Page 616 - Health Medical Pharma
Julian Assange embassy stay dangerous to health: doctors
The ongoing six-year confinement of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London's Ecuadorian embassy is dangerous to his physical and mental health, according to new clinical assessments. A pair of doctors reached the verdict after spending 20 hours over three days in October performing "a comprehensive physical and psychological evaluation" of Assange, The Guardian reported yesterday. "While the results of the evaluation are protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, it is our professional opinion that his continued confinement is dangerous physically and mentally to him, and a clear infringement of his human right to healthcare," they wrote in the newspaper. The duo -- Sondra Crosby, a doctor and associate professor at Boston University's school of medicine and public health, and Brock Chisholm, a London-based clinical psychologist -- renewed calls for Assange to be given safe passage to a hospital. The clinicians called for the British Medical Association and others
Suffering IBS symptoms? Vitmain D supplements might help
Taking Vitamin D supplements could reduce the painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), suggests a new study.Scientists from the University's Department of Oncology and Metabolism reviewed and integrated all available research on vitamin D and IBS.The study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in IBS patients - regardless of their ethnicity.The Sheffield team also assessed the possible benefits of vitamin D supplements on IBS symptoms. Whilst they believe more research still needs to be conducted, their findings suggested supplements may help to ease symptoms which can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Vitamin D was shown to have the most benefit on quality of life in IBS.Lead author of the study, Dr Bernard Corfe, said: "The study provides an insight into the condition and, importantly, a new way to try to manage it."It is evident from the findings that all people with IBS should have their vitamin D levels tested and a large majority of them ...
WHO grants prequalification to Bharat Biotech's Rotavirus Vaccine 'ROTAVAC'
Bharat Biotech on Thursday announced that the World Health Organisation (WHO Geneva) has awarded prequalification to the developing world's first rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC.WHO prequalification is necessary for UN agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to purchase the vaccine in partnership with developing countries and will help accelerate availability of the ROTAVAC to the developing countries with the highest burden of disease.India has introduced ROTAVAC into its national immunisation program during 2016, with 35 million doses delivered till date.Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea among children less than five years of age around the world, resulting in 215,000 deaths and 2 million hospitalisations. Vaccinations are an important part of global public health efforts to meet the Sustainable Developmental Goals of UNDP."We are highly honored and delighted to become the first rotavirus vaccine from the developing world and India to be WHO Prequalified. We feel proud to
Vitamin D may ease painful irritable bowel syndrome
Regular consumption of Vitamin D supplements could help to ease painful irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms as well as quality of life, a new study has found.
New system lets doctors see under patients' skin sans scalpel
Doctors could soon put down scalpels and peek under patients' skin, thanks to a new augmented reality system that displays internal anatomy right on the body, scientists say. The system, called ProjectDR, allows medical images such as CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to be displayed directly on a patient's body in a way that moves as the patient does. "We wanted to create a system that would show clinicians a patient's internal anatomy within the context of the body," said Ian Watts from University of Alberta in Canada. Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are "augmented" by computer-generated perceptual information. The technology in the new system includes a motion- tracking system using infrared cameras and markers on the patient's body, as well as a projector to display the images. However, the really difficult part, Watts said, is having the image track properly on the ...
Now doctors can see under patient's skin without using knife
A new technology has been found which lets doctors see patient's internal anatomy skin without the use of scalpel.The new augmented reality tech displays the patient's internals right on the body. The system called, ProjectDP, allows medical examinations such as MRI data and CT scans to be displayed directly on the patient's body which moves along with the patient's movements.Developer of ProjectDR and a computing science graduate student, Ian Watts said, "We wanted to create a system that would show clinicians a patient's internal anatomy within the context of the body". He developed this technology with fellow graduate student Michael Fiest.As stated, the technology includes a motion-tracking system using infrared cameras and markers on the patient's body, as well as a projector to display the images.However, Watts explained that the difficult part was to have the image track properly on the patient's body, despite their movements. The solution for them was custom software written ..
Non-invasive energy medicine an alternative method of treatment -- even for cancer
Non-invasive energy medicine is an alternative method of even treating diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis and does not interfere with conventional treatments in any way, one of its leading international exponents has said, adding that in tandem with conventional methods, it could be the medicine of the future. Another expert said it was just a matter of time before it becomes a household name in India.
Spread of diseases may be linked to mosquito genes
It has come to light that transfer of molecules from mosquito genes may hold the key to the spreading of dengue fever, among other diseases.Researchers from the University of Missouri in Columbia have found links between genetic molecules in mosquitoes and dengue fever. They believe that control over fragments of transfer RNA molecules may halt the spread of deadly fever.Conducted by Susanta K. Behura and his team, the study could lead to breakthroughs in combating destructive tropical diseases like dengue fever, Zika virus and yellow fever.A single species of mosquito, Aedes aegypti, was the focus of the research. They believed that it is the key player in the spread of such diseases in animals and humans around the world.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 2.5 billion people reside in places where it's possible to contract dengue fever.According to the world Health Organisation, "Of all disease-transmitting insects, the mosquito is the greatest .
