FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer’s Alzheimer’s disease (AD) marker florbetaben was shown to help detect the illness in eight out of 10 cases in a Phase II study, possibly offering a way to diagnose early onset.

“(Bayer aims to) contribute to diagnosing AD in the future more precisely and at an earlier time during the course of the disease,” the company said in a statement on Sunday.

Results from the study, which involved 213 participants, prompted Bayer to prepare for the third and last phase of testing usually required for regulatory approval, it said in June.

Currently, the illness can only be reliably diagnosed when symptoms such as memory loss, language breakdown and impaired movement are advanced and only a post-mortem brain tissue examination can bring absolute certainty.

Injection of florbetaben highlights so-called beta-amyloid plaques — which are associated with Alzheimer’s — in a patients’ brains under a positron emission tomography (PET) scan.

The study also showed that the florbetaben method identified more than nine out of 10 healthy participants in a control group as Alzheimer free.

More than 26 million people worldwide are estimated to be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their number could exceed 100 million by 2050, Bayer said.

The company does not provide an annual peak sales estimate for the product.

Among the few treatment options against Alzheimer’s are Eisai and Pfizer’s Aricept, Exelon from Novartis, Ebixa from Lundbeck and Reminyl from Shire.

With the economy struggling and his poll numbers dipping, the president who made “change” his campaign mantra cannot afford to come up empty on his top legislative priority — a long-sought overhaul of the costly and complex U.S. healthcare system.

The gathering debate in the Democratic-controlled Congress will be the biggest test yet of Obama’s ability to work with lawmakers and deliver on promises. Failure would spark new doubts about a president still seeking a signature accomplishment.

“The guy made big promises and said, ‘Yes, we can,’ but the question still is, ‘Can he?’” Democratic consultant Doug Schoen said. “Failure begats failure, and failure here would raise questions about his ability to lead on a lot of issues.”

He takes his effort to win public backing for his plan to a town hall meeting in Warren, Michigan, on Tuesday, a state where closed factories and the highest unemployment rate in the country have left many without private health insurance and struggling to pay healthcare bills.

Analysts said the dire consequences for Obama and his fellow Democrats of not passing a healthcare measure make it very likely a bill will be passed in some form, even as the political battle heats up over its cost and scope.

Obama and his administration have jacked up expectations with optimistic proclamations “the stars are aligned” for reform, and congressional leaders have been working for months to fashion a proposal.

“The Democratic leadership and the president cannot end all this fervor without having some sort of healthcare reform bill,” said Bob Blendon, a health policy and political analysis professor at Harvard University.

“The bill could be more modest than some of the things being discussed but there has to be a bill because the Democratic Party would pay a huge price if there isn’t. They learned that lesson in 1994,” Blendon said.

That year’s collapse of the healthcare reform effort, led by then-first lady Hillary Clinton, is still fresh in the minds of many Democrats, who lost control in both chambers of Congress later that year in a Newt Gingrich-led Republican landslide.

All 435 members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the 100 senators are up for re-election next year.

‘FIRST GINGRICH, NOW LIMBAUGH’

“The last time they failed on healthcare they got Gingrich,” said Len Nichols, director of the Health Policy program at the New America Foundation.

“This time if they fail they might get Limbaugh,” he said in a reference to influential conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, a harsh Obama critic. “So they are highly motivated.”

Obama wants lawmakers to curb costs and expand health insurance coverage to many of the 46 million uninsured Americans. In a shift of strategy from the Clinton effort, however, he left it to Congress to put the bill together.

But keeping Democrats happy while attracting Republicans has proven a difficult balancing act. Congressional leaders have struggled to trim costs and find ways to cover its estimated price tag of at least $1 trillion.

Republicans object to plans for a government-run healthcare option that would compete with private insurers, fearing its impact on the insurance industry and the employer-based insurance model used by most Americans.

Obama aides have signaled they would be willing to reduce or change the public plan to win support from at least a few Republicans, drawing criticism from liberal Democrats.

A group of fiscally conservative Democrats, meanwhile, objected to the House bill on Thursday because it did not have enough cost savings. They said it should be revamped before they can support it, creating the latest in a series of challenges.

“There are going to be some tough negotiations in the days and weeks to come but I’m confident that we’re going to get it done,” Obama said while traveling in Italy on Friday.

