CTO

Cancer Doctors Okays Controversial Prostate Therapy

A controversial treatment for prostate cancer in which radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate to destroy the tumor received support Friday from doctors writing therapy guidelines for the prestigious 17-hospital National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. This type of therapy is known as brachytherapy, the procedure has been performed for years by...

Serum Progesterone Helps Stratify Ectopic Pregnancy Risk

Measurement of serum progesterone levels may be helpful in deciding which emergency department patients with no strong clinical signs are at low risk of ectopic pregnancy, according to a report in the August issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine. They measured progesterone levels in 716 first-trimester patients who presented to an emergency department with abdominal pain or...

Doctors needed urgently in Gujarat

The quake-devastated state ofGujarat in India is now slowly coming to terms with the full fallout of thecalamity. While different news channels and papers are busy increasing thedeath toll by the thousand in every other bulletin, the state government andthe central government are now faced with the unenviable ta...

Doctors operate upon patients in candlelight- latest from the quake scene

The latest word from Gujarat is that doctors are being stretched to their limits working on cases for hours together without a break. At times they work in candlelight when the power fails, but the work goes on. Many caesarean sections to deliver babies were conducted in open verandahs. On Jan 27th nearly 1500 patients were operated upon without a break. Many fractures were fixed without...

Two doctors suspended for wrong brain surgery

The unfortunate patient, Kevin Walsh...

Doctors at risk- the ugly side of the noble profession

A recent study shows that doctors are amongst the top victims of workplace crime. They are often threatened and abused by relatives of patients who die during treatment. Without going into who is right and who is wrong the report says doctors are targeted and sometimes made to pay a very heavy price if things go wrong.Calling it the ugly side of the noble profession, the study says that d...

Lure of the home turf brings back NRI doctors

WE are seeing the first signs of a reverse brain drain in the healthcaresector, which is expected to only grow over time. The emergence of moderncorporate and investorowned hospitals in the country is steadily luring moreand more NRI doctors back to home turf. And unlike other sectors, where compensations at par with international levelshave been the main draw, doctors are actually ta...

Thakur warns doctors

The union Health Minister, Dr. CP Thakur, today warned doctors that their names could be removed from the register of the Medical Council of India (MCI) if they were found guilty of indulging in female foeticide. The warning comes in the wake of the recent nation-wide Census, which has come out with a disturbing picture of male-female gender ratio, particularly in relation to children un...

Healthcare sector is now a multi billion-dollar industry in India

A Confederation of Indian Industry study has identified the health care sector in India as a potential gold mine. India is poised to develop into a 'regional healthcare hub' with the $17 billion healthcare industry growing at a rate of 13 per cent the study says. With a 16% increase in budgetary outlay the healthcare industry is poised to zoom ahead bringing with it big bucks as returns....

Negligent doctors asked to cough up 3 lakhs for death of patient

In a judgement that might stir up another controversy, pitting the doctors against the consumer activists, negligent doctors in Kerala have been asked to pay three lakh rupees as compensation to the family of a pregnant woman who died due to aftershock of spinal anesthesia.The issue of doctors coming under the umbrella of consumer protection act has been a very controversial one with lega...

Doctors advice early anemia tests

An estimated 12 to 30% of young children are affected by iron deficiency anemia throughout the world. This is one of the common problems in childhood leading on to problems in simple developmental skills such as standing and walking. Eight-month-old infants with low levels of hemoglobin are significantly more likely to have deformities of the motor system, according to a study conducted b...

Indian Doctor granted US patent on organ regeneration

Dr. Balakrishna Ganapat Rao Matapurkar, from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi has created history of sorts by winning the first patent on organ regeneration from the American patent office for his technique in successfully regenerating / repairing organs in human beings. A few weeks ago the American patent office granted him a patent on this technique. Dr. Matapurkar was able to...

Emphasis to ban Drugs ads by Doctors

An increase in the number of advertisements by the drug companies has prompted the doctors to urge the government to ban prescription drug ads from television, news papers and magazines. American Medical Association's New Jersey delegate Dr. Angelo agro said that such ads can undermine doctor's credibility especially if physician thinks an advertised drug isn't the best choice for a patie...

