health $wellness blog

In a new case report, researchers at UCLA Health describe promising results using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the management of post-stroke cerebellar ataxia, a debilitating condition marked by impaired coordination and balance. Cerebellar ataxia describes a group of neurological disorders that affect coordination, balance, and control of muscle movements. It results from damage or dysfunction of the cerebellum, a part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. Ataxia can manifest as unsteady walking, difficulties with fine motor skills, and problems with speech, among other symptoms. The severity of ataxia can vary from mild to severe, and treatments often aim to manage symptoms and improve a person's quality of life as treatment options are limited. Writing in The Cerebellum, researchers led by Evan Hy Einstein, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, report on the case of...

Viral infections are difficult to treat and several vaccines are being tested for a while in combination. Two pharma giants Pzifer and BioNTech announced positive topline results from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-based combination vaccine candidates for influenza and COVID-19 among healthy adults 18 to 64 years of age. The press release by Pzifer on Oct 26th reveals that lead formulations evaluated in the Phase 1/2 study demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains. Safety profile of the mRNA-based combination vaccine candidates consistent with the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine. The companies plan to start a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the coming months. In the clinical trial, the vaccine candidates were compared to a licensed influenza vaccine and the companies’ Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine given at the same visit. The data from the trial showed that the companies'...

Greece: A recent study published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia has shed light on ICU hyperglycemia after cardiac surgery and associated clinical outcomes and risk factors. The researchers revealed frequent occurrence of hyperglycemia in patients admitted to the cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery. High EuroSCORE II, diabetes, and preoperative leukocytosis were found to be independent risk factors for postoperative hyperglycemia. European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II predicts the risk of in-hospital mortality after major cardiac surgery. Hyperglycemia is associated with worse clinical outcomes, including a higher rate of ICU-acquired weakness and acute kidney injury, a higher rate of multiorgan failure, and a greater duration of mechanical ventilation. Hyperglycemia patients face increased mortality and morbidity due to postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. Stavros Dimopoulos, Cardia...

USA: A recent phase 3 randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has shed light on the safety and efficacy of apremilast in patients with genital psoriasis. The study revealed that these patients showed a clinically significant response to apremilast treatment. Apremilast demonstrated statistically and clinically meaningful genital PGA responses and improvement of symptoms, signs, QoL, and severity in this first randomized, controlled study of oral systemic treatment in genital psoriasis patients. Genital psoriasis (G-PsO) may be the most stigmatizing form of psoriasis that affects about 63% of adults with psoriasis at some time. Studies about the efficacy and safety of treatment for G-PsO are limited, and treatment is challenging. This form of the disease has a great impact on the quality of life, and due to genital skin's sensitive nature, most first-line treatments such as topical steroids are often tied with higher risks. Apr...

China: A recent study has shown a positive association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD) and incident target lesion failure (TLF). The findings, published in Cardiovascular Diabetology , suggest the TyG index to be a valuable component of future efforts for improving TLF outcome prediction and CAD risk stratification among young adults. The increase in EOCAD has become an emerging public health concern. EOCAD patients were more likely to be treated with target lesion failure, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than their older counterparts. Therefore, EOCAD has been a focus of growing concern considering their life-long atherosclerotic burden. Early identification of young people at risk for CAD is of great importance for better management and prevention. There is a need for non-invasive predictive biomarkers. Against the above background Yan Zheng, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and coll...

In a critical breakthrough for emergency medicine, researchers have identified key echocardiography markers that can help distinguish Type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) from ST‐elevation–myocardial infarction (STEMI). The findings were published in Journal of the American Heart Association. This study examined 340 patients with STEMI and 340 patients with TAAAD who had undergone 2D echocardiography in the emergency department over the past decade. The study focused on echocardiographic parameters, particularly the diameter of the proximal ascending aorta (PAA) and its various segments. The researchers found that the PAA diameter at different levels in the parasternal view, including the Valsalva, the sinotubular junction (STJ), PAA at 1 cm above the STJ, and PAA at 2 cm above the STJ, were significant predictors of TAAAD. These findings were supported by Receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis, which indicated high diagnostic accuracy (with areas under the curve ranging...

