Page 617 - Health Medical Pharma
'In few decades, people may live till 140 years'
Thanks to medical innovations, people will live till the age of 140 and hospitals will get transformed into mere casualty rooms, according to experts at the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. Participating in a session on fourth industrial revolution technologies that are transforming healthcare, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the artificial intelligence techniques working with data enable medical scientists to stand on the shoulders of giants as they can instantly access best-case history. "Even the mundane - but vital - area of hospital administration is being transformed, with real-time interactive recording of patient outcomes dramatically reducing bureaucracy and costs," he said. According to the experts, the world is getting healthier as technology and medicine are colliding, as per a release issued by the WEF. "People will live to the age of 140 within a few decades, hospitals will be transformed into mere casualty rooms as patient self-management of health ...
Sree Subramania Ayurvedic Nursing Home in Calicut gets NABH Certification
Sree Subramania Ayurvedic Nursing Home, a prominent Green Leaf Certified Ayurveda Centre in Kerala, known for its research and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, stress management, back ache, obesity management and dengue has recently been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH).The accreditation was handed over by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in the capital today.The accreditation certificate was handed over to Bhishak Ratna Rajaratnam Vydiar, Medical Director and Dr. Sanand Ratnam, Chief Medical Officer of Sree Subramania Ayurvedic Nursing Home.The hospital has received a certification from the NABH stating that the accreditation, granted based on various parameters under patient safety and quality of care, will be effective from November 2017 to November 2020.The NABH is a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), set up to establish and operate accreditation ...
Exposure to air pollution in womb may shorten lifespan
Babies' exposure to high levels of air pollution in the womb may lead to a type of DNA damage, typically associated with ageing, called telomere shortening, warned a study.
Super foods to be included in your beauty regimen
Super foods are no longer just to be found at the grocery store. They're now taking over the beauty aisles too. Nutrient packed foods are popping up nowadays to give your hair and skin that much needed boost so go for it girls.
Amity, IFS to work jointly in assisted reproduction technology, embryology
Amity University and the Indian Fertility Society (IFS) inked a memorandum of understanding to collaborate jointly in the areas of assisted reproduction technology (ART) and embryology on Wednesday.The MoU was signed to broaden the scope of collaboration in research and other related areas between the two institutions. It was signed by Dr. B.L. Arya, Registrar, Amity University and Dr. K.D. Nayar, Secretary General, IFS.Dr. Sohani Verma, President, IFS, Dr. Sunita Singh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Amity University, Dr. W Selvamurthy- President, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation and Prof.(Dr.) Bhudev C.Das -Chairman and H. G. Khorana Chair Professor, Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR) and Dean, Health and Allied Sciences, Amity University witnessed the signing of the MoU.Dr. Verma said that she was convinced that the association between IFS and Amity will be mutually beneficial of both organisations. She hoped the collaboration would move .
Breast cancer cases almost double than prostate cancer in J-K:
Over 1,300 breast cancer and 695 prostate cancer cases were reported in Jammu and Kashmir over the past four years, said the state government today, asserting that the process for setting up a cancer institute and nuclear medicine department here has been initiated. "Prostate cancer is common in men above the age of 70 years in the state but not as common as breast cancer in females," Health minister Bali Bhagat said in a written reply to a question by National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul in the assembly here. Justifying his statement with figures, he said, while 1,318 cases of breast cancer were reported from 2014 to 2017, 695 cases of prostate cancer were reported during the same period. Bhagat said 303 breast cancer cases were reported in 2014, 330 in 2015, 296 in 2016 and 389 in 2017. Similarly, 242 prostate cancer cases came to light in 2014, 273 in 2015, 75 in 2016 and 105 last year, the minister said. He said the cancer patients are referred to institutions ...
Bharat Biotech's rotavirus vaccine gets WHO prequalification
Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech today said WHO has granted prequalification to its rotavirus vaccine ROTAVAC, used for prevention of infant deaths and hospitalisations due to rotavirus diarrhoea. World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification is necessary for the UN agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to purchase vaccines in partnership with developing countries. "The WHO prequalification will ensure access of the vaccine to almost 100 countries," Bharat Biotech Chairman and MD Krishna Ella told reporters. This vaccine is innovated and made in India. The true impact of vaccines can be seen when vaccinations are carried out in affected populations, he added. "ROTAVAC has been supplied to low income countries at USD one per dose, with the feasibility for further 30 per cent price reductions, based on the procurement of around 100 million doses for these countries," Ella said. The vaccine has been developed as a result of a multi country - multi partner collaborative ...