Doctor samples come under the ambit of advertisement

The supreme court of India has declared that distribution of physician's sample by pharmaceutical companies to the medical profession is in nature of advertisement expenditure falling within restrictive provisions of sub section (3A) of section 37 of Income Tax Act. The nature of the advertisement or publicity depends upon the nature and quality of the article in question. The p...

A new growth factor identified

Scientists have identified a growth factor that triggers blood vessel formation within the endocrine glands. In California, Dr. Jennifer of Genentech Inc. and colleagues reported their discovery of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor, or EG-VEGF. The finding could lead the way toward treatment for illnesses affecting these glands. The endocrine glands produce variou...

Doctors not to accept gifts from drug companies

The American Medical Association(AMA) is spending a lot of drug-company money to tell doctors not to accept large gifts from drug companies. The AMA says it makes sense to involve the industry in a campaign that's also designed to inform drug makers about what is considered unethical behavior. // At issue are the myriad freebies, ranging from pens and notepads to free dinners and tri...

Birth weight key factor in heart diseases

Sluggish growth in the first year of a boy's life greatly increases the risk of heart diseases as an adult, according to a study of Finnish children. The key factor in heart disease is not how much you weigh now, but how you grew in the past. It's long been known that babies with a low birth weight are roughly twice as susceptible to coronary heart disease in adulthood as heavier babi...

Is Obesity a risk factor?

According to a new study obesity does not worsen the outcome in heart failure. Obese people, suffering from heart failure, experience many problems. Generally in such peope the heart does not pump blood around the body as efficiently as it should. Even though there is no cure, it is treatable with drugs.Doctors often advise people with heart failure to lose weight if they are obese. R...

Early Predictors Of Heart Disease

An inflammatory component of heart disease may be present early in life, say researchers. A new study shows a significant link between // body mass index and C-reactive protein levels in children. CRP has emerged as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adults. Researchers analyzed data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 1,479 boys a...

Weight Of Child A Predictor Of Heart Disease Later In Life

Based on the findings of a recent study researchers suggest that the risk factors for heart attacks may start before birth.// Out of the nearly 2,000 teens studied, about two-thirds had at least one risk factor for heart disease. As many as 10 percent had a cluster of risk factors known as metabolic syndrome. One in three obese children were identified as having metabolic syndrome. Meta...

Black Actor Confesses Sex Cult Past

London: Comic actor Jack Black has revealed he grew up in a weird sex cult after his parents tried to save their marriage by becoming its members//. According to contactmusic.com, Black told GQ magazine that he experienced naturist Family Synergy gatherings when he was a child, where everyone was encouraged to bare all in front of each other. He said his home life was deeply affected b...

Tumor Suppressor p53's Contradictory Regulatory System

A new study appearing in the online open-access journal PLoS Biology examines the role played by the tumor suppressor protein called p53. It has been found that any mutations of p53 play a key role in the development of many human cancers. //This particular study was carried out by Min Hu, Yigong Shi and colleagues. To provide a bit of background, when there a cell injury, p53 triggers...

Kids Overcome Behavioral And Sleep Problems After Tonsillectomy

Children who have undergone tonsillectomy, a surgery that is performed to remove their tonsils, are found to behave and sleep better a year later.// About half of the children who were found to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder before tonsil surgery no longer met criteria for this diagnosis one year later. Other cognitive and behavioral issues also improved. On the...

Fructose cause digestive problems

An inability to digest fructose might explain common digestive symptoms like gas, pain and bloating.Researchers at the University of Iowa have been investigating the link between fructose intolerance and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common disorder characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating and changes in bowel habit. Fructose is the sugar found in various fruits...

Unsatisfactory Grade On Women's Health Issues

The United States gets a grade of "unsatisfactory" when it comes to dealing with women's health issues. The report concludes that just a handful of states have made moves to tackle diseases affecting women, including heart disease and cervical cancer.// It also concludes that states and the federal government have done either too little or nothing at all to expand women's access to health...

Prototype Detector detects Anthrax Quickly

A prototype handheld detector under development at Sandia National Laboratories can identify the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of anthrax in less than five minutes. //Sandia's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program supported the work. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy. Fatty a...

Obesity in children a risk factor for diabetes

One third of obese children are already showing signs of changes that could lead to full-blown diabetes. The finding sustains doctors' fears that many of today's "baked potato generation"// could be falling prey to the disabling disease before they hit their 30s. It has been recognised for some time that being obese, or even overweight, can greatly increase the chances of diabetes, b...

