New blood test to detect liver damage in minutes
London: Scientists have developed a quick and robust blood test that can detect liver damage before the symptoms appear.
The test developed by researchers from the University College London in the UK could address a huge need for early detection of liver disease.
It distinguishes between samples taken from healthy individuals and those with varying degrees of liver damage, researchers said.
The study, published in the journal Advanced Materials, describes the new method of detecting liver fibrosis, the first stage of liver scarring that leads to fatal liver disease if left unchecked, from a blood sample in 30-45 minutes.
“We hope that our new test could be used on a routine basis in GP surgeries and hospital clinics to screen people who face an elevated risk of liver disease, but don’t yet show signs of liver damage to identify those with serious fibrosis, so that they can access treatment before it’s too late,” said William Rosenberg, a professor at UCL.
“This may open the door to a cost-effective regular screening programme thanks to its simplicity, low cost and robustness,” he said.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts in the US designed a sensor that uses large molecules called polymers, coated with fluorescent dyes that bind to blood proteins based on their chemical properties.
The fluorescent dyes change in brightness and colour, yielding a different pattern of fluorescence depending on the protein composition of the blood sample.
The team at UCL tested the sensor by comparing results from small blood samples (equivalent to finger-prick checks) from 65 people, in three balanced groups of healthy patients and those with early-stage and late-stage fibrosis.
They found that the sensor could identify different patterns of protein levels in the blood serum of people in the three groups.
“By comparing the different samples, the sensor array identified a ‘fingerprint’ of liver damage,” said William Peveler, who completed the research at UCL.
“This method is known as a chemical nose, as it can recognise the difference between healthy and unhealthy blood samples without relying on known disease markers,” said Peveler. — PTI.
Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/new-blood-test-to-detect-liver-damage-in-minutes/594788.html
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India’s Digital Health Initiative to Be Adopted by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has considered to adopt India’s digital health initiative as its first resolution on digital health, said Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda.
“I am happy to note that this assembly will be considering and adopting the first WHO resolution on digital health initiative by India,” said Nadda in his address at the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO. “Digital health technology have a huge potential for supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improving accessibility, quality and affordability of health services. This is a resolution which should be owned by all of us so as to pave the path for a forward looking global health agenda,” he said.
The 71st World Health Assembly is being attended by delegations from all WHO member states.
Nadda said India is planning to host a Global Digital Health Summit in near future with the support of WHO and hopes it would contribute to WHO’s efforts to come up with a comprehensive global health strategy on digital health.
Stating that UHC is one of the most powerful social equalizers, he said: “India today is firmly committed to achieving UHC as articulated in its National Health Policy 2017. Our successes in sustaining polio free status and substantially achieving the MDGs have infused renewed enthusiasm to meet the ambitious SDGs and its underlining commitment of ‘Leave no one behind’.”
India has fast tracked many initiatives aimed at achieving all the four tenets of UHC that is strengthening health systems, improving access to free medicines and diagnostics and reducing catastrophic healthcare spending, he added.
“To translate our vision of UHC, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched an ambitious programme called ‘Ayushman Bharat’ that is ‘Long Live India’. The programme rests on the twin pillars of health and wellness centers for provision of comprehensive healthcare services and the Prime Ministers’ National Health Protection Mission (NHPM),” said the minister.
NHPM is aimed at providing secondary and tertiary healthcare to 100 million families covering 500 million individuals, about 40 per cent of the country’s population, who will be provided an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per year.
Nadda also talked on steps taken to reduce non-communicable diseases and India’s commitment to end tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of WHO’s deadline for member states.
“India is deeply committed to play a pivotal role to ensure access and affordability of medicines,” he added.
Following the overwhelming response at the first World Conference on Access to Medical Products in November 2017, India is organizing the second World Conference in October 2018 in New Delhi, he added.
Source: https://www.medindia.net/news/indias-digital-health-initiative-to-adopted-by-who-179618-1.htm
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Don’t panic, these 2 simple measures can protect you from Nipah virus
Simple good hygiene practices such as frequent washing of hands and cooking food properly before consuming it can help you avoid contracting the brain-damaging Nipah virus. The virus has claimed 13 lives in Kerala till now and led to quarantining of at least 40 others.
