Page 214 - Health Medical Pharma

Better care, stronger laws required to save 30 mn babies on brink of death: Report

Nearly 30 million babies are born prematurely or too small or become sick, requiring specialised care to survive beyond the first month of life, according to a new report by a global coalition that includes the UNICEF and the World Health Organisation. "When it comes to babies and their mothers, the right care at the right time in the right place can make all the difference," said Omar Abdi, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. "Yet," he continued, "millions of small and sick babies and women are dying every year because they simply do not receive the quality care that is their right, and our collective responsibility." The report 'Survive and Thrive: Transforming care for every small and sick newborn', finds that babies born prematurely or suffering brain injury during childbirth, severe bacterial infection or jaundice, risk death and disability. Furthermore, the financial and psychological toll on their families can affect their cognitive, linguistic and emotional development. "For ...

Heart attack risks higher on Christmas eve: Study

All set to ring in Christmas eve? According to a research, the risk of heart attack peaks at around Christmas eve, particularly for older and sicker people, and it is most likely due to heightened emotional stress.

UK considers religious beliefs to attract more Indian-origin organ donors

The UK's state-funded health service on Thursday announced a new option added on to the country's organ donation register to take a potential donor's faith and religious beliefs into account. The National Health Service (NHS) said the change was being brought in after it emerged that the main barrier to organ donation among people from South Asian backgrounds is the belief that it is against their culture or religion. "The faith declaration is a positive step in ensuring that faith is recognised within the context of organ donation," said Gurch Randhawa, Indian-origin Professor of Diversity in Public Health, and Director of the Institute for Health Research. "It will enable NHS staff speak to your family about how organ donation can go ahead in line with your faith or beliefs; the specialist nurse will raise this when they approach relatives about donation," said the author of the 'Faith Engagement and Organ Donation Action Plan'. Following a consultation, the NHS found a particular ..

Sanofi loses Lantus patent claims against Mylan

(Reuters) - U.S. generics drugmaker Mylan N.V. said on Thursday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected French pharma company Sanofi's patent infringement claims related to two formulations of its blockbuster insulin drug Lantus.

Can a saliva test advance Alzheimer's disease diagnosis?

Scientists have identified biomarkers that can help in early detection of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in saliva samples.

FDA asks Maganlal Chikki to suspend production, sale

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slapped a notice on Lonavla-based chikki manufacturer Maganlal Chikki, asking it to stop the production for alleged violation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) at its plants. Lonavla in Pune district is a hub of production of chikki, a popular confection mainly made from groundnut. An FDA official said Thursday that raids at Maganlal Chikki's plants found that the company was not complying with food safety norms. "We found the company neither has its own laboratory to test the food items nor was it getting the products tested at NABL, a lab approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)," said FDA joint commissioner Suresh Deshmukh. The company also did not have an expert person for supervising the production, he claimed. "It was also found that conditions at the plant were unhygienic, so we served them a notice to stop the production and sale of food items," he said. Until the ...

Army Chief warns soldiers who feign disability citing high BP, diabetes to avoid operational deployment

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that the force cannot allow disability to become a reason to avoid operational deployment and duty at the cost of those who sacrifice themselves for the nation. Speaking at an event, the Army chief criticised lack of enthusiasm among certain soldiers and warned those who feign disability by citing ailments like diabetes and hyper tension to avoid operational duties and to earn extra money."What I see is that some officers and jawans cannot face pressure, stress and start saying that due to high blood pressure or diabetes they have become disabled, hence, they cannot be deployed in difficult and interior locations because they have high blood pressure, diabetes and they are suffering from hyper tension. These are those officers who are physically and mentally weak who cannot withstand the stress and pressures in service. I want to warn them that if you call yourself disabled that way then you should be ashamed of yourself after ...

Probiotics might help in treating bipolar disorder

A probiotic supplement may help reduce inflammation of the gut, which is known to exacerbate bipolar disorder as well as other psychiatric mood disorders, say researchers.

Coke can maker Ball Corp to sell China packaging facilities

(Reuters) - Soda can maker Ball Corp said on Thursday it would sell its beverage packaging facilities in China for about $225 million.

Need for collaborative, impactful pvt sector investment to support access to quality MNCH medicines

27.1% of maternal mortality deaths are caused by haemorrhage, and of these, 19.7% are due to postpartum haemorrhage. Maternal death is preventable in almost all cases, and according to the UN Commission on Life-saving Commodities, 2015, it makes maternal mortality an injustice that should not be tolerated given in the current day and age.Low access to quality, effective medicines across low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is one of the key causes of preventable maternal, infant and child deaths.Concept Foundation - an NGO working to improve access to quality reproductive and maternal health medicines in lower income countries - organized 'The Quality of Life-saving Medicines - A New Investment Strategy', a side-event to the PMNCH Partners' Forum in the capital today.It was a high-level panel discussion that sought to explore why the private sector, investors and philanthropists of LMICs are yet to play a significant role in action on quality of maternal, newborn and child health ..

