Scientists have developed a self-tuning brain implant that can help manage symptoms of Parkinson’s patients by delivering stimulation in real time, in response to neural signals. Deep brain stimulation has been used to treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms for 25 years, but limitations have led researchers to look for ways to improve the technique.
The first fully implanted DBS system that uses feedback from the brain itself to fine-tune its signalling. “The novel approach taken in this small-scale feasibility study may be an important first step in developing a more refined or personalised way for doctors to reduce the problems patients with Parkinson’s disease face every day,” said Nick B Langhals, programme director at the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Deep brain stimulation is a method of managing Parkinson’s disease symptoms by surgically implanting an electrode, a thin wire, into the brain. Traditional deep brain stimulation delivers constant stimulation to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia to help treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
However, this approach can lead to unwanted side effects, requiring reprogramming by a trained clinician. The new method described in this study is adaptive, so that the stimulation delivered is responsive in real time to signals received from the patient’s brain.
“This is the first time a fully implanted device has been used for closed-loop, adaptive deep brain stimulation in human Parkinson’s disease patients,” said Philip Starr, professor at University of California, San Francisco in the US.
Signals from this electrode are then fed into a computer program embedded in the device, which determines whether to stimulate the brain. For this study the researchers taught the programme to recognise a pattern of brain activity associated with dyskinesia, or uncontrolled movements that are a side effect of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, as a guide to tailor stimulation.
Doctors saw and patients noticed no differences in the improvement in movement under adaptive stimulation versus constant, open loop stimulation set manually by the researchers. Since adaptive deep brain stimulation did not continuously stimulate the brain, the system saved about 40% of the device’s battery energy used during traditional stimulation.
Many patients with Parkinson’s disease who would benefit from deep brain stimulation are difficult to treat because too much stimulation can cause dyskinesia. Thus, finding the correct level of stimulation is like trying to hit a constantly moving target. An adaptive system could offer an effective alternative and may also limit adverse effects of traditional deep brain stimulation, but considerable testing remains to be done, researchers said.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-29 09:50:472020-07-29 09:50:47Parkinson’s treatment: A new self-tuning brain implant may help treat patients
Hypertensive patients can now receive intensive treatments faster. In a recent study, researchers have devised a machine learning algorithm which combines three variables routinely collected during clinic visits and demonstrates how the emerging field of bioinformatics could transform patient care.
It takes a patient’s age, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), and cardiovascular disease history to successfully identify hypertensive patients for whom the benefits of intensive therapy outweigh the risks. “Large randomized trials have provided inconsistent evidence regarding the benefit of intensive blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients,” said a researcher, Yang Xie.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify a subgroup of patients who derive a higher net benefit from intensive blood pressure treatment,” he added. Researchers used patient data under controlled trials that tested intensive vs. standard blood pressure-lowering treatments — the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial.
The SPRINT trial included 9,361 non-diabetic hypertensive adults at an elevated risk of a cardiovascular event, while ACCORD enrolled 10,251 patients with Type 2 diabetes. “I think our algorithm can help us identify high-risk patients who will most likely benefit from intensive blood pressure reduction. Long-term intensive HBP drug therapy can reduce the risk of heart failure and death, but it carries an increased risk of side effects,” said another researcher, Wanpen Vongpatanasin.
The researchers’ machine learning method determined three simple criteria to identify adults with high blood pressure who are at the highest risk for early major adverse cardiovascular events — such as cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-27 11:28:542020-07-27 11:28:54Patients with hypertension can now use this new stress free algorithm for treatment
Scientists have identified a new way to repair the damaged heart muscles and also recover almost all of its pumping function after a heart attack.
During a heart attack, the organ is starved of oxygen and the muscles are damaged. The body responds by sending in immune cells to clear up dead and dying cells, but these cells themselves cause further inflammation in the already damaged heart further leading to heart failure.
For the study, published in Journal of Clinical Investigation, the team injected a protein called VEGF-C in mice after heart attack.
They found that the VEGF-C treatment promoted growth of a network of vessels which are part of the lymphatic system. The extra lymphatic vessels allow the immune cells to be quickly cleared after helping to repair and clear dying and dead cells, before they can cause significant damage from inflammation.
This treatment led to better healing in the heart and better recovery of the heart’s pumping function after a heart attack, according to the team.
