Page 385 - Health Medical Pharma

Genes don't affect consumption of calories?

A new study has revealed that there is no clear evidence showing the effect of genetic factors on the consumption of total calories, carbohydrates and fats.According to the researchers at Technical University of Munich (TUM) the expedience of gene-based dietary recommendations is yet to be proven.Excess weight and obesity have become a global health problem. A large number of adults are overweight which is primarily due to the modern lifestyle which is characterized by low physical activity and intake of high-calorie foods.Also, genetic factors play a role in the occurrence of obesity. To date, around a hundred genes (loci) have been identified which are related to the body mass index (BMI). However, the functioning of these genes, as well as the biological mechanisms behind them, are still largely unknown."In all studies, we most frequently encountered the fat mass and obesity (FTO) associated gene as well as the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R). There are indications of a ...

P2X4 receptor helps in curing multiple sclerosis

A receptor known as P2X4 increases repair responses of the human body when it comes to Multiple Sclerosis.Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys a structure known as the "myelin sheath", whose integrity is indispensable for the brain and spinal cord to function properly.In a recent study, it was found that this receptor present in the microglial cells that increases their anti-inflammatory potential in order to reduce the damage in Multiple Sclerosis and, above all, encourage the body's own repair responses.During the progressive phase of the disease, it is the microglial cells in the brain that are the main cause of the chronic inflammation responsible for the neurological deterioration.These microglial cells are the brain's sentries and react when faced with any damage or infection in it. This reaction, which is in principle beneficial, becomes harmful when it is prolonged over time, leading to chronic inflammation, and aggravates the disease and ...

MP: 29 newborns die due to medical negligence

At least 29 newborns have died from July 1 to 21, and six within the last one week, at a Special Newborn Care Unit in Madhya Pradesh's Guna District Hospital, allegedly due to medical negligence.However, a doctor at the hospital noted that the newborns were brought in critical conditions, and had a very slim chance for survival."29 deaths till July 21 isn't a big figure, because, 948 newborns were admitted in last three months out of which 118 died. Also, 26 newborns died in April, 43 in May and 49 in June," Dr Jain told ANI.Investigation in the matter is underway.On a related note, at least two children died and four were left in critical condition on June 27, allegedly due to dysfunctional ACs on account of voltage fluctuation at a civil hospital in Haryana's Panipat city.The two infants were admitted to the civil hospital's sick newborn care unit (SNCU).

Cell towers, mobiles unlikely to harm humans: Official

Current scientific evidence do not support any "harmful effect" on the human body by electromagnetic field radiation of cell phone or its towers, said a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official on Saturday.

Construction of China-aided hospital begins in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday to launch the construction of a China-Sri Lanka friendship hospital in the country's Polonnaruwa region.

Gurukulam model of education planned in Ayush curriculum

The Ministry of Ayush has proposed to bring in new curriculum on the lines of Gurukula model of education. Announcing the plan, secretary, Ministry of Ayush Rajesh Kotecha said the proposed curriculum on ayurveda was expected to be strong foundation for Ayush-based approach to management of health and wellness A press release quoted Kotech saying this during the 75th anniversary of Arya Vaidya Pharacy (AVP) here recently. He had said a multi-centric clinical trial on rheumatoid arthritis would be funded by the government, based on the pilot trial conducted by The Ayurvedic Trust. The trial was funded by National Institutes of Health, USA, he said, while lauding the contribution of AVP to ayurveda which was an evidence-based medicine, he said. Chairman of AVP group P R Krishnakumar, who pioneered the gurukula model of Education in ayurveda, said the initiatives of Narendra Modi-led government would bring Ayush system of medicine for healthcare around the world.

Decoded: How to reverse signs of ageing

Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have found the way to reverse the action of wrinkled skin and hair loss which are considered as the hallmarks of ageing, in a mouse model.

Committee to probe girl's death at Himachal govt hospital

Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Vipin Parmar has set up a five-member committee to inquire into the death of a girl at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Tanda, where she was undergoing treatment for snake bite. Parmar said the committee would be led by the head of medicine department Dilip Gupta and will have senior medical superintendent of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Janak Raj and head of forensic medicine department Piyush Kapila as its members. The minister instructed the committee to submit its report within five days. Tanda Medical College and Hospital is a prestigious health institute of the state where best health care is being ensured, Parmar said, adding that he was personally pained to learn about the death of the girl. If any lapse on the part of the hospital was found after the report of the committee, stern action would be taken in this case, he added.

This wearable sensor can detect stress level from sweat

Scientists have developed a waterproof wearable patch, which when applied directly to the skin, absorbs sweat and within seconds assesses how much cortisol -- stress hormone -- a person is producing.

Saha to undergo shoulder surgery in Manchester: BCCI

India wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha will undergo surgery on his right shoulder in Manchester at the end of this month or starting of August, the BCCI confirmed on Saturday.