The healthcare debate comes at a critical juncture for Obama, who faces growing criticism that his economic prescriptions are failing.

He managed early victories in Congress on a $787 billion economic stimulus package, a financial rescue package and bailouts for endangered firms and industries, but his approval ratings have slipped in recent polls as unemployment rises and the economy continues to stumble.

The latest Gallup poll put Obama’s approval rating at a still-high 57 percent, down from 64 percent in early June. In other polls, it ranges from the mid-50s to mid-60s.

“The Obama administration is desperate for accomplishments on the big issues,” said Schoen, the White House pollster under former President Bill Clinton.

“The reason he is trying to do as much as he can as quickly as he can is he knows his approval rating is a depreciating asset. As soon as that goes below 50 percent he is in trouble.” (Reporting by John Whitesides; editing by Bill Trott)

Paceman Nuwan Kulasekara claimed four wickets and then Kumar Sangakkara slammed an unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka seized control on the first day of the second Test match against Pakistan in Colombo.

Kumar Sangakkara celebrates his half-century as Sri Lanka took a 74-run lead in the Colombo Test.

Kulasekara finished with figures of four for 21 and spinner Ajantha Mendis chipped in with three for 20 as the visitors were dismissed for a paltry 90 runs midway through the afternoon session.

Sangakkara continued the home team’s dominance with a fluent innings as Sri Lanka’s hopes of securing their first Test series win against Pakistan at home gained momentum.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets in the final session, but Sri Lanka had progressed to a comfortable 164 for three at stumps — a lead of 74 runs.

Sangakkara was unbeaten on 81, while Thilan Samaraweera was on 13 in a fourth-wicket partnership so far worth 31.

Kulasekara caused Pakistan problems from the start, picking up three wickets in three successive overs.

He got Khurram Manzoor to edge a ball straight to stand-in wicketkeeper Tillakaratne Dilshan, before left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara sent back Younus Khan with the first ball of his second over — getting the Pakistan captain to drag one back on to his stumps.

At six for two, Pakistan desperately needed some stability and Mohammad Yousuf began the task of rebuilding confidently.

He chopped Kulasekara into the ground and over the slip cordon for a boundary off the first ball and followed up with delectable square-driven boundary later in the over.

But Kulasekara returned to snare Yousuf, who scooped a fuller length delivery to Rangana Herath at point.

Kulasekara had Misbah-ul-Haq back in the pavilion for a duck, caught behind off the inside edge, as Pakistan’s now familiar tendency to capitulate continued.

Shoaib Malik put on 32 for the fifth wicket with debutant Fawad Alam — quite easily Pakistan’s best period of play — but the innings came apart once Alam was trapped in front for 16 by Angelo Mathews.

Kulasekara returned in the afternoon to get rid of Abdur Rauf for a 34-ball duck, while Thushara had Kamran Akmal caught behind cheaply.

Pakistan’s innings then folded for their lowest ever total against Sri Lanka with Mendis claiming three wickets, including two off successive deliveries to bring the curtain down and leave Malik stranded on 39.

Malinda Warnapura, who had two failures in the first Test, and Tharanga Paranavitana began Sri Lanka’s response confidently until Umar Gul secured a leg before decision against Warnapura.

Sangakkara then put on 54 for the second wicket with Paranavitana until that partnership was ended by Ajmal, although the bowler was considerably aided by the batsman.

Paranavitana (26) rocked back to cut a short-pitched delivery from the off-spinner but only managed a bottom-edge which Akmal pouched at the second attempt.

Mahela Jayawardene looked good for his 19, but an inside-edge off the pad was neatly held by Manzoor at short leg. By then Sri Lanka had gone well past Pakistan’s first-innings total.

Mark Webber recovered from a disastrous start to claim his first victory in Formula One, winning the German Grand Prix on Sunday in a second successive 1-2 for his Red Bull team.

Mark Webber celebrates after clinching his maiden victory in 130 races, a record for a first-time winner.

The Australian, who started from pole for the first time in his eight-year career, was given a drive-through penalty after bashing into Rubens Barrichello to stop the Brawn driver from edging past him on the opening lap.

His Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel claimed second place in his home race to cut the gap on world championship leader Jenson Button to 21 points.