Further, after clearing away macrophages, the first line of immune cells that start the healing process, other immune cells called Tregs could then be allowed into the injured muscle, to further help the heart to repair and recover.
“We started looking at the lymphatic system in the heart a few years ago – we could never have known how pivotal it might turn out to be for heart repair,” said Paul Riley from University of Oxford.
“This research has allowed us to start a drug discovery programme to develop drugs to promote the growth of lymphatic vessels and quickly clear immune cells. We hope to get a treatment we could give to people after a heart attack within five to 10 years,” Riley added.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-27 11:14:522020-07-27 11:14:52Post heart attack, cardiac muscles could recover with new treatment
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Compared with other diseases caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer, globally.
Fast facts on tuberculosis
Here are some key points about tuberculosis. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
The World Health Organization estimates that 9 million people a year get sick with TB, with 3 million of these “missed” by health systems
TB is among the top 3 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44
TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, etc.) may be mild for many months, and people ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year
TB is an airborne pathogen, meaning that the bacteria that cause TB can spread through the air from person to person
Types of TB:
Latent TB – the bacteria remain in the body in an inactive state. They cause no symptoms and are not contagious, but they can become active.
Active TB – the bacteria do cause symptoms and can be transmitted to others.
About one-third of the world’s population is believed to have latent TB. There is a 10 percent chance of latent TB becoming active, but this risk is much higher in people who have compromised immune systems, i.e., people living with HIV or Malnutrition or people who smoke.
Diagnosis of tuberculosis
To check for TB, a doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and check for swelling in the lymph nodes. They will also ask about symptoms and medical history as well as assessing the individual’s risk of exposure to TB. The most common diagostic test for TB is a skin test where a small injection of PPD tuberculin, an extract of the TB bacterium, is made just below the inside forearm.
The injection site should be checked after 2-3 days, and, if a hard, red bump has swollen up to a specific size, then it is likely that TB is present. Unfortunately, the skin test is not 100 percent accurate and has been known to give incorrect positive and negative readings. However, there are other tests that are available to diagnose TB. Blood tests, chest X-rays, and sputum tests can all be used to test for the presence of TB bacteria and may be used alongside a skin test.
MDR-TB is more difficult to diagnose than regular TB. It is also difficult to diagnose regular TB in children.
What causes Tuberculosis?
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium causes TB. It is spread through the air when a person with TB (whose lungs are affected) coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs, or talks.
TB is contagious, but it is not easy to catch. The chances of catching TB from someone you live or work with are much higher than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who have received appropriate treatment for at least 2 weeks are no longer contagious.
Since antibiotics began to be used to fight TB, some strains have become resistant to drugs. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) arises when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria, with the surviving bacteria developing resistance to that antibiotic and often others at the same time.
MDR-TB is treatable and curable only with the use of very specific anti-TB drugs, which are often limited or not readily available. In 2012, around 450,000 people developed MDR-TB.
Symptoms of tuberculosis
While latent TB is symptomless, the symptoms of active TB include the following:
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-23 22:16:352020-07-23 22:16:35All you need to know about Tuberculosis
This is one of several kinds of oral (mouth) cancers. Like other cancers, it happens when cells divide out of control and form a growth, or tumor. There are two types. One is called oral tongue cancer because it affects the part you can stick out. The other happens at the base of your tongue, where it connects to your throat. This type is often diagnosed after it has spread to the lymph nodes in your neck. Tongue cancer is less common than many other types. Most people who get it are older adults. It’s rare in children.
Symptoms One of the first signs of tongue cancer is a lump or sore on the side of your tongue that doesn’t go away. It may be pinkish-red in color. Sometimes the sore will bleed if you touch or bite it.
You may also have: Pain in or near your tongue Changes in your voice, like sounding hoarse Trouble swallowing If you have a sore on your tongue or in your mouth that doesn’t get better in a couple of weeks, see your doctor. If the problem is at the base of your tongue, you may not notice any symptoms. Your dentist may find signs of tongue cancer during a checkup, or your doctor might notice something during a regular exam.
Causes The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cancers on the base of the tongue. HPV also can infect your genital area and cause cervical cancer, penile cancer, and anal cancer. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are many types of HPV. The ones that raise your odds of getting cancer are called high-risk HPV.
Other things that may raise your chances of getting tongue cancer include:
Tobacco use Alcohol use Jagged teeth Not taking care of your teeth and gums
Your genes also may play a role in whether you’re likely to get tongue cancer.
