Health

Washington, December 15: For the past 15 years I have asked people to share with me and many others the most searing experiences of their lives.

First as a newspaper reporter, and now in television, I have persuaded and cajoled people to talk to me during the most difficult times. Tales of unimaginable grief, loss, illness, abuse and betrayal.

I have always had the greatest of respect for those who chose to speak out and for those who didn’t. Yet it’s only in the last few months that I have realised just how much courage it takes to tell such personal stories.

Washington, December 15: The latest generation of hospital scanners could be far more dangerous than previously believed, according to a study showing that as many as one in 80 people could be at risk of developing cancer as a result of being scanned.

Computed tomography (CT) scanners produce a much higher dose of radiation than conventional X-rays and the latest research suggests that the extra exposure could result in a 10-fold greater risk of cancer than is usually cited, scientists said.

Thiruvananthapuram, December 15: While the debate on Bt brinjal continues in the country, scientists who arrived here to take part in a two-day seminar Monday said the genetically modified vegetable was not only safe for consumption but also more profitable for the farmers.

New York, Dec 15: Young adult survivors of childhood cancer are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in the long run, a new study finds.

According to the study published in the British Medical Journal, children who survive cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing conditions such as heart failure, heart attacks or heart disease even up to 30 years after treatment.

Cancer treatments are believed to be the main cause contributing to the condition, the study found.

Washington, Dec 15: Frequent snorers are reported to be at an increased risk of developing diabetes compared to those who sleep silently at night, a new study finds.

A previous study had reported that expectant mothers who are heavy snorers are more likely to develop gestational diabetes — a condition associated with various health problems in both the mother and baby.

According to the study conducted at Yale University, heavy snorers are 50 percent more likely to develop diabetes and the increased severity of snoring is associated with a raised risk of the condition.

Pune, Dec 15: Three more people died of H1N1 in the city on Monday taking the toll to 131 in Pune district. The fresh spurt has led to concern among officials at the district swine flu coordination committee, which is trying to figure out whether the second wave of the flu has surfaced. They have not been able to come to a conclusion.

Health officials said that 48-year-old Anil Agarwal from Mangalwar Peth, 45-year-old Sulabai Lohakare from Ambegaon taluka and 50-year-old Razia Khan from Gandhinagar slum in Bopodi died of swine flu on Monday.

Ahmedabad, Dec 15: The swine flu death toll in Gujarat has reached 60 with three women, one of them pregnant, succumbing to the disease here, health officials said today.

Fourteen more people have tested positive for the H1N1 virus causing swine flu, they said.

Jyotsna Patel (25) died at the Civil Hospital here today, while Sultana Palasar (30), from Jamapura in Banaskantha district, succumbed to the infection last night, the officials said.

According to them, Sultana was on Tamiflu before being admitted to Civil Hospital here and died due to pregnancy- induced hypertension.

New Delhi, December 14: As many as 141 swine flu cases were reported in the city today raising the number of patients infected by the disease so far to 7,459.

“Of the total 141 positive cases, 82 were children. With this, the total number of swine flu cases reported till date is 7,459 of which 4,421 cases are that of children,” Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said.

So far, 40 people have died in the city due to the pandemic virus, she said.

Washington, Dec 14: Delaying ageing could protect from symptoms linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The study found that by reducing Insulin Growth Factor (IGF) signalling, activity in brain mechanisms could be boosted to protect against Alzheimer’s.

The mice, genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s disease, had less inflammation in the brain when this signalling was reduced. Inflammation is a condition that occurs when body tissues react to an injury or damaged part.

Washington, Dec 14: Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption may trigger increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Post-menopausal or overweight women may be most susceptible to the effects of alcohol on recurrence, said the study conducted by Marilyn L. Kwan, Kaiser Permanente research scientist.

‘Women previously diagnosed with breast cancer should consider limiting their consumption of alcohol to less than three drinks per week…,’ says Kwan.

Kwan and colleagues examined the effects of alcohol on cancer recurrence and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study.

Pune, Dec 14: If haemoglobin count is normal now, why worry about anaemia? But now, researchers at University of Pune have found a way to predict whether a person with normal Hb count may have a tendency to develop anaemia later. The key lies in an interesting molecule, Heme-Regulated Inhibitor (HRI).

Dr Jayanta Pal, national coordinator of the Department of Biotechnology —Junior Research Fellowship programme, Ministry of Science and Technology got interested in HRI that showed promise of a sensitive technique to predict anaemia.

New Delhi, Dec 14: The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) need to follow the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to boost its financial health and improve the administration, a committee set up by the government has recommended.

The four-member committee headed by renowned cardiologist M.S. Valiathan, said that like IITs, AIIMS doctors should be allowed to earn from consultancy. This could end desertions to private hospitals and to medical institutions abroad in search of greener pastures.

