Page 647 - Health Medical Pharma
Need affordable healthcare in India: Venkaiah Naidu
Making quality healthcare available to the masses is the most pressing need of the hour, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today said. The government and the states should spend more on health sector and all stakeholders must focus more on medical services, Naidu said during his valedictory address on the concluding day of the 11th Global Doctors' Summit here. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed in expanding the medical sector and the "PM wants to have medical college in every district and trained medical staff in all these facilities". Observing India has made great medical advancements in recent times, the Vice-President said, "India is still lagging behind in spite of the progresses". Inviting the private sector to chip in substantially to help the health sector grow, Naidu said there is a need to develop a Public-private partnership (PPP) model too. Addressing the doctors, Naidu said, "We treat a doctor as one who takes care of our lives. Medical ...
Separated conjoined twins to take 8-9 months to get discharged: AIIMS
Two months after conjoined twins from Odisha, Jaga and Kalia, were separated through a surgery at AIIMS, Director Randeep Guleria on Saturday said the twins will take another eight to nine months to get discharged as the vital reconstructive surgeries of their skull is yet to be done.
Coimbatore City corpn's feat
Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has climbed from the 197th place to 16th in the country in the Swachch Bharat Mission's implementation, a top official said today. "It is my aim to make it number one city in this regard," Corporation Commissioner and Special Officer, Dr Vijayakarthikeyan said. He was speaking after handing over the 'certificate of appreciation" to the KG Hospital which was adjudged the number one healthcare provider in the city for its contribution towards the implementation of Swachch Bharat Mission. The certificate was given based on the Swachchata Ranking-2018 assessment in respect of 'Above 100 bedded multi-specialty hospitals.' It was received by hospital chairman Dr G.Bakthavathsalam.
Thyrocare launches tuberculosis testing facility FocusTB
Diagnostics services provider Thyrocare today announced the launch of FocusTB, its affordable brand focusing on TB diagnostics. "With the launch of our TB offering, we hope to make a fundamental and measurable change to the way Tuberculosis is diagnosed and treated in India," said A Velumani, CEO of Thyrocare Technologies, at the launch event in Mumbai in a statement. Velumani said, "Drug resistant strains of TB pose a significant public health hazard and must be addressed by India's healthcare sector sooner than later. We are bringing highly advanced technologies like PCR to bear against this adversary for the first time in India. FocusTB services are available throughout India through Thyrocare's Pan Asian network with more than 30,000 sample collection points." It said that India is ranked among the countries with the highest TB burdens globally. As per WHO, India is one of the six countries that account for half of new TB cases globally. Estimates suggest that as ...
AIIMS resident doctors flay delay in counselling for new batch
The AIIMS Resident Doctors Association (RDA) has accused the hospital's administration of delaying the counselling for a fresh batch of resident doctors despite the contract agreement of many existing resident doctors coming to an end on December 31.
Carfilzomib may up risk of cardiovascular problems: study
Taking a higher dose of carfilzomib, an anti-cancer drug, may increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, a study warns. An analysis of past studies showed 18 per cent of multiple myeloma patients receiving carfilzomib experienced cardiovascular adverse events (CVAE) such as hypertension, heart failure, heart attacks, or arrhythmia. More than eight per cent of patients experienced high- grade CVAEs that are more severe, which is more than twice as common as with other drugs for treating relapsed myeloma. Carfilzomib is one of three proteasome inhibitors currently approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in the US. Proteasomes are essentially garbage workers that break down and eliminate proteins inside a cell. Diseases that require more protein turnover to survive, like Multiple myeloma (MM), need more proteasomes. The inhibitor drugs block them from doing their job, causing the cells to fill up
Enzyme that could stop Ebola virus from spreading identified
Scientists have found that an enzyme could help prevent the feared Ebola virus from spreading. The enzyme takes away the virus' ability to copy itself and thus produce more virus particles and more infection, according to the study published in the journal Molecular Cell. "When the Ebola virus enters the human cell, its only purpose is to copy itself, fast. First it must copy all its proteins, then its genetic material," said Jakob Nilsson, from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. "But by inhibiting a specific enzyme we rob the Ebola virus of its ability to copy itself. And that may potentially prevent an Ebola infection from spreading," said Nilsson. There is currently no available treatment for Ebola. However, the researchers behind the new study have found what is called a new host factor for Ebola virus. It can be described as a small part of the host's - for example the human body's - own cells, which the Ebola virus uses to copy itself and produce more ...
