Page 142 - Health Medical Pharma
Cabinet approves transfer of 50.76 acres land for PGIMER, Chandigarh
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for transfer of 50.76 acres of land at Sarangpur, Chandigarh to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.This will benefit in screening OPD (Out Patient Department) patients and managing them optimally. Cancer management research and palliative care would be provided under one roof beside setting up of learning resource centre (LRC) and multi-level parking etc.With the setting up of new OPD, shifting of trauma centre, cancer care, and LRC, the waiting time for surgeries will decrease for the common man.Emergency services will be available in a highly efficient manner, infrastructural medical facilities will improve considerably for the common man.Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet has also approved one post of secretary in the level 17 (Rs 2,25,000/- fixed) and one post of joint secretary in the level 14 of the pay matrix (Rs 144200-218200) in the Department of Fisheries on a ...
US doctors overprescribed deadly drug fentanyl to patients
Fentanyl, a highly dangerous painkiller at the heart of the US opioid epidemic, has been overprescribed by doctors, according to a report Tuesday that accused medical authorities and producers of being too lax in their oversight. The drug is a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine and which is largely sold on the black market. But it is prescribed in certain rare cases of cancer under what are supposed to be very tight restrictions, in the form of pills, lozenges or sprays under the tongue. It is supposed to be used only on cancer patients for whom other opioid painkillers have been insufficent. The report in Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, said that this was not the case, however. The investigation, carried out by experts from Johns Hopkins University, said that of the thousands of patients who had been prescribed fentanyl, between a third and half of them should never have received the drug. One doctor in five did not know that fentanyl ..
Cabinet approves transfer of 50.76 acres land to PGIMER Chandigarh
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal for transfer of 50.76 acres of land at Sarangpur to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
PM Modi to inaugurate first phase of metro rail project in Ahd
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would on March 4 inaugurate the first phase of the Metro Rail Project in Ahmedabad and the newly-built civil hospital, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly was told Tuesday. The first trial run on the 6.5 km route of the metro rail was successfully conducted recently. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the first phase of metro train service in Ahmedabad on March 4," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said during question hour. PM Modi would also inaugurate newly-built 1200-bed civil hospital in Ahmedabad on the same day, he said. The prime minister would also inaugurate a cancer hospital, an eye hospital and a dental hospital, constructed in the existing premises of the civil hospital, known as Med City. "The existing civil hospital has 2,000 beds. Now, we have also built a 1200-bed hospital in the same campus at a cost of Rs 1,450 crore. We have also built a cancer hospital, an eye hospital and a dental hospital in the Med City. The PM
Sonu Nigam admitted to Kathmandu hospital following acute back pain
Singer Sonu Nigam, who is in Nepal for a concert in Pokhara, has been admitted to Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu after he complained of acute back pain, the hospital informed."He is admitted in the VIP lounge of the hospital and is being diagnosed for acute back pain. MRI is done and we are waiting for reports which will clear further way for his treatment," RP Mainali, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communication from the hospital confirmed.Dr. Panka Jalan and Dr. Pravin Nepal are attending to the artist.Notably, Nigam was one of many celebrities who had taken to social media to speak on the Pulwama terror attack. The singer had posted a sarcastic video on his Facebook page, going on a rant against the 'secularists' in the country.
Smoking over 20 cigarettes a day can cause blindness
While excessive smoking has been linked to various health issues, including heart disease and cancer, a new study has warned that smoking over 20 cigarettes a day can cause blindness.
'Shun suspicion on Indian innovators realising Make In India'
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday urged people to shun suspicion on innovators realising the Make In India dream and asked the media to cover such achievements "with gusto and energy." She was speaking at the launch of the '3DR Steriotactic System' indigenously developed software developed by Brains Neuro Spine Centre, Mahalasa Medical Technology and Triocula Technologies to perform stereo-tactic and functional neurosurgery at a function here. The stereo-tactic and functional neurosurgery is one of the fast advancing sub-specialities in neurosciences. It is a type of minimally invasive surgery performed with the assistance of a specially designed frame, fixed to the head that guides the surgery to reach different, select and specific targets in the brain with precision. "Even if I sound a bit political, for all those who suspect our national dream of Make in India is not making much of a progress, look at this. It is possible for all of us," she ...
