Page 74 - Health Medical Pharma
Decoded: Why people engage in 'hedonic' consumption
If you start binging on fast food, savour dark chocolates or can't resist that ice cream, this may be because of an emotional event like a recent break-up as there is science behind this behaviour, says a study.
e-cigarettes effective way to quit smoking: Indian study
A first-ever Indian study has found that Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), also known as e-cigarettes, pose much less a health risk than combustible cigarettes and could be an ideal tool to reduce or give up smoking.
No amount of alcohol safe during pregnancy: Study
Teenagers who are exposed to alcohol while in the womb exhibit altered brain connections consistent with impaired cognitive performance, according to a study. Researchers have taken one of the first major steps in finding the biological changes in the brain that drive foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The study, published in the journal Chaos, analysed brain signals to find the long-term effects. "This work presents major evidence that children exposed to alcohol prenatally are at risk of suffering from impaired cognitive abilities and other secondary factors," said Lin Gao from Xi'an Jiaotong University in China. "Our study shows that there is no safe amount or safe stages during pregnancy for alcohol consumption," Gao said in a statement. The researchers measured the responses from a brain imaging technique called magnetoencephalography (MEG). FASD is one of the leading causes of intellectual disability worldwide and is linked to a wide array of neurological issues, including
Heavier, taller children likely to develop kidney cancer as adults: Study
Heavier and taller children are at greater risk than their average-sized peers, of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as adults, latest findings suggest.RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer found in adults. Although it often occurs in men between the ages of 50 and 70, cancer can be diagnosed throughout adulthood. Medical experts don't know the exact causes of RCC."We know that overweight in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of RCC. We also know that cancers take many years to develop. We, therefore, had a theory that already being overweight in childhood would increase the risk of RCC later in life," explains lead author Britt Wang Jensen.To tease out the relationships between childhood body size and the risk of RCC in adulthood, the team of researchers used data from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register (CSHRR). The CSHRR is an electronic database of health examination information with data from 372,636 children born in Copenhagen in the years 1930 ..
Pregnant women who were overweight in childhood at risk of hypertensive disorders: Study
According to recent findings, pregnant women who suffered from obesity in childhood are at increased risk of developing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, than women who were of normal weight in childhood.The findings are built on two observations: women with overweight or obesity are at greater risks of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy than women with normal-weight, and excess adiposity (severe overweight or obesity) takes time to develop.Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are of particular concern since they can endanger the lives of both the mother and her unborn child.As part of the study, the researcher used data of 49,615 girls in Denmark, born from 1930-1996. Annual height and weight measurements were collected from ages 7-13 years.The researchers defined overweight and obesity at ages 7 and 13 years according to the International Obesity Task Force body mass index cut-offs (BMI ?17.69 kg/m2 at age 7 years and 22.49 kg/m2 at age 13 years). Using national registers, ...
Using AI to detect mental health disorders may be counterproductive
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology have made it possible to detect mental disorders such as anxiety and depression from cues in a person's voice, but doctors warn that adopting such tools in haste may prove to be counterproductive. Despite staggering number of patients being reported to suffer from disorders like depression, India struggles with the stigma of mental health diseases -- deterring patients from getting the right help in time. AI-based vocal analytics may allow patients to detect the disease at home by just speaking into a smartphone application -- eliminating the need to be physically present at treatment facilities for diagnosis. "This technology will be helpful to people who are bound by the stigma of going to a doctor for therapy or diagnosis," Dr Rajendra Singh, a psychiatrist based in Bhopal, told PTI. Last year, CompanionMx, an application developed by the behavioural analysis firm Cognito Corp, launched an AI-based mobile mental health monitoring .
This new approach to managing surgery will speed patient recovery
A review in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has challenged historical surgical practices that are not based on research and outlined a multidisciplinary approach known as 'Enhanced Recovery after Surgery' (ERAS) that would help a patient recover quickly after surgery.The article was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.Enhanced recovery after surgery is an evidence-based treatment program created to improve patient outcomes with faster recovery. It takes a holistic approach by involving family doctors, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nutritionists and other health care professionals before surgery right through recovery, with the goal of helping patients get back to normal functioning as soon as possible."ERAS involves changing the way we, as a medical community, think about preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care to improve all surgical outcomes," said lead author Dr Alon Altman.It has been shown to promote patient movement after surgery,
Cycling sprints may reverse health effects of menopause: Study
Just 20-minute sprints on a bicycle three times a week can reverse some of the negative health effects of menopause, a study has found. Menopause is accompanied by a decrease in muscle mass and aerobic fitness and an increase in fat mass, which contributes to the increased rates of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women. Interval sprinting exercise, however, can reverse these negative effects of menopause, according to the researchers from University of New South Wales is Australia. "Interval sprinting is a very time-efficient form of exercise which we have seen result in a number of health benefits," said Yati Boutcher, who led the research. In the study, 40 overweight postmenopausal women were separated in two groups, one that completed the exercise intervention, and one that did not. Women who participated in the eight-week bike sprints programme had put on 0.7 kilogrammes of muscle in their legs and trunk and lost 0.4 kilogrammes of body fat, after just eight hours of ...
