Page 171 - Health Medical Pharma
Sri Lanka receives WB loan to strengthen primary healthcare
Sri Lanka has received a $200 million loan from the World Bank (WB) to help increase the use and quality of the island nation's primary healthcare services, an official statement said here on Friday.
Rocking motion may improve sleep, memory: Study
Rocking motion during sleep may not only lead to better sleep but also boost your memory, researchers have found. Published in the journal Current Biology, two new studies, one conducted in young adults and the other in mice, add to evidence for the broad benefits of a rocking motion during sleep. One of the studies led by Laurence Bayer and Sophie Schwartz from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, was meant to explore the effects of rocking on sleep and its associated brain waves through the night. As many as 18 enlisted healthy young adults were made to undergo sleep monitoring in labs. Assessed over three nights, the subjects had to first get used to sleeping in the labs after which they stayed two more nights -- one sleeping on a gently rocking bed and the other sleeping on an identical bed that was not moving. "Our volunteers -- even if they were all good sleepers -- fell asleep more rapidly when rocked and had longer periods of deeper sleep associated with fewer arousals ...
Rock yourself to sleep for a peaceful nap and memory boost
Ever noticed how rocking motion always works like magic when putting a small child to bed? Turns out it works just as effectively for adults as well. In fact, according to a recent study, rocking not only leads to better sleep, but it also boosts memory consolidation during sleep. According to the researchers, having a good night's sleep means falling asleep rapidly and then staying asleep during the whole night.Speaking about the study, Laurence Bayer, lead author of the research said, "Our volunteers -- even if they were all good sleepers -- fell asleep more rapidly when rocked and had longer periods of deeper sleep associated with fewer arousals during the night. We thus show that rocking is good for sleep."The researchers enlisted 18 healthy young adults to undergo sleep monitoring in the lab. The first night was intended to get them used to sleeping there. The participants stayed two more nights -- one sleeping on a gently rocking bed and the other sleeping on an identical bed ..
Optimism may lower diabetes risk in postmenopausal women: Study
While it is known that a positive personality can help one succeed in life, a new study suggests that traits such as optimism may actually help reduce the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.
Apollo Hospitals Opens South East Asia's First Proton Therapy Centre for Cancer
/ -- Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APPC) brings new hope to cancer patients in India and S.E.Asia Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (BSE: 508869) (NSE: APOLLOHOSP), India's first multi-speciality chain of hospitals today opened the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), giving cancer patients access to a specialised form of radiotherapy that is extremely precise in destroying cancer cells. The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre was inaugurated in Chennai by the Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/813499/Apollo_Hospitals_APCC.jpg ) Opening a new frontier in cancer care, the 150-bed APCC is an integrated cancer hospital in Chennai providing world-class 360o comprehensive cancer care. The APCC will offer patients advanced multi-room proton therapy with cutting-edge pencil-beam scanning ...
Kidney research sheds light on harms of certain drugs
A new study saw scientists identify an enzyme that, if suppressed, can trigger renal failure. Their findings have implications for the use of existing drugs and the development of new pharmaceuticals.The study, published in Nature Communications, saw a global research team, led by the University of Bristol study how the activity of the enzyme GSK3 (Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3) affects the function of podocyte cells, which are crucial in enabling the kidneys to filter blood.In the podocyte, the GSK3 (which are of two types) enzyme stops the body from leaking protein into the urine and so prevents the development of kidney failure. However, when both GSK3 forms are excessively suppressed, they become highly detrimental both in a developing kidney and in a fully mature kidney, increasing the likelihood of renal failure.One of the drugs, available in the market, is known to suppress GKS3 in lithium. This is commonly used as a psychiatric medication and for conditions including bipolar ...
