Page 583 - Health Medical Pharma

Start-up integrates AI with health app to help patients

Seeking to provide "smart help" to patients in accessing consultation from doctors, a city-based start-up has introduced a 'digital assistant' in its healthcare app which allows users to chat with an artificial intelligence-based bot. The founders of 'Visit', an on-demand healthcare service online platform that provides to its users a pool of medical specialists and general physicians to choose from for consultation, said they developed this "AI-driven assistant" also to ease the burden of doctors. "Our country is already facing a shortage of doctors. And, many a time, patients go to a general physician's clinic, where there is a long queue, and the doctor eventually asks them to consult a specialist. "What this AI bot ('chatbot') does is, it performs the initial screening of patients, based on the responses fed by the user of the app. It then directs the user to the general physician or a specialist, accordingly," said Vaibhav Singh, head of growth at the firm, founded in 2016. Visit

Novel stroke treatment repairs damaged brain tissue

Researchers have developed a new stem-cell based treatment for stroke that reduces brain damage and accelerates the brain's natural healing tendencies.

IIT-M in process of creating India-specific cancer genome database

IIT-Madras is in the process of creating an India-specific cancer genome database aimed at early detection and development of better treatment strategy for the disease. The National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB), a first of its kind community-based initiative in the country, is collecting cancer tissues from Indian patients "to generate a cancer genome database which was not available so far." Prof S Mahalingam, the faculty-in-charge of NCTB, said different types of cancer tissues were being collected for this purpose. "This (collection of samples) is critical for identifying the specific changes happening in our own population to develop the diagnostic kit for early detection (of cancer) and this will help us to design a better treatment strategy," he told PTI. Prof Mahalingam, from the Department of Biotechnology at IIT-M, said creation of such a genome database would also help in developing a specific drug for India's population. For instance, the available medication for cancer ...

Scientists find anti-cancer properties in three rice varieties

Scientists have claimed to have detected anti-cancer properties in three traditional varieties of rice found in Chhattisgarh. A research has concluded that three medicinal varieties of rice - Gathwan, Maharaji and Laicha - have the ability to fight cancer, said scientist Deepak Sharma. The research was conducted by the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai. These varieties were taken from the rice germplasm bank preserved in IGKV, said Sharma, principal scientist at the genetics and plant breeding department of the agriculture university. The three varieties of rice have properties to cure lungs and breast cancers without affecting normal cells, Sharma told PTI. Of them, Laicha has been found to be the most effective in preventing proliferation of cancer cells and destroying them, he said. Last year, IGKV, affiliated to the University Grants Commission, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BARC

Bermuda grass, an ancient cure for ailments

Ailments like piles, skin disease, problems related to the eyes, uterus, leprosy, bleedings and gynaecological problems can be cured through the allopathic route, but did you know that something as natural and simple as Bermuda grass offers equal if not better relief."For thousands of years, the medicinal and clinical properties rinsed out of Bermuda grass have been used in Ayurveda and Sidha Medicine," said Acharya Balkrishan of the Haridwar-based Patanjali Ayurvedic.Sacred to Lord Ganesha, widely revered in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, Lord of intellect and wisdom, Bermuda grass also goes by the name of Durva, Kusha, Doob in Hindi. It is grown in Hindu households where Lord Ganesh or Ganapathi is the worshipped deity.Acharya Balkrishan has listed the following ways to treat various ailments:. Piles: Make a paste of the Panchang of the grass and take it with curd. Make paste of leaves and apply on anus. It will

80% of diabetics are from developing countries, and they are not fat

And you thought diabetes is a 'heavy' issue!A short documentary, titled 'The New Face of Diabetes,' produced by the Science Communication Lab and published in partnership with Slate, points out that most diabetic patients in the West are obese, but in India, they're not.According to it, eighty percent of the cases are now occurring in developing nations, and many of those patients don't fit the stereotype."In the United States, obesity and Type 2 diabetes largely go hand in hand, but in India, the face of diabetes is a skinnier one. To scientists who study these things, this is a major mystery" the narrator says.Indian scientist CS Yajnik and his colleague John Yudkin of the University College London undertook a massive study to try to get an explanation.According to Yagnik, "Indians are thin but fat."The main takeaway from this video is that it is important to monitor body composition, not just weight and Body mass index, or BMI..

Gilead wins reversal of $2.54 billion hepatitis C drug patent verdict

(Reuters) - A federal judge in Delaware has overturned a jury's verdict requiring Gilead Sciences Inc to pay a record $2.54 billion because its hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni infringed a patent held by rival Merck & Co Inc.

Mehbooba lays foundation stones of college, hospital blocks at SKIMS

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today laid the foundation stones of the college block and the 250-bedded hospital block of the SKIMS Medical College here. To be built at a cost of Rs 172.25 crore, the complex would have all the modern-day healthcare facilities, an official spokesman said. The chief minister directed the executing agencies to complete the project within three years and hoped that once completed, the people living in the catchment areas would get all the modern-day healthcare facilities at the hospital. Mehbooba, who is also the chairperson of the SKIMS governing body, asked the principal of the medical college to get all the machines and diagnostic equipment by the time the construction was completed. Spread over 2,260 square metres, the new college block will have eight storeys, while the hospital block will comprise seven storeys with a parking facility of 100 vehicles.

Scientists in China have developed a new intranasal flu vaccine using nano-technology ...

