Page 319 - Health Medical Pharma
IIT Delhi students develop cheaper drug for curing snake bites
Students at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here have produced what could be a cheaper and more effective solution for neutralizing the toxic effect of a snake venom. The research has been done in collaboration with San Jose University, US. "Purification of peptides offers unique challenges with respect to obtaining the desired process yield and selectivity. Lethal Toxin-Neutralizing Factor (LTNF) is a peptide that is known to neutralize snake venom. A process for producing highly purified recombinant LTNF has been developed, said Anurag Rathore, one of the researchers. Snakebite has been a neglected disease for decades until the World Health Organization (WHO) included it in the list of tropical neglected diseases in 2009. Researchers at IIT Delhi have developed a process to manufacture LTNF using recombinant DNA technology and has filed for a patent for the same. The product has shown efficacy against rattlesnake and viper venoms and is undergoing further ...
Health Ministry implements HIV, AIDS Act
A crucial legislation for ensuring equal rights to persons affected by HIV and AIDS in getting treatment, admission in educational institutions and jobs has come into force. The Ministry of Health has announced implementation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Act through a gazette notification issued on Monday. The Act, which received Presidential assent on April 20 last year, prohibits discrimination against such persons in accessing healthcare, getting jobs, renting accommodation, and in admission to public and private educational institutions. The moves comes after the Delhi High Court asked the Centre why it has not yet notified the law to prevent discrimination against HIV and AIDS patients despite the statute receiving Presidential assent in April last year. Hearing a PIL that sought immediate notification of the legislation, a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar had asked the health ministry, ...
Microsoft, SRL come together to expand AI network to pathology
Microsoft India and SRL Diagnostics Tuesday said they have joined hands to expand the artificial intelligence (AI) network for healthcare to pathology. The collaboration will help improve the quality of digital pathology for population screening by bringing together Microsoft's Azure and AI innovations along with SRL's expertise in the study of cells and tissues, a joint statement by the companies said. With this addition, Microsoft's AI Network for Healthcare has now expanded to include pathology along with eyecare and cardiology, it added. "Microsoft is committed to empowering both the healthcare industry and patients by using AI to democratise healthcare for all," Microsoft India (R&D) MD Anil Bhansali said. The partnership will assist pathologists by equipping them with technology that will augment their capability, he added. The AI platform that Microsoft will build in collaboration with SRL is expected to create a software environment infused with millions of data points and
Eating healthy diet may help conserve water: Study
Shifting to a healthy diet may not only boost your wellbeing, but also save a lot of precious fresh water, according to a study. The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, found that compared to existing diets, the water required to produce our food could be reduced by between 11 per cent and 35 per cent for healthy diets containing meat. The water required could be reduced by 33 per cent and 55 per cent for healthy pescetarian (fish) diets and 35 per cent and 55 per cent for healthy vegetarian diets, said scientists from the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). They compared these three diet patterns, defined by respective national dietary guidelines, to the current actual food consumption, using available data from more than 43 thousand areas in France, the UK and Germany. The team found that eating more healthily could substantially reduce the water footprint of people's diets, consistent across all the geographical entities analysed in the study. The ...
PM calls for anemia-free India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for anemia-free India and emphasised the need to expedite the pace of reduction in anemia cases by three times every year, instead of current 1 per cent."Anemia is a very big problem. A lot of people in the country are victims of anemia. This disease is caused by lack of elements like iodine and iron. Although the use of iodised salt has increased in the last few years, the cases of anemia are decreasing by just 1 per cent every year. The government has decided that this pace should be tripled under the National Nutrition Mission," Prime Minister Modi said while interacting with Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), ANM and Anganwadi workers via NaMo app."All of you are going to complete this resolution of anemia-free India with all your might. Making India free of anemia means giving life to lakhs of pregnant women and children," he added.The Prime Minister said that the central government has "focussed on aspects relating to ...
Microsoft partners with SRL to expand AI Network to detect cancer
After training its artificial intelligence (AI) system for eyecare and cardiology, Microsoft India on Tuesday announced their partnership with SRL Diagnostics to expand the "AI Network for Healthcare" to pathology to detect cancer.
19 health institutions found locked in J-K's Rajouri
Nineteen health institutes were found locked and 44 officials found absent from their duties during a surprise checking in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said Monday. A spokesperson of the district administration said special teams constituted by District Development Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Asad conducted inspection of various health institutions. He said separate teams inspected 120 institutions including offices of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) besides the Rajouri District Hospital, he said. The teams found 19 health institutes locked and the administration ordered the chief medical officer to submit a report and initiate strict disciplinary action against the staff as well as the monitoring authorities, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the inspection teams found out of 994 health staff in the local institutions, 758 were found present and 44 absent, he said. The administration has decided to seek explanation from the CMO and BMOs whether they have followed the .
