Page 61 - Health Medical Pharma
Polling brings double trouble in village of twins
Mohammadpur Umri in Allahabad is known as the village of twins. The village has over 150 pairs of twins, almost all of them identical. Fifty-five twins are eligible to vote.
AI overtakes humans in predicting death, heart attack risk
Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that is better than human doctors at predicting the risk of heart attack or death. By repeatedly analysing 85 variables in 950 patients with known six-year outcomes, an algorithm "learned" how imaging data interacts. It then identified patterns correlating the variables to death and heart attack with more than 90 per cent accuracy. Machine learning, the modern bedrock of artificial intelligence, is used every day, researchers said. Google's search engine, face recognition on smartphones, self-driving cars, Netflix and Spotify recommendation systems all use machine learning algorithms to adapt to the individual user. "These advances are far beyond what has been done in medicine, where we need to be cautious about how we evaluate risk and outcomes. We have the data but we are not using it to its full potential yet," said Luis Eduardo Juarez-Orozco, of the Turku PET Centre in Finland. Doctors use risk scores to make ...
How much coffee is too much? Scientists decode
Drinking six or more cups of coffee a day can be harmful to your health, increasing the risk of heart disease by up to 22 per cent, a study claims. A morning coffee is essential for many people looking to kick-start their day. While the humble coffee may be a vital feature of the daily grind, researchers from the University of South Australia wondered how much caffeine is too much. They investigated the association of long-term coffee consumption and cardiovascular disease, finding the point at which excess caffeine can cause high blood pressure, a precursor to heart disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, yet one of the most preventable. This is the first time an upper limit has been placed on safe coffee consumption and cardiovascular health, according to the study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "Coffee is the most commonly consumed stimulant in the world -- it wakes us up, boosts our .
Physical, mental health of seniors linked to optimism, wisdom, loneliness: Study
Advancing age is broadly associated with declining cognitive, physical and mental health. As part of a new study, researchers analysed how distinctive factors, such as wisdom, loneliness, income and sleep quality, impact - for good and bad - the physical and mental functioning of older persons.A team of researchers found that physical health correlated with both cognitive function and mental health.Specifically, cognitive function was significantly associated with physical mobility, wisdom, and satisfaction with life. Physical health was associated with mental well-being, resilience, and younger age. Mental health was linked to optimism, self-compassion, income and lower levels of loneliness and sleep disturbances."Continuing care senior housing communities are important sites for studying and promoting health in older adults," said Dilip Jeste, lead author of the study.According to researchers, most people focus on diseases and risk factors, like old age, unhealthy diet and lack of ..
Zydus Cadila gets USFDA nod for blood pressure lowering drug
Drug firm Zydus Cadila Monday said it has received final nod from the US health regulator to market Chlorthalidone tablets, used to treat high blood pressure. Zydus Cadila has received the final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Chlorthalidone tablets in the strengths of 25 mg and 50 mg, the company said in a BSE filing. Chlorthalidone is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is also used to treat fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disorders or edema caused by taking steroids or estrogen. Zydus Cadila said the product will be manufactured at the group's formulations manufacturing facility at SEZ, Ahmedabad. The group now has 266 approvals and has filed over 350 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) since the commencement of its filing process, Zydus Cadila said. Shares of Cadila Healthcare, the listed entity of the group, were trading 3.02 per cent lower at Rs
The Seventh HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award in APAC Opens for Submissions
/ -- HIMSS Asia Pacific and Elsevier are proud to announce the call for submissions for the 7th Annual Asia Pacific (APAC) HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award 2019. "The 7th annual HIMSS-Elsevier APAC award is a really significant initiative that was first incepted in Asia back in 2013 and today it is a global icon that spans across other regions including Europe, Middle East and Latin America. Elsevier has been our long standing key partner in recognizing the best achievements and innovations in the region, and we look forward to uncovering more of such this year and celebrating them during this year's HIMSS AsiaPac19 in Bangkok, Thailand," said Simon Lin, Vice President APAC, HIMSS. Since 2013, the HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award has attracted 218 submissions from 120 organizations across 30 countries, impacting over 41 million patients worldwide. The two categories for submission are: Outstanding ICT Achievement focuses on harnessing information and technology to ...
Machine learning could predict death or heart attack with over 90% accuracy: Study
A study claimed that machine learning, modern bedrock of artificial intelligence, could predict death or heart attack with more than 90 per cent accuracy.The study was presented at The International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT (ICNC) 2019.Machine learning is used every day. Google's search engine, face recognition on smartphones, self-driving cars, Netflix and Spotify recommendation systems -- all use machine learning algorithms to adapt to the individual user.By repeatedly analysing 85 variables in 950 patients with known six-year outcomes, an algorithm 'learned' how imaging data interacts. It then identified patterns correlating the variables to death and heart attack with more than 90 per cent accuracy.Study author, Dr Luis Eduardo Juarez-Orozco of the Turku PET Centre, Finland said, "These advances are far beyond what has been done in medicine, where we need to be cautious about how we evaluate risk and outcomes. We have the data but we are not using it to its .
