Page 285 - Health Medical Pharma
H1N1 has claimed 481 lives since 2009: Karna health dept
A total of 481 people have died in the state due to Influenza A, also known as H1N1 and swine flu, since its outbreak in 2009, according to Karnataka health department statistics. The data, released Monday, reveals that as many as 71,074 samples were collected from across the state in the last 10 years of which 13,097 cases tested positive for H1N1. Last year, the deadly influenza claimed 15 lives, the data reveals. This year, no deaths have been reported though 400 people tested positive for the flu. This year, maximum occurrences took place in Bengaluru, especially in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits (84 cases) followed by Shivamogga with 38 cases and Dakshina Kannada with 24 cases, according to the data. As more number of cases surface during September-December, the health department has given a slew of directions to the district hospitals. "We dont have testing facilities in the districts. We have testing facility only in Bengaluru and Udupi..direction .
Internet obsession among adolescents leading to mental disorder: Experts
Spending excessive time over internet and social media is emerging as a leading cause for mental disorder among adolescents and youths, say medical experts.
K'taka govt asks Centre to include aplastic anaemia in PMJAY
Karnataka Health Minister Shivanand S Patil Tuesday met his Union Health Minister J P Nadda and urged him to include aplastic anaemia in the PMJAY. The aplastic anaemia disease is rare but a serious blood disorder, in which the bone marrow stops making new blood cells. The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was recently launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Jharkhand. In a representation made to the centre, Patil said people suffering from the aplastic anaemia disease are required to undergo bone marrow transplantation or repeated blood transfusion. "Empathising with the patients, I request your good self to include aplastic anaemia in the list of the Ayushman Bharat scheme," he said. With increase in such kind of diseases and growing nuclear family, both the centre and state governments should support the patients, he said. The PMJAY aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10.74 crore poor families for secondary .
Several Gir lions samples test positive for CDV indicating active disease transmission: ICMR-NIV
ICMR-NIV asked the government Tuesday to shift healthy lions from Gujarat's Gir forest after, it said, fresh samples of the wild cats tested positive for a virus, which had wiped out 30 per cent of lion population in East Africa, indicating "active disease transmission". Since September 12, as many as 23 lions have died in the sanctuary, at least 11 of them due to the CDV and Protozoa infections, according to forest officials. "Specimens were again tested for the Canine Distemper virus (CDV) by using molecular methods i.e. RT-PCR. One or more samples from 21 out of 27 Gir lions have tested positive for CDV. "This indicates active disease transmission among the Gir lions," the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV) said in a statement. The ICMR, New Delhi, is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. ICMR-NIV had received a total of 80 samples of nasal, ocular and rectal swabs from 27 Gir ...
Dr Reddy's launches generic cholesterol lowering drug in US
Drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories Tuesday said it has launched Colesevelam Hydrochloride tablets, used for lowering of cholesterol, in the US market. The company has launched generic Colesevelam Hydrochloride tablets USP in the US market after getting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Dr Reddy's Laboratories said in a BSE filing. The tablets are generic version of Daiichi Sankyo Inc's Welchol tablets, it added. According to the IMS Health data, the Welchol brand and generic had the US sales of around USD 471 million MAT for the most recent 12 months ending in August 2018, Dr Reddy's Laboratories said. Colesevelam Hydrochloride tablets along with diet and exercise, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories closed at Rs 2,446.60 per scrip on the BSE, up 4.60 per cent from its previous close.
Indian-origin medic backs heart attack risk detection test in UK
A senior Indian-origin heart specialist is among experts who conducted a study to conclude that people born with an increased risk of suffering a heart attack can be identified by a cost-effective genetic test. Sir Nilesh Samani, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester and medical director of the British Heart Foundation charity, believes that the Genomic Risk Score (GRS) test could eventually lead to true prevention of heart disease. At the moment, we assess people for their risk of coronary heart disease in their 40s through NHS (National Health Service) health checks. But we know this is imprecise and also that coronary heart disease starts much earlier, several decades before symptoms develop, said Samani, the senior author of the study published in the 'Journal of the American College of Cardiology' this week. Therefore, if we are going to do true prevention, we need to identify those at increased risk much earlier. This study shows that the GRS can now identify ...
