1 August, 2016

Saturated fat in fried foods may prevent your brain from controlling hunger

If you are looking for ways to reduce that ever-burgeoning waistline, stay clear of foods rich in saturated fat found in butter, cheese or fried foods as these can make your brain struggle to control what you eat, says a study. The findings showed that consuming fatty food affects the hypothalamus — a part of the brain that helps regulate hunger. A meal rich in saturated fat causes inflammation in the brain as well as reduces an individual’s cognitive function that makes it more difficult to control eating habits. In other words, people struggle to control how much they eat, when to stop and what type of food to eat — symptoms seen in obesity.

‘Although the effects of high fat diet on metabolism have been widely studied, little is known about the effects on the brain,’ said Marianna Crispino Professor at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy. On the other hand, consuming foods rich in unsaturated fats such as fish, avocado or olive oil makes a significant difference, the researchers said.  The study shows that brain function remains normal and manages to restrain from eating more than necessary. ‘The difference was very clear and we were amazed to establish the impact of a fatty diet onto the brain,’ Crispino explained.  ‘Our results suggest that being more aware about the type of fat consumed with the diet may reduce the risk of obesity and prevent several metabolic diseases’  Crispino concluded.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

01.08.2016

Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and small minds discuss people

Eleanor Roosevelt

30 July, 2016

Government to ask doctors to prescribe generic medicines

New Delhi : The government is planning to modify the rules of the Medical Council of India to make it compulsory for all physicians to prescribe medicines with generic names, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar said. In response to a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said the Ethics Committee Regulation of the Medical Council of India (MCI) is proposed to be modified to make prescribing generic medicines compulsory. Under the amended regulation, “every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure there is a rational prescription and use of drugs”.

The minister also said the issue has been taken up with the health ministry to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines and to allow pharmacists to substitute generic medicines for branded medicines. Ananth Kumar said availability of good quality medicines at reasonable price is a high priority area for the government and steps taken include bringing out a revised National List of Essential Medicines and inclusion of more medicines in the list. “The price of medicines included in the NLEM have gone down in the recent past as a result of the downward trend in the wholesale price index,” the minister said. He also said the Department of Pharmaceuticals is aiming to open 3,000 ‘Jan Aushadhi’ outlets to market generic medicines at fraction of the MRP.

Source: www.medicaldialogues.in

30.07.2016

Everyone is unique, beautiful & gifted … But most people never open their package

29 July, 2016

Remote-controlled microbots to soon aid doctors

To better treat a variety of diseases, researchers have developed soft, flexible and motor-less microrobots that can be remotely controlled with electromagnetic fields.

Made up of a biocompatible hydrogel and magnetic nanoparticles, these microbots can move and swim inside the patient's body when an electromagnetic field is applied, accoding to the researchers from Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne, Switzerland who developed bio-inspired robots that looks and moves like a bacterium. 

To build one of these microrobots, the nanoparticles were first placed inside layers of a biocompatible hydrogel.  Then, an electromagnetic field was applied to orientate the nanoparticles at different parts of the robot, followed by a polymerisation step to "solidify" the hydrogel. 

After this, the robot was placed in water where it folded in specific ways depending on the orientation of the nanoparticles inside the gel, to form the final overall 3D architecture of the microrobot. Once the final shape was achieved, an electromagnetic field was used to make the robot swim. Then, when heated, the robot changed shape and unfolded. 

This fabrication approach allowed the researchers to build microrobots that mimic the bacterium that causes African trypanosomiasis, otherwise known as sleeping sickness.  This particular bacterium uses a flagellum for propulsion, but hides it away once inside a person's bloodstream as a survival mechanism.

The researchers tested different microrobot designs to come up with one that imitated this behaviour. The prototype robot has a bacterium-like flagellum that enables it to swim. When heated with a laser, the flagellum wraps around the robot's body and is "hidden".

Scientists around the world have been studying ways to use miniature robots to better treat a variety of diseases.  The robots are designed to enter the human body, where they can deliver drugs at specific locations or perform precise operations like clearing clogged-up arteries.