ICICI Lombard General Insurance launches health insurance app - IL TakeCare
In collaboration with Practo
ICICI Lombard launches app to transform OPD health insurance
Private sector general insurance firm ICICI Lombard today launched a health insurance app - 'IL TakeCare' that takes cares of Outpatient (OPD) expenses of all its customers. The solution has been launched in collaboration with Practo, the leading healthcare platform. "The app meets key customer requirements with respect to their primary healthcare needs. This includes hassle-free, real-time claim authentication of expenses such as doctor consultation, medical tests, pharmacy spends etc," ICICI Lombard General Insurance, MD, Bhargav Dasgupta said. It also empowers the user to access a cashless network comprising of specialised doctors, he said, adding that the app thus addresses a key problem of customers wherein they were hitherto required to pay for OPD expenses from their own pocket. The app works in sync with Practo's 'Trinity' technology to allow customers to make cashless visits to doctors, including those who operate stand-alone clinics, he said. The app also ...
Roko Cancer camp by ONGC in Assam
Oil exploration major Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) has launched its 'Roko Cancer' Corporate Social Responsibility programme at its operational area at Madhapur in Jorhat district of Assam. Five types of early detection for cancer related tests were conducted at the programme at Madhapur in Borhulla oil operational area under Titabor sub-division yesterday to detect growth of cancer, Kasi Donepudi, senior manager, Project & Health Planning for 'Roko Cancer' here, said. The tests were mammography, screening for breast cancer, clinical breast examination by physician, screening for cervical cancer through PAP smear, oral cancer examination and counselling for stopping tobacco use. Altogether 461 men and women were tested and checked for possible diseases prevalent not only in Assam but also in ONGC oil operational areas in Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal and Nagaland, he said. The camp was started from Jorhat ONGC operational area for three districts of Jorhat, ...
Sugar tax on soft drinks may up alcohol consumption: study
Levying a sugar tax on soft drinks may have the unintended consequence of driving up alcohol consumption, a study has warned. Many other countries impose an industry levy on soft drinks with a high sugar content, including Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Portugal, Mexico, Chile, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, researchers from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK said. Countries like India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Israel, and South Africa are set to follow suit, in a bid to curb the rising tide of obesity and diabetes, they said. Several studies have shown that increasing the price of sugary drinks could make a small but significant dent in purchasing patterns, particularly among poorer households. However, little is known about the potential impact of such a hike on alcohol sales. Researchers applied a specialised tool for studying consumer demand to data on household expenditure on food and drink in 2012 and 2013 from a sample of 32,000 UK
Philips launches AI-driven imaging solutions
With a view to provide reliable imaging solutions, Philips India on Wednesday launched next-generation products supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven software.
'3D printed' human skin pigmentation created
Scientists have developed a new method for controlling pigmentation in fabricated human skin using 3D bio-printing. The method developed by researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has the potential to produce pigment-correct skin grafts. It could also be used to develop skin constructs for toxicology testing and fundamental cell biology research. The team controlled the distribution of melanin-producing skin cells (melanocytes) on a biomimetic tissue substrate, to produce human-like skin pigmentation. While current engineered skin constructs are successfully used in skin repair and grafting, toxicology, and chemical testing, they lack complex features such as skin pigmentation, sweat glands or hair follicles. "3D bio-printing is an excellent platform for the precise deposition of biomaterials and living cells to make biomimetic skin, in large volumes with great repeatability," said Wei Long Ng from Nanyang Technological University. However, ...
New smartphone tool can detect bacteria in food, water
Scientists have developed a low-cost chip that will allow your smartphone to rapidly detect harmful bacteria in water or a food sample. Once commercially available, it should be useful to cooks using fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, and aid workers in the field responding to natural disasters, researchers said. Scientists from University of Massachusetts Amherst in the US designed a sensitive and reliable bacteria- detecting chip that can test whether fresh spinach or apple juice, for example, carry a bacterial load. The chip, used with a light microscope, relies on "capture molecule," 3-mercaptophenylboronic acid (3-MBPA) that attracts and binds to any bacteria. The chemical detection method, "surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy" (SERS), relies on silver nanoparticles. The techniques are now in the patenting process. An optical detection method was adapted for possible home use with a smart phone microscope adapter. The first step in the new test for bacteria ...
