Page 367 - Health Medical Pharma

Google Glass to aid autistic kids read facial expressions

Children with autism were able to improve their social skills by using a smartphone app paired with Google Glass -- an eye-wearable device -- to help them understand the emotions conveyed in people's facial expressions, according to a pilot study.

FICCI FLO launches mobile app for women's wellness

FICCI Ladies Organisation, the women's wing of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a mobile application aimed at creating awareness on preventive healthcare. The mobile application "WOW" (Wellness of Women) is backed by city-based Apollo Hospitals Group that offers access to renowned doctors and provides health tips, a press release said. "This easy to use platform allows users to talk to doctors through video conferencing or connect with them via voice or email. Users can also upload clinical information such as reports, images and scans so that experts can provide an opinion within a stipulated time," FICCI Ladies Organisation, National President, Pinky Reddy said after unveiling the app at an event here, recently. Apollo Hospitals Group, Executive Vice Chairperson, Preetha Reddy said, "Apollo has partnered with FLO by way of extending much needed healthcare for women across the country." "The emphasis will be more on generating ...

51-year-old Iraqi gets artificial heart in Delhi

A 51-year-old Iraqi man with a terminal heart condition has been given a new lease of life by doctors here. The patient had suffered several bullet injuries at the hands of terrorists who had kept him captive.

Elderly with high BMI at risk of cognitive decline: Study

Being obese in older age may lead to poor brain health as higher waist-hip ratio was associated with reduced cognitive function, according to a study.

Add flaxseed oil to your diet for a better health

Turns out, flaxseed oil, which is majorly known to benefit heart health, also has several other health benefits.From boosting digestive and brain health to providing skin and hair benefits to reduce the risk of cancer, flaxseed oil can be the key to a healthy living. There are a number of ways in which one can derive this benefit from flaxseeds, but probably the easiest and fastest way is intake of flax oil capsules.Founder & Director at Gaia, Dolly Kumar shared some of the health benefits of flax oil:1. Regulates a healthy cholesterol levelRich in Omega 3 and Omega 6, flax oil capsules help to regulate cholesterol level in the body and are an essential medium to reduce the amount of unhealthy cholesterol in the body.2. Promotes a healthy heartFlaxseed oil capsules help you in having a healthy heart. Laden with fatty acids, these capsules promote healthy artery functioning and help prevent several heart-related problems like heart attack, stroke etc. Presence of these acids in ...

572 licensed water trolleys in north Delhi found 'violating' health norms, seized

Over 500 licensed water trolleys were seized in north Delhi after samples taken from them were found unfit for consumption, the NDMC said today. There are 1,623 such trolleys which have been issued licence by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and they charge Rs 2 for a glass of water. Generally parked on pavements or other public places, these facilities cater to people, especially the lower-income group in quenching their thirst. The information was provided by the civic body in response to questions asked by standing committee member and senior Congress leader Mukesh Goel yesterday during a special meeting of the committee called to discuss preparations for tackling water-borne diseases in the monsoon season. Civic body officials check the chlorine content of water during inspection of the trollies. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), maximum amount of chlorine allowed in drinking water is 5 mg/l. These water samples were tested this year starting January 1 .

Teetotallers, like big drinkers, more prone to dementia

People who have sworn off alcohol for decades or longer run a higher risk of dementia late in life than moderate drinkers, according to a new study. Long-term teetotallers were roughly 50 per cent more likely to suffer Alzheimers or another form of neurodegenerative disease, scientists reported in the BMJ, a medical journal, yesterday. With heavy drinking, however, dementia became even more prevalent, though for different reasons. Unlike earlier research, the study did not find a link between abstinence and a shorter life expectancy, as compared to occasional drinkers. The results were based on a review of medical records rather than the more scientifically rigorous clinical trials used to assess new drugs, and the number of cases examined was relatively small. But the startling results are robust, and should prompt government-funded trials to assess "the possible protective effect of light-to-moderate alcohol use on risk of dementia," commented Sevil Yasar, an associate professor at .

Ensure proper, effective use of breast pump

A fast-paced lifestyle can make it tough for new-age mothers to breastfeed as often as they need to. Using a breast pump effectively can take care of the problem, suggest experts.

Study predicts long-term outcome of boys with ADHD

A recent study was conducted to predict the long-term outcome of boys with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).The researchers concluded that early interventions might be considered for children with a normal, but low, IQ.The research reported on a group of boys diagnosed with ADHD in childhood (when they were, on average, 8 years old) and followed into adulthood (when they were in their early 40s).The goal was to examine whether boys' characteristics in childhood and adolescence predicted their subsequent school performance, their work, and social adjustment."Research shows that children with ADHD achieve lower levels of education, have poorer social functioning, and less success at work than peers without ADHD. Being able to identify indicators of future success early in life is critical to help inform preventive and therapeutic practices," said lead author María Ramos-Olazagasti of Columbia University.The study conducted at the Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU ...

Women's PCOS may up risk of autism in newborns

Children born to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be more likely to develop autism, according to a study.