Diagnosis Your doctor will examine your mouth and ask questions about your symptoms. He may recommend an X-ray or CT (computerized tomography) scan — several X-rays are taken from different angles and put together to show a more detailed picture.
He also may take a sample of tissue from your mouth to test (a biopsy). Treatment Your treatment will depend on where your tumor is and how big it is.
Surgery is often the best way to remove a tumor from the part of your tongue you can see. Your doctor will probably take out some healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes as well, to make sure all the cancer is gone.
If the cancer is on the back of your tongue, you may have radiation therapy (X-rays and other radiation). Sometimes the best treatment is a combination of chemotherapy, or cancer-fighting drugs, and radiation.
You might need therapy afterward to help you chew, move your tongue, swallow, and speak better.
You’ll need regular checkups to make sure the cancer hasn’t come back.
Prevention We know that many cases of base-of-the-tongue cancer are caused by HPV. Some things that may make you less likely to get this type of cancer are:
Don’t use tobacco in any form. Avoid heavy or frequent alcohol use. Take good care of your teeth and gums.
The world’s ancient systems of healing have prevailed despite the saturation of modern conventional medicine for one reason… they work. And because of this, they have been incorporated into the everyday lives, spiritual philosophies, health habits, and cultural customs of billions of people on the planet. Perhaps in no other healing tradition is this more evident than in the ancient practice of Ayurveda.
Let’s explore what Ayurveda has to say about the very modern dis-ease of cancer and look at the ayurvedic treatment for cancer. Ayurveda’s Herbs Are Already Being Studied A quick look through the National Institutes of Health research database at studies that have investigated the most common Ayurvedic herbs tells the tale. To date there have been close to 500 studies conducted on cumin, 650 on fennel, and 2,500 on ginger.
Interestingly, there have been just under 10,000 research studies done on turmeric and curcumin − including 3,500 studies on how turmeric alone and in combination with other herbs can help fight cancer.
Most health-conscious individuals are aware of the healing power of these Ayurvedic spices and may even be aware of some of the other principles around Ayurveda. However, few grasp how these individual modalities are part of a cohesive and complex system of medicine that has been in existence for over 5,000 years. The Basic Principles of Ayurveda The term Ayurveda translates to “the science of life.” Thus, Ayurveda does not just deal with the treatment of the physical body. It also focuses on balancing and harmonizing all aspects of a person’s mind, body, and spirit as well as that of society as a whole.
In Ayurveda, a person is seen as being made up of five primary natural elements: ether (or space), fire, water, air, and earth. These elements manifest and combine in the body in certain physiological ways. How these elements express themselves are called Doshas − Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Dosha-balancing is at the very heart of the Ayurvedic healing system.
In basic terms, each Dosha is responsible for specific functions in the body. Vata, for example, is associated with the air and ether. It is responsible for movement − including circulation, respiration, elimination, and nerve impulses. Pitta is said to be associated with water and fire and is responsible for metabolism, including cellular metabolism. Finally, the Kapha Dosha is governed by water and earth. It is responsible for growth and protection, including the protection of the cerebral and spinal fluid and the mucosal lining of the stomach. It is also responsible for the growth of new tissue. How Ayurveda Sees Cancer In Ayurveda, any imbalance in the body system is caused by the overexpression or under expression of one or more of the Doshas. Hence, all disease begins with them. Dosha imbalance can lead to dis-ease according to the following basic stages:
Accumulation − where one or more of the Doshas has increased Aggravation − as levels increase for one Dosha, this causes the remaining Doshas to become imbalanced Overflow − the accumulated Dosha spreads into the body carrying Aama, or toxic waste products Localization − the Dosha settles at a weak site in the body Manifestation − i.e. symptoms Disease − this would be the point where a conventional doctor would make a diagnosis of dis-ease, such as a particular kind of cancer According to Ayurveda, unbalanced physiology (Doshas) leads to faulty inherent intelligence leading to malfunctioning of genes and gene behavior leading to diseases like cancer,” says Dr. Virender Sodhi (MD, ND) of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic in Washington State.
