Page 365 - Health Medical Pharma

How weight loss can help stop Type-2 diabetes

Losing weight can lead to an early and sustained improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta cells, which can help individuals with Type-2 diabetes to achieve remission, a study has found.

Molecule that helps sperm find egg in marine invertebrates identified

Scientists have identified a key molecule that drives attraction between the sperm and egg cells in marine invertebrates.

Cystic Fibrosis in unborn babies may lead to lower brith weight

Babies born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), an ailment of the lungs and the digetsive system, suffer from a number of complications which includes lower average birth weight, finds a research.According to the reasearch, while babies with CF are often born prematurely, this only accounts for around 40% of the effect on birth weight.This means that the CF mutation could also have an effect on the way babies develop within the womb. These results may be the first step to understanding and improving the health of babies with CF before they are born.The findings further show that babies born to disadvantaged families are likely to have a lower weight at birth, regardless of whether or not they have cystic fibrosis. This indicates that the socio-economic inequalities in outcomes that occur in CF may start in the intrauterine period.Poor nutrition and slow growth are common in babies suffering from CF.Both factors can affect the lung function and survival of the babies in the future.The study ...

Genetic lung disorder may impact growth of babies in womb

Scientists have found that babies with fatal genetic lung infections are more likely to be underweight and at a risk of premature birth.

Vaginal rejuvenating therapies unsafe, warns FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slammed all those devices being marketed for medical procedures like vaginal rejuvenation as "egregious" and causing "harm", a statement said.

Obsession for flawless selfie can affect mental health: Study

Is your teenaged daughter addicted to photo editing applications such as Snapchat to get that flawless look for the perfect selfie? Beware, it can take a toll on her self-esteem and trigger body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), warn researchers, including one of an Indian-origin.

Indian-origin scientist offers hope for malaria prevention

Dr Prajwal Nandekar and other team members conclude that the actin protein is an important factor for the faster movement of malaria-causing parasite

Be safe from UTI this monsoon

Monsoon season surely brings relief from the scorching heat, but this is also the time when many health issues crop up. During the rainy season, the bacteria present in and around our body multiply tremendously.The unwanted growth of bacteria (generally E coli) causes Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It is an infection that can affect any part of your urinary system - your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.Talking about the various symptoms of UTI, Dr. Priti Gupta of First Step IVF Clinic, New Delhi, said, "Urinary tract infection is characterised by fever, nausea, chills, uneasiness and a burning sensation while passing urine. Although both men and women are susceptible to this, women are more prone to this. Women have a smaller urinary tract compared to men."Infection in the urinary tract can have a major impact on the vital organs of human body such as kidney, uterus, liver, bladder, etc. Usually, the infection tends to affect the upper tract impacting the ability to conceive. ...

Eating crickets is good for your guts!

Eating cricket insects can now help support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn reduces inflammation in the body, finds a study."There is a lot of interest right now in edible insects," said a lead researcher Valerie Stull."It's gaining traction in Europe and in the U.S. as a sustainable, environmentally friendly protein source compared to traditional livestock," Stull added.More than 2 billion people around the world regularly consume insects, which are also a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.The researchers were interested in documenting the health effects of eating them for the first time via clinical trial."This study is important because insects represent a novel component in Western diets and their health effects in human populations haven't really been studied," said another researcher, Tiffany Weir."With what we now know about the gut microbiota and its relationship to human health, it's important to establish how a novel food might .

Brain-derived neurotrophic factors reduce cocaine relapse

Cocaine relapse can now be significantly reduced with the help of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) found that Cocaine relapse was significantly reduced in a preclinical model when BDNF is applied to the nucleus accumbens deep in the brain immediately before the cocaine-seeking behavior."We discovered that a very common protein in the brain has an additional significant role in addiction relapse," said a lead researcher Ana-Clara Bobadilla.The nucleus accumbens is a tiny cluster of nerve cells deep in the brain. Although small, this region plays a critical role in reward-seeking behaviors. It signals from other parts of the brain to drive reward-motivated behaviors.The researchers found that BDNF has both a time- and location-dependent beneficial role when administered before a cue-induced relapse event.In the preclinical model of cocaine addiction, rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine while hearing an ...

Selfies, filters may lead to body disorders: Study

Using photo-editing techniques is changing people's perceptions of beauty worldwide, which may affect a person's self-esteem and trigger body disorders, a study has found. With the spread of applications like Snapchat and Facetune, the level of physical "perfection" previously seen only on celebrity or beauty magazines is now all over social media, said researchers from Boston Medical Center in the US. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in appearance, often characterised by people going to great - and at times unhealthy - lengths to hide their imperfections, according to the study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. This can include engaging in repetitive behaviours like skin picking, and visiting dermatologists or plastic surgeons hoping to change their appearance. The disorder affects around two per cent of the population, and is classified on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. The research shows teen girls who manipulated their

10 ways to conceal your tummy

The most common problem that we face as an adult is a bigger tummy problem. Pregnancy and middle age are reasons for bigger tummy. A lot of younger girls also face bigger tummy problem due to periods and bloating so make sure you are opting for right clothes.