The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that is naturally transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans, while human-to-human transmission has also been documented. It was first identified among pig farmers in Malaysia, and the disease surfaced in Siliguri, West Bengal in 2001 and again in 2007.
Historically, the virus largely remained in a cluster, and affected those that came in close contact to the patients. The latest outbreak in India has so far affected mainly four districts of Kerala — Kozhikode, and its neighbouring districts of Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad. People in other states do not have much to worry, unless they travel to the affected areas, or come in contact with someone who has contracted the virus.
“All the previous epidemics were reported to be in clusters and historical evidence shows no simultaneous outbreaks,” says Vidya Menon, clinical professor at the Department of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. “So people who come in close contact to the patients are usually the ones who acquire the disease. If that contact group increases or travels to other places, the disease is likely to spread,” Menon said.
Nipah virus can be transmitted by infected pigs, or by fruit bats, through their secretions of saliva, urine or faeces. The other mode of transmission is human to human, through body secretions and respiratory secretions. Contracting Nipah causes an upper respiratory infection, leading to fever, body ache, breathlessness and cough. “There is no need to panic, but if you have symptoms similar to this or if you have visited the state recently, visit a doctor at the earliest,” said Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant — Internal Medicine at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
Depending upon the exposure to the virus, it can also lead to further complication like Encephalitis — inflammation of the brain. This can result in mental confusion and deteriorate into a coma. “The progression is very severe. While the incubation period is long for some, in an average in 90% of cases, the disease manifests itself within two weeks of exposure to the virus,” Menon said.
“Those infected should be isolated for at least 10-15 days, till the virulence of the virus settles and our immune system also starts fighting,” says Vikas Maurya, Head of Department — Pulmonolgy, Fortis Hospital — Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. There is no treatment as such for it but supportive care is given to the affected patients, which means treating the symptoms differently.
“For example, people suffering from fever are treated for it, for those with breathlessness, support is provided to them with artificial ventilators, and for those with seizures or convulsions, anti-epileptic drugs are given as a support to the brain,” Menon said.
The Kerala government has now recommended using the anti-viral Ribavarin as a life-saving measure. It is not a proven treatment, but is approved because of a few studies that have proved the anti-viral’s benefits. “Beginning on Thursday, the Kerala government has recommended using Ribavarin but only in proven cases,” Menon said.
Besides maintaining hygiene, experts suggest you avoid eating fruits that have any paw marks on it or is contaminated. Food should be properly cooked before consuming. Restricting mobility to and from the affected areas can curtail the virus up to some extent, Chatterjee suggested. “If you are travelling to the infected area, use a general mask. While coughing, close your mouth with a handkerchief or cough on your sleeve, wash hands properly, and maintain hygiene,” Menon said.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/health/don-t-panic-these-2-simple-measures-can-protect-you-from-nipah-virus/story-Fm94arKVlVMo8ojEJ8LJzL.html
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Private hospitals will need government nod for C-section
With an aim to encourage normal deliveries, the Centre has planned to take caesarean deliveries in private hospitals under the its National Health Protection Mission (NHPM) only if the patient is referred from a government hospital specifying reasons for the need for a C-sec surgery. The base rate of C-section under the scheme has been fixed at Rs 9,000.
A caesarean surgery is used for delivery when normal vaginal delivery poses a medical risk to the mother or the child. However, in India, caesarean deliveries have become rampant, especially in private hospitals indicating commercialisation of deliveries.
“Caesarean sections will only be allowed in private hospitals under the scheme after they are referred there from public hospitals specifying the reasons, which could be bed or human resource shortage or other issues,” said Indu Bhushan, CEO of Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission.
He said normal deliveries will not be covered under the scheme, which aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually and benefits more than 10 crore families belonging to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society.
“According to WHO, the ideal rate of C-section is 10-15 per cent for a country, but in India, caesarean deliveries have become rampant especially in private hospitals indicating commercialisation of deliveries,” he said.
