The health ministry will submit a Plan of Action on genetic blood disorders including sickle cell disease to the Planning Commission for incorporating it as part for the control programme for non-communicable diseases under the 12th Five Year Plan.
A core working group of experts, constituted by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), has formulated guidelines for preparing an Action Plan for the States to implement a programme for prevention and control of sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and haemophilia, sources said.
The action plan will be based on the findings of an extensive research held by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on thalassemia. A multi-centric research on “community control of thalassemia” was completed by ICMR in six states -- Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
National Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai, has also carried out research on thalassemia in the last few years. The Institute has also played an important role in imparting training to other centres in molecular diagnosis of thalassemia.
According to the studies, India has a high percentage of people suffering from genetic disorders that cause severe anaemia, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh stand top among the States in this regard.
Of the samples from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh examined for the study, 34 per cent were found to have sickle cell anaemia. Maharashtra is third with 33 per cent of its population suffering from sickle cell anaemia while Bihar and Tamil Nadu are at the fourth position with 31 per cent of its people suffering from the genetic blood disorder, according the studies.
India has the highest number of sickle gene carriers in the world, accounting for 50 per cent of the total population in the category in the world. Most of tribal belt in India being an endemic area for malaria, the people living in tribal area are affected by sickle cell anaemia, according to the Health Ministry. The action plan was prepared in the light of these studies
Source:Pharmabiz
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Ayurveda: ‘Copper for health’ mantra creates new business opportunities
Copper, one of the most valuable metal in the industrial sector for making industrial and telecom cables is also gaining prominent place in medicine and in skin care.
Centuries old Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda has already attributed several medicinal uses for Copper chiefly based on its anti-bacterial properties. Storing water for three hours in copper vessels, for instance, is known to kill harmful bacteria and prevent certain diseases such as skin inflammation and piles, as well as spleen, respiratory, and gynecological disorders.
The metal is also known for its anti-aging properties as it stimulates collagen production. Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins, which is the main component of connective tissue.
The commodity has also been used by many skin care brands as the main ingredient. Copper, along with iron, helps in the formation of red blood cells. It also helps in keeping the blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones healthy.
Many researches and studies have been started by pharmaceutical companies and medical institutes exploring the possibilities of copper.
One of such studies includes the skin repairing. According to Dr. Loren Pickart, a biochemist, who was doing researches on Copper has discovered skin remodeling copper peptides which are integral to the cycle of skin renewal.
Keeping in view the importance of the metal in medicine as well as in skin care, ShalinIndia, an online shopping store, has launched today a unique pitcher and glass set, made entirely in pure copper.
“According to Ayurveda or the knowledge of long life, drinking water from copper tumblers is also known to prevent premature aging. To the delight of the modern cosmetics industry, copper has been found to stimulate collagen production, and some of the most well known brands in skin care have since integrated copper into skin creams for treating wrinkles”, said Shalini Verma, founder of ShalinIndia .
It can see that in near future the value of copper is to go up rocket high as the demand for skin care medicines are raising.
Centuries old Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda has already attributed several medicinal uses for Copper chiefly based on its anti-bacterial properties. Storing water for three hours in copper vessels, for instance, is known to kill harmful bacteria and prevent certain diseases such as skin inflammation and piles, as well as spleen, respiratory, and gynecological disorders.
The metal is also known for its anti-aging properties as it stimulates collagen production. Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins, which is the main component of connective tissue.
The commodity has also been used by many skin care brands as the main ingredient. Copper, along with iron, helps in the formation of red blood cells. It also helps in keeping the blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones healthy.
Many researches and studies have been started by pharmaceutical companies and medical institutes exploring the possibilities of copper.
One of such studies includes the skin repairing. According to Dr. Loren Pickart, a biochemist, who was doing researches on Copper has discovered skin remodeling copper peptides which are integral to the cycle of skin renewal.
Keeping in view the importance of the metal in medicine as well as in skin care, ShalinIndia, an online shopping store, has launched today a unique pitcher and glass set, made entirely in pure copper.
“According to Ayurveda or the knowledge of long life, drinking water from copper tumblers is also known to prevent premature aging. To the delight of the modern cosmetics industry, copper has been found to stimulate collagen production, and some of the most well known brands in skin care have since integrated copper into skin creams for treating wrinkles”, said Shalini Verma, founder of ShalinIndia .
It can see that in near future the value of copper is to go up rocket high as the demand for skin care medicines are raising.
