Issues of antibiotic resistance

For too long, humankind has taken for granted the antibiotics that have held dangerous germs at bay. It was only about 70 years ago that penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, came into widespread use and revolutionised medicine. Its discoverer, Alexander Fleming, who won the Nobel Prize for his work, presciently warned that disease-causing organisms would become resistant if the drug was improperly used. And that is just what has transpired.

Zika vaccine works on mice, hope for humans

The 2 vaccines tested worked against 2 strains of Zika virus, including one from the Brazil outbreak.
New research in lab animals, including Zika vaccines successfully tested on mice, boosted hopes Tuesday for a jab to shield humans against the brain-damaging virus.
Two prototype vaccines tested on lab mice “provided complete protection against the Zika virus” with just a single shot, reported the first team.

Latest drugs reduce risk of kidney disease: global study

kidney disease affects 50 per cent of the diabetes patients and these persons are also two to four times more likely to develop cardio vascular disease.

Mumbai: A recent global trial of more than 7,000 diabetes patients has shown that the latest drugs that are being used to manage this condition has reduced the risk of death due to complications like cardiovascular conditions and kidney problems.

Cholesterol, statins and side effects

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality, accounting for as many as 30% of deaths worldwide. According to data published in the July 2012 issue of the Indian Heart Journal, 30 million Indians suffer from heart attacks every year-and the figure is on the rise in both rural and urban areas. The data also suggests that Indians are now suffering heart attacks at a much earlier age than their Western counterparts.

Survey warns of high salt content in Indian food

Common Indian food products ranging from the ubiquitous papad and pickles to biscuits and sandwich contain very high quantity of salt that are damaging to the health, suggests a new survey.
The survey analysed more than 5,000 food samples from India.

The survey that looked at 5,796 packaged food products, revealed huge differences in the salt content of similar foods, with some containing almost 10 times more salt than others.

5 women die every hour during childbirth: WHO

Nearly five women die every hour in India from complications developed during childbirth, with heavy blood loss caused by haemorrhage being a major factor, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. Nearly 45,000 mothers die due to causes related to childbirth every year in India,

In dieting and weight loss, one size just cannot fit all

Weight loss seems to have become a global obsession. Diets, diet clinics, gyms, health farms, websites, books, supplements, nutrition information, awareness, lifestyle coaches and trainers are growing at an unprecedented rate and the predilection for preventive health measures is at an all time high.

Air Pollution could cause 6-9 million premature deaths by 2060

Air Pollution could cause 6-9 million premature deaths by 2060, with India and China facing threat of maximum number of such mortalities, according to an OECD report.
The menace is also likely to cost 1 per cent of the global GDP, around $2.6 trillion annually, in terms of sick days, medical bills and reduced agricultural output, says the report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Safe sex or no sex after visiting Zika-hit areas: WHO

People who travel to Zika-hit areas should practice safe sex or have no sex at all for at least eight weeks after their return to avoid sexual transmission of the virus, WHO said today.

That is double the one month of safe sexual practices previously recommended by the World Health Organization, which explained that new studies showed the Zika virus could survive in sperm longer than previously thought.

IIPH: call for applications, for the Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM)

The Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi (IIPH-Delhi) has announced its call for applications, for the eighth batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM) being offered in the academic year August 2016 – July 2017.The PGDPHM program is supported by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India through National Health Mission (NHM).

UNDP Vacancy Announcement: Multiple Positions based at Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Manipur (India).

SAMS is supporting recruitment and payroll of multiple vacancies arisen under UNDP supply chain capacity building project based at Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Manipur.

Hearing loss comes much earlier now, kids are vulnerable

Jun 09 2016 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Till about a decade ago, people would complain about hearing loss once they crossed the age of 60. Doctors would term it an acceptable factor of ageing. But how do you explain a 22-year-old complaining about ringing in the years or tinnitus, which is a precursor to hearing deficit? “It's a compounding problem, created by multiple factors, including chronic exposure to noise pollution,“ says Dr J M Hans.

