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India sees major reduction in HIV infections but challenges remain: UN India saw a major reduction in the number of new   HIV infections   , AIDS-related deaths and people living with HIV from 2010 to 2017 on the back of sustained and focussed efforts, according to a UN report which warned that the epidemic was growing in Pakistan. The Joint UN Agency on AIDS (UNAIDS) report titled 'Miles to go closing gaps, breaking barriers, righting injustices' said Asia and the Pacific regions have made strong inroads with its HIV response. Sustained and focused efforts to reach key populations have led to major reductions in HIV infections in Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between 2010 and 2017. The report, however, warned that the global new HIV infections were not declining fast enough. It also noted that the epidemics were expanding in Pakistan and the Philippines. ALSO READ:   Cipla gains 3% post USFDA approval for its generic HIV drug In India, ne...

The approved product is a generic version of Daiichi Sankyo Inc's Welchol Health News  : Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the US health regulator for Colesevelam Hydrochloride for oral suspension, used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. The approval has been granted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in the strengths of 1.875 grams/packet and 3.75 grams/packet, the company said in a BSE filing on Tuesday. The approved product is a generic version of Daiichi Sankyo Inc's Welchol. Quoting IQVIA sales data for the 12-month period ended May 2018, the company said Welchol achieved annual sales of around $73 million. The company's current portfolio consists of 138 products authorised for distribution in the US market, and 62 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) are pending approval with the USFDA, it added.  Read Complete Article  

Second-hand noise is the new smoke - we need have a debate on how to govern the cacophony of modern life, before it starts killing us too We used to be able to smoke everywhere. On trains, in bars and restaurants – even in the office. And then slowly, but surely, the spaces where people could light up a cigarette began to disappear. Why? Because we learned about the health-risks, new social norms started forming, and we would no longer accept the exposure to second-hand smoke. Will we one day feel the same way about  noise pollution  ? Sure, no-one ever died because someone’s earphones were playing too loudly. But the same principle applies; is it fair to inflict your second-hand noise on your neighbours and colleagues? The United Nations health organization (WHO) calls ‘noise’; “an underestimated threat that can cause a number of short- and long-term health problems, such as for example sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects, poorer work and school pe...

The most common and widespread risk of tattoos is that of infections and skin allergies. Tattoos are growing in popularity with each passing day especially amongst the youngsters. Getting a tattoo can be quite an experience and thus more and more people are getting inked each day. Tattoos can be temporary or permanent. The process mostly involves a needle piercing the outermost layer of the skin and creating the design using ink drops. Technology which is used to create tattoos is getting better with the growth in popularity of body art. But still risks in getting a tattoo and erasing the same if required remain. Laser tattoo removal is done by directing high energy pulses to remove the ink. Although the process does not affect or damage surrounding tissues but still issues such as scarring, discoloration of skin, burning sensation, incomplete removal and infections may occur. Common Health Issues Associated with Tattoos The most common and widespread risk of tattoos ...

AYUSH said media paid selective attention to the suggestions on page 14 of the booklet Current Affairs   : The Ministry of AYUSH on Wednesday termed the reports incorrect that said that an AYUSH booklet stated that   pregnant women   should control lust, hang "beautiful" pictures on the wall and shun non-vegetarian food to deliver a healthy baby. In a statement, the AYUSH said, "Some reports have appeared in the print and electronic media since June 13, 2017 concerning the publication 'Mother and Child Care' of Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH. Unfortunately, many of these reports are seen to be inaccurate, and some are even seen to misrepresent facts." The Ministry said that nowhere in the booklet 'no sex' has been mentioned. "Some news reports carry an assertion that the booklet puts forward the 'prescription' that 'pregnant women in I...

Swaraj, ever since having taken over at South Block in June 2014, has followed a punishing schedule External Affairs Minister  Sushma Swaraj  is unwell. On Wednesday, Swaraj tweeted that she is hospitalised because of kidney failure and is undergoing tests for a kidney transplant. This has led to speculation within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might look for her successor. Swaraj tweeted: "I am in  AIIMS  because of kidney failure. Presently, I am on dialysis. I am undergoing tests for a Kidney transplant. Lord Krishna will bless. Friends, this is to update you on my health." The job of an External Affairs Minister involves hectic travelling. Swaraj, ever since having taken over at South Block in June 2014, has followed a punishing schedule. Swaraj, in seven months of 2014, visited 15 countries. She visited neighbouring countries and ASEAN member countries as part of the PM's vis...

Smoking puts your sperm at risk Do you smoke? You could be unwittingly lowering your   sperm   quality, a new study warns. The research that included 20 nonsmoking men and 20 men who smoked found that that sperm of smokers has a greater extent of DNA damage than that of non-smokers. Researchers also assessed 422 proteins in participants' sperm. One protein was absent, 27 proteins were underrepresented, and 6 proteins were over-represented in smokers. Analyses of these proteins suggest that cigarette   smoking   may promote an inflammatory response in the male reproductive tract. "More and more studies are demonstrating a harmful effect of smoking on male fertility. Our results point in the direction of important semen alterations: semen of smokers presents an inflammatory nature, associated with decreased capacity of sperm to achieve fertilization and generate a healthy pregnancy," said senior author Dr Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla. Bertolla added that in t...

Researchers have recently found that a new oral drug for  breast cancer  named, Palbociclib, has potential to combat other types of cancer as well. Scientists from University of Pennsylvania said that Palbociclib targets the rapid division of tumor cells by inhibiting the activity of the enzymes CDK4 and CDK6, which propel cell division and increase in number in most cancers. It is the first CDK4/6 inhibitor to be approved for the treatment of breast cancer. Lead author Amy S. Clark said that all living cells undergo cell division and Palbociclib has a unique capacity to halt the cell division process, therefore it has potentially broad applicability. Clark added that pairing Palbociclib with other anti-cancer therapies such as endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy can create a powerful combinatorial effect with real promise for addressing a variety of cancers. Read More News :  National Herald case  |  Paris climate change |  ...

After providing life cover and accident cover, the government is now working on a universal health insurance plan. To begin with, it will provide a seamless solution to the existing cashless health schemes in states by integrating those with the Centre’s direct benefits transfer (DBT) platform. Later, these would be scaled up. “Encouraged by the success of the social security schemes launched earlier this year, we are now looking at products in the health insurance sector by ensuring access. We are discussing it with states,” said a government official who did not wish to be named. The government is holding talks with states providing cashless  health insurance , such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The idea is to provide their schemes through the DBT platform. “We are building a DBT platform. Under that, we will provide SMS and phone call notifications on money transfers. Besides, we are building a web or smartphone app. Once the architecture is ready, we load hea...