health $wellness blog

Atopic diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, and allergic rhinitis (AR), an IgE-mediated inflammatory disease, is one among them. Globally, up to 25% of children and up to 40% of adults are affected by allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis affects about 22% of adolescents in India, and the incidence seems to be continuously rising. (1) Disease Burden and Phenotypes: Allergic rhinitis has distinct traits and may be the most troublesome of all the many allergic illnesses. The disease has a complex etiology, like many other chronic diseases. Several hereditary and environmental factors influence the pathophysiologic processes of AR. Each stage in the pathophysiologic process of AR has unique molecular characteristics. (2) AR is the most common phenotype of rhinitis. On the basis of aetiology, other phenotypes of rhinitis are classified into allergic (IgE mediated), non-alergic non-infective rhinitis (drug-induced, vasomotor rhinitis, hypothyroidism, etc), infectious ...

New indications could be on the horizon for oral semaglutide based on data from OASIS-1 and PIONEER PLUS trials. Presented at the 83rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2023), a study has demonstrated that increased dosages of oral semaglutide could prove helpful not only for treating chronic weight but also for improved glycemic control. Researchers found  that Patients who took 50 milligrams of Semaglutide once a day for 68 weeks saw an average weight loss of 15.1%, when they used it alongside diet and physical activity. Researchers have assessed the efficacy and safety of the oral glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, semaglutide 50 mg, taken once per day versus placebo for treating overweight or obesity in adults without type 2 diabetes in the trial conducted at 50 outpatient clinics in nearly nine countries. They enrolled adults with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2, or at least 27 kg/m2, with bodyweight-related complications and comorbidities, without ty...

Gurugram: A 28-year-old man suffering from Schizophrenia from 13 years of age, became the first to undergo surgery for schizophrenia in India. In a path-breaking effort, the Neurosurgery team at Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurgaon successfully treated this patient through Nucleus Accumbens - Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.  This was the first surgery performed in India, for schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness. *This was led by Dr Himanshu Champaneri, a senior consultant neurosurgeon at the Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurugram.  Also Read:Doctors at Apollo Spectra perform hip replacement surgery on 40-year-old patient suffering from TB arthritis This ground-breaking procedure, which has been performed only 13 times globally, marks a remarkable advancement in the psychiatric surgery (psychosurgery) field. Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, affects millions of people worldwide, and finding effective treatment has been a challenging endeavor. *The patient, a man ...

A newly developed risk calculator that is based on 11 key social, demographic, and clinical factors, can correctly predict suicide risk in those who have self-harmed within the following 6 to 12 months, suggests research published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health . Pending further validation, OxSATS, short for Oxford Suicide Assessment Tool for Self-harm, may help inform treatment decisions and the most effective targeting of resources, suggest the researchers. Self-harm is associated with a heightened risk of suicide within the following 12 months that is estimated to be 20 times higher than that of the general population, they point out. Around 16 million people self-harm every year, so the population impact of preventing future suicide is potentially large, they add. But current structured approaches to predict suicide risk are based on tools and symptom checklists developed for other purposes, so they often fail to pick up those at risk. To try and overcome these i...

Coffee is often thought to make you feel more alert, so people drink it to wake themselves up and improve their efficiency. Portuguese scientists studied coffee drinkers to understand whether the wakefulness effect is dependent on the properties of caffeine, or whether it’s about the experience of drinking coffee. The scientists recruited people who drank at least one cup of coffee daily and asked them to refrain from eating or drinking caffeinated beverages for at least three hours before the study. They interviewed the participants to collect sociodemographic data and then did two brief functional MRI scans: one before and one 30 minutes after either taking caffeine or drinking a standardized cup of coffee. During the functional MRI scans, the participants were asked to relax and let their minds wander. They found that the connectivity of the default mode network was decreased both after drinking coffee and after taking caffeine, which indicates that consuming either caffeine or c...

