Page 105 - Health Medical Pharma
Garden fresh Assam tea in 'tea boutiques' soon
To make authentic garden fresh Assam tea available to people, the North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) has decided to launch 'NETA Tea Boutique' in the state's Golaghat district.
Three die in Bulgaria psychiatric hospital fire
Three patients died in a fire that engulfed a room in the men's ward of a psychiatric hospital in the central Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, officials said Thursday. "A fire erupted around midnight. Three men died -- patients, who have been identified," hospital chief Mariana Gospodinova told BNR public radio. The other 60 patients in the hospital were safely evacuated, she added. "The fire started from their (the three victims') room, maybe from a cigarette or some other inflammable substance, but for the time being it is unclear if it happened by accident or was intentional," Plovdiv regional prosecutor Rumen Popov said. He however added that the initial investigation at the site ruled out the possibility of an electrical fault. The strict regime at the ward -- which kept patients with paranoid schizophrenia locked in their ward and banned the possession of lighters or matches -- "suggests arson", Popov said. The three dead -- all men in their fifties -- had been sent to the hospital ...
Exercise could prevent cartilage damage caused by arthritis
A new study has found that degradation of cartilage due to osteoarthritis could be prevented with the help of exercise.The study, published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, demonstrates the benefits of exercise on the tissues that form our joints.The researchers have shown for the first time how mechanical forces experienced by cells in joints during exercise prevent cartilage degradation by suppressing the action of inflammatory molecules which cause osteoarthritis.During exercise, the cartilage in joints such as the hip and knee is squashed. This mechanical distortion is detected by the living cells in the cartilage which then block the action of inflammatory molecules associated with conditions such as arthritis.The researchers showed that this anti-inflammatory effect of physical activity is caused by activation of a particular protein, called HDAC6, which triggers changes in the proteins that form primary cilia.Pharmaceutical drugs that blocked HDAC6 activation ...
Singapore recalls 3 high blood pressure drugs containing Indian company made active ingredient
Singapore's health authority on Thursday announced recall of three brands of high blood pressure medicine containing losartan, an active ingredient manufactured by an Indian pharma company, which contained higher than acceptable levels of a potentially harmful impurity. The affected products are the 50mg and 100mg tablets from the brands Losartas, Losagen and Hyperten and distributed by local suppliers Apotheca Marketing, Medicell Pharmaceutical and Goldplus Universal, respectively. Losartas is prescribed in public healthcare institutions, while Losagen, Hyperten and Losartas are prescribed at private healthcare institutions, according to a report by the Channel News Asia. Announcing the recall, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said that these drugs contain the active ingredient losartan potassium, manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero Labs. The recalled products were found to contain trace amount, above the internationally accepted levels, of nitrosamine impurity, ..
US begins organ transplants from living donors who have HIV
Surgeons in Baltimore have performed what's thought to be the world's first kidney transplant from a living donor with HIV, a milestone for patients with the AIDS virus who need a new organ. If other donors with HIV come forward, it could free up space on the transplant waiting list for everyone. Nina Martinez of Atlanta travelled to Johns Hopkins University to donate a kidney to an HIV-positive stranger, saying she "wanted to make a difference in somebody else's life" and counter the stigma that too often still surrounds HIV infection. Many people think "somebody with HIV is supposed to look sick," Martinez, 35, told The Associated Press before Monday's operation. "It's a powerful statement to show somebody like myself who's healthy enough to be a living organ donor." Hopkins, which is making the transplant public on Thursday, said both Martinez and the recipient of her kidney, who chose to remain anonymous, are recovering well. "Here's a disease that in the past was a death sentence
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital joins Ayushman Bharat scheme
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Thursday became the first 700 bed high capacity multi-speciality hospital from the national capital to join the Centre's Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The hospital signed a pact with the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Union Health Ministry for empanelment in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The agreement was signed by NHA CEO Dr Indu Bhushan and additional director (medical) of the hospital Dr Satendra Katoch here. "Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has become the first 700-bed high capacity multi-speciality tertiary care hospital from Delhi to join Ayushman Bharat . Many more will follow soon," Bhushan said. He said this is the first big hospital in Delhi to get empanelled into the scheme. The AB-PMJAY provides healthcare benefits worth Rs five lakh to each eligible family per year in government and empanelled private hospitals. According to Dr D S Rana, Chairman (BOM), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, "We deeply value the ethos of Ayushman ..
