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Following heart health guidelines may also prevent diabetes: Study

Staying active, eating healthy and keeping blood pressure in check may not only boost heart health but also significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes, a study claims. The study, published in the journal Diabetologia, found that lifestyle and health factors that are good for heart can also prevent diabetes. "This research adds to our collective understanding about how physicians can help their patients prevent a number of serious diseases, including heart disease, cancer and now diabetes," said Craig Kent from the Ohio State University in the US. The team assessed diabetes among 7,758 participants and used the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 as a guide for measuring heart health among the group. The Life's Simple 7 health factors and lifestyle behaviours that are associated with cardiovascular health are physical activity, diet, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and tobacco use. Overall, the study participants who were in the recommended, ideal .

This New Year, make the right skin care choices for you and your baby (Health Notes)

It is the beginning of another year and the time when most of us make a resolution that we would like to achieve for both physical and emotional well-being. As a mother, it is natural to want the best for your little one. There is nothing more important than ensuring overall wellness for both you and your little one. This New Year, celebrate motherhood with a few simple tips thatll help you adopt a safe and gentle skin care regimen.

Heart-health behaviour helps reduce diabetes risk

If you are suffering from diabetes, then following some lifestyle and health factors may prove to be good for your heart and can help prevent disorders, says a new study.

Sri Shivakumara Swamiji's condition stable, says doctor

Lingayat religious head of Sree Siddaganga Matha, the 111-year-old Sri Shivakumara Swamiji, who is being treated for a lung infection is now stable, according to his doctor."As of now Swamiji's condition is stable. It has been fluctuating because of his age but all his parameters are now stable and he is responding to our medications," Dr Parameshwar told reporters here today.Swami is being treated for a lung infection which he developed after undergoing a liver bypass last month.The religious head is described as the most esteemed adherent of Lingayatism.

Now, a global diet that may save planet, says study

A new study finds an international team of scientists developing a diet they say can improve health while ensuring sustainable food production to reduce further damage to the planet.The diet is based on cutting red meat and sugar consumption in half and increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts, CNN reported.According to the researchers, the new diet can prevent up to 11.6 million premature deaths without harming the planet.The report was published in the medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday.The study finds authors warning that a global change in diet and food production is needed as 3 billion people across the world malnourished (including both under and over nourished) and food production is overstepping overstepping environmental targets. This in turn is driving climate change, loss in biodiversity and pollution.Study authors elaborate that the world's population is set to reach 10 billion people by 2050. That coupled with current diet and food production habits .

Scientists identify another piece of Ebola virus puzzle

A new study now finds a team of researchers discovering the interaction between an Ebola virus protein and a protein in human cells that may be an important key to unlocking the pathway of replication of the killer disease in human hosts.Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute were part of a nationwide collaborative with scientists at Gladstone Institutes, UC San Francisco and Georgia State University for a recent that was published in the journal Cell.Researchers across the world are trying to pinpoint potential drug targets to stop Ebola virus disease from spreading. It is a hemorrhagic fever that killed 382 people in the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018.Thousands of people have died from Ebola since an outbreak erupted in West Africa four years ago.Texas Biomed Staff Scientist Olena Shtanko, Ph.D., describes this new work as a "turning point for understanding how replication of Ebola virus is modulated."Her role in the project was to validate ...

Bill Gates congratulates Indian govt for Ayushman Bharat scheme

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has congratulated the Indian government for the successful completion of the first 100 days of the healthcare scheme Ayushman Bharat from its launch."Congratulations to the Indian government on the first 100 days of @AyushmanNHA. It's great to see how many people have been reached by the program so far. @PMOIndia", Bill Gates tweeted.The response from Gates came after Union Health Minister JP Nadda informed that 685000 beneficiaries have availed free health care in just first 100 days of the scheme and the number is rising rapidly."In just first 100 days of #AyushmanBharat, 685000 beneficiaries availed free health care & the number is rising rapidly," Nadda tweeted.Similarly, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on January 3 praised Prime Minister Modi and the Health Minister for their visionary leadership which helped around seven lakh people avail benefits of the healthcare scheme."In its first 100 days, ...