The work was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

29.07.2016

The door to wisdom is knowing yourself

28 July, 2016

World Hepatitis Day 2016: India lagging behind in hepatitis research, reports ISCR

28th July is World Hepatitis Day

India is lagging behind in viral hepatitis research despite the high burden of the disease, said the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) on the eve of World Hepatitis Day. The day is observed every year on July 28 to raise global awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. There are five different hepatitis viruses – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. This year, the theme for World Hepatitis Day is ‘elimination’ with an ambitious target by WHO member states to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. According to ISCR, attainment of this goal requires scaling-up clinical research in hepatitis extensively, particularly in India which carries a high burden of hepatitis B and C. Of the five different types of hepatitis, there is no cure for three of the types. Hepatitis C alone affects an estimated 12 million people in India, most of whom do not know that they have the disease.

‘Despite the alarming statistics, we as a country have not undertaken enough clinical research in this area. We need treatment regimens that are short and therapies that are effective, affordable and well tolerated,’ said ISCR President Suneela Thatte. India has 17 per cent of the global population and 20 per cent of the global disease burden but less than 1.4 per cent of all global clinical trials are done in India. ‘India was never a country that had a very high percentage of trials relative to the trials being done in the rest of the world nor is it our objective to be the number one country in the region or globally for doing trials,’ Thatte said. The ISCR is an association of clinical research professionals that aims to build awareness of clinical research as a specialty in India and to facilitate its growth in the country while helping to evolve the highest standards of quality and ethics.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

28.07.2016

Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from the negative

27 July, 2016

Diseases running in families may not be due to genes but surroundings

You may have often heard of some disease - like high BP or heart problems - running in the family. It is usually assumed that hereditary factors are responsible. Meaning diseasegenes are passed on from one generation to another. But a massive new study of over 500,000 people and their families in United Kingdom has come up with a startling answer. Family history of disease may be as much the result of shared lifestyle and surroundings as inherited genes.

Factors that are common to the family environment - such as shared living space and common eating habits - can make a major contribution to a person's risk of disease, the study found.

Researchers led by the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute and MRC Human Genetics Unit examined the medical histories of more than 500,000 people and their families - including both blood and adoptive relatives. "The huge UK Biobank study allowed us to obtain very precise estimates of the role of genetics in these important diseases. It also identified those diseases where the shared family environment is important, such as heart disease, hypertension and depression, and also equally interestingly those where family environment is of limited or no apparent importance, such as dementia, stroke and Parkinson's disease," said Chris Haley, professor at the University's MRC Human Genetics Unit.

They looked at incidences of 12 common diseases including high blood pressure, heart disease, and several cancers and neurological diseases. By not accounting for shared environmental factors, scientists may overestimate the importance of genetic variation by an average of 47 per cent, the study found.

Experts say their findings will help to provide realistic expectations of the value of genetic testing for identifying people at risk of disease. The research also underlines the need to identify environmental factors that contribute to diseases and how to modify them to reduce disease risk. The study published in Nature Genetics, used data from the UK Biobank, a UK database of volunteers' health.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

27.07.2016

No one gets a sudden rise, even the Sun.

No one gets a sudden fall, even the Moon.

26 July, 2016

Painless patch can help in measuring drugs instead of drawing blood

 

Researchers have created an inexpensive microneedle drug monitoring system — a thin patch pressed against a patient’s arm — that could one day replace costly, invasive blood draws and improve patient comfort. Microneedles are designed to puncture the outer layer of skin, which acts as a protective shield, but not the next layers of epidermis and the dermis, which house nerves, blood vessels and active immune cells. The new system consists of a small, thin patch that is pressed against a patient’s arm during medical treatment and measures drugs in their bloodstream painlessly without drawing any blood.