A unique factor in breathing disorder

According to researchers, people with receding lower jaws are more likely to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep apnoea is a condition which is characterised by collapse of the tissues// at the back of the throat during sleep, impeding the free flow of air into and out of the lungs. Often, it is accompanied by snoring and the person actually stops breathing many times in the nig...

Lactobacillus Supplements shorten the duration of diarrhoea

Supplements containing bacteria commonly found in yogurt can help shorten the duration of diarrhoea in children by nearly a day. Researchers reviewed 11 international// studies that examined the effectiveness of a type of bacteria known as Lactobacillus for the treatment of diarrhoea in children, most of whom were younger than age 4 and were hospitalized. The Lactobacillus was generally g...

Fructose cause digestive problems

An inability to digest fructose might explain common digestive symptoms like gas, pain and bloating.Researchers at the University of Iowa have been investigating the link between fructose intolerance and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),// a common disorder characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating and changes in bowel habit. Fructose is the sugar found in various frui...

Mental illness a key factor in suicide

According to a new study, at the University of Texas, mental illness appears to be the strongest risk factor for suicide in young people. This despite earlier studies that suggest socioeconomic// factors play a major role. Researchers in Denmark set out to determine the risk of suicide in young people based on family and individual psychiatric and socioeconomic factors. They identified...

Many factors influence sexual potency

Sexual potency can be influenced by various reasons. Many advertisments with regard to potency have brought the subject of impotence to the attention of thousands of people.// Impotence was once a taboo subject, but attitudes are changing.Many men are taking help, particularly as large segments of the population age. Many men suffer from impotence. Estimates range from 12 million to 30 mi...

Risk Factors for vision problems in Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common disorder seen in diabetics. New research shows several factors that may contribute to whether a person with diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy,// a major cause of blindness for people with diabetes. In the United States, diabetes is responsible for 7 percent of legal blindness, making it the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 22 t...

Spreading knowledge to doctors about herbal medicine

Recently an internet-based learning exercise has helped a group of doctors increase their knowledge of herbal remedies and food supplements. Many people take herbs and other dietary supplements, but find their doctors are lacking in knowledge// about these complementary medicines. A group called the Longwood Herbal Task Force, drawn from health professionals of the Harvard Medical School...

Gene testing kit specific for Doctors

A new model genetic testing kit could soon be procurable in the doctor's office or the drugstore to test for infection and adverse drug responses. Researchers at LGC// (Laboratory of the Government Chemist) have been working to produce a DNA test kit which uses saliva, blood or urine samples and produces results within 15 to 20 minutes. The device has been made small the size of a sho...

Fructose may cause uninterpreted abdominal pain

According to the latest study done by the researchers of University of Kansas it is observed that poorly absorbed fructose may be the cause if you have abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea.// Often people suffer from bowel symptoms like bloating, gas, rumbling, and diarrhea and no obvious reason can be found. They have found out that a high proportion of healthy people with these symptoms may...

Nurses competing with junior doctors in some assessments

According to a recent survey, researchers suggests that nurses and junior doctors can both carry out pre-surgery assessments of patients to the same degree of competence.There's a shortage of junior doctors in the UK// and it's been suggested that appropriately trained nurses might be able to take over some of their roles. Researchers in Ireland, UK, have compared the way in which junior...

Stroke risk factors:how informed are we?

The journal of the American Medical Association published a recent comparative study done by researchers from the University of Cincinnati who analyzed results from a telephone survey of people living in greater Cincinnati// region. The survey involved 2170 respondents who were asked to name up to three stroke warning signs and risk factors. This was compared with a similar survey cond...

First head-to-head trials of once weekly Fosamax and Actonel therapies

The drug major Merck has launched the first two head-to-head clinical trials that compare the efficacy and tolerability of Fosamax (alendronate) once weekly 70mg and Actonel (risedronate) once-weekly 35mg. Fosamax and Actonel, both bisphosphonates indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in post menopausal women are co-marketed by Aventis and Procter & Gamble through the Alliance for//...

Risk factor high for women who took HRT

A study suggests that women with diabetes should not take hormone replacement therapy. Researchers in Denmark have found that women with the condition who take HRT increase their chances of dying early. Researchers also said that the pills can increase the risks of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. They studied 13,084 women over the age of 45, less than half of whom had t...