Chest infections: University of Edinburgh study reveals boys in India get preference over girls for medical treatment

More boys than girls taken to hospital with chest infections, study shows

By Syed Akbar

Hyderabad: Boys in India and South Asia who suffer from chest infections are more likely than girls to receive hospital care, according to a new global study.

Around 12 million children under the age of five are hospitalised with chest infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis worldwide each year, the study suggests.

Researchers discovered that boys were more likely to be hospitalised because of chest infections than girls, both because male children are slightly more susceptible to such illnesses and because families are more likely to ensure that boys receive health care.

While this gender disparity was visible across the developing world, it was most pronounced in South Asia. In some areas of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, up to four times as many boys under five receive hospital care for chest infections compared with girls. The data for India came from previous studies conducted from different areas across the country.

The study found that a substantial number of children under five who became critically ill from chest infections were not treated in hospitals. Around 38 per cent of severe cases did not reach hospitals.

Researchers also found that an estimated 265,000 children under five suffering from chest infections die in hospitals worldwide each year.

Almost all of these deaths - 99 per cent - take place in the developing world. About eight out of ten children who die from chest infections do so outside of hospital care.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, who carried out the study based on 2010 data, say that the findings indicate the severity of the problem in developing nations.

Dr Harish Nair, of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Population Health Sciences, who led the study, said: "Pneumonia has an enormous impact upon the lives of young children across the world. This study shows that much more could be done to reduce infection and save lives, such as by improving access to hospitals in the developing world, or by ensuring that both boys and girls receive similar health care."

The study - the first of its kind - is published in The Lancet and supported by the World Health Organization. Its results were produced by a large international consortium of 76 researchers from 39 institutions, in 24 countries.

Researchers from around the world produced the estimates by using hospital-based studies of chest infection rates and data on health-care seeking in developing countries.

The study builds on previous research, also published in the Lancet in 2010 and 2011, which found that around 34 million children develop human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related pneumonia and 20 million children under five develop seasonal flu-related pneumonia each year.

Halal Food: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes that Halal label claims should be backed by religious certification

By Syed Akbar

Hyderabad, Jan 6: With the annual global Halal food market pegged at
Rs 33,00,000 crore, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) has now proposed that manufacturers, who want to label their
products as “Halal”, should invariably get the necessary certification
from an authorized religious agency.

The new draft rules framed by the FSSAI on food labeling claims has
set a separate section in the proposed legislation that claims related
to religious or ritual practices like Halal or Jhatka can be made
provided that the food conforms to the requirements of the appropriate
religious or ritual authorities. It should also be certified by
authorized agencies concerned.

Halal certification is gaining popularity worldwide and many
manufacturers in India label their product “Halal”. But many times
such claims are not backed by certification leaving scope for misuse
of the claim. The FSSAI now calls upon manufacturers to back their
claims with authorized certification.

Section 12 of the draft bill on food labeling claims states, “The Food
Authority may at any time ask a manufacturer and/or brand owner of any
food on which claims are being made to substantiate the claim…”

India has about a dozen major Halal certification agencies. The Jamiat
Ulema-e-Hind Halal Trust certifies Halal foods all over the country
including Hyderabad. According to the Jamiat, Halal certification is
recognition that the products are permissible under Islamic law.
“These products are thus edible, drinkable or usable by Muslims. Halal
certification from an established Islamic organization helps to build
Halal consumer's confidence without suspicion or doubt over the
consumption of the food products.”

Halal certification is an authoritative and reliable testimony to
support food manufacturers' claim that their products have met strict
Halal requirement by the Shariah Law, the Jamiat adds.

It’s a weighty issue for women in Hyderabad. One in two women in twin cities is overweight. Interestingly, the “burden” of heavy weight is not limited to just posh and middle class localities of Hyderabad. Women in slums, which otherwise are the best examples of under-nutrition due to socioeconomic reasons, are also overweight, indicating a pan-Hyderabad excess weight problem

Hyderabadi women are overweight

By Syed Akbar

Hyderabad: It’s a weighty issue for women in Hyderabad. One in two women in twin cities
is overweight. Interestingly, the “burden” of heavy weight is not limited to just posh
and middle class localities of Hyderabad. Women in slums, which otherwise are the best
examples of under-nutrition due to socioeconomic reasons, are also overweight, indicating
a pan-Hyderabad excess weight problem.