Parents allege 2-yr-old girl contracted HIV after blood
Parents of a two-year-old girl child suffering from a heart ailment Tuesday said she had contracted HIV after allegedly being given blood at the Medical College Hospital here. However, the hospital Dean Ashokan denied the charge, saying she was only administered packed red blood cells to treat her underweight condition in July last year and that she might have been infected with the virus at some other hospital. The claim by the parents comes months after a pregnant woman contracted HIV via blood transfusion at a government hospital in Sivakasi, triggering state-wide outrage. Speaking to reporters here, Vishwanathan, the girl's father said the child was brought for a check-up at the hospital in July last year. Later this month, the child was admitted to the hospital after she had developed some complications, and during check up it was found that she was infected with HIV. The child was not taken to any other hospital, he said, adding in all possibility the child might ..
Genes linked to obesity identified
Scientists have identified genes that may cause obesity, paving the way for interventions to prevent chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Researchers identified multiple genetic variants associated with how the body regulates and distributes body-fat tissue. The findings may broaden the understanding of how genes can predispose certain individuals to obesity. Genome-wide association studies previously identified 49 loci, or positions along a chromosome where the related genetic variants are located, that predispose individuals to a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Researchers including those from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US found 24 coding loci -- 15 common and nine rare -- along the chromosomes of individuals that predispose to higher WHR. Further analysis revealed pathways and gene sets that influenced not only metabolism but also the regulation of body fat tissue, bone growth and adiponectin, a hormone that controls glucose .
Common antifungal drug may increase miscarriage risk: Study
A common oral medication used to treat vaginal yeast infections may increase the risk of miscarriage if taken during pregnancy, a study claims. While topical treatments are first line for pregnant women with fungal infections, oral fluconazole is often used during pregnancy, according to the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada looked at data on 441,949 pregnancies from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort between 1998 and 2015. They found that taking oral fluconazole was linked to adverse outcomes. "Our study shows that taking any dose of oral fluconazole while pregnant may be associated with a higher chance of miscarriage," said Anick Berard from the University of Montreal. "Taking higher doses of fluconazole over 150 mg in early pregnancy may be linked to a higher chance of a newborn with a heart defect," Berard said. The study is consistent with other studies, although more research is needed as the study sizes ..
IIT-H researchers identify Antarctic fungi to treat childhood cancer
In a first, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) have isolated a strain of a fungi, found in the Antarctic region, which could lead to development of new cheaper treatment with fewer side effects for a common childhood cancer.
Many brands selling sub-standard liquor in Punjab: FDA
Punjab's Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration K S Pannu Tuesday said many brands are selling sub-standard quality of liquor in the state. "Many brands are selling sub-standard liquor in Punjab. It has been found that the quantity of alcohol in some brands is deficient by 2 per cent to 12 per cent," Pannu said in an official release. He said the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration had conducted a study on the quality of liquor in both country made-and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) brands being sold in Punjab. "The study revealed that many brands were selling sub-standard liquor in the state with alcohol content not in consonance with the label details. In addition, many of the brands contained particles of suspended matter, which is not allowed," he said. Punjab along with some other states, including Goa, has the highest consumption rate of liquor. The standard measurement for alcohol content in drinks is alcohol by volume (ABV). It is a standard measure of how ...
'Killer' immune cells may lead to universal flu vaccine
Scientists have identified 'killer' immune cells that can fight all known strains of flu virus, a "game-changing result" that could lead to a universal, one-shot vaccine against the potentially deadly disease. These microscopic killers are white blood cells that can maintain a memory of previous exposure to a flu strain, said researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia. If they recognise an invader, these cells start an immune response to target and kill off the virus -- stopping the infection, they said. Despite hopes that the 'memories' of killer cells -- formally known as CD8+T cells -- could be used to create a vaccine that would last for life, previous studies have shown that these cells could only mount a repeated attack against strain A. In a study published in the journal Nature Immunology, scientists revealed game-changing results -- the 'killer cells' can actually fight all influenza strains, A, B and C. "Our team has been fascinated by the killer cells for a ..
