Monthly Archives: August 2013

Reducing the dose of epilepsy medication guards against birth DEFECTS

Reducing the dose of epilepsy medication guards against birth DEFECTS If pregnant women take epilepsy medications with valproic acid, the danger of birth defects such as spina bifida or hypospadias is greatly increased. Australian researchers have now discovered that this risk can be significantly lowered by reducing the dose, reports “Neurology”. The scientists from the […]

the state of USA health

Understanding the major health problems in the United States and how they are changing over time is critical for informing national health policy. Objectives To measure the burden of diseases, injuries, and leading risk factors in the United States from 1990 to 2010 and to compare these measurements with those of the 34 countries in […]

Longacting somatostatin analogue shows promise in the ALADIN trial

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease slowly progresses to end-stage renal disease and has no effective therapy. A pilot study suggested that the somatostatin analogue octreotide longacting release (LAR) could be nephroprotective in this context. We aimed to assess the effect of 3 years of octreotide-LAR treatment on kidney and cyst growth and renal function decline […]

No association between psychedelics and mental health problems

The use of LSD and other psychedelics does not increase the risk of developing mental health problems – on the contrary. This is the result of a study undertaken by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and published in “PLOS ONE”. Evaluating data from more than 130,000 people, including 22,000 who had experience […]

Antidepressants during pregnancy can be tricky

  Antidepressants during pregnancy can be tricky For years, pregnant women who suffer from depression have been told it’s safer for them and their unborn child to continue taking antidepressants during pregnancy. Now a new study is challenging that advice, suggesting the opposite is true and advocating against most women taking these drugs. If the depression is […]

depression

Importance Depression has been identified as a risk factor for dementia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus but the cognitive domains and patient groups most affected have not been identified. Objective To determine whether comorbid depression in patients with type 2 diabetes accelerates cognitive decline. Design A 40-month cohort study of participants in the […]

stroke

If mild or moderate strokes are treated within 90 minutes, the probability of permanent disability would be greatly reduced. This is shown in an international study under the leadership of Finnish researchers at the University of Helsinki. The results were printed in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal “Stroke”. The study showed that if people […]

white paper on medical education by dr.DEVI SHETTY

    Contents                                                                                   Page No. Executive Summary                ………………..                02   1.      Preamble                                ………………..                04 2.      Current scenario                    ………………..                05 3.      Challenges faced          ………………..                06 4.      Initiatives in the past by MCI  ………………..                08 5.      Recommended actions           ………………..                09 6.      Outcome and Benefits            ………………..                11   Executive Summary Preventing and treating NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES(NCD) is […]

A close relationship between grandparents and grandchildren reduces symptoms of depression

A close relationship between grandparents and grandchildren reduces symptoms of depression in both well into grandchildren’s adulthood, according to a US study presented at the 108th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association. The researchers at Boston College used data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations, a survey of 3- and 4-generation US families with […]

suicide deaths in the military

Importance Beginning in 2005, the incidence of suicide deaths in the US military began to sharply increase. Unique stressors, such as combat deployments, have been assumed to underlie the increasing incidence. Previous military suicide studies, however, have relied on case series and cross-sectional investigations and have not linked data during service with postservice periods. Objective […]

Polypharmacy: How widespread is the practice?

Monday, August 12, 2013 by Vidhi Rathee New Delhi: Monika, a migraine patient, felt as if a thick fog has descended on her brain, as once again she felt heavy and drowsy while reading the prescription letter to take another dose of afternoon pills. She feels lethargic and inactive to perform her daily household tasks, […]

No Alzheimer drug works as well as exercise

Exercise could be the best medicine against Alzheimer’s. A study of persons with slight cognitive impairments found that brain functions had improved following a 12-week, moderate training program. The results were published in the “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease”. Researchers at the University of Maryland divided the study participants (60 to 88 years old) into two […]

health benefits of religious practice,

AS evidence accumulates about the many health benefits of religious practice, prayer is looking better and better. Some atheists have even gone public with their own prayer-for-health’s-sake practice. Enlarge This Image T. M. Luhrmann ROOM FOR DEBATE Should Atheists Pray? What’s the point of prayer? Is it just for believers, or would praying be a […]

Most doctors in urban India are not MBBS:

MUMBAI: In a shocking representation of the lack of essential healthcare, the largest chunk of doctors in the country do not hold the MBBS degree (bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery) — a basic prerequisite to practice modern medicine (allopathy). Instead, they have degrees of alternative medicine like ayurveda or homeopathy, but they may still […]

sunshine act

Toolkit for Physician Financial Transparency Reports (Sunshine Act) The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act) requires manufacturers of drugs, medical devices and biologicals that participate in U.S. federal health care programs to report certain payments and items of value given to physicians and teaching hospitals. Toolkit for Sunshine ActManufacturers are required to collect and track […]