The tiny needle-like projection, less than half a milimetre long, resembles a hollow cone and does not pierce the skin like a standard hypodermic needle. ‘Many groups are researching microneedle technology for painless vaccines and drug delivery,’ said researcher Sahan Ranamukhaarachchi, PhD student at University of British Columbia in Canada. ‘Using them to painlessly monitor drugs is a newer idea,’ Ranamukhaarachchi, who developed this technology during a research exchange at Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) in Switzerland, said. The microneedle created by Ranamukhaarachchi and his colleagues was developed to monitor the antibiotic vancomycin, which is used to treat serious infections and is administered through an intravenous line. 

 

Patients taking the antibiotic undergo three to four blood draws per day and need to be closely monitored because vancomycin can cause life-threatening toxic side effects. The researchers discovered that they could use the fluid found just below the outer layer of skin, instead of blood, to monitor levels of vancomycin in the bloodstream. The microneedle collects just a tiny bit of this fluid, less than a millionth of a millilitre, and a reaction occurs on the inside of the microneedle that researchers can detect using an optical sensor. This technique allowed researchers to quickly and easily determine the concentration of vancomycin.

 

The microneedle monitoring system was described in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

 

26.07.2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Difficulties in your life don’t come to destroy you, but to help you realize your hidden potential 

25 July, 2016

Apartment Dwellers More Likely to Smoke: CDC

Apartment residents are more likely to smoke and less likely to have smoke-free rules than people living in single-family homes, U.S. health officials report. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 20 percent of adults living in apartments or condos smoked, potentially exposing nearby residents to secondhand smoke.

Among residents of single-family homes, however, only about 14 percent smoked.

Also, smoke-free rules prevailed in 81 percent of multi-unit housing units versus 87 percent of single-family homes, the study found. "These findings show the importance of protecting all people who live in multi-unit housing through smoke-free building policies and access to tobacco cessation resources," said Dr. Corinne Graffunder, director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

"Smoke-free rules help reduce secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers, prevent smoking initiation among youth and adults, support tobacco cessation among current smokers, and reduce the social acceptability of smoking," she said in an agency news release. The CDC reports that exposure to secondhand smoke results in 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults each year. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the 2013-1014 National Adult Tobacco Survey. Use of any tobacco products was reported by one-quarter of apartment dwellers and less than 20 percent of people from single-family residences.

And close to 10 percent of multi-unit housing residents reported secondhand smoke entered their homes regularly, the study showed. Exposure to secondhand smoke from nearby apartments or common living spaces remained an issue for one-third of multi-unit housing residents who have smoke-free rules at home, the CDC found. Tobacco use in multi-unit housing was highest among black men between 45 and 64 years old. It was also higher among single, gay or bisexual people, residents of the Midwest, those with a high school diploma but no college degree and people making less than $20,000 annually, the researchers said.

"The Surgeon General has concluded there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke," said study co-author Brian King, deputy director of research translation in the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health. "Opening windows or using ventilation systems does not effectively eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit housing."

The study was published July 13 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Source: www.medlineplus.gov

25.07.2016

There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit.Try to be in the first group. There is less competition

23 July, 2016

Shaking baby could be deadly, say physicians

Majority of physicians in the US accept that shaking a young child is capable of producing a life-threatening pooling of blood outside the brain, severe retinal haemorrhage, coma or death, according to a new survey "Our data show that shaking a young child is generally accepted by physicians to be a dangerous form of abuse," said study lead author Sandeep Narang from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in the US.

The study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Recent media reports and judicial decisions have called into question the general acceptance among physicians of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. General acceptance of concepts in the medical community is a critical factor for admitting medical expert testimony in courts. In cases of child maltreatment, courts often rely on medical expert testimony to establish the most likely cause of a child's injuries.

"Claims of substantial controversy within the medical community about shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma have created a chilling effect on child protection hearings and criminal prosecutions," Narang, who is also Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, noted. The study examined survey responses from 628 physicians frequently involved in evaluation of injured children at 10 leading children's hospitals in the US.

