A new magnetic back-straightening rod holds promise for treating children born with curved spines without the need for six-monthly surgery, researchers in Hong Kong said Thursday.

At present, straightening rods fixed to the spine have to be lengthened on an operating table under general anesthesia every six months to keep pace with the child's growth.

Agricultural authorities in northwest China have culled about 95,000 chickens after an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus, state press reported Wednesday.

The outbreak in Touying township of the Ningxia region was discovered on Friday last week after over 23,000 chickens began showing symptoms, Xinhua news agency said, citing the Ministry of Agriculture.

As part of its ‘Reaching out to Children in Hospitals’ Program, and on the occasion of the 10 years anniversary of the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL), Coca-Cola Middle East announced the upgrade of the CCCL Children Library that was offered by Coca-Cola when the center first opened its door in March 2002. The upgrade includes a brand new art corner as well as an addition of books and toys aiming at providing children at the hospital with a space for creativity, fun and education.

“As an integral part of our mission to bring hope and a healthy future to our patients, we are keen on addressing the educational, psychological and entertainment needs of our children during their treatment at the center,” said Mrs. Hana Choueib, General Manager of CCCL. “To-date, we have treated over 800 children with cancer with a survival rate of 80%. These children spend most of their time at the center in the play area and the upgrade offered by Coca-Cola will help make their stay at the center a more pleasant and educational experience,” she added.

Japanese researchers have successfully grown hair on hairless mice by implanting follicles created from stem cells, they announced Wednesday, sparking new hopes of a cure for baldness.

Led by Professor Takashi Tsuji from Tokyo University of Science, the team bioengineered hair follicles and transplanted them into the skin of hairless mice.

A pair of British plastic surgeons said Tuesday the rupture rate of PIP breast implants behind a global health scare may be as high as one in three, significantly more than previously thought.

A study of 453 of their patients who had received PIP implants between seven and 12 years ago showed a rupture rate of between 15.9 percent and 33.8 percent.

The amount of salt on the menus of the six biggest fast food companies varies greatly from nation to nation, according to a study Monday that calls for regulations to curb sodium intake.

"We saw marked variability in the reported salt content of products provided by major transnational fast food companies," said Norman Campbell, lead author of the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Childhood deaths from injury have dropped almost 30 percent over the past decade, but suffocation deaths by infants and fatal poisonings among teens have risen, said a U.S. study out Monday.

Despite the 29 percent decline, unintentional injuries are still the number one killer for U.S. minors between the ages of one and 19, taking more than 9,000 lives in 2009, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More people pull the night shift. Teens text past midnight and stumble to class at dawn. Travelers pack red-eye flights.

Nodding off behind the wheel isn't the only threat from a lack of shut-eye. There's growing evidence that people who regularly sleep too little and at the wrong time suffer long-lasting consequences that a nap won't cure: An increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and other health problems.

China's State Food and Drug Administration has suspended the sale of 13 drugs that it says are believed to have been made with capsules that contain excessive chromium.

State broadcaster CCTV ran a report Monday quoting the administration as saying it has started an investigation into the case.

Cosmetic surgery to make the chin look more prominent has soared in popularity in the course of a year, making it the fastest growing trend among men and women, U.S. plastic surgeons said on Monday.

Chin implants are particularly popular among those over 40, said the report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.