News Bulletin
The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) supported the NHS AI Lab to develop a proof of concept (PoC) which could help identify patients at risk of unnecessary long hospital stays and the associated negative outcomes. This would allow clinicians to try and avoid this by adjusting treatment plans.
Scientists at Rutgers University have devised a highly accurate method for creating coatings of biologically active materials for a variety of medical products. Such a technique could pave the way for a new era of transdermal medication, including shot-free vaccinations, researchers said.
In a new study, researchers at the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have used a novel imaging technique to pinpoint how strongly adjacent bases – the building blocks of DNA – stack up on top of each other in a single strand. The findings open up possibilities for building complex DNA nanodevices and unravelling fundamental aspects of DNA structure.
In a bizarre incident, a Bangalore-based woman had a bulging growth on her head which was filled with numerous marble-like-white globules. This shocking case was treated by doctors of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences. According to media reports, the 52-year-old woman the tumour was growing on her scalp since childhood. However, she never sought any medical help.
According to a study conducted at UCLA, a protein known as CEACAM1 helps shield the liver from damage during the transplantation process, which may enhance the success of the procedure. However, the characteristics that control this protective attribute are still unknown.
Dr. Alfonso Sabater pulled up two photos of Antonio Vento Carvajal’s eyes. One showed cloudy scars covering both eyeballs. The other, taken after months of gene therapy given through eyedrops, revealed no scarring on either eye. Antonio, who’s been legally blind for much of his 14 years, can see again. The teen was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blisters all over his body and in his eyes. But his skin improved when he joined a clinical trial to test the world’s first topical gene therapy. That gave Sabater an idea: What if it could be adapted for Antonio’s eyes?
A 62-year-old woman with two rare genetic conditions has successfully been treated by doctors at a city hospital. The patient, who was suffering from severe pain due to gallbladder stones, was found to have situs inversus — a rare genetic condition in which the organs in the chest and abdomen are positioned in a mirror image of normal human anatomy.
Doctors in a city hospital did it to enable removal of a tumour in the heart before they rid his stomach, spleen and pancreas of another cancerous tumour.
A team of cardiologists of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday successfully implanted a dual device, cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D), in a 55-year-old patient suffering from severe cardiac failure.
A key ingredient in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medications called phenylephrine doesn’t work to get rid of nasal congestion, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel concluded Tuesday. The unanimous vote, which specifically declared oral formulations of phenylephrine ineffective, is expected to disrupt the market for OTC cold and allergy remedies, where consumers largely prefer pills over nasal sprays. Phenylephrine — found in drugs including Sudafed PE, Vicks Nyquil Sinex Nighttime Sinus Relief and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion — is the most popular oral decongestant in the United States, generating almost $1.8 billion in sales last year, according to data presented Monday by FDA officials.
USFDA announced new steps to help facilitate innovation in devices intended to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The draft guidance, to help sponsors design clinical studies to evaluate these devices, furthers the FDA’s Overdose Prevention Framework goal of advancing evidence-based treatment for those with substance use disorders.
The USFDA announced the availability of a draft guidance with updated recommendations for good clinical practices (GCPs) aimed at modernizing the design and conduct of clinical trials, making them more agile without compromising data integrity or participant protections.
A National Health Service (NHS) trial of a new blood test for more than 50 types of cancer has shown promise after it correctly revealed two out of every three cancers in people who had visited their general practitioner (GP) with suspected symptoms in England or Wales, the University of Oxford researchers said on Friday. The so-called Galleri test also correctly identified the original site of cancer in 85 percent of those cases in what has been described as the first large-scale evaluation of a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test in individuals who presented to their GP for diagnostic follow-up for suspected cancer.
The World Health Organization on Saturday launched a global network to help swiftly detect the threat from infectious diseases, like COVID-19, and share the information to prevent their spread. The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) will provide a platform for connecting countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analysing samples, the agency said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) officially launched its mRNA vaccine technology hub in Cape Town on Thursday - a facility established during the Covid-19 pandemic to help poorer countries that struggle to access life-saving medication.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published three online resources to strengthen implementation of programmes for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) at country level: an interactive dashboard, an online training course, and a mobile application. This interactive data visualization tool illustrates the progress of WHO Member States, territories and areas towards control, elimination and eradication of NTDs.