Gum infection may be linked to Alzheimer's disease: Study
A new study published in the journal Science Advances found that gum infection could be a potential risk factor of Alzheimer's disease.The bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, known as Pg, causes the gum infection chronic periodontitis, causing chronic inflammation and potential loss of teeth, reported CNN.The same bacteria was further found in 51 out of 53 brain autopsies of Alzheimer's disease patients, according to new research by Dr. Stephen Dominy and Casey Lynch, founders of the pharmaceutical firm Cortexyme.The pharmaceutical company, which is focused on developing therapeutics to alter the course of Alzheimer's disease, funded the research.The team also tested blocking the bacteria in mice by injecting small molecules targeting Pg, to inhibit it and found that it could reduce neurodegeneration in the brain, showing a potential new way to tackle Alzheimer's disease.According to Lynch, her team's publication "sheds light on an unexpected driver of Alzheimer's pathology -- the ...
Sleep deprivation may lead to DNA damage: Study
Sleep deprivation does more harm to the human body than one can imagine. According to a recent study, sleep deprivation can affect our genes and lead to the damage of our DNA. In the observational study on 49 healthy full-time doctors who had their blood analysed at different time points and on-call doctors who were required to work overnight on-site were found to have lower DNA repair gene expression and more DNA breaks than participants who did not work overnight.In these overnight on-site call doctors, DNA repair gene expression decreased and DNA breaks increased after sleep deprivation. Damaged DNA increased after only one night of sleep deprivation. According to the researchers, this damage may help explain the increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic diseases as well as neurodegenerative disorders that are usually associated with sleep deprivation."Although this work is very preliminary, it is clear from the results that even a single night of sleep deprivation ...
Here's why we crave fatty foods when dieting: Study
Avoiding greasy, fatty and oily foods is the key to a successful dieting plan. But have you ever wondered why we tend to crave the very foods that we try to avoid when dieting? Or wished you could suppress the feeling before it forced you into eating junk food? A recent study identified new brain circuits that may act as a brake on binge eating and junk food craving.Findings of the study were published in the Journal of Behavioral Brain Research."Craving for foods high in fat - this includes many junk foods - is an important part of obesity and binge eating," said Jonathan Hommel, lead author of the study."When trying to lose weight people often strive to avoid fatty foods, which ironically increases motivation and craving for these foods and can lead to overeating. Even worse, the longer someone abstains from fatty foods, the greater the cravings become," Hommel explained.
Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd up for fifth session
Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd is quoting at Rs 2671.65, up 0.12% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 13.34% in last one year as compared to a 2.09% drop in NIFTY and a 7.32% drop in the Nifty Pharma.
Enteroviruses most common cause of CNS infections in children: Study
Enteroviruses are responsible for over 55 per cent of the viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) among children, according to a study which could help improve diagnosis of the potentially life-threatening condition. Although enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of mild infections, they can cause severe illness if they impact the CNS, said researchers from Mumbai-based iGenetic Diagnostics, which carried out the study. These viruses are also responsible for diseases like polio, and hand, foot and mouth disease, they said. CNS is the organ system including the brain and the spinal cord. Its infections are difficult to detect as they can be caused by a variety of pathogens including bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoa and parasites. "In the human body, the blood-brain barrier usually prevents entry of the pathogens into the nervous system, said Aparna Kotekar, Director, Molecular Genetics at iGenetic Diagnostics. "However, once this barrier is breached, a ..
Ludhiana swine flu: Seven die in 24 days
At least seven people have died of swine flu in the past 24 days in Punjab's Ludhiana city, where 20 out of 40 suspected cases of swine flu tested positive this year, officials said.Dr Parvinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana told ANI: "Ludhiana has seen 40 suspected cases of swine flu out of which 20 have been confirmed and seven have died. The seven victims were all old in age. In 2018 there were 69 cases registered out of which three died."The state government is conducting a door-to-door survey to get the latest count and is providing free treatment for swine flu in hospitals."People should use hand sanitizer and always wear mufflers and warm clothes to protect oneself from infection," Dr Sidhu said.Swine flu is a viral infection that affects the respiratory tract and caused mainly by transmission of the virus through respiratory droplets when people exhale, cough, sneeze, drip, etc.
Bristol-Myers has Opdivo lung cancer setback as sales beat estimates
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said on Thursday it pulled an application seeking U.S. approval for a combination of its drugs to treat lung cancer, even as it announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on strong sales of one of those medicines, the immunotherapy Opdivo.