The first-ever major scientific study on nutrition and weight in women living in eight
mega cities including Hyderabad came out with several interesting facts like women, who
consume eggs on daily basis, stay slim while those eating fish put on weight.

The study was conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai,
the University of Allahabad, and the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi. Besides
Hyderabad, the cities covered under the study are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai,
Indore, Meerut and Nagpur.

The team of researchers comprising Kirti Gaur, Kunal Keshri and William Joe based their
scientific calculations on the data obtained from the latest National Family Health
Survey. “One in every two women in mega-cities is malnourished (either undernourished or
over-nourished),” they pointed out.

The study revealed that Chennai and Hyderabad have a high prevalence of overweight women
across both posh (non-slum) and slum areas. The place residence has no
significant impact on women’s nutritional status. If the body mass index (BMI) is taken
into account 49 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years in Hyderabad and other
mega cities are underweight or overweight.

“The prevalence of overweight is relatively higher among women (24 per cent) than among
men (16 per cent),” the researchers said. This in other words means, more men are slim
than women in twin cities. Moreover, Hyderabad has a higher proportion of overweight
women than underweight.

But when women of Hyderabad are compared with their counterparts in Chennai, they are
slimmer. But women in Delhi are better weight-managed than those living in Hyderabad. The
study was published in the latest issue of the prestigious journal, Social Science and
Medicine (Elsevier).

Dr Kirti said in Chennai and Hyderabad, the dual burden among women population is as high
as 55 per cent. “It is worrisome to note that 41 per cent of the study sample from
Chennai and over 34 per cent of women from Hyderabad is overweight in non-slum areas,”
she pointed out.

Better education has not come as a boon with regard to maintenance of good body weight.
The researchers found that overweight outcomes are significantly associated with
education and are higher among women with better educational achievements. A little over
one-third of women in posh localities with higher educational background are overweight.

Regular intake of eggs is not associated with overweight. Women, who consume fish, are
more likely to be overweight. “Although fish makes for a healthy meal, perhaps a strong
preference for fried fish can make it a fat-rich intake,” they pointed out.

Until recently, obesity was largely associated with better-off urban households. Now the
problem of overweight is a rapidly expanding phenomenon across city slums, the
researchers warned.
Hyderabad: It’s a weighty issue for women in Hyderabad. One in two women in twin cities
is overweight. Interestingly, the “burden” of heavy weight is not limited to just posh
and middle class localities of Hyderabad. Women in slums, which otherwise are the best
examples of under-nutrition due to socioeconomic reasons, are also overweight, indicating
a pan-Hyderabad excess weight problem.

The first-ever major scientific study on nutrition and weight in women living in eight
mega cities including Hyderabad came out with several interesting facts like women, who
consume eggs on daily basis, stay slim while those eating fish put on weight.

The study was conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai,
the University of Allahabad, and the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi. Besides
Hyderabad, the cities covered under the study are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai,
Indore, Meerut and Nagpur.

The team of researchers comprising Kirti Gaur, Kunal Keshri and William Joe based their
scientific calculations on the data obtained from the latest National Family Health
Survey. “One in every two women in mega-cities is malnourished (either undernourished or
over-nourished),” they pointed out.

The study revealed that Chennai and Hyderabad have a high prevalence of overweight women
across both posh (non-slum) and slum areas. The place residence has no
significant impact on women’s nutritional status. If the body mass index (BMI) is taken
into account 49 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years in Hyderabad and other
mega cities are underweight or overweight.

“The prevalence of overweight is relatively higher among women (24 per cent) than among
men (16 per cent),” the researchers said. This in other words means, more men are slim
than women in twin cities. Moreover, Hyderabad has a higher proportion of overweight
women than underweight.

But when women of Hyderabad are compared with their counterparts in Chennai, they are
slimmer. But women in Delhi are better weight-managed than those living in Hyderabad. The
study was published in the latest issue of the prestigious journal, Social Science and
Medicine (Elsevier).

Dr Kirti said in Chennai and Hyderabad, the dual burden among women population is as high
as 55 per cent. “It is worrisome to note that 41 per cent of the study sample from
Chennai and over 34 per cent of women from Hyderabad is overweight in non-slum areas,”
she pointed out.