Faridkot: Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has announced the conduction of a walk-in physical 2nd extended stray vacancy round of counseling for leftover seats of BDS Course, session 2023 under NEET UG-2023. As per the notice, the counseling process will be carried out on 31.10.2023 (12:00 Noon) at Senate Hall, BFUHS, Faridkot. The interested candidates(eligible) must reach the counseling venue so that applications will be accepted up to 31.10.2023 (till 10:00 AM sharp). Thereafter, no application will be entertained. The six-months tuition fee will be collected on the spot in the shape of Demand Draft fvg. REGISTRAR, BFUHS, Faridkot, payable at Faridkot or through the University Online Payment System. The Registration fee from fresh candidates will be collected on the spot. If the candidates are allotted a seat in 2nd extended stray vacancy round, the candidate has to join the allotted seat/college. If the candidate does not join the allotted seat, they shall be de...

 People who have experienced traumatic events in childhood such as abuse, neglect or household dysfunction may be more likely to experience headache disorders as adults, according to a meta-analysis published in the October 25, 2023, online issue of Neurology ®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This research does not prove that such experiences cause headaches; it only shows an association. “Traumatic events in childhood can have serious health implications later in life,” said study author Catherine Kreatsoulas, PhD, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. “Our meta-analysis confirms that childhood traumatic events are important risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood, including migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and chronic or severe headaches. This is a risk factor that we cannot ignore.” The meta-analysis involved 28 studies, including 154,739 participants across 19 countries. Of the total partici...

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent and concerning health condition that's on the rise. It has been established that physical activity can play a crucial role in preventing and managing NAFLD. However, a recent groundbreaking study revealed that vigorous physical activity from young to middle adulthood has reduced the risk of NAFLD in middle age when compared with those with less vigorous physical activity.  The study results were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing global concern. Researchers, focusing on a diverse population over 25 years, have found that consistent physical activity, especially vigorous-intensity exercise, may lower the risk of NAFLD in middle age. Tailored interventions could play a vital role in reducing NAFLD risk, offering hope in the fight against this prevalent liver condition. Previous research shows that physical activity (PA) can prevent and treat nonalcoholic fat...

New Delhi: Pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca has got a go-ahead from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to import and market Andexanet alfa powder for solution for infusion 200 mg indicated for patients treated with FXa inhibitors (apixaban or rivaroxaban) when reversal of anticoagulation is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding. However, this approval is subject to a condition that the firm should conduct the Phase IV clinical trial of Andexanet alfa for injection. This came after the drug major AstraZeneca presented its proposal to import and market Andexanet alfa solution for injection indicated for patients treated with FXa inhibitors (apixaban or rivaroxaban) when reversal of anticoagulation is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding with a waiver of local Phase III clinical trial. Andexanet alfa is a recombinant Factor Xa used to reverse anticoagulation caused by rivarox...

Teplizumab preserves beta cell function among children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes suggests a new study published in the New England Journal of medicine. Teplizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to CD3 on T cells, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to delay the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes (stage 3) in patients 8 years of age or older with preclinical (stage 2) disease. Whether treatment with intravenous teplizumab in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes can prevent disease progression is unknown. In this phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed β-cell preservation, clinical end points, and safety in children and adolescents who were assigned to receive teplizumab or placebo for two 12-day courses. The primary end point was the change from baseline in β-cell function, as measured by stimulated C-peptide levels at week 78. The key secondary end points were the insulin doses that were required to meet glycemic goals, glycated h...

Mechanical ventilation is a type of therapy that helps in artificial breathing or when one can’t breathe on their own. Mechanical ventilation keeps the patients airways open, delivers oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Mechanical ventilation may lead to ventilator-induced lung injury by altering or depleting surfactant. In a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network including 524 trauma patients receiving mechanical ventilation with risk factors for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome, the addition of sigh breaths did not significantly increase ventilator-free days. Prespecified secondary outcome data suggest that sighs are well-tolerated and may improve clinical outcomes. Researchers conducted a randomized trial of sigh breaths plus usual care from 2016 to 2022 with 28-day follow-up in 15 academic trauma centers in the US. Inclusion criteria were age older than 18 years, mechanical ventilation because of trauma for less than 24 hours, 1 or more of 5 risk factor...

New Delhi : The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Center Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted approval to drug major Novartis to update the package insert of Secukinumab 75mg/150mg/300mg for change in posology and pharmacodynamic properties. This came after the expert panel noted that the changes proposed in the package insert are in line with the approval of EU SmPC (A Summary of Product Characteristics). Secukinumab is an immunomodulating agent and interleukin antagonist used to manage plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, along with other joint inflammatory disorders. Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG1/κ antibody against interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in various chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, such as plaque psoriasis. By blocking the actions of IL-17A, secukinumab works to inhibit the pro-inflammatory pathways that drive immune-mediated inflammatory disorders...

