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WASHINGTON: Adding a low-cost antibiotic to dietary treatments could help save many children with acute malnutrition, according to new research out Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers from the Washington University in Saint Louis medical school followed the treatment of more than 2,700 Malawian children, six months to five years old, all diagnosed with severe malnutrition.

The children were all given a regimen of a peanut-based nutrient-dense food supplement, standard procedure in impoverished countries like Malawi.

But the children were also randomly assigned to receive a seven-day course of one of two antibiotics -- amoxicillin or cefdinir -- or just a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the families knew which pills the child was taking.

The treatment was effective for most of the children, regardless of whether an antibiotic was given -- more than 85 percent of the children recovered, in all three groups.

But among the children treated with either antibiotic, the success rate was noticeably higher.

Put another way, the rate of treatment failure fell by nearly a quarter with amoxicillin and by nearly 40 percent with cefdinir, compared to the group that took the placebo.

The mortality rate also dropped in the group that received antibiotics: by more than a third with amoxicillin, and by nearly 45 percent with cefdinir.

The results of this clinical trial could change the way doctors treat malnutrition, the researchers told The New York Times.

Because of the study, the World Health Organization plans to recommend a broader use of antibiotics in its outpatient malnutrition treatment guidelines planned for release next month, they added.

Another study, published Wednesday in the US journal Science, showed that insufficient -- or insufficiently nutritious -- diets may not be the only reason some children develop severe malnutrition.

This study, also by Washington University researchers in Malawi, suggested that differences in the microbes found in the intestines contribute to why some children suffer more acutely from hunger than others.

The researchers came to this conclusion by observing nearly 400 sets of twins over their first three years of life, focusing especially on cases where one twin -- but not the other -- developed a form of malnutrition called kwashiorkor, associated with swollen bellies, liver damage, skin ulcerations and loss of appetite, in addition to wasting.

According to UNICEF, a person dies of starvation every 3.6 seconds, and most of the deaths are among children under five.

"Some 300 million children go to bed hungry every day. Of these only eight percent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 per cent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency," the UN agency says on its website.

ISLAMABAD: The US ambassador in Pakistan Richard Olson has assured that his country will not repeat mistakes it made in 1989 while withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

Richard was addressing at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on "the United States' relationship with Pakistan and Afghanistan, now and beyond the 2014 security transition."

Olson said, "even as we work with Pakistan to ensure that 2014 is not a repeat of 1989, we are not myopically focused on December 2014. Instead, we continue to look over the horizon. We see a Pakistan and a region that will continue to grow in importance."

"2014 is not 1989," he said adding, "The United States recognizes the mistakes of the past, and will not disengage from the region."

The US relationship with Pakistan is not shaped solely by US's commitments and responsibilities in Afghanistan, he said.

The ambassador called for the United States and Pakistan to work together with purpose to facilitate a negotiated peace in Afghanistan. "For the sake of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the region, Pakistan's full support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process is needed now," he added.

The US ambassador commenting on the forthcoming general elections in the country said it is a historic and defining moment for Pakistan, when, for the first time, one civilian government transfers power to the next in accordance with the constitution, and reflecting the will of the Pakistani people.

Moreover, Ambassador Olson also underscored that US assistance to Pakistan in energy, economic development, education, and health is a tangible sign of the United States' long-term investment in Pakistan's future.

MUMBAI: Hosts India crushed West Indies by a big margin of 105 runs in the opening match of the Women’s World Cup 2013 here at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a huge target of 285, the West Indies could not resist against accurate bowling from India and were all out for 179 in 44.3 overs.

Seamer Nagarajan Niranjana was the most successful bowler for India capturing three wickets while pacer Jhulan Goswami and left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana bagged two wickets each.

Deandra Dottin was the top scorer for the West Indies with a thunderous 39 from just 16 balls with four sixes and three fours. She was also the most successful bowler of the team earlier, getting three wickets for 32.

The other significant scorers were Shanel Daley (28) and Shemaine Campbelle (21).

Earlier, India piled up a huge total of 284 runs for six wickets after West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

Openers Poonam Raut and Thirush Kamini provided a solid platform scoring 175 in 37 overs but then India lost six quick wickets for further 109 runs in a bid to accelerate the scoring rate.

Kamini scored a brilliant maiden hundred, an exact 100 runs, before being run out. She struck eleven fours and a six while her partner Raut made 72 with seven fours.

Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur scored 36 each with super hitting.

Kamini was given the Woman of the Match award after the match ended.

Three matches will be played tomorrow, the second day of the tournament ---- first between Pakistan and Australia at Cuttack, second between England and Sri Lanka at Mumbai and third between New Zealand and South Africa at Cuttack.