Better education has not come as a boon with regard to maintenance of good body weight.
The researchers found that overweight outcomes are significantly associated with
education and are higher among women with better educational achievements. A little over
one-third of women in posh localities with higher educational background are overweight.

Regular intake of eggs is not associated with overweight. Women, who consume fish, are
more likely to be overweight. “Although fish makes for a healthy meal, perhaps a strong
preference for fried fish can make it a fat-rich intake,” they pointed out.

Until recently, obesity was largely associated with better-off urban households. Now the
problem of overweight is a rapidly expanding phenomenon across city slums, the
researchers warned.

Good use of cashew apples: Everyone loves crunchy cashew nuts but when it comes to eating the highly nutritious cashew apple, not many would prefer it. Apart from its astringent taste, the cashew apple is highly perishable and thus it ends up in the garbage bins before reaching the market. And now scientists develop technology to preserve cashew apple juice

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Everyone loves crunchy cashew nuts but when it
comes to eating the highly nutritious cashew apple, not many would
prefer it. Apart from its astringent taste, the cashew apple is highly
perishable and thus it ends up in the garbage bins before reaching the
market.

But now a team of researchers from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam,
known for its delicious cashew orchards, has developed technology to
convert cashew apples into highly tasty, perservable and nutritious
juice. This will save thousands of kgs of cashew apples from going
into the garbage bins and help people to derive health benefits from
it. The juice can be preserved for longer periods and used as a
natural health drink

Andhra Pradesh is one of the major cashew-producing States in India
with 1.65 lakh hectares under cultivation in Guntur, Krishna, East and
West Godavari, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Nellore and Prakasam
districts. About 65 tonnes of cashew is produced in the country with
Andhra Pradesh contributing about 10 tonnes. Visakhapatnam district
alone produces about three tonnes of cashew.

“Cashew apples are highly nutritious, possess therapeutic and
medicinal properties. These are considered as a good source of
reducing sugars, vitamins mainly vitamin C (contains six times higher
than that of orange), minerals, amino acids, carotenoids, phenolics,
organic acids and anti-oxidants.  Traditionally, these fruits are used
to cure a number of chronic diseases like scurvy, diarrhoea, uterine
complaints, dropsy, cholera, rheumatism, and sore throat infections,”
said research scholar Ms Uma Talasila. She developed the technology
under the supervision of Dr Shaik Khasim Beebi, associate professor,
department of biotechnology, Gitam University, Visakhapatnam. The
research was funded by the Department of Science and Technology under
fellowship scheme for women scientists.

They said apart from its nutritional and medicinal value, the juice
could also be utilised as fermentation medium for the production of
value added products like as ethanol, single cell protein and
hyaluronic acid, which has an important function in the body.

“Unfortunately, cashew apples are considered as an agricultural waste
and by-product of cashew nut production. About 90 per cent of cashew
apples are disposed of at harvest due to high perishability,
astringency, short shelf life and lack of proper preservation
techniques,” they said adding that their technology helps in
clarification of the juice to make it palatable and perservable. It
will reduce the load of microbes and increases the shelf life.

Improved shelf life of cashew apple juice makes it feasible for the
year-round availability. Preservation of cashew apple juice increases
utilisation of these nutritious fruits, which are otherwise discarded
in the fields. “This will also generate employment among rural
communities and is expected to derive benefits during off-season,”
they pointed out.

2012 Delhi girl gang rape case: Did shifting the victim to Singapore hasten her death? Health experts feel that shifting of a critically ill patient is not medically advisable and the medical complications the girl had developed midair during the transit proves their argument

Very Bad Medical Idea

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Did shifting the Delhi gang rape victim to
Singapore hasten her death? Health experts feel that shifting of a
critically ill patient is not medically advisable and the medical
complications the girl had developed midair during the transit proves
their argument.

City doctors also feel that Hyderabad has the medical expertise and
hospital infrastructure to deal with severely critical patients. There
was no medically valid reason for the shifting of the girl for organ
transplant, which she did not require at that moment. They say
critical care management demands that critically ill patients should
not be shifted for medical facilities that were not needed at the
moment.

