Page 92 - Health Medical Pharma
Children living in vicinity of major roads are at high risk of developmental delays
Children living close to a major roadway are likely to score less in communication test than the children living away from any major roadway, says a recent study.The study has also pointed out the children born to women exposed to higher traffic-related pollutants during pregnancy have a significant development delay during early childhood.The study was published in the journal Environmental Research."Our results suggest that it may be prudent to minimize exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood -- all key periods for brain development," said Pauline Mendola, senior author of the study.Past studies have linked exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy to low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth.The researchers analyzed data from the Upstate KIDS Study. They matched the addresses of 5,825 participants to a roadway data set, calculating the distance of each address to the nearest major roadway.For each participant, they matched home address, ...
Whitening products may cause tooth decay
While using teeth-whitening products can make your smile brighter, they might also lead to tooth damage, researchers have warned.
Intas Pharmaceuticals Launches its Trastuzumab Biosimilar, Eleftha - Further Bringing Down the Treatment Cost by 65%
/ -- Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of India's fastest growing pharmaceutical companies, announces a revolutionary step towards making human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2) breast cancer therapy, more accessible to patients through the launch of its trastuzumab biosimilar, Eleftha. Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells that overexpress a type of protein called HER2 and has revolutionized the management of HER 2 positive breast cancer. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Eleftha will be Rs. 19,995 for the dose strength of 440 mg, which makes it ~65% more economical than the currently available options. Presently, the MRP of most of the trastuzumab brands in India ranges between Rs.58,000 to Rs.63,000 per 440 mg vial. In patients with HER 2 positive early breast cancer, almost 18 cycles of trastuzumab based therapy are required, which presently costs more than 10 lakh rupees in India. However, with this .
How chronic stress promotes breast cancer development
Chinese researchers have revealed the mechanism of how chronic stress promotes breast cancer development, shedding light on future clinical treatment for cancer.
Bernie Sanders relaunches 'Medicare for All' amid 2020 glare
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will unveil a new version of his "Medicare for All" plan on Wednesday, shaking up the 2020 presidential election by reopening the debate over his call to eliminate private health insurance. Four of Sanders' fellow senators and rivals for the Democratic nomination are set to sign onto the updated single-payer health care proposal. The bill's reintroduction promises to shine a bright light on Democratic presidential candidates' disparate visions for the long-term future of American health care. Under fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans for the astronomical price tag of Medicare for All, some candidates who support the plan tout it as one of several ways to achieve more affordable coverage and lower the number of uninsured. And others who don't back it are instead focusing on safeguarding popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as the one that protects coverage of pre-existing conditions. "Of course, our No. 1 goal should be to make
Rest may be best medicine to treat some pains: Study
Getting rest may be as effective as taking medication to treat common musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain, which caused by repeated moderate-strain activitym, scientists have found. In a study conducted in rats, researchers showed that a four-week period of rest was nearly as effective as an experimental drug at reducing discomfort and regaining function. "Rest appears to be a good first treatment choice," said Amanda White, a postdoctoral fellow at Temple University in the US. "Other treatments following rest should include exercises to improve tissues, and pain reducers if needed. If symptoms do not subside and strength does not return following this approach, then pharmacological treatments may be needed to aid recovery," White said in a statement. The researchers trained rats to repeatedly pull a lever in order to model the types of repetitive-strain injuries humans experience. After 12 weeks, the rats showed a weaker grip strength, ...
Lupin launches generic antidepressant tablets in US
Drug firm Lupin Wednesday said it has launched generic antidepressant Fluoxetine tablets in the American market. The company has launched its Fluoxetine tablets USP in the strength of 60mg after having received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) earlier, Lupin said in a statement. The product is the generic version of Alvogen Group Holdings 3 LLC's Fluoxetine tablets in the same strength, it added. As per IQVIA MAT February 2019 data, Fluoxetine tablets 60mg had annual sales of around USD 41 million in the US, Lupin said. The tablets are indicated for treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa and panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, it added. Shares of Lupin Ltd were trading at Rs 811 per scrip on the BSE, up 0.22 per cent from its previous close.