Chandigarh, December 13: Seven more people, including two doctors of a premier hospital here, have tested positive for swine flu, officials said on Sunday.

“We had collected the nasal and throat swab samples of these patients yesterday (Saturday) morning and their reports have come positive. Among these positive cases, two are doctors working at PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research),” said G.C. Bansal, officiating nodal officer of swine flu in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, December 12: After fast bowler Sreesanth tested positive for H1N1, officials here Saturday quarantined opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and video analyst Dhananjay for suspected swine flu.

“Gambhir and Dhananjay were exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Therefore, we have quarantined them in their hotel rooms and sent their samples for test,” G.C. Bansal, the Chandigarh officiating nodal officer for swine flu, told IANS.

Thier condition is being monitored “and we would get their test report by evening”, he said.

Chandigarh, Dec 12: A two-month-old baby boy and a 45-year-old woman have succumbed to swine flu in Chandigarh, officials said today.

The victims are baby Harshit, of neighbouring Mohali town, and Kamlesh of Panchkula town in Haryana.

Health officials of the respective areas have been told to quarantine people who had come in contact with them, an official here said.

Kamlesh was earlier admitted to a Panchkula hospital, from where she was referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.

Hyderabad, Dec 12: A new surgical technique using glue speeds up recovery time after repair of chest bones, cut during heart surgery, and is substantially less painful for patients, doctors have said.

According to Sunil Kapoor, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Care Hospital, the normal practice is to sew (stitch) the breastbone back together with wire after open heart surgery. The procedure takes weeks to heal and often requires strong pain medications.

The new procedure uses a special adhesive called kryptonite, made by a group of doctors in Connecticut, USA.

Saharsa, December 12: For months, Bina Devi, 26, had been running from pillar to post to get a ration card.

And then she realised that refusing polio drops for her children could help her get it in no time.

Having realised the importance the government attaches to eradicating polio in Bihar – a polio endemic state – many people like her have begun to bargain for basic facilites by refusing polio drops to their children unless things get done.

London, Dec 12: You may call it a miracle, but a retired optician claims to have cured his own blindness by taking a food supplement containing marigolds.

73-year-old Mr. Harry Marsland virtually lost the sight in his right eye after developing dry age-related muscular degeneration (AMD) -— a condition responsible for half of all cases of blindness in Europe.

Banglore, Dec 12: Many scientists are also surprised that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) opted to announce its research to journalists through parliament before first publishing its findings in a peer-reviewed journal as is customary.

Pushpa Bhargava, founder of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, told “These are the sort of statements that will bring down the credibility of Indian science.”

Gurgaon, Dec 12: The Haryana government has blacklisted SRS Religare Laboratory after some of the H1N1 influenza samples tested positive by the lab were later found negative in government laboratories, Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kumar Kataria said at the monthly meeting of district officers on Friday.

Kataria said he has also asked District Education Officer Ajit Kadian to issue proper directions to schools to take adequate measures to stop the spread of H1N1 influenza.

–Agencies

Raipur, December 11: Six people, including two schoolchildren, have tested positive for swine flu in Chhattisgarh, a health official said Friday.
“Six out of 36 samples sent for testing to Delhi Dec 5 were found positive,” Health Secretary Vikas Sheel told IANS. All the six patients are from Raipur.

Chhattisgarh has reported two deaths from influenza A (H1N1) virus since August.

—IANS

Houston, Dec 11: Bone-building drugs such as Fosamax and Actonel might help prevent breast cancer, according to two new studies presented Thursday at a medical symposium in Texas. The studies suggest that women who take the drugs, called bisphosphonates, are about one-third less likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not.

In one U.S. study, scientists found there were 31 percent fewer cases of breast cancer among women who took Fosamax or other oral bisphosphonates than among women who didn’t. Other commonly used oral bisphosphonates are Boniva and Actonel.

Washington, December 11: An estimated 10,000 people including 1,100 children died of swine flu in the United States in the seven months after the new strain of flu was first detected in April, a top US health official said Thursday.

“By November 14th, many times more children and younger adults unfortunately have been hospitalized or killed by H1N1 influenza than happens in a usual flu season,” Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told reporters.

New Delhi, Dec 11: There has been a ten per cent rise in malaria cases this year compared to last year, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The civic body had started an intensive screening drive for malaria a month ago. Of the 99,503 blood samples collected, 5,563 tested positive for malaria. The civic body has also identified 134 new high-risk areas.

Chandigarh, December 10: With cold conditions prevailing in the city and its surrounding areas for the past few days, seven deaths due to swine flu have occurred at various hospitals here during the past one week.

A 55-year-old woman from Ropar in Punjab succumbed to the H1N1 virus at PGIMER here while six fresh positive cases were reported on Wednesday.

With the disease tightening its grip on the city, three persons including a city resident died here of swine flu on Tuesday while on Monday a woman from Hoshiarpur and man from Jalandhar were among the three who succumbed to the virus.