“A bad medical case is bad anywhere in the world, whether in India,
the USA or Singapore. The girl should not have been shifted till her
condition stabilized. India has expert medical doctors and even a
government-run hospital like Safdarjung, where the girl was initially
admitted, had dealt with severely critical cases in the past with
success,” says internal medicine expert Dr Aftab Ahmed.

Many hospitals in leading countries including Mount Elizabeth Hospital
in Singapore, where the girl died while undergoing treatment, have a
considerable number of Indian doctors on their rolls.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Suneetha Narreddy argues that a
critically ill patient should not be shifted from one hospital to
another for an additional care that would require at a later stage. If
the girl was shifted for organ transplant, it was not a good decision
as the primary task was to keep her alive. She should have been
shifted to Singapore when she really required organ transplant.

Dr AK Purohit, head of the department of neurology, NIMS, says India
has all the facility and medical expertise and there was no medically
valid reason to shift the girl to Singapore. “Patients from around the
world take treatment in India and Indian doctors head several major
hospital departments in the world,” he adds.

Dr AGK Gokhale, chief cardiothoracic, transplant and minimal access
surgeon, Yashoda Hospital, says, "It was a sensitive issue. I think
the government's decision to move her out of the country was more of a
face-saving measure. I do not think anyone anywhere in the world could
have done anything for her. And she needed an intestinal transplant,
which is not done in our country. Everyone knew her situation was bad
but the government did what it best could. But at the same time it
shows where we stand."

Experts argue that shifting of a critically ill patient would only
result in more trauma. The patient would feel trouble during the
transport. This is what exactly happened in the case of the Delhi girl.

City doctors also feel that the girl should have been admitted to
AIIMS or some corporate hospital in Delhi instead of treating her in a
government hospital. It is an insult to India and Indian doctors’
expertise. If the government feels India does not have proper medical
facilities, it is high time it created them.

All about chemical castration and its effectiveness

What is chemical castration

By Syed Akbar

* Chemical castration is nothing but injecting female hormones into
the male body in high doses to inhibit the action of male hormone
androgen. Five per cent of women, who practice contraception, take
this drug.

* Drug compliance is difficult, as it has to be given once in every
three months throughout the life. The action of the drug is reversible.

* Many developed countries have burnt their hands after trying
chemical castration due to clamour of human rights activists.
Throughout the world, it is an option given to the convict in rape
cases so that they could get a reduced punishment.

* Earlier, diethylstilboestrol was used in chemical castration. It was
disallowed as the man turns more feminine in appearance and behaviour.

* Contraindicated for heart patients

* The drug results in loss of facial hair, growth of breasts, weak
bones and increase the risk of heart attack

Transdermal delivery of medicines: Extracts from capsicum, clove, cinnamon, Tulsi and Aloe vera are now turning out to be the potent novel molecules that will help revolutionise the latest medical technology of no-hassle drug delivery through the skin

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Extracts from capsicum, clove, cinnamon, Tulsi and
Aloe vera are now turning out to be the potent novel molecules that
will help revolutionise the latest medical technology of no-hassle
drug delivery through the skin.

Skin is now increasing turning out to be the new medium of delivery of
drugs for effective and long-lasting activity of the medicine. Giving
a boost to the delivery of drugs through the skin, a team of
researchers from Visakhapatnam has taken up a comprehensive research
on herbal extracts. The herbs include capsicum, ingredients of garam
masala, oil obtained from holy basil and pulp of Aloe vera.

Delivering drugs through the skin is a challenging task. The skin does
not allow the medicine to pass through it to enter the blood stream.
Pharmaceutical companies have been adding chemicals (skin penetration
enhancers) to drugs to outsmart the skin’s defensive barrier and allow
the drug to enter the systemic (blood) circulation. But these
chemicals are harmful and cause side effects.

The research team from the department of pharmaceutics, Gitam
University, Visakhapatnam, has now taken up further research on herbal
extracts to overcome the problem of negative effect of conventional
skin penetration enhancers. They have zeroed in on clove and Tulsi
oil, Aloe vera pulp and capsaicin obtained from Capsicum. These herbal
extracts are harmless and do not cause any side effects.