Nearly 30 mn sick, premature newborns require treatment every year

Nearly 30 million babies are born too soon, too small or become sick every year and need specialised care to survive, according to a new report released on Thursday by a global coalition that includes Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Stethoscopes loaded with infectious bacteria: Study

Stethoscopes carried by healthcare practitioners are loaded with diverse bacteria, including some that can cause infections, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, also reviewed the effectiveness of cleaning methods. It found a standardised approach to be superior for removing bacteria compared with various approaches employed by health care practitioners. "This study underscores the importance of adhering to rigorous infection control procedures," said Ronald Collman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. Researchers used molecular sequencing to develop a complete picture of bacteria on stethoscopes in use in an intensive care unit (ICU). This included 20 traditional reusable stethoscopes being carried by physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists, 20 single-patient-use disposable stethoscopes used in patient rooms, and 10 unused single-use disposable stethoscopes as a control. The analysis ...

ITA inks pact with Chinese body to raise exports

The Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Wednesday said it had signed an MoU with China Tea Marketing Association for lifting the volume of black tea exports from here. ITA Chairman Vivek Goenka said India exported 13 mkgs of black tea to China last year. "This year, the target is 15 mkgs," he told reporters here. China sources black tea from India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The country imports around 30 mkgs of black tea, he said. Wang Qing, president of the Chinese body, said China was a great consumer of black tea for health benefits.

Lupin gets USFDA nod for multiple sclerosis drug

Drug maker Lupin Thursday said it has received a tentative approval from the US health regulator to market Dimethyl Fumarate delayed release capsules used to treat multiple sclerosis. The drug is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. The company has received the tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market a generic version of Biogen Inc's Tecfidera capsules in strengths of 120 mg and 240 mg, Lupin said in a statement. Tecfidera capsules had annual sales of around USD 3,545.4 million in the US. Lupin shares Thursday ended 2.97 per cent up at Rs 846.25 on the BSE.

Lesbian, gay adolescents more vulnerable to depression: Lancet

Owing to discrimination and stigma associated with sexual minorities, depressive symptoms are more common among those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, not exclusively heterosexual, or not sure of their sexual orientation from age 10, and continue throughout their early adulthood, say researchers.

Sexual activity beneficial for older men: Study

While for older women being emotionally close to their partner is associated with higher enjoyment, for older men sexual activity improves well-being, says a study.

Gut microbiome determines efficacy of anti-diabetes drugs: Study

Ever wondered why orally-administered drugs for diabetes work for some people but not for others? According to researchers, including one of Indian origin, bacteria that make up the gut microbiome might be the reason.

Lupin receives USFDA tentative approval for Dimethyl Fumarate Delayed Release Capsules

Lupin's Dimethyl Fumarate Delayed Release Capsules, 120 mg and 240 mg is the generic version of Biogen, Inc's Tecfidera Capsules, 120 mg and 240 mg. It is indicated for the treatment of patients with re lapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

Know how parents protect children from stress

According to a recent research, a strong parental relationship can override the effects of a traumatic childhood and therefore reduce stress.By changing how children perceive the environmental cues, parents can help their them to distinguish between what's safe or dangerous.Researchers from the Emory School of Medicine studied the impact of the caregiver relationship, by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to observe activity in the amygdala, a key area of the brain that processes fear and emotion.The researchers showed children aged 8-13 a series of photos of adult faces that were either neutral or expressing fear. The amygdalae of children who had experienced violence in their lives grew more active in response to both types of faces, which suggested that these children may engage emotional responses even for social cues that are not particularly threatening. In children who hadn't experienced violence, amygdalae were more only active in response to the fearful ...

Probiotics may help patients suffering from bipolar disorder

Probiotics--often thought of as good bacteria-can act as a potential avenue for treatment of bipolar and other psychiatric mood disorders.Currently, the standard treatment for bipolar disorder, a psychiatric condition characterised by dramatic shifts in mood from depression to mania, includes a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medications such as mood stabilisers and antipsychotics.However, a new study from Baltimore's Sheppard Pratt Health System found that a probiotic supplement may reduce inflammation of the gut, which is known to exacerbate bipolar disorder.Probiotic organisms are non-pathogenic bacteria that, when present in the gut flora, are known to improve the overall health of the host.The research demonstrated a strong link between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. This connection, named the 'gut-brain axis' (GBA), allows for crosstalk between the endocrine, immune, and autonomic nervous systems. The GI tract is also home to the ...