Health

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) A team of international researchers has discovered a type of molecule that can kill chlamydia bacteria -- the world's most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease with 130 million cases a year -- but spare bacteria that are important for health.The team from Umea University, Sweden, and Michigan State University, US, identified more than 60 possible anti-chlamydia molecules.Chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, which has very special properties. Just like viruses, they invade cells in the human body, which then reshape so that they give the bacterium a home where it can grow and multiply."No one should have to live with chlamydia. But the problem is that the treatments we have today do not distinguish between dangerous and friendly bacteria. ...

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Eating a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains in childhood can delay the onset of menstruation in girls, according to a new study.The findings, published in the journal Human Reproduction remained unaltered by the girls’ body mass index (BMI) or height, both of which have been associated with the earlier onset of periods.The study has implications for health in later life as it is well known that women who started their periods at an early age may be at higher risk for diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, and diseases of the heart and blood vessels.“I think our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guideline...

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Nearly one out of five women and one out of seven men aged 20, and older globally experienced sexual violence by age 15 or even younger, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet on Thursday.The research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, US, showed that 67 per cent of females and 72 per cent of males reported being first sexually abused during childhood, before the age of 18.Almost 42 per cent of females and approximately 48 per cent of males said their first sexual violence incident occurred before the age of 16. Alarmingly, 8 per cent of female survivors and 14 per cent of male survivors reported being first exposed to sexual violence before 12.“Sexual violence ...

Jerusalem, May 8 (IANS) Israeli researchers have identified a genetic "fingerprint" that helps predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, according to a study.The study, by the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), stated that the discovery would help improve the personalisation of immunotherapy treatments, Xinhua news agency reported.Immunotherapy is considered to be one of the greatest revolutions in cancer treatment. It enhances the immune system’s ability to target and destroy cancer cells efficiently.However, a major challenge in immunotherapy is the unpredictability of patient responses. Some patients do not benefit and may experience side effects without significant improvement.Therefore, there is a need to identify biomarkers that can forecast the effectiveness of ...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) FMCG major Dabur India on Wednesday reported an 8.31 per cent decline in its net profit to Rs 320.13 crore for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (Q4 FY25), compared to Rs 349.53 crore profit in the same quarter last fiscal.Despite the dip in profit, Dabur’s revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 2,830.14 crore, showing a slight increase from Rs 2,814.64 crore in the year-ago period.For the full financial year, the company reported revenue of Rs 12,563 crore, up from Rs 12,404 crore in the previous fiscal.Dabur said that demand for FMCG products remained weak throughout the fourth quarter and the full year.However, it managed to post a 2.1 per cent constant currency revenue growth in Q4, supported by its international business.Dabur India ...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Ten per cent of the world's richest individuals have a higher carbon footprint than the poorest 50 per cent, leading to climate extremes such as heat waves and droughts, according to a study on Wednesday.The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, that the world's wealthiest 10 per cent are responsible for two-thirds of observed global warming since 1990."Our study shows that extreme climate impacts are not just the result of abstract global emissions, instead we can directly link them to our lifestyle and investment choices, which in turn are linked to wealth," explains lead author Sarah Schongart, from the ETH Zurich in Switzerland."We found that wealthy emitters play a major role in driving climate extremes, which provides strong support for climat...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Certain drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes can also be used to treat prostate cancer, according to a study.Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer.They showed that the protein PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) -- central to the regulation of metabolic processes -- can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells.But PPARγ is already known to be a target of certain drugs including so-called thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes.The findings "showed that the diabetes drug pioglitazone influences the activity of PPARγ and thus inhibits the growth behaviour and metabolism of tumour cells. Furthermore, initial resu...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) An Indian-origin researcher in the US has developed a probiotic cocktail that will help prevent dementia -- a condition that affects memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities of more than 57 million people worldwide.The cocktail, developed by Hariom Yadav from the University of South Florida, is a unique blend of probiotics that can positively impact the microbiome -- the unseen community of microorganisms that live by the trillions in a person's gut.While in healthy individuals, the microorganisms live harmoniously in their vast internal community, the gut also can become populated with certain bacteria and viruses.This can cause disruptions throughout the body, ultimately triggering a progression over time that contributes to dementia and Alzhe...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, on Wednesday announced it has revived two rare and significant Ayurvedic manuscripts strengthening India’s literary heritage in traditional medicine.The manuscripts Dravyaratnakara Nighaṇṭu and Dravyanamakara Nighaṇṭu were unveiled during an event organised by the RRAP Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Mumbai.“These texts are not just historical artefacts -- they are living knowledge systems that can transform contemporary healthcare approaches when studied and applied thoughtfully,” said Prof. Vd. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi.Acharya emphasised the importance of such revivals in bridging India’s ancient wisdom with contemporary research frame...

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) The health sector needs to be sensitised about fire safety measures to boost preparedness and response during disasters, said the Union Health Minister J P Nadda.He said this while inaugurating the second national workshop on ‘health sector disaster preparedness and response’ and ‘fire safety in healthcare facilities’ in the national capital.Union Health Minister highlighted the need for capacity building and sensitisation of all cadres of personnel working in health facilities in public as well as private sectors at all levels of the healthcare delivery system.“Since the health sector works with high-load equipment and highly inflammable materials like oxygen and chemicals that not only save lives but also are inflammable and might cause a hazard. Therefore, there ...