“Although many chemicals have been evaluated as skin penetration
enhancer in human beings and animals, to date none has proven to be
ideal. They should be non-toxic, non-irritating and non-allergic. The
action should be immediate and the effect should be both predictable
and reproducible. They should have no pharmacological activity within
the body. When removed from the skin the barrier properties should
return,” said Prof Padilama Suresh, dean and principal, Gitam
Institute of Pharmacy.

One of the researchers, Rabi Narayan Parhi, said the herbal extracts
are cheap and safe. “We are evaluating some of these herbs. Animal
studies are currently underway”. Novel skin penetration enhancers
offer potential advantages in delivering broad range of therapeutic
agents, ease and speed of administration, and sustained therapy
through specifically designed controlled release products like skin
patches.

An increasing number of drugs are being added to the list of
therapeutic agents that can be delivered to systemic circulation
through the skin. Commonly available dosage forms for the topical
application are creams, ointments, gels and patches. The health issues
that can be addressed through skin drug delivery include those related
to heart, pancreas, and wide range of infections.

Andhra Pradesh has the lowest average age at marriage for women in India. It has also a very high rate of anaemia in women

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad:  Andhra Pradesh has the lowest average age at
marriage for women in the country. It has also a very high rate of
anaemia in women.

Statistics released by the Academy for Nursing Studies and Women’s
Empowerment Research Studies (Answers) and two other organisations
ahead of the International Human Rights Day show that Andhra Pradesh
has failed to reduce the incidence of anaemia among pregnant women,
improve female literacy and age at marriage of girls.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Answers executive
director Dr M Prakasamma, Human Rights law Network coordinator MA
Shakeel and Society of Midwives-India AP president K Sujawathi said
though the State government has succeeded in increasing the
contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and reducing the total fertility
rate (TFR), it failed in controlling the maternal mortality ratio (MMR).

They said the MMR in Andhra Pradesh is 134, which is the highest for
any southern State. The prevalence of anaemia is 62.9 per cent among
pregnant women as against 32.8 in Kerala and 53.2 in Tamil Nadu. The
mean age at marriage for women is 19.9 years as against 22.7 years in
Kerala, 22.4 years in Tamil Nadu and 20.5 in Maharashtra. Even States
like Uttar Pradesh and Assam have a mean age of 20.2 and 21.1
respectively.

Mosquito and Cockroach allergies: Krishna and Godavari districts (India) are faced with spurt in mosquito and cockroach allergies

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: It is now mosquito and cockroach allergy in parts of
Andhra Pradesh. After spreading life-threatening diseases like dengue
and various forms of malaria, mosquitoes are causing severe allergic
reactions.

Research studies in East and West Godavari and Krishna districts show
a spurt in mosquito allergy with people reporting blistering rashes
and large areas of swelling after mosquito bite.

Mosquito bite generally causes simple itchy red bump but in some
people, it causes severe allergic reaction that require medical
attention. Mosquito allergy is more among people in Krishna region
thanks to the presence of vast stretches of stagnant water. Cockroach
allergy was found in the Godavari districts.

A team of doctors from the department of pulmonology, Katuri Medical
College and Hospital, Guntur, presented the research study at international
scientific conference of the World Allergy Organisation here.
The study carried out in the three important coastal districts known
for their agricultural richness, revealed that chilli and tobacco crops, stone
quarries and paper manufacture units are responsible for allergic reactions.

“Paper dust allergy is more in Godavari districts as compared to
Krishna due to high prevalence of paper mills in the Godavari belt.
Pollen allergy is high prevalent in these regions, while mosquito
allergy is more in Krishna region,” the researchers pointed out. The
team comprised G Hari Kishan, Bhanu Naik Bhukya and Parankusam
Prabhakar Rao.

The team conducted research on about 100 patients for a number of
allergens. The skin prick test for allergy was positive in 80 people
for at least one antigen. Allergic rhinitis was confirmed in 30
patients, bronchial asthma in 21 patients, rhinitis in combination
with bronchial asthma in 11 patients and 20 patients had no history of
either asthma or rhinitis.

The study revealed that among insects, mosquito allergy was
predominant in Krishna region while cockroach allergy was more in
Godavari district. Among dust, paper dust allergy (57 per cent) is
more in Godavari while grain dust was more in Krishna region.