Pune: Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC Pune) has released the information brochure for admission to MBBS courses for 2023-2024. Course duration – The duration of the MBBS course is 4 ½ years, followed by compulsory rotating internship training of one year. All medical cadets commissioned into the AFMS will undergo internship training in selected service hospitals recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Eligibility criteria – The candidate should be a citizen of India. Foreign nationals of Indian origin may be admitted into AFMC only after they have acquired Indian Citizenship or in respect of whom the Ministry of Home Affairs issues a certificate of eligibility. This, however, does not apply to the 05 Govt Sponsored Candidates from Friendly Foreign Countries. Must be unmarried. Marriage during the course is not permitted. Should be medically fit as per prescribed standards by the Govt of India, Ministry of Defence (see Appendix ‘A’). Age criteria: The candidate s...

Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said the state government will set up 250 Ayush wellness centres and 500 herbal gardens in Himachal to give a boost to the Ayurvedic system.  In a statement issued here, Sukhu said that these herbal gardens will not only produce quality herbal medicines but also emerge as an added attraction to the tourists visiting the state. Also Read:4,200 AYUSH Wellness Centres to be opened this year: AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik in Rajya Sabha The state government will set up 250 Ayush centres and develop 500 herbal gardens in collaboration with Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Education and Forest departments in different parts of the state during the current financial year, he said. It will enable people to derive benefits of ancient Indian medical science — Ayurveda, the chief minister said. Stressing that introduction of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) therapies in the prevention of disease...

Vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks among people aged over 60, finds a clinical trial published by The BMJ today. The researchers stress that the absolute risk difference was small, but say this is the largest trial of its kind to date, and further evaluation is warranted, particularly in people taking statins or other cardiovascular disease drugs. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and is one of the main causes of death globally. CVD events such as heart attacks and strokes are set to increase as populations continue to age and chronic diseases become more common. Observational studies have consistently shown a link between vitamin D levels and CVD risk, but randomised controlled trials have found no evidence that vitamin D supplements prevent cardiovascular events, possibly due to differences in trial design that can affect results. To address this uncertai...

New Delhi: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the provisioning of health services and adequate quality health facilities for the devotees undertaking the Amarnath Yatra with senior officers of Health Ministry and DGHS. He was briefed about the medical care and other health facilities being provided at the base camp and en route. Union Health Minister has directed the officials to support UT of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that the yatris are provided with the required health facilities and medical services so that they are in good health and physical condition to take the ardous journey. “Will ensure the devotees are provided the best health services and medical facilities during the Yatra”, the Minister stated. Also Read:Chardham yatra: Govt issues health advisory in 11 languages for pilgrims The Amarnath Yatra is exceptional in terms of the geoclimatic challenges, especially the issues pertaining to high altitude. As directed by the Union He...

Researchers have found in a new a study of more than 10,000 young adolescents in the US that reading for pleasure early in childhood linked to better cognitive performance and mental wellbeing in adolescence.Children who begin reading for pleasure early in life tend to perform better at cognitive tests and have better mental health when they enter adolescence. In a study published today in Psychological Medicine, researchers in the UK and China found that 12 hours a week was the optimal amount of reading, and that this was linked to improved brain structure, which may help explain the findings. Reading for pleasure can be an important and enjoyable childhood activity. Unlike listening and spoken language, which develop rapidly and easily in young children, reading is a taught skill and is acquired and developed through explicit learning over time. During childhood and adolescence, our brains develop, making this an important time in which to establish behaviours that support our co...

In a subgroup of high-risk primary prevention patients, bempedoic acid treatment was associated with reduced major cardiovascular events, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network. The effects of bempedoic acid on cardiovascular outcomes in statin-intolerant patients without a prior cardiovascular event (primary prevention) have not been fully described. The study by Steven E. Nissen et al, aimed to determine the effects of bempedoic acid on cardiovascular outcomes in primary prevention patients.This masked, randomized clinical trial enrolled 13 970 statin-intolerant patients including 4206 primary prevention patients. Mean participant age was 68 years, 59% were female, and 66% had diabetes. Participants were randomized to oral bempedoic acid, 180 mg daily or matching placebo. Main Outcome Measures The primary efficacy measure was the time from randomization to the first occurrence of any component of a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (...