Scientists in China have developed a new intranasal flu vaccine using nano-technology that can target broad-spectrum flu viruses and induce robust immune responses. The intranasal nano-vaccine was developed by a research group from Wuhan Institute of Virology of China announced that they have developed a new type of flu vaccine using nano-technology. The intranasal nano-vaccine can target broad-spectrum flu viruses and induces robust immune responses, Cui Zongqiang, leader of the research group said. "In our study, an intranasal nano-vaccine worked well against infections of H1N1 and H9N2 virus in mice," Cui said. "The results suggest that the 3M2e-rHF nanoparticle is a promising, needle-free, intranasal administered, cross-protective influenza vaccine," he was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. Across China, measures have been taken to contain the winter flu outbreak. Experts said flu infections this winter are 71 per cent above the average for the same period in the ..

Scientists develop human intestinal lining on chip

In a breakthrough, scientists have successfully replicated a human intestinal lining using patient-derived cells inside an organ-chip, a finding that has potential to advance personalised treatments for gastrointestinal diseases.

Drug firm Natco Pharma today said its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) facility in ...

Drug firm Natco Pharma today said its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) facility in Mekaguda near Hyderabad has undergone successful inspection by the US health regulator with zero observations. The inspection of the company's API facility in Mekaguda has been successfully completed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The inspection was conducted during February 12-16, 2018, it added. The regulatory audit resulted in zero observations and no Form 483 was issued, Natco Pharma said. Form 483 is issued by the USFDA if it finds objectionable conditions at a facility.

Pharma and medical devices makers have urged the government to take steps such as ...

Pharma and medical devices makers have urged the government to take steps such as differentiated GST rate for pharmaceutical firms and separating medical devices from drugs through a new Act, industry body FICCI said. Chief executives of pharma and medical devices firms, who met Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar during the third edition of the India Pharma and Medical Device 2018 conclave, also said they are eagerly awaiting the swift implementation of the Ayushman Bharat insurance schemes, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said in a statement. CEOs of medical devices firms requested the government to separate medical devices from drugs through a new Act, in accordance with global best practices, it added. They also stated that India must abide by globally harmonised standards like ISO and IEC which will allow Indian firms to export medical devices and ensure safety of Indian patients. Chief executives of the sector also ...

Father's stress linked to kids' brain development

Fathers, take note! Taking too much stress may affect the brain development of your kids, a new study has claimed.

The condition of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is being treated for mild ...

The condition of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is being treated for mild pancreatitis, is fine and he is under observation, a source close to him said today. His office in Panaji also issued a statement stating the chief minister would be attending the Budget session of the state Assembly which will commence from February 19. "The CM is being monitored for inflamed pancreas at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai and has not been advised any surgery. He will be attending the Assembly session which is scheduled to begin from February 19," the statement said. Parrikar is being treated at the Lilavati Hospital under the care of noted oncologist P Jagannath. "Parrikar is doing fine. He watched the India-South Africa cricket match yesterday. He is on a liquid diet," the source said. The chief minister is undergoing tests at the hospital and a decision on his discharge will be taken later in the day, the source had said this morning. Parrikar, who was initially referred to the Goa Medical

Ensuring sexual, reproductive health for overall well-being

There are many aspects to ensuring good health and well-being. While many of us focus on healthy eating, regular exercise, and even practice meditation for good health, we often shy away from taking care of our sexual well-being.Reproductive and sexual health and hygiene is one of the most intrinsic yet ignored features of holistic fitness. Not only is there a lot of ignorance and negligence, but also reluctance to openly discuss these things.Since reproductive health is a matter of a lifetime for both men and women, it is imperative that sexual problems and their remedies be proactively discussed on a regular basis."Among the many reproductive health concerns in India include a high rate of unwanted pregnancies, prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and cancers related to the reproductive organs. Sexual education entails much more than just using condoms and other forms of contraceptives to avoid pregnancy," said Dr Parinita Kalita, Gynaecologist, Lybrate."Our internal .

Girls may inherit ovarian cancer gene from fathers

Scientists have found a gene responsible for ovarian cancer that can be passed down from fathers to their daughters.

'Back-and-forth exchanges boost children's brain response to language'

Scientists have found that conversation between an adult and a child may change the child's brain, and this back-and-forth conversation can be more critical to language development. The researchers found that children from higher-income families hear about 30 million more words during their first three years of life than children from lower-income families. This "30-million-word gap" correlates with significant differences in tests of vocabulary, language development, and reading comprehension. In a study of children between the ages of four and six, the researchers found that differences in the number of "conversational turns" accounted for a large portion of the differences in brain physiology and language skills that they found among the children. The findings, published in the journal Psychological Science, suggest that parents can have considerable influence over their children's language and brain development by simply engaging them in conversation. "The important thing is not ..

Elevated dopamine levels can cause hallucinations: study

Scientists have found a link between hallucinations and dopamine, an organic chemical that plays several important roles in the brain and body. The researchers found that people with schizophrenia who experience auditory hallucinations tend to hear what they expect, an exaggerated version of a perceptual distortion that is common among other people without hallucinations. Those with hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms are known to have elevated dopamine, the main area of focus for available treatments for psychosis, but it was unclear how this could lead to hallucinations. They found that elevated dopamine could make some patients rely more on expectations, which could then result in hallucinations. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, explain why treatments targeting the production of dopamine could help alleviate this condition. "Our brain uses prior experiences to generate sensory expectations that help fill in the gaps when sounds or images are distorted

Common BP drug may prevent onset of Type 1 diabetes

A drug commonly used drug to control high blood pressure may be also effective in preventing the onset of Type 1 diabetes in up to 60 per cent of those at risk, researchers say.

Scientists discover link between hallucinations, dopamine

People with schizophrenia, who experience auditory hallucinations, tend to hear what they expect an exaggerated version of a perceptual distortion that is common among other people without hallucinations.