Women have 10% higher risk of spinal deformity: Experts
Neurosurgeons and specialists in spine surgery have said that women have a higher risk of spinal cord deformities due to osteoporosis.
Railway hospitals to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme
Railway hospitals across the country will soon provide treatment to eligible families under the Centre's ambitious Ayushman Bharat scheme, an official statement said Thursday. In addition, eligible families will soon be able to get benefits under the scheme at hospitals under the New Delhi Municipal Council and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, a statement by the National Health Authority, the apex body implementing the insurance programme, said. The NHA Thursday signed an MoU with the Ministry of Railways in this regard. The Union government on September 23 had launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which aims to provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year and is likely to benefit more than 10 crore poor families across the country. As per the MoU, identified medical establishments having inpatient hospitalisations under the Ministry's Railway Health Services department across its 16 zones will be empanelled with the PMJAY to implement the scheme. It
Lower-carbon diets good for both planet and health
A new study that examined the carbon footprint of what more than 16,000 Americans eat in a day brings good news for environmentally conscious consumers.The study, by Tulane University, finds that diets that are more climate-friendly are also healthier.The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is the first to compare the climate impact and nutritional value of U.S. diets using real-world data about what Americans say they are eating."People whose diets had a lower carbon footprint were eating less red meat and dairy -- which contribute to a larger share of greenhouse gas emissions and are high in saturated fat -- and consuming more healthful foods like poultry, whole grains and plant-based proteins," said lead author Diego Rose.Since food production is a major contribution to climate change, researchers from Tulane and the University of Michigan sought to learn more about the impacts of Americans' daily dietary choices. They built an extensive database of ..
Karnataka's 1st 'Heart and Lungs' transplant patient makes rapid strides in recovery
68-year-old retired Central Govt. employee from Bangalore who recently underwent 'heart and lungs' transplant at Narayana Health City earlier this month, is presenting speedy recovery.With this surgery he became with first patient in Karnataka to receive 'heart and lungs' from a single recipient. Within 10 days of the surgery, the patient started speaking effortlessly and by now he has started walking as well.He has become an inspiration to many around him in the hospital.Speaking about the case Dr. Julius Punnen Senior Consultant, Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgeon at Narayana Health City said, "Heart and lungs function in tandem to supply and deliver oxygen to the rest of the body, which makes this transplant more complicated than single organ transplant.For this transplant organs were retrieved as a bloc and transplanted to the recipient's body. Such requirements and conditions are rare in our country. The surgery is successful and the patient is responding to the treatment ...
Tattoos can raise risk of mental health problems, sleep disorders: Study
Love to get inked? Beware, tattoos can take a toll of your mental health, warned a new study.
No shortage of polio vaccines in the country: Health Ministry
The Centre on Thursday refuted reports of shortage of polio vaccines in the country, saying such a claim was "completely incorrect". "There is no shortage of oral polio vaccines (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in the country," the Union Health Ministry said, in an official statement. As far as the issue of postponement of the polio National Immunisation Day (NID) campaign for an indefinite period was concerned, the ministry said the required quantity of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) has already been secured for the programme and the campaign will be held soon. "To ensure availability of safe and quality vaccine for our children during NID, the testing of bOPV has been made more stringent and the same will be dispatched to states for public use after the clearance from National Testing Laboratory for each batch. Polio NID will be held soon," the statement stated. Regarding inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), there is neither shortage of IPV nor any shortage of funds for its
Panel probing Jayalalithaa's death rejects Apollo Hospitals' plea for medical board
A panel probing former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's death has rejected Apollo Hospitals' plea to set up a medical board to help examine medical records related to her treatment in 2016. Citing the assistance provided by government doctors following its request to decipher the medical records, the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry dismissed Apollo Hospitals' application saying it could examine any number of doctors on their (Apollo) side. Specialists, including a cardiothoracic surgeon and a biochemist from Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital here, scrutinised the medical records of Apollo Hospitals on the late leader's treatment, the commission said. Affirming that it alone can analyse the evidence, the commission said, "This duty can be discharged only by the commission, not by the panel of doctors." It added that even if a panel of doctors is appointed, its opinion has to be weighed with the evidence of the doctors already recorded ..