Page 80 - Health Medical Pharma

All arrangements will be made for providing vaccines to Haj pilgrims: Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda has said all arrangements will be made for providing vaccines to Haj pilgrims, following reports of paucity of meningitis vaccines in the country as the only firm manufacturing it was asked to stop production last year after contamination was detected in its oral polio vaccines. The minister reviewed the availability of vaccines with the health secretary and senior officials on Monday. "I assure that all arrangements will be made for providing vaccines to the Haj pilgrims," Nadda said a tweet. According to sources in the Health Ministry, the only firm, which manufactured the vaccines and provided it to the government, was asked to stop production of all human vaccines in September last year after type-2 polio virus contamination was detected in oral polio vaccines. Following the ban on the Ghaziabad-based pharmaceutical company, Biomed Pvt. Ltd., the ministry is now looking for options to arrange the vaccines in time for vaccinating the pilgrims, the ...

Plastic surgeons help people get 'six-pack abs'

A technique called abdominal etching can help create the classic "six-pack abs" for those who have trouble getting the toned appearance with their diet plans and workout routine, scientists claim. The procedure uses precisely targeted liposuction to achieve greater definition of the abdominal muscles, according to researchers from University of Miami in the US. "Our study shows that this is a safe and effective method to create a defined anterior abdominal wall in both male and female patients," said Tarik M Husain, author of the study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The researchers review their experience with liposuction to improve the appearance of the abdomen in 50 patients: 26 men and 24 women, average age 36 years. Patients seeking abdominal etching were in good shape, with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine, but had "certain resistant areas of fat" that made it difficult to achieve the abdominal muscle definition they desired. Researchers ..

Physical activity may offset health risks of desk-bound work

A weekly dose of at least 150 minutes of physical activity could substantially reduce the health risks in desk-bound office workers, a study has found. Sitting is often touted as 'the new smoking', but it is unclear if it is the sitting itself or the lack of physical activity that causes the harm. It has also been unclear what level of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity -- routine activities like walking briskly to work, as well as sport and exercises -- might offset this risk. Scientists from University of Sydney in Australian have examined the associations of sitting and physical activitiy with premature death and cardiovascular disease mortality, and estimated what level of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity might offset health risks of sitting. The researchers statistically modelled physical activity and sitting against death records of nearly 150,000 study participants aged 45 years and over and followed up over almost nine years. According to the ...

50 million people worldwide living with Alzeimer's disease, finds study

It has been found in research that 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's disease and other symptoms related to memory loss.According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease is more communicable in the U.S.A wherein 65 seconds a person develops this disease. This disease results in memory loss, changes in thinking and behaviour.The study was published in the journal 'Neurobiology of Disease'.Locally, Alzheimer's disease affects 11.5 per cent of Medicare beneficiaries in Palm Beach County and 12.7 per cent of Medicare beneficiaries in Broward County (a nearly 18 per cent increase over the national average).According to the Alzheimer's Association, Florida is number one in per capita cases of Alzheimer's disease in the U.S.It has been more than 100 years since Alois Alzheimer a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist, first reported the presence of senile plaques in the brain of an Alzheimer disease patient. It led to the discovery of amyloid precursor protein that

MicroRNAs could regenerate cardiac tissue after a heart attack

The use of microRNAs, a small molecule that regulates gene function and is in abundance in developing heart, could help revive the regenerative capacities of heart after a heart attack, finds a study.The research was published in Nature Communications.Once the heart is fully formed, the cells that make up heart muscle, known as cardiomyocytes, have very limited ability to reproduce themselves. After a heart attack, cardiomyocytes die off; unable to make new ones, the heart instead forms scar tissue. Over time, this can set people up for heart failure.In 2013, Da-Zhi Wang, a cardiology researcher, identified a family of microRNAs called miR-17-92 that regulates the proliferation of cardiomyocytes.In the study, his team shows two family members, miR-19a and miR-19b, to be particularly potent and potentially good candidates for treating a heart attack.Wang and colleagues tested the microRNAs delivered in two different ways. In one method, it was given directly to mice, coated with lipids

SeekMed App to directly connect patients to eminent doctors on mobile

A unique telemedicine mobile application, called 'SeekMed' has been launched recently to connect the patients from anywhere in the country with the top doctors of India, mostly based in Tier I cities and working with India's top hospitals.This app for the first time has brought leading doctors who have been awarded for their contribution to the field of healthcare, majority of doctors on the platform are recipient of Padma Awards and awards like B C Roy. Top doctors from India's leading hospitals like AIIMS, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, PSRI and others can be contacted directly through video consultation feature of the App at a reasonable consultation fees. This application is available and can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store."The idea is to bridge the huge gap between the quality of the healthcare available in big cities and those in smaller towns and remote areas by increasing access and affordability, with a few simple clicks, patients can find leading doctors & .