Use of Asthma medications not linked to risk of dental caries in children suggests a new study published in the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Dental caries and enamel defects are the main causes of poor dental health in children, with a substantial impact on their well-being. Use of inhaled asthma medication is a suspected risk factor, but there is a lack of prospective studies investigating this and other prenatal and early life risk factors. Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 mother–child cohort (COPSAC2010) consists of 700 women who were recruited at 24 weeks of pregnancy. 588 of their children participated in a dental examination at 6 years of age (84%) at the COPSAC2010 research unit. Caries was defined as decayed, missing, or filled surfaces. Enamel defect was defined as demarcated opacity, post-eruptive enamel breakdown, and/or atypical restoration on at least one molar. Caries and enamel defects were assessed in both deciduous and permanent denti...

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all the medical colleges and PG institutes to submit details of all the Students admitted to postgraduate medical courses during the academic Year 2023-24. For this purpose, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC has set the deadline for the concerned medical institutes. According to the NMC notification, the last date of admission to the Post Graduate Broad Specialty course, as approved, is 25th October 2023. The portal for filling in the student details shall remain open till 28th October 2022. "The details of the students who have taken admission to the PG medical courses as per the data filled in by the Colleges are placed on the NMC's website. However, the names of those students whose details are not filled in by the Colleges/ Institutes within the last date of submission of data on NMC's portal, will not be displayed othe NMC's website. Hence, the onus of furnishing the data on tim...

Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGI Chandigarh) has announced the conduction of the 36th Convocation to be held on 2nd November, 2023 in the Bhargava Auditorium of the Institute. The XXXVI Convocation of the Institute for PhD/MD/MS/DM/MCh/MDS/MPH courses will be held on Thursday, the 2nd November, 2023 in Bhargava Auditorium of PGIMER, Chandigarh. First rehearsal for the purpose will be held on 31st October, 2023 at 10 AM onwards and full dress rehearsal on 1st November, 2023 at 10 AM onwards in the Bhargava Auditorium. Those who do not attend the rehearsal will not be admitted the Convocation. The entire  proceedings of convocation will be televised. . A youtube link will also be available on the PGI website for the live telecast of the Convocation. Instructions To The Recipients Of Degrees And Medals REHEARSAL 31 st October, 2023 and 1 st November, 2023 VENUE : BHARGAVA CONVOCATION 2 nd November, 2...

Lucknow: A systematic review and meta analyses of published cases done by department of neurology at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) has concluded that leprosy can affect brain and spinal cord too. Prof. R K Garg, HoD neurology at the KGMU, said: “It was earlier believed the mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy, primarily troubles the peripheral nerves and does not affect brain and spinal cord. Our study has found it can affect the brain and spinal cord too.” Also Read:KGMU Paediatrician Dr Shally Awasthi becomes WHO health advisory group member This systematic review aimed to investigate central nervous system (CNS) involvement in leprosy by analysing multiple cohort studies, individual cases and case series. A total of 34 records were identified, including 18 cohort studies and 16 reports describing 27 isolated cases. “Bacteria enters in a human body through respiratory passage via airborne route, causing leprosy in a normal person,” said Garg...

Mumbai: A doctor couple in the area became a victim of a major fraud after they were deceived by a 23-year-old fraudster and one of his associates who impersonated as a senior inspector from the health department of the Pollution Control Board, resulting in a loss of approximately Rs 3 lakh. In response to this, the police arrested the accused from Bhopal based on the doctor's complaint. Although the police managed to apprehend the main accused, one of his associates is still at large.  The accused is a student who runs a business in Bhopal. On the other hand, the victim has been identified as a 70-year-old doctor who has been running a clinic in Malad with his wife who is also a doctor for the past 40 years.  Also read- Drug Parcel Scam: GMCH Doctor Duped Of Rs 1.2 Lakh By Cyber Fraudster The incident took place two months ago in August 2023 when the doctor couple received a call from an unknown person who presented himself as Singh, a senior inspector from the hea...

Hyderabad :  Aurobindo Pharma Limited has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary company, Eugia Pharma Specialities Limited, has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Testosterone Cypionate Injection USP 1,000 mg/10 mL (100 mg/mL) and 2,000 mg/10 mL (200 mg/mL) in Multi-Dose Vial and 200 mg/mL in Single-Dose Vial. The product is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug (RLD), Depo-Testosterone Injection, 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL of Pfizer Inc. Testosterone Cypionate Injection USP is indicated replacement therapy in the male in conditions associated with symptoms of deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, Primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) and Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired). The product is expected to be launched in November 2023. The approved product has an estimated market size of US$ 226.8 million for the twelve months ending August 2...