Study identifies gene responsible for spreading prostate cancer

A new Rutgers study found that a specific gene in cancerous prostate tumours indicates when patients are at high-risk for the cancer to spread. The study suggests that targeting this gene can help patients live longer.The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, identified the NSD2 gene through a computer algorithm developed to determine which cancer genes that spread in a mouse model were most relevant to humans.Notably, the researchers were able to turn off the gene in the mice tumour cells, which significantly decreased the cancer's spread.Lead author of the study, Antonina Mitrofanova, said, "Currently, when a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer, physicians can determine how advanced a tumor is but not whether the patients' cancer will spread."Mitrofanova is an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions and a research member of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.The author further added, "If we can determine whether a patient's cancer is ...

Smartphones causing 'pain in the neck': Study

A large majority of the world's 3.4 billion smartphone users are putting their necks at risk every time they send a text, scientist say. 'Text neck,' as it is colloquially called, places stress on the spine and alters the neck's natural curve, increasing the likelihood of associated soft tissue discomfort. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, highlights the high ergonomic risks to smartphone users, particularly young people, who are experiencing neck pain earlier than previous generations. Researchers from Khon Kaen University in Thailand and the University of South Australia video recorded 30 smartphone users in Thailand aged between 18-25 years, who spend up to eight hours a day on their phones. Using a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool (RULA) to measure ergonomic risk levels, they found that the average score for the participants was 6, compared to an acceptable score of between 1-2. "The results identified issues with unsuitable neck, trunk and leg postures which lead to ..

Amit Shah to be discharged soon: BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday informed that party president Amit Shah is doing well and will soon be discharged from the All India Institutes of Medical Science (AIIMS) where he is currently undergoing treatment for swine flu.BJP took to Twitter to share the news and thank people for their wishes for the president, and tweeted, "Update: BJP President Shri @AmitShah is doing well. Doctors, post check up this morning, have opined that he is recovering well and would soon be discharged. Thank you all for your kind wishes and several messages. We are overwhelmed by your affection."Shah was diagnosed with swine flu on Wednesday and is being treated under the supervision of AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria. Shah also took to Twitter to inform the countrymen about his ailment and wrote: "I have been affected by swine flu disease and the treatment for the same is going on. With the blessings of God and love and good wishes of all of you, I shall be healthy soon.

Physical activity cuts health risk from sitting

Do you like sitting around? A new study now finds that swapping a half hour of sitting around with physical activity of any intensity or duration cut the risk of early death by as much as 35 per cent in older adults.Notably, the findings stress on the importance of movement, regardless of its intensity or amount of time spent moving, for a healthier life.The study was published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.Talking about it, Keith Diaz, PhD, assistant professor of behavioural medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and lead author of the study said, "Our findings underscore an important public health message that physical activity of any intensity provides health benefits."The study found that about one in four adults spends more than eight hours a day sitting.Earlier, Diaz and his team had discovered that adults who sat for a longer amount of time at a given time, had a greater risk of early death than those who were sedentary for ..

Regular physical activity in old age may protect brain from dementia

Exercising regularly, or even undertaking routine housework, may help preserve thinking and memory skills in older adults who have developed early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The research showed that exercise is an inexpensive way to improve health, create protective effect on the brain. "We measured levels of physical activity in study participants an average of two years prior to their deaths, and then examined their donated brain tissue after death, and found that a more active lifestyle may have a protective effect on the brain," said Aron S Buchman, from Rush University in the US. "People who moved more had better thinking and memory skills compared to those who were more sedentary and did not move much at all," said Buchman, lead author of the study published in the journal Neurology. The researchers found movement may provide cognitive reserve to help maintain thinking and memory skills when there are signs of Alzheimer's disease pathology present in the brain. The study ..

Merck Foundation launched their programs in partnership with Ghana's First Lady and Ministry of Health

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck Germany launched their programs in partnership with The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO to underscore their commitment to build healthcare capacity in the country and to finalize discussions about Merck Foundation's annual conference 6th Edition of "Merck Africa Asia Luminary" to be co-chaired by Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO in Accra, Ghana on 29th -30th October 2019.During the launch event, Merck Foundation also awarded Her Excellency to acknowledge her efforts as "Merck More Than a Mother" Ambassador in the country.During the conference steering committee meeting, many new programs were finalized and launched in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ghana.H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana & Merck more than a Mother Ambassador emphasized, "We are excited to partner with Merck Foundation and are happy with their strong commitment and ...

