In India, a country with a vast population and a diverse socio-economic fabric, healthcare remains fraught with challenges including disparities in access. These socio-economic disparities are deep, and they influence health outcomes. It is imperative to bridge these gaps amid the ongoing epidemiological, nutritional and demographic transitions that are bringing …
In the US $5.15 billion world anti-cancer market, where 75 per cent of the contribution comes from the US alone, India's share of the market is a mere 100 crore, with a 12-13 per cent annual growth. But one of the main manufacturers of anti-cancer plant alkaloids in India is …
LEUKAEMIA affects thousands of children all over the world, accounting for over a third of all cancers diagnosed for children. The bone marrow tissue, which produces blood cells, churn out faulty products in these kids. The only option is replacement of the marrow. But replacement of bone marrow requires a …
Drugs that combat growth of cancer by blocking blood supply lines for tumours are being tried for the first time on humans. These new compounds disrupt the chemical signals exclusive to tumours and thus will have fewer side effects. All the five new molecules discovered by Sugen, a California-based company, …
As an environmental activist and writer, I have tried for years to promote nationwide concern about the deteriorating state of our environment. The idea of writing about my own travails as an environmental victim had, however, never crossed my mind. But obviously, I could not have escaped what was and …
Official statistics show that every seventh to 10th person living in DelhiMumbaiMadras and Bangalore is likely to fall prey to cancer during his lifetime. I was keen to check whether this rate applied to people I know personally
According to National Cancer Institute (US) scientists"Weak associations (with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or NHL) have been noted for some common (medical) conditions... like asthmaallergiesrheumatoid arthritisrheumatic fevertuberculosis and infectious mononucleosisand commonly taken steroidal drugs. Some conditions that warrant further investigation include asthma and steroid use.' Steroids are known to be immunosuppressive; asthma …
When I first pointed out to friends in India that scientific studies suggest exposure to pesticide residues as a strong cause of my cancermany of them wondered how could I
new forays into the much-heard-of link between smoking and cancer has established beyond doubt that there is a definite and clear relationship between the two. Researchers from the University of Texas and Beckman Research Institute, California, working on the p53 gene, which is known to prevent proliferation of cells leading …
there are already numerous drugs which aid in controlling cancer or even curing it if detected in the early stages. But the drugs, as observed in so many cases, are user specific and their effects vary from person to person depending on factors like the sensitivity of a person, the …
a new study of breast cancer patients spread over 35 countries and involving 5,500 women holds out a note of optimism. At the recent European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Conference at Vienna, Harry Bartelink, head of the department of radiation oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, said that the study …
a rather innocuous looking sponge could actually pack a lot of arsenal against cancer cells proliferating in human body, researchers have found. A deep water sponge, Discodermia dissoluta , has been discovered by a group of scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Florida, us , to contain a …
Oriental food has the potential to guard against killer diseases like cancer and heart ailments. According to a top UK nutritionist, Helen Wiseman, oriental food is low on fat and rich in soya products, which are good at keeping these diseases at bay. It is reported that soya beans and …
The much-awaited technology development board was finally set up by the Centre last month. The board will facilitate the development of indigenous technology. Scientist V S Ramamurthy will be the chairperson of the board. Madhya Pradesh will have better water resources in the near future, thanks to a Rs 480 …
oral cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among Indian men. Now, scientists at the Cancer Research Institute ( cri ) in Mumbai have taken the first step towards curing the cancer with the help of gene therapy. They will use a genetically-engineered version of a virus called murine leukaemia virus …
Microbes found in mud, soil, and water contain compounds with potent anti-cancer activity, say Michael Shipman and his research team, which is supported by the UK Cancer Research Campaign at Loughborough University of Technology. Researchers are hopeful that these compounds, called azinomycins, will be valuable in treating some of the …
What if the nurturer herself turns into a polluter? Smoking and / or drinking mothers poison the foetus. Alcohol consumers expose the foetus to alcohol syndrome, which engenders congenital malformations and low birth weight in newborns. Smoking during pregnancy passes cancer-causing chemicals to their foetus' blood where these linger for …
Danish researchers have called for a national monitoring of lindane after traces of this chemical (banned in the country) were found in certain remote locations. An investigation by the Danish office for the Environment has established the fact that airborne lindane is being deposited in the southern and the western …
There is reason for hope for fair skin individuals worrying about UV radiations triggering sporadic basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Researchers at the Stanford University, Palo Alto and the University of California, both in the US have identified mutations in the patched gene as a …