Button hung onto fifth place despite the tires of his Brawn deteriorating in the closing laps, with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa taking third place and Nico Rosberg of Williams in fourth.

The 32-year-old Webber moved up into third place overall, 22.5 points behind British driver Button and 1.5 points behind Vettel.

It was Webber’s first victory in 130 races on the circuit — no other driver has taken so many races for a maiden win — and came after an action-packed first lap in which world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered a punctured tire after hitting the pole sitter’s car.

Hamilton eventually ended up in 18th place in his McLaren to continue a miserable season, despite having impressed in qualifying after his car was significantly upgraded.

Webber finished a comfortable 9.252 seconds ahead of Vettel despite having to spend extra time in the pit lanes due to his early indiscretion.

It represents a remarkable recovery for Webber, who last November suffered a broken leg and shoulder when he was hit by a car while cycling in a charity event.

“It’s an incredible day for me. I wanted to win so badly,” said Webber, the first Australian to win in F1 since Alan Jones in 1981 in Las Vegas, and only the third after Jack Brabham.

“The only thing I thought would beat me, or test me, would be the rain — but that held off. But it’s a great day for me. The team have been incredibly patient with me, and I want to thank them and (owner) Dietrich (Mateschitz) and all the Australian people.”

Vettel said he was happy with second place following his victory at Silverstone.

“He was unbeatable. But I made quite a bad start. I got passed by all the KERS cars — I was passed by both McLarens and Felipe,” the 22-year-old said.

“But it’s another one-two for the team, so I’m very happy. I wanted to win, but Mark did a better job in qualifying. It’s a good fight between us, so I’m looking forward to the next few races.”

Massa, last year’s overall runner-up, clinched his first podium finish this season.

“I’ve missed being in the top three,” the Brazilian said. “It was a fantastic race. I made a fantastic start, passing many cars, and it’s a good result. This will motivate people to keep working hard for the rest of the championship and for next year.”

Barrichello, who went into the weekend with high hopes after impressing in qualifying, came home in sixth place to be fourth overall, 24 points adrift of Button.

Button, who was sixth last time out at his home British Grand Prix, was almost 24 seconds off the winning time after his team struggled all weekend with the cooler conditions.

Renault’s two-time former world champion Fernando Alonso was seventh while Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was eighth to claim the final points-scoring position.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who retired early, faces a stewards’ inquiry after damaging Adrian Sutil’s Force India car near the halfway stage of the 60-lap race. The German, who impressed in wet conditions in qualifying, subsequently finished down the field in 15th place.

In the constructors’ championship, Brawn’s lead over Red Bull is now only 19.5 points.

The CIA withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress during the Bush administration on direct orders from then-Vice President Dick Cheney, current CIA director Leon Panetta told members of Congress, a knowledgeable source confirmed to CNN.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly ordered the CIA to withhold information about counterterrorism.

The disclosure to the House and Senate intelligence committees about Cheney’s involvement by Panetta was first reported in the New York Times. Efforts to contact Cheney for reaction were unsuccessful late Saturday.

The source who spoke to CNN did not want to be identified by name because the matter is classified, and CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano declined comment on the report.

“It’s not agency practice to discuss what may or may not have been said in a classified briefing,” Gimigliano said. “When a CIA unit brought this matter to Director Panetta’s attention, it was with the recommendation that it be shared with Congress. That was also his view, and he took swift, decisive action to put it into effect.”

The fact that Panetta recently briefed lawmakers on an unspecified counterterrorism program was first revealed Wednesday, when a letter from seven House Democrats to Panetta was made public. The June 26 letter characterizes Panetta as testifying that the CIA “concealed significant actions from all members of Congress, and misled members for a number of years from 2001 to this week.”

The letter contained no details about what information the CIA officials allegedly concealed or how they purportedly misled members of Congress.

A knowledgeable source familiar with the matter said the counterterrorism program in question was initiated shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

The program was on-again, off-again and was never fully operational, but was rather, a tool put on the shelf that could have been used, the source said. Panetta has put an end to the program, according to the source.

The disclosures follow a May spat between the spy agency and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who accused the CIA of misleading Congress during a secret 2002 briefing on harsh interrogation techniques being used on terrorism suspects. The CIA responded that Pelosi was told about the harsh techniques, including waterboarding, at the briefing.

