Page 298 - Health Medical Pharma
Home remedies for flawless skin
Using home remedies is one of the best and most affordable ways of getting flawless skin as you can find most ingredients in your kitchen, suggest experts.
FDA halts imports from China's Huahai after heart drug recall
SHANGHAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it will no longer allow imports of drug ingredients or medicines made with ingredients produced by China's Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, after a recall of one of its drugs that contained a probable carcinogen.
WHO launches initiative to reduce harmful use of alcohol
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday released SAFER, a new initiative and technical package outlining the five high-impact strategies that can help governments reduce the harmful use of alcohol and related health, social and economic consequences. SAFER is the newest WHO-led roadmap to support governments in taking practical steps to accelerate progress on health, beat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through addressing the harmful use of alcohol, and achieve development targets. "We are proud to introduce SAFER a package of proven interventions to reduce the harms caused by alcohol, and a new partnership to catalyze global action," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.
Counterfeit drugs major issue, putting patients at higher risk: Kant
The sale of fake and counterfeit drugs is a major issue as they are putting patients at higher risk, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Friday. The Niti Aayog CEO was speaking after signing an agreement with Oracle, Apollo Hospitals and Strides Pharma Sciences to fight battle against fake drug distribution. According to a recent estimate, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world in volume, accounting for 10 per cent of the world's production. A recent report by the World Health Organization estimates 20 per cent of all drugs sold in India are fake. Also, as the largest producer of generic drugs in the world, India is reported to be the source of 35 percent of all counterfeit drugs sold worldwide. Speaking at the same event, Oracle India regional managing director Shailender Kumar said with blockchain, every movement of the drug through its supply chain is recorded. Kumar further said blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) can play a significant role in ...
NITI Aayog, Oracle join hands against counterfeit drugs in India
In a bid to battle the issue of counterfeit drugs in India, NITI Aayog on Friday joined hands with Cloud major Oracle, Apollo Hospitals and global pharmaceutical manufacturer Strides Pharma Sciences to pilot a real drug supply chain, using Blockchain decentralised ledger and Internet of Things (IoT) software.
Hospital privacy curtains may harbour dangerous germs: Study
Privacy curtains in hospitals can become breeding grounds for resistant bacteria, posing a threat to patient safety, according to a study. The research, published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), tracked the contamination rate of ten freshly laundered privacy curtains in the Regional Burns/Plastics Unit of the Health Services Center in Winnipeg, Canada. While the curtains had minimal contamination when they were first hung, the curtains that were hung in patient rooms became increasingly contaminated over time, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) said in a statement. By day 14, 87.5 per cent of the curtains tested positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the study found. In contrast, control curtains that were not placed in patient rooms stayed clean the entire 21 days, it found. None of the rooms where the curtains were placed were ...
The glow of kindness!
The glow of kindness is real- even if it has nothing in it for you.Psychologists at the University of Sussex have confirmed the same by undertaking a major analysis of existing research showing the brain scans relating to over 1000 people making kind decisions.For the first time, they split the analysis between what happens in the brain when people act out of genuine altruism - where there's nothing in it for them - and when they act with strategic kindness - when there is something to be gained as a consequence.Many individual studies have hinted that generosity activates the reward network of the brain but this new study from Sussex is the first that brought these studies together, and then split the results into two types of kindness - altruistic and strategic.The Sussex scientists found that reward areas of the brain are more active - i.e. use up more oxygen - when people act with strategic kindness when there is an opportunity for others to return the favour.But they also found ..
Novo Nordisk to cut 250 jobs in the United States
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Novo Nordisk will cut around 250 jobs in the United States, a spokesman told Reuters on Friday, adding the drugmaker would also hire an as-yet undetermined number of staff to new positions.
Benefits of using aloe vera in personal, skin care products
Aloe vera has been widely used for centuries in traditional and herbal medicine for its innumerable skin soothing benefits. The plant is a skin power-food and finds a special place in a plenty of personal care products because of its qualities. And why not? After all, this magic ingredient is used in abundance for its multiple benefits.
Doctors, engineers innovate for low-cost healthcare at
The Biomedical Engineering and Technology incubation Center (BETiC) at IIT-Bombay Friday kickstarted a Medical Device Innovation Camp (MEDIC) to enable doctors and engineers innovate for low-cost healthcare. This year, MEDIC has brought together 60 participants from across the country, including doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, managers and teachers to brainstorm and develop novel solutions for 15 unmet clinical needs curated from different hospitals. Over a five-day period from September 28 to October 2, these participants will form inter-disciplinary teams, brainstorm ideas, develop proof-of-concept, and demonstrate to an eminent panel of senior doctors as jury. Padma Vibhushan Dr Anil Kakodkar, scientist and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, while addressing the event said individual research alone rarely nurtures an innovation environment. "However, the MEDIC formula of group research is extremely important," he said, adding, "It is only ...