Family caregivers of people with dementia sleep deprived: Study

Nine out of 10 people caring for a family member with dementia don't get enough sleep, finds a study.The researchers found that most participants got less than six hours of sleep each night, accompanied by frequent awakenings as often as four times per hour."These disruptions can lead to chronic sleep deprivation and place caregivers at risk for depression, weight gain, heart disease and premature death," said lead author Yu-Ping Chang."Though memory loss is the best-known symptom of dementia, more than 80 percent of people with dementia will also experience sleep disturbances, anxiety and wandering" said Chang."These disruptions have negative effects on caregivers' health, which in turn will diminish their ability to provide optimal care."Nearly six million people are living with Alzheimer's disease. However, the effects are felt by the more than 16 million people, often family members, providing unpaid care, according to the Alzheimer's Association.Past research has found that ...

AMRI gears up to curb Dengue outbreak in Kolkata this monsoon

AMRI Hospitals Kolkata prepares to reduce the possibility of a dengue outbreak through awareness campaigns and well-equipped hospitals. Government and private authorities are preparing for a possible dengue spate, this monsoon in Kolkata.The disease which is often regarded as the most dangerous mosquito-borne disease in many tropical areas has claimed many lives in the past. Moreover, there have been numerous outbreaks of dengue in the last few years, across different states, which have been hard to curb.Recently, the disease has become a lot more dangerous, killing dozens of people across India, especially in 2017. More than 2,800 cases were reported till July 31 in the last one year. Kerala reported the maximum dengue cases with 13,913, followed by Tamil Nadu with 5,474 cases.On the other hand, Karnataka reported 4,186 cases, while Andhra Pradesh reported 798 cases. West Bengal, with 571 cases and Maharashtra with 460 cases also remained in the spotlight.The prevailing conditions ...

Computer simulations can predict the spread of HIV: Study

Researchers have found that computer simulations can accurately predict the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) across populations, aiding in preventing the disease.

Both heavy drinking and abstinence could raise dementia risk

According to a study, both long term abstinence and heavy drinking (more than 14 units a week during middle age) could boost dementia risk.However, the underlying mechanisms are likely to be different in the two groups.As people live longer, the number living with dementia is expected to triple by 2050. So understanding the impact of alcohol consumption on ageing outcomes is important.Previous studies indicate that moderate drinking is associated with a reduced risk of dementia, whereas both abstinence and heavy drinking are associated with a risk of dementia. But the evidence is far from conclusive, and the reasons underlying these associations remain unclear.So a team of researchers from Inserm (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) based in France and from UCL in the UK set out to investigate the association between midlife alcohol consumption and risk of dementia into early old age.They also examined whether cardiometabolic disease (a group of conditions ...

Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd spurts 2.31%, rises for third straight session

The stock is quoting at Rs 2225.95, up 2.31% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd is down 4.22% in last one year as compared to a 12.77% gain in NIFTY and a 1.89% gain in the Nifty Pharma index.

Platelets kill up to 60% of malaria parasites: Study

Platelets -- found in the blood -- are the first line of defence in patients with malaria, killing up to 60 per cent of the malaria parasites circulating in the bloodstream, finds a study.

How smoking affects breastfeeding habits

New mothers who are surrounded by cigarette smoke tend to stop breastfeeding sooner than women not exposed to second-hand smoke, finds a study."Our study showed that just being in a smoking household--whether it was the husband, mother or member of the extended family--reduced the time that a child was breast fed," said Professor Marie Tarrant, Director of UBC Okanagan's School of Nursing. "In fact, the more smokers there were in the home, the shorter the breastfeeding duration.""Our findings were consistent with previous studies and we found that exposure to household smokers also had a substantial negative effect on breastfeeding practices," said Tarrant."More than one-third of participants had partners or other household members who smoked. And fathers who smoked were significantly less likely to prefer breastfeeding when compared with non-smoking partners."Nicotine is transmitted in the breast milk to the child and Tarrant said there is also some suggestion that it may reduce the .

Frequent sauna bathing can boost heart health

Regular sauna bathing may not only help you relax, but also reduce the risk of developing heart diseases and mental disorders, scientists say. A study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that sauna bathing is associated with a reduction in the risk of vascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive diseases, nonvascular conditions, such as pulmonary diseases, mental health disorders, and mortality. Furthermore, sauna bathing alleviated conditions such as skin diseases, arthritis, headache, and flu. The evidence also suggests that regular sauna baths are associated with a better health-related quality of life. Scientists from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland and the University of Bristol in the UK conducted a comprehensive literature review on the effects of Finnish sauna baths on health outcomes. Finnish sauna bathing is characterised by exposure to high environmental temperature (80-100 degrees Celsius) for a brief .

Smoking can affect breastfeeding habits: Study

Women, please take note. New mothers exposed to cigarette smoke in their homes may stop breastfeeding sooner as compared to those who are not exposed to second-hand smoke, a new study suggests.

Ingestible capsule to accurately diagnose gut disorders

Scientists have developed a swallowable sensor which is 3,000 times more accurate than current technology used to diagnose many gut disorders. The "revolutionary" gas-sensing capsule developed by researchers at RMIT University in Australia, could surpass breath testing as the benchmark for diagnosing gut disorders. This could pave the way to solving previously undiagnosed conditions, according to the study published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. The vitamin pill-sized capsule provides real time detection and measurement of hydrogen, carbon dioxides and oxygen in the gut. This data can be sent to a mobile phone. A human trial revealed information about gas production in the gut previously masked when measured indirectly through the breath, said RMIT's Kyle Berean, the co-inventor of the capsule. "The rate of false positive and false negative diagnosis that breath tests give is a real problem in gastroenterology," Berean said. "Being able to measure these ...