However, the June 26 letter from the seven House Democrats noted that Panetta told CIA employees in a May 15 letter — a response to the Pelosi allegation — that it was not CIA policy to mislead Congress. The letter from the House Democrats asked Panetta to correct his May 15 statement “in light of your testimony.”

Asked about the Democrats’ letter, CIA spokesman George Little said Panetta “stands by his May 15 statement.”

“This agency and this director believe it is vital to keep the Congress fully and currently informed. Director Panetta’s actions back that up,” Little said in a statement. “As the letter from these … representatives notes, it was the CIA itself that took the initiative to notify the oversight committees.”

The latest revelations come as lawmakers consider expanding the number of House and Senate members privy to the kind of secret briefing that Pelosi received.

The White House opposes a measure that would increase the number of briefing participants from the current eight to 40 members of Congress. A White House memo warned President Obama’s senior advisers would recommend a veto of the bill if it contained the expanded briefing provision.

There are regular protests in Athens against tough immigration policies

Greek riot police have led an operation to demolish a makeshift camp housing illegal immigrants in the western port city of Patras.

The camp was used by migrants hoping to smuggle themselves onto ships bound for Italy and Western Europe.

Its closure is more proof of Greece’s tougher stance on illegal immigration.

The camp had been a source of tension with many Greeks who regarded it as a major eyesore for themselves and for tourists arriving from Italy.

‘Terrorising migrants’

About 100 riot police escorted bulldozers into the camp before dawn.

They levelled scores of cardboard and plastic hovels.

Only a makeshift mosque and a tent used by volunteer doctors were left untouched.

The camp in Patras had been in existence in some form or another for 13 years.

A few months ago, it accommodated about 1,800 people, mainly from Afghanistan.

But that number had dwindled to about 100 following large-scale arrests and also because the port authorities had made it nearly impossible to get on board ferries to Italy.

The early morning operation was described by Red Cross officials in Patras as “terrorising” the migrants.

One worker said it was designed to send a message to all illegal immigrants that they had no future in Greece.

‘Migrant threat’

The conservative government in Athens has started taking tougher measures against the so-called “clandestines” in recent weeks, especially since the success of the right-wing nationalist Laos party in the European parliamentary election.

A new law has been passed which makes deportation easier.

Greece has been criticised internationally for its handling of would-be asylum seekers.

But recently the EU Justice Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, acknowledged that the “uncontrollable flow of immigration” posed a major threat to the equilibrium of Greek democracy.

The clampdown in Patras will push some migrants into the hands of traffickers in Athens and Italy who are demanding up to $8,000 (£4,940) for passage out of Greece.

Others have given up trying to catch a boat to Western Europe and have headed for Greece’s land borders with Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia.

Obesity is linked to a range of health problems

Scientists believe they may have uncovered a key reason why obese people have a raised risk of health complications such as type 2 diabetes.

They blame a specific protein - pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) - which is secreted by fat cells.

The Australian and US research on mice suggests blocking some of PEDF’s action may reverse some complications - raising hopes of new drug treatments.

The study appears in the journal Cell Metabolism.

In light of our findings, we believe that blocking PEDF will ameliorate several obesity-related complications Dr Matthew Watt Monash University

Because PEDF is produced by fat cells people who are overweight have higher levels of the protein in the bloodstream.

The latest research shows that the protein sends a signal to other tissues in the body, triggering development of insulin resistance - a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes - in the muscle and liver.

Raised PEDF levels were also linked to a release of fats into the bloodstream, raising the risk of complications such as heart disease.

Metabolism

In tests on obese mice, the researchers found that treatments designed to block the action of PEDF lowered the animals’ blood fat level and reversed some of their insulin resistance.

Fat cells are known to play an important role in regulating the body’s metabolism by releasing hormones and other chemicals.

This pattern of secretion is also known to change with the size of the fat cells.

The latest study set out to identify which of these secretions had a profound general impact on metabolism.

Tackling insulin resistance directly, even in the absence of weight loss, could potentially strengthen our ability to help obese patients reduce their risk of life-shortening disease Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern

The researchers took particular interest in PEDF because it was already known that levels of the protein were raised in people with type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome - a collection of risk factors including too much belly fat, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

They found that of all the molecules secreted by fat cells PEDF was among the most abundant.

