Page 151 - Health Medical Pharma

This robot learns to spot dementia by watching soap opera

A team led by an Indian-origin researcher has trained a robot to spot the signs of dementia by watching popular British soap opera, Emmerdale, with the hope to help people living with the neurodegenerative condition. Robbie, developed by researchers at Edge Hill University in the UK, watched over 13 episodes of Emmerdale, featuring the storyline of dementia sufferer Ashley Thomas. The robot can now spot signs of depression and aggressive behaviour in the hope that robots like him will be able to help people living with the condition, researchers said. "There are 46.8 million people living with dementia and this is set to rise to 115.4 million in 2050," said Ardhendu Behera, Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University, who led the project with three students. "Depression and aggressive behaviour are often the most upsetting and challenging symptoms for those closest to the person living with the condition," Behera said. Currently, the only ways to monitor and manage dementia is by direct ..

Women less likely to be given geriatric care for emergency hip surgery

A new study now finds that more than 70 per cent of patients receiving surgery for hip fracture are women, and yet they are less likely than men to receive geriatric care during hospitalisation, or an anaesthesiology consultation before surgery.The study was published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).Previous studies have shown that older patients who receive geriatric care when hospitalised for hip fracture surgery are less likely to die after surgery and spend less time in hospital, and that anesthesiology consultations can help to avoid cancelled surgeries and may decrease length of stay.However, in the new study, researchers found only 8 per cent of women receive geriatric care compared to 10 per cent of men.Speaking about the study, senior author Dr. Daniel McIsaac said, "Overall, we found that geriatric care for these vulnerable hip fracture patients was not routinely provided. However, given that 70 per cent of hip fractures occur in women, and what we know about .

IGMC doctors protest against bank guarantee policy in Shimla

Doctors of Resident Doctors Association on Monday observed two hours "pen-down strike" outside the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla while protesting against the bank guarantee policy.In an efforts to prevent doctors from joining private hospitals, the Himachal Pradesh government has made it mandatory for the MBBS doctors, who wanted to pursue higher courses like MD/MS, to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh until now.Recently, the government has reduced the bank guarantee to Rs 5 lakh.Over 100 doctors are demanding the complete removal of bank guarantee bond condition laid by the health department of the state.In addition to that, the doctors are also demanding to increase their stipend from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000.During the protest, the doctors were seen making people aware of Swine Flu by holding placards. The doctors also donated blood at the hospital.

Blood cells may hold key to 'fountain of youth'

Human blood cells have an intrinsic clock that remains steady even after transplant, and could control human ageing as well as underlie blood cancers. The study, published in the journal Aging Cell, measured cellular age in blood cells transplanted from healthy donors to leukemia patients, focusing on donor-recipient pairs of very different ages. "This study is related to the fountain of youth," said Shigemi Matsuyama, an associate professor at Case Western Reserve University in the US. "We found young blood cells stay young in older people. There was no accelerated ageing of young blood cells in an older human body," Matsuyama said. The team found the other direction was also true -- blood cells from adult donors transferred to a child stay older. The cells retained their intrinsic age nearly two decades after transplant. Their inherent steadiness suggests blood cells could be the master clock of human aging, as they are not easily influenced by their environment, Matsuyama said. The

Marijuana edibles can affect heart health in elderly: Study

With marijuana legalisation sweeping the US, an increasing number of people believe that "weed" is the safest recreational drug, and carries health benefits that outweigh its risks.

Modi serves Akshaya Patra's 3 billionth meal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday served food to school children here, including the third billionth meal by the Akshaya Patra Foundation at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir campus.

PIOUS AYURVEDA Announces Release of its Revolutionary Book 'SAVE YOUR HEADMASTER'

/ -- PIOUS AYURVEDA announces release of its revolutionary book 'SAVE YOUR HEADMASTER' which is all about protecting the brain and body from harmful effects of radiations emanating from mobile phones and other electronic gadgets (Electromagnetic Radiations). This book has been written by Dr. Shaleen Singh with co-author Dr. Inderjit Kaur, both are managing partners of M/s. Shaleen Pharmaceuticals, parent company of PIOUS AYURVEDA. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/820079/PIOUS_AYURVEDA_Logo.jpg ) The book is based on the detailed study of 500 patients; and covers topics over: - Mode of affect of the radiations from mobile phones and from other electronic gadgets to which people are exposed 24x7 and how they slowly intervene into various systems and affect the physiological functioning of the body leading to pathological changes causing diseases - How the exposure to the radiations leads to brain and other immune deficiency diseases; leading to various problems in growth of ...