Lupin launches generic skin treatment cream in US market
Drug maker Lupin Thursday said it has launched Fluocinonide Ointment, used to treat inflammatory and pruritic manifestations, in the US market. The product is a generic version of County Line Pharmaceuticals LLC's Lidex ointment, Lupin said in a statement. The ointment is indicated for relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses. As per IQVIA MAT January data, Fluocinonide Ointment USP had annual sales of around USD 15 million (about Rs 103 crore) in the US. Shares of Lupin Thursday ended 0.01 per cent down at Rs 724.70 apiece on the BSE.
2 J&K doctors suspended for model code violation
Two senior doctors were suspended on Thursday for violating the model code of conduct in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, officials said.
AI can help predict premature deaths: Study
Researchers have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system to predict the risk of early deaths due to chronic disease in middle-aged adults.
Virtual reality may help treat autism, Parkinson's: Study
Playing games in virtual reality (VR) may help treat people with neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, a study claims. The technology, described in the journal Scientific Reports, could help the patients shift their perceptions of time, which their conditions lead them to perceive differently. "The ability to estimate the passage of time with precision is fundamental to our ability to interact with the world," said Seamas Weech, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo in Canada. "For some individuals, however, the internal clock is maladjusted, causing timing deficiencies that affect perception and action," Weech said in a statement. The study will help researchers to understand how these deficiencies might be acquired, and how to recalibrate time perception in the brain. It involved 18 females and 13 males with normal vision and no sensory, musculoskeletal or neurological disorders. The researchers used a virtual reality game, Robo
Bangladeshi woman has twins 26 days after 1st delivery
A 20-year-old Bangladeshi woman has given birth to twins nearly a month after delivering a baby, media reported on Thursday. All three newborns are alive and healthy.
Diet during pregnancy could modulate ADHD risk in kids
A new study has suggested that the risk of a child developing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be modulated by the mother's diet during pregnancy.The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, analysed samples of umbilical cord plasma to quantify the levels of omega-6 and omega-3 that reach the foetus. The statistical analysis showed a higher omega-6: omega-3 ratio to be associated with a higher risk of the ADHD symptoms at seven years of age.Omega-6 and omega-3 are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that play a crucial role in the function and architecture of the central nervous system, particularly during the later stages of gestation. These two fatty acids compete for incorporation into cell membranes and are primarily obtained through diet.Since omega-6 and omega-3 have opposing physiological functions, the former promotes systemic pro-inflammatory states, while the latter promotes anti-inflammatory states, a balanced intake of these two ...
Virtual Reality can help in treating Autism
A new study has revealed that playing games in virtual reality (VR) could be used in treating people with neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.According to the study, published in the Journal of Scientific Reports, the technology could help individuals with these neurological conditions shift their perceptions of time, that their conditions lead them to perceive differently."The ability to estimate the passage of time with precision is fundamental to our ability to interact with the world," Commented a co-author Seamas Weech, a post-doctoral fellow in Kinesiology. "For some individuals, however, the internal clock is maladjusted, causing timing deficiencies that affect perception and action."Studies like ours help us to understand how these deficiencies might be acquired, and how to recalibrate time perception in the brain," said Weech.The study involved 18 females and 13 males with normal vision and no sensory, musculoskeletal or neurological ..
'Artificial intelligence may predict premature death risk'
Scientists have developed and tested an artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer system to predict the risk of early death due to chronic diseases in a large middle-aged population. The system of computer-based 'machine learning' algorithms was very accurate in its predictions and performed better than the current standard approach to prediction developed by human experts, according to the study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK used health data from over half a million people aged between 40 and 69 recruited to the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2016. "Most applications focus on a single disease area but predicting death due to several different disease outcomes is highly complex, especially given environmental and individual factors that may affect them," said Stephen Weng, Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. "We have taken a major step forward in this field by developing a unique and .
