Page 310 - Health Medical Pharma

UK rejects adult Novartis CAR-T therapy, after 'yes' in kids

LONDON (Reuters) - Health authorities in England have rejected a pricey CAR-T cell therapy from Novartis for adults with blood cancer, two weeks after endorsing its use in children and young people.

Squats, push ups can keep your kids fit

Encouraging young people to practice strength-based exercises -- such as squats, push ups and lunges -- could help tackle child obesity, a study has found. Taking part in exercises that cause muscles to contract, and strengthen muscles and bones, was found to reduce children's body fat percentage. The findings also suggests an increase in muscle mass -- gained from strength-based exercises -- could help boost children's metabolism and energy levels. The effects were small but meaningful, prompting calls for further research to investigate how resistance training could treat and prevent the growing issue of child obesity. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and University of Dundee in the UK examined the findings from a number of studies that explored effects of resistance training on body weight for children aged nine to 18 years. They found that resistance training decreased body fat, but had no overall effect on other measures, including lean muscle mass, body mass index and .

Brain immune cells play significant role in schizophrenia: Study

People with schizophrenia have greater amounts of immune cells in their brains, scientists have found, paving the way for new therapies to treat the disorder. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, has the potential to transform global schizophrenia research and open new avenues for developing targeted immune cell therapies?. No single cause of schizophrenia has been identified, and this has prevented the development of a cure. The current treatments for schizophrenia are designed to suppress symptoms rather than target underlying causes of the disorder. These drugs only partially relieve symptoms and can produce unwanted side effects. Most scientists have had a long held belief that immune cells were independent from the brain pathology in psychotic illnesses, said Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert, from University of New South Wales in Australia. "We challenged this assumption that immune cells were independent of the brain in psychiatric illness and made an exciting ...

Squats, push ups can help your kids to stay fit

Cycling or evening park time is absolutely fine to see your children stay fit but encouraging them to do strength-based exercises such as squats, push ups and lunges can help them shed weight faster, reveals a most extensive review of resistance training's impact on young people.

Immune cells in brain play significant role in schizophrenia: Study

Researchers have identified that some people with schizophrenia have greater amounts of immune cells in their brains, a finding that could open the doors to new treatments and therapies.

Digital games can help heart patients exercise more

Digital games can effectively help people engage in more physical exercise and could be used to prevent or manage heart diseases, according to scientists including one of Indian origin. The research, by Kavita Radhakrishnan from University of Texas in the US and colleagues, found that the use of digital games improved exercise capacity and energy expenditure significantly. Average adherence rates for the game interventions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) self-management ranged from 70 to 100 per cent across all studies, and they were enjoyed by a majority of participants in studies that assessed perceptions of the interventions. However, the use of digital games did not affect quality of life, self-efficacy, anxiety, or depression, according to the study published in the Games for Health Journal. The researchers reviewed recent research evidence on game interventions for CVD-related self-management behaviours in patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease, heart failure, ...

Obesity, vitamin D deficiency raises breast cancer risk

Obesity coupled with vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women may pose a significant risk of breast cancer -- the most common and leading cause of death in women, finds a study.

Focus: AstraZeneca plots China robot offensive to counter price cuts

WUXI, China/LONDON (Reuters) - With smart cancer diagnostics, one-stop-shop diabetes kits and AI systems to improve ambulance pick-ups for patients with chest pain, AstraZeneca aims to move from simply supplying drugs to become a broad healthcare provider in China.

Kejriwal wishes Maken speedy recovery

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wished for the speedy recovery of ailing state Congress President Ajay Maken.

Yogurt products may contain more sugar than soft drinks

Yogurt products -- especially those marketed to children -- may contain more sugar than soft drinks, putting kids at risk of obesity and tooth decay, a study warns. Yogurt and other fermented dairy products are known to aid digestive and overall health. A good source of 'friendly' bacteria, they also contain protein, calcium, iodine and vitamin B. Researchers from University of Leeds and University of Surrey in the UK assessed the nutrient content of almost 900 yogurts and yogurt products, which were available from five major UK online supermarket chains in October/November 2016. Between them, these chains account for 75 per cent of the market share. All the products were grouped into eight categories: children's, which included fromage frais; dairy alternatives, such as soy; desserts; drinks; flavoured; fruit; natural/Greek; and organic. Low fat and low sugar were classified according to European Union regulations, currently used for the front of pack food traffic light labelling ...

Vitamin D may reduce cancer risk, breast cancer mortality

Apart from building healthy bones, vitamin D also may reduce cancer risk as well as breast cancer mortality, especially in women with a lower body mass index.Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide and is the leading cause of death from cancer in women. Reproductive risk factors such as early onset of puberty, late menopause, later age at first pregnancy, never having been pregnant, obesity, and a family history have all been shown to be associated with breast cancer development.The role of vitamin D concentration in the development of breast cancer, however, continues to be debated.Researchers involved in the study concluded that postmenopausal women had an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency at the time of their breast cancer diagnoses, associated with higher rates of obesity than women of the same age group without cancer.Similar studies also have previously demonstrated a relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer mortality. Women in the highest ...