Protein that boosts survival in colon cancer patients identified

Scientists have identified a protein that boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients and could be targeted to treat the deadly disease. Researchers at Boston University in the US found colon cancer patients with high levels of the protien c-Cbl lived longer than those with low c-Cbl. Even though scientists have studied this protein in other cancers, it has not been explored in colon cancer until now. The researchers examined the level of c-Cbl in tumors that were removed from people with colon cancer. Based on the level of this protein, c-Cbl, patients were split into two groups, high c-Cbl and low c-Cbl. The researchers then wanted to find out what happens to cells when this protein was turned off. They did this by using two types of colon cancer cells split into three groups each. One group consisted of un-manipulated colon cancer cells, one group had increased expression of normal c-Cbl and the other group had increased expression of the "off" version of c-Cbl. This off version

Adrenaline medication may double brain damage risk: Study

Using adrenaline medication to restart the heart, during a cardiac arrest event, may double the risk of severe brain damage among the survivors, a study claims.

This drug compound helped paralysed mice walk again

Scientists have showed that a small-molecule compound could revive neural circuits in paralysed mice with a spinal cord injury and restore their ability to walk.

Dehydration can lower cognitive abilities: Study

Just two hours of vigorous work in the summer sun without drinking fluids could be enough to blunt concentration, say scientists who found that cognitive functions often deteriorate as the body gets dehydrated. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US analysed data from multiple research papers on dehydration and cognitive ability. The data pointed to functions like attention, coordination and complex problem solving suffering the most, and activities like reacting quickly when prompted not diminishing much. "The simplest reaction time tasks were least impacted, even as dehydration got worse, but tasks that require attention were quite impacted," said Mindy Millard-Stafford, a professor at Georgia Tech. As the bodies of test subjects in various studies lost water, the majority of participants increasingly made errors during attention-related tasks that were mostly repetitive and unexciting, such as punching a button in varying patterns for quite a few ...

Revealed! Why some people just can't resist eating

If you can't resist eating an entire bag of chips or candy, blame it on your brain!In a study with children, researchers found that when certain regions of the brain reacted more strongly to being rewarded with food than being rewarded with money, those children were more likely to overeat, even when the child wasn't hungry and regardless of if they were overweight or not.Shana Adise, lead author of the study said the results give insight into why some people may be more prone to overeating than others. The findings may also give clues on how to help prevent obesity at a younger age."If we can learn more about how the brain responds to food and how that relates to what you eat, maybe we can learn how to change those responses and behavior," Adise said."This also makes children an interesting population to work with, because if we can stop overeating and obesity at an earlier age, that could be really beneficial.""We know very little about the mechanisms that contribute to overeating,"

Diabetic women at greater risk of cancer

According to a global review, women with diabetes are at greater risk of cancer than men.Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health also found diabetes (type 1 and type 2) conferred an additional risk for women, compared to men, for leukaemia and cancers of the stomach, mouth and kidney, but less risk for liver cancer.The findings highlight the need for more research into the role diabetes plays in developing cancer. They also demonstrate the increasing importance of sex-specific research.Lead author Dr Toshiaki Ohkuma, said: "The link between diabetes and the risk of developing cancer is now firmly established. We have also demonstrated for the first time that women with diabetes are more likely to develop any form of cancer, and have a significantly higher chance of developing kidney, oral and stomach cancers and leukaemia."The number of people with diabetes has doubled globally in the last 30 years but we still have much to learn about the condition. It's vital that we

Still births are caused by secondhand smoke

In developing countries around the world especially in Asia, secondhand smoke causes thousands of still births every year.Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of still birth, congenital malformations, low birth-weight and respiratory illnesses.In a recent study, researchers found that 40% of all pregnant women in Pakistan are exposed to secondhand smoke - causing approximately 17,000 stillbirths in a year.The team from the University of York looked at the number of pregnancies alongside smoking exposure data in 30 developing countries from 2008 to 2013.The analysis revealed that in Armenia, Indonesia, Jordan, Bangladesh and Nepal more than 50% of pregnant women reported exposure to household secondhand smoke.In Indonesia alone, 10,000 still births take place every year.In Pakistan, only 1% of still births are attributed to women actively smoking during pregnancy, but for secondhand smoke, the figure is 7%, largely due to the high numbers of pregnant women ..

'Screening HIV, syphilis can cut new HIV cases in India by 7%'

Combining testing and treatment of HIV with syphilis among sex workers and gay men could reduce the number of new HIV cases in India by seven per cent, and potentially avert over 50,000 new infections, in a decade, says a Lancet report.

India affirms strong support for TB cooperation plan in every aspect: Nadda

India has affirmed its strong support for TB cooperation plan in every aspect as agreed upon in the first High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Ending Tuberculosis, and is committed to eradicate the disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, Union health minister J P Nadda said today. In his address at the 8th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting at Durban in South Africa, he said to improve healthcare, there is a need for increasing accessibility of affordable, quality, effective and safe drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for tuberculosis patients. "I would like to state that India is committed to eliminating TB by 2025," Nadda said. The Union health minister said that India today is more firmly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as articulated in its National Health Policy. "India has fast-tracked many initiatives aimed at achieving all the core tenets of Universal Health Coverage, like strengthening health systems, improving access to free ...

Binge drinking in adolescence impairs working memory: Study

Parents, take note: If your teenage child is drinking alcohol, it may impair his/her working memory, a new study suggests.