Chimp 'mini-brains' help unveil how humans got big brains

Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have created brain "organoids" of chimpanzees -- our closest living relatives -- in laboratory to help explain the evolutionary origins of the distinctly human brain. At some point during human evolution, a handful of genetic changes triggered a dramatic three-fold expansion of the brain's neocortex, the wrinkly outermost layer of brain tissue responsible for everything from language to self-awareness to abstract thought, according to the study published in the journal Cell. Identifying what drove this evolutionary shift is fundamental to understanding what makes us human, but has been particularly challenging for scientists because of ethical prohibitions against studying the developing brains of the chimpanzees in the lab. "By birth, the human cortex is already twice as large as in the chimpanzee, so we need to go back much earlier into embryonic development to understand the events that drive this incredible growth," said Arnold ...

Your genes may determine how marriage will fare: Study

Do you think you could lead a happy married life? The answer is in your genes, a new study has said.

Genes may affect quality of your marriage: Study

Genes may impact the quality of a marriage by determining how partners provide and receive support from each other, according to a study. The study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, evaluated whether different genotypes or possible genetic combinations of the Oxytocin Receptor gene (OXTR) influenced how spouses support one another, which is a key determinant of overall marital quality. OXTR was targeted because it is related to the regulation and release of oxytocin, which is a hormone associated with feeling love and attachment. Oxytocin also appears to be relevant to social cognition and a wide range of social behaviour. "Prior research has hinted that marital quality is, at least partially, impacted by genetic factors, and that oxytocin may be relevant to social support -- a critical aspect of intimate partnerships," said Richard Mattson, Associate Professor at Binghamton University in the US. "However, we are the first to provide evidence that variation on specific ..

Aurobindo completes acquisition of Apotex's businesses in 5 European countries

Aurobindo Pharma, a world-leading marketer and manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients, on Monday announced that it has closed the acquisition of Apotex's commercial operations and certain supporting infrastructure in five European countries.The binding agreement to acquire five of Apotex' European businesses including infrastructure, personnel, products, certain established trademarks, marketing authorisations and dossier license rights in Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands (including the manufacturing facility in Leiden), Spain and Belgium was announced on July 14 last year.Jefferies International Limited acted as sole financial advisor and Herbert Smith Freehills LLP acted as legal counsel to Aurobindo. Ernst & Young India provided financial due diligence services.Aurobindo's product portfolio is spread over seven major therapeutic/product areas encompassing antibiotics, antiretrovirals, CVS, CNS, gastroenterologicals, ...

Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Ltd soars 0.95%, gains for fifth straight session

Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Ltd is quoting at Rs 10099.95, up 0.95% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 8.09% in last one year as compared to a 3.27% jump in NIFTY and a 10.54% jump in the Nifty FMCG.

New drug to prevent, treat alcoholism in the offing

Scientists say they have identified a gene that could help develop new drugs to prevent and treat alcoholism and mood disorders in people. The researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University(OHSU) in the US discovered the gene that had lower expression in the brains of nonhuman primates that voluntarily consumed heavy amounts of alcohol compared with those that drank less. The study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, unravelled a link between alcohol and how it modulates the levels of activity of this particular gene. Researchers discovered that when they increased the levels of the gene encoded protein in mice, they reduced alcohol consumption by almost 50 per cent without affecting the total amount of fluid consumed or their overall well-being. They modified the levels of the protein encoded by a single gene -- GPR39 -- which is a zinc-binding receptor previously associated with depression. The prevalence rates of co-occurring mood and alcohol use disorders

K P R Mill expands total garment and processing capacity

With this the total capacity is increased to 115 Million Garments per annum and the Processing to 22,000 MT per annum.