''India has to play a leading role in Renaissance in Ayurveda''
India has to play a leading role in the global phenomenon of Renaissance in Ayurveda, giving emphasis on systematic 'observational therapeutics' and creating a number of physician scientists, Vice-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Prof Bhushan Patwardhan said here today. "To get itself positioned well globally and lead the world in Renaissance in Ayurveda, India has to focus on training physician doctors in integrated basic research, community medicine and also family medicine," Patwardhan said while delivering the 20th Prof P K Devi Endowment Oration organised by Kasturba Health Society, along with ICMR Advance Centre for Reverse Pharmacology. "Ayurveda is indeed a future of health and medicine and India has to play a crucial and leadership role," he said. "It is heartening to note there has been increasing in citation of research papers in Ayurveda since 1990. But during the last five years, the trend is phenomenal growth including Indian contributions," Patwardhan said. "Although the citation of research papers in Traditional Chinese Medicine seems to be much more, it is time that Indian scientists, working on various forms of Ayurveda with modern knowledge, to come together and adopt a strategy to improve the scientific research citings globally," he said. Stating the importance of observational therapeutics, Patwardhan said that India needs to emphasise on robust documentation, systematic case records, report study/series, use of right statistics and evidence of safety and use.
Source:PTI
Source:PTI
Ayurveda expert calls for free medical education
It was way back in 1977, noted Ayurveda exponent that P R Krishna Kumar conceived a unique 7½ year course to shape ayurvedic doctors based on the ancient gurukula pattern. Affiliated first to Madras University and later to Bharathiar University, the course was tailored in such a way that students resided with their masters in a green, calm environment. The curriculum included spiritual practices and traditional martial arts apart from old ayurvedic manuscripts.
The course succeeded in creating a unique breed of Ayurveda scholars, now known in academic circles as the Coimbatore experiment. It was provided free of cost, despite being a financial burden on the Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Phramacy, where he was the managing trustee. Over 100 students completed the course before it was wound up in the 1980s due to the interventions of national bodies of Ayurveda and higher education.
"They wanted to cut short the duration of the course to five years, to be taught in classrooms by teachers getting UGC salaries. They forgot that it was a free course. Finally, I wound up the gurukula institution and started a self-financing ayurveda college as permitted by the authorities. It is a huge success economically, collecting capitation fees and other monies from students. But it fails to churn out socially responsible doctors," says Krishnakumar, one of the world renowned residents of Coimbatore, talking to TOI on the occasion of his 60{+t} {+h} birthday.
"The old Gurukula had moulded some of the best ayurveda doctors in the country, who made a substantial contribution to the treatment of many diseases," said Krishnakumar, whose continued efforts over the last four decades has put Coimbatore on the world map of alternative medicines.
The ayurvedic expert was recently honoured with Padmasree by the union government. He is instrumental in growing Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, which began in a small rented room at Trichy Road in Ramanathapuram in 1943, into a force to reckon with as it currently produces 400 therapeutic medicines. The company has three hospitals, one medicine manufacturing plant, 50 branches and over 1000 retail outlets.
Thanks to Krishnakumar's efforts, the pharmacy initiated clinical research in rheumatoid arthritis with the support of WHO and ICMR. It was the first clinical research on traditional medicines. Krishnakumar earns more good will in the countryside where he regularly conducts free ayurvedic camps targeting the rural poor. His clients include many leading politicians, corporate heads, film stars and diplomats. "Both Arjun Singh and Ashok Singhal were my patients and the regulars here include Vaiko, Mohanlal, Vikram and singer Yesudas,'' says Krishnakumar.
Former union minister Arun Shouri, space scientist K Kasturirangan and Indian Knowledge Systems Centre director A V Balasubrahmniam are among those who will attend the birth day celebrations organised on September 21, 22 and 23.
Source:TNN
The course succeeded in creating a unique breed of Ayurveda scholars, now known in academic circles as the Coimbatore experiment. It was provided free of cost, despite being a financial burden on the Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Phramacy, where he was the managing trustee. Over 100 students completed the course before it was wound up in the 1980s due to the interventions of national bodies of Ayurveda and higher education.
"They wanted to cut short the duration of the course to five years, to be taught in classrooms by teachers getting UGC salaries. They forgot that it was a free course. Finally, I wound up the gurukula institution and started a self-financing ayurveda college as permitted by the authorities. It is a huge success economically, collecting capitation fees and other monies from students. But it fails to churn out socially responsible doctors," says Krishnakumar, one of the world renowned residents of Coimbatore, talking to TOI on the occasion of his 60{+t} {+h} birthday.
