RIB

Malaria strikes Munger tribals

People of Bihar were facing the worst forms of nightmare over the past 3 weeks , now the reason isn't the political scenario but the threat of malaria . Malaria , not a new disease to this tropical country , invaded the tribal areas of Munger, 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the state capital, Patna. Thirty-eight people have died of cerebral malaria in this eastern Indian st...

Self-Prescribed Vitamins And Herbal Remedies Can Do More Harm Than Good

The common belief that medicinal formulations based on alternative and complementary medicine are tested before they can be approved for use has been accounted for misuse of these products by Australian citizens // .More than 50% of the Australian population have been using alternative medicines in some form or the other, according to a study conducted recently. "This is in contrast to...

Physicians Consider Self-Prescribing Ethical

Most physicians consider writing a prescription for themselves "ethical," but only about half see it as "healthy," and few consider it "necessary". Medical student Robert Wroblewski and others at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, surveyed 300 urban and rural physicians to determine general attitudes towards self-prescription. An earlier study had indicated that about half of all reside...

Bar Codes For Prescribed Drugs

The medical mistakes are responsible for the deaths of up to 98,000 Americans annually, and that medication errors are among the most frequent of these mistakes. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will propose a rule that would require drugmakers to put bar codes on their products in an effort to reduce the incidence of medical errors. // The proposal is largely aime...

Medication recuperates fat distribution in diabetes

According to a new study, treatment with medications can reduce abdominal fat in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the University of Texas have been looking into the effect that the drug Pioglitazone has on people with type 2 diabetes.// They studied 10 people with the condition, who took the drug for 16 weeks. After this time body weight had, on the whole, increased. But mea...

Scientific markers of aging described

According to researchers, low body temperature, low insulin and high levels of a specific hormone seem to be linked to a slowdown of the aging process. It is now well known that calorie restriction// increases the lifespan of animals. Now researchers at the National Institute of Aging have some new clues about slowing down the aging process. They compared a group of 500 healthy men, takin...

Life-Saving Heart Drug Often Not Prescribed

Researchers say nearly one-third of patients don’t get a prescription for a potentially lifesaving drug after a hospitalization for systolic heart failure, a condition in which the heart has trouble pumping blood. // According to their research they say that those who don’t receive an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor are 14-percent more likely to die within one year than those wh...

The Dangers Of Prescribing Antibiotics

Erythromycin is a commonly used antibiotic, but new research suggests it could be dangerous when used in combination with other drugs.// The study shows patients should not be given erythromycin along with antifungal agents such as diltiazem, verapamil and troleandomycin because it increases the risk of sudden death. Researchers conducted the study to determine if there is any associati...

FDA asks the doctors to take the patients’ dietary history before prescribing medication

FDA had issued a guideline called Pharmacogenomic Data Submissions for practicing physicians to check the //patients from suffering adverse effects of cocktails of drugs and diet. Pharmacogenomics is the procedure adopted by physicians to find out the patient’s profile of response to drugs and decide on the unique treatment option best suited to the patient’s requirement. These are bas...

Women cured of anorexia nervosa have redistributed body fat after weight gain

Women, who had suffered from the condition of anorexia nervosa and got cured,// often may have redistributed body fat. When they start gaining weight after their harmful health condition, the increased body fat does not get distributed in the same manner as it was before. Instead the body fat often gets deposited in an abnormal way, at least in the short term. Anorexia nervosa is an ea...

Railway Station Contributes to Create Awareness on AIDS

In a unique initiative a railway station – Ongole town in Andhra Pradesh has started using its public address// and announcement system to not only broadcast arrival and departures of trains but also messages about how to prevent AIDS and the need for safe sex. Andhra Pradesh in India has high incidence of prostitution and AIDS. Says Janaiah, a 50-year-old porter "The current generatio...

Titanium Rib Found To Be Effective In Treating Spinal Deformities In Children

Children born with spinal or chest wall deformities face many serious health risks, including premature death. Now, an experimental surgery gives these kids a new lease on life. Prior to the experimental device, // the only treatment was to fuse the spine, and the child would eventually end up with a chest cavity the size of a 1-year-old or a newborn, say specialists. The titanium rib i...

The Happiness Mantra: “ Crib Less: Earn More

Results of a recent study states that rich people could be happier than the poor taking into consideration factors like physical health, income, education and marital status // . The study was conducted on a group of people ranging in age from 20 to 64 years. The subjects were questioned regarding their age, total family income and general happiness. They were checked for health, educati...

China To Distribute Free Condoms To Combat AIDS/HIV

In a massive AIDS/HIV control drive, Chinese authorities have bought 305 million condoms for free distribution at hotels and public entertainment places. This is the first time the government purchased condoms // using a special fund created for the purpose, the health authorities said on Thursday. The condoms will be distributed through local Centers of Disease Control (CDC)...

