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).