A new study has revealed that researchers have discovered a small molecule that can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. According to scientists, it could provide a new basis for medication to shorten the course of the virus after exposure to it. Researchers from the University of Houston (UH), US, said that the molecule could provide immediate protection against viral infection and thus, may be suitable for people across age groups, particularly for high-risk and immunocompromised individuals who typically do not generate sufficient antibodies after vaccination.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday changed its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, suggesting that high-risk populations should receive an additional dose 12 months after their last booster. The health agency defined high-risk populations as older adults, as well as younger people with other significant risk factors. For this group, the agency recommends an additional shot of the vaccine either 6 or 12 months after the latest dose, based on factors such as age and immunocompromising conditions. The WHO defined the group including healthy children and adolescents as “low priority” and urged countries to consider factors like disease burden before recommending vaccination of this group. The recommendations come as countries take differing approaches for their populations. Some high-income countries like the United Kingdom and Canada are already offering high-risk people COVID-19 boosters this spring, six months after their last dose. The WHO said this was an option for a subset of people who were at particular risk, but its recommendations were intended as a best practice global guide. The agency said its committee of experts had also said that additional booster vaccines for COVID beyond the initial series – two shots and a booster – were no longer routinely recommended for “medium risk” people.
The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) supported the NHS AI Lab to develop a proof of concept (PoC) which could help identify patients at risk of unnecessary long hospital stays and the associated negative outcomes. This would allow clinicians to try and avoid this by adjusting treatment plans.
Scientists at Rutgers University have devised a highly accurate method for creating coatings of biologically active materials for a variety of medical products. Such a technique could pave the way for a new era of transdermal medication, including shot-free vaccinations, researchers said.
In a new study, researchers at the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have used a novel imaging technique to pinpoint how strongly adjacent bases – the building blocks of DNA – stack up on top of each other in a single strand. The findings open up possibilities for building complex DNA nanodevices and unravelling fundamental aspects of DNA structure.
In a bizarre incident, a Bangalore-based woman had a bulging growth on her head which was filled with numerous marble-like-white globules. This shocking case was treated by doctors of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences. According to media reports, the 52-year-old woman the tumour was growing on her scalp since childhood. However, she never sought any medical help.
According to a study conducted at UCLA, a protein known as CEACAM1 helps shield the liver from damage during the transplantation process, which may enhance the success of the procedure. However, the characteristics that control this protective attribute are still unknown.
Dr. Alfonso Sabater pulled up two photos of Antonio Vento Carvajal’s eyes. One showed cloudy scars covering both eyeballs. The other, taken after months of gene therapy given through eyedrops, revealed no scarring on either eye. Antonio, who’s been legally blind for much of his 14 years, can see again. The teen was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blisters all over his body and in his eyes. But his skin improved when he joined a clinical trial to test the world’s first topical gene therapy. That gave Sabater an idea: What if it could be adapted for Antonio’s eyes?
A 62-year-old woman with two rare genetic conditions has successfully been treated by doctors at a city hospital. The patient, who was suffering from severe pain due to gallbladder stones, was found to have situs inversus — a rare genetic condition in which the organs in the chest and abdomen are positioned in a mirror image of normal human anatomy.
Doctors in a city hospital did it to enable removal of a tumour in the heart before they rid his stomach, spleen and pancreas of another cancerous tumour.
A team of cardiologists of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday successfully implanted a dual device, cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D), in a 55-year-old patient suffering from severe cardiac failure.
Scientists have established the effectiveness of vaccines they developed to prevent the disfiguring skin disease leishmaniasis in animal studies, and phase 1 human trial planning is in motion for the most promising candidate.
Scientists at Rutgers University have developed a highly accurate process for producing coatings of biologically active compounds for a variety of medical devices. According to the researchers, such technology might pave the way for a new era of transdermal treatment, including shot-free vaccines.
Receiving a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can benefit pregnant people and their newborn infants, according to findings recently published in Vaccine. The paper describes results from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for Covid-19 (MOMI-VAX), which was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
A nasal vaccine adjuvant, or a substance added to nasal vaccines to trigger a stronger immune response, was found to stop COVID-19 infection in both young and old mice. Several current vaccines contain adjuvants, which boost the effectiveness of a vaccine. While vaccines are known to offer protection against serious illness and death, vaccines can be improved in their ability to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at the point of entry in the upper respiratory tract, the research led by the University of Michigan (U-M) and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, US, said.
