new benchmark would be a total lead content of 600 parts per million, which will be set to 300 ppm by Aug. 10 and may be further adjusted to 100 ppm after three years, if the new standard will be feasible

The number of Chinese babies confirmed to have kidney stones due to drinking contaminated milk powder has risen to 432 as the Chinese government admits the seriousness of the situation.

Health ministry official Gao Qiang said, "This is a severe food safety accident," and added those responsible would be "severe" punished