Council for Healthcare and Pharma to Hold Legislative Day at Capitol Hill, D.C.
/ -- Makes strong push to tap India-US synergies for Universal Healthcare and Ayushman Bharat The Council for Healthcare and Pharma is holding the 'Legislative Day', at the Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., on 30th April 2019, to make a strong push for greater synergies between India and the US providing an impetus to the cause of Universal healthcare and Ayushman Bharat. The event draws a cross-section of bi-partisan senators and congressmen interested in the cause of healthcare, members of the US health committee, influential US doctors, prominent members of the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and contributing sectors of the health industry. At this select forum, the Council for Healthcare and Pharma will be advocating mutually synergistic themes and avenues that can benefit both India and the US. Speaking of the Legislative day, Dr Gurpreet Sandhu, President, CHP, said, "We believe that an integrated thrust from the best global thought leaders and companies
11 women in fray for Haryana LS polls
Only 11 women candidates are contesting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, a senior official said here on Sunday.
Drug combo may prove effective against leukaemia
Researchers claim to have found a combination of existing drugs which can be effective against blood cancer that affects mainly older adults.Researchers tested to see if existing drug arsenic trioxide (ATO) was effective in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in both the mouse model and in humans.They determined that the combination proved 'powerfully and exquisitely effective' against acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)While most patients initially respond to chemotherapy against (AML), more than half of those who respond will eventually relapse as the cancer cells develop resistance to treatment."There is an acute need to develop rational combinations to treat disease and overcome resistance that arises in response to therapy. By providing a critical understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease, we identified a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this type of AML," said Pandolfi, one of the researchers.The experiment identified key processes these cancer cells .
Wild tomato plants carry natural bug repellant: Study
The researchers have found an evolutionary function in wild tomato plants that could be used by modern plant breeders to create pest-resistant tomatoes.Researchers traced the evolution of a specific gene that produces a sticky compound in the tips of the hairs, on the Solanum pennellii plant found in the Atacama desert of Peru.These sticky hairs act as natural insect repellants to protect the plant, ensuring it will survive to reproduce."We identified a gene that exists in this wild plant, but not in cultivated tomatoes. The invertase-like enzyme creates insecticidal compounds not found in the garden-variety tomato. This defensive trait could be bred into modern plants," said Rob Last, Professor of plant biochemistry in the study published in Journal of Science Advances."We want to make our current tomatoes adapt to stress like this wild tomato, but we can only do that by understanding the traits that make them resistant. We are using evolution to teach us how to be better breeders ...
High levels of PCBs in blood can lead to premature death
High levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), a group of environmental pollutants, in the blood can lead to premature deaths, according to a study.The study was published in the journal, 'JAMA Network Open'.The PCBs are subject to restrictions in several countries and the bans have reduced their concentrations in the environment.In the study, 'Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors' (PIVUS) over 1,000 randomly selected 70-year-olds were monitored over a long period.PCBs have the tendency to decompose very slowly and are stored in the fatty tissue, they remain present in animals and humans. In particular, PCBs with many chlorine atoms in the molecule persist in most Swedes' blood.Study relating to PCBs in blood, concentrations were measured in the subjects' blood in 2001-2004, and then again when they reached the age of 75.Follow-up of those who had died over a 10-year period showed that the individuals with the highest PCB levels with many chlorine atoms in
Scientists develop swallowable, self-inflating capsule to facilitate weight loss
Scientists have developed a self-inflated capsule called EndoPil which helps in weight loss to tackle the growing global obesity epidemic.The research was presented at Digestive Disease Week.EndoPil, measuring around 3cm by 1cm, has an outer gelatine casing that contains a deflated balloon, an inflation valve with a magnet attached, and a harmless acid and a salt stored in separate compartments in an inner capsule.Designed to be swallowed with a glass of water, the capsule enters the stomach, where the acid within breaks opens the outer gelatine casing of the capsule.Its location in the stomach is ascertained by a magnetic sensor. An external magnet measuring 5cm in diameter is used to attract the magnet attached to the inflation valve, opening the valve. This mechanism avoids premature inflation of the device while in the oesophagus, or delayed inflation after it enters the small intestine."The opening of the valve allows the acid and the salt to mix and react, producing carbon ...
