PARIS - MANGANESE, a metal that is naturally present in the human body, may contribute to Parkinson's disease when defective genes interact to enhance its toxicity, according to a study published on Sunday.

Parkinson's attacks the nervous system and is characterised by the loss of cells which produce dopamine, a critically important neurotransmitter that ferries chemical messages within the brain.

ANCHORAGE (Alaska) - GEOLOGISTS monitoring Alaska's Mount Redoubt say the volcano is rumbling and emitting steam but has shown no dramatic burst of energy in the last 24 hours.

Geologist Tina Neal at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said no flyovers were planned for Sunday unless activity increased significantly.

WASHINGTON - EVALUATING how various proteins interact in tumors can help predict a woman's chances of surviving breast cancer, allowing doctors to better tailor treatment, Canadian researchers said on Sunday.

Knowing from the outset that a particular woman's prognosis is bad could allow doctors to give her aggressive treatment right away, but often it is difficult to know which breast cancer patients will do well and which will not.