World Allergy Organisation: Experts now working for a pan anti-allergy vaccine that checks a variety of allergies

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Health experts are now working on a pan
anti-allergic vaccine that helps prevent a number of allergies in
people living across the globe.

Allergic reactions to foods, drugs, insect bites, chemicals and dust
are increasing the world over. At present, there is no general vaccine
that helps prevent or check allergies in people. Immunization
strategies followed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, UK,
showed promises of a potential anti-allergy vaccine designs in future.
It also targets human, horse and dog allergies simultaneously.

Sari Sabban from the University of Sheffield presented a research
paper on a pan allergy vaccine at the international scientific conference
of the World Allergy Organisation here. Sari Sabban conducted research
on rat serum. His immunization strategy was successful but did not fully
work as predicted. It however, laid significant foundations for future potential
anti-allergy vaccine designs.

The project involves development of an active anti-allergy
immunotherapy. As part of the study, the team at the University of
Sheffield injected a synthetic peptide derived from human IgE
(Immunoglobulin E) into rats. The experiment resulted in a rat serum
with strong antibody titer targeting the injected peptide.

Allergy is an increasing autoimmune disease in the developed world.
Current consensus is that allergy is the result of a misdirected
immune response directed towards ‘seemingly innocuous antigens’. Many
of the allergens have similarities with parasite proteins and it is
generally accepted that the IgE (Immunoglobulin E) response is a
normal defence mechanism against parasitic infestations, according to
Sari Sabban.

The conventional treatment of allergy is through pharmacotherapy where
corticosteroids are used to reduce the expression of inflammatory
proteins. Although effective, they do not combat the underlying cause
of allergy. Novel immunotherapeutic treatments have been developed
that immunize sufferers with anti-IgE antibodies, but this passive
immunization strategy is only temporary, and patients need to return
for follow-up injections.

The proposed pan anti-allergy vaccine will solve some of these
problems and help in preventing and controlling allergic reactions.

Ghulam Nabi Azad: Faced with the “triple burden” of diseases, India will now screen all its citizens above 30 years of age for non-communicable diseases including those related to heart and blood circulation

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Dec 6: Faced with the “triple burden” of diseases, India
will now screen all its citizens above 30 years of age for
non-communicable diseases including those related to heart and blood
circulation.

Inaugurating the three-day International Scientific Conference of the
World Allergy Organisation here on Thursday, Union Minister for Health
and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Central government had
earlier taken up screening of people for cardiovascular diseases in
select 100 districts. “The programme will now be extended to the whole
of India covering all people above 30 years of age,” he said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad said there were no financial constraints for the
ambitious programme but there was definitely shortage of trained
manpower. “India produces healthcare professionals not just for
itself, but also for developed nations like the USA and the UK.
One-fourth of the doctors from India are providing healthcare
facilities in the UK,” he said.

Stating that India is faced with the triple burden of the persistence
of communicable diseases, new and re-emerging infections and the
increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, Ghulam Nabi Azad
said the scourge of diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer and
chronic respiratory diseases, is posing a mounting challenge to
healthcare practitioners, administrators and policy makers in terms of
the increasing complexity of treatment, life-long- management and
rising demand for more resources.

Globally 300 million people suffer from asthma and it causes about
2,50,000 deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization
the number of patients, having asthma is expected to increase to 400
million by 2025. About 400 million people suffer from rhinitis, 200
million to 250 million people suffer from food-allergies and one tenth
of the population suffers from drug allergies.

About 20 to 30 per cent of people in India are having one or more
allergic diseases and their prevalence is rising dramatically. Taking
children and adults together, there are nearly 30 million asthmatics
in the country today, which constitutes about 10 per cent of the
global burden of asthma.

“Some studies show that 10 to 15 per cent of the Indian population
suffers from some form of allergic disease or the other. While pollen
from trees, grass and weeds, insects, pet dander and house-dust mite
are all causes of allergic rhinitis and asthma, one of the main
trigger factors of these allergies in India.

Globalization is creating an inter-dependence that affects both the
risks of disease and their potential solutions.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy later hosted dinner for the
visiting dignitaries from about 80 countries.

