Page 187 - Health Medical Pharma
Over 10 lakh children in Meghalaya given MR vaccine
Over 10 lakh children were given Measles-Rubella vaccines in Meghalaya taking the vaccination coverage in the state to over 92 per cent, a senior Health department official said on Thursday. "Out of 11.56 lakh children, 10.67 lakh were vaccinated during MRVC with the coverage of the vaccination to over 92 per cent," Health secretary Pravin Bakshi said. He was addressing at the state level workshop on the MR vaccination and Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation programme here. "Though the state has achieved 92 per cent, the target is to achieve 95 per cent by intensifying in the days ahead," Bakshi said. The health secretary has also stressed on the need to give special focus in areas where vaccination was refused and also the check the size of the population of such areas. In districts where coverage percentage is low, Bakshi said dedicated cells would be created to make calls to private hospitals, schools and community about the importance of the vaccination. In the last
Long-duration space missions may shrink spinal muscles: Study
Astronauts who spend several months on the International Space Station (ISS) are likely to have significant reductions in the size and density of spinal muscles after returning to Earth, according to a study. Some changes in muscle composition are still present up to four years after long-duration spaceflight, said researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. As NASA plans for future missions to Mars and beyond, these results can be used to guide future countermeasures to mitigate declines in trunk muscle morphology and associated functional deficits, they said. "Spaceflight-induced changes in paraspinal muscle morphology may contribute to back pain commonly reported in astronauts," said Katelyn Burkhart from MIT. The study, published in the journal Spine, analysed computed tomography (CT) scans of the lumbar (lower) spine in 17 astronauts and cosmonauts who flew missions on the ISS. Scans obtained before and after missions were analysed to determine ...
Prolonged space missions may affect size, density of spinal muscles
Astronauts who spend six months or more on the International Space Station (ISS) are likely to have significant reductions in the size and density of spinal muscles after returning to Earth, reports a study.
Decreased deep sleep may signal Alzheimer's disease: Study
Older people who get less deep sleep have higher levels of the brain protein tau, a sign of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study. Slow-wave sleep is the deep sleep people need to consolidate memories and wake up feeling refreshed, said researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in the US. The findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggest that poor-quality sleep in later life could be a red flag for deteriorating brain health. "What's interesting is that we saw this inverse relationship between decreased slow-wave sleep and more tau protein in people who were either cognitively normal or very mildly impaired, meaning that reduced slow-wave activity may be a marker for the transition between normal and impaired," said Brendan Lucey, an assistant professor at the Washington University. "Measuring how people sleep may be a noninvasive way to screen for Alzheimer's disease before or just as people begin to develop ...
Irregular fasting can help in weight loss, boost health
Are you obese and worried about your excess weight? Take heart. New research suggests that with irregular fasting and a strictly controlled diet, you can lose more weight and improve your health too.
Biometrics in blood banks to give leg up to HIV treatment in TN
A government AIDS control body in Tamil Nadu will propose that all future blood donors in the state record their biometric details so that issues related to fake credentials are addressed and timely medical care could be provided if they test HIV positive during the screening process. The proposal by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) comes close on the heels of a pregnant woman being transfused with HIV infected blood donated by a youth in Sivakasi government blood bank, which led to an outrage and raised questions over the present screening process. The move is also aimed at ensuring timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy to donors who test positive for HIV when the blood is screened after donation at banks. As many as 23 donors tested positive for HIV during 2015-18 but could not be informed of their status for a variety of reasons. "We are going to propose to the government to have a programme to capture the biometrics of blood donors," Project Director, ...
Poor sleep may predict Alzheimer's risk in elderly
Poor sleep quality may signal the risk of Alzheimer's disease in older adults, a study suggests.
2 drinks daily may up irregular heartbeat risk
Even moderate alcohol consumption, described as intake of two drinks daily or 14 per week, could increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm condition, warn researchers.
Sex differences in 'body clock' may benefit women's heart health
Did you know that a woman's 'body clock' benefits her heart health? A new research suggests that a gene that governs the body's circadian clock acts differently in males as compared to females and may protect females from heart disease.The study is the first of its kind to analyse circadian blood pressure rhythms in female mice and has been published in the American Journal of Physiology--Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.According to researchers, the body's circadian clock that organises bodily activities over a 24-hour period contributes to normal variations in blood pressure and heart function over the course of the day.In most healthy humans, blood pressure dips at night. People who do not experience this temporary drop, called "non-dippers," are more likely to develop heart disease.Earlier, research has shown that male mice that are missing one of the four clock genes (PER1) become non-dippers and have a higher risk for heart and kidney disease.A research team ...
Majority of stroke survivors in good mental health: Study
A vast majority of stroke survivors are in optimal mental health despite the impact of their stroke, a recent study suggests."Many research studies, including my own earlier publications, have focused on post-stroke depression and suicidal thoughts. This is a paradigm shift to examine stroke survivors who are mentally flourishing," said Esme Fuller-Thomson, lead author of the study.The article was published online today in the Journal of Aging and Health."Our definition of 'complete mental health' sets a very high bar, requiring that respondents were happy and/or satisfied with their life on an almost daily basis and that they were free of suicidal thoughts, substance dependence, depression and anxiety disorder for the past year," Fuller-Thomson added.This study shed new light on factors associated with complete mental health among stroke survivors. Having a confidant and being free of chronic pain were important predictors. In contrast, a history of childhood maltreatment and a ...