"Our study is the first to provide the much needed empiric confirmation that multidisciplinary physicians throughout the country overwhelmingly accept the validity of these diagnoses, and refutes the recent contention that there is this emerging 'groundswell' of physician opinion against the diagnoses," Narang said.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

23.07.2016

Appreciate those who love you, help those who need you, forgive those who hurt you & forget those who leave you

22 July, 2016

What if your doctor recommends taking a selfie?

Selfies, with pouting lips and arched eyebrows to mark every occasion, may have come to be known as attention seeking, addictive and dangerous behaviour but what if your doctor recommends taking one? From monitoring various stages of cancer to advising dental patients on the best techniques of oral hygiene, health experts in Chennai are finding that self-portrait photographs and videos may help promote good health, and early diagnosis to prevent diseases.

The idea that selfies can be used as visual diaries, to monitor and correct health problems, made six students at the Ragas Dental College, Chennai, take a video of themselves brushing their teeth everyday. This was for a study about refining toothbrush techniques. "In a city like Chennai, many people may brush their teeth at least once a day but only a few of them use the right technique," said Dr Rooban Thavaraja, one of the researchers.

Toothbrush habit is often the best way to maintain oral hygiene but as there may be no one good way to brush your teeth, often people suffer from dental problems. "The unique formation and setting of every individual means that different people may need different methods of oral care," said Dr Rooban. So he trained his volunteers in the right way to brush teeth. The students were then asked to takeselfie videos while brushing every morning for 14 days. Four students completed the task and the researchers observed improvement up to 8% in their brushing skills. The authors of the study , published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research, say they managed to demonstrate initial feasibility of using selfie videos to better dental health, but need a more detailed study to assess its effectiveness.

Although many doctors are still hesitant to use cellphones for interactions and prescriptions, a few of them feel it can be used by women for self examination of breast cancer. "Women can be asked to take a video of them selves once every month for three months and bring it for a review. This can help ensure that they don't miss any step. But it should be done in a small group, where women make videos of themselves wearing a light T-shirt and see if it works," said Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan, founder of Canstop, an NGO that works in cancer prevention.

In rare cases, doctors say selfie videos are effective especially when the symptoms are not immediately visible, like in case of fits. "I tell my patients to take videos when they are experiencing a stroke or fits and they have done it. It helps me know how long they had a fit, what were the symptoms and much more. This is a more accurate way of understanding their condition as most descriptions are often not accurate," said senior neurologist Dr T Arulmozhi.

"People take selfies because they want to feel good. It is a positive way to encourage someone to do well with little effort and no cost. It is, however, not a replacement for a doctor's visit but just an aid," said Dr Anusha AM, assistant professor of psychiatry, Shri Satya Sai Medical College.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

22.07.2016

Everyone has the same amount of time in a day. The difference is what you decide to do with it

21 July, 2016

Puducherry Gets Its First Mother’s Milk Bank-‘ATM’

            Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Students at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, decided to set up human milk banks dispensing human breast milk. The bank named ATM kicked-off its service last week with an aim to nourish and save premature babies born at the institute. The milk bank is all set to guide and advice and offer counselling to new mothers on breastfeeding as well. ATM stands for Amudham Thaippal Maiyam, Amudham means nectar in Tamil, Thaippal stands for breastfeeding and Maiyam means centre or an institute.

            According to Mr. Subhash Chandra Parija, Director, JIPMER, close to 1,500 babies are born in JIPMER every month, with about 30% of them born either before term or with a low birth weight. This is an attempt to take care of such babies who need additional care and nourishment. "Mother's milk is extremely important for the newborn. There are many instances where the newborn is not able to get milk from the mother. When the mother suffers from lactating issues, postpartum illness or ailments like HIV, Hepatitis C or B, or fungal nipple infection, the baby suffers for the lack of human milk. The machines are set up with the aim to serve such infants," noted Mr. Parija.

