Pakistan's tallest man, Naseer Soomro, has died at the age of 55 in his hometown of Shikarpur, Sindh province, after battling a prolonged lung illness. He was not only Pakistan's Tallest man but also the tallest employee in the aviation industry.

Naseer Soomro, Pakistan's tallest man, dies at 55 after prolonged lung illness

Following a recent outbreak of pneumonia in several regions of China, Ohio has become the first state in the US to&nbsp;report an increased number of cases of the illness called 'white lung syndrome.' The outbreak in Ohio has particularly affected children, leading to an alarmingly high number of hospitalisations, local media reports said.&nbsp;

This comes as the global health body WHO continues to monitor the sudden surge in respiratory infections among children in China with countries including India, remaining vigilant. Earlier, Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI) reported that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have seen a significant spike over the past five weeks. Netherlands, another European nation, also reported an alarming rise in&nbsp;pneumonia cases.&nbsp;

<h2>Ohio's Warren County reports 142 cases since August</h2>

Since August, Ohio's Warren County has recorded 142 pediatric cases of the pneumonia strain. This prompted the county health department to declare it an outbreak based on the Ohio Department of Health's criteria, as per reports.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly noted that nationally the number of cases is within normal limits but it has elevated concerns due to the widespread nature of the outbreak with the possibility of overwhelming hospitals across the country.

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Ohio officials reportedly told Daily Mail that the investigation is ongoing. They also suggested that the illness does not appear to be a new disease but rather a simultaneous occurrence of various common infections.

<h2>What is&nbsp;white lung syndrome?&nbsp;</h2>

Patients have tested positive for mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection resistant to antibiotics.&nbsp;The affected individuals range in age from 3 to 8, and several unconfirmed reports are circulating regarding why children may be more susceptible.

One of the reports said that it is because of the weakened immune systems due to lockdowns or increased vulnerability resulting from mask-wearing and school closures.

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It also added that bacterial respiratory infections tend to surge every few years.

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However, authorities have stressed the importance of taking necessary precautions to safeguard public health, especially as the holiday season approaches.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, and fatigue. Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, covering the mouth while coughing, and staying up-to-date on vaccines, is recommended to reduce the risk of illness.

(With inputs from agencies)

Following a recent outbreak of pneumonia in several regions of China, Ohio has become the first state in the US to report an increased number of cases of the illness called 'white lung syndrome.

Following a recent outbreak of pneumonia in several regions of China, Ohio has become the first state in the US to report an increased number of cases of the illness called 'white lung syndrome.' The outbreak in Ohio has particularly affected children, leading to an alarmingly high number of hospitalisations, local media reports said. This comes as the global health body WHO continues to monitor the sudden surge in respiratory infections among children in China with countries including India, remaining vigilant. Earlier, Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI) reported that Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have seen a significant spike over the past five weeks. Netherlands, another European nation, also reported an alarming rise in pneumonia cases. Ohio's Warren County reports 142 cases since August Since August, Ohio's Warren County has recorded 142 pediatric cases of the pneumonia strain. This prompted the county health department to declare it an outbreak based on the Ohio Department of Health's criteria, as per reports. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly noted that nationally the number of cases is within normal limits but it has elevated concerns due to the widespread nature of the outbreak with the possibility of overwhelming hospitals across the country. Also Read | Pioneering US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Dead At 93 Ohio officials reportedly told Daily Mail that the investigation is ongoing. They also suggested that the illness does not appear to be a new disease but rather a simultaneous occurrence of various common infections. What is white lung syndrome? Patients have tested positive for mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection resistant to antibiotics. The affected individuals range in age from 3 to 8, and several unconfirmed reports are circulating regarding why children may be more susceptible. One of the reports said that it is because of the weakened immune systems due to lockdowns or increased vulnerability resulting from mask-wearing and school closures. Also Read | Iran, Saudi Arabia discuss scope of improving military ties amid Israel-Hamas war It also added that bacterial respiratory infections tend to surge every few years. Watch | The slogan at the heart of Pro-Palestine Rallies × However, authorities have stressed the importance of taking necessary precautions to safeguard public health, especially as the holiday season approaches. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and fatigue. Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, covering the mouth while coughing, and staying up-to-date on vaccines, is recommended to reduce the risk of illness. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Ohio reports ‘white lung syndrome’ outbreak. Know what it is

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections&nbsp;constitute an increasing danger and directly cause at least 1.27 million deaths annually. This highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments. According to a new study, intractable lung infections may now be treated using genetically modified bacteria.&nbsp;To combat the danger of antibiotic resistance, research in mice shows drug-resistant illnesses might be targeted and made susceptible to antibiotics that would otherwise be ineffective.

