Page 299 - Health Medical Pharma

'New sugar-powered sensor to detect, prevent diseases'

A team led by an indian-origin scientist has developed an implantable sensor that runs on sugar, and can monitor the body's biological signals to detect, prevent and diagnose diseases. The sensor developed by Subhanshu Gupta, an assistant professor at the Washington University in the US, and colleagues uses a biofuel cell and harvests glucose from body fluids to run. The sensor, described in IEEE Transactions of Circuits and Systems journal, has a unique integration of the biofuel cell with electronics to process physiological and biochemical signals with high sensitivity. Many popular sensors for disease detection are either watches, which need to be recharged, or patches that are worn on the skin, which are superficial and can't be embedded, researchers said. The sensor developed by the team could also remove the need to prick a finger for testing of certain diseases, such as diabetes. "The human body carries a lot of fuel in its bodily fluids through blood glucose or lactate around

Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases: It's time to act (September 29 is World Heart Day)

According to International Diabetes Federation's 'Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease report, in 2015, approximately five million were estimated to have died from diabetes, the majority of these as a result of cardiovascular complications. The report adds that populous countries have the largest absolute number of people dying from CVD, and include China, India and the Russian Federation.

World's first human case of rat disease found in Hong Kong

A Hong Kong man has developed the world's first ever human case of the rat version of the hepatitis E virus, according to new research from one of the city's leading universities. There had previously been no evidence the disease could jump from rats to humans, the University of Hong Kong said Friday, warning the discovery had "major public health significance". "This study conclusively proves for the first time in the world that rat HEV can infect humans to cause clinical infection," the university added. Rat hepatitis E virus is very distantly related to human hepatitis E virus variants, HKU said. The disease was found in a 56-year-old man who persistently produced abnormal liver function tests following a liver transplant. He could have contracted the illness through food infected by rat droppings, researchers said, according to details of the findings reported in the South China Morning Post. The man lived in a housing estate where there were signs of rat infestation outside his ..

UNGA adopts political declaration on non-communicable diseases

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a political declaration to mobilise accelerated efforts in order to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

'About 45% of heart attacks are silent and cause long-term damage'

As per studies, a silent heart attack is often symptomless but the risk of a person dying is the same as that during a symptomatic heart attack. Though silent heart attacks strike men more often than women, the latter are equally at risk.About 45 percent of all heart attacks are silent, according to a research. On World Heart Day, awareness needs to be raised on this condition and that it becomes apparent only during a chance electrogram indicating damage to heart muscles.Silent heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. Statistics indicate that about 25 percent of all heart attacks occur in people below the age of 40 years. The classic symptoms of a silent heart attack such as fatigue or physical discomfort, poor sleep, and age-related ache or pain are often confused as gastric reflux, indigestion, and heartburn.Speaking about this, Dr Suman Bhandari of Fortis Hospital, Noida, said, "The outcome of a silent heart attack is as ...

'Mission Health Ability Clinic' - Physiotherapy Redefined

The country is set to witness a revolutionary approach to Physiotherapy with the inauguration of world's finest, Asia's largest and most advanced Physiotherapy Centre at Science City, Ahmedabad on September 30, 2018."Mission Health Ability Clinic" is a landmark project and a marvel in the field of Physiotherapy, Fitness & Rehabilitation," said Dr. Aalap Shah and Dr. Disha Shah, Founder and Director, of Mission Health, which is India's first chain of Physiotherapy, Fitness and Rehabilitation Centres, where over 220 Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation experts specialized in different fields, are grouped under one roof. This revolutionary approach to Physiotherapy is set to take Gujarat and the nation by storm as these Super Specialized Physiotherapists come from renowned institutes across the country to provide the best treatment using latest technological marvels."As we are set to launch our sixth project, inquiries have begun pouring in from all over the world," said Dr. Aalap Shah, .

