Page 588 - Health Medical Pharma
Sweetened drinks may lower chances of pregnancy: study
Drinking one or more sugar-sweetened beverages every day by either partner may reduce the couple's chances of pregnancy, a study has warned. "We found positive associations between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and lower fertility, which were consistent after controlling for many other factors, including obesity, caffeine intake, alcohol, smoking, and overall diet quality," said Elizabeth Hatch, from Boston University in the US. "Couples planning a pregnancy might consider limiting their consumption of these beverages, especially because they are also related to other adverse health effects," said Hatch, lead author of the study published in the journal Epidemiology. Identifying modifiable risk factors for infertility, including diet, could help couples conceive more quickly and reduce the psychological stress and financial hardship related to fertility treatments. Through the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing web-based prospective cohort study of North American ...
Centre to transform district hospitals to medical college level: Amitabh Kant
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Wednesday said that the government is looking at transforming district hospitals to the level of medical colleges."We are bringing in institutional changes to the Medical Council of India so that we can have a vast number of doctors in the country. In the entire rural sector there is a major shortage of doctors, so we are pushing for that," Kant said while addressing a gathering at Max Bupa's new plan GoActive event.He further said that India needs a very good primary healthcare system and about 1.5 lakh such centres are being set up across the country to address the issue."We are rolling out a major initiative as the budget has announced on the healthcare side that will provide support to 10 crore families -- almost 50 crore people for an insurance amount up to Rs 5 lakh," he added.GoActive is a holistic health insurance plan that has been designed to give customers 360 degree coverage for their daily health needs including inpatient hospitalisation and
New gene can keep heart healthy
A gene that may play a protective role in preventing heart disease has been discovered.The UCLA-led study revealed that the gene, called MeXis, acts within key cells inside clogged arteries to help remove excess cholesterol from blood vessels.It found that MeXis controls the expression of a protein that pumps cholesterol out of cells in the artery wall.MeXis is an example of a "selfish" gene, one that is presumed to have no function because it does not make a protein product. However, recent studies have suggested that these so-called "unhelpful" genes can actually perform important biological functions without making proteins and instead producing a special class of molecules called long non-coding RNAs, or lncRNAs."What this study tells us is that lncRNAs are important for the inner workings of cells involved in the development of heart disease," said senior author Peter Tontonoz. "Considering many genes like MeXis have completely unknown functions, our study suggests that further ..
This drink can help diabetics
Drinking a ketone supplement can lower blood sugar levels, a recent study has found.Researchers at the University of British Columbia and University of Oxford demonstrated that a single drink of ketone ester enables better control of blood sugar by reducing spikes in sugar levels.Twenty healthy individuals participated in the study and on two occasions consumed the ketone monoester supplement or a placebo after a 10-hour fast. Thirty minutes later they consumed a drink containing 75 grams of sugar (i.e., a standard oral glucose tolerance test).Blood samples were collected every 15-30 minutes throughout the entire 2.5 hours protocol for analyses of glucose, lipids, and hormones. Compared to the placebo, the blood sugar spike was reduced on the day that the individuals had consumed the ketone drink.It should be noted that this study was conducted with healthy young individuals, to reduce the confounding influence of insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction, and medications, so more ...
Hyderabad: 5-yr-old found sleeping beside dead mother
A heart-wrenching sight grabbed the attention of everyone when a five-year-old boy was spotted at Hyderabad's Osmania General Hospital (OGH) lying fast asleep next to his dead mother.As per Dr Nagendra, Superintendent of Osmania hospital, the boy walked in the hospital with his mother, who was suffering from a cardiac-related problem on Sunday night.The woman's condition was critical and the doctors were unable to help her.As the woman was battling for her life, the child climbed into bed and slept alongside his mother. He was reportedly unaware of his mother's death."We were confused, did not know whom to hand over the boy and the body of the deceased. We later took the help of the police and an NGO, who found out the address of the deceased's family. The body of the woman and the boy were handed over to the family," said that the Dr Nagendra.