According to studies conducted at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, the bacteria-based treatment increased the survival rate of mice by two-folds compared to applying no treatment at all. No toxicity was visible in the lungs following the administration of a single, high dosage of the medication. The immune system eliminated the modified bacteria in four days after the course of therapy was complete.

Dr Maria Lluch at the International University of Catalonia explained the treatment as a “battering ram that lays siege to antibiotic-resistant bacteria”.

“The treatment punches holes in their cell walls, providing crucial entry points for antibiotics to invade and clear infections at their source,” said Lluch. “We believe this is a promising new strategy to address the leading cause of mortality in hospitals.”&nbsp;

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which may cause intractable infections because the bacteria create biofilms, was the focus of the most recent research. These have the ability to attach to body surfaces and create solid structures that are resistant to medicines.

In the study which was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Mycoplasma pneumoniae was genetically modified to lose its capacity to spread disease and be utilised instead to manufacture toxins that would either kill or prevent the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Before beginning clinical trials, the research team intends to do more studies. They see nebulizers being used to give the treatment in the future, allowing the patient to breathe in a mist of germs. Biofilms can also grow on the surface of endotracheal tubes used by critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilators to breathe.

Up to one in four patients who need intubation are affected with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which affects around half of those who need intubation owing to severe Covid-19. Up to one patient in eight dies from ventilator-associated pneumonia.

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Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections constitute an increasing danger and directly cause at least 1.27 million deaths annually. This highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments.

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections constitute an increasing danger and directly cause at least 1.27 million deaths annually. This highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments. According to a new study, intractable lung infections may now be treated using genetically modified bacteria. To combat the danger of antibiotic resistance, research in mice shows drug-resistant illnesses might be targeted and made susceptible to antibiotics that would otherwise be ineffective. According to studies conducted at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, the bacteria-based treatment increased the survival rate of mice by two-folds compared to applying no treatment at all. No toxicity was visible in the lungs following the administration of a single, high dosage of the medication. The immune system eliminated the modified bacteria in four days after the course of therapy was complete. Dr Maria Lluch at the International University of Catalonia explained the treatment as a “battering ram that lays siege to antibiotic-resistant bacteria”. “The treatment punches holes in their cell walls, providing crucial entry points for antibiotics to invade and clear infections at their source,” said Lluch. “We believe this is a promising new strategy to address the leading cause of mortality in hospitals.” Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which may cause intractable infections because the bacteria create biofilms, was the focus of the most recent research. These have the ability to attach to body surfaces and create solid structures that are resistant to medicines. In the study which was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Mycoplasma pneumoniae was genetically modified to lose its capacity to spread disease and be utilised instead to manufacture toxins that would either kill or prevent the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Before beginning clinical trials, the research team intends to do more studies. They see nebulizers being used to give the treatment in the future, allowing the patient to breathe in a mist of germs. Biofilms can also grow on the surface of endotracheal tubes used by critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilators to breathe. Up to one in four patients who need intubation are affected with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which affects around half of those who need intubation owing to severe Covid-19. Up to one patient in eight dies from ventilator-associated pneumonia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Genetically modified bacteria could treat lung infections, reveals study

A drug developed to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans can be the answer to treating spinal cord injuries. The drug, known as AZD1236, has shown impressive results on mice suffering from spinal cord injuries and researchers from the University of Birmingham believe that they will be testing it on humans very soon. Spinal injuries are quite common in the United Kingdom and if the testing is successful, the drug can also be used to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis.

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The results of the study, published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine, state that the mice showed almost 80-85 per cent improvement after the drug was administered. The results were also found to be quite similar whether the drug is given 24 hours or six weeks after the injury.

The report explained the drug blocks the action of enzymes - MMP-9 and MMP-12 – which cause swelling after suffering a spinal cord injury and lowers the inflammation and pain in the area.

“What we’re doing is we’re dampening down the damage to the nerve tissues. That way, we’re preserving more and more of the neurons,” said Prof Zubair Ahmed according to The Guardian.

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With the experiments on mice showing good results, the next move will be to test the medicine on humans. According to The Guardian, around 2500 people suffer spinal cord injuries in the United Kingdom every year and this can be the answer to a problem that was deemed irreversible till now.

“Five to six years and this could be a potential treatment, if everything goes well,” he said.

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A drug developed to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans can be the answer to treating spinal cord injuries. The drug, known as AZD1236, has shown impressive results on mice suffering from spinal cord injuries and researchers from the University of Birmingham believe that they will be testing it on humans very soon.

