Page 544 - Health Medical Pharma
Centre decides to rope in chemists to strengthen reporting of TB cases
The Centre has decided to rope in chemists and druggists to strengthen the mechanism of notifying tuberculosis incidence to authorities concerned, and if they or a health establishment fail to do so, it would attract penal action, including imprisonment and fine. A notification by the Union health ministry today stated that all pharmacies and chemists dispensing anti-tuberculosis drugs will have to notify TB patients along with details of medicines and a copy of the prescriptions electronically or in hard copy to the nodal officer of the district or any other official authorised by him. According to a health ministry official, "The aim is to trace the missing TB cases by strengthening the reporting system." The notification stated that if a health establishment, pharmacy, chemist and druggist, fails to notify a TB patient to a nodal officer or a local public health authority, or if the official concerned does not take appropriate action on receiving such notification, he would face ...
Manual on oral hygiene for health workers, school teachers launched
Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey today said high incidence of oral cancers can be prevented if oral hygiene is maintained and use of tobacco is avoided, as he released a manual on oral health promotion for health workers and school teachers. At an event to mark World Oral Health Day, the minister said the manual encompasses health, disease and prevention components and highlights basic oral healthcare, and the role of health workers, and school teachers regarding common dental diseases. "High incidence of oral cancers can be prevented if we maintain oral hygiene and avoid use of tobacco. It's high time that good oral hygiene becomes a social movement -- Jan Abhiyaan," Choubey said. "We need to educate children right at the beginning for good oral health so that they can become our health ambassadors," he said. Noting that 25 per cent cancers in India are mouth cancers, the minister said there is a need for information on dos and don'ts. This would be effective .
Euthanasia plea: Woman admitted to hospital for treatment
A 36-year-old woman, who requested authorities to grant her permission for Euthanasia, was today admitted to a private hospital near here. This comes a day after the East Godavari district collector had directed officials concerned to take immediate steps to provide better treatment to her. Dr V Vara Prasad, district coordinator of the NTR Vaidya Seva trust, counselled members of her family and contacted oncology experts at Kakinada. Based on the medical reports, the woman was admitted to Hope International. Dr Prasad said she was suffering from a huge ovarian tumour, "secondary to carcinoma sigmoid colon." She is eligible for treatment under the trust and treatment facilities were alsoavailable at Kakinada, Prasad said. Necessary medical tests would begin as a part of treatment and further action would be taken based on these reports, he added. During a grievance meeting yesterday, the woman from Pitapuram in the district had made a representation to collector ...
FORDA asks govt to quash licentiate exam provision in NMC Bill
On a day the recommendations of a parliamentary panel on National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill was tabled in Parliament, Federation of Resident Doctors Association today asked the government to quash the provision of National Licentiate Examination (NLE) in the proposed legislation. The proposed National Licentiate Examination will put "undue stress" on students, especially those from backward sections who cannot afford private tuition, the panel said today while recommending integration of NLE with the final year MBBS exam. The committee also said the 'bridge course', proposed in the NMC Bill to allow practitioners of alternative medicines, such as homoeopathy and ayurveda, to practise allopathy, should not be made mandatory provision. The recommendations were made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its report on the National Medical Commission Bill 2017, tabled in Parliament today. Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA) .
Cipla gets USFDA observations for its Goa plant
Drug firm Cipla today said it has received observations from the US health regulator for its Goa plant which are procedural in nature. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had conducted a product specific pre-approval inspection at company's Goa plant in January 2018, Cipla said in a BSE filing. "We received certain observations which are procedural in nature. We have already responded to the agency on all the observations," it added. At this stage, the company does not foresee any impact on the other products being manufactured/filed from the plant, Cipla said. "Post this inspection, we have received 2 product approvals from the plant," it added. Shares of Cipla today closed at Rs 552.50 per scrip on BSE, down 1.22 per cent from its previous close.
Depression can cause memory problems: Study
Depression is a serious and common mood disorder.Living with depression can lead to a number of issues, including sleep deprivation and increased level of stress.Researchers at a university in Utah explored whether there is a correlation between depression and memory interference.Memory interference occurs when an individual finds himself unable to fully take in new information due to past memories or thoughts.Professors from the Department of Psychology at Brigham Young University carried out a pattern separation test with 98 adults, quoted the Independent.The participants had to fill in questionnaires that assessed their levels of depression and anxiety in addition to various aspects of their life such as the quality of their sleep and how much they exercise.The researchers noted that those with higher depression scores were more likely to achieve lower scores on their pattern separation tests.The pattern separation tests consisted of presenting the participants with a series of ...