According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) data released by the Union health ministry in May last year, private hospitals carried out 40.9 per cent of caesarean sections as compared to 11.9 per cent performed in government health institutions.
The Centre has included 1,354 packages in the scheme and rates for over 20 specialties, including orthopaedics, cardiology, cancer and neurosurgery are included in the package.
The rates of packages have been finalised after analysing the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and CGHS rates and are on an average 15-20 per cent lower than that of CGHS, Bhushan had said.
DELIVERY NOTES
As per WHO, the ideal rate of C-section is 10-15% for a country, but in India, C-section has become rampant.
National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) data says private hospitals performed 40.9% C-sections & govt hospitals 11.9%
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-private-hospitals-will-need-govt-nod-for-c-section-2619455
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Most vitamins, mineral supplements have no health benefits
According to a study conducted by the St. Michael’s Hospital, common vitamin and mineral supplements have no consistent benefit for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death or no harm.
The systematic review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C – the most common supplements – showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular matters or early death.
Generally, vitamin and mineral supplements are taken to add to nutrients that are found in food.
“We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume,” said David Jenkins, the study’s lead author. “Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm – but there is no apparent advantage either.”
The study found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause.
“These findings suggest that people should be conscious of the supplements they’re taking and ensure they’re applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider,” Jenkins said.
His team reviewed supplement data that included A, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E; and ß-carotene; calcium; iron; zinc; magnesium; and selenium. Read: The top 5 food sources of Vitamin D
The term ‘multivitamin’ in this review was used to describe supplements that include most vitamins and minerals, rather than a select few.
“In the absence of significant positive data – apart from folic acid’s potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease – it’s most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals,” Jenkins said. “So far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits and nuts.”
The study appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Source: http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/study-most-vitamins-mineral-supplements-have-no-health-benefits-ag0518/
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Sitting for long hours is setting you up for heart risks, diabetes, stress and back problems; here’s how
Sitting for more than eight hours can lead to postural problems like disc damage, strained neck and swayed back in the long run. It can also lead to some other serious health concerns.
If there is a constant ache in your neck, sitting at your desk for long hours may be one of the reasons. Besides this, uninterrupted sitting for a long period of time can lead to a number of health problems.
Sitting for more than eight hours can lead to postural problems like disc damage, strained neck and swayed back in the long run. It can also lead to some other serious health concerns like:
Heart problems
Sitting for long hours can lead to high blood and increased cholesterol levels. These conditions can lead to various heart problems.
More chances of diabetes
Lack of movement by the body leads to a slower response of cells in the body muscle to insulin produced by the pancreas. Thus, they produce more insulin that can cause diabetes.
Muscle degeneration risk
In order to maintain strength and flexibility of the muscles, it is important to use them or the muscle fibres can weaken and break down. Sitting for long at your desk can lead to developing hyperlordosis, tight hips, and lump glutes.
Elevated stress levels
When the muscles are indulged in movement, breathing quickens that increases the oxygen supply to the brain and blood. This releases mood-enhancing hormones, called endorphins that help you feel happy, thereby reducing stress. However, a sedentary lifestyle leads to elevated stress levels.
Back problems
Long hours of sitting can lead to imbalances in the spinal structure including disc damage, inflexible spine, strained neck, sore shoulders and back. While physiotherapy is recommended to deal with the pain, some easy exercises can help correct the damage.
Perform Yoga
Several yoga postures engage almost all the muscles in the body giving them a good work up. Performing yoga asanas in the morning and evening can be beneficial.
Take a stroll
Instead of sitting at your desk the whole day, make sure that you take a five-minute stroll every hour to improve your blood circulation.
Stretch now and then
Make sure to stretch your limbs now and then, while sitting. When you are at home, stretch hip flexors every morning/evening for five minutes.
Correct posture
A number of back problems can be avoided with the right sitting posture. Try sitting in an upright position without crouching and make sure you give your back a good rest.
Neck exercise
Performing neck exercises can help relieve the stiffness. While sitting straight, drop the head slowly to one side, then the other. Performing this daily for five minutes can help provide relief.
Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/sedentary-lifestyle-heart-risks-diabetes-stress-back-pain-5195517/
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