Page 182 - Health Medical Pharma
Suicide risk more than four times higher in cancer patients
A new study now finds that people with cancer are four more times likely to commit suicide than those without cancer.The study was conducted by researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine and used data on more than eight million cancer patients in the United Sates.The researchers also found that among people with cancer, white males, who who were diagnosed at a younger age; and patients with lung, head and neck, testicular cancer, and lymphomas were more likely to commit suicide.According to Nicholas Zaorsky, radiation oncologist in the Penn State Cancer Institute, the study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to treating cancer patients.The study was published in Nature Communications.Zaorsky added that even though cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, most cancer patients do not die from it, but from other causes.He added, "There are multiple competing risks for death, and one of them is suicide. Distress and depression can ...
Virtual video visits by doctors improve patient convenience without sacrificing quality of care
Virtual video visits, a form of telehealth visit, can successfully replace office visits for many patients without compromising the quality of care and communication.Virtual video visits are personal video chat communications between a health professional and patient using a computer or tablet via a secure application.Speaking about the study, lead author Karen Donelan said, "Some of the participants in our study were parents of children who needed multiple frequent visits or older patients for whom travel was difficult to arrange. It did not surprise us that they found virtual visits more convenient, but we were impressed that nearly all perceived the quality of care or communication to be the same or better than at the traditional and familiar office visits."Following are among the key findings of the study:* 79 per cent of responding patients who participated in the program felt that finding a convenient time for a follow-up virtual video visit was easier than for a traditional ...
Here's how human brain recalls events
Do you know how we recall a past event? According to a new study, when retrieving information, the human brain reconstructs that experience in reverse order indicating that it focuses first on recovering the 'gist' and recalls more specific details later.
In four years, AAP opened 189 Mohalla Clinics against 1,000 target
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which took power in Delhi four years ago with a promise to build 1,000 Mohalla (neighbourhood) Clinics in the national capital, has managed to provide only 189 of the widely-praised clinics, blaming the central government for the slow pace of execution.
'Contraceptives may soon be administered via pain-free patch'
Scientists have designed a novel long-acting contraceptive that can be self-administered by women using a painless microneedle skin patch. The research, published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, may pave the way for a new family planning option, particularly in developing nations where access to healthcare can be limited. Long-acting contraceptives now available provide the highest level of effectiveness, but usually require a healthcare professional to inject a drug or implant a device. Short-acting techniques, on the other hand, require frequent compliance by users and therefore are often not as effective. In animal testing, an experimental microneedle contraceptive patch provided a therapeutic level of contraceptive hormone for more than a month with a single application to the skin. When the patch is applied for several seconds, the microscopic needles break off and remain under the surface of the skin, where biodegradable polymers slowly release the contraceptive ...
Hong Kong scientists claim 'broad-spectrum' antiviral breakthrough
Hong Kong scientists claim they have made a potential breakthrough discovery in the fight against infectious diseases - a chemical that could slow the spread of deadly viral illnesses. A team from the University of Hong Kong described the newly discovered chemical as "highly potent in interrupting the life cycle of diverse viruses" in a study published this month in the journal Nature Communications. The scientists told AFP Monday that it could one day be used as a broad-spectrum antiviral for a host of infectious diseases - and even for viruses that have yet to emerge - if it passes clinical trials. The spread in recent decades of sometimes deadly bird flu strains, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have underscored the need for new drugs that can work more quickly than vaccines. Broad-spectrum antivirals are seen as the holy grail because they can be used against multiple pathogens. In contrast, vaccines usually only protect ...
Mice flown to space may help decode ageing: NASA
Groups of mice sent aboard the International Space Station (ISS) may help better understand the process of ageing in space and on Earth, according to NASA. The investigation will provide space-flown samples to scientists from academia, industry and government agencies, who have agreed to share their data and results in an online database that is open to the public. Rodent Research-8 (RR-8) will examine the physiology of ageing and the effect of age on disease progression using groups of young and old mice flown in space and kept on Earth, NASA said in a statement. "The objective is to expose the mice to microgravity and track physiological changes," said Michael S Roberts, deputy chief scientist at the US National Laboratory, a sponsor of the investigation. "Tissue samples from space-flown animals are extremely valuable to biomedical research and opportunities to use the space station are limited to a few missions each year," Roberts said. "This investigation was conceived primarily ..