Stomach-narrowing surgery also eases chronic knee pain
Seems like, stomach-narrowing surgery does not just augment your beauty but also aids in easing the chronic knee pain.According to a NYU School Of Medicine-led study, extremely obese people who have a band surgically strapped around their stomachs to restrict food intake not only lose weight but also suffer less from arthritic knee pain.The pain, say the study leaders at NYU School of Medicine, proceeds from the deterioration and related inflammation in knee joints caused in part by the extra weight they bear. And while the pain relief seen with lap-band surgery applied to all patients with osteoarthritic knees, researchers found that it was most helpful in the youngest men and women who lost the most weight."Our study shows that extremely obese people seeking relief from their knee pain should consider lap-band surgery earlier because the benefits from it being successful -- although significant for all ages -- decrease with age," said study senior investigator, Jonathan ...
Nine new osteoarthritis genes discovered
Researchers have discovered nine novel genes for osteoarthritis that may open the door to new targeted therapies for this debilitating disease in the future.
Work closely with bigger players: Sonowal to small tea growers
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today urged the small tea growers in the state to work closely with the bigger ones so that a sustained growth for the tea industry can be achieved. "The Small Tea Growers (STGs) must work cohesively with the big players of the industry for the overall sustained growth of the sector in the state," the chief minister said while launching direct benefit transfer of financial incentives for STGs in new areas under plantation. The incentive, to the tune of Rs 5,000 per bigha, would benefit 1,188 STGs of the state. "The STGs have emerged as a formidable force in the state and significantly contributed to the growth of state economy but in recent times, the industry is facing serious challenges and the big and small tea growers must work unitedly to resolve it," Sonowal said. He urged the STGs to go for organic plantation as it will boost the environment and make the economy sustainable, he said. Sonowal also called for a proactive role .
New antibody may help prevent malaria: study
Scientists have found a human antibody that prevented malaria infection in mice by binding a protein found in almost all the strains of the parasite worldwide. The human antibody was isolated from a protected subject who received an experimental vaccine containing whole, weakened malaria parasites (PfSPZ Vaccine-Sanaria). The paired findings - of both the antibody and the site it targets on the surface protein - could open new pathways to malaria prevention, researchers at the National Institutes of Health in the US. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, shows that the antibody, called CIS43, protects against malaria better than any antibody that has been described before. If shown to be effective in humans, the antibody could be given to people directly and potentially protect them from malaria for up to six months, said Marie Pancera from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Preventive malaria drugs available now must be taken daily, researchers said. What ...
Bridge course proposed in NMC Bill should not be made mandatory: Par panel
A parliamentary panel has said the 'bridge course', proposed in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, to allow practitioners of alternative medicines such as homoeopathy and ayurveda to practise allopathy, should not be made a mandatory provision. The committee also recommended penal provisions for those practising medicine without requisite qualification. Noting that every state has its own specific healthcare challenges, the panel recommended that the state governments may implement measures to enhance the capacity of existing healthcare professionals, including AYUSH practitioners, B.Sc (Nursing), BDS, B.Pharma and others to address their specific primary healthcare issues in rural areas. The recommendations were made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its report on the National Medical Commission Bill 2017, tabled in Parliament today. The NMC Bill, 2017, which seeks to replace the existing apex medical education ...
'Diabetes drug can cut build-up of liver fat'
A drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes could potentially help in reducing liver fat in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and high blood sugar, according to the results of an early trial.
Poor dental health linked to diabetes risk
You may be at an increased risk of diabetes if you are not taking care of your dental health, warns a new study which suggests that dental examination may provide a way to identify the risk for developing the disease.
Frank Stangnberg-Haverkamp discusses Merck Foundation's commitment towards Niger with President Issoufou
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, met President of Niger, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou to discuss and underscore their long-term commitment towards healthcare capacity building and improving access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions in Niger.They also addressed their efforts to provide training and empower women and youth in Niger through their successful programs such as; 'Merck Cancer Access Program' and 'Merck More Than a Mother' in partnership with the First Lady of Niger H.E. Aissata Issoufou Mahamadou.During the meeting, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, the President of Niger, emphasised that the Merck Foundation's programs are aligned with the National Strategy of Niger where healthcare is essential for the social and economic development of the nation."We are very proud to launch our Merck Foundation in partnership with the First Lady of Niger and Ministry of Health to build healthcare capacity, improve access to Cancer and Diabetes care and to empower ...