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals updates on presentation
At the ASCO-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium in San Francisco
Indian-American doctor tries to strangle nurse: police
An Indian-American surgeon allegedly tried to strangle his nurse with an elastic cord as he was upset with her for administering an injection into his patient at a "wrong time", according to police. Venkatesh Sasthakonar, 44, through his attorney, has denied the allegation and said that the January 22 incident has been blow out of proportion. Sasthakonar, a weight loss surgeon at Nassau University Medical Center in New York, has been charged with felony strangulation and assault. The police alleged that he threatened the life of his 51 -year-old nurse. According to the complaint, the surgeon "was upset that his nurse had administered injection to his patient at a wrong time". Sasthakonar then came up behind the nurse, took out an elastic cord from his sweatshirt and wrapped it around her neck, the criminal complaint alleged. This caused the nurse to gasp for air and caused substantial pain. "I could kill you for this," the surgeon threatened the nurse, the complaint ...
Senate votes new US Health secretary
The United States Senate voted to confirm new US health secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday, with the final vote count at 55-43.This comes after the post of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was lying vacant for the last four months.Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive, replaces Tom Price, who resigned in September last year after he was found to be wasting taxpayer's money of more than US$1 million by undertaking repeated trips on private and military jets, The Hill reported.Democrats have slammed Azar over rising drug prices that doubled during his tenure (2012-2017) at Eli Lilly, a major pharmaceutical company.They have also expressed some concerns about ObamaCare, the signature healthcare law of former President Barack Obama. The ObamaCare was repealed from the law by Trump last year.The prices of the prescription drugs are likely to be discussed under Azar's tenure. Even President Trump has said that drug companies were "getting away with murder."Under former ...
Spark licenses blindness gene therapy rights outside U.S. to Novartis
(Reuters) - Spark Therapeutics Inc , whose breakthrough gene therapy to treat a rare form of blindness was approved by U.S. regulators in December, said on Wednesday that it had licensed rights to the drug outside the United States to Switzerland-based Novartis AG .
Philip Morris sees six million U.S. smokers switching to iQOS device if cleared
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philip Morris International Inc told a U.S. advisory panel on Wednesday that it expects around 6 million smokers to switch completely to its iQOS electronic tobacco device if the company is allowed to claim it is less risky than cigarettes.
Novartis may expand ops at Hyd centre
Pharma major Novartis is likely to expand the operations at its R &D Centre here, the Telangana government said today. State IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao met Petra Laux, Global Head Public Affairs Policy, Novartis, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, an official release stated. "Dr. Petra Laux expressed that Novartis is very happy about the city. She mentioned that their current footprint is about 90,000 Sft of laboratory space employing about 350 scientific researchers; and will be expanding to 1,62,000 sft to establish its High Potent Formulation Development labs along with Analytical Development Facility which will facilitate 150 more scientific researchers," it said. The expansion of the Novartis R&D Centre will significantly boost the development of Genome Valley, it said. In another meeting, the minister discussed the prospects of setting up AirAsia's Tech Center in Telangana and conducting innovation programmes to support ...
U.S. health advisers weigh risks of novel Philip Morris tobacco device
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health advisers on Wednesday began to consider whether Philip Morris International Inc should be allowed to claim its novel electronic tobacco product is less harmful than cigarettes, potentially making it the first such device to carry a reduced risk claim.
Small tea growers of Assam get id card with QR code
The Tea Board on Wednesday said it has initiated the process of issuance of identity card with Quick Response Code to the small tea growers of Assam and the first batch of cards was distributed last week in the state's Bongaigaon district.
Indian-American doctor couple indicted on health fraud charges
An Indian-American doctor couple has been indicted on charges of committing healthcare fraud by performing unnecessary medical tests and procedures on patients to get payouts from insurance companies. Dr Ashis K Rakhit, 65, and his wife Jayati Gupta Rakhit, 56, specialise in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine and practiced in Cleveland, Ohio. According to the indictment, the Rakhits ordered and performed unnecessary medical tests between 2011 and 2018, including unnecessary nuclear stress tests, cardiac catheterizations, bone density scans, echocardiograms, EKGs, carotid artery scans, venous ultrasounds of the legs and abdominal ultrasounds. They also recorded false symptoms in patient records to justify medically unnecessary tests on patients, including shortness of breath, palpitations, hypertension and abnormalities in breathing, according to the indictment. The Rakhits billed Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers with inflated codes to reflect a service ..
Bharat Biotech's rotavirus vaccine gets WHO pre-qualification
Bharat Biotech on Wednesday announced that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded pre-qualification to its rotavirus vaccine ROTAVAC.
US generic biz to face pricing pressure for 12 months: ICRA
Domestic pharma companies are expected to face pricing pressure by 10-12 per cent on US generic business which may sustain for the next 12 months, a report said. This could negatively impact profitability and cash flows before tapering off gradually, rating agency ICRA said. The US generic business has been a significant contributor to growth and profitability for Indian generic companies over the last decade, but is facing a slowdown over the last couple of years. The industry has registered a decline over three quarters ending September 2017 led by increased competitive intensity resulting in steep pricing pressure, it said. "The US generic markets is characterised by buying bulk volumes at lower prices and tend to have price erosion historically. However, pricing pressure on the US generic business has intensified over the last 12 months. The yearly price erosion which stood at approximately 5-7 per cent during Q2FY2017 has gradually increased to low teens in Q2FY2018
New nanoparticle-based vaccine to combat influenza A viruses
A new vaccine developed using nanoparticles offers universal protection against several influenza A viruses such as H1N1, H3N2, H5N1 and H7N9, researchers say.