Health

Seoul, Sep 9 (IANS) Samsung Biologics, South Korea's leading biotech firm, said on Tuesday it has secured a 1.8 trillion-won ($1.29 billion) contract to provide manufacturing services for a U.S. pharmaceutical company through 2029.The latest agreement raises the company's cumulative contract manufacturing value this year to more than US$3.6 billion, it said in a press release, reports Yonhap news agency.Samsung Biologics did not disclose the name of the U.S. firm.Samsung Biologics said it has landed sizable deals this year by responding to evolving client needs in Asia, Europe and the United States.The company has partnerships with 17 of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical firms and continues to extend contracts with existing clients to support the development of new therapies, the release s...

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) While cholesterol, the fat-like substance, has typically been related to heart diseases, scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), showed its potential to power next-generation spintronic devices.The team introduced cholesterol-based nanomaterials as novel platforms for future quantum technologies and spintronic applications.“Cholesterol can be used to control the spin of electrons -- an invisible quantum property that could contribute to the development of energy-efficient next-generation spintronic devices. This is because it enables precise control over molecular properties due to its intrinsic handedness (chirality) and flexibility,” said the INST team, ...

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) With cases of hypertension or high blood pressure rising significantly in India, particularly among young adults, lowering the BP threshold to less than 120/80 mm Hg by the American Heart Association (AHA) may help raise awareness and push for earlier interventions in the country, said health experts on Monday.Hypertension is one of the most important modifiable factors in preventing heart disease, stroke, and death.For the first time since 2017, the AHA recently updated its guidelines for people with high blood pressure. The guidelines revamped BP readings: from a 130/90 mm Hg threshold for diagnosis earlier, the AHA now defines normal blood pressure as less than 120/80 mm Hg.“The updated BP guidelines by the AHA are highly relevant for the Indian population due to...

Kozhikode (Kerala), Sept 8 (IANS) A 56-year-old woman from Malappuram district, here, has succumbed to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis -- a rare and often-fatal brain infection --, health authorities confirmed on Monday.Her death has pushed the toll from the deadly brain-eating amoebic infection to five in a span of just one month, deepening concern across the state health authorities.The deceased, identified as M Shobhana, a resident of Wandoor in Malappuram, had been in a critical and unconscious condition ever since she was admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) here last Thursday, according to a local media report.Health officials stated that she had been suffering from symptoms consistent with the infection, which rapidly progressed despite intensive medical car...

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) The incessant rains have triggered a wave of throat infections, flu, and dengue in the national capital, said health experts on Monday.According to experts, high humidity, fluctuating temperatures, combined with waterlogging in many areas, are contributing to these conditions.“Seasonal diseases such as Flu (influenza), vector-borne diseases (dengue) are showing up as trends in this season due to high transmission. Most of the cases are self-limiting and does not need any active medication or hospitalisation,” Dr. Harshal R Salve, Additional Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, told IANS.“Over the past few weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of dengue cases. The common symptoms being seen among patients include fever, joint pa...

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) A team of researchers in China has led a first-in-human trial of an antibody drug that may provide better treatment for people with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).SCLC is a fast-growing, highly malignant lung cancer. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 2.48 million people diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022. Of those, small cell lung cancer was diagnosed in 11.5 per cent of men and 9.7 per cent of women. Small-cell lung cancer has limited treatment options and a poor prognosis.The Phase I study of SHR-4849 (IDE849) -- a Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) -- demonstrated manageable safety and early signs of anti-tumour activity in patients with relapsed SCLC.SHR-4849 consists of a humanised an...

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) While physiotherapy ensures better quality of life for individuals of all ages, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday urged the need to promote the physical therapy regimen as an integral part of healthy ageing initiatives.World Physiotherapy Day is observed every year on September 8 to recognise the significant and vital role physiotherapists play in healthcare.Nadda emphasised the importance of physiotherapy in strengthening movement after falls, stroke, and other conditions."On the occasion of World Physiotherapy Day, let us acknowledge the crucial role physiotherapy plays in improving mobility, enhancing independence, and ensuring better quality of life for individuals of all ages," the Health Minister said in a post on the social media platform X.Notably, th...

New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The newly built state-of-the-art Chemical Laboratory at the National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad, will soon open its doors to strengthen testing across a wide range of materials crucial for everyday life and industry, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said on Sunday. The facility will provide testing of packaged drinking water, natural mineral water, food packaging materials, enamelled and insulated wires made of aluminium and copper, coal, petroleum coke, bitumen, enamel paints, anti-skid products, filtration media such as sand and gravel, and even white and coloured chalk.The Chemical Laboratory will also play a key role in ensuring safety and quality for building construction materials, cement, water, metals, alloys, paper, plastics, or...

New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision, we are rapidly working towards the 'make in India and for the world' goal, Amit Agarwal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, said on Saturday.Talking to IANS on the sidelines of the three-day 'India MedTech Expo 2025' here, Agarwal said that earlier, we were manufacturing only 10 per cent of medical equipment in India; now, within the last 5 years, it has increased to 30 per cent."During Covid-19, the country started many policy initiatives under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision. Earlier during the pandemic period, only 10 per cent of the country's requirements were produced in the country, which has now increased to about 30 per cent," said Agarwal.Pr...

Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 6 (IANS) Kerala reported another death from amoebic meningoencephalitis, often described as “brain-eating amoeba infection,” on Saturday morning, taking the state’s toll from the disease this year to seven, according to officials.The victim, Ratheesh, 45, a resident of Bathery in Wayanad district, had been under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) for over a week. Health officials said his condition had remained critical before he succumbed early on Saturday.Ratheesh was first admitted to a hospital near his home with a high fever and cough. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to KMCH, where he died.One more patient from Kasaragod district remains critical at KMCH, while eleven others are undergoing treatment. A patient who had been receiv...