A drug developed to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans can be the answer to treating spinal cord injuries. The drug, known as AZD1236, has shown impressive results on mice suffering from spinal cord injuries and researchers from the University of Birmingham believe that they will be testing it on humans very soon. Spinal injuries are quite common in the United Kingdom and if the testing is successful, the drug can also be used to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis. Also read | Part of skull dating back almost 8,000 years found in Minnesota River The results of the study, published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine, state that the mice showed almost 80-85 per cent improvement after the drug was administered. The results were also found to be quite similar whether the drug is given 24 hours or six weeks after the injury. The report explained the drug blocks the action of enzymes - MMP-9 and MMP-12 – which cause swelling after suffering a spinal cord injury and lowers the inflammation and pain in the area. “What we’re doing is we’re dampening down the damage to the nerve tissues. That way, we’re preserving more and more of the neurons,” said Prof Zubair Ahmed according to The Guardian. Also read | NASA has identified 'something weird' happening to the universe With the experiments on mice showing good results, the next move will be to test the medicine on humans. According to The Guardian, around 2500 people suffer spinal cord injuries in the United Kingdom every year and this can be the answer to a problem that was deemed irreversible till now. “Five to six years and this could be a potential treatment, if everything goes well,” he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Drug developed for lung diseases shows great results in mice with spinal cord injuries

Administrator of Lakshadweep Dineshwar Sharma passed away on Friday at the age of 66 at a Chennai hospital due to a lung-related ailment, Lakshadweep Resident Commissioner Asarpal Singh said.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Sharma and recognised his contributions in strengthening the security of the country during his policing career.

"Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long-lasting contributions to India`s policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter-terror and insurgency ops during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

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Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long lasting contributions to India’s policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter terror and insurgency ops during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled Sharma`s demise. He tweeted: "Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

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Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1334819433743695872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Indian President Ram Nath Kovind had on October 23, 2020 appointed former interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma as the Administrator of Lakshadweep.

A 1976-batch retired IPS officer of Kerala cadre, Sharma served as chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from December 31, 2014 to May 2017.

He was appointed as the interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 during the first term of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Administrator of Lakshadweep Dineshwar Sharma passed away on Friday at the age of 66 at a Chennai hospital due to a lung-related ailment, Lakshadweep Resident Commissioner Asarpal Singh said.

Administrator of Lakshadweep Dineshwar Sharma passed away on Friday at the age of 66 at a Chennai hospital due to a lung-related ailment, Lakshadweep Resident Commissioner Asarpal Singh said. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Sharma and recognised his contributions in strengthening the security of the country during his policing career. "Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long-lasting contributions to India`s policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter-terror and insurgency ops during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted. Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made long lasting contributions to India’s policing and security apparatus. He handled many sensitive counter terror and insurgency ops during his policing career. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2020 × Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled Sharma`s demise. He tweeted: "Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti." Deeply anguished to learn about the passing away of Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He served the nation with utmost devotion as a dedicated officer of the Indian Police Service. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 4, 2020 × The Indian President Ram Nath Kovind had on October 23, 2020 appointed former interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma as the Administrator of Lakshadweep. A 1976-batch retired IPS officer of Kerala cadre, Sharma served as chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from December 31, 2014 to May 2017. He was appointed as the interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 during the first term of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Lakshadweep administrator Dineshwar Sharma passes away, PM recalls his contribution to policing

Heads of states, CEOs and global health leaders gathered in France on Wednesday in an effort to raise at least $14 billion to finance the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over the next three years.

French President hosts Global Fund conference

Mona Lisa takes back its corner of the Louvre after renovation

Over 1.2 million people died in India due to air pollution in 2017, said a global report on air pollution.

As per the State of Global Air 2019, overall long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.

Out of these, 3 million deaths are directly attributed to PM2.5, half of which is from India and China together. The analysis found that China and India together were responsible for over half of the total global attributable deaths, with each country facing over 1.2 million deaths from all air pollution in 2017, the report said.

The report, which was released by US-based organisation Health Effects Institute (HEI) on Wednesday, said that air pollution is the third highest cause of death among all health risks in India, ranking just above smoking.

As per the report, the life of a South Asian child born today will be shortened by two years and six months growing up in current high levels of air pollution, while the global life expectancy loss is 20 months.

The institute said schemes initiated by the Indian government to address pollution like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Household LPG program, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme can have significant health benefits in the coming years.

These and future initiatives have the potential if fully implemented as part of a sustained commitment to air quality, to result in significant health benefits in coming years, said Robert O'Keefe, Vice President Health Effects Institute.

Worldwide, air pollution is responsible for more deaths than many better-known risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity, said the report.