Social media reduces sleep among children
According to a recent study published in a journal named Acta Paediatrica, the excessive use of social media can lead to reduced sleeping hours among children.The research was conducted among the Canadian students aged between 11-20 years which revealed a dose-response relation between the over-use of social media and the shorter sleep duration among the students.There were in total 5242 participants in the study out of which 63.6% slept less than recommended and 73.4% students reported that they used social media for at least an hour per day."The impact social media can have on sleep patterns is a topic of great interest given the well-known adverse effects of sleep deprivation on health," said senior author Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput, of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.He further added that electronic screen devices are pervasive in today's society and they are just starting to understand their risks and benefits.
Soldier injured in ceasefire violation dies
A soldier died on Wednesday, who was injured during unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistan had resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Krishna Ghati sector on January 20.During the exchange of fire, Naik Jagadish sustained grievous splinter injuries.He was immediately evacuated and provided intensive medical care in Military Hospital.However, despite all efforts, the 34-year-old soldier succumbed to his injuries.Jagadish, a resident of Chamoli district, is survived by his wife Usha Devi and two young children.
Onion type may help fight drug-resistant TB: study
A type of onion may hold the key to fighting antibiotic resistance in cases of tuberculosis, according to a study led by an Indian-origin researcher. The study led by Sanjib Bhakta of University College London (UCL) in the UK found that the antibacterial properties extracted from the Persian shallot could increase the effects of existing antibiotic treatment. When a patient has a bacterial infection, they may be prescribed an antibiotic. In the case of TB, they will likely be prescribed a cocktail of four antibiotics including Isoniazid and Rifampicin - but increasingly, the pathogens in bacterial infections are developing resistance to antibiotic drugs. This means the drug loses its ability to effectively control or kill harmful bacteria, and is free to grow and cause further damage to the patient which, can be passed along to the population at large. The team investigated extracts of bulbs from Allium Stipitatum - also known as the Persian shallot and used as a staple .
Kids with ADHD prone to substance abuse: Study
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) engage in substance use at a younger age than those without ADHD, according to a study.The study was led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.This large multi-site study also found that children diagnosed with ADHD had a faster progression of substance use during childhood and adolescence."There has been inconsistency across previous studies of children with ADHD and their risk of substance use in adolescence and in adulthood," said Brooke Molina, lead author of the study."This study closely examined substance use by children with and without ADHD over a long period of time, considering that experimenting with some substances, such as alcohol and cigarettes, is typical after teens reach high-school age."The authors confirmed a finding for the ADHD group that is widely replicated in the general population - that early substance use strongly predicts adult substance use. However, more of the ...
Microbial bacteria can help identify signs of premature births
It came to light with a recent study that changes to the communities of microbes living in the reproductive tract of pregnant women could help to spot those at risk of giving birth prematurely.The Imperial College London-study found that the subtle changes to the bacteria present in the vagina were strongly associated with the woman's waters breaking early which led preterm birth of the baby, i.e. before 37 weeks.According to the researchers, it could have an impact on the health of mother and baby, including increasing the risk of sepsis for newborns.In the published study, the team of researchers also highlighted that while the standard antibiotic treatment given to women whose waters break early, a precursor of labour, can help to reduce infection, for a small subset of women it may actually be detrimental.They explained that for a small proportion of women the treatment, administered as a protective measure in hospital, can disrupt the balance of the mother's microbes by ...
Turmeric may help boost memory, lower Alzheimer's risk: study
Turmeric - a common ingredient in Indian cuisine - may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by improving memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss, a study claims. The research, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, examined the effects of an easily absorbed curcumin supplement on memory performance in people without dementia, as well as curcumin's potential impact on the microscopic plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Found in turmeric, curcumin has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in lab studies. It also has been suggested as a possible reason that senior citizens in India have a lower prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and better cognitive performance. "Exactly how curcumin exerts its effects is not certain, but it may be due to its ability to reduce brain inflammation, which has been linked to both Alzheimer's disease and major depression," said Gary ..