Zydus Cadila gets tentative nod from USFDA for diabetes drug
Zydus Cadila has received tentative approval from the US health regulator to market Sitagliptin tablets, indicated for treating diabetes, in the American market. The company has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Sitagliptin tablets in strengths of 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, Zydus Cadila said in a BSE filing. It said the drug will be produced at the group's formulations facility at SEZ, Ahmedabad. The group has more than 217 approvals, and so far filed over 330 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). Shares of Cadila Healthcare, the listed entity of the group, were trading 0.59 per cent lower at Rs 418.30 per scrip on BSE.
Back pain linked to substance abuse in teenagers
Adolescents who experience back pain are more likely to frequently smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and report problems like anxiety and depression.A new study noted that during adolescence, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (pain arising from the bones, joints or muscles) in general, and back pain, in particular, rises steeply. Although often dismissed as trivial and fleeting, adolescent back pain is responsible for substantial health care use, school absence, and interference with day-to-day activities in some children.Researchers used data collected from approximately 6500 teenagers. The proportion of participants reporting smoking, drinking, and missing school rose incrementally with increasing frequency of pain.For example, 14 to 15-year-olds who experienced pain more than once a week were 2-3 times more likely to have had alcohol or smoked in the past month than those who rarely or never had pain. Similarly, students who experienced pain more than once a week were around ...
Body clock key to better asthma treatment: Study
The human body clock could have a significant impact on the way doctors are able to diagnose and treat asthma, according to new research.
Dengue - A continuing global threat
Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue viruses. Each year, an estimated 400 million people globally are infected with the virus; about 100 million get progressively sick and 2.5 percent of those patients die. It is the fastest growing mosquito borne infection in the world.The World health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 40 percent of world's population is at risk of being infected due to environmental conditions and burden of disease; people of all age groups are at risk. Most people who are infected have mild or no symptoms.Dr Mohammed Sakeel of Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, said that mild symptoms of dengue may be confused with other illnesses that cause fever and flu-like symptoms. He stated that the most common symptoms are fever, and one or more of the following:1) Headache2) Eye pain (typically behind the eyes)3) Muscle, joint, or bone pain4) Rashes5) Nausea and vomiting6) Unusual bleeding (nose or gum bleed, ...
Udhampur: 32,634 families registered as 'Ayushman Bharat' beneficiaries
As many as 32,634 families in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district have been registered as beneficiaries of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme.28,700 families from rural parts of Udhampur and 3,934 families from the urban areas have been registered as beneficiaries of the scheme.Speaking to ANI, the chief medical officer of the district, Dr K.C Dogra, said there were two main parts of the scheme; one is the health insurance, which will cover medical expenses up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, and the other being the Health and Wellness Centres."The Government of India will provide up to Rs 5 lakh to each every family per year for medical treatment. The Health and Wellness Centres have been started in two blocks of the district. In Ramnagar block, there are 11 such centres and we have received Rs 7 lakh per centre from the government for upgradation," Dogra said."Apart from medical treatment, we will also make people aware of how to maintain their health and ...
Here's how Zika virus strips immune cells of their identity
A recent study has noted that Zika virus infects the very cells that are supposed to protect the body from infection.Macrophages are immune cells that are supposed to protect the body from infection by viruses and bacteria. Yet Zika virus preferentially infects these cells.In pregnant women, Zika virus can stunt neonatal brain development, leading to babies born with abnormally small heads, a condition known as microcephaly. Adult brain cells may also be vulnerable to the virus.Aaron Carlin, first author of the study said, "We know Zika virus destroys a number of cell types, particularly in the brain, but we don't yet understand how it causes cells to die or malfunction. So this loss of general gene transcription and identity we saw in macrophages could also be crucial when a neural stem cell is trying to develop into a new neuron."The team of researchers developed a method for tagging the Zika virus inside live cells, and a mechanism for sorting tagged (infected) and untagged ...
Lady Gaga talks about lasting effects of rape trauma
American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga still carries the lasting effects of the rape that she suffered when she was 19.Recalling how she first decided to share her story with the world in an effort to ease her pain, Gaga told Vogue that it was almost like she tried to erase the incident from her brain and that she had to face the monster to heal herself.In 2016, the 'poker face' singer revealed that she suffers from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the rape incident. She said that she felt like she was lying to the world because she was feeling so much pain but nobody knew about it. She finally decided to not hide anymore and publically announce that she has PTSD.Gaga also said that she believes that trauma has a brain and it works its way into everything that one does.When asked if she is happy, Gaga replied with a yes and said that she is focusing on the things that she believes in.The 32-year-old will feature on Vogue's October cover.