Tea planters embark on project of swap mechanism for better cash flow

Amid the current auction scenario of "depressed prices", the tea planters' body has embarked on a pilot project engaging a consultant to carry out trials of a swap mechanism which will enable a producer to maintain a constant cash flow despite price volatility, an official said on Thursday.

Scientists find way to predict cybersickness

Scientists have found a way to predict whether a person is likely to suffer from cybersickness -- a type of motion sickness caused by using virtual reality technology -- which may pave the way for preventing the condition. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada found that they could predict whether an individual will experience by how much they sway in response to a moving visual field. They think that this knowledge will help them to develop counteractions to cybersickness. Cybersickness involves nausea and discomfort that can last for hours after participating in virtual reality (VR) applications, which have become prevalent in gaming, skills training and clinical rehabilitation. "Despite decreased costs and significant benefits offered by VR, a large number of users are unable to use the technology for more than a brief period because it can make them feel sick," Seamas Weech, a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Waterloo. "Our results show that this is ...

Scientists spot what may lead to motion sickness after VR experience

Researchers may now predict who are more likely to feel motion sickness from virtual reality (VR) technology by observing how the individuals sway in response to a moving visual field.

Too much screentime daily may damage kid's brain function

Parents, take note! Limiting your child's recreational screen time to less than two hours a day, and ensuring sufficient sleep and physical activity, can significantly improve their brain function, a study has found. Taken individually, limited screen time and improved sleep were associated with the strongest links to improved cognition, while physical activity may be more important for physical health, according to the study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal. "Behaviours and day-to-day activities contribute to brain and cognitive development in children, and physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep might independently and collectively affect cognition," said Jeremy Walsh, of CHEO Research Institute in Canada. "Evidence suggests that good sleep and physical activity are associated with improved academic performance, while physical activity is also linked to better reaction time, attention, memory, and inhibition," said Walsh. "The link between ...

Keep your heart healthy this World Heart Day with California Walnuts

According to Registrar General of India Report 2016, heart diseases such as blocked artery, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke are the leading cause of death in India. With cardiovascular diseases becoming a serious health concern, the role diet plays is a key factor in decreasing risk.Outcomes from a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that blood biomarkers of plant and seafood-based omega-3s are associated with a modestly lower risk (up to 10 percent) of dying from heart attacks.(1) Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies to better understand how consumption of plant and seafood-based omega-3s are associated with risk of death from a heart attack, coronary heart disease (CHD), and sudden cardiac death.The 19 studies represented more than 45,000 individuals from 16 countries and looked at biomarkers of omega-3s, which, according to the researchers, are a more reliable way to measure the amount of omega-3s consumed than questionnaires that ask about eating ...

Limited screen time good for children's brains

Parents, please take note. If you want your kids to do well in life, limit their screen time to less than two hours, encourage them to do physical activities and to have sufficient sleep, suggests new research.

Virtual reality decodes motion sickness

Using virtual reality (VR) technology, Researchers may now predict who are more likely to feel motion sickness by observing how the individuals sway in response to a moving visual field.

Possible cause for Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury identified

Researchers have identified a new mechanism that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury, hoping that the discovery may lead to effective treatment.

Breastfeeding may reduce stress in babies: Study

Breastfeeding can cause changes in the gene activity of the baby and make them less reactive to stress, a study has found. Researchers from Brown University in the US looked at over 40 full-term, healthy infants and their mothers, one-half of whom breastfed for the first five months and one-half of whom did not. They measured the cortisol stress reactivity in infant saliva using a mother-infant interaction procedure. They also measures DNA methylation -- change in the activity of the DNA segment -- of an important regulatory region of the glucocorticoid receptor gene which regulates development, metabolism, and immune response. The research, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggests that breastfeeding induces genetic changes that reduce stress in babies. "What we found is that maternal care changes the activity of a gene in their infants that regulates the infant's physiological response to stress, specifically the release of the hormone cortisol," said Barry M Lester, from Brown .