Glenmark Pharma gets USFDA nod for drug for patients on dialysis

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Monday said it has received final approval from the US health regulator for Sevelamer Hydrochloride tablets, used to control serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. The approved product is a generic version of Genzyme Corporation's Renagel tablets. "Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc, USA (Glenmark) has been granted final approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Sevelamer Hydrochloride tablets in the strengths of 400 mg and 800 mg," the company said in a BSE filing. For the 12 months to December 2018, Renagel tablets market achieved annual sales of approximately USD 102.1 million, Glenmark said, citing IQVIA sales data. The company's current portfolio consists of 149 products authorised for distribution at the US marketplace and 53 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) pending approval with the USFDA. The company's stock was trading at Rs 604.25, down 1.66 per cent, on BSE.

Heated tobacco devices equally harmful as e-cigarettes, smoking: Study

The new heated tobacco devices -- marketed as a safer substitute for cigarettes -- cause the same damage to human lung cells as vaping and traditional smoking, a study led by an Indian-origin researcher has found. The study, published in ERJ Open Research, suggests that the device, which heats solid tobacco instead of an e-liquid, is no less toxic to the cells than ordinary cigarette smoke. "Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, and with the introduction of e-cigarettes in the last decade, the trend of nicotine uptake is not going to slow down in the near future," said Pawan Sharma from the University of Technology Sydney and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Australia. "If the current trend continues, tobacco use will cause more than eight million deaths annually by 2030 around the world," said Sharma, who led the study. The latest addition in this emerging trend is the planned and vigorous introduction of heated tobacco devices. They are commonly called next

Marijuana edibles pose major risk to elderly patients with cardiovascular disease

With marijuana being legalised across North America, there is a changing perception that sees people believing that weed is the safest recreational drug.However, those assumptions are now challenged in an article in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology that examine the story of a patient who developed chest pain and myocardial ischemia after consuming most of a marijuana lollipop.Speaking about it, expert Alexandra Saunders said, "Marijuana can be a useful tool for many patients, especially for pain and nausea relief. At the same time, like all other medications, it does carry risk and side effects. In a recent case, inappropriate dosing and oral consumption of marijuana by an older patient with stable cardiovascular disease resulted in distress that caused a cardiac event and subsequent reduced cardiac function."According to the report, a 70-year-old man with stable coronary artery disease, taking appropriate cardiac medications at most of a lollipop infused with 90 mg of THC ...

Exercise may protect against Alzheimer's: Study

Exercise produces a hormone that may improve memory and protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to a study. Researchers have previously discovered a hormone called irisin that is released into the circulation during physical activity. Initial studies suggested that irisin mainly played a role in energy metabolism. The latest study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that the hormone may also promote neuronal growth in the brain's hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory. "This raised the possibility that may help explain why physical activity improves memory and seems to play a protective role in brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease," said Ottavio Arancio, a professor at Columbia University in the US. Arancio and his colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Queens University in Canada first looked for a link between irisin and Alzheimer's in people. Using tissue samples from brain banks, they found that irisin is ...

Here comes novel device equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes

While we know about the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes and vaping, new heated tobacco devices are no less toxic to the human lung cells than ordinary cigarette smoke, said researchers, including one of Indian-origin.

Dr Batra's Homeopathy Offers Free Preventive Doses for Swine Flu Across Jaipur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad

/ -- Dr Batra's Homeopathy, the largest chain of homeopathic clinics, opens its doors to provide free preventive medicine for Swine Flu. This year the rapidity and reach of the deadly disease has been widespread with over 2,500 tested positive and 77 deaths reported in 2019 according to the Union Health Ministry. Realizing its mission of healing people and changing lives, Dr Batra's Homeopathy furthers its commitment to health and welfare in the country by offering free preventive dosage for H1N1 (swine flu) across all its clinics in Jaipur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/820069/Dr_Batras_Homeopathy_Logo.jpg ) Signs & symptoms People who are likely to travel are most vulnerable. Pregnant women and young children, children with lethargy, low appetite, and breathing difficulty are also considered in the high risk category. People with poorly managed chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart and other respiratory problems ..