LifeCell Introduces Genetic Testing for Cord Blood Units That are Released for Transplants
/ -- Becomes First Cord Blood Bank in the World to Screen for Inherited Diseases and Pediatric Cancers LifeCell International, India's first and largest community stem cell bank, today announced its next milestone - initiation of genetic testing on all cord blood samples before they are released for use. This will make LifeCell the world's first cord blood bank to add a significant layer of safety to ensure that cord blood stem cells released for transplants do not carry genetic abnormalities and are safe (conditions apply) for use in patients. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/542620/LifeCell_Logo.jpg ) Human Umbilical Cord blood is one of the preferred sources of stem cells. Its advantages are ease of collection at birth, rapid availability in case of need (not dependent on donor variables), can be preserved for decades, and can be combined with other sources of hematopoietic stem cells to hasten engraftment and improve overall benefit. As India's largest stem cell community ..
New study finds ways to counter child obesity
While childhood obesity is a rising concern for several mothers, a new study proposes that providing mothers with simple facts about the risks of consuming sugary beverages during pregnancy and early childhood can help in coming up with strategies to reduce childhood obesity.The study was published in the Journal 'Academic Pediatrics'."Emerging evidence suggests that regular consumption of sugary beverages, either by the mother during pregnancy or by the child before age two, may increase a child's risk of obesity later in childhood," says Jennifer Woo Baidal, lead author of the study.Recent studies have shown that obesity in young children is growing between the ages of 2 to 5 years."We were surprised at how many parents and infants were regularly consuming drinks with added sugar. In order to influence behavior, we needed a better understanding of the factors that influence parents' attitudes," Woo Baidal explains.For this study, researchers took in-depth interviews with 25 of the ..
Use of marijuana during pregnancy can adversely affect offspring's brain
A new study has revealed that the use of marijuana by pregnant women to relieve morning sickness can affect the developing babies' brains.The study was presented at the meeting 'Experimental Biology 2019'.Earlier researches have shown children born to mothers who took marijuana when pregnant, are likely to develop behavioral problems as well as learning and memory impairments.This study brings further confirmation on previous findings and points to how the drug alters the intricate connections in nerves in the hippocampus."The findings from this study will serve as an excellent premise for future interventions to restore memory in children exposed to cannabis during pregnancy, and for the first time, identify a specific mechanism by which learning and memory impairment occurs and how this impairment can be ameliorated," said Priyanka Das Pinky.The study was done on mice where some of the female rats were exposed to a synthetic chemical that activates the same proteins as cannabis ...
Woman lived to 99 with most organs on wrong side of body
Rose Marie Bentley was an avid swimmer, raised five kids, helped her husband run a feed store, and lived to the ripe age of 99. It was only after she died that medical students discovered that all her internal organs except for her heart were in the wrong place. The discovery of the rare condition, which was presented this week to a conference of anatomists, was astounding especially because Bentley had lived so long. People with the condition known as situs inversus with levocardia often have life-threatening cardiac ailments and other abnormalities, according to Oregon Health & Science University. Cameron Walker's class at the university in Portland was examining the heart of a cadaver last year when they noticed the blood vessels were different. When they opened the abdominal cavity, they saw that all the other organs were on the wrong side. The unusual blood vessels helped the heart compensate. In a telephone interview Tuesday, Walker described his reaction to the find as ..
Public health emergency declared in Brooklyn amidst measles outbreak
A public health emergency has been declared in Williamsburg here due to a measles outbreak, with 300 cases being recorded until now, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio."We are declaring a public health emergency in Williamsburg due to 300 cases of measles reported in our city -- primarily concentrated in Brooklyn. There is no room for misinformation when it comes to protecting our children. Vaccines are safe and effective. They work," the Mayor tweeted on Tuesday."Today, I am declaring a public health emergency due to the measles outbreak. @nycHealthy is ordering all people in Williamsburg to get vaccinated against measles," the Commissioner of the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Oxiris Barbot, tweeted on Tuesday."We are in the midst of a #measles outbreak. People in violation of our order to get vaccinated against measles will get a violation and could be fined $1,000 per instance," she added during a presser.Even though Measles was completely eradicated in the ...
New York mandates vaccine to contain Brooklyn measles outbreak
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn on Tuesday, ordering all residents to be vaccinated to contain a measles outbreak concentrated in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. The order concerns all people living or working in four zip codes of Williamsburg, northwest Brooklyn, where some residents oppose vaccines on religious grounds -- although neither Jewish texts, nor local Jewish authorities advise against vaccination. "It was time to take a more muscular approach," De Blasio told a news conference as the emergency measures were announced. "This can be turned around quickly," he said. "We can stop this." Under the new rules, anyone who has not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or does not have evidence of immunity risks a fine of USD1,000, said a statement from the mayor's office. The city also warned that yeshiva religious schools and day care programs serving the local Orthodox Jewish community would face penalties and
Kolkata girl youngest Indian to get liver transplant
A five-month old baby girl from Kolkata has become India's youngest liver transplant patient, doctors at the Max Super Speciality Hospital said here on Tuesday.