Country will never forget the sacrifice of soldiers in Pulwama: PM Modi
"The country will never forget the sacrifice made by the security personnel in Pulwama and will always thank their families for sending their loved ones for protecting the nation," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public rally in Varanasi on Tuesday."I wish Baba Vishwanath, Mother Ganga give us the strength to repay the debts of the families of slain soldiers," he added."Swaraj, Savavalaban and Shaurya are the symbols of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ji's Jayanti. He showed us the way of how we can be a strong nation by having good governance," he added.The Prime Minister also talked about the initiatives taken by the Centre under Make In India programme and stated, "Today, I got an opportunity to flag-off the first diesel to Electric Converted Locomotive in Varanasi. It is admirable that now engines can too run on lightening. The strength of this engine will much greater than the old diesel based engines.""Several numbers of steps were taken to change the appearance
Adolescent female blood donors at risk for iron deficiency and associated anaemia: Study
A new study now finds that female adolescent blood donors are more likely to have low iron stores and iron deficiency anaemia than adult female blood donors and nondonors, which could have significant negative consequences on their developing brains.The study, led by authors from John Hopkins, proposes a variety of measures that could help this vulnerable population.Although blood donation is largely a safe procedure, adolescents are at a higher risk for acute, adverse donation-related problems, such as injuries from fainting during donation, explain study leaders Eshan Patel, and Aaron Tobian.Additionally, they add, blood donation may also increase the risk of iron deficiency, as each whole blood donation removes about 200-250 milligrams of iron from the blood donor. Because adolescents typically have lower blood volumes, when donating the same amount of blood, they have a relatively higher proportional loss of haemoglobin--the iron-containing protein in blood cells that transports ..
Lupus strongly linked to imbalances in gut microbiome
According to a new study conducted by scientists at NYU School of Medicine, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is linked to an abnormal mix of bacteria in the gut.The disease is marked by the attack on joints, skin, and kidneys by the body's immune system.The authors of the current study say their experiments are the first detailed evidence of a link between bacterial imbalances in the gut and potentially life-threatening forms of SLE.The new study, published today in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases online showed that 61 women diagnosed with SLE had roughly five times more gut bacteria known as Ruminococcus gnavus, than 17 women of similar ages and racial backgrounds who did not have the disease and were healthy. Lupus is more common in women than in men.Study results further showed that disease "flares," which can range from instances of skin rash and joint pain to severe kidney dysfunction requiring dialysis, closely tracked major increases in R. gnavus bacterial growth in the gut,
Obesity causing genes identified
Researchers have identified genetic variants associated with obesity that is central to developing targeted interventions to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like hypertension, Type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
Oral antifungal drug raises risk of miscarriage: Study
Using a common medication to treat vaginal yeast infections during pregnancy could be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, researchers warned.
'World's first gene therapy to halt most common cause of blindness'
Oxford researchers claim to have carried out the world's first gene therapy operation to halt age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of untreatable blindness in the developed world. Dry AMD is a slow deterioration of the cells of the macula. It affects the central part of a patient's vision with gaps or 'smudges', making everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult. If successful, the treatment could have a beneficial impact of patients' quality of life and their ability to remain independent. "A genetic treatment administered early on to preserve the vision in patients who would otherwise lose their sight would be a tremendous breakthrough and certainly something I hope to see in the near future," said Robert MacLaren, Professor at the University of Oxford in the UK. The first person to undergo the procedure was Janet Osborne of Oxford, said MacLaren, who carried out the procedure at the John Radcliffe Hospital in the UK. Like many people with ..
Maharashtra youth with major heart defect saved after marathon 16-hour surgery (Exclusive)
A 20-year youth from Jalgaon, who suffered from a major and extremely rare congenital heart defect, was saved after a record 16-hour plus surgery at the Asian Heart Institute (AHI) by a team led by a doctor who had performed heart bypass surgery on then prime minister Manmohan Singh a decade ago.