            All healthy lactating mothers with healthy babies, who are voluntarily willing to give their extra breast milk for other babies without compromising the nutritional needs of their own baby, can donate milk. The donors can include mothers attending baby clinics, mothers whose babies are in neonatal intensive care units, those who have lost their babies, but are willing to donate their milk, or lactating working staff in the hospital, and motivated mothers from the community. A donor using illegal drugs, tobacco products, alcohol or HIV positive cannot donate milk. The procured milk is pasteurised at 63.5 degree C for 35 minutes followed by other processes as per the Pasteurized Human Donor Milk (PHDM) guidelines. The milk supply could vary anywhere between 200 to 400 ml per donor. Such banks must be set up in all NICU facilities considering the complications associated with formula feeding of underweight and tiny preterm babies who cannot be breastfed till they are six months old. "If mother's milk is unavailable or insufficient, the next option is to use pasteurized donor human milk," Mr. Parija added.

Source: www.medindia.net

21.07.2016

Definition of  Birthday by Dr.Kalam : “The only day in your life …Your mother smiled when you cried”

20 July, 2016

Study says hypoglycaemia cases have increased by 39 per cent in the last decade

Hospital admissions with patients diagnosed by hypoglycaemia have seen a 39 per cent rise in last ten years, a study by an Indian-origin scientist has said. Hypoglycemia is a short-term and avoidable complication of diabetes where the blood sugar of a person with diabetes drops to dangerously low levels. ‘Given the continuous rise of diabetes prevalence, ageing population, and costs associated with hypoglycaemia, individual and national initiatives should be implemented to reduce the burden of hospital admissions for hypos,’ said Kamlesh Khunti, Professor at the University of Leicester.

According to the study, published in journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, most hypoglycaemic episodes are generally mild and can be self-treated by eating or drinking glucose tablets, sweets, sugary fizzy drinks or fruit juice. But if untreated hypoglycaemic can lead to coma, hospitalisation and death. For the study, the researchers took 1,01,475 cases between 2005 and 2014. The number of admissions for the low blood sugar episodes increased from 7,868 in 2005 to 11,756 in 2010 representing a 49 per cent jump and then 10,977 in 2014, up 39 per cent in ten years.

During the study period, hospital length of stay, mortality and one-month readmissions decreased progressively and consistently. ‘Accounting for diabetes prevalence, there was a reduction of admission rates, but this was down to an increase in newly-diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes who have a much lower risk of hypoglycaemia,’ said Khunti. The study also highlights on ways developed to help prevent and treat this chronic disease.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

20.07.2016

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought

Peace Pilgrim

19 July, 2016

25% Indians at risk of premature death from non-communicable diseases: WHO

NEW DELHI: Premature deaths from cancer, heart disease,diabetes and lung diseases have jumped to 70 per cent of all global deaths in 2015 from 42 per cent three years ago (in 2012), posing a major threat to sustainable development of nations, says WHO's latest assessment on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In India, one in four risk dying from NCDs before reaching 70 years of age, representing the largest cause of death.

The UN agency's report highlights the need to intensify national action to meet the global targets governments have agreed in order to protect their people from NCDs. The Sustainable Development Goals agenda includes a target to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 30 per cent by 2030. Cancer, diabetes and heart diseases account for 55 per cent of the premature mortality in India in the age group of 30-69 years.

To control the incidence and mortality from these diseases, the health ministry had introduced National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke in 2008. The programme was rolled out in around 100 districts in 2010 and have now been approved in over 500 districts across the country. Under the programme, over 300 districts have also got dedicated NCD clinics, whereas around 80-85 cardiac clinics have been started across the country. The ministry has also started retail stores like AMRIT to make cancer and cardiovascular drugs available at a heavily discounted price. India is also the first country to develop specific national targets and indicators aimed at reducing the number of premature deaths from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025.

In line with WHO's global action plan, the health ministry has developed a National Multisectoral Action Plan outlining actions that can be initiated by various other ministries in addition to health to reduce the NCD burden. For instance, it suggests various taxation interventions by the finance ministry.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

19.07.2016

Relationships are more important than life , but it is important for those relationships to have life in them

Swami Vivekananda

18 July, 2016

Oncologists say that 46% of women diagnosed with cancer are below 50

Around 46% of women suffering from cancer are under 50, a worrying trend that’s likely to continue in the coming years due to lifestyle changes, said doctors. Late marriages, multiple sex partners and late pregnancy have contributed to incidence of cancer among women, of which breast cancer and cervical cancer are the commonest forms, they said.