London : GSK plc announced today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a Fast Track designation for its Neisseria gonorrhoeae investigational vaccine (NgG). The vaccine candidate is currently in an ongoing Phase II trial and aims to demonstrate proof of concept by assessing the efficacy of the NgG vaccine in healthy adults, 18 to 50 years of age, considered at risk of gonorrhoea. Fast Track designation is intended to facilitate the development and expedite the review of potentially important new drugs and vaccines to treat or prevent serious conditions with unmet medical needs. Gonorrhoea is the second most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide, with an estimated 82 million new cases globally each year. In the US, rates of reported gonorrhoea have increased 118% from 2009 to 2021, resulting in 710,151 cases being reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021. Phil Dormitzer, Global Head of Vaccines R&...

New York: Pfizer Inc said it is scrapping its once-a-day experimental obesity pill because of concerns about liver safety, but will continue developing its other obesity pill, the twice daily treatment danuglipron, as it races to rival the success of other weight loss treatments. The company's shares fell more than 5% in early trading on Monday as Pfizer said it would stop developing its therapy lotiglipron after patients who took the drug in clinical studies were shown to have elevated levels of liver enzymes. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said an obesity pill could eventually be a $10-billion-a-year product for Pfizer. The company's shares have dropped around 29% so far this year as it works to develop its strategy past the COVID vaccines and therapeutics that drove revenue and earnings for the past few years. The NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical index, which tracks drugmakers, is down around 1% over the same period. The company said it expects to finalize plans for the danuglip...

Mumbai: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to permit a 15-year-old rape victim to abort her 28-week pregnancy as doctors have opined the baby would be born alive even if forcible delivery is performed at this stage.  The baby would require neonatal care, as per the doctors. Also Read:Delhi HC directs GTB Hospital to terminate pregnancy of 13-year-old minor rape survivor A division bench of Justices R V Ghuge and Y G Khobragade in its order of June 20, said if a child is going to be born even with forcible delivery, then they might as well let the baby be born full-term keeping its future in mind. The court was hearing a petition filed by the rape victim’s mother seeking permission to abort the girl’s 28-week pregnancy. The woman in the plea said her daughter went missing in February this year and was found with a man in Rajasthan three months later by police. A case was lodged against the man under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from ...

Amritsar: A Punjab-based doctor was booked under sections related to cruelty against animals after he locked his dogs inside the parking space of his house without making any proper arrangements for their food and care while he left for a six-month journey to Canada.   The dogs were reportedly locked inside under the scorching heat without ventilation or food. One of them was found unconscious, while the other one was infected by maggots.   Also Read:Mohali Civil surgeon pulls up civil hospital staff over lack of cleanliness The dogs were rescued by Animal Welfare and care service Foundation (AWCSF). The doctor is a resident of Block A of Ranjit Avenue. The doctor's brother was given keys to the house in order to feed the dogs, but they were not given food, reports the Free Press Journal.  The brother reportedly opposed the rescue and treatment efforts of AWCSF, following which the foundation called the police for immediate action. As per a media report in ...

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has announced to open a medical university in Jodhpur and made a provision of Rs 35 crore for the first phase of its work, an official statement said on Saturday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced to open the Marwar Medical University in this year’s budget speech. Also Read:Rajasthan Medical Council holds counselling for 399 Out of 2000 CRMI seats, around 1000 FMGs left in lurch He has approved Rs 35 crore for the work of the first phase of the university. After the utilisation of this amount, an additional budget provision has also been agreed upon. Total Rs 499.86 crore will be spent on the establishment of the university in three phases. In another decision, Gehlot approved the proposal to open a new homoeopathic college in Bharatpur. Approval was also given for the creation of 30 new posts for the operation of the college. Also, the state government has sanctioned Rs 54.33 crore for providing scooties to 6,250 people with disabilities...

Mumbai : Ajanta Pharma has recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has concluded an inspection at the Company's Dahej facility with no Form 483. The USFDA inspected the facility from 19th June 2023 to 23rd June 2023. "This is to inform you that our formulation facility at Dahej was inspected by US FDA from 19th June 2023 to 23rd June 2023. At the end of inspection, no Form 483 was issued to us," the company informed in a BSE filing. An FDA Form 483 is issued to firm management at the conclusion of an inspection when an investigator(s) has observed any conditions that in their judgment may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and related Acts. Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that  the USFDA had concluded the inspection with 2 procedural observations at the company's formulation facility situated at Dahej. Read also: Ajanta Pharma Dahej facility gets 2 procedural observations from USFDA Mumba...