Reducing sedentary time may cut early death risk: Study
Swapping just 30 minutes of sitting time with physical activity of any intensity or amount, may help reduce the risk of early death, a study claims. The study highlights the importance of movement -- regardless of its intensity or amount of time spent moving -- for better health. "Our findings underscore an important public health message that physical activity of any intensity provides health benefits," said Keith Diaz, assistant professor at Columbia University in the US. About one in four adults spends more than eight hours a day sitting, researchers said. The study included 7,999 individuals, age 45 and older, who took part in an investigation of racial and regional disparities in stroke between 2009 and 2013. The individuals wore activity monitors for at least four days to record the amount and intensity of physical activity they engaged in while awake. The researchers tabulated the death rate among participants through 2017. Using this data, they estimated how substituting time .
Even small amount of cannabis can alter brain: Study
Using even a small amount of cannabis may cause changes in the brain volume of teenagers, according to a study. The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, is the first to find evidence that an increase in grey matter volume in certain parts of the adolescent brain is a likely consequence of low-level marijuana use. Few studies have looked at the effects of the first few uses of a drug, said Hugh Garavan, a professor at the University of Vermont (UVM) in the US. Most researchers focus on heavy marijuana users later in life and compare them against non-users. These new findings identify an important new area of focus. "Consuming just one or two joints seems to change grey matter volumes in these young adolescents," Garavan said. The study included 46 children who reported having used cannabis once or twice by age 14. Their brains showed more grey matter volume in areas where cannabis binds, known as cannabinoid receptors, compared to the children who did not use the drug. The .
Arun Jaitley travels to US for medical check up
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has unexpectedly left for the US for a medical check up relating to his kidney ailment, sources said. Jaitley, who had undergone a renal transplant surgery on May 14, 2018, had not travelled abroad in last nine months. He was scheduled to attend 10th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in London in April last year, but had cancelled his visit due to his kidney ailment. Sources said, he left for the US on Sunday night for a medical check up. Jaitley is to present his sixth and the BJP-led NDA government's last budget on February 1. Though it is supposed to be an interim Budget, it is widely expected that his speech would have been full length budget speech. Jaitley was admitted to AIIMS last year in early April following which he underwent dialysis. He had a renal transplant surgery on May 14, 2018. In his absence, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal was given the additional charge of Finance Ministry on May 14. Jaitley, 66, who had stopped attending ...
Pious Ayurveda by Shaleen Pharmaceuticals Announces First-of-its-kind of Innovative Products 'Pious Elements'
/ -- - Meant for creating a positive environment to live in; intended for limiting increasing number of patients and chronic diseases among people across the country and world Shaleen Pharmaceuticals has been synonymous with best Ayurveda medicines and has been very well known for developing and launching PRO ACTIVE wellness products for the diseases. They work on the principles of first aim of Ayurveda i.e. 'Swasthasya swasthya rakshnam' which means- to take care of the health of a healthy person and second aim of Ayurveda i.e. 'Aaturasya vikaar prashamnam' which means- to take care of ailments. Shaleen Pharmaceutical has been regularly working to help create a positive environment around. It has been successful in establishing itself as a trusted brand for creating products for every chronic ailment. With all expertise and years of working on the proactive modes of saving people from chronic ailments, Shaleen Pharmaceuticals has launched its first revolutionary product 'Pious ...
Delhi: Resident doctors at Safdarjung Hospital call off strike
Resident doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital here, called off their strike on Monday evening after the authorities accepted their demand of increasing security on the hospital's premises.This comes after Additional Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar at the Health Ministry held a meeting with officials from the hospital administration and a delegation of resident doctors.The resident doctors at the hospital went on strike after one of their colleagues was allegedly manhandled by a Delhi Police head constable's son who had come at the medical institution for treatment.Reportedly, in the meeting it was decided that as an interim arrangement 18 marshals will be deployed on the hospital premises. Also, a proposal recommending deployment of 30 extra marshals will be submitted by the hospital to the ministry. Meanwhile, 100 security guards from the SSB will be deployed immediately.A committee will be formed, which within two weeks time will access the requirement of a number of security guards and ...