First separated new year for Odisha conjoined twins Jaga-Kalia
Having battled the impossible, Jaga and Kalia, the conjoined twins from Odisha's Kandhamal, will for the first time usher in a New Year 'separately', albeit from a hospital ward. It's been two months and five days since the twins, who were joined in the head, underwent a marathon 21-hour-long separation surgery after which their lives hung in balance for almost a month. While Jaga kept showing a steady progress, Kalia's road to recovery has rather been a bumpy ride with his condition deteriorating on quite a few occasions to the extent that his survival seemed difficult. But the steely determination of the doctors and the unflinching faith of the parents bore results and Kalia is off ventilator now for the last three weeks. Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi where the surgery was carried out, said Kalia is also showing improvement now. "He is being fed via ryles tube and is also accepting liquids orally in small ...
MoS Health declares probe into death of Kargil martyr's wife
MoS Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Saturday declared that a probe would be conducted by the health ministry into the death of a Kargil martyr's wife, who died at a private hospital in Haryana's Sonipat.He added that all states were asked to implement the 'Clinical Establishments Act' to avoid such incidents in future."The state government should take this matter seriously. Our ministry will conduct a probe into it. The Centre has also asked all states to implement 'Clinical Establishments Act' which will help us reduce such incidents," Ashwini Kumar Choubey told ANI.A wife of a Kargil braveheart died at a private hospital in Haryana's Sonipat after allegedly being denied treatment due to non-availability of Aadhaar Card, on Friday.The hospital authority, however, has denied the allegations levelled by the victim's son saying that the patient never got to the hospital, and that Aadhaar card was mandatory only for the documentation process and not for treatment.
Blueberries give boost to cervical cancer therapy: study
Consuming blueberry extract with radiation may give boost to cervical cancer therapy, a study suggests. "For some cancers, such as late-stage cervical cancer, radiation is a good treatment option. However, collateral damage to healthy cells always occurs," said Yujiang Fang, from the University of Missouri in the US. "Based on previous research, we studied blueberry extract to verify it could be used as a radiosensitisers," said Fang. Radiosensitisers are non-toxic chemicals that make cancer cells more responsive to radiation therapy, according to the study published in the journal Pathology and Oncology Magazine. In a previous study, Fang and his research team showed that resveratrol, a compound in red grapes, could be used as a radiosensitiser for treating prostate cancer. Blueberries also contain resveratrol. "In addition to resveratrol, blueberries also contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are chemicals that may have anti- oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ...
Enzyme that could stop Ebola infection identified
Raising hope for an effective drug to treat people with Ebola virus, researchers have found that an enzyme could help prevent the deadly virus from spreading.
President calls for fight against stigma of mental health
Calling for a national mission to make mental health facilities accessible to all, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India must fight against the stigma surrounding mental health.
Eat blueberries while treating cervical cancer: Study
Suffering from cervical cancer? Along with your radiation therapy, start eating blueberries. New research shows consuming blueberry extract while on treatment may have a positive outcome.
This drug ups risk of heart failure in cancer patients
A study has recently found that taking a higher dose of Carfilzomib, which is used for treating cancer, can increase the risk of hypertension, heart failure, and heart attacks in multiple myeloma patients.Multiple myeloma (MM) is a bone marrow cancer that affects plasma cells.The proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib has taken on an increasing role in the treatment of multiple myelomaAccording to the University of Pennsylvania researchers, higher doses of Carfilzomib are associated with higher rates of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAE).The results showed that 18 per cent of multiple myeloma patients receiving Carfilzomib experienced cardiovascular adverse events (CVAE) such as hypertension, heart failure, heart attacks, or arrhythmia.Lead author Adam J Waxman from the University of Pennsylvania said that like any cancer therapy, the concern with this approach was that it might have an effect on an otherwise healthy part of the body - in this case, the heart.The team gathered data from ..
