Later this month, the first batch of seeds will be stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to ensure that should a major catastrophe ever hit the planet, survivors should at least have access to a seed bank and so may be able to grow food. Eventually, over 200000 crop varieties will be hidden in this Arctic ice sanctuary deep in a mountain near the village of Longyearbyen, built by the Norwegian Government for the benefit of mankind.

Zinc supplementation can reduce subsequent morbidity in children recovering from diarrhoea and respiratory illness in developing countries. However, whether routine supplementation would decrease morbidity and mortality in populations with zinc defi ciency is unclear. The researchers assessed the eff ect of daily zinc supplementation on children in southern Nepal. Oct 6-12, 2007

On Sept 21, WHO released a long overdue and thorough report, Safety of medicines for children, that ighlights the unacceptable state of monitoring medicine-related problems in children worldwide. Many issues make safety of paediatric medicines an extremely difficult area to study. Medicines are often used in an off-label or unlicensed way

"There is no good reason why a switch from tobacco products to less harmful nicotine delivery systems should not be encouraged.' So stated a 1991 Lancet Editorial, yet 16 years later cigarettes continue to dominate the nicotine-delivery system market, despite their clear health risks. (Editorial) Oct 6-12, 2007

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in developing countries. We assessed the effect of screening using visual inspection with 4% acetic acid (VIA) on cervical cancer incidence and mortality in a cluster randomised controlled trial in India.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in developing countries. We assessed the effect of screening using visual inspection with 4% acetic acid (VIA) on cervical cancer incidence and mortality in a cluster randomised controlled trial in India.

70% of the billion or so tobacco related deaths expected by 2025 will occur in developing countries. Such staggering figures could have a profound eff ect on the global economy. India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco products worldwide, but it has taken great strides to be recognised as a global player in the fight against the tobacco epidemic. (Correspondence)

Jacob Puliyel and colleagues highlight the importance of ensuring appropriate ethical standards are adhered to in the course of scientific studies. In our study of the fi eld effi cacy of monovalent oral type 1 poliovirus vaccine (mOPV1), we analysed existing surveillance data from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases collected since 1997. The vac cines assessed were licensed for adminis tration in India by the

We are shocked and dismayed that The Lancet should have published the paper on the protective efficacy of monovalent oral type 1 poliovirus vaccine by Nicholas Grassly and colleagues (April 21, p 1356),1 having overlooked the serious ethical issues. (Correspondence) involved.

We are writing to make known to the international medical community the shocking imprisonment of Binayak Sen on May 14, 2007, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. A well known paediatrician and public-health specialist, Sen's is a rare example of the cost of involvement in civil rights activism by physicians. He is being charged by the local police with illicit communication with Maoists in custody. (Correspondence)

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