IIT Mandi's novel test can detect early signs of kidney damage

Researchers at IIT Mandi have developed a novel system that can detect early signs of kidney damage by measuring even low levels of a protein marker in urine and blood samples. The test, which detects the presence of a protein albumin in urine and blood, can serve as an early indicator of various health disorders such as renal dysfunction as well as diseases that result from diabetes. At present, dipstick tests are available in the market to detect albumin in urine. However, analysing microalbuminuria -- a condition in which kidney leaks small amounts of albumin into the urine -- and other nephritic disorders in their early stages is difficult using these tests. "The urine dipsticks available in the market can correctly estimate albumin concentration in urine up to 30 microgrammes per decilitre (mg/dL), whereas with our technique one can measure levels as low as 3.3 mg/dL," Shubhajit Roy Chowdhury, an assistant professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, told PTI. The ...

Mizoram bans import of pigs to prevent swine disease

Mizoram government has banned import of pigs and piglets to prevent outbreak of a disease that has cost the lives of thousands of swines in the state. The Mizoram government has instructed deputy commissioners of all the eight districts to issue prohibitory orders banning the import from other countries to stop, Animal Husbandry and veterinary Minister Dr K Beichhua said Thursday. The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has cost the lives of over 10,000 swines in Mizoram since 2013 and it is believed that it happened due to import of pigs and piglets from Myanmar where the disease was known to be prevalent, officials said. Beichhua said the ban of import of pigs from other countries was the only way to prevent outbreak of the PRRS in the state. The PRRS is a disease affecting domestic pigs. The symptoms include reproductive failure, pneumonia and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection, the sources said.

Bihar: Stray dogs enjoy leisure time on govt hospital beds

While people are often seen begging for a bed in government hospitals due its shortage, such is not the case, seemingly, with one government hospital in Bihar's Nawada district where stray dogs were seen leisurely resting on patient beds raising concerns regarding the public healthcare system in the state.According to a patient in the hospital, they are not assigned beds since they are mainly occupied by stray dogs."The hospital authorities refuse to give us bedsheets. These dogs enjoy the comfort of bedsheets," a patient said.When asked about the situation, the hospital authority stated that they are going to look into the matter and punish the ones responsible for this."We will ascertain how this happened and who's responsible for it," said Umesh Chandra, Incharge, Civil Surgeon.This is not the first time when questions have been raised over the healthcare services in Bihar.In July last year, the Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH), which is reportedly considered as the ...

Fasting can improve overall health, study suggests

Fasting can lead to improved health and provide protection against aging-associated diseases, a recent study suggests.According to the research, fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against ageing-associated diseases. The study was published recently in Cell Reports.The circadian clock operates within the body and its organs as intrinsic time-keeping machinery to preserve homeostasis in response to the changing environment. And, while food is known to influence clocks in peripheral tissues, it was unclear, until now, how the lack of food influences clock function and ultimately affects the body."We discovered fasting influences the circadian clock and fasting-driven cellular responses, which together work to achieve fasting-specific temporal gene regulation," said lead author Paolo Sassone-Corsi."Skeletal muscle, for example, appears to be twice as ...

Vaccination not forced on children: Delhi health authorities

The measles and rubella (MR) vaccination programme, which was deferred following an intervention by the Delhi High Court, does not override the consent of students, said state's health authorities for the campaign.

Jaitley diagnosed with rare cancer

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who left for the US for medical treatment, has been diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer and may not be able to present this years Interim Budget on February 1, sources said.

Chidambaram wishes Jaitley speedy recovery

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Wednesday wished speedy recovery to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, who has left for the US for medical treatment. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said he is "deeply disturbed" by the news that his fellow MP and advocate Jaitley has gone abroad for medical treatment. "I wish him well and, above all, a speedy and full recovery. As one who has known Mr Jaitley as a colleague at the bar for many years, and later as a fellow MP, I think I speak for all lawyer friends and MPs in conveying our good wishes to him," the former finance minister tweeted. Many opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, have wished speedy recovery to Jaitley. Jaitley, 66, who had a kidney transplant operation and follow-up check-ups at AIIMS last year, left for the US Sunday night for a "regular medical check-up", sources said, adding that he would be back by this weekend. This is Jaitley's first overseas visit since his kidney ailment was confirmed