Scientists Awarded Appropriately For Contribution Towards Medical Research

Science is usually viewed with awe, not to mention a little fear or suspicion; it is perceived as a realm that most people cannot understand, let alone hope to enter. Such an // approach can be dangerous if they can affect public policy concerning the use of science. If the public is to have a say in developing guidelines for dealing with certain scientific problems, it should fist hav...

Prostate cancer recurrence attributed to obesity and rate of weight gain

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer to be diagnosed in men. Several risk factors such as age, height, obesity, and genetic predisposition have been held responsible for the development of prostate cancer//. A recent research conducted has offered insights into the association between obesity and prostate cancer. Men who gain weight rapidly between the ages of 25...

Obesity As A Contributor To Liver Disease

According to a recent study, published in the October issue of the journal Hepatology, a diet high in fat and sugar triggered// immune system abnormalities, including reduced levels of NKT cells, in the livers of mice. Natural killer T (NKT) cells in the liver regulate production of cytokines, which are cell proteins. The authors said these diet-related changes may contribute to obesity -...

TWO India Doctors Listed in TIME for Contribution to Global Health

Abhay Bang and Rani Bang are the two Indian Doctors from Maharashtra has been listed in the Time Magazine’s list of Heroes of Global Health in solving problems in the field of health in developing countries. The two doctors have // innovated basic programs, which has reduced the infant mortality rate in South Asia. The duo are the founders of the Maharashtra-based Society for Educatio...

Another Benefit For Human Health Attributed To Omega-3-Fats

Omega-3 fats have numerous health benefits and are advised to be consumed; in the same league a new study further intensifies the drive//. Nutrient supplements help fight cancer even though the FDA may not want you to make any health claims, particularly when you want to sell nutrition supplements. Gang Wu at the University of Nevada reported on Nov.8 that Ron Pardini, biochem...

Doctors Do Not Excise Sufficient Caution While Prescribing High-Risk Drugs

Despite Black Box Warnings (BBW) issued for high-risk medication by the FDA, doctors have been found to prescribe such medicines to ambulatory care patients. The percentage of patients found to receive // such drugs was nearly 42% according to a survey conducted by Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. The response of the doctors to comply with recommendations of the B...

Fruits And Vegetables Contribute To Memory

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables makes one’s memory strong, says a study. A team of researchers led by Heidi Wengreen at Utah State University tested the memory of over// 5,000 seniors up to four times over an eight-year period. At the beginning, the participants also answered questions about their eating habits, the online edition of ABC news reported. The group of senio...

Cabbage, cauliflower might contribute to cancer prevention

Plants belonging to Brassica family like cabbage and cauliflower have a potent chemical glucosinolates which can aid in cancer prevention. This chemical works very much like anti oxidants and can be used for cancer.// Research on this aspect is taking place across the globe and at present a feasible extraction method and thereby use in therapeutic nutrition is underway. Thes...

Record Number of Countries Contributed to UNFPA in 2005

More countries contributed to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in 2005 than in any year since its establishment in 1969, bringing the number of donor nations to 171.// In 2004, 166 nations had contributed to UNFPA. Every nation in Africa pledged funds to UNFPA in 2005. Contributions to the UNFPA regular resources last year were also the highest ever, touching $350 mill...

Food allergy rise attributed to Celebrities

According to a survey by Norwich Union Healthcare reveals that the number of people claiming to suffer food allergies is being swollen by celebrity interviews and gossip magazines. The results were based on a survey of 250 general practitioners. // The findings say that out of the 250 GP’s; almost 167 of them said that they had seen an increase in the past year. While about 187...

US Academy honors 15 for major contributions to science

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has chosen 15 scientists to receive awards for their outstanding scientific achievements. The awards will be presented on April 23 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., // during the Academy's 143rd annual meeting. The 2006 awards and recipients are: The John J. Carty Award FOR The Advancement Of Science, established by the American Tel...

GPs In Wales Support Minister on Prescribing Issue

The Welsh GPs have come out in support of the Health Minister on the prescription issue. Under this nurses and pharmacists are// eligible to prescribe in Wales. The move has been widely criticized, but the BMA's GP committee endorsed this suggestion. "GPC Wales welcomes the statement of the Health Minister on the introduction of nurse and pharmacist prescribing in Wales. Doctors are h...

Wine Drinkers Good Health, Attributed To Their Lifestyle

A research was conducted to assess the health of the both wine and beer drinkers. It was found that the death rates among the wine drinkers were low when compared to those of beer drinkers. This was attributed to the diet consumed by both the population. // Morten Gr?nb?k, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues of the Danish National Institute of Public Health conducted the research in Denmark. Th...