They also showed that PEDF levels fell in obese mice when they lost weight, either by using diet or drugs.

When lean mice were injected with PEDF they showed signs of developing insulin resistance and inflammation in both muscle and liver.

And in the long term, PEDF raised fat levels in the animals’ blood.

These fats were transported into the muscle and liver, where they accumulated, raising the risk of insulin resistance still further.

Complications

But when obese mice were given treatment to neutralise PEDF their sensitivity to insulin improved, reducing their risk of diabetes, and the level of fats in their blood fell.

Researcher Dr Matthew Watt, from Monash University in Australia, said: “In light of our findings, we believe that blocking PEDF will ameliorate several obesity-related complications.”

He said previous research had suggested that PEDF also protects against furring of the arteries and excessive blood vessel growth and helps keep the nervous system healthy.

But he said new drugs could be at least five years away.

Dr Victoria King, of Diabetes UK, said: “While this study has been carried out in mice, there has been some indication from other studies that higher levels of this protein found in overweight people with type 2 diabetes could indicate that a similar process is occurring in humans.

“But this would need to be studied further and verified.”

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: “If we were able to somehow switch off or limit the activities of this, or related compounds it could open up new possibilities for drug treatments, not for obesity, but for the secondary effects.

“To date weight loss drugs though effective are often not effective enough.

“Tackling insulin resistance directly, even in the absence of weight loss, could potentially strengthen our ability to help obese patients reduce their risk of life-shortening disease.”

Professor Ian MacDonald, an expert in the chemistry of nutrition at the University of Nottingham, said PEDF was one of many chemicals produced by fat cells and it was unclear how they all interacted with each other.

At least five people have died and 15 have been injured after a partially constructed bridge collapsed in Delhi, Indian officials say.

A pillar supporting part of the structure collapsed, a spokesman for the Delhi Rail Corporation said.

The men who died were reported to be labourers working on the bridge, part of the city’s new metro system.

The accident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. Rescue crews are checking others are not trapped.

A labourer working on the site said that at least 25 men were working there when a concrete supporting pillar collapsed, Reuters reports.

A worker said that at least 25 labourers were on the site

“Sacks of cement were being taken up. Two to three were taken up and then suddenly the bridge collapsed,” Mukesh said.

A police spokesman said the accident happened as workers lifted heavy concrete slabs for the bridge.

One slab slipped, crushing the metal beams of the bridge beneath and rupturing a water pipe.

It is the second accident involving metro construction projects in less than a year.

In October, two people were crushed to death and 12 injured when another bridge under construction collapsed on to a bus and cars below.

Roads were closed off to allow the hearse to reach the event

Los Angeles city council officials have called for a review on who should foot the $1.4m (£864,000) bill for Michael Jackson’s memorial gig.

Councilman Dennis Zine claims taxpayers, who have been asked to make donations, “are getting ripped off”.

He has asked for a report on policing and traffic control costs for last week’s service at the Staples Center, which was attended by 17,000 fans.

Councilman Zine says promoter AEG Live or the Jackson family should pay.

But AEG president Tim Leiweke said that AEG did pay for the memorial itself.

However, security around the event resulted in high costs to Los Angeles at a time when the city is in debt for half of a billion dollars.

Roads were closed to allow the hearse carrying Jackson’s body to travel the 10 miles from the Forest Lawn cemetery to the venue.

And the memorial, watched on TV by more than 31 million people in the US and millions more around the world, required the deployment of thousands of police officers and emergency services.

Donations collapse

At a meeting on Thursday, Zine asked whether the event’s promoters or producers might provide “reimbursement to the city to replenish the public safety and other critical funds”.

Millions watched the memorial gig

Last week, the mayor’s office revealed around $17, 000 (£10, 400) had been donated to a website collecting cash before it collapsed.

Meanwhile, Michael Jackson’s sister has told Sunday newspapers she believes the singer was “murdered” for his money, claiming money and jewels have since gone missing.

She told UK newspaper, the News of the World: “We don’t think just one person was involved in the murder. It was a conspiracy to get Michael’s money.”

Michael Jackson’s father Joe Jackson has also said he suspects “foul play” in the death of his pop star son.