Globally there are 4.95 million deaths per year associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Low- and middle-income countries bear the burden of drug-resistant infections. AMR, which occurs when bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to existing treatments, was described by WHO in 2019 as one of the top ten global threats to public health – a threat to which science is playing catch-up in its efforts to mitigate.
In preclinical models, Trans-Tasman research collaborators from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Ferrier Research Institute and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia developed an mRNA-based vaccine that can effectively target and stimulate protective immune cell responses against the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium.
In preclinical models, Trans-Tasman research collaborators from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Ferrier Research Institute and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in New Zealand and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia developed an mRNA-based vaccine that can effectively target and stimulate protective immune cell responses against the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium.
Researchers and clinicians from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are part of the ongoing OCTAVE (Observational Cohort Trial-T-cells Antibodies and Vaccine Efficacy in SARS-CoV-2) trial, which is led by the Universities of Glasgow, Birmingham and Oxford and a consortium of leading UK institutions. Published in Nature Medicine, the latest report contains important new data on infection rates, disease severity and deaths in the patient groups, who were studied up to one year after their first vaccination.
Cambridge scientists have discovered a blood pattern that could help predict how well an individual will respond to immunisations. The study, which was published in Nature Communications, could explain why, even within susceptible patient groups, some people respond better to immunisations than others.
A first-of-its-kind study in real-world setting conducted in India by Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) and published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology showed immunotherapy Atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination as a breakthrough in liver cancer treatment with a significant number of patients showing promising results in terms of overall and disease free survival even complete resolution of tumor in certain cases when detected early and with timely treatment.
According to a new survey over 60 percent of women in the age group of 25 to 34 have PCOS in India. The survey conducted by Gynoveda saw responses from over 3 lakh women across the country in the age bracket of 18 to 45 years, who were categorised into 3 groups based on prevalence, severity and bodily changes.
The Kerala government on Thursday said the monoclonal antibody required for treatment of those infected by the Nipah virus has arrived in the state. State Health Minister Veena George said a meeting was held between the Principal Secretary of the Health Department and the Union Health Ministry earlier in the day and now the monoclonal antibody has arrived. She said that stability of the medicine, which is not clinically proven yet but is the only available antiviral treatment for Nipah virus infection, was discussed with a central expert committee.
According to a study conducted by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine, the vertebral bones that make up the spine originate from a special kind of stem cell that secretes a protein that encourages tumour metastasis. The finding opens up a new area of study into spinal illnesses, sheds light on why solid tumours frequently metastasize to the spine, and may assist develop new cancer and orthopaedic therapies.
According to a study, patients with stable angina who have high coronary artery calcium scores can be identified using an enhanced CT scan at a lower risk of experiencing negative outcomes in three years. The findings of the study were published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Researchers found that shorter telomeres on the ends of white blood cell chromosomes may indicate an increased risk of dementia. The study was published online in the journal General Psychiatry.
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) based approach demonstrated diagnostic performance comparable to experienced radiologists in detecting gall bladder cancers in Chandigarh, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia journal. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor detection and a high mortality rate. Early diagnosis is challenging because benign gallbladder lesions can have similar imaging features, the researchers said.
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a new approach to potentially detect and kill cancer cells, especially those which form a solid tumour mass. They have created hybrid nanoparticles made of gold and copper sulphide, which can kill cancer cells using heat, and enable their detection using sound waves, according to a study published in ACS Applied Nano Materials. Early detection and treatment are key in the battle against cancer. Copper sulphide nanoparticles have previously received attention for their application in cancer diagnosis, while gold nanoparticles, which can be chemically modified to target cancer cells, have shown anticancer effects. In the current study, the IISc team decided to combine these two into hybrid nanoparticles.