Each year, more people globally die from air pollution-related disease than from road traffic injuries or malaria, the study said.

Over 1.2 million people died in India due to air pollution in 2017, said a global report on air pollution. As per the State of Global Air 2019, overall long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.

Over 1.2 million people died in India due to air pollution in 2017, said a global report on air pollution. As per the State of Global Air 2019, overall long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017. Out of these, 3 million deaths are directly attributed to PM2.5, half of which is from India and China together. The analysis found that China and India together were responsible for over half of the total global attributable deaths, with each country facing over 1.2 million deaths from all air pollution in 2017, the report said. The report, which was released by US-based organisation Health Effects Institute (HEI) on Wednesday, said that air pollution is the third highest cause of death among all health risks in India, ranking just above smoking. As per the report, the life of a South Asian child born today will be shortened by two years and six months growing up in current high levels of air pollution, while the global life expectancy loss is 20 months. The institute said schemes initiated by the Indian government to address pollution like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Household LPG program, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme can have significant health benefits in the coming years. These and future initiatives have the potential if fully implemented as part of a sustained commitment to air quality, to result in significant health benefits in coming years, said Robert O'Keefe, Vice President Health Effects Institute. Worldwide, air pollution is responsible for more deaths than many better-known risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity, said the report. Each year, more people globally die from air pollution-related disease than from road traffic injuries or malaria, the study said.

Over 1.2 million early deaths in India due to air pollution: Report

Australian all-rounder John Hastings on Wednesday announced retirement from all forms of cricket due to a lung disease.&nbsp;

Hastings, who had retired from ODI and Test cricket last year, was playing T20 cricket. However, the 33-year-old, who had signed the contract with Sydney Sixers, has now decided to not play the upcoming edition of the Australian T20 league.

"I've gone through an extensive testing process. I suppose the important thing to note is that I'm actually in good health. I've gone through stress tests and bronchoscopes, and angiogram bronchoscopes and all this sort of stuff. It's been quite invasive, and lengthy I guess," Hastings said.&nbsp;

"It's (only) when I bowl. The pressure at the crease, little blood vessels in my lungs burst. That determines that I cough up blood on a regular basis when I'm trying to bowl. It's a really scary thing," he added.&nbsp;

The right-arm medium-fast bowler has 50 wickets to his name from 39 international matches. Batting down the order, the bowling all-rounder has made 369 international runs in 29 ODIs, nine T20Is and one Test match combined.

Australian all-rounder John Hastings on Wednesday announced retirement from all forms of cricket due to a lung disease. Hastings, who had retired from ODI and Test cricket last year, was playing T20 cricket.

Australian all-rounder John Hastings on Wednesday announced retirement from all forms of cricket due to a lung disease. Hastings, who had retired from ODI and Test cricket last year, was playing T20 cricket. However, the 33-year-old, who had signed the contract with Sydney Sixers, has now decided to not play the upcoming edition of the Australian T20 league. "I've gone through an extensive testing process. I suppose the important thing to note is that I'm actually in good health. I've gone through stress tests and bronchoscopes, and angiogram bronchoscopes and all this sort of stuff. It's been quite invasive, and lengthy I guess," Hastings said. "It's (only) when I bowl. The pressure at the crease, little blood vessels in my lungs burst. That determines that I cough up blood on a regular basis when I'm trying to bowl. It's a really scary thing," he added. The right-arm medium-fast bowler has 50 wickets to his name from 39 international matches. Batting down the order, the bowling all-rounder has made 369 international runs in 29 ODIs, nine T20Is and one Test match combined.

Australian all-rounder John Hastings retires from international cricket due to lung disease

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks.

The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation&#39;s powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry

&quot;These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified,&quot; said Merkel&#39;s spokesman Steffen Seibert.

&quot;The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable.&quot;

Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital.

The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014.

According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons.

Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group &quot;distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse&quot;.

Special meeting&nbsp;

The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt.

&quot;This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry,&quot; he said.

It was VW&#39;s admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines.

Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans.

All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations.

&quot;The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies,&quot; the luxury carmaker said in a statement.

&quot;We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation,&quot; a Daimler spokesman told AFP.

While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel&#39;s green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it.

The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year.

No significant effects

The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014.

As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts.&nbsp;

The researchers detected &quot;no significant effects&quot;, according to a summary of the study.

But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren&#39;t representative of the wider population and didn&#39;t take into account general air pollution.

The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital&#39;s ethics commission.

The study was carried out before &quot;dieselgate&quot; erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added.

On its website the World Health Organization points to &quot;growing evidence&quot; that nitrogen dioxide exposure &quot;can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth.&quot;

Exposure is &quot;linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,&quot; it states.

