Page 629 - Health Medical Pharma
Water sports may put you at risk of superbugs
Regular surfers and bodyboarders are three times more likely to have antibiotic resistant bacteria in their guts than non-surfers, a study has found. Researchers at the University of Exeter in the UK asked 300 people, half of whom regularly surf the UK's coastline, to take rectal swabs. Surfers swallow ten times more sea water than sea swimmers, and scientists wanted to find out if that made them more vulnerable to bacteria that pollute seawater, and whether those bacteria are resistant to an antibiotic. Scientists compared faecal samples from surfers and non- surfers to assess whether the surfers' guts contained E coli bacteria that were able to grow in the presence of cefotaxime, a commonly used and clinically important antibiotic. Cefotaxime has previously been prescribed to kill off these bacteria, but some have acquired genes that enable them to survive this treatment. The study, published in the journal Environment International, found that 13 of 143 (9 per cent) of
Chemical in bread, soybean may reverse breast cancer therapy
Oestrogen-mimicking compounds found in breads, soybean and a range of commonly consumed grains can reverse the effects of 'breakthrough' drug therapy used to treat breast cancer, scientists have found. The study, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, suggests that exposure to chemical compounds called xenoestrogens may significantly reduce the effectiveness of anti-oestrogen treatments for cancer. "Breast cancer patients taking palbociclib/letrozole should consider limiting their exposure to foods that contain xenoestrogens," said Gary Siuzdak, from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in the US. The palbociclib/letrozole combination therapy was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015 after a clinical trial showed it doubled the progression-free survival time in postmenopausal women with oestrogen receptor (ER) positive, metastatic breast cancer. Letrozole blocks the production of oestrogen, thus reducing the growth-promoting stimulation .
Water sports may expose you to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Love to play water sports like surfing or bodyboarding? Beware, you may be three times more likely to swallow antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli or E.coli bacteria in your guts, new research has revealed.
mycity4kids re-brands to 'Momspresso'; aims revenue growth to Rs. 150 cr
Multi-lingual content platform for mothers in India mycity4kids on Monday announced the re-branding of its platform to 'Momspresso'.Further, the company also plans to exponentially grow its revenue from an estimated Rs. 15 crores in FY18 to Rs. 150 crores by FY21 on the back of growing online ad spends. The platform will also target a larger pool of women-centric brands.The new brand with the tagline #MoreToMe will expand the content on its platform, so as to cater to both facets of a mother - as a woman and also as a parent.'Momspresso' will see the addition of new content categories such as health and fitness, beauty and fashion, travel and living, careers and recipes to enhance its relevance to the modern, multi-faceted mother of today."Apart from the content we have always been known for - children and parenting, Momspresso will also focus on content important to mothers as women. There's more to every mother, beyond the obvious, and it's about time we recognize and appreciate ...
President, PM greet soldiers on Army Day
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted the Army personnel on the 70th Army Day.
Bullied kids at high risk of suicidal behaviour
Teens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, a study has found. "Our findings showed a general tendency, in about 15 per cent of the children, of being exposed to the most severe levels of victimisation from the beginning of their education until the transition to high school," said Marie-Claude Geoffroy from McGill University, Montreal in Canada. "Those children were at greater risk of debilitating depressive/dysthymic symptoms or anxiety and of suicidality in adolescence than less severely victimised children, even after we accounted for a plethora of confounders assessed throughout childhood," said Geoffroy. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, looked at data from 1,363 children born in 1997-98 who were followed until age 15 years. Researchers assessed children, based on self-reporting about peer victimisation, at ages 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 ...
Bullied kids at high risk of anxiety, suicidal behaviour
Children who faced bullying may be at high risk of developing mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and anxiety behaviour in their teenage years, a new study shows.
India celebrates 70th Army Day
On the 70th Army Day, Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff Sunil Lanba, and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa paid tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi on Monday.The day commemorates the valiant soldiers for their sacrifice to the nation and its citizens.On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to extend greetings to the soldiers and their families and paid salute to the army."On Army Day, I convey greetings to the soldiers, veterans and their families. Every citizen of India has unwavering trust and pride in our Army, which protects the nation and is also at the forefront of humanitarian efforts during times of natural disasters and other accidents," Modi wrote on Twitter.In another tweet, he said, "Our Army always puts the nation first. I salute all those great individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving the nation. India will never forget our valiant heroes."Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also honoured the courage and bravery of the .
Five natural ways to ease off arthritis pain
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system -that normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses - mistakenly attacks the joints.It causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints - symptoms usually affect the knee, hip and hands. While there is no cure there are a number of ways to get relief.While doctors traditional treat arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers, some medication can cause side effects.This has led many people to use a natural approach to pain relief, although you should consult your doctor before trying natural remedies, reports Express.co.uk.Here're 5 natural ways to ease of Arthritis pain, according to the Arthritis Foundation:- AcupunctureThe form of Chinese medicine which involves inserting thin, needles at specific points on the body is designed to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Many experts recommend this to soothe arthritis pain.The ..