Why insulin often fails to work: Physician's lack of knowledge, time constraints, and scarcity of guidelines adapted to local needs could be the possible reason

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: In the first-ever guidelines on insulin
administration by diabetics in India, experts suggest that the site of
daily injection should be changed regularly to avoid thickening of the
skin and consequent poor absorption of the medicine. Shorter needle
should be preferred and doctors should examine the site of insulin
injection whenever patients revisit them for diabetic management.

The first Indian recommendations for best practice in insulin
injection technique released by the Forum for Injection Techniques,
India chapter, point out that a little extra care during insulin
administration will help in prevention of insulin-related
complications like hypo- or hyper-glycaemia. It will also help in
reducing the risk of contamination,
increase the consistent delivery of insulin into the subcutaneous
space, and achieve
optimal blood sugar control

The insulin guidelines gain significance as India has about 6.5 crore
diabetics and 12 lakh patients depend on insulin injections to lead a
normal life. “If injection technique is incorrect, there is a high
risk of poor glycemic control. If needles are reused or used
improperly, it can result in pain with bleeding and bruising, chances
of breaking off and lodging under the skin, risk of contamination,
dosage inaccuracy, and lipohypertrophy (lump under the skin),” the
guidelines warn.

Physician's lack of knowledge, time constraints, and scarcity of
guidelines adapted to local needs could be possible reasons
contributing to such factors, the guidelines add.
They suggest that in case a refrigerator is not available, the insulin
vial can placed in a water-filled earthen pitcher. While travelling,
insulin should be kept in a flask with ice, or in a handbag, or in a
proper container if the outside temperature is more than 30 degrees
Celsius.

The recommendations include injecting the right insulin strength with
the right insulin syringe, adults need not require lifting of a skin
fold in case of 4 mm needles, the injection site should be cleaned
using cotton balls dipped in water or with alcohol swabs, washing of
hands with soap and water, and systematically rotating the injection
site for optimised insulin absorption. Injecting insulin through
clothing should be avoided.

Bone fractures will now heal fast thanks to drug molecules developed by a team of Indian scientists from a tree that thrives in the Himalayas. The drug stimulates bone formation filling up the fractures at a rapid pace

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad:  Bone fractures will now heal fast thanks to drug
molecules developed by a team of Indian scientists from a tree that
thrives in the Himalayas. The drug stimulates bone formation filling
up the fractures at a rapid pace.

Scientists from the Central Drug Research Institute, a CSIR laboratory
based in Lucknow, conducted research on the Himalayan tree after they
found that its bark was being used in ethno-traditional medicine as a
poultice for rapid fracture healing in Kumaon and Garhwal region. They
discovered novel bone anabolic (growth) agents in the tree’s bark. The
tree grows at elevations of 800 metres to 3000 metres above sea level.

CSIR-CDRI has executed an exclusive licence agreement with a USA-based
firm, Kemxtree LLC, for accelerated healing of fractures by
stimulating bone formation using these novel bone anabolic agents. The
research team comprised Dr Naibedya Chattopadhyay, Dr Rakesh Maurya,
Dr Sabyasachi Sanyal, Dr Girish K Jain and Dr Anil K Dwivedi. The
compounds obtained from the Himalayan tree reversed the pathology of
bone loss disease by inducing new bone formation in animal models
established for testing post-menopausal osteoporosis.

In the first phase, these molecules will be developed as an orally
active rapid fracture-healing agent, said Dr Vinay Tripathi, senior
principal scientist and head, Division of S&T Management, CSIR-CDRI

Bone anabolic therapy (treatment for rebuilding new bone) is an unmet
medical need. The only available bone anabolic agent today is a
fragment of human parathyroid hormone (PTH) that suffers from many
limitations like prohibitive cost of treatment and safety aspects
including bone cancer.

On the other hand, the CSIR-CDRI molecules have the promise of
overcoming many of the disadvantages associated with PTH. Indian and
international patent applications have already been filed to protect
this invention. Dr Ravi Natarajan, CEO, Kemxtree LLC said  currently
there is no therapy available for accelerating the fracture healing
process and the new molecules would be of great help to fracture
patients.

For a country like India, where thousands of accidents occur daily and
the victims in large measure are from economically deprived section of
the society, rapid fracture healing agents such as these would help
the victims returning to the job early.

