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 …
According to this WHO report 28 million people die each year from Non-communicable diseases in developing countries, mainly from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes Current global mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remains unacceptably high and is increasing. Thirty-eight million people die each year from NCDs, mainly from …
Genetic testing can help prevent breast cancer. The test is yet to gain popularity in India. Dr Devinder Singh Sandhu, oncologist and haematologist, attended a conference at the US recently. He said: “If you have a family history or have had high-risk benign breast disease in the past, talk to …
The prevalence of class III obesity (body mass index [BMI]≥40 kg/m2) has increased dramatically in several countries and currently affects 6% of adults in the US, with uncertain impact on the risks of illness and death. Using data from a large pooled study, we evaluated the risk of death, overall …
Smoking increases the risk of many diseases, and it is also linked to blood DNA methylation changes that may be important in disease etiology. The objective of the study was to identify novel CpG sites associated with cigarette smoking.
BAREILLY: A recent survey by the Jal Nigam has found high levels of arsenic in ground water in 19 villages in Bareilly district. The survey was conducted after over 25 cancer-related deaths were reported from Bahrauli village in Meerganj tehsil in five years. A team of health department officials will …
HYDERABAD: A dip in river Ganga can possibly cause cancer. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that cleaning Ganga was his top priority but more needs to be done than expected. The Department of Atomic Energy's National Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials (NCCM) in Hyderabad has tested water …
The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant NK603 genetically modified (GM) maize (from 11% in the diet), cultivated with or without Roundup application and Roundup alone (from 0.1 ppb of the full pesticide containing glyphosate and adjuvants) in drinking water, were evaluated for 2 years in rats. This study constitutes a …
Xiong Demin could not have foreseen that the mine he worked at for 32 years would leave his home village poisoned and hundreds of residents, including himself and his wife, stricken with cancer. The 71-year-old retired mechanic and his wife, Wen Jin'e, both suffer from cancer, which they blame on …
UV light is an established carcinogen, yet evidence suggests that UV-seeking behavior has addictive features. Following UV exposure, epidermal keratinocytes synthesize proopiomelanocortin (POMC) that is processed to melanocyte-stimulating hormone, inducing tanning. We show that, in rodents, another POMC-derived peptide, β-endorphin, is coordinately synthesized in skin, elevating plasma levels after low-dose …
About 900 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed by the Cervical Biopsies Department at the PGIMER in the past three years. This was disclosed by Prof Arvind Rajwanshi, Head, Department of Cytology, today. While interacting with the media, he revealed that these cases were diagnosed between 2011 and 2013 …
While the last several decades have witnessed tremendous advances in cure rates for childhood cancer, these improvements have not translated to low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), where the majority of children reside. In this article, we outline why pediatric cancer should now be considered a global child health priority, describe the need …
While the banned polythene is still merrily finding its way into the district and ending up in heaps of garbage, clogging drains or littering forest floors, polystyrene, commonly called thermocol, has started adding to the woes of environmentalists. Polystyrene, which is another cheap petrochemical, is a synthetic polymer made from …
A financial assistance of Rs 2.22 crore has been provided to 215 cancer patients under the Chief Minister's Cancer Relief Fund in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The money has been transferred to the account of the institutions where these patients are getting treatment. Deputy Commissioner Arun Sekhri said this while presiding …
PUNE: Dental defects, worms, night blindness, skin and eye ailments were among the commonest health problems found in schoolchildren, according to findings of the state's economic survey for 2013-14. State health officials examined 113.68 lakh students from 84,115 schools in the state in 2013-14. Of 13.80 lakh children who needed …
Diabetes and cancer are common diseases that are increasing rapidly in prevalence worldwide. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has projected that the number of people with diabetes in the world will increase from 382 million in 2013 to 592 million by 2035, with 80% of cases occurring in low-income and …
Hyderabad: The deteriorating quality of air due to rising pollution is a major cause for respiratory illness and cardiovascular diseases, said experts on World Environment Day which will be observed on June 5. While the World Health Organisation has severely criticised the levels of pollution in Indian cities, doctors say …
Industrial facilities continue to dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into America’s rivers, streams, lakes and ocean waters each year – threatening both the environment and human health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toxic discharges from industrial facilities are responsible for polluting more than 17,000 miles …
Findings show cancer is an important problem in refugee settings and highlight the challenges and costs that health systems face when overwhelmed by massive influxes of refugees A study published in the Lancet Oncology journal reveals a high demand for costly cancer treatment among refugees from the recent conflicts in …
With the UT administration approving the proposal to set up automatic air quality monitoring system, it will soon be possible to check air pollution levels in real time. The decision to set up the automatic system, which will also function as a weather station, was taken at a meeting of …
Soon an exact headcount of cancer cases in Punjab since 2012 will be out. The Punjab cancer atlas project, which started in June 2011, will be submitted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in July. The report is being drafted in the state from 2012. A few more …