Just seeing reminders of coffee can stimulate us
Simply looking at something that reminds us of coffee can cause our minds to become more alert and attentive, scientists say. The study, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, looks at an effect called priming, through which exposure to even subtle cues can influence our thoughts and behaviour. "Coffee is one of the most popular beverages and a lot is known about its physical effects," said Sam Maglio, an associate professor at University of Toronto in Canada. "Much less is known about its psychological meaning -- in other words, how even seeing reminders of it can influence how we think," said Maglio. "People often encounter coffee-related cues, or think about coffee, without actually ingesting it," he said. "We wanted to see if there was an association between coffee and arousal such that if we simply exposed people to coffee-related cues, their physiological arousal would increase, as it would if they had actually drank coffee," he added. Arousal in psychology refers
Unichem Lab rises after USFDA approval for Tadalafil tablets
Unichem Laboratories rose 2.56% to Rs 200.15 at 11:21 IST on BSE after the company said it has received final approval for Tadalafil tablets from the US drug regulator.
Aster Medcity Doctors successfully perform laparoscopic anterior resection for Klippel Trenaunay's Syndrome
In a rare surgery, doctors at Aster Medcity have successfully resected last part of colon and rectum of a 43-year-old male patient, who was suffering from Klippel Trenaunay's Syndrome with intractable rectal bleed, using laparoscopy.Klippel Trenaunay's Syndrome, a rare congenital vascular disorder, is characterised by three clinical syndromes- port-wine stains, varicose veins and bony and soft tissue hypertrophies. The surgery was performed by a medical team led by Dr Prakash K., Senior Consultant, Aster Medcity Kochi.The patient in his childhood had undergone multiple surgeries for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in his right lower limb. He was diagnosed with Klippel Ternaunay syndrome involving lower limb, distal rectum, anal canal perineum and spleen. The patient had been passing a large amount of blood in his stools with each bowel movement for the past three-four years and required three-four units of blood transfusions every month.On evaluation, a contrast CT scan showed ...
Radixact 9 launched in city hospital
A version of tomotherapy for treatment of cancer -- Radixact 9 -- was launched at a city hospital here on Wednesday. Chairman and senior consultant at BLK Super Speciality Hospital Dr S Hukku said, "Tomotherapy has come as a boon to cancer patients. It is now used as a curative treatment for cancer, the second leading cause of death across the world." Radixact 9 is touted to be one of the most advanced versions of tomotherapy. "Using a refined x-ray beamline and next-generation imaging technology, the system delivers scalable and highly reliable treatments for patients with a variety of individual treatment needs," Dr Hukku said.
Pondy LS polls: 18 nominations found valid after scrutiny
Nominations of 18 out of 37 candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat here were found to be in order at the end of scrutiny of papers Wednesday. Nineteen nominations were rejected. Nominations of former Speaker and senior Congress leader V Vaithilingam, doctor-turned-politician K Narayanasamy (AINRC) and of former AIADMK legislator Dr M A S Subramanian (Makkal Needhi Maiam) were among the nominations found valid by the Returning officer for the constituency T Arun. After scrutiny, ten out of 11 nominations filed for the bypoll to the Thattanchavady Assembly seat here were found to be in order. The by-election would be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha poll on April 18. Last day for withdrawal of nominations is March 29.
India-African Union sign MoU on strengthening cooperation in healthcare sector: MEA
An agreement has been signed between India and the African Union to initiate and strengthen the cooperation in health sector in a structured and organised manner by establishing an India-Africa health sciences collaborative platform, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The MEA, in a statement, said that in order to carry forward the strategic vision of India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) III through a structured and concrete partnership in the health sector, the MEA partnered with Indian Council of Medical Research and had jointly organised the first India-Africa Health Sciences Meet in 2016 in New Delhi. The MoU will pave the way for the cooperation in the areas of research and development, capacity building, health services, pharmaceutical trade and manufacturing capabilities for drugs and diagnostics, it said. The MEA said it has offered full support for implementation of the agreement. "Following the deliberations in this meet, ICMR had taken up the mandate to initiate and ..