Besides their bone healing properties, these novel bone rebuilding
agents hold tremendous promise for use in the treatment of other bone
loss conditions such as secondary osteoporosis (that result from
exposure to anti-inflammatory steroids) as well as primary
osteoporosis (post-menopausal and aging-induced bone loss.

India is now faced with “triple disease burden” with road injuries and deaths adding the third dimension to the existing problem of “double disease burden”

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad:  India is now faced with “triple disease burden”
with road injuries and deaths adding the third dimension to the
existing problem of “double disease burden”.

Communicable and non-communicable diseases have been the major cause
of death in the country in the last few decades. With the number of
road accidents increasing considerably of late, the disease burden has
gone up adding a third dimension to mortality.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), about 22
lakh people die in road accidents in urban areas alone. “Road
accidents and injuries contribute significantly to the morbidity and
mortality, especially in cities,” points out an ICMR document.

The ICMR document with plans for the next five years and review of the
past 10 years on the health scenario in the country admits that there
was little substantive change at the ground level. “The health
problems at the beginning of the XI Plan continue to stare at us
alongside new challenges. The health challenges identified during the
XI Plan like dual disease burden due to communicable diseases (HIV,
TB, malaria and emerging and reemerging infections); non-communicable
diseases (cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, mental health,
chronic and pulmonary diseases, asthma), nutritional problems;
reproductive & child health etc. continue to be worthy of serious
attention,” it adds.

In fact, the latest data from the WHO shows that India ranks very high
among the nations with a steep rise in ‘premature deaths’ caused by
non-communicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular, cancers, chronic
respiratory, blood pressure and diabetes with a death roll of about 38
per cent in males (29.67 lakh) and 32.1 per cent (22.73 lakh) in
females below 60 years.

Overall, the non-communicable diseases currently account for over 53
per cent of all deaths. India also ranks among the top 10 countries
burdened with highest mortality arising from communicable diseases,
especially tuberculosis, as well as high maternal and child mortality.
Around 37 per cent of deaths in the country are caused by
communicable, maternal, prenatal and nutritional conditions.

“This ‘triple burden’ of communicable, non-communicable and injuries
need to be considered for both research and health care,” the ICMR
said in its guidelines for 2012-2017.

China hybrid tea will soon flavour Indian mornings with a team of Indian scientists developing a new cultivated variety of the orthodox tea from across the border

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: China hybrid tea will soon flavour Indian mornings
with a team of Indian scientists developing a new cultivated variety
of the orthodox tea from across the border.

The new cultivated variety or cultivar of China hybrid tea, developed
by scientists from the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology,
a CSIR institute, is rich in flavonoids that protect people from
cancers. It has enhanced flavours with a high percentage of a natural
chemical called catechin. Catechin brings down the problems associated
with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and fights fatigue.

The Indian team has named the new cultivar of China hybrid tea as “Him
Sphurti”. According to the IHBT researchers, the variety developed by
them contains 17.2 per cent of total catechin. “It is suitable for
making orthodox black and green teas. The aroma of orthodox tea made
from the clone showed high top floral with roast notes distinctive of
Kangra orthodox tea. The infusion is bright, astringent and flavoury,”
they said.

The scientists followed the conventional technique of selection to
develop the new cultivar from a vast heterozygous China hybrid
seed-raised population. The cultivar shows excellent performance with
respect to rooting and early establishment.

“The yield is 50 to 80 per cent higher than the recommended cultivar
in the tea-growing region. The cultivar has the potential of yielding
2500 kg made tea per hectare after the first pruning cycle,” adds a
CSIR research publication. The tea retains the characteristic flavour
of orthodox Kangra tea, a specialty tea without any astringency or
bitterness.

An interesting feature of this new variety is that the tea extract is
clear and the colour does not fade even after three extracts. Its
caffeine content is quite low and thus it can be consumed several
times a day.

The “Him Sphurti” is a free growing bush and attains three metres
height. It is an early flushing china hybrid type, with multiple
branched, erect and upright stem. Leaf is large, dark, green, matt,
non-lustrous, smooth, and turns wavy when mature.

China is the largest consumer of tea and India is now making forays
into the Chinese tea market. The new variety of China tea developed by
Indian scientists will not only give highly flavoured mornings back
home, but also boost Indian tea exports to China.