Canada: A retrospective cohort study of 879 patients with head and neck cancer revealed an important association between the timing of pre-radiation therapy (RT) dental extractions and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) when extractions occurred within seven days of the RT start date. Despite this, osteoradionecrosis after pre-RT extractions is relatively rare. The findings, published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, indicate that patients with head and neck cancer who are to undergo RT should not delay treatment for extractions when it might compromise oncologic control. The researchers found those who healed had extractions an average of 4.8 days earlier than patients who developed ORN; however, only 1.8% (16 patients) developed ORN associated with pre-RT extractions. Patients with head and neck cancer undergo teeth extraction with poor prognoses to minimize post-RT extractions, which are known to cause osteoradionecrosis. However, many patients are required to start RT be...

New Delhi: Residents of west Delhi will soon have easy access to pediatricians and gynaecologists with the Delhi government-run Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital's new mother and child block likely to be opened by November. The 270-bed block was built by the Public Works Department (PWD) at an estimated cost of Rs 67.59 crore, a government senior official said. The official said that the foundation stone for the construction of the building was laid in 2019, but the project got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Also Read:20 Govt hospitals in Delhi to have cross-referral mechanism for emergency patients “The project was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the construction work. Now, it is in advance stage and finishing touches are being given. The building comprises 270 beds. It has also the features of a green building,” he said. The person said the total built up area is 14,515 square metres and the building comprises a basement and seven floors, excluding the gr...

Lucknow: Women suffering from menstrual disorders and bone-related issues can now seek treatment in alternative medicine at the State Takmeel-Ut-Tib College (Unani Medicine College) here. Principal secretary of Ayush, Leena Johari said that a new centre has been opened at the college for the purpose. The centre, made with Rs 11 lakh allocated in the state government’s budget for 2022-23, was delayed for about 17 months due to late release of funds, but is now operational. Also Read:Tamil Nadu Govt Unani Medical college admits first batch of PG students Originally, Rs 41 lakh in funds were intended for the establishment of two centres. Last month, the first centre was set up in the Jarahat (surgery) department with Rs 30 lakh, focusing on sciatica patients. Now, the second centre has been established in the Nishwa and Kabbalat department, specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology. The primary objective of this research centre is to conduct research on menstrual disorders and o...

"Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) hampers ones quality of life of a similar magnitude to individuals with other chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn's disease, and worse quality of life than patients with other chronic non-gastrointestinal diseases, such as diabetes or heart failure." Usually IBS are managed in primary care but at times, first-line therapies for IBS are ineffective, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline suggests considering low- dose tricyclic antidepressants as second-line treatment, but their effectiveness in primary care is unknown, and they are infrequently prescribed in this setting. The largest trial of a tricyclic antidepressant in IBS ever conducted according to researchers reveals that the titrated low-dose amitriptyline was superior to placebo as a second-line treatment for IBS in primary care across multiple outcomes, and was safe and well tolerated. Researchers emphasize on the fact that general prac...

A recent study has revealed that Ultra-Low-Dose CT (ULDCT) examinations of the chest, with only twice the radiation dose of a traditional Chest X-Ray (CXR), offer a significant advantage in detecting main diagnoses in non-traumatic emergency department patients. This study was published in e Clinical Medicine by Christian Wassipaul and colleagues. The prospective crossover cohort trial, conducted between May 2nd and November 26th, 2019, has potential implications for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient care in emergency medicine. In this prospective trial, 294 non-traumatic emergency department patients, with clinical indications for a CXR, were included. Each participant underwent both CXR and ULDCT, and they were randomly assigned to two arms with inverse reporting orders. The goal was to compare the detection rate of diagnoses and their clinical relevance in a low-prevalence cohort. Key Findings: Enhanced Detection Rate: The study revealed that ULDCT outperformed CXR in...

Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain cancer, is notoriously resistant to treatment, with recurrent GBM associated with survival of less than 10 months. Immunotherapies, which mobilize the body’s immune defenses against a cancer, have not been effective for GBM, in part because the tumor’s surrounding environment is largely impenetrable to assaults from the body’s immune system. To convert this immunosuppressive environment into one amenable to an immune response, investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, engineered a novel oncolytic virus that can infect cancer cells and stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. Results, published in Nature, demonstrated the safety and preliminary efficacy of the novel gene therapy approach in high-grade glioma patients, with prolonged survival in a subgroup of recurrent GBM patients immunologically “familiar” with the virus. “GBM has an aggressive effect in part because of a m...