Absurd

The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW&#39;s Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group&#39;s biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin&#39;s repudiation of the tests.

The experiments are &quot;absurd and disgusting&quot; said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW&#39;s supervisory board.

He reminded the VW group that it &quot;must meet all ethical requirements&quot;.

The latest scandal &quot;will have a lasting impact on the public&#39;s trust in the auto industry,&quot; predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

A research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks. The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation's powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry "These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert. "The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable." Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital. The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014. According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons. Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group "distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse". Special meeting The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt. "This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry," he said. It was VW's admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines. Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans. All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations. "The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies," the luxury carmaker said in a statement. "We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation," a Daimler spokesman told AFP. While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel's green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it. The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year. No significant effects The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014. As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts. The researchers detected "no significant effects", according to a summary of the study. But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren't representative of the wider population and didn't take into account general air pollution. The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital's ethics commission. The study was carried out before "dieselgate" erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added. On its website the World Health Organization points to "growing evidence" that nitrogen dioxide exposure "can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth." Exposure is "linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases," it states. Absurd The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW's Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group's biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin's repudiation of the tests. The experiments are "absurd and disgusting" said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW's supervisory board. He reminded the VW group that it "must meet all ethical requirements". The latest scandal "will have a lasting impact on the public's trust in the auto industry," predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

German carmakers under fire for diesel tests on humans, monkeys

Adults who ate more than two tomatoes a day had a slower rate of natural lung function decline, with ex-smokers seeming to benefit most of all, scientists said Thursday.

Similar benefits, they said, were observed for people who ate more than three portions of fresh fruit a day, especially apples.

&quot;This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking,&quot; study co-author Vanessa Garcia-Larsen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore said in a statement.&nbsp;

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<h5>The study &#39;also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung&#39;s natural ageing process even if you have never smoked&#39;</h5>
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&quot;It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung&#39;s natural ageing process even if you have never smoked.&quot;

In the study published in the European Respiratory Journal, researchers analysed data from 680 people in Germany, England and Norway who signed up for a health survey in 2002.

Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent two types of lung-function tests at the start, then again 10 years later.

One test measures how much air a person can expel in a second, the other how much they could inhale in six seconds.

Other factors, such as the participants&#39; age, height, weight, gender, income and level of physical activity, were taken into account in analysing any association between diet and lung health, the team said.

They found that the rate of lung decline, which happens normally in people from about the age of 30, was slower in those who ate more tomatoes and other fruit.

Among former smokers, the link was &quot;even more striking,&quot; implying their diet was helping to repair damage done by tobacco, the team said.

The effect was observed only with fresh fruit and vegetables, not processed.

&quot;The findings support the need for dietary recommendations, especially for people at risk of developing respiratory diseases,&quot; Garcia-Larsen said.&nbsp;

These included Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), caused mainly by smoking.

&quot;Diet could become one way of combating rising diagnosis of COPD around the world,&quot; she added.

One weakness of the study was that participants&#39; diets were assessed only at the start of the study.

The study was published in the European Respiratory Journal

Adults who ate more than two tomatoes a day had a slower rate of natural lung function decline, with ex-smokers seeming to benefit most of all, scientists said Thursday. Similar benefits, they said, were observed for people who ate more than three portions of fresh fruit a day, especially apples. "This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking," study co-author Vanessa Garcia-Larsen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore said in a statement. The study 'also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung's natural ageing process even if you have never smoked' × "It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung's natural ageing process even if you have never smoked." In the study published in the European Respiratory Journal, researchers analysed data from 680 people in Germany, England and Norway who signed up for a health survey in 2002. Participants answered a questionnaire and underwent two types of lung-function tests at the start, then again 10 years later. One test measures how much air a person can expel in a second, the other how much they could inhale in six seconds. Other factors, such as the participants' age, height, weight, gender, income and level of physical activity, were taken into account in analysing any association between diet and lung health, the team said. They found that the rate of lung decline, which happens normally in people from about the age of 30, was slower in those who ate more tomatoes and other fruit. Among former smokers, the link was "even more striking," implying their diet was helping to repair damage done by tobacco, the team said. The effect was observed only with fresh fruit and vegetables, not processed. "The findings support the need for dietary recommendations, especially for people at risk of developing respiratory diseases," Garcia-Larsen said. These included Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), caused mainly by smoking. "Diet could become one way of combating rising diagnosis of COPD around the world," she added. One weakness of the study was that participants' diets were assessed only at the start of the study.

Two tomatoes a day may keep lung disease at bay: Study

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