Globally, about 1% of the population has vitiligo, treatment includes The most effective vitiligo therapies include topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, and surgery. The causes of vitiligo development and repigmentation are not fully understood. Vitiligo’s immunological pathogenic mechanism includes the destruction of melanocytes, oxidative stress, immune response, abnormalities in the immune inflammatory microenvironment, and dermal fiber components. A recent study in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology reports sectioned mini punch grafts can help to manage hairline vitiligo or hairy areas vitiligo. This method can be considered a potential method for the treatment of hairline vitiligo. Qiaochu Zhou and team aimed to tackle hairline vitiligo issue, by modifying the conventional mini-punch grafting with a combined application of mini-punch grafting and follicular hair transplant. Five patients with localized hairline stable vitiligo aged 26– 32 ye...

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government will run special campaigns against communicable diseases across the state from July 1, an official statement said on Friday.  Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials of the Health Department to outline necessary guidelines for the ‘Communicable Disease Control Campaign’, which will be held from July 1 to July 31, and the ‘Dastak Campaign’, to be organised from July 17-31, it said. Also Read:UP CM Adityanath distributes appointment letters to 1442 staff nurses, emphasises their role in patient's wellness Instructions have been given to the department to make preparations for ensuring cleanliness in both urban and rural areas and tackling waterlogging during this period. The officials have also been directed to monitor the breeding and density of mosquitoes in all districts while monitoring intensive vector and mosquito control activities in high-risk areas with inter-departmental cooperation, the statement said. During the D...

Jalpaiguri: Understanding the importance of proper midwifery training, Jalpaiguri Medical College has taken the initiative to establish a midwifery training centre , the second in the state after Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College (NRS Hospital). These training facilities are currently located at NRS. However, a second training centre has been proposed to be established at Jalpaiguri Medical College premises. A two-person UNICEF team inspected various areas of the campus along the Mother and Child Hub on Tuesday to make sure the infrastructure was prepared before the centre's official launch, reports the Daily.   Also Read: West Bengal: Apollo Hospitals plans to expand Compared to other hospitals and health facilities in the Jalpaiguri district, Jalpaiguri Medical College Hospital alone undertakes an average of 17 to 25 normal deliveries every day. Often the gynaecologists conduct these deliveries assisted by nurses. The opening of the midwifery training centre seeks to equip B.S...

Puducherry: Providing relief to aspiring nursing students, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has exempted Puducherry from conducting Common Entrance Test for BSc (Nursing) admission in the union territory this academic year.  According to a media report in TNIE , admissions this year will be based on the existing Class 12 board score pattern since the students will face difficulties preparing for the exam.  In this way, nursing students and nursing aspirants will have time to complete their studies and the health department will also have time to begin the admission process without rushing.  Also read- Fact Check: Beware of fake notice asking to Consider BSc Nursing Candidates as junior doctors The decision comes in line after the UT administration approached the INC twice on June 21 expressing their concern and difficulty to conduct the test by July and complete the admission process by August as prescribed by the council. In April, the Puducherry territorial admin...

Indianapolis :  and DICE Therapeutics, Inc. have announced a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire DICE. DICE is a biopharmaceutical company that leverages its proprietary DELSCAPE technology platform to develop novel oral therapeutic candidates, including oral IL-17 inhibitors currently in clinical development, to treat chronic diseases in immunology. "In combination with its novel technology and expertise in drug discovery, DICE's talented workforce and passion for innovation will enhance our efforts to make life better for people living with devastating autoimmune diseases," said , executive vice president, president of , chief customer officer. "We welcome DICE colleagues to and, together, we can tackle the challenges ahead in finding new treatments for patients with significant unmet medical needs." , Ph.D., CEO of , added, "We're eager to see our pipeline, including our oral IL-17 inhibitors, DC-806 and DC-853, benefit from 's resourc...