“We all make cancer cells every day but our immune system is very sharp and not only recognizes the bad faulty cells but also sends its own army to destroy it. That is why the balance of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health is a very important part of healing.” For Ayurvedic Treatment of Cancer, Prevention is Key Of course, the concept of prevention is not strictly relegated to Ayurveda. Changing your lifestyle to include more live foods, vegetables, and organic, grass-fed meats while reducing processed foods is part of it. In addition, reducing stress, getting adequate amounts of sleep and exercise, reducing your toxic burden, and fortifying the body with quality supplements are all good practices for health and vitality no matter who you are.
These days, more people are learning about ancient systems such as Ayurveda in order to provide an overall game plan for preventing cancer. They are doing this not only for their physical health, but for a quality life in general. Today in the U.S. and all over the world, thousands of people practice yoga and take healing herbs associated with Ayurveda every day.
There may be some Ayurvedic modalities you may not be as familiar with, however:
Abhyanga: Abhyanga means massage and is a key part of Ayurvedic therapy. It usually involves oils prepared with specialized Ayurvedic herbs and essential oils for lymph drainage, detox, and relaxation. Shirodhara: Shirodhara is a kind of massage that is done by gently pouring warm herbalized oil over the forehead. Shirodhara is said to synchronize brain waves patterns and help to coordinate and calm the body as well the mind. For those who wish to prevent breast cancer, Stanya Shodhana massage uses castor, coconut, olive, or other herbalized or non-herbalized oils to gently massage the breast area. This is for detoxification and to help immobilize accumulated toxins in the mammary glands. Swedana: Swedana is an herbalized steam bath. In this procedure, the head and heart are kept cool while gentle hyperthermia is applied to the rest of the body. This procedure is said to remove both physical and emotional toxins lodged deep within the tissues. Garshana: This is dry lymphatic skin brushing. This procedure helps increase circulation and cleanses the pores of the skin. Basti: Basti is an enema using Ayurvedic herbs in order to pull toxins out of the colon. Panchakarma: Panchakarma means “five treatments.” It is designed to use up to five of the above modalities (and others not mentioned) in order to engage all five senses for a deeply detoxifying experience for mind, body and soul. Panchakarma is individually tuned to each individual’s health needs. Check with an Ayurvedic center near you to see if they offer this service. Basti (enema) is usually performed at the end of a Panchakarma treatment in order to get rid of loosened impurities. It is also used to introduce Ayurvedic medicines into the blood and tissues in the most effective way possible.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-22 20:40:282020-07-22 20:40:28Could You Benefit From Ayurvedic Treatment For Cancer?
Calcium is a vital mineral. Your body uses it to build strong bones and teeth. Calcium is also needed for your heart and other muscles to function properly. When you don’t get enough calcium, you increase your risk of developing disorders like:
osteoporosis osteopenia calcium deficiency disease (hypocalcemia) Children who don’t get enough calcium may not grow to their full potential height as adults.
You should consume the recommended amount of calcium per day through the food you eat, supplements, or vitamins.
What causes hypocalcemia? Many people are at an increased risk for calcium deficiency as they age. This deficiency may be due to a variety of factors, including:
poor calcium intake over a long period of time, especially in childhood medications that may decrease calcium absorption dietary intolerance to foods rich in calcium hormonal changes, especially in women certain genetic factors It’s important to ensure proper calcium intake at all ages.
For children and teenagers, the recommended daily allowances for calcium are the same for both sexes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the daily allowances are Age group Daily recommended Children, 9-18 years 1,300 mg Children, 4-8 years 1,000 mg Children, 1-3 years 700 mg Children, 7-12 months 260 mg Children, 0-6 months 200 mg
Women need to increase their calcium intake earlier in life than men, starting in middle age. Meeting the necessary calcium requirement is particularly important as a woman approaches menopause.
During menopause, women should also increase their calcium intake to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and calcium deficiency disease. The decline in the hormone estrogen during menopause causes a woman’s bones to thin faster.
The hormone disorder hypoparathyroidism may also cause calcium deficiency disease. People with this condition don’t produce enough parathyroid hormone, which controls calcium levels in the blood.