Office workers who sit a lot need to exercise

Office workers who sit for long periods of time can reverse the health risks of their modern sedentary lifestyle by exercising just 20 minutes per day, a new study revealed on Tuesday.

Turmeric compounds may help combat cancer: Study

Compounds found in turmeric -- a condiment commonly used in Indian cuisine -- can help prevent prevent and treat stomach cancer, scientists claim. Researchers Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) and the Federal University of Para (UFPA) in Brazil identified possible therapeutic effects of curcumin -- the yellow powder derived from the roots of the turmeric plant. "We undertook a vast review of the scientific literature on all nutrients and bioactive compounds with the potential to prevent or treat stomach cancer and found that curcumin is one of them," Danielle Queiroz Calcagno, a professor at UFPA. According to Calcagno, compounds such as cholecalciferol (a form of vitamin D), resveratrol (a polyphenol) and quercetin can prevent or combat stomach cancer because they are natural regulators of histone activity. Histones are proteins in cell nuclei that organise the DNA double helix into structural units called nucleosomes, according to a study published in the journal ...

Researchers identify 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia

In a recent study, researchers have discovered 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia, by using computational 'framework'.The research which was reported in the journal Nature Neuroscience supports the view that schizophrenia is a developmental disease, one which potentially can be detected and treated even before the onset of symptoms."This framework opens the door for several (research) directions," said the paper's senior author, Bingshan Li.One direction is to determine whether drugs already approved for other, unrelated diseases could be 'repurposed' to improve the treatment of schizophrenia. Another is to find in which cell types in the brain these genes are active along the development trajectory.Ultimately, Li said, "I think we will have a better understanding of how prenatally these genes predispose risk and that will give us a hint of how to potentially develop intervention strategies. It's an ambitious goal but by understanding the mechanism, drug development could be more ..

Assam: 68-year-old cancer patient casts vote

A 68-year-old man, named Basir Ali, who is suffering from cancer, on Tuesday cast vote here.Ali was accompanied by his childhood friend, Mukut Choudhary."Ali has come to set an example for the people to come out and exercise their power of vote. Doctors have advised him rest. However, he wanted to come here and vote. Ali is on the last stage of cancer and might die within a short time, doctors have said this. We have come here in a rickshaw," Choudhary told ANI here.In Assam, 74 lakh voters are expected to decide the fate of 54 candidates in the third phase, which will cover Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri, and Kokrajhar parliamentary constituencies.The result will be announced on May 23.

Diabetes epidemic in Asia increases risk of premature death among women & middle-aged people

Diabetes epidemic is underway in Asia, which has increased the risk of premature death especially among women and middle-aged people, a study revealed.The research published in JAMA Network Open reported that there is an urgent need to implement diabetes management programmes tailored to the Asian population."We found that patients with diabetes are at a substantially elevated risk of premature death, and the risk associated with diabetes is much higher than that reported by most previous studies conducted in the United States and Europe," said the study's corresponding author, Wei Zheng.China and India have the highest diabetes burdens in the world. Throughout Asia, more than 230 million people are living with diabetes. Given the increased prevalence of obesity and the rapid adoption of a Westernised lifestyle in Asia, that figure is expected to exceed 355 million by 2040.The Vanderbilt-led research team pooled 22 prospective cohort studies in multiple countries from mainland China ..

Indian women at high death risk from diabetes: Study

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in Asia - led by India and China -- and has dramatically increased the risk of premature death especially among women and middle-aged people, a significant study has found.

India presents 100 motorised wheelchairs to injured Afghan soldiers

With an aim to alleviate the challenges of critically injured Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, India has presented 100 motorised wheelchairs to them, Defence Ministry statement said Monday. Till date, the Indian Army has also trained 4,880 ANA personnel in various professional, educational and military training programs, including ANA doctors and medical technicians. "India also remains committed to extending medical relief and assistance to the ANA personnel," the statement said.