RSS-affiliated body welcomes govt decision on prices of stents
The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has welcomed the government's decision to keep intact the price cap on coronary stents, and demanded that prices of all medical devices categorised as drugs be regulated. Prices of devices such as catheters, balloons and guidewires should be immediately regulated as the trade margins of these devices are extraordinarily high and they should be made affordable for the general public, SJM's co- convener Ashwani Mahajan said in a statement. SJM congratulated the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and the government for the decision to keep intact the price cap on coronary stents. There is a need to make all medical devices more affordable to the masses in tune with the government's repeated commitment in this direction, Mahajan said. Earlier, SJM had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ananth Kumar requesting for a downward revision of prices of medical devices including stents. Yesterday, ..
'Management Committee' to oversee Fortis Healthcare, results on Feb 28
Fortis Healthcare on Tuesday said that it has accepted the resignations of its promoters and as an interim measure constituted a "Management Committee" to oversee its functioning.
30 persons suffer food poisoning in Vadodara
Around 30 persons suffered food poisoning after eating dinner at a public function in the city late last night, authorities said today. While 17 out of 30 persons remained hospitalised overnight, the rest were treated at the Out Patient facility at the state-run SSG Hospital, a hospital doctor said. "Out of 17 persons hospitalised last night, 12 were discharged today while rest five still remained admitted," Dr Rajeev Deveshwar said, adding that the condition of the five is stable. The incident occurred at the function organised in Vallabhnagar in Maneja area of the city. After eating dinner, around 30 persons, including children and women, started vomitting, Dr Deveshwar said.
ICRA downgrades credit ratings of Fortis Healthcare, 4 arms
Credit ratings of Fortis Healthcare and its four arms have been downgraded by ICRA following disclosure by the healthcare chain about transfer of considerable funds to third parties, which were later classified as promoter entities. The four subsidiaries which have been downgraded by ICRA are Fortis Hospitals Ltd, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Ltd, Hiranandani Healthcare Pvt Ltd and Fortis C-Doc Healthcare Ltd, Fortis Healthcare said in a BSE filing. As per the filing, ICRA downgraded ratings on Fortis' total debt of Rs 1,170 crore under various instruments while keeping them on watch with negative implications. The material event, ICRA said for such a downgrade was the "recent disclosure by Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL) indicating that considerable funds were transferred to third parties, which were later classified as promoter entities and the current outstanding amount towards such entities is Rs 473 crore." According to ICRA, the long term rating for Rs ..
CCI approves Crown Holdings' acquisition of Signode
Fair trade regulator CCI has given its nod to the proposed acquisition of Signode Industrial Group Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd by packaging company Crown Holdings. Signode provides transit and protective packaging systems and solutions. Its principal products include steel and non- metallic strapping. On the other hand, the US-based packaging firm Crown's primary products include steel and aluminium cans for food, beverage, household and other consumer products, glass bottles for beverage products, and metal vacuum closures and caps. "@CCI_India approves acquisition of Signode Industrial Group Holdings by Crown Holdings," the fair trade regulator said in a tweet yesterday. Deals beyond a certain threshold require clearance of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
"Strong system needed for organ transplant from brain dead"
A strong nation-wide mechanism is required so that major organs from brain dead persons could be immediately available to a needy patient, director of a government agency working for organ transplant said today. The gap between the needy and the donor cannot be bridged unless organs are taken from brain dead patients, National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Director Dr Vimal Bhandari told reporters here. "The NOTTO aimed at having a stronger system to ensure that organs like hearts and livers from brain dead persons are immediately made available to a needy patient through a networking mechanism," he told reporters. There should be a network across the nation, so that the heart of a brain dead person can be taken from Kolkata to Delhi in the quickest possible time, said Bhandari who attended a workshop on organ donation of the brain dead here. This system will bridge the huge gap between donor and recipients as only live organ donation is not enough, ..