Breastfeeding makes babies less reactive to stress: Study

While it's a known fact that there are many physical and mental health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies, according to the latest research, this might be due to genetic changes induced by breastfeeding.Dr Lester, one of the lead researchers said, "What we found is that maternal care changes the activity of a gene in their infants that regulates the infant's physiological response to stress, specifically the release of the hormone cortisol."Lester's team of researchers, looked at more than 40 full-term, healthy infants and their mothers, one-half of whom breastfed for the first five months and one-half of whom did not. They measured the cortisol stress reactivity in infant saliva using a mother-infant interaction procedure and the DNA methylation (changing the activity of the DNA segment without changing its sequence) of an important regulatory region of the glucocorticoid receptor gene which regulates development, metabolism, and immune response."Breastfeeding was ...

Can milk protein ease chemotherapy side effects?

A recent study suggests that milk protein can alleviate chemotherapy side effects.The study suggests that chemotherapy and other cancer therapies can wreak havoc on the taste buds and olfactory senses, depriving recipients of the intricate interplay between taste and smell that is critical to grasping flavours and enjoying foods. Over time, taste and smell abnormalities (TSA) can lead to a loss of appetite and anorexic behaviours, compromising patients' ability to recuperate from the disease.The researchers investigated the feasibility of lactoferrin, a highly bioactive protein found in saliva and milk, as a treatment for TSA.Duncan, one of the lead researchers said, "The underlying molecular mechanisms of TSA are not well-understood. The prevailing symptom described by patients undergoing chemotherapy is a persistent metallic flavour or aftertaste, with or without food intake. This can last for hours, weeks, or even months after the completion of treatments."As a consequence, cancer .

Jaya death probe panel completes examining 100 witnesses

The Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry probing the death of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has completed examining as many as 100 witnesses, with its tenure set to end next month. Besides, as on September 25, 57 witnesses have been cross-examined and 11 more, including Apollo Hospitals doctors, will face questioning Thursday from the counsel for VK Sasikala, an aide of the former AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa. Significantly, Dr K S Sivakumar, the personal physician of Jayalalithaa, has been summoned to appear on September 28 for re-examination. Sivakumar's next appearance will be his fifth and he has been asked by the panel to furnish a list of doctors the late leader consulted between 2014 and 2016 and the medication prescribed and followed by her. Some of those summoned have sought adjournment, including Alok Kumar, a bank manager in Nilgiris district and two more people who are abroad. Apollo Hospitals' radiologist Dr Meera and emergency doctor Thava Pazhani

Healthy lifestyle in childhood ensures balance of gut bacteria

Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits during childhood may promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria later in life.This, according to a recent study, in turn, may contribute to lowering the risks of developing serious long-term conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.The findings indicate that a child's sleeping, eating and fitness habits can influence the balance of bacteria found in their gut as teenagers, a recent study suggests.The gut is home to a highly complex microbial community consisting of trillions of diverse tiny microorganisms, collectively called the microbiota. In a healthy state, these microorganisms work in harmony with the body to help digest food, generate and use energy and promote normal organ and immune function.However, changes in the balance of the gut microbiota have been linked to an increased risk of insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease.Emerging research also suggests a link to obesity, ...

Can using hormonal contraceptives reduce ovarian cancer risk?

According to a recent study, new types of combined oral contraceptives are associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.At least 100 million women worldwide are using hormonal contraception every day. Previous research has shown a reduced risk of ovarian cancer in women who take combined oral contraceptives, but most of the evidence relates to the use of older products, containing higher levels of oestrogen and older progestogens.Under the study, the researchers investigated the influence of newer hormonal contraceptives on overall and specific types of ovarian cancer in women of reproductive age.Using national prescribing and cancer registers, they analysed data of nearly 1.9 million Danish women aged 15-49 years between 1995 and 2014.Women were categorised as never users (no record of being dispensed hormonal contraception), current or recent users (up to one year after stopping use), or former users (more than one year after stopping use) of different hormonal ...