‘2% of the Indian women suffering from cancer are in 20 to 30 years age group, 16 % are in 30 to 40, 28 % are in 40 to 50 age group. So, almost 46 % women patients are below 50,” said Sameer Kaul, Senior Consultant of Surgical Oncology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here.

He said an increasing number of patients are in the 25 to 40 years of age, which is an ‘alarming’ situation. Since discussing private body parts is a taboo in many communities in India, women prefer to remain silent until their condition becomes unbearable or incurable, Kaul said.

‘Discomfort with the process of diagnosis and treatment is an additional concern. Research conducted in other countries suggests women perceive mammography exams as uncomfortable, and these feelings are shared by women in India too,’ he said.

The disease, especially breast and ovarian cancer, also carries a stigma for women, he said. According to the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), one woman dies of cervical cancer every eight minutes in India. For every two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one woman dies of it in India. The data also shows that as many as 2,500 persons die every day due to tobacco-related diseases in India. Kaul said more young women seem to suffer from breast cancer these days than older women.

‘Young breast cancer patients have special concerns. Their cancers tend to be more advanced, more aggressive, more likely to be caused by an inherited defective gene, and may respond differently to treatment than do breast tumours in older women.’

‘Issues of infertility, body image, and the disease’s impact on family life, relationships, career and finances also are different for younger women,’ said Kaul.

Agreed Priyanku Sachdev, oncologist at Safdarjung hospital here, who said tobacco abuse, hereditary factor and bad lifestyle choices are among the emerging factors contributing to cancer among women. ‘While tobacco is the leading contributor to cancer, about 40 % cases can be ascribed causes such as unhealthy eating and bad sexual habits,’ Sachdev said.

‘By the time people consult doctors, their cancer is in the advanced stage. A wound that does not heal, cough, stubborn fever, lumps, change in any mole and bleeding, etc., are generally the first warning signs that the body gives. So, one should be prompt in seeing the doctor,’ said Sachdev.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

18.07.2016

Appreciation is a wonderful  thing:
It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well

Voltaire

16 July, 2016

Too much red meat puts your kidneys at risk

You may want to swap that steak for a pea salad as a recent study has suggested that the more red meat you eat, the likelier you are to suffer from kidney failure.

To examine the relationship between dietary intake of major sources of protein and kidney function, a team led by Woon-Puay Koh analysed data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective study of 63,257 Chinese adults in Singapore. This is a population where 97 percent of red meat intake consisted of pork. Other food sources of protein included poultry, fish/shellfish, eggs, dairy products, soy, and legumes.

After an average follow-up of 15.5 years, the researchers found that red meat intake was strongly associated with an increased risk of ESRD in a dose-dependent manner. People consuming the highest amounts of red meat had a 40 percent increased risk of developing ESRD compared with people consuming the lowest amounts. No association was found with intakes of poultry, fish, eggs, or dairy products, while soy and legumes appeared to be slightly protective. Substituting one serving of red meat with other sources of protein reduced the risk of ESRD by up to 62 percent.

"We embarked on our study to see what advice should be given to CKD patients or to the general population worried about their kidney health regarding types or sources of protein intake," said Koh.

Koh added, "Our findings suggest that these individuals can still maintain protein intake but consider switching to plant-based sources; however, if they still choose to eat meat, fish/shellfish and poultry are better alternatives to red meat."

The findings appear in the Journal American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

Source: www.timesofindia.com

16.07.2016

Be honest when in trouble, be simple when in wealth, be polite when in power and be silent when in anger

15 July, 2016

India certified as maternal and neonatal tetanus free by WHO

New Delhi: At an event organised in the capital city, the World Health Organisation presented India the certificates declaring elimination of yaws, maternal and neonatal tetanus.