Statins Prescribed To Those Who Are At a Risk Of Developing A Heart Disease

In UK deaths due to heart disease is on the rise. Statistics show about 238000 people per year die due to heart problems//. Hence The National Council for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) had asked the health officials to treat patients suffering from heart disease with statins. It is estimate that about 3 million people suffer from 20% risk o developing a heart problem i...

Blood Transfusion May Have Contributed Towards Hepatitis C

Officials belonging to the Scottish health department have admitted that blood transfusions may have resulted in fresh cases of hepatitis C among NHS patients. // As many as 3,000 people may have been affected by this, and it is not possible to trace all of them through the available records. Most of the affected patients many not even be aware of the fact that they have been infecte...

Human Complexity Can Be Attributed To Regulatory Sequence

Joseph M. Miano, Ph.D associate professor within the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center said that // small regulatory DNA sequences control the genes and their functions. The researchers scanned the vast human DNA code to reveal 60 genes controlled by one such regulatory sequence. The findings of the study were published in the journal Geno...

Antidepressants still being prescribed to Teenagers despite being banned!

The antidepressant market is on the rise and is also being prescribed and given despite guidance that they should not given to patients// under 18 because of serious safety concerns. The main reason behind this fiasco is the long waiting periods for suitable therapies like counselling. The most commonly used anti depressant is Prozac which is recommended for under-18s still l...

Parental Domestic Violence Contributes To Adolescent Depression

A recent mental health study conducted by Dr. Michelle Hindin has revealed that adolescents who witness domestic violence between their parents are at an increased risk// of developing depressive symptoms than their peers. Approximately 50% of all the respondents reported witnessing parental domestic violence. Alarmingly, 1 in 10 male adolescents and 1 in 5 female adolescents wished t...

PHC Doctors Tricked Tribal Women To Undergo Sterilization

Doctors in Jharkhand tricked a tribal woman to undergo sterilization, which has triggered widespread protests from the social organizations//. A woman from an endangered primitive tribe in Jharkhand was made to undergo surgical sterilization by some overzealous doctors, triggering an outcry from social organizations. Shobha Dehri, a resident of Paharia colony in Dumka, ab...

Increase in Waist Size Contributes To Increased Risk of Heart Disease

An international study was conducted which proved that a simple measuring tape is an important tool in analyzing the risk of heart disease than body mass index (BMI). // BMI is the composite measure of weight and height. The study was conducted in 63 countries across the world. The findings were that in men, the risk of heart disease increased by between 21 and 40% for every 14cm increa...

Drug Trial Turned Into a Terrible Nightmare

A drug trail was conducted to test the drug manufactured by German pharmaceutical company TeGenero by medical research company Parexel. // The drug TGN1412 which was designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, leukaemia and multiple sclerosis was tested on volunteered healthy men. One of six men who fell seriously ill after taking part in a drug trial has told the press that he felt like h...

Chhattisgarh Government To Set Up Hospital In Bastar For Tribals

Chhattisgarh plans to set up a 100-bed hospital at an estimated cost of Rs.1 billion to improve health facilities in the tribal district of Bastar//. The hospital will also have an attached medical college and is to be located in Jagdalpur, headquarters of Bastar district. Chief Minister Raman Singh's government has made budgetary provisions of Rs.160 million for the medic...

Arrow Embedded In Tribal’s Chest For Two Weeks Surgically Remove

Doctors at Indore surgically removed an arrowhead, which was embedded in a tribal’s chest two weeks ago. Till the weapon was removed surgically the tribal// belonging to Madhya Pradesh was moving around normally as if nothing has happened. Gajuram, 35, of Khargone district was hit on April 7 by an arrow by fellow tribesman Kaliya when he refused to give him the hen he wanted. Though Gaj...

Arrest of Professor over Distribution of Banned Drug

Iranian professor, Prof. Allagholi Elahi was arrested by police in Uganda after failing to comply with the ban on the anti-Aids drug// and tuberculosis herb (Khomeini). The professor who is also the director of Elahi International Initiatives for Development and Education (IEIIDE) is facing four counts of manufacturing and distributing a banned drug. Mr Pearson Barasha, the he...

Nurses to Prescribe Drugs

Government plans to hasten patient treatment has included bestowing nurses and pharmacists with the right to prescribe several drugs//. Under this plan, nurses and pharmacists can undertake extra training in order to prescribe medicines for common illnesses that range from acne to tonsillitis. Many nurses already run their own specialist clinics and will soon be able to pr...

NHS Lothian Says "No" To Volunteers Distributing Condoms To Under-16s

NHS Lothian has ruled that volunteers distributing condoms in the province would no longer be able to do so for under-16s despite the soaring rates of teenage pregnancies//. The trust said that only authorized staff could hand over contraceptives to under-16s as a child protection measure. "My concern is that child protection is used frequently as a reason for doing things," commente...