Men too have ticking 'biological clock' just like women: Study
A study found that men who delay in starting a family can affect the health of their partners as well as the children in future.The study was published in the journal, 'Maturitas'.The study reviewed 40 years of research on the effect of parental age on fertility, pregnancy and the health of children."While it is widely accepted that physiological changes that occur in women after 35 can affect conception, pregnancy and the health of the child, most men do not realize their advanced age can have a similar impact," said Gloria Bachmann, the lead author of the research.While the medical profession has not clearly accepted the definition of when does advanced paternal age begins, it ranges from 35 to 45. Infants born to fathers over 45 have risen 10 per cent in the United States over the past 40 years, likely due to assisted reproductive technology.The study found that men who are 45 and above can experience decreased fertility and put their partners at risk for increasing pregnancy ...
Artificial intelligence could prevent unnecessary tests in patients with chest pain
A recent study showed artificial intelligence (AI) may prevent 'unnecessary examination' in patients with stable chest pain, a frequent cause of visits to emergency departments and general practitioners.The study was presented at The International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT (ICNC) 2019.Study author Dr Marco Mazzanti, Royal Brompton Hospital said, "We know that doctors overtest patients and ignore recommendations when a test justified about two-thirds of the time. Our 'super brain' decision support system, called ARTICA does not advise unnecessary examinations."ARTICA, which stands for Artificial Intelligence for clinical Cardiac Navigation, is a decision support system created by the researchers. It uses machine learning, a type of AI, to make decisions that adhere to recommended practice.The study enrolled 982 patients with stable chest pain.The researchers compared decisions on which tests to perform made by a cardiologist and by ARTICA on the same day. ARTICA ..
Men's ticking 'biological clock' may put partner, kids at health risk: Study
Men too have a ticking "biological clock" -- just like women -- say scientists who have found that older fathers may put the health of their partners and unborn children at risk. The study, published in the journal Maturitas, which reviewed 40 years of research on the effect of parental age on fertility, pregnancy and the health of children. "While it is widely accepted that physiological changes that occur in women after 35 can affect conception, pregnancy and the health of the child, most men do not realise their advanced age can have a similar impact," said Gloria Bachmann, from Rutgers University in the US. While the medical profession has no clearly accepted definition of when advanced paternal age begins -- it ranges from 35 to 45 -- infants born to fathers over 45 have risen 10 per cent in the US over the past 40 years, likely due to assisted reproductive technology. The study found that men 45 and older can experience decreased fertility and put their partners at risk for ...
Here's why Huntington's disease attacks brain cells in human
Recent study conducted on mice has given more insight into how and why Huntington's disease attacks and destroys certain brain cells in human beings.The study was published in the Journal of Cell Biology."We are excited about this result because it may explain why the patient gets the disease in this area of the brain called the striatum," said Srinivasa Subramaniam, Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research-Florida.According to the study, a toxic protein linked to Huntington's disease can move from neuron to neuron through a nanotube tunnel whose construction is initiated by a protein called Rhes.People with Huntington's disease inherit a damaged protein that is somehow complicit in destroying brain cells. Scientists discovered this protein in 1993 but are still piecing together its role in this degenerative disease.Scans show Huntington's disease brains are shrunken and degraded. As the neurons deteriorate, people lose motor control, they can have emotional problems and their ..
How much coffee is too much?
Drinking six or more cups of coffee a day can be harmful and increase the risk of heart ailment by up to 22 per cent, a recent study revealed.The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.In Australia, one in six people is affected by cardiovascular disease. It is a major cause of death with one person dying from the disease every 12 minutes.According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, yet one of the most preventable.Investigating the association of long-term coffee consumption and cardiovascular disease, researchers Dr Ang Zhou and Elina Hypponen of the Australian Centre for Precision Health said that their research confirms the point at which excess caffeine can cause high blood pressure, a precursor to heart disease.This is the first time an upper limit has been placed on safe coffee consumption and cardiovascular health."Coffee is the most commonly consumed stimulant in the world - it wakes us up, boosts .
Older dads put health of partners, unborn kids at risk
Men who delay starting a family have a ticking "biological clock" -- just like women -- that may affect the health of their partners and children, according to the researchers.
