Page 160 - Health Medical Pharma

Patralekhaa helps raise funds for cancer patients

"CityLights" actress Patralekhaa is lending her support to an NGO to raise funds for cancer patients, and feels it is important to spread awareness about the disease.

Human mind can overcome any disease: Parrikar on World Cancer Day

"Human mind can overcome any disease," ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer tweeted on Monday on the occasion of World Cancer Day.

Human mind can overcome any disease: Parrikar

Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the human mind can overcome any disease. His message came on the World Cancer Day being observed on Monday. Parrikar, 63, is suffering from a pancreatic ailment and is currently admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. "Human mind can overcome any disease #WorldCancerDay," Parrikar tweeted on Monday. The chief minister was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment in February last year. Since then he has been admitted to hospitals in Delhi, New York, Mumbai and Goa. Sources at AIIMS had on Saturday said that his health condition was stable. He is admitted at the Institute Rotary Cancer hospital at AIIMS under the observation of oncologist Atul Sharma. Veteran BJP leader L K Advani, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had met him the ailing chief minister in Goa earlier to enquire about his health.

Graphene biosensor could diagnose lung cancer early

Scientists have developed a graphene-based biosensor that could 'sniff' out evidence of lung cancer from a person's breath, paving the way for low-cost, early diagnosis systems. Researchers from University of Exeter in the UK developed a new technique that could create a highly sensitive graphene biosensor with the capability to detect molecules of the most common lung cancer biomarkers. The new biosensor design could revolutionise existing e-nose devices, that identify specific components of a specific vapour mixture -- for example a person's breath -- and analyses its chemical make-up to identify the cause. The device, described in the journal Nanoscale, displays the potential to identify specific lung cancer markers at the earliest possible stage. It will be both cost-effective and highly beneficial for health service providers worldwide, researchers said. "The new biosensors which we have developed show that graphene has significant potential for use as an electrode in e-nose ...

New clues to controlling HIV found

Researchers are harnessing the immune system to reveal new clues that may help produce a vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The researchers from the Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Canada and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa identified a connection between infection control and how well antiviral T cells respond to diverse HIV sequences. HIV adapts to the human immune system by altering its sequence to evade helpful antiviral T cells, they said. "So to develop an effective HIV vaccine, we need to generate host immune responses that the virus cannot easily evade," said Mark Brockman, a professor at SFU. The team has developed new laboratory-based methods for identifying antiviral T cells and assessing their ability to recognise diverse HIV sequences. "T cells are white blood cells that can recognise foreign particles called peptide antigens," said Brockman. "There are two major types of T cells -- those that 'help' other cells of the immune system, .

Researchers identifies molecule effective in killing TB bacteria

Researchers have found a molecule that is effective against tuberculosis, says a new study on mice.

Another vaccine scandal hits China as 29 children given wrong shots

China has been hit by another medical scandal after 29 children were given the wrong vaccine in the city of Shijiazhuang in Hebei province.

Common e-cigarette chemical flavourings may impair lung function: Study

Chemicals widely used to flavour e-cigarettes may impair our lungs' first line of defence against dirt and allergens, potentially increasing the risk of diseases such as asthma, a Harvard study has found. Researchers found that two chemicals, diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, affect the function of cilia -- antennae-like protuberances that are present on 50-75 per cent of the cells that line human airways. They play a key role in keeping the human airway clear of mucus and dirt and allow people to breathe easily and without irritation. Impaired cilia function has been linked with lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. "Although chemicals used to flavour e-cigs are frequently used, little has been known about the mechanism of how they impact health," said Quan Lu, an associate professor at the Harvard University in the US. "Our new study suggests that these chemicals may be harming cilia -- the first line of defence in the lungs -- by altering gene .

Hyderabad: Roof plaques falls in Osmania General Hospital again, staff demands re-construction

The roof plaques in the Osmania General Hospital here fell once again and the staff has demanded re-construction of the building as the hospital's infrastructure is in a sorry state.Speaking to ANI, Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) President Dr P S Vijayender stated that the roof plaques in room 502 Department of radiology in the old building of Osmania Hospital fell the day before yesterday."Fortunately no one was injured in the incident. This was noticed by women staff. Earlier we have staged protests many times to reconstruct the building demanding safe working atmosphere for both the staff and patients. The incident came to light today after it went viral on social media," he said.A few days ago, the doctors of Osmania General Hospital had staged a unique protest by wearing helmets while they treated the patients. The video went viral on social media.Earlier, the health minister of Telangana had responded to the protests and assured of construction of a new building ...

How microbes help make a perfect cup of coffee

Ever wondered what makes your coffee taste good? It's the microbes, finds a study.

Gene that makes us sleepy when we are sick identified

Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have identified a gene that makes a person sleepy when they are sick. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the US found that a single gene, called nemuri, fights germs with its inherent antimicrobial activity and drives prolonged, deep sleep after an infection. "While it's a common notion that sleep and healing are tightly related, our study directly links sleep to the immune system and provides a potential explanation for how sleep increases during sickness," said Amita Sehgal, a professor at University of Pennsylvania. Without the nemuri gene, flies were more easily aroused during daily sleep, and their acute need for an increase in sleep -- induced by sleep deprivation or infection -- was reduced. On the other hand, sleep deprivation, which increases the need for sleep, and to some extent infection, stimulated nemuri to be expressed in a small set of fly neurons nestled close to a known sleep-promoting structure in the ...