Unable to lose weight? Healthy foods might be stopping you from losing fat
Many people have made weight loss their new year's resolution and have stocked their kitchen shelves with healthy items like avocados, coconut oil and other healthy things.But, according to some nutritionists or dieticians, binge-eating healthy items can also stop you from losing weight, reports the Independent.Rather they would recommend counting calories, but that doesn't mean the quantity of food you're eating isn't important.Specialist dietician Nichola Ludlam-Raine of Nic's Nutrition said, "Everything can be 'unhealthy' if consumed to excess; even water! Foods that are high in fat and low in nutrients, such as fries, doughnuts, crisps, chocolate and cake should definitely be kept to an 'occasional' food, but when it comes to foods that are high in fat and high in nutrients we can indeed have them more frequently."They say that the most important thing is to get your portion size right.Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert explained, "There are days where we overindulge and eat more than
New technology to map brain wiring
Scientists have created a new technique to map the network of connections within the brain, an advance that help scientists understand how the organ works. The human brain is composed of billions of neurons wired together in intricate webs and communicating through electrical pulses and chemical signals. Although neuroscientists have made progress in understanding the brain's many functions - such as regulating sleep, storing memories, and making decisions - visualising the entire "wiring diagram" of neural connections throughout a brain is not possible using currently available methods. Using Drosophila fruit flies, researchers at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the US have developed a method to easily see neural connections and the flow of communications in real time within living flies. The research, published in the journal eLife, is a step forward toward creating a map of the entire fly brain's many connections, which could help scientists understand
114-year-old Punjab man urges youth to shun drugs
At a time when the entire state of Punjab is struggling with the menace of drugs, 114-year-old Karnail Singh has emerged as an example for the youth of the state.Singh is living a healthy life with the fifth generations of his family when most of the people are bed-ridden.He can be seen talking with the children and monitoring the work.Singh credits appropriate diet and early morning walk for his activeness and health"I wake up at 5 in the morning and go for morning walk. I also follow a healthy diet. Staying away from alcohol and drugs is the secret to healthy living," Singh told ANI.He even advised the youth to stay away from the intoxicating element for a long and healthy life.
Rare household bill reveals early reference to tea in Britain
One of the earliest references in Britain to tea, dated 1644, has been discovered by the curator at a historic house in Yorkshire.
An entire Army unit just pledges their organs
Giving a boost to organ donation, an entire Indian Territorial Army (TA) unit has pledged to donate their organs.The TA 123 Infantry Battalion, which was raised on November 1, 1956, by Lt Col Zorawar Singh, is a voluntary unit of the Indian Territorial Army that is affiliated to the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army.The organ donation applications of the unit have been submitted to the Armed Forces Organ, Retrieval & Transplant Auth (AORTA), Army Hospital (R&R), in New Delhi."This is done with the support of the Research and Referral (R&R) hospital of the Armed Forces. Every soldier of the Unit has pledged his organs in writing. After the R&R issues a card to every volunteer", the Commanding Officer of the Unit, Colonel GS Chundawat, VrC, told ANI.Soldiers secure the nation, while they are alive and these men in uniform are ready to help the countrymen even after their deaths.Organ donation has proved to be a miracle for the society. Organs such as kidneys, heart,
Walkathon to spread cancer awareness
To spread awareness about cancer among women and the importance of preventive healthcare, a walkathon was today organised in West Bengal's Howrah district. Around 2,000 people participated in the walkathon which started from Tulsi Chakraborty Uddyan, Khurut Sastitola, and culminated at Swamiji Sporting Club Ground Kalabagan lane, in Howrah district The walkathon was organised by Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Howrah in association with Ambica Banerjee Cancer Foundation.
Greece set to allow medical cannabis use
Greece's parliament is expected to approve the medical use of cannabis in the coming weeks, a deputy minister said today, adding that the change would attract investment to the country. "In a few weeks' time, an amendment will be brought to parliament to define the legislative framework for the cultivation and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products based on medical cannabis, which will open the way for Greek and foreign investments," deputy agricultural development minister Yannis Tsironis told AFP. Tsironis said the legalisation of medical cannabis could attract investments of 1.5 to 2 billion euros ( $1.8 t0 2.4 billion), with Greek, Israeli and Canadian companies already expressing interest. The deputy minister, along with other government officials, attended Greece's first medical cannabis trade fair this weekend. Over 100 local and foreign businesses took part in the event, which was held near Athens. The government last year authorised the import of several ...
Writing a to-do list will help you sleep faster at night
Unable to sleep at night? Try writing a "to-do" list at bedtime as it may aid in falling asleep, a new study suggests.
Slash import duty on diets for kids with metabolic error: MERD
The Metabolic Errors and Rare Disease (MERD) organisation of India has urged the government to slash or waive import duties levied on life-saving diets required for children with such problems in the country.
Fast food may make immune system more aggressive: study
Junk food can make the body's defences more aggressive in the long term, according to a study which found that the immune system reacts similarly to a high fat and high calorie diet as to a bacterial infection. Even long after switching to a healthy diet, inflammation toward innate immune stimulation is more pronounced. These long-term changes may be involved in the development of arteriosclerosis and diabetes, diseases linked to Western diet consumption, researchers said. Scientists from University of Bonn in Germany placed mice for a month on a so-called "Western diet": high in fat, high in sugar, and low in fibre. The animals consequently developed a strong inflammatory response throughout the body, almost like after infection with dangerous bacteria. "The unhealthy diet led to an unexpected increase in the number of certain immune cells in the blood of the mice, especially granulocytes and monocytes," said Anette Christ, postdoctoral fellow at University of ...