Treatment to restore natural heartbeat may become a reality for heart failure
A new therapy called 'His bundle' pacing that engages and restores the heart's natural physiology could pave the way for more treatment options for heart failure patients who also suffer from electrical disturbances, according to a pilot study.The study called 'His SYNC trial' was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.Researchers compared the effectiveness of two different cardiac resynchronization therapies, or treatments to correct irregularities in the heartbeat through implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.The current standard of care, known as biventricular pacing, uses two pacing impulses in both lower chambers, whereas the newer approach, called 'His bundle' pacing, attempts to work toward engaging and restoring the heart's natural physiology. The two approaches have never before been directly compared in a head-to-head clinical trial."This is the first prospective study in our field to compare outcomes between different ways to achieve cardiac ...
Broccoli sprout extracts may help manage schizophrenia
A chemical derived from broccoli sprouts can be used to manage schizophrenia symptoms, scientists have found, paving the way for treatments that reduces unwanted side effects of traditional medicines. Scientists from Johns Hopkins University in the US characterised a set of chemical imbalances in the brains of people with schizophrenia related to the chemical glutamate. Supplementing with broccoli sprout extract, which contains high levels of the chemical sulphoraphane, may someday provide a way to tweak the level of chemical glutamate. Sulphoraphane is found in a variety of cruciferous vegetables, and was first identified as a "chemoprotective" substance decades ago, researchers said. "It's possible that future studies could show sulphoraphane to be a safe supplement to give people at risk of developing schizophrenia as a way to prevent, delay or blunt the onset of symptoms," said Akira Sawa, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University. Schizophrenia is marked by hallucinations, ...
Genetic therapy heals damage caused by heart attack
Scientists have developed a gene therapy that can induce heart cells to regenerate and repair the damage caused by a heart attack. Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, caused by the sudden blocking of one of the cardiac coronary arteries, is the main cause of heart failure. The condition affects over 23 million population in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). At present, when a patient survives a heart attack, they are left with permanent structural damage to their heart through the formation of a scar, which can lead to heart failure in the future, according to the researchers from King's College London in the UK. "It is a very exciting moment for the field. After so many unsuccessful attempts at regenerating the heart using stem cells, which all have failed so far, for the first time we see real cardiac repair in a large animal," said Mauro Giacca, from King's College London. In the study, published in the journal Nature, ...
Torrent Pharma recalls over 8.82 lakh bottles of hypertension drug from US, Puerto Rico
Drug firm Torrent Pharma Inc is recalling over 8.82 lakh bottles of Losartan Potassium tablets, used for treatment of hypertension, from the US and Puerto Rico markets on account of deviations from the current good manufacturing norms, according to a report of the US health regulator. The US-based arm of Torrent Pharmaceuticals is recalling 28,464 bottles of Losartan Potassium tablets USP in the strength of 25 mg manufactured by the parent company at its Indrad facility in Mehsana district, the latest Enforcement Report of the the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) said. The company is also recalling 164,424 bottles of Losartan Potassium tablets, USP, 50 mg from the US and Puerto Rico, the regulator said. Torrent Pharma Inc is also recalling 65,184 bottles of Losartan Potassium tablets, USP, 100 mg from these markets, it added. The company is recalling 3,31,764 bottles of Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets, USP, 50mg/12.5mg from US and Puerto Rico, the
'Shooter Dadi's condition stable, says AIIMS doctor
The condition of Chandro Tomar, popularly known as "Shooter Dadi", who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS, is stable and the octogenarian has now been shifted to a private ward, a doctor said on Saturday.
Study highlights importance of psychological screening in paediatric kidney transplant recipients
A study was presented at the 10th Congress of the International Pediatric Transplant Association on the importance of screening transplant recipients for psychological function, as after receiving a kidney transplant children may experience impaired quality of life.The research team at Children's National hospital spoke directly to kids about their quality of life after kidney transplant in order to tailor timely interventions to children. Generally, recipients of kidney transplants have reported impaired quality of life compared with healthy peers, with higher mental health difficulties, disrupted sleep patterns and lingering pain.The Children's team measured general health-related quality of life using a 23-item PedsQL Generic Core module and measured the transplant-related quality of life using the PedsQL- Transplant Module.The forms, which can be used for patients as young as 2, take about five to 10 minutes to complete and were provided to the child, the parent or the primary ...
Tech-savvy people more likely to accept digital healthcare services
Researchers at Penn State University have claimed that people who have high confidence in machines and in their own technological capabilities are more likely to use and accept digital healthcare services.The study was presented at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Glasgow, Scotland."There is increasing use of automated systems in the medical field, where intake is now often conducted through a kiosk instead of by a receptionist," said S Shyam Sundar, one of the researchers, Penn State University.According to Sundar, the healthcare industry can benefit from increased reliance on automated systems."Doctors are limited by their human bandwidth, by their experience, knowledge and even state of mind from minute to minute," he said."In contrast, machines can be programmed to 'think' of all the possible conditions that a patient's symptoms could point to, and they never get tired. Some level of automation is clearly needed," he added.The researchers recruited ...