Dalai Lama in Delhi hospital with chest infection
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday with a chest infection, his aided said.
Docs at Ganga Ram remove stone from woman's urinary tract, claim its largest in the world
A big stone was removed from a woman's urinary tract at a city hospital, with doctors claiming that it was the largest such stone removed from a patient's body anywhere in the world. The stone, removed from a woman, who is a resident of Uttar Pradesh, measured 22 cm in total and weighed 60 gm. The total length of a ureter -- urinary pipe leading from kidney to bladder -- is approximately the same length, according to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. "It is the longest ureteric stone reported in a surgery till now. The longest ureteric stone reported till now was of 21.5 cm," the hospital said in a statement. Such large stones were traditionally removed by open or large incision procedures. Although, the current technology allows many modes of treating a stone with minimal invasion, none is foolproof and may need staged attempts at complete removal, doctors at the hospital said. According to Dr Sachin Kathuria, Consultant, Department of Urology, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, "The use of surgical .
Animal-assisted therapy improves social behavior in patients with brain injuries, finds study
When it comes to patients with brain injuries, animal-assisted therapy can foster social competence in them and increase their emotional involvement during therapy, recent findings suggest.After a severe traumatic brain injury, patients often exhibit problems in their social behaviour. For instance, they may suffer from reduced emotional empathy and show impaired emotional expression, all contributing to communicative problems in social interactions.According to the study, animal-assisted therapy is increasingly being used in rehabilitation in order to improve these deficits in patients' social competence. Integrating animals into therapy can, for example, stimulate patient engagement and motivation.The research involved conducting animal-assisted therapy sessions for 19 adult participants alongside conventional therapy sessions. The patients' social behavior were recorded and evaluated during over 200 animal-assisted and conventional therapy sessions. The study also documented ...
Niramai to develop AI-based software for detecting river blindness
Health-tech company Niramai Tuesday said it will develop an artificial intelligence-based software for curbing spread of river blindness, a parasitic disease affecting the skin and eyes. Niramai will leverage its Thermalytix technology to detect the presence of live adult worms of Onchocerciasis, which causes river blindness and significant disability, the company said in a statement. "We are excited to collaborate with Gates Foundation to extend the application of our innovative technique to areas other than breast cancer. "Successful completion of this research project will demonstrate a breakthrough result of Thermalytix being a new way of sensing many abnormalities in human body in a non-invasive, radiation-free and accurate way, even beyond cancer," Geetha Manjunath, CEO and CTO of Niramai, said. Thermalytix - an automated diagnostic tool - combines thermal imaging with AI that is being used to detect early stage breast cancer in many hospitals, the statement said. "This ...
Five-month old girl undergoes rare transplant at city hospital, gets liver from mother
A five-month-old girl from West Bengal, whose life was hanging by a thread after suffering an acute liver failure, received a new lease of life when she underwent a 10-hour long transplant surgery at a city hospital from the organ donated by her mother, doctors said Tuesday. Doctors at the hospital in south Delhi also claimed that this was the "youngest" infant to receive liver transplant for acute liver failure in the country. Arijit Dey, 36, father of Ariana, said her daughter had contracted "an abnormal level of jaundice" late February, and few days later she was diagnosed with a very high level of bilirubin. "First we took her to a paediatrician, and then she was admitted to a hospital in Kolkata on March 2 after checking her health parameters. A team of doctors, who saw her case in Kolkata had given up and given barely five days of survival for my baby," Dey said. Dey, a resident of Uttarpara in Hooghly district, said, he, his 30-year-old wife, Shyantani Dey, and his brother flew
Former Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani dead
Kerala Congress veteran and former state Finance Minister K M Mani died at a private hospital Tuesday evening, hospital sources said. He was 86. He is survived by his wife and six children. Mani, who had been undergoing treatment at the VPS Lakeshore hospital for pulmonary disease, breathed his last at 4.57 PM, they said. Mani had been suffering from COPD (Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease) for several years and had frequently been hospitalised for chest infection. He had been an MLA of Pala assembly constituency for nearly five decades. Kerala Congress(M) is a key ally of the Congress-led UDF in the state. Mani fell ill days after declaring his close confidante and Kerala Congress(M) leader Thomas Chazhikadan as the UDF candidate in Kottayam Lok Sabha seat. His son and KC(M) leader Jose K Mani is a member of the Rajya Sabha.