US kids use excess toothpaste: Report

Many American children use more toothpaste than officially recommended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, published on Friday.

Decoded: Why do you feel sleepy when sick?

Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found a gene that acts as a direct link between illness and the need for more sleep.

A hospital in Delhi which helps treat cancer with ayurveda, yoga

A charitable hospital in the national capital is providing treatment to cancer patients using ayurveda and yoga along with dietary and lifestyle changes. Ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4, the founder of Ayurvedic Cancer Treatment Hospital, located in West Punjabi Bagh area, said the facility raises awareness on combating the disease and many patients help in spreading its name through word of mouth as well. "Many patients come to us after having lost all hope in allopathic treatment. We use a four-pronged approach -- lifestyle and food habit changes, ayurvedic medicines and yoga," its founder-president Atul Singhal said. Asked about the efficacy of ayurvedic medicine on cancer, he said, "Our patients are our biggest testimonies. They feel the benefit and tell it to others, or make videos and post those online." "For medicine, we use 'panchgavyas', mixture of five products of cow, and we use yoga to aid in recovering. "We change their lifestyle and food habits and ask them to ...

Laurus Labs gets USFDA nod for HIV drug

Laurus Labs said Sunday it has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for TLD, which is one of preferred first line regimen for the treatment of HIV. The approval for Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir (TLD) 300/300/50mg fixed dose combination (FDC) was given under the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the company said in a release. The TLD will be available in the generic form in low and middle income countries, it said. The drug will be manufactured from the company's Unit 2 located at APSEZ, Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Commenting on the USFDA approval, Laurus Labs CEO Satyanarayana Chava said, "It is a significant approval for Laurus Labs which has forayed into finished dosage forms recently. This product would demonstrate the company's capability to develop fixed dose combinations of ARVs (antiretroviral). Laurus Labs has also received an Establishment Inspection Report from the USFDA for its Unit 6 located at ..

Repetition trains brain to form good habits: Study

Scientists claim to have discovered a 'brain hack' to form good habits -- training it by simply repeating actions until they stick. Researchers from University of Warwick in the UK have created a model which shows that forming good and bad habits depends more on how often you perform an action than on how much satisfaction you get from it. They developed a computer simulation, in which digital rodents were given a choice of two levers, one of which was associated with the chance of getting a reward. The lever with the reward was the 'correct' one, and the lever without was the 'wrong' one. The chance of getting a reward was swapped between the two levers, and the simulated rodents were trained to choose the 'correct' one. When the digital rodents were trained for a short time, they managed to choose the new, 'correct' lever when the chance of reward was swapped.' However, when they were trained extensively on one lever, the digital rats stuck to the 'wrong' lever stubbornly, even when

Train your brain to form good habits through repetition

If you want to form good habits -- like going to the gym and eating healthy -- then you need to train your brain by repeating actions until they stick, a new study suggests.

Low childhood BMI can up eating disorder risk in teens

Having a persistent low body mass index in childhood may increase a teenager's the risk of developing anorexia nervosa -- an eating disorder causing people to obsess about weight and what they eat. The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, also found that a persistent high BMI in childhood may be a risk factor for later development of bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and purging disorder. "Until now, we have had very little guidance on how to identify children who might be at increased risk for developing eating disorders later in adolescence," said Zeynep Yilmaz, an assistant professor at University of North Carolina (UNC) in the US. "By looking at growth records of thousands of children across time, we saw early warning profiles that could signal children at risk," said Yilmaz. "Clinically, this means that pediatricians should be alert for children who fall off and stay below the growth curve throughout childhood. This ...

Exercise can cut 'invisible' disease-causing fat

Exercise can help reduce the invisible, fat that affect the internal organs and may cause heart diseases or diabetes, scientists say. The type of fat you can measure with a tape is not the most dangerous, researchers said. The internal, visceral fat on the other hand can affect the heart, liver and other organs. Researchers at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern in the US analysed two types of interventions -- lifestyle modification (exercise) and pharmacological (medicine) -- to learn how best to defeat fat lying deep in the belly. "Visceral fat can affect local organs or the entire body system. Systemically it can affect your heart and liver, as well as abdominal organs," said Ian J Neeland, assistant professor of at UT Southwestern. "When studies use weight or body mass index as a metric, we don't know if the interventions are reducing fat everywhere in the body, or just near the surface," Neeland said. For the study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers .

Jaitley indicates won't be back in India to reply to Budget debate

Union Minster Arun Jaitley Sunday said his medical treatment at a US hospital is all over but hinted that he may not return to India in time to reply to the debate on Interim Budget in Parliament. Jaitley, 66, had missed presenting the sixth and final budget of the Narendra Modi government's present term as he had to fly to the US due to ill health. In his absence, the charge of the finance ministry was given to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who on February 1 presented the Interim Budget for 2019-20 financial year. Jaitley had on the Budget day stated that he would be back in India soon. In an interview to PTI here, he said he was on recovery course and his return to India in time to reply to the Budget debate in Parliament will depend on when his doctors allow him to leave. "It depends on after my treatment here, which is all over. I am on the recovery course. It's when my doctors allow me to go back. As of present, as I understand, Piyush Goyal will be replying (to the Budget ...