Two-day global digital summit from March 22
A two-day Global Digital Summit, being organised by the Kerala government, would discuss the likelihood of digital technology making greater penetration in global healthcare system to enhance its quality, improve diagnostics and reduce costs. The summit is being held here on March 22-23. "The Digital Future of Health and Sustainability" is the topic for panel discussion' Experts would brainstorm on some relevant issues like whether the change in the healthcare industry is driven by corporates or by consumers and the impact digital disruptions are making on medical tourism industry in developing countries like India, the organisers said in a release here. The panelists including Ajith J Thomas, Azad Moopen, Anuradha Acharya, Bhagvan Chougule and Prashath Warrier will talk about the changes or disruptions that could impact the future of health and sustainability, specifically addressing issues like differences in business likely to be witnessed in the next 5-10 years and ..
New human antibody may improve malaria prevention efforts
Scientists have discovered a new human antibody that, when tested in mice, prevented malaria infection by binding a specific portion of a surface protein found in almost all strains of the malaria parasite worldwide.
Beet compound may help treat Alzheimer's: study
A compound in beet plant that gives the vegetable its distinctive red colour may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a study claims. Researchers at the University of South Florida in the US found that the compound could slow the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain, a process associated with Alzheimer's. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs that may alleviate some of the long-term effects of the disease, the world's leading cause of dementia, researchers said. "Our data suggest that betanin, a compound in beet extract, shows some promise as an inhibitor of certain chemical reactions in the brain that are involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease," said Li-June Ming from University of South Florida. "This is just a first step, but we hope that our findings will encourage other scientists to look for structures similar to betanin that could be used to synthesise drugs that could make life a bit easier for those who suffer from this ...
Delhi to host 1st world consensus meeting on bariatric metabolic surgery standardization
World's first consensus meeting on bariatric metabolic surgery standardization is all set to start from March 22 to March 24 here.With more than 100 surgeons participating from all over the world, the two-day unique confluence will offer a glimpse on the growing number of obesity problem in the country and across the world.J P Nadda, Health Minister will be the guest of honour. Dr. Arun Prasad, President, Obesity Surgery Society of India will be presiding over the event and will present Indian data on obesity and type 2 diabetes.As per a recent survey, India has 7.5 crores obese population with five crores of morbidly obese. India has eight crores of type 2 diabetics, and 25% of them are morbidly obese.Obesity results in 1.5 % of our GDP drain and 250 million dollars of additional cost to treatment for complications arising out of obesity and type 2 diabetes. India has 9.5 % of its adolescent population as overweight and 5 % as obese. This population gets converted to adult morbidly ..
Facial colour can broadcast our feelings: study
Humans can read each other's emotions from surprisingly tiny changes in facial colour, according to a study. Researchers at The Ohio State University in the US found that people are able to identify other people's feelings up to 75 per cent of the time - based solely on subtle shifts in blood flow colour around the nose, eyebrows, cheeks or chin. The study, published in the journal PNAS, demonstrates a never-before-documented connection between the central nervous system and emotional expression in the face. It also enabled researchers to construct computer algorithms that correctly recognise human emotion via face colour up to 90 per cent of the time. "We identified patterns of facial colouring that are unique to every emotion we studied," said Aleix Martinez, a professor at The Ohio State University. "We believe these colour patterns are due to subtle changes in blood flow or blood composition triggered by the central nervous system. "Not only do we perceive these changes in facial .
Karma Healthcare raises Rs.3cr to scale operations
Health tech startup Karma Healthcare raised Rs. 3 crore in equity funding from early stage investment firm 1Crowd, existing investors, and angel investors to scale operations and expand technological offering."We are grateful to all our investors for reposing faith and commitment in our work. This new funding will help us scale our operations as well as enhance our technology offering to improve quality of care and provide great patient experience," said CEO of Karma Healthcare, Jagdeep Gambhir.The Rajasthan-based firm aims to provide high-quality, affordable, equitable and reliable healthcare to India's underserved population via a differentiated business model. The company has combined the human touch of a nurse with the scalability of shared doctor services via real-time online video consultations, and delivers healthcare to consumer via its e-Doctor clinics.Karma Healthcare's vision is to disrupt the healthcare landscape, by establishing a pan India network of healthcare clinics. .