A groundbreaking study led by experts from Indiana University School of Medicine has shed new light on the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease. The team's research, rooted in human genetics studies, has unearthed a critical mutation within a key gene operating in the brain's immune cells, potentially elevating the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The research team included several IU investigators within Stark Neurosciences Research Institute-;Gary Landreth, PhD, the Martin Professor of Alzheimer's Research; Bruce Lamb, PhD, executive director of Stark Neuroscience Research Institute; Stephanie Bissel, PhD, assistant professor of genetics; Kwangsik Nho, PhD, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences; and Adrian Oblak, PhD, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences. Their research was recently published in the journal Immunity.
The government has launched in-house chemotherapy services at 30 ESIC hospitals across the country, according to an official statement. Union Minister for Labour & Employment Bhupender Yadav on Thursday launched the chemotherapy services during the 191st meeting of the ESI Corporation at ESIC headquarters in New Delhi. With this service, insured workers and their dependents will be able to get better cancer treatment at ease, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a statement.
The Maharashtra government has decided to make medical tests and treatment at public hospitals free of cost, officials said. The decision was taken on Thursday in the state cabinet meeting which gave its nod to the Right To Health policy. Free of cost facilities will be available at 2,418 hospitals and medical centres run by the state government under the scheme that is likely to be launched from August 15, the officials said.
The government is developing a digital registry on organ transplantation to smoothen the system and make it transparent.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has extended its digital health incentives scheme (DHIS) under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) till 31 December. Launched on 1 January, DHIS provides financial incentives to hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers who contribute to the transformational digitization efforts under the ABDM initiative.
With Hepatitis B and C emerging as a major health concern, the state government has announced the two as notifiable diseases. All healthcare facilities have been asked to report both diseases with immediate effect. In the exercise of powers conferred under the Epidemic Disease Act-1897, the Health and Family Welfare department in a notification directed that all healthcare providers (govt/private/NGO sector) where diagnosis, tests and treatment of patients are undertaken will have to take adequate steps for timely notification of Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C.
The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in association with Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Emory University and Harvard University from the USA, has announced the findings of India's first-of-its-kind in-depth corporate worksite report titled 'INDIA-WORKS' - Integrating Diabetes Prevention in Workplaces.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released new scientific and normative guidance on HIV at the 12th International IAS (the International AIDS Society) Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane from 23 to 26 July 2023.
The Delhi government’s Department of Drugs Control has written a letter to the president of All Chemist Associations of Delhi to avoid sale of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, without a prescription from a regular medical practitioner. In the letter, controlling authority official K R Chawla said there is a likelihood of an increase in cases of vector-borne diseases, owing to monsoon, and close monitoring is required. Doctors said unmonitored use of such drugs can prove to be fatal for patients of vector-borne diseases. The department advised retail chemists to refrain from over-the-counter sales of these medicines immediately. “They (chemists) are also advised to keep records of stocks of painkiller drugs falling under this category. Stringent action will be taken against retail chemists found flouting this advice,” the letter said.
Global immunisation services reached 4 million more children in 2022 compared to the previous year, as countries stepped up efforts to address the historic backsliding in immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, in 2022, 20.5 million children missed out on one or more vaccines delivered through routine immunization services, compared to 24.4 million children in 2021. In spite of this improvement, the number remains higher than the 18.4 million children who missed out in 2019 before pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the need for ongoing catch-up, recovery and system strengthening efforts.
The WHO online repository of evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) tools is the first of its kind to highlight WHO tools and external tools utilized by WHO to facilitate knowledge translation and partner organizations involved in planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating the process of evidence use and implementation.
A situational evaluation of childhood most cancers care in India has discovered that companies are concentrated on the tertiary degree, and there are gaps within the availability of specialized paediatric oncology care in all tertiary hospitals. Moreover, the supply of childhood most cancers care companies is greater in personal and NGO-managed hospitals than in public hospitals. The survey titled ‘An evaluation of childhood most cancers care companies in India — gaps, challenges and the best way ahead’, has been printed in The Lancet, Regional Well being — South-East Asia.
The Union minister for health and family welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has launched a Make in India kit for diagnosis of haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease, developed by ICMR-National Institute of Immunohematology (ICMR-NIIH).