Lalu suffering from depression: RIMS med report
Incarcerated RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is suffering from depression, director of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) R K Shrivastava said Monday. Doctors attending the former Bihar CM at RIMS have mentioned this in their report, Shrivastava told PTI, adding that depression was also mentioned in the medical discharge slip from AIIMS. Asked about reports that a psychiatrist may look into Prasad's condition, Shrivastava said there is no update as of now. Some media reports have attributed Lalu's deteriorating health to corruption cases affecting his family and also reports of political one-upmanship between his two sons. Prasad has already publicly shown his preference for younger son Tejashwi Yadav as his heir apparent. But elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, a senior minister in the previous grand alliance, has high public standing. Tej Pratap's padyatra (foot march) from Patna to Sitab Diara, the birthplace of socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan, is seen as counter to ...
Euthanasia: HC directs medical panel to examine 9-yr-old boy
The Madras High Court on Monday directed a medical expert committee to examine a nine-year-old boy, whose father had made a plea for his passive euthanasia. The team consisting of three experts was directed by the court to report whether the persistent vegetative state criteria was fulfilled and if there was any scope for the boy's treatment. The court had earlier appointed a three-member independent panel to suggest experts to examine the boy. When the petition came up before a division bench, comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S Baskaran, the panel suggested the names of the experts. They included Dr N Thilothammal, professor of paediatric neurology (retd), Dr T Ravichandran, Director, Institute of Social Paediatrics-Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, and Dr Bala Ramachandran, Chief, Paediatric Critical Care Unit, Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, Chennai. Approving the committee, the bench directed the Director, Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Super ...
Kilpest India announces alliance for setting up Diagnostic Laboratory in Sambia
Based on the experience of Dr. Prof. Subhash Hira and Dr. Prof. Yassa Peirre Yoniene the step down subsidiary will set up a Diagnostic Laboratory in collaboration with Brook Besor University, Lusaka, Zambia where infrastructure and utilities will be provided by the university and equipments and manpower will be provided by 3B Blackbio Biotech India.
Know the essential skincare regimes for your 30's
Aging calls for a new skincare regime, as the needs of our skin changes and evolves as we grow.Skincare regimes adopted in our teens no longer remain relevant in our 20s. Similarly, the products we use and the time we spend on taking care of our skin in our 20s changes in our 30s. Failing to recognise the subtle changes in our skin's needs could leave us baffled when skin problems start emerging despite our best care.When it comes to your skin, knowledge can truly be powerful.Skin expert and co-founder of Epique (manufacturer of skincare products), Divya Mehta, suggested a list of things every woman in her 30s needs to know about her skin -• The miracle of sunscreen: In the 20s, we use a sunblock primarily to avoid sunburn and tanning. But sun damage can also cause fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles to appear prematurely on the skin. That is why, in the 30s, sunscreen should become an important component of the skincare regime. Using sunscreen with SPF appropriate for mature skin ...
'Middle-aged drinkers in UK should have alcohol free days'
Middle-aged drinkers in the UK are being urged to have alcohol-free days as part of a new drive to improve health, the UK's public health agency said Monday. A YouGov poll has found that one in five of UK adults are drinking above the low risk drinking guidelines, Public Health England (PHE) said in a statement. More than two thirds of these say they would find cutting down on their drinking harder to do than one or more other lifestyle changes - improving their diet, exercising more, or reducing their smoking, if they were smokers. PHE and alcohol education charity Drinkaware jointly launched a new campaign 'Drink Free Days' to help people cut down on the amount of alcohol they are regularly drinking. The campaign will be encouraging middle-aged drinkers to use the tactic of taking more days off from drinking as a way of reducing their health risks from alcohol. The more alcohol people drink, the greater their risk of developing a number of serious potentially life limiting health ...
40 Ayurveda hospitals in Rajasthan didn't admit any patient for 5 consecutive years: CAG
As many as 40 Ayurveda hospitals in Rajasthan did not admit any patient for five consecutive years since 2012, while no medical officer was posted in 645 dispensaries, according to a CAG report. Flagging serious lapses in the Department of Ayurveda, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said it incurred total expenditure of Rs 2,655.89 crore during the five years between 2012 and 2017, of which a huge component of up to 95.49 per cent was spent on pay and allowances. The CAG report, which was tabled in the Rajasthan Assembly during the monsoon session last week, said no patient was admitted in 40 hospitals for five consecutive years, in 48 hospitals for four years in a row and in 49 hospitals for three straight years. "Out of 118 district hospitals, no patient was admitted in 60 hospitals during 2012-13, which increased to 79 in 2016-17. In spite of this trend, no review to reduce/relocate the staff was conducted," the report said. Scrutiny of deployment of manpower in healthcare .