Scientists create 'most detailed' map of brain's memory bank
In a bid to better understand the brain region linked to Alzheimer's disease, scientists in the US have created what they believe to be the most detailed atlas yet of the brain's memory bank -- the hippocampus.
Gene editing could treat lethal disease before birth
In a first, scientists have performed prenatal gene editing to prevent a lethal metabolic disorder in animals, offering the potential to treat human congenital diseases before birth. Using both CRISPR-Cas9 and base editor 3 (BE3) gene-editing tools, researchers from University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the US reduced cholesterol levels in healthy mice treated in utero by targeting a gene that regulates those levels. They also used prenatal gene editing to improve liver function and prevent neonatal death in a subgroup of mice that had been engineered with a mutation causing the lethal liver disease hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1). HT1 in humans usually appears during infancy, and it is often treatable with a medicine called nitisinone and a strict diet. However, when treatments fail, patients are at risk of liver failure or liver cancer. Prenatal treatment could open a door to disease prevention, for HT1 and potentially for other congenital .
Army reaches out to Rajouri border hamlets with medicare camp
Army troops reached out to villagers living along Indo-Pak border in Rajouri district with a medicare camp to ameliorate their medical needs, an Army spokesman said Tuesday. Army conducted the medical camp at the border village of Tanda Kangri in Sunderbani sub division in the district, the spokesman said. Tanda Kangri is a border village with a large population of ex-servicemen and migratory population of Bakarwals during the winter season. The aim of the medical camp was to provide basic medical aid to the villagers and Bakarwal at their doorsteps, the spokesman said. Doctors including a lady doctor from the Army were present to provide medical treatment and aid to the patients, he said. The local population and Bakarwals expressed their gratitude to the Army for organizing the medical camp, he added.
Genetic risk factor for erectile dysfunction identified
In a first, researchers have found a specific place in the human genome that raises a person's risk of erectile dysfunction.
Gene editing can help treat congenital disease before birth
In a first, a team of scientists have performed prenatal gene editing to prevent a lethal metabolic disorder in laboratory mice, offering the potential to treat human congenital diseases before birth.
Lupin launches skin ointment in US
Drug firm Lupin Tuesday said it has launched generic Clobetasol Propionate ointment used for treatment of inflammation and itching caused by a number of skin conditions in the US market. The company has launched Clobetasol Propionate ointment USP in the strength of 0.05 per cent. It had earlier received approval for the product from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Lupin said in a statement. The company's product is the generic version of Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc's Temovate ointment in the same strength, it added. As per the IQVIA MAT June 2018 data, Clobetasol Propionate Ointment USP 0.05 per cent had annual sales of around USD 93.4 million in the US, it said. "It is a super-high potency corticosteroid indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses," Lupin added. Shares of Lupin closed at Rs 865.50 per scrip on the BSE, up 2.15 per cent from its previous close.
Nearly 1 million people in Sri Lanka suffer from blindness
Nearly a million people in Sri Lanka suffer from blindness or from conditions that could lead to blindness due to an increase in the number of cataract patients, authorities said on Tuesday.
'New drugs to prevent tuberculosis in the offing'
Researchers have identified a novel regulatory mechanism, which when deactivated, results in the death of tuberculosis pathogen, an advance that could pave the way for new drugs to prevent the life-threatening disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis claimed over 1.3 million lives in 2016, said researchers from the University of Leicester in the UK. The causative agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a highly successful pathogen which can survive and grow in humans for decades, according to the study published in the journal Cell Reports. M tuberculosis is a slow growing bacterium with a very thick and complex cell wall that is resistant to many common antibiotics, requiring the development of new drugs and approaches in order to stop the deadly disease. "M tuberculosis is a nasty pathogen which is very difficult to treat because of its unique biology," said Galina Mukamolova from the University of Leicester. "However, our research ...
Rajasthan: 29 Zika virus positive cases
Rajasthan Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Veenu Gupta on Tuesday confirmed a total 29 positive cases of Zika virus, including three pregnant women.She informed that 150-200 teams are conducting a combing operation and the authorities have surveyed over 6,000 houses in Jaipur to contain the spread of the infection."There are a total of 29 positive cases so far. 150-200 teams are conducting a combing operation. 26,000 houses have been surveyed. All cases of fever have been listed. If there is a need to collect samples, we are collecting that on a large scale," Gupta said at a press conference here.As many as 450 samples have been collected including samples of 160 pregnant women. As per reports, the first case of the virus in the city was confirmed on September 24.Meanwhile, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has assured that everything is under control and there is no need to panic."Our surveillance is very robust, all such cases get detected. We have standard ...