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) Research team led by Dr Partho Sarathi Gooh Pattader have developed a fast, accurate, and reliable device to detect specific bacteria that cause Urinary Tract infection (UTI). The estimated cost of manufacturing the device is Rs 608 while testing a single sample will cost Rs 8 only.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) scientists at the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBC-DSAI) have developed a computational approach called ‘MultiCens’ to understand the interactions between genes that are responsible for inter-organ communication within the body.
The costs required to reduce the risk of sickle cell disease is beyond the reach of most individuals in India and sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is most prevalent, says a new Commission published in The Lancet Haematology journal. The Commission publishes shortly after a recent study in the same journal found that the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) disability was concentrated in western and central sub-Saharan Africa and India.
NPPA has extended the capping of the trade margin of oxygen concentrators and five other medical devices which it had imposed in the year 2021.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has added a fourth test to the list of prequalified tests for human papillomavirus (HPV). Although most HPV infections clear up on their own, some high-risk types could lead to cervical cancer. Testing for HPV infection is an integral part of cervical cancer screening. WHO’s prequalification (PQ) programme for in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) evaluates a range of tests, including those used for the detection of high-risk HPV genotypes in cervical cancer screening.
National drug pricing regulator NPPA said it has fixed retail prices of 23 formulations, including the medications to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the prices under the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013 based on the decision of 113th Authority meeting on May 26. The price of one tablet of diabetes drug Gliclazide ER and Metformin Hydrochloride tablets is Rs 10.03. Retail price of one tablet of Telmisartan, Chlorthalidone & Cilnidipine tablets at Rs 13.17. The retail price of one tablet of pain reliever medication Trypsin, Bromelain, Rutoside Trihydrate and Diclofenac Sodium tablets has been fixed at Rs 20.51.
In India, nearly 2.2 lakh patients are diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) every year, resulting in a demand for 3.4 crore dialysis annually, according to the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme. With approximately 4950 dialysis centres, largely in the private sector in India, the demand is less than half met with existing infrastructure. Not to forget, the high cost of the treatment, which makes it inaccessible to a majority of the population.
A recently conducted survey by The Association of Physicians of India (API) and Ipsos, in 16 cities among adults aged 50 years and older, their caregivers and doctors has yielded compelling insights into why there is low adoption of adult immunisation in India. The survey shows that although 71 percent of adults aged ≥50 years are aware of adult vaccination, only 16 percent have taken any adult vaccines. Patients and doctors have provided significantly different reasons for low adoption.
A doctor cannot prescribe drugs regulated in Schedule X of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, for example anti-cancer drugs, morphine and codeine, if he or she is consulting via tele-medicine, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has said
A self-employed doctor shall maintain medical records of patients for three years from the date of last contact, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has ruled in its latest regulations. It states that if a request is made for medical records, the same should be made available within five days. The NMC regulations titled ‘National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023, also calls for digitisation of patient records within three years of publication of the regulations. The regulations also call for continuing professional development programs for the Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs).
Total Knee Replacement is a clinically proven option to relieve pain, improve mobility & help people return to activities they love. The “Modern” Knee replacement surgery techniques carefully developed over recent years ensure a quick recovery and faster return to daily activities, proving to be far more beneficial than the “conventional” surgeries of the past.
The existing healthcare centres in India can now respond to health emergencies, like Covid-19, better by using a special computer tool developed by a team of researchers from Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IITD), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and University of Exeter Business School, United Kingdom.
71 percent of doctors believe that Diabetes Remission (DR) is possible, i.e. bringing blood sugars back into the normal range without the aid of medications – revealed a survey conducted by Practo. The survey was conducted to understand the attitudes of the healthcare community towards managing India’s rising diabetes burden. With over 100 million people with diabetes(PWD) in India and an estimation of it doubling by 2045, there is an urgent need to revisit diabetes management strategies in the country.
Doctors at a private hospital gave a new lease of life to a farmer by replacing his damaged aortic valve (one of the four heart valves) with a one constructed from his pericardium, a fibrous sac that encloses the heart and great vessels – using Ozaki technique. Rajman, a resident of Balrampur, was brought to the hospital with breathlessness and chest pain.
Medical education minister Girish Mahajan inaugurated the first kidney dialysis centre at a state-run government hospital on Wednesday. Located at St George Hospital in Dhobi Talao, the centre is equipped with 12 machines, including two exclusively dedicated to dialysis for HIV and hepatitis patients.
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