Our brains wired to be lazy: Study

Feeling too lazy to hit the gym? Blame your brain, say scientists who found that it is naturally wired to prefer lying on the couch. For decades, society has encouraged people to be more physically active, yet statistics show that despite our best intentions, we are actually becoming less active. Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada studied brain connections to understand this "exercise paradox". "Conserving energy has been essential for humans' survival, as it allowed us to be more efficient in searching for food and shelter, competing for sexual partners, and avoiding predators," said Matthieu Boisgontier, a postdoctoral researcher in UBC. "The failure of public policies to counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity may be due to brain processes that have been developed and reinforced across evolution," said Boisgontier, senior author of the study published in the journal Neuropsychologia. For the study, researchers recruited young adults, sat them

Correlation between blood flow and body position

For the first time, alterations in capillary blood flow around the face caused by body position change have been detected by researchers through the use of imaging photoplethysmography.Using this method, scientists can examine blood vessels located in the carotid system in order to investigate the cerebral blood flow response to various stimuli in health and disease.The technique of imaging photoplethysmography is among the most popular ones. This optical method allows researchers to detect both the velocity of the pulse wave moving from the heart to tissues and amplitude of blood pulsations in different areas of the body.Using imaging photoplethysmography, researchers from the ITMO University, in collaboration with colleagues from the Almazov National Medical Research Centre, managed to find out that pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the carotid area changes in response to body position change.It is not only hydrostatic pressure difference that affects the velocity, but also the response .

First gut bacteria may fight chronic diseases better

First gut bacteria may have a lasting effect on the ability to fight chronic diseases, according to a new study.The new research shows that the first bacteria introduced into the gut has a lasting impact allowing science to adjust microbiomes to help ward off serious chronic diseases.Findings by U of A microbial ecologist Jens Walter and his colleagues suggest differences in our microbial makeup likely depend on when we acquire our first microorganisms after birth and the order they arrive in our gut has a lasting impact on how the microbiome looks when we grow up."The discovery sheds new light on how these microbiomes, which are as personal as fingerprints, establish themselves and what drives their unique nature. That's key to figuring out how to change our microbiomes for the better," said Walter.In the study, researchers introduced distinct microbial communities, collected one at a time, from adult mice into the gastrointestinal tracts of young, genetically identical mice. The ...

Father's obesity in puberty increases asthma-risk for offspring

Turns out, males who have considerable weight gain between childhood and puberty, double the risk of having asthma as an adult, and for their future offspring.An international EU-study (ALEC), including researchers from the Centre for International Health at the University of Bergen, have found that the period between the age of eight and puberty is particularly important for lung health later in life."If one gains a lot of weight during this period, it doubles the risk of having asthma later in life, for both sexes, but for the boys, the risk also doubles for his future offspring," said researcher Marianne Lønnebotn.The researchers analyzed questionnaire data from 3,018 adult offspring (age 18-50) and their 2,153 fathers (age 39-66) participating in the RHINESSA/RHINE generation study in 10 ECRHS centers in North Europe, Spain, and Australia."There is a lot going on in the body between childhood and adult. All the organs are developing. Being overweight may lead to an overall ...

Panel to decide compensation for faulty hip implants patients holds first meeting

The central expert committee formed by the Health Ministry to decide compensation for patients affected by faulty hip implants of Johnson and Johnson held its first meeting on Tuesday. An expert panel, constituted earlier by the ministry to investigate complaints about faulty articular surface replacement (ASR) hip implant devices, said in its report that the pharma giant "suppressed" facts on the harm of surgeries afterwards which was conducted on patients in India using the "faulty" systems. The Centre constituted the five-member expert committee to determine the quantum of compensation to be given to patients who have "faulty" hip implants, manufactured by DePuy International, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. According to sources in the ministry, the terms of reference (ToR) of the committee was discussed in the meeting. The committee is now scheduled to meet next week, sources said. The new five-member central committee is being chaired by R K Arya, director, Sports Injury ...

Nadda praises Jharkhand for reduction in maternal mortality

Union Health Minister J P Nadda Tuesday praised Jharkhand government for being able to reduce the maternal mortality rate in the state. He commended the state government for being able to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 46 points and said the infant mortality rate was also being reduced. "The state has taken several steps in the health sectors and as per the indicators several reforms have taken place in the health sectors," Nadda told a press conference here. The Union Health Minister assured Jharkhad government all support from the Centre in the health sector.

Over 70 people found to be suffering from 'mystery fever' in

More than 70 people belonging to a village here were found to be suffering from a 'mystery fever,' officials said Tuesday. A team of doctors from Puducherry are treating those affected in Pillayarkuppampet village. Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said in a release those who could be treated locally were taken care of immediately while others were rushed to the government general hospital. Those affected complained of fever, he said. Kandasamy, who is away in Delhi, asked the Health department to rush immediate help to the patients. The patients were showing improvement in their condition, an official said.

Add Tulasi to your diet to boost health: Expert

Integrating Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) to your diet may not only help you look good but can also boost your physical and mental health, says an Ayurveda expert.

Anemia still a challenge, needs attention: Choubey

Anemia is still a challenge which needs attention, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said Tuesday and stressed on the need for creating a people's movement to ensure proper nutrition for every newborn in the country for their survival and healthy development. Highlighting the achievements of the Union Health Ministry, he said India has taken huge strides in reducing maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and achieving UN's millennium development goals. The Union Minister of State for Health asserted that with these initiatives, India will be address the burden of anemia and undernutrition among children in the country. "With an average prevalence of 40 per cent across all age groups, anemia still is a challenge which needs attention," he said while making an appeal to create a 'Jan Andolan' for nutrition and contribute to this hard work of ensuring survival and healthy development of the country's every newborn. He said this after inaugurating a two-day National Dissemination Workshop on ..