Over 30% Covaxin takers reported adverse events, claims BHU study
Nearly one-third of the individuals who received Bharat Biotech's anti-Covid vaccine Covaxin reported ‘adverse events of special interest,’ or AESI, according to a 1 year follow up study conducted by a team of researchers at BHU.
Nearly 50% of 926 study participants in the study complained of infections during the follow-up period, predominated by viral upper respiratory tract infections.
Serious AESI, which included stroke & Guillain-Barre syndrome, were reported in 1% of individuals, the study, which looked at long-term safety of the BBV152 vaccine in adolescents and adults, claimed.
Curated by The Tribune India
Shared on 16 May 2024
Children with severe obesity at age 4 may have a life expectancy of just 39: Study
A child who is living with severe obesity at age four and doesn't lose weight may have a life expectancy of just 39 -- about half the average life expectancy, finds a study.
This "profound effect" of obesity, however, could be curbed by losing weight, the study showed.
The study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy.
"The early onset obesity model shows that weight reduction has a striking effect on life expectancy and comorbidity risk, especially when weight is lost early in life," said Dr Urs Wiedemann of Stradoo GmbH, a life sciences consultancy in Munich, Germany.
Curated by Tribune India
Shared on 15 May 2024
Rare brain infection caused by free-living amoebae detected in 5 y/o from Kerala’s Malappuram
A case of a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoebae living in contaminated waters was reported in northern Malappuram district of Kerala on Wednesday, where a five-year-old boy has been found infected.
The boy, hailing from Moonniyur panchayat here, who is suffering from Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, has been admitted in Kozhikode Medical College and all possible medical care will be provided to him, Health Minister Veena George told reporters.
The other family members of the boy are also under surveillance, she said, adding that there is no specific medicine for this rare infection.
Curated by The Tribune India
Shared on 17 May 2024
India's top nutrition institute declares mud pots best utensil for cooking, warns about non-stick pans
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) updates dietary guidelines for Indians, emphasizing the use of earthen cookware as safest for cooking due to its eco-friendliness and food preservation qualities. NIN also issues warnings about unsafe storage of acidic foods in metal vessels and overheating non-stick pans. Additionally, guidelines recommend limiting sugar intake, avoiding protein supplements, and promoting healthier dietary habits to combat malnutrition and obesity.
Curated by Economic Times
Shared on 12 May 2024
Why is India the thalassemia capital of the world?
Lack of widespread awareness, genetic counselling, consanguineous marriages, and traditional belief systems are some of the major reasons why India has the highest number of thalassemia major patients in the world says experts.
Every 8th thalassemia patient in the world lives in India. And yearly about 10,000-20,000 new thalassemia majors are born. India has the largest number of children with thalassemia major in the world, with around 1-1.5 lakhs of children affected.
India's status as the thalassemia capital stems from a complex interplay of factors.
Curated by The Tribune India
Shared on 14 May 2024
ICMR releases dietary guidelines, says 56% diseases in India linked to diet
Estimates show that 56.4% of total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets, says ICMR as it released 17 dietary guidelines to meet the requirements of essential nutrients and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the apex health research body said that healthy diets and physical activity can reduce a substantial proportion of CHD and HTN and prevent up to 80% of type 2 diabetes and a significant proportion of premature deaths can be averted by following a healthy lifestyle.
Curated by Business Standard
Shared on 8 May 2024
New oral diabetes and obesity drug sale doubles in India amid demand surge
Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide tablet, known as Rybelsus, approved for treating diabetes and weight reduction, is surging in popularity in India.
According to data from market researcher Pharmarack, sales of Rybelsus have more than doubled in the past year, reaching Rs 363 crore in April as compared to Rs 147 crore a year earlier.
Rybelsus, introduced in India in 2022 as an oral drug, is hailed as a breakthrough in Type 2 diabetes treatment. It is available in three strengths (3, 7, and 14 mg), and the monthly cost comes to approximately Rs 10,000.
Curated by Business Standard
Shared on 9 May 2024
India betters WHO guidelines with 1:900 doctor to population ratio
India is undertaking a transformative journey, one that looks at illness to wellness from a completely new prism. As we delve into the significance of health & hygiene, let us acknowledge India’s remarkable evolution in this realm. The WHO recommends a doctor to population ratio of 1:1000, we have achieved a ratio of 1:900 which is an improvement over the guidelines.
The government has increased the number of medical colleges and will have one medical college in every district and shortage of doctors in rural areas will soon be a thing of the past.
Curated by Biospectrum India
Shared on 7 May 2024
Researchers establish India’s first national benchmark for survival among haemodialysis patients
The study, which used de-identified individual-level data from 193 dialysis centres across the country which are part of the NephroPlus network, examined the survival of patients receiving haemodialysis treatment. Spanning from April 1, 2014, to June 30, 2019, the study evaluated a cohort of 23,601 patients, of whom 29% were women.
According to the study, in the overall cohort, the raw 180-day survival rate was 71%, suggesting that about 7 of every 10 patients survive for over 6 months.
India has one of the highest numbers of long-term dialysis patients globally, with an estimated 175,000 individuals in 2018.
Amongst all procedures covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the government spends the most money on dialysis procedures.
Curated by Biospectrum India
Shared on 8 May 2024
New all-in-one vaccine may prove effective against all coronaviruses
Scientists from Oxford and Cambridge universities have developed a new all-in-one vaccine that can protect humans against a broad range of coronaviruses, including those that are yet to emerge. The research, published in 'Nature Nanotechnology', is based on a new approach called "proactive vaccinology," where scientists build a vaccine before the disease-causing pathogen even emerges.
The latest study demonstrated that the new vaccine raises a broad immune response, even in mice that were pre-immunised with SARS-CoV-2.
Curated by Economic Times
Shared on 6 May 2024