Resident doctors' strike at Safdarjung Hospital called off
The strike called by the resident doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital was called off on Monday evening after the administration agreed to their demand of increased security on the medical institution's premises. Emergency services at the hospital this morning were affected as the doctors stayed away from work for he second day after a Delhi Police head constable's son, who had come for treatment at the Centre-run hospital on Sunday, allegedly punched a doctor. With patients facing a tough time, Additional Secretary Sanjeeva Kumar at the Health Ministry Monday held a meeting with officials from the hospital administration and a delegation of resident doctors. In the meeting, it was decided that 18 marshals will be deployed as an interim arrangement. In addition, the proposal for 30 extra marshals will be submitted by the hospital for approval to the Health Ministry, the minutes of the meeting said. While selecting these marshals, a representative from the Resident Doctors' Association ..
Your uncle's genes may decide your longevity: Study
The key to longevity can probably be found in the genes of your long-living uncles and aunts and not just parents, finds a study.
Congress veteran Shivajirao Deshmukh dead
Veteran Congress leader and former chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Shivajirao Deshmukh died Monday in hospital here due to prolonged illness. He was 84. Deshmukh had been facing several health issues since the last few months, following which he was admitted in Bombay Hospital for treatment, where he breathed his last this evening, the hospital authorities said. He was on dialysis for the last couple of years, a source in his family said. Deshmukh, who had served as revenue minister in the Vasantsada Patil government in 1976-85, hailed from Shirala tehsil in Sangli district of western Maharashtra. His last rites will be performed at Shirala Tuesday.
Some help, more needed for Florida girl with rare blood type
A New York woman with a rare blood type is donating two units to help save a 2-year-old South Florida girl who is battling cancer. News outlets report the woman had donated her own blood while pregnant in case she needed a transfusion during her delivery. Luckily, she didn't need it, and has agreed to give it to Zainab Mughal, who has neuroblastoma. Susan Forbes of Florida-based OneBlood says that transfer still needs approval from the FDA, and the woman isn't eligible to donate yet after giving birth. OneBlood is asking for donors for the girl, whose blood lacks an antigen most people carry. The donor must be Pakistani, Indian or Iranian, and even within these groups, fewer than 4 percent have the genetic variation.
Human brain works backwards to retrieve memories
A new study, conducted at the University of Birmingham now says that when we remember a past event, the human brain reconstructs that experience in reverse order.The study adds that understanding how the brain retrieves information could help better assess the reliability of eye witness accounts.The study, published in Nature Communications, was carried out by researchers in the Centre for Human Brain Health. They reconstructed the memory retrieval process, using brain decoding techniques that make it possible to track when in time, a unique memory is being reactivated in the brain.Researchers found that, when retrieving information about a visual object, the brain focuses first on the core meaning and only afterwards recalls more specific details.Notably, this is in sharp contrast to how the brain processes images when it first encounters them.Speaking about it, lead author of the study, Juan Linde Domingo said, "We know that our memories are not exact replicas of the things we ...
Cancer quadruples risk of suicide: Study
People with cancer are over four times more likely to commit suicide than people without the deadly disease, finds a study.
Services remain hit at Safdarjung hospital due to resident doctors' strike
Emergency services at the Safdarjung hospital remained affected on Monday as resident doctors stayed away from work for the second consecutive day demanding security be increased on the medical institution's premises after one of their colleagues was allegedly manhandled. The strike was called after a Delhi Police head constable's son, who had come for treatment at the Centre-run hospital on Sunday, allegedly punched a doctor. Patients alleged that they were facing a harrowing time due to the paucity of doctors even as senior faculty members and para-medical staff tried to keep services running at the emergency department. On Monday, an 18-year-year accident victim, who was admitted to the hospital's emergency section on Saturday, succumbed to injuries with his family alleging that he had not received proper treatment because of the strike. He was referred to Safdarjung from a hospital in Gurgaon. "My brother was referred to this hospital on Saturday and on Sunday the resident doctor .
Novel drug may help treat neglected tropical disease
Scientists have developed a novel drug that could be used to treat neglected tropical diseases which can lead to severe disability and affect over 157 million people globally. The researchers from University of Liverpool in the UK have successfully optimised a hit from a whole cell screening of a 10,000-compound library to deliver the first novel fully synthetic and rationally designed anti-Wolbachia drug, AWZ1066S, which could potentially be used to treat onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF). "The identification represents the first potential designer drug of its kind, specifically targeting Wolbachia as a curative treatment for onchocerciasis and LF," said Steve Ward, a researcher at University of Liverpool in the UK. "The candidate selection status of this compound represents the successful conclusion to a multidisciplinary teams efforts to generate the first synthetic drug specifically developed to target this bacteria and we are really excited to take the compound to the .