Study uncovers unknown pathway for breast cancer recurrence
The researchers have tracked treatment-resistant cancer cells that grow and spread after the breast cancer treatment.For many women who thought they had beaten breast cancer, the news that it has roared back years later comes as an especially cruel diagnosis with no clear answers for why or how it recurs.Now a team of researchers has filled in some critically unknown details that could answer the question for why. "These are the cells that are left over the following therapy, and we haven't known much about them because we can't see them. There are too few of them to show up in mammography or PET scans," said senior author James V. Alvarez."But using mouse models that replicate recurrent HER2-positive breast cancers, which afflict about 20 percent of women, we were able to locate the residual cancer cells that survive after treatment and study them," he added.Researchers found that these residual, treatment-resistant tumor cells aren't like the original cancer cells, which grow and ...
MoU to facilitate regulatory process for biosimilars
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's constituent laboratory, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad, and the Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC), Ghaziabad, have joined hands to facilitate the regulatory process for biosimilars and herbal drugs, as per a statement here on Sunday.
Obese people with active commute could cut risk of early death: Study
Obese people who commute by car have a 32 per cent higher risk of death due to any cause contrast to people who have normal weight and engage in active commuting, research claimed.The study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity.Previous work, using UK Biobank data, has shown that active commuting, mainly cycling was associated with a 50 per cent lower risk of death, from any cause, and heart disease compared to car commuting.Since 57 per cent of men and 66 per cent of women in the UK are overweight or obese- a condition linked with a range of poor health outcomes- the authors of the research aimed to investigate how different modes of active commuting (car, cycling, walking, mixed-mode) might alter the association between obesity and adverse health outcomes.Their analysis includes 163,149 UK Biobank participants who have been followed up for a mean of 5 years. The age range was 37 to 73 years and 50.8 per cent were women.Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ...
Women who have undergone weight-loss surgery at greater risk birth complications: Study
Women, who have undergone a weight-loss surgery before pregnancy, were more likely to deliver premature babies, claims a study.The study was presented at the Meeting 'European Congress on Obesity'."Our findings indicate that women with a history of bariatric surgery, and in particular gastric bypass surgery, are at much greater risk of several adverse perinatal outcomes", said Zainab Akhter, research lead.She added, "These women require specific preconception and pregnancy nutritional support. This highlights the importance of dietary supplements and extra monitoring of fetal growth and development."The researchers compared over 14, 800 pregnant women, who had earlier undergone any weight-loss surgery to 4 million pregnant women who hadn't.Obese pregnant women suffer from an increased risk of complications like gestational diabetes and hypertension. Weight-Loss surgery before pregnancy improved these outcomes, but some bariatric procedures, such as gastric bypass, affect the ...
Engineers make injectable tissues a reality with this new technique
The scientists have developed a technique that can help inject tissue cells directly into the body to heal the damaged tissues faster. The study was published in the journal Lab on a Chip."The idea of injecting different kinds of tissue cells is not a new one. It is an enticing concept because by introducing cells into damaged tissue, we can supercharge the body's own processes to regrow and repair an injury," said Keekyoung Kim, the study co-author.Kim said everything from broken bones to torn ligaments could benefit from this kind of approach and suggests even whole organs could be repaired as the technology improves.The problem, he said, is that cells are delicate and tend not to survive when injected directly into the body."It turns out that to ensure cell survival, they need to be encased in a coating that protects them from physical damage and from the body's own immune system," said Mohamed Gamal, lead author of the study."But it has been extremely difficult to do that kind of .
Comfort food leads to more weight gain during stress: Study
Indulging in high-calorie 'comfort' foods when you are stressed can lead to more weight gain than usual, scientists say. Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia discovered a molecular pathway in the brain, controlled by insulin, which drives the additional weight gain. Using an animal model, the team showed that a high-calorie diet when combined with stress resulted in more weight gain than the same diet caused in a stress-free environment. "This study indicates that we have to be much more conscious about what we're eating when we're stressed, to avoid a faster development of obesity," said Herbert Herzog, who led the study. Some individuals eat less when they're stressed, but most will increase their food intake -- and crucially, the intake of calorie-dense food high in sugar and fat. To understand what controls this 'stress eating', the team investigated different areas of the brain in mice. While food intake is mainly controlled by a part of the ...