Eating breakfast can lower risk of type 2 diabetes
We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now a new research shows why it is so important to eat healthy early in the morning.German researchers conducted a review of existing studies and concluded that even skipping breakfast occasionally is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.The research was published in The Journal of Nutrition.The researchers looked at data from more than 96,000 people, spanning 6 separate studies and found that skipping breakfast once a week is associate with a 6 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.The researchers found that the number rose from there, with skipping breakfast 4 or 5 times per week leading to an increased risk of 55 per cent.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 to 95 per cent of the 30 million people in the US living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.While type 1 diabetes is less common and generally diagnosed early in life, type 2 diabetes typically ...
Landmark project headed by Indian American to study blood clots
A team led by an Indian American researcher has received a grant for studying thrombosis -- a life threatening condition of blood clots being formed in the veins and arteries.
New single-dose Ebola drug treatment developed
Scientists have developed an experimental drug that in one dose successfully protected nonhuman primates against a lethal infection of all strains of the deadly Ebola virus. Thomas Geisbert from The University of Texas Medical Branch in the US said that previous therapeutics typically were of the "one bug, one drug" variety. However, because of the unpredictable nature and variety of the Ebola virus, scientists have been seeking a way to protect against different strains of the virus. "Our experimental drug can protect against all forms of Ebola known to harm people, suggesting that it will continue to protect people if the Ebola viruses evolve over time," said Geisbert. The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, found that a two-antibody cocktail called MBP134 could fully protect nonhuman primates and ferrets against lethal Ebola virus infections caused by the Bundibugyo and Sudan strain as well as the deadliest Zaire strain that caused the 2013-16 epidemic in West .
North Sikkim: Army rescues over 150 stranded tourists amidst heavy snowfall
Indian Army on Wednesday rescued over 150 stranded tourists amidst heavy snowfall in North Sikkim.The army had to intervene after unprecedented snowfall in a span of two hours cut off the popular tourist destinations in Lachung Valley, rendering the tourists helplessThe stranded tourists were provided with food, shelter and medical care at the army camp, remarked Col SJ Tiwari."One lady with fractured hand was given immediate medical care amongst many others who complained of dizziness, breathlessness and other high altitude related symptoms", informed the Army in a press release.On 28 December 2018, Indian Army had evacuated over 3000 stranded tourists from Natula area in a major rescue operation carried out in Sikkim.
Pfizer to shut two manufacturing plants in India
(Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday it was shutting down two manufacturing plants in India that make generic injectables like penicillin in response to falling demand.
Victims of J&J faulty hip implants seek review of proposed compensation formula
Victims of the faulty hip implants made by the Johnson and Johnson subsidiary DePuy International Wednesday met the expert committee formed by the Centre, which has devised the compensation formula for them, for the first time and demanded a review of the plan citing various shortcomings. The patients and members of the Hip Implant Patients Support Group (HIPS), who have come here from across the country, also demanded that the compensation be accompanied with prosecution and accountability of Johnson and Johnson. Meanwhile, representatives of the Johnson and Johnson also met with the central committee headed by Dr R K Arya during the day. The compensation formula which was approved in November last year had drawn ire from the patients and their family members, who asked the Union Health Ministry to involve them in the entire process so that they receive a "fair" compensation. The meeting has come after months of letters and demands by the HIPS that the government meet them and ...
J&J faulty hip implant victims meet expert committee, discuss compensation
Around 40 patients affected by alleged faulty Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) hip implants of Johnosn and Johnson met the five-member Central Expert Committee (CEC) on Wednesday to help formulate a compensation mechanism.
Namibia suspends meat imports from South Africa over foot and mouth disease
WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia has suspended meat imports from South Africa due to the outbreak of the highly contagious foot and mouth disease, state broadcaster, NBC, said on Wednesday.
HC dismisses pleas against Centre's ban on anti-diabetic FDC medicines
The Delhi High Court has rejected a batch of pleas challenging the Centre's notification banning manufacture and sale of fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs used for treatment of Type-II diabetes. Justice Vibhu Bakhru said there was no ground to interfere with the central government's September 7, 2018, notification and dismissed the petitions filed by eight pharma companies. The Centre had banned the FDCs of formulation of Metformin, Pioglitazone and Glimepiride of varying compositions. These FDCs are used for treatment of Type-II diabetes mellitus and to improve the glycemic control as an adjunct to diet and exercise. The pharma firms had challenged the Centre's September 7, 2018 notification banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of 328 FDC drugs. FDCs are two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage form. The firms on whose pleas the order was passed are Unison Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, Alkem Laboratories Ltd, East West Pharma, Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, .
Ketogenic diet can help reduce epileptic seizures
Besides helping lose weight and improve their overall health, consuming a ketogenic diet -- which is high fat, low protein and low carbohydrates -- can help reduce seizures caused by epilepsy, finds a recent study on rats.