“India’s focused approach on making maternal and newborn care accessible to all and addressing health care equity more generally has made these remarkable successes possible. These victories are not only India’s but all of humanity’s as the country accounts for approximately one-sixth of the world’s population,” said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization South-East Asia Region.

In May this year, WHO certified India yaws-free after a team of experts verified interruption of disease transmission in the country.

India gained the tag of neonatal and maternal tetanus free country in 2015.

Khetrapal said both yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus eliminations were achieved using the existing health system and health workforce.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

15.07.2016

Diabetes mellitus in India likely to hit 79.4 million by 2030: Doctors

New Delhi: The incidence of diabetes mellitus, a chronic, lifelong condition that affects the body's ability to use the energy found in food, is likely to increase 79.4 million in India, a 15 per cent increase from the current 31.7 million, said doctors. They also said apart from India the cases are also rising in other parts of the world with the figures likely to touch 366 million by 2030 from 171 million a decade ago. 

According to doctors, pregnant women of today's era are highly prone to suffer from Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), if they have obesity before marriage and also are above 25 years of age.

“Gestational diabetes can be very hard on women as the burden of diabetes on women is unique, because it can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects,” said Rajesh Khadgawat, Additional Professor of Endocrinology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS). According to AIIMS, GDM has increased by 16 to 27 per cent in several race, ethnicity groups during the past 20 years.

Explaining the condition better, Ajay Aggarwal, endocrinologist from Fortis Hospital said, “The placenta(a flattened circular organ in the uterus of pregnant) supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.”

In another study, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said the prevalence of gestational diabetes is as high as 9.2 per cent.

Gestational diabetes starts when body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. 

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

15.07.2016

We want the education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet

Swami Vivekananda

14 July, 2016

BD will equip diabetes educators to aid people with diabetes who are being initiated on insulin

Beginning this week, BD, the medical technology brand will work withdiabetes management hospital professionals in Columbia Asia hospitals across India, for a period of nine months through its BD Getting Started program. The aim is to equip diabetes educators with customized solutions and aid clinicians and people with diabetes who are being initiated on insulin. The collaboration will provide a certification to the Diabetes Educators who will be imparted knowledge and intensive hands-on training.

The BD Getting Started is a Diabetes educational resource program for insulin users. It is a collaboratively designed program for health system leaders looking to achieve the best-in-class care insulin injection experience for patients initiating insulin. These customized solutions focus on targeted improvements to standardize clinical best practices and eliminate variation in insulin initiation. The result is improved patient care, comfortable insulin experience, and improved clinical outcomes for those injecting insulin.

 ‘For nearly 90 years, BD’s culture of innovation and continuous improvement has enhanced the patient experience to enable better diabetes therapy and outcomes. We are glad that we are collaborating with Columbia Asia Hospitals to support their diabetes management program. BD has always taken a prominent role in educating doctors, allied healthcare professionals and patients on earlier initiation and better adherence to injectable therapies, thus helping people living with diabetes live healthier lives,’ said Varun Khanna, managing director, BD-India.

The BD Getting Started program for Columbia Asia will have two objectives: to help clinicians initiate their patients to insulin therapy using a structured methodology; and to ensure adherence to therapy across the first nine months. The focus will be on customization and consistency of care through safe and comfortable insulin administration.

‘Columbia Asia Hospitals has completed more than a decade in India. In the past 10 years, we have witnessed a substantial increase in the incidence of diabetes in our markets. Our hospitals cater to a large number of  diabetics and educating them and helping them lead an active and healthy life is our top most priority. We are happy to collaborate with BD India for certification programs to enhance the skill-sets of our Diabetes educators, who in turn will help our patients manage their diabetes well. Initiation of patients on insulin always presents a challenge to care providers and through this initiative, we intend to offer a best-in-class care insulin injecting experience to our patients,’ said Mr. Tufan Ghosh, CEO, Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt Ltd.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

14.07.2016

The only way we can grow is by learning more and the only way we can learn more is by reading more