Govt Starts Work on New Law for Safer Drugs

Jun 09 2016 : The Economic Times (Bangalore)

Revision in norms soon on drug delivery systems and examination of new drugs

The health ministry is planning a makeover of the laws governing the domestic pharmaceutical and medical devices industry .The Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act and Rules will likely see revision in norms related to the examination of new drugs, systems and modes of drug delivery , a source close to the development said.

Assam become first state in India to launch miracle TB medicine: BEDAQUILINE

ASSAM: Assam (India) has yet again put another feather in it’s cap as it is set to become the first state in the country to launch a new TB drug which is being hailed as a ‘miracle’ drug. Bedaquiline is a new TB drug which has been launched after 40 years and will be used to treat Multiple Drug Resistant TB.

Thailand first in Asia to eliminate mother-to-baby HIV: WHO

BANGKOK: Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday, a milestone in the fight against the disease. The announcement is a boost for a generation of Thai health workers who have transformed the nation from one of Asia's most HIV-ravaged societies to a pin-up for how to effectively tackle the crisis. Describing the elimination as a "remarkable achievement", the WHO said

“Our hearts resonate at the same frequency..." Thought for the day

“Our hearts resonate at the same frequency as the earth and the universe. Therefore, we are all valuable instruments in the orchestration of the world and its harmony. We must always be aware of the vibrations we emit individually and collectively. Always be in command of your music. Only you can control and shape its tone. If life throws you a few bad notes or vibrations, don't let them interrupt or alter your song.”

Rise in patents from India for essential drugs may hurt affordable treatment

MUMBAI: Increase in patients on essential medicines in India will jeopardise supply of affordable treatment , not only in the country, but also in developing nations. The latest trigger raising concerns among public health advocates is exorbitantly-priced hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir by Gilead, which was recently granted a patent in India,

The Saturday Digest: Rumi’s sayings and verses "Oh soul,"

This week, the Saturday Digest brings you a selection of Rumi’s sayings and verses:

“Hardship may dishearten at first, but every hardship passes away. All despair is followed by hope; all darkness is followed by sunshine.” 

“Patience is not sitting and waiting, it is foreseeing. It is looking at the thorn and seeing the rose, looking at the night and seeing the day. Lovers are patient and know that the moon needs time to become full.” 

Bread and butter issues in food safety

The potassium bromate episode informs us about the gap between Indian and world food standards

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) points to the presence of possible cancer-causing chemicals in pre-packaged bread. The specific chemical in question, potassium bromate, has been used as an oxidising agent for bread and a few other bakery items such as pao, bun and pizza base.

Charting a path to end the AIDS epidemic

Charting a path to end the AIDS epidemic:
From 8 to 10 June 2016, heads and representatives of states and governments, along with other key stakeholders, will assemble at the United Nations (UN) in New York, for the High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS. There are three reasons why this meeting is an important milestone for the global response against HIV and AIDS.
Read full article: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.176875

Innovation for healthy ageing: a call for papers

Innovation for healthy ageing: a call for papers

Islene Araujo de Carvalho, Isabella Aboderin, Eri Arikawa-Hirasawa, Matteo Cesari, Yoshiaki Furukawa, Luis Miguel Gutierrez Robledo, John E Morley, Anne Margriet Pot, Jean-Yves Reginster, Greg Shaw, Naoko Tomita & John R Beard
Read full article: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.176743

Syndrome associated with congenital Zika virus infection

Defining the syndrome associated with congenital Zika virus infection
Anthony Costello, Tarun Dua, Pablo Duran, Metin Gülmezoglu, Olufemi T Oladapo, William Perea, João Pires, Pilar Ramon-Pardo, Nigel Rollins & Shekhar Saxena

Original research article available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.176990

World No Tobacco Day: Get ready for plain packaging

May 31, 2016
APHA champions efforts to help Americans live free of tobacco, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Today, we join World No Tobacco Day host World Health Organization in supporting this year’s theme, “Get ready for plain packaging.”

Bottled water seems wasteful:

We take water for granted. We waste it. And when we consume bottled water, we pay far too much for it. Skipping the bottle is one step toward solving the water crisis.

There's no question about it. We live in a thirsty world. Water scarcity is quickly becoming the issue of our time. Climate change is real and it's effecting farmers from California to Kenya. And already today, as many as 1 in 8 people don't have access to safe water to drink.