66 Mumbai TB hosp staffers contracted disease in 5 years: RTI
Sixty-six staffers at the Tuberculosis Hospital in Sewri here contracted the disease in the last five years, authorities said in reply to an RTI plea. Of these 66 employees, 17 had died, 39 had got cured and 10 were still undergoing treatment, the reply by Sewri TB Hospital medical superintendent Dr Lalit Anande stated. The reply revealed that, between 2013-2018, 49 labourers, 11 nurses, two doctors, and one lab technician, radiographer, pharmacist and official each had contracted the disease. The reply pointed out that 2013 was the severest year in this connection with 32 staffers contracting tuberculosis and 10 dying from it. Dr Santosh Revankar, Joint Executive Health Officer of the TB Hospital said staffers were subjected to regular check-ups. "They are given a proper diet and in case they unfortunately contract the disease, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) bears the medical expenses and grants them paid leave," he said. Chetan Kothari, who filed the RTI,
4 lakh children vaccinated against Measles & Rubella: Minister
Nearly four lakh children in the age-group of 9 months to 15 years have been vaccinated against Measles and Rubella in Meghalaya, Health Minister A L Hek said Tuesday. The one-month vaccination programme, which was launched in the state on September 24, aims to cover 13 lakh children. "Till date, 3,82,421 children have been covered in the programme including 1,93,855 girls," Hek told media persons here. He said East Jaintia Hills district led the coverage with 65 per cent closely followed by West Jaintia Hills district with 60 per cent coverage. The Health Minister said the campaign was first taken up in schools because the target groups are of school going age and the vaccines will also be available across the state. An outreach session for the non-school going children will also be taken up at a later phase, he said. The MR vaccination was taken across the country with the Centre deciding to eradicate measles and rubella by 2020. Measles is responsible for almost 50,000
Khaleda Zia cannot use left hand: doctor
Bangladesh's jailed former prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia can no longer use her left arm after it was paralysed and bent, her doctor has said. Zia, 73, was last week admitted to a specialised state-run hospital here for proper treatment following a court order as her health deteriorated. Zia was jailed for five years in February after being convicted of corruption involving an orphanage. "She has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for the past 30 years, which has played a role in the paralytic deformity of her left arm. These kinds of problems are rising as her gout is worsening," Dr Abdul Jalil Chowdhury told a press briefing at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital on Monday. The head of the five-member medical board tasked with treating the incarcerated BNP chairperson has said that Zia's left arm has ended up paralysed and bent as she did not take her arthritis medicines properly, Dhaka Tribune quoted the doctor as saying. Chowdhury also said
Officials: Duterte told Cabinet he doesn't have cancer
Philippine officials say President Rodrigo Duterte has told his Cabinet that medical tests show he doesn't have cancer, but he won't be releasing a public report on his health. Interior official Eduardo Ano told reporters Tuesday that Duterte announced his medical test results in a meeting, eliciting applause from Cabinet officials. Two other Cabinet officials made a similar statement. Duterte said for the first time last week that he may have cancer and said he was unsure of his health as he awaited the result of medical tests. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte won't publicly issue a report on his health, saying "he will treat his medical condition as confidential.
West Nile, Zika viruses can cause gut problems
Viruses such as West Nile and Zika that target the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord can also disrupt bowel movement and cause intestinal blockages, a study in mice has found. While studying viruses best known for infecting the brain, researchers at Washington University in the US stumbled upon clues to why some people possibly develop digestive problems seemingly out of the blue. The researchers found that viruses such as West Nile and Zika can kill neurons in the guts of mice, disrupting bowel movement and causing intestinal blockages. Other viruses that infect neurons also may cause the same symptoms, the researchers said. The findings, published in the journal Cell, potentially could explain why some people experience recurrent, unpredictable bouts of abdominal pain and constipation -- and perhaps point to a new strategy for preventing such conditions. "There are a number of people who are otherwise healthy who suddenly develop bowel motility problems, and we don't ...