Lack of sleep boosts levels of Alzheimer's proteins: study
Chronic poor sleep may contribute to cognitive decline, according to a study that shows wakeful brain produces more of the Alzheimer's protein amyloid beta than its waste-disposal system can handle. Levels of the protein rise, potentially setting off a sequence of changes to the brain that can end with dementia, researchers said. "This study is the clearest demonstration in humans that sleep disruption leads to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease through an amyloid beta mechanism," said Randall Bateman, from the Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis in the US. "The study showed that it was due to overproduction of amyloid beta during sleep deprivation," Bateman said. For the research published in the journal Annals of Neurology, the scientists studied eight people aged between 30 to 60 years with no sleep or cognitive problems. The participants were assigned randomly to one of three scenarios: having a normal night's sleep without any sleep aids; ...
E-cigarettes may help smokers quit: study
Smokers who are willing to use e-cigarettes tend to smoke less and have increased quit attempts, a study has found. "Combustible cigarettes are the most harmful form of nicotine delivery. Alternative delivery of nicotine, through e-cigarettes, could significantly reduce harm and the risks of cancer and other diseases to smokers," said Matthew Carpenter, from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in the US. In the pilot study published, funded by the National Institutes of Health, Carpenter evaluated e-cigarettes in terms of usage, product preference, changes in smoking behaviours and nicotine exposure. Sixty-eight smokers were evaluated: 46 were randomised to use e-cigarettes however they wished, and 22 were randomised to a control group. Those in the e-cigarette group were given a device with either high or low doses of nicotine. Everyone was followed over a period of four months. Results showed that when smokers were given e-cigarettes without any ...
Blueberry extracts may boost cervical cancer therapy
A study has recently found that combining radiation therapy with blueberry extracts can help to boost the effectiveness of cervical cancer treatment.Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix - the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.Researchers from the University Of Missouri-Columbia, United States explained that one of the most common treatments for cervical cancer is radiation therapy and that it not only destroys the cancer cells, but also the nearby healthy cells, which proves to be a hazard."For some cancers, such as late-stage cervical cancer, radiation is a good treatment option. However, collateral damage to healthy cells always occurs. Based on previous research, we studied blueberry extract to verify it could be used as a radiosensitiser," Fang added.Radiosensitisers are non-toxic chemicals that make cancer cells more responsive to radiation therapy.Previously, the team showed that resveratrol, a compound in red grapes, ...
Sonipat: Woman dies as hospital denies treatment due to lack of aadhaar card
Wife of a Kargil brave heart died at a private hospital in Haryana's Sonipat after allegedly being denied treatment due to lack of Aadhaar Card.The son of the deceased woman alleged that he brought her ailing mother to the hospital for the treatment but the hospital refused to treat her as he did not have the original copy of the Aadhar card."I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get the Aadhaar card, but I didn't have it then so I showed them a copy in my phone. I said that I will get Aadhaar in an hour or so, meanwhile begin with the treatment but the hospital refused to do so," he told ANI.However, the hospital authority denied the allegation leveled by the victim's son saying that the Aadhaar card was mandatory only for documentation process and not for treatment."We never denied them treatment. Please note that he never got the patient to the hospital. We have never stopped any treatment due to Aadhaar card ever," said the doctor of the ...
Unable to pay medical fees, National karate champion struggles with cancer
A four-time karate national gold medal winner, who is diagnosed with cancer, is running out of fund for her medical treatment.Hailing from Ludhiana, Priyanka, a karate and taekwondo champion and a black belt, is fighting a losing battle against the fatal disease leukemia (blood cancer) as she have insufficient funds left to continue her treatment.The winner of four national gold medals in karate and seven state golds has sought financial aid for her treatment.Priyanka said, "I am fighting this battle against cancer but soon I'll be fine; I don't fear anything.We are poor and don't have adequate funds for treatment, please help whoever can."The three-time state gold medallist in taekwondo, Priyanaka is the second youngest amongst seven sisters.Priyanka's mother works at a factory to earn the living and her father, who is an alcoholic has not contributed a penny for her treatment. The burden of all the seven sisters is on her mother who is running out of funds now.