Bats may hold clue to immunity, longevity in man
PTI | Dec 24, 2012, 05.02 AM IST
Bats, which have survived for 65 million years against all odds, may offer vital clues to immunity and human longevity, a new study has found.
Bats are amazing creatures and one of the most abundant and widespread mammals on Earth, researchers said.
Excerpt from The Times of India, Chennai, Dec.24, 2012
For the full article:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Bats-may-hold-clue-to-immunity-longevity-in-man/articleshow/17737870.cms
Grateful thanks to PTI and The Times of India.
This is another news item which I came across in the same section of the paper of the same day. It is reported that researchers claim that a drug used to treat certain types of cancer, VORINOSTA or vorinostat, is able to dislodge hidden virus in HIV patients. Lab experiments measuring active HIV levels in CD4 + T cells, which are specialized white blood cells that the virus uses to replicate, showed that this drug unmasked the hidden virus in these cells. It is a major breakthrough in the treatment of AIDS.
Grateful thanks to The Times of India and MedicineNet.
In a breakthrough which may pave the way for effective treatment for blood sugar, scientists have cracked the 40-year-old mystery of how certain genetic mutations lead to type 1 diabetes.
Excerpt from "Mutations leading to type 1 diabetes found" in The Times of India, Chennai edition of April 22, 2010.
For a detailed article from Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419173004.htm
Grateful thanks to The Times of India and Science Daily.
World Health Organization has raises pandemic alarm as Swine Flu spreads; WHO has labeled it as public health emergency of international concern. Already 149 deaths have been reported in Mexico. Swine flu has been found in other countries like US, Canada, and France. US Govt has cautioned its citizens about visiting Mexico. Swine flu is supposed to be caused by a new strain of virus, H1N1. As the flu virus is constantly mutating, finding full immunity has not been possible so far. The symptoms of SIV or swine influenza virus attack are just like normal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body pain, headaches, chills and fatigues and sometimes diarrhoea and vomiting also. The US Govt says it has stock of medicines to treat 50 million people and have advised people to take normal precautions and not to panic.For detailed Wikipedia article:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_FluSwine Flu: 5 Things You Need to Know About the outbreak http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090427/hl_time/08599189402900;_ylt=AgPgFD8FSl1NTlDyH.rg1toDW7oF
Grateful thanks to Yahoo News and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A cup of green tea a day may keep gum disease at bay. Researchers found that among middle-aged Japanese, the odds of having gum disease declined as the men's intake of tea rose.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 23, 2009.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.
A Belfast-based scientist has claimed that a herb found in the Himalayan region could be effective in controlling Type 2 Diabetes. Dr.Yasser Abdel-Wahab, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ulster, and his team discovered that the roots of a cucumber-like vegetable - a herb found in the forests of India - and extracts from the bark of a Himalayan plant, all showed positive results in test cases.
Dr Abdel-Wahab said that following early laboratory work carried out on the Northern Ireland-based campus, researchers discovered the bark of Swertia chirayita, a plant traditionally grown in the Himalayas and also known as chirette, indicated that some compounds extracted from the bark appeared to stimulate insulin production and improve its action.
"Natural anti-diabetic drug discovery is a key area of research that is attracting a lot of interest. More research is needed to establish definitively how and if our findings could be translated into new therapeutic agents for treatments for people with Type 2 diabetes, but we are hopeful that this will one day be the case," he said. Scientists have been investigating complementary therapies that have the potential to help treat Type 2 diabetes. - PTI.
Courtesy: The Hindu, March 16, 2009.
Detailed Wikipedia articles on "Diabetes Mellitus Type 2" and "Diabetic Diet":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_type_2
Grateful thanks to The Hindu, India's National Newspaper and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Ron who has not been able to see for the past 30 years is able to see now, thanks to 'bionic eye'. He is 73! The 'bionic eye' is still in experiment and may soon become available to all. For more details (video presentation from BBC, UK):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7920600.stmGrateful thanks to BBC.
A round-the-clock helpline at toll-free number 1800-110-456 has been set up by the Union Ministry of Health to report violations of the smoking ban in public places.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 26, 2009
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
Diabetes cases are soaring in Britain, jumping 74% between 1997 and 2003. Medical experts link it to rising obesity rates caused by unhealthy diets.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 25, 2009.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
World Cancer Day is observed every year on February 4 with the objectives of Increasing awareness, Encouraging its prevention, Detection and Treatment. World Cancer Day targets the general public through global communications and encourages policy makers to make cancer a political priority.
The campaign advocates the following for prevention of cancer:
Providing a smoke-free environment for children;
Being physically active;
Eating a balanced, healthy diet;
Avoiding obesity; and
Avoiding over-exposure to the sun
For detailed article on "World Cancer Day": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Cancer_Day
Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Railway Ministry will provide confirmed accommodation to cancer patients going to hospital for check-up. Accommodation will be provided in trains to the patient and an attendant travelling on tickets issued against a concession certificate. They can also avail themselves of the facility on their return journey. - PTI.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, January 22, 2009.
Grateful thanks to PTI and The Hindu.
Harper's Weekly reports of Allergan, the drug company that developed Botox, is releasing Lattisse, a new prescription medication for growing longer, thicker eyelashes.
Courtesy: Gemma Sieff, Harper's Weekly, January 20, 2009.
Grateful thanks to Gemma Sieff and Harper's Weekly.
An American study suggests that sadness is good for human health; it serves an evolutionary purpose and helps us learn from mistakes.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, January 16, 2009 ("Snapshots").
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
A study has found that people who are ambitious, organized and conscientious live longer than those who are impulsive, Health Psychology reports.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, January 6, 2009 ('Newscape")
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
The Hindu, Madurai (December 28, 2008), reports quoting AFP that a drug that is used to treat cancer has proven effective at stopping the body from rejecting a transplanted organ. This drug, Bortezomib, was administered to six patients whose immune systems were attacking transplanted kidneys and who did not respond to traditional anti-rejection treatments. In all the cases, the drug promptly reversed the rejection, improved organ function, provided prolonged reductions in antibody levels and suppressed recurrent rejection for at least five months. The study was carried out at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Detailed Wikipedia article on "TRANSPLANT REJECTION":
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Bacteria are seen on tooth surface. Clarkson University researchers have found a way to protect teeth by polishing them with silica nanoparticles. Now the teeth become too 'slippery' for the 'bad' bacteria.
Source: The Hindu, Madurai, Dec.25, 2008 ('Snapshots' in the Science & Technology page)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
Here is another reason why you should sleep more than seven hours a day - it could stave off heart attack, says a study.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Dec.25, 2008("Newscape")
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.
Researchers in London who undertook a study to learn how cold spreads so easily have come out with some interesting figures. For example, somebody sneezing in a crowded bus or train may result in 150 persons catching cold in the next five minutes! So they have advised people to cover their mouth when they sneeze.
Courtesy: 'Dinakaran', Tamil daily, (Madurai edition), Dec.8, 2008.
Grateful thanks to Dinakaran.
World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children. The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.
From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to World AIDS Campaign (WAC), who chose Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise as the main theme for World AIDS Day observances through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.
It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.
Excerpt from "World AIDS Day" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. for providing the above material under the GNU Free Documentation License.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Generex Biotechnology Corporation of U.S., Anna Gluskin, launched the world's first Recombinant DNA human insulin buccal spray nationally in Kolkatta on Monday (November 17, 2008).
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, November 18, 2008 ("Snapshots")
Wikipedia articles on "RECOMBINANT DNA" and "INSULIN":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombinant_DNAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InsulinGrateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