Other causes of hypocalcemia include malnutrition and malabsorption. Malnutrition is when you’re not getting enough nutrients, while malabsorption is when your body can’t absorb the vitamins and minerals you need from the food you eat. Additional causes include:
low levels of vitamin D, which makes it harder to absorb calcium medications, such phenytoin, phenobarbital, rifampin, corticosteroids, and drugs used to treat elevated calcium levels pancreatitis hypermagnesemia and hypomagnesemia hyperphosphatemia septic shock massive blood transfusions renal failure certain chemotherapy drugs “Hungry bone syndrome,” which may occur after surgery for hyperparathyroidism removal of parathyroid gland tissue as part of surgery to remove the thyroid gland If you miss your daily dose of calcium, you won’t become calcium deficient overnight. But it’s still important to make an effort to get enough calcium every day, since the body uses it quickly. Vegans are more likely to become calcium deficient quickly because they don’t eat calcium-rich dairy products.
Calcium deficiency won’t produce short-term symptoms because the body maintains calcium levels by taking it directly from the bones. But long-term low levels of calcium can have serious effects.
What are the symptoms of hypocalcemia? Early stage calcium deficiency may not cause any symptoms. However, symptoms will develop as the condition progresses.
Severe symptoms of hypocalcemia include:
confusion or memory loss muscle spasms numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, and face depression hallucinations muscle cramps weak and brittle nails easy fracturing of the bones Calcium deficiencies can affect all parts of the body, resulting in weak nails, slower hair growth, and fragile, thin skin.
Calcium also plays an important role in both neurotransmitter release and muscle contractions. So, calcium deficiencies can bring on seizures in otherwise healthy people.
If you start experiencing neurological symptoms like memory loss, numbness and tingling, hallucinations, or seizures, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
What are the possible complications of hypocalcemia? Complications from calcium deficiency disease include eye damage, an abnormal heartbeat, and osteoporosis.
Complications from osteoporosis include:
disability spinal fractures or other bone fractures difficulty walking If left untreated, calcium deficiency disease could eventually be fatal.
How can hypocalcemia be prevented? You can prevent calcium deficiency disease by including calcium in your diet every day.
Be aware that foods high in calcium, such as dairy products, can also be high in saturated fat and trans fat. Choose low-fat or fat-free options to reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol and heart disease.
You can get 1/4 to 1/3 of your RDA of calcium in a single serving of some milks and yogurts. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), other calcium-rich foods include:
Food Approximate serving size Amount of calcium per serving Sardines (in oil) 3.75 oz. 351 mg Salmon (pink, canned, with bones) 3 oz. 183 mg Fortified tofu (regular, not firm) 1/3 cup 434 mg Edamame (frozen) 1 cup 71-98 mg White beans 1 cup 161 mg Collard greens (cooked) 1 cup 268 mg Broccoli (cooked) 1 cup 62 mg Figs (dried) 5 figs 68 mg Fortified orange juice 1 cup 364 mg Wheat bread 1 slice 36 mg
and MILK
While meeting your calcium requirement is very important, you also want to make sure you’re not getting too much. According to the Mayo Clinic, upper limits of calcium intake in milligrams (mg) for adults are:
2,000 mg per day for men and women 51 years of age and up 2,500 mg per day for men and women 19 to 50 years of age You might want to supplement your diet by taking a multivitamin. Or your doctor may recommend supplements if you’re at high risk for developing a calcium deficiency.
Multivitamins may not contain all of the calcium you need, so be sure to eat a well-rounded diet. If you’re pregnant, take a prenatal vitamin.
Vertigo is a sensation of feeling off balance. If you have these dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world around you is spinning.
Causes of Vertigo Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Some of the most common causes include:
BPPV. These initials stand for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance.
BPPV can occur for no known reason and may be associated with age.
Meniere’s disease. This is an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo along with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss.
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. This is an inner ear problem usually related to infection (usually viral). The infection causes inflammation in the inner ear around nerves that are important for helping the body sense balance
Less often vertigo may be associated with:
Head or neck injury Brain problems such as stroke or tumor Certain medications that cause ear damage Migraine headaches
Symptoms of Vertigo Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head.
People with vertigo typically describe it as feeling like they are:
Spinning Tilting Swaying Unbalanced Pulled to one direction Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include:
Feeling nauseated Vomiting Abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus) Headache Sweating Ringing in the ears or hearing loss Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go.
Treatment for Vertigo Treatment for vertigo depends on what’s causing it. In many cases, vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because your brain is able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on other mechanisms to maintain balance.
For some, treatment is needed and may include:
Vestibular rehabilitation. This is a type of physical therapy aimed at helping strengthen the vestibular system. The function of the vestibular system is to send signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity.