Indian-origin prof gets USD 2 million grant to find why lupus is more common in women than men

Indian-origin professor Chandra Mohan and his two colleagues at University of Houston's biomedical engineering, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz, have received USD 2 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to find out why lupus is more common in women than men. The chronic inflammatory disease systemic lupus erythematosus, known as SLE or lupus, is a complex autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat. It is about nine times more common in women than men. Mohan knows just where he is taking the money straight to the bank. Bank1, that is, a critical gene in B-Lymphocytes, immune cells which make the antibodies that cause lupus when they misguidedly attack the body's own cells. "Bank1 exists in men and women, but in women the consequences are more drastic because the Bank1 gene and female hormones work together on the same pathway and make even higher levels of disease-causing auto antibodies," Mohan said. Genetic studies have led to the identification of ...

Three-day conference on oral implantology gets underway

Doctors from several countries around the world have gathered here for a three-day conference starting today that seeks to enhance the awareness and knowledge on the latest innovations and technologies in oral implantology world over, organisers said. The tenth annual conference hosted by Academy of Oral Implantology (AOI) has representations by doctors from the UK, the US, Israel, Austria, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain. Oral implantology is a highly dynamic specialty and has over the years, introduced innumerable modifications and improvements for dental treatment of patients. Dr Saranjit Singh Bhasin, Chairman of AOI, in a statement said: "The vision is to promote latest technologies and encourage younger doctors, in the field of innovation. Experienced professionals will share their work, expertise with the younger crop and this translates into sharing of knowledge from different parts of the globe." Various companies from the medical field will also showcase their advanced

Swachh Bharat Mission can avert up to 3 lakh deaths: WHO

Lauding India's effort towards safe sanitation services, World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said that Swachh Bharat Mission can avert up to 3 lakh deaths due to diarrhea and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) by October 2019.

OPD for Majuli starts functioning at Jorhat Medical College

A separate Out Patient Department (OPD) for the convenience of the people of Majuli island has started functioning at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) from today, a hospital official said. As the people of Majuli have to travel long distance to reach the hospital for advanced medical treatment, the OPD has been made operational for their convenience, JMCH's Public Relations Officer Nilutpol Bhattacharyya told reporters here. At the Majuli counter, the patients from Asia's largest river island need to produce their identity proof like voter ID, ration card, electricity bill or bank pass book at the time of registration. "Following this, a ticket will be issued on payment of Rs 10 for registration so that they can go directly for check ups and laboratory tests on priority basis," Bhattacharyya said. The counter will help the Majuli residents as they need not waste time waiting for treatment and tests in the hospital. Most areas of the island district remain ...

Consuming fish may reduce premature birth risk

Eating fish or taking a fish oil supplement may reduce the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women with low level of omega-3 fatty acids, a new study has found.

Fall in no. of people diagnosed with HIV in last 3 yrs: Health minister

There was an overall decrease in the number of persons diagnosed with AIDS in the country in the last three years, even as a few states had witnessed the emergence of "new hotspots" of HIV, Parliament was informed today. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura had seen the emergence of such "hotspots" due to "high risk" behaviour among injecting drug users (IDUs) and unsafe sexual practices. "There is a decrease in the number of HIV patients diagnosed during the last three years," he said. According to the data shared by the minister, 2,00,465 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2015-16, 1,93,195 in 2016-17 and 1,90,763 in 2017-18. In all the three years, Maharashtra reported the maximum number of cases with 28,030 people diagnosed with HIV in the state in 2017-18. For Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura, the government has identified the high HIV prevalence pockets affecting pregnant women and high-risk groups ...

Formulate scheme to extend financial assistance to HIV/AIDS patients: Par panel to Health Ministry

A parliamentary panel today asked the Union Health Ministry to make efforts to formulate a scheme to extend financial assistance to HIV/AIDS patients "at the earliest". The committee noted that it is "imperative" to keep this issue as the primary agenda of the government to "explicitly" exhibit their keenness for the welfare of the HIV patients in the country. It said it should be done so that the patients do not feel neglected and be able to channelise their energy and resources to overcome the physical and psychological trauma due to long-drawn treatment. The Committee on Petitions on the Union Health Ministry, in its 56th report tabled in Parliament today, said it is "not satisfied" with the efforts of the ministry. "The committee, therefore, once again reiterates their earlier recommendation and urge the ministry to take concerted efforts to formulate a scheme at the earliest to extend financial assistance to the HIV/AIDS patients without any quantification, slab or the reasons ...

New lung cell type discovered

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown airway cell type that may help cure a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs. Two studies, published in the journal Nature, also revealed the characteristics of other new, rare and poorly understood cell types, which expands the current understanding of lung biology and disease. These cells appear to be the primary source of activity of the CFTR gene, mutations to which cause cystic fibrosis, a multi-organ disease that affects more than 70,000 people worldwide. Despite decades of study on CFTR and progress in treating the disease, there is still no cure, according to researchers. The new findings show that CFTR activity is concentrated in a small, previously unknown population of cells, which serve as promising targets for future therapeutic strategies against cystic fibrosis. The researchers named the cells "pulmonary ionocytes" due to similarities with ionocytes, a type of cell found in the gills of freshwater fish and frog ...