Kidney disease biomarker may indicate COPD risk
Researchers have found that a commonly used biomarker of kidney disease may also indicate lung problems, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Newborn contracts HIV infection from father: Study
In a rare case, researchers have found that a newborn baby contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from his father after coming into contact with the fluid leaking from a lesion on his skin. Diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in the four-year old child of an HIV-negative mother led to a forensic analysis to determine the source of the infection and try to date the transmission of the virus. Based on comparative analysis of genetic, phylogenetic, and serologic data from the father and the son, the researchers from the University of Lisbon in Portugal and colleagues concluded that the virus was accidentally transmitted to the son during the first days of the child's life. Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships, while serology is the study or diagnostic examination of blood serum. During this time, the father was being treated for infection with varicella-zooster virus (chicken pox) and syphilis when he developed large vesicles all over his body that profusely leaked ...
Indrani Mukerjea hospitalised after complaint of low blood pressure
Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani Mukerjea was Friday shifted to the state-run J J Hospital here from the Byculla jail after complaining of low blood pressure, hospital authorities said. Indrani, 45, complained of headache and hypotension (low blood pressure), Dr Wiqar Shaikh of the hospital, said after examining her. She was brought to the Medicine OPD unit around noon, Medical Superintendent Dr Sanjay Surase said. "After initial treatment, she was admitted to the hospital's cardiac care unit in view of hypotension with nuerovascular problem," he said. This is her second hospital visit in a span of five days. On Monday, she had complained of restlessness, headache and double vision, Surase said. The former media executive was also hospitalised for treatment of suspected drug overdose in April. Mukerjea is accused of killing her daughter Sheena (24) with the help of others in a car in April 2012. Financial dispute was one of the reasons behind the killing, according to the ...
Newborn son contracts HIV infection from father: Study
In an unusual case, researchers have reported how a newborn baby of an HIV-negative mother got the infection from his father who was also suffering from chicken pox.
Fewer daylight hours in pregnancy may cause depression: Study
Women who receive fewer daylight hours during late pregnancy may have a greater risk of developing depression once their babies are born, a study led by an Indian-origin scientist has found. The results, published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, are consistent with what is known about the relationship between exposure to natural light and depression among adults in the general population. The findings by Deepika Goyal of San Jose State University in the US and her colleagues could lead clinicians to encourage at-risk women to increase their exposure to natural daylight and vitamin D. Researchers analysed available information from 293 women who participated in one of two randomised controlled clinical trials about sleep before and after pregnancy. The participants were all first-time mothers from the US state of California. Data included the amount of daylight during the final trimester of their pregnancy, along with information about known risk factors such as a history of ...
Three new genes associated with chronic back pain identified
Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have identified three novel genetic variants associated with chronic back pain that may help point toward avenues for the eventual development of new therapies.
Global Rotavirus vaccine options expand with WHO prequalification of new vaccine from India
PATH welcomes the World Health Organization's (WHO's) prequalification of the thermostable rotavirus vaccine, ROTASIIL®, manufactured by Serum Institute of India.The vaccine, which prevents severe rotavirus-induced diarrhea in infants, provides an innovative and affordable option to the global market as it is the first rotavirus vaccine that does not require constant refrigeration and will help meet the critical public health goal of improving vaccine supply worldwide.Achieving WHO prequalification means that ROTASIIL will now be available for procurement by United Nations agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for use in low- and middle-income countries. This will help accelerate availability of the vaccine in countries experiencing the highest burden of rotavirus-induced diarrhea by providing a practical and affordable option for vaccine introduction.Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrheal disease in children worldwide, and vaccination is the best way to prevent ...
Fewer daylight hours during pregnancy linked to postnatal depression
Fewer daylight hours during the third trimester of pregnancy may add to a woman's risk of developing postpartum depression once the baby is born, suggests new research.
More exposure to daylight can fight postpartum depression
Pregnancy and childbirth is a beautiful experience, but it leaves many women with postpartum depression.A recent study suggests that women in late pregnancy during darker months of the year may have a greater risk of developing postpartum depression once their babies are born.This is consistent with what is known about the relationship between exposure to natural light and depression among adults in the general population. The study suggests the need to increase at-risk women to increase their exposure to natural daylight and vitamin D.Although reduced exposure to natural light has been associated with depression among adults in the general population, there is not yet a consensus about whether light exposure or seasonality influences the development of depression during and after pregnancy.In this study, researchers analysed available information from 293 women who participated in one of two randomised controlled clinical trials about sleep before and after pregnancy. The ...
WHO underestimated spread of polio virus, unlikely world can be polio-free before 2021: Thomas Abraham (IANS Interview)
Reporting from the frontlines of the war against polio and drawing on detailed interviews with key players, Thomas Abraham has chronicled "the mind-boggling story" of the polio campaign in "Polio: The Odyssey of Eradication". He has asserted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) underestimated the spread of the poliovirus, and according to his findings, it is unlikely that the world can be polio-free before 2021.