Canalith repositioning maneuvers. Guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology recommend a series of specific head and body movements for BPPV. The movements are done to move the calcium deposits out of the canal into an inner ear chamber so they can be absorbed by the body. You will likely have vertigo symptoms during the procedure as the canaliths move. A doctor or physical therapist can guide you through the movements. The movements are safe and often effective.
Medicine. In some cases, medication may be given to relieve symptoms such as nausea or motion sickness associated with vertigo.
If vertigo is caused by an infection or inflammation, antibiotics or steroids may reduce swelling and cure infection. For Meniere’s disease, diuretics (water pills) may be prescribed to reduce pressure from fluid buildup.
Surgery. In a few cases, surgery may be needed for vertigo. If vertigo is caused by a more serious underlying problem, such as a tumor or injury to the brain or neck, treatment for those problems may help to alleviate the vertigo.
Cervical cancer could be eliminated as a public health problem in India within the next 60 years by making existing prevention programmes such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and cervical screening more accessible, according to a Lancet study published Wednesday.
The study, led by researchers at the Cancer Council New South Wales in Australia, showed that cervical cancer could potentially be eliminated as a major public health problem in 149 out of 181 countries by 2100.
Will India be cervical cancer free? The estimates, which are the first of their kind at a global-scale, indicate that up to 13.4 million cases of cervical cancer could be prevented within 50 years if intervention strategies are scaled-up by 2020.
The average rate of annual cases across all countries could fall to less than four cases per 100,000 women by the end of the century — which is a potential threshold for considering cervical cancer to be eliminated as a major public health problem.
For countries with medium levels of development, including India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, this could be achieved by 2070-79, according to the study published in the Lancet Oncology journal.
In high-income countries including the US, Finland, the UK, and Canada, cervical cancer is predicted to be eliminated as a public health problem within 25-40 years.
Does this mean cases of cervical cancer will drop? No, this does not mean cervical cancer cases will decrease.
Without expanding current prevention programmes, however, the study predicts that 44.4 million cervical cancer cases would be diagnosed over the next 50 years — rising from 600,000 in 2020 to 1.3 million in 2069 due to population growth and aging.
“More than two-thirds of cases prevented would be in countries with low and medium levels of human development like India, Nigeria, and Malawi, where there has so far been limited access to HPV vaccination or cervical screening,” Canfell said.
However, rates of less than 4 cases per 100,000 would not be achieved by the end of the century in all individual countries in Africa (eg, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) even if high coverage vaccination and twice lifetime cervical screening could be achieved by 2020.
What actions have been taken to eliminate this highly preventable cancer? In May 2018, the Director General of WHO called for coordinated action globally to eliminate this highly preventable cancer.
WHO called for urgent action to scale up implementation of proven measures towards achieving the elimination of cervical cancer as a global public health problem.
These include vaccination against HPV, screening, and treatment of pre-cancer, early detection and prompt treatment of early invasive cancers and palliative care.
A draft global strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination, with goals and targets for the period 2020-2030, will be considered at the World Health Assembly in 2020.
“The WHO call-to-action provides an enormous opportunity to increase the level of investment in proven cervical cancer interventions in the world’s poorest countries. Failure to adopt these interventions will lead to millions of avoidable premature deaths,” said Canfell.
Deadly facts on cervical cancer 1. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2018, of which around 85 per cent occur in less developed regions.
2. HPV, a group of more than 150 viruses, is responsible for the majority of cervical cancers. HPV types (16 and 18) cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions worldwide.
3. More women in India die from cervical cancer than in any other country. Rural women are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer as compared to their urban counterparts.
4. The highest estimated incidence rates for cervical cancer are in sub-Saharan Africa, Melanesia, Latin America and the Caribbean, south-central Asia and south-east Asia.
5. Other epidemiological risk factors for cervical cancer are early age at marriage, multiple sexual partners, multiple pregnancies, poor genital hygiene, malnutrition, use of oral contraceptives, and lack of awareness.
How HPV infection leads to cervical cancer Although most HPV infections clear up on their own and most pre-cancerous lesions resolve spontaneously, there is a risk for all women that HPV infection may become chronic and pre-cancerous lesions progress to invasive cervical cancer.
It takes 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop in women with normal immune systems. It can take only five to 10 years in women with weakened immune systems, such as those with untreated HIV infection.