Students fall ill after being administered polio drops in Pak, parents ransack health centre

Several school students in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province reportedly fell ill and were taken to hospital after being administered anti-polio drops during a nation-wide campaign on Monday, sparking violent protests by the parents and relatives who ransacked a local health facility, according to a media report. Pakistan is one of the three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where polio is still endemic. It launched a country-wide campaign on Monday to administer anti-polio drops 39 million children under five years of age. More than 260,000 polio workers have been deployed to administer anti-polio vaccines to children in all four provinces as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Dozens of students of schools in Mashokhel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were rushed for medical attention because they felt unwell after being administered the polio vaccine, the Express Tribune reported. While the schools administration and the parents accused the polio vaccine ..

Mauritian herbs found to stop growth of cancer cells

A recent study has claimed that the extracts of the endemic Mauritian medicinal herb stop the proliferation of oesophageal squamous carcinoma cells, one of the most deadly types of cancer.The details were published in the Journal of Acta Naturae.The researchers have found that the herb contains natural chemical compounds to inhibit the propagation of cancer cells. The herb restrains the cancer stage transition in malignant tumour cells. Having studied the medical herbs of Mauritius, scientists may have accomplished an important step."About one-third of the local plants are used in traditional medicine, but there is still a lack of scientific evidence of their therapeutic potential, while genocide of nature is most evident on such small pieces of a lost paradise. In particular, further study of the active compounds from the leaves extracts prototypes of the future drugs to treat oesophageal cancer and other deadly diseases," said Alexander Kagansky, the Head of the Center.The lead ...

Artificial intelligence can diagnose PTSD by analyzing voices: Study

A new artificial intelligence tool can help diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by analyzing voices, a recent study has claimed.The details were published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety."Our findings suggest that speech-based characteristics can be used to diagnose this disease, and with further refinement and validation, may be employed in the clinic in the near future," said senior study author Charles R Marmar.More than 70 per cent of adults worldwide experiences a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Those with the condition, experience strong, persistent distress, when reminded of a triggering event.The study authors said that a PTSD diagnosis is most often determined by clinical interview or a self-report assessment, both inherently prone to biases.This has led to efforts to develop objective, measurable, physical markers of PTSD progression, much like laboratory values for medical conditions, but progress has been slow.The research team used a ...

AI tool can detect PTSD by analysing voices: Study

Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can help diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by analysing patient's voices, a study has found. The research, published in the journal Depression and Anxiety, found that an artificial intelligence tool can distinguish -- with 89 per cent accuracy -- between the voices of those with or without PTSD. "Our findings suggest that speech-based characteristics can be used to diagnose this disease, and with further refinement and validation, may be employed in the clinic in the near future," said Charles R Marmar, from New York University. More than 70 per cent of adults worldwide experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives, with up to 12 per cent of people in some struggling countries suffering from PTSD. Those with the condition experience strong, persistent distress when reminded of a triggering event. Researchers said that a PTSD diagnosis is most often determined by clinical interview or a ...

Cancer patients more likely to use marijuana: Study

Many cancer patients use marijuana and its usage has increased, a new study suggests. The findings, published in the journal CANCER, indicate 40.3 per cent cancer patients used marijuana within the past year, compared with 38 per cent of respondents without cancer.

Synthetic peptide may help treat Alzheimer's disease

Scientists have developed synthetic peptides that target and inhibit build up of small, toxic proteins which trigger Alzheimer's disease. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may be pave the way for treating the neurodegenerative disorder at an early stage. Alzheimer's is a disease of aggregation. Neurons in the human brain make a protein called amyloid beta. Such proteins on their own, called monomers of amyloid beta, perform important tasks for neurons. However, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, amyloid beta monomers have abandoned their jobs and joined together. First, they form oligomers -- small clumps of up to a dozen proteins -- then longer strands and finally large deposits called plaques. For years, scientists believed that the plaques triggered the cognitive impairments characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. However, newer research implicates the smaller aggregates of amyloid beta as the toxic elements of this ...

Malawi to pilot groundbreaking malaria vaccine

Malawi will on Tuesday spearhead large scale pilot tests for the world's most advanced experimental malaria vaccine in a bid to prevent the disease that kills hundreds of thousands across Africa each year. After more than three decades in development and almost $1 billion in investment, the cutting-edge trial will be rolled out in Malawi's capital Lilongwe this week and then in Kenya and Ghana next week. It aims to immunise 120,000 children aged two years and under to assess the effectiveness of the pilot vaccine and whether the delivery process is feasible. Four successive doses must be administered on a strict timetable for it to work. Trade-named Mosquirix, the drug has been developed by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. It passed previous scientific testing -- including five years of clinical trials on 15,000 people in seven countries -- and was approved for the pilot programme in 2015. Malaria episodes reduced ..