WASHINGTON: Adding a low-cost antibiotic to dietary treatments could help save many children with acute malnutrition, according to new research out Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers from the Washington University in Saint Louis medical school followed the treatment of more than 2,700 Malawian children, six months to five years old, all diagnosed with severe malnutrition.

The children were all given a regimen of a peanut-based nutrient-dense food supplement, standard procedure in impoverished countries like Malawi.

But the children were also randomly assigned to receive a seven-day course of one of two antibiotics -- amoxicillin or cefdinir -- or just a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the families knew which pills the child was taking.

The treatment was effective for most of the children, regardless of whether an antibiotic was given -- more than 85 percent of the children recovered, in all three groups.

But among the children treated with either antibiotic, the success rate was noticeably higher.

Put another way, the rate of treatment failure fell by nearly a quarter with amoxicillin and by nearly 40 percent with cefdinir, compared to the group that took the placebo.

The mortality rate also dropped in the group that received antibiotics: by more than a third with amoxicillin, and by nearly 45 percent with cefdinir.

The results of this clinical trial could change the way doctors treat malnutrition, the researchers told The New York Times.

Because of the study, the World Health Organization plans to recommend a broader use of antibiotics in its outpatient malnutrition treatment guidelines planned for release next month, they added.

Another study, published Wednesday in the US journal Science, showed that insufficient -- or insufficiently nutritious -- diets may not be the only reason some children develop severe malnutrition.

This study, also by Washington University researchers in Malawi, suggested that differences in the microbes found in the intestines contribute to why some children suffer more acutely from hunger than others.

The researchers came to this conclusion by observing nearly 400 sets of twins over their first three years of life, focusing especially on cases where one twin -- but not the other -- developed a form of malnutrition called kwashiorkor, associated with swollen bellies, liver damage, skin ulcerations and loss of appetite, in addition to wasting.

According to UNICEF, a person dies of starvation every 3.6 seconds, and most of the deaths are among children under five.

"Some 300 million children go to bed hungry every day. Of these only eight percent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 per cent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency," the UN agency says on its website.

WASHINGTON: A hair-thin electronic patch that adheres to the skin like a temporary tattoo could transform medical sensing, computer gaming and even spy operations, according to a US study published Thursday.

The micro-electronics technology, called an epidermal electronic system (EES), was developed by an international team of researchers from the United States, China and Singapore, and is described in the journal Science.

"It's a technology that blurs the distinction between electronics and biology," said co-author John Rogers, a professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"Our goal was to develop an electronic technology that could integrate with the skin in a way that is mechanically and physiologically invisible to the user."

The patch could be used instead of bulky electrodes to monitor brain, heart and muscle tissue activity and when placed on the throat it allowed users to operate a voice-activated video game with better than 90 percent accuracy.

"This type of device might provide utility for those who suffer from certain diseases of the larynx," said Rogers. "It could also form the basis of a sub-vocal communication capability, suitable for covert or other uses."

The wireless device is nearly weightless and requires so little power it can fuel itself with miniature solar collectors or by picking up stray or transmitted electromagnetic radiation, the study said.

Less than 50-microns thick -- slightly thinner than a human hair -- the devices are able to adhere to the skin without glue or sticky material.

"Forces called van der Waals interactions dominate the adhesion at the molecular level, so the electronic tattoos adhere to the skin without any glues and stay in place for hours," said the study.

Northwestern University engineer Yonggang Huang said the patch was "as soft as the human skin."

Rogers and Huang have been working together on the technology for the past six years. They have already designed flexible electronics for hemispherical camera sensors and are now focused on adding battery power and other energy options.

The devices might find future uses in patients with sleep apnea, babies who need neonatal care and for making electronic bandages to help skin heal from wounds and burns.

LOS ANGELES: Legendary diva Barbra Streisand will sing at the Oscars next month, her first Academy Awards performance in 36 years, organizers said Wednesday.

Streisand has earned two Oscars, but has only performed at the top Hollywood awards show once before, in 1977 when she sang the winning song from "A Star Is Born."

"In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand?" said the show's producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

"We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year's Oscars, her first time singing on the show in 36 years," they added in a statement.

Streisand -- whose latest movie, "Guilt Trip," came out in the US last month -- won her first Oscar for Best Actress in "Funny Girl" 1968, and her second for best original song for "A Star is Born" in 1977.

She was nominated for best actress in 1973 for in "The Way We Were," for producing 1991's "The Prince of Tides" (1991), and for co-writing the original song "I Finally Found Someone" from "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996).

Others already confirmed for the February 24 Oscars show include British songstress Adele, who will sing her 007 theme tune "Skyfall," and foul-mouthed teddy bear Ted, with his big-screen sidekick actor Mark Wahlberg.