HPV vaccines can prevent cervical cancer Proven methods are available to screen for and treat cervical pre-cancers, and broad-spectrum HPV vaccines can potentially prevent up to 84-90 per cent of cervical cancers.
Results showed that rapid vaccination scale-up to 80-100 per cent coverage globally by 2020 using a broad-spectrum HPV vaccine could prevent 6.7-7.7 million cases–but more than half of these would be averted after 2060.
If, in addition, cervical screening were scaled-up to high coverage by 2020, an additional 5.7-5.8 million cases of cervical cancer may be prevented globally in the next 50 years, and substantially speed up elimination.
How can cervical cancer be diagnosed? If any of your screening tests (Pap test, VIA, HPV test) are found to be positive, further testing may be necessary to determine whether the changes in the cervix are cancerous.
A colposcopy may be performed and/or a small sample of tissue (biopsy) will be obtained from the cervix.
Colposcopy: A procedure in which a colposcope (a lighted, magnifying instrument) is used to check the vagina and cervix for abnormal areas.
Biopsy: If abnormal cells are found in a Pap test, the doctor may do a biopsy. A sample of tissue is cut from the cervix and viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-20 12:23:052020-07-20 12:23:05Cervical cancer may get completely eliminated by 2079, claims Lancet study
Currently, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India is more than 18,000 out of which only 2,500 people have recovered. With no vaccine for the virus yet, the only option we have to keep ourselves safe from the virus is by keeping our immune system strong.
When someone contracts COVID 19 and heals from it, it doesn’t mean they are entirely safe from not getting the infection again. While most of the people think of the word immunity as something that protects them completely from the illness, but actually it’s much more complicated, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
How do we become immune to a disease?
A person achieves immunity to disease through the presence of antibodies or proteins produced by the body that can destroy or neutralize the toxins or other disease carriers. These antibodies are our attack mechanisms against invaders.
But these antibodies are specific for specific diseases, which is why even if you got the flu shot this year, you have no immunity against the current coronavirus outbreak.
Two types of immunity
Our immunity can be divided into two categories – active and passive immunity. The difference between both depends on how the body was introduced to virus or bacteria it has developed antibodies for and to what extent and for how long they can prevent against future disease. The thing to be noted is that both types of immunity can play a role in the future protection treatment of COVID 19.
What is active immunity?
According to the CDC, active immunity is developed when exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies for that disease. This can happen in two ways – through infection with the actual disease, which is called natural immunity or through vaccination (a killed or weakened form of the disease that won’t make someone ill but triggers the body to make antibodies), which is called vaccine-induced immunity.
Active immunity isn’t immediate and can take several weeks to develop. That is why most doctors recommend getting the flu shot before the flu season kicks in.
There is much more research needed in the context of immunity against COVID 19. While the vaccine-induced immunity is still a huge question mark, researchers are currently looking at the immunity gained by people who have recovered from COVID 19.
According to the World Health Organisation, it’s still unknown whether those previously infected with COVID 19 can be re-infected and what type of immunity they have against the virus.
A person who has generated a full-blown response with detectable antibodies is expected to have protection for a period of time. But we don’t know how long that period would be, added the WHO.
What is passive immunity?
While a person develops active immunity when their body produces antibodies to disease through its own immune system, passive immunity is when a person is given antibodies. This happens in utero or through antibody-containing blood products, such as immune globulin, which is administered when immediate protection from a specific disease is needed. For instance, immuno globulin can provide protection against hepatitis A in instances when hepatitis A vaccine is not recommended.
The major advantage of passive immunity is that it provides immediate protection. But passive doesn’t last long as active immunity and loses its effectiveness within a few weeks and months, as per CDC.
Passive immunity may also be helpful when it comes to COVID 19. This can be done primarily through the potential use of convalescent serum or blood plasma collected from those who have previously recovered from COVID 19. This means giving antibodies from the blood of people who have recovered from COVID 19 to people who are actively ill. This can help prevent complications and fasten the recovery.
Convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 is still being studied and has not been yet recommended as a routine treatment. Researchers are hoping to use the technique to treat COVDI 19 patients and boost the immune system of health care providers and first responders.
00seshunarayanahttps://imedworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MedWorks-Logo-02-300x300.pngseshunarayana2020-07-10 09:31:292020-07-10 09:31:29What is active and passive immunity and why both matter for the treatment of COVID 19!!