New rabies prophylaxis for humans can treat cattle too: Research
New research by experts based in Himachal Pradesh has shown that the new human protocol for rabies prophylaxis, also approved by the WHO, could also be effective in treating cattle bitten by rabid dogs.
Scientists discover new antibiotic family in soil
Raising hopes of a potent new weapon in the fight against rising antibiotic resistance, scientists have discovered in soil samples a new family of antibiotics that could eventually be used to combat hard-to-treat infections.
Eli Lilly appoints Luca Visini as MD of India operations
US pharma major Eli Lilly and Company today said it has appointed Luca Visini as managing director of its Indian subsidiary with effect from February 1, 2018. Visini replaces Edgard Olaizola, who headed Lilly India operations from September 2013 to January 2018, and will now be moving internally to a new role. Visini joined Lilly in 2004 and held several strategic leadership roles in various functional departments out of Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, the USA and Europe. From 2011 to 2014, he was the country manager for Lilly Romania. Commenting on the appointment, Visini said: "I am taking the lead of Lilly India in a year that marks Lilly's 25-year presence in India, and that will witness the launch of several innovative medications which will help answer unmet needs." Lilly has a strong heritage and experience in the research, development and management of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes and the company is determined to engage with all stakeholders ..
Not much impact of move to charge non-Goan patients: Parrikar
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said that the government's decision to charge patients from outside the state at state-run hospitals had resulted in a drop of only four to five per cent in the number of such patients. Parrikar said that the move had not impacted much, adding that there was no charge on emergency facilities for non-Goan patients. Beginning January 1 this year, the state government had starting charging a nominal fee from patients from outside Goa. This, the government had said, was to cut down on the load on government-run facilities like the Goa Medical College and Hospital. "We have started earning a revenue of Rs 30-40 lakh after this decision. Non-goan patients who can financially afford treatment are still coming to hospitals in Goa. It was done to reduce the pressure on facilities as people were complaining that they were not getting proper services," he said. Parrikar was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a ...
Why do people get aggressive after drinking?
Do you tend to get aggressive just after a peg or two? It is because certain areas in the brain that temper aggression shuts off, researchers say.
Government economists critical of budget provisions: Chidambaram
Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that every economist of the government is speaking against the Union Budget provisions, leading to a chorus of dissent growing against it.
Childhood sibling bullying triples schizophrenia risk later
Individuals who were bullied by their siblings during childhood could be up to three times more likely to develop psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in early adulthood, says new research.
Govt to take district hospitals to medical college level: Kant
The government is looking at taking district hospitals to the level of medical colleges, a move that will help address the issue of shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said today. Besides, he said, India needs a very good primary healthcare system and about 1.5 lakh such centres are being set up across the country to address the issue. Kant said the country has a huge shortage of doctors across rural areas for which the government is considering taking the district hospitals to the level of medical colleges. "We are brining in institutional changes to the Medical Council of India so that we can have a vast number of doctors in the country. In the entire rural sector there is a major shortage of doctors, so we are pushing for that," he added. In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government has focused on two things -- one that there has to be a very good primary healthcare, for which 1.5 lakh primary healthcare (centres) are being set .
Frequent night shifts may up diabetes risk: study
Working frequent night shifts may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic predisposition, a study has warned. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US leveraged data on hundreds of thousands of people in the UK Biobank to better understand how shift work - especially frequent night work - contributes to the likelihood of type 2 diabetes. The team also developed a genetic risk score for type 2 diabetes, examining genetic data for tens of thousands of workers in the database. They found that more frequent night work increased the odds of type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic type 2 diabetes risk, among the population studied. "We see a dose-response relationship between frequency of night shift work and type 2 diabetes, where the more often people do shift work, the greater their likelihood of having the disease, regardless of genetic predisposition," said Celine Vetter from Brigham and Women's Hospital. "This helps us understand one piece of