"The old Gurukula had moulded some of the best ayurveda doctors in the country, who made a substantial contribution to the treatment of many diseases," said Krishnakumar, whose continued efforts over the last four decades has put Coimbatore on the world map of alternative medicines.
The ayurvedic expert was recently honoured with Padmasree by the union government. He is instrumental in growing Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, which began in a small rented room at Trichy Road in Ramanathapuram in 1943, into a force to reckon with as it currently produces 400 therapeutic medicines. The company has three hospitals, one medicine manufacturing plant, 50 branches and over 1000 retail outlets.
Thanks to Krishnakumar's efforts, the pharmacy initiated clinical research in rheumatoid arthritis with the support of WHO and ICMR. It was the first clinical research on traditional medicines. Krishnakumar earns more good will in the countryside where he regularly conducts free ayurvedic camps targeting the rural poor. His clients include many leading politicians, corporate heads, film stars and diplomats. "Both Arjun Singh and Ashok Singhal were my patients and the regulars here include Vaiko, Mohanlal, Vikram and singer Yesudas,'' says Krishnakumar.
Former union minister Arun Shouri, space scientist K Kasturirangan and Indian Knowledge Systems Centre director A V Balasubrahmniam are among those who will attend the birth day celebrations organised on September 21, 22 and 23.
Source:TNN
Artificial Human Blood from Woolly Mammoths
The blood of woolly mammoths is helping scientists to develop new artificial blood products for humans. This finding may be useful in hypothermia induced during heart and brain surgeries.
Chien Ho and colleagues note that woolly mammoth, which migrated to the cold regions of Eurasia 1.2 - 2 million years ago, adapted to their new environment by growing thick, 'woolly' fur and smaller ears, which helped conserve heat, and by changing their DNA.
As Ho and his mates didn't have a woolly mammoth blood sample, they made hemoglobin protein in the laboratory by using fragmented DNA sequences from three mammoths that died in Siberia between 25,000 and 43,000 years ago.
After the research they found that the woolly mammoth protein was much less sensitive to temperature changes, which means it can still easily unload oxygen to tissues that need it in the cold, while other hemoglobins can't.
The findings are published in ACS' journal Biochemistry.
Source-ANI
Chien Ho and colleagues note that woolly mammoth, which migrated to the cold regions of Eurasia 1.2 - 2 million years ago, adapted to their new environment by growing thick, 'woolly' fur and smaller ears, which helped conserve heat, and by changing their DNA.
As Ho and his mates didn't have a woolly mammoth blood sample, they made hemoglobin protein in the laboratory by using fragmented DNA sequences from three mammoths that died in Siberia between 25,000 and 43,000 years ago.
After the research they found that the woolly mammoth protein was much less sensitive to temperature changes, which means it can still easily unload oxygen to tissues that need it in the cold, while other hemoglobins can't.
The findings are published in ACS' journal Biochemistry.
Source-ANI
Study Finds Why It is Hard to Control Anger at Times
For the study, healthy volunteers' serotonin levels were altered by manipulating their diet.The researchers then scanned the volunteers' brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as they viewed faces with angry, sad, and neutral expressions.
The research revealed that low brain serotonin made communications between specific brain regions of the emotional limbic system of the brain (a structure called the amygdala) and the frontal lobes weaker compared to those present under normal levels of serotonin.
The findings suggest that when serotonin levels are low, it may be more difficult for the prefrontal cortex to control emotional responses to anger that are generated within the amygdala.
Using a personality questionnaire, they also determined which individuals have a natural tendency to behave aggressively.
In these individuals, the communications between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex was even weaker following serotonin depletion.
As a result, those individuals who might be predisposed to aggression were the most sensitive to changes in serotonin depletion.
The study was recently published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Source-ANI
Can Seaweeds Reduce Blood Pressure?
Seaweeds are a part of traditional Japanese food. Animal studies have found that intake of seaweeds or an extract of seaweeds lowers blood pressure. Its relevance in adults has however not been established due to inconsistent results from various conducted studies.
Researchers in Japan conducted a study to assess the benefits of a diet of seaweeds on blood pressure in children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. This age group was selected keeping in mind that early control of blood pressure through diet could reduce the incidence of hypertension in adulthood.
Baseline blood pressure was recorded before the study. Height and weight were either recorded or the details were obtained from parents, and body mass index was calculated. Information regarding the child’s lifestyle and health status was obtained from the parents. Physical activity was recorded based on an outdoor playtime checklist.
Food intake of the children was recorded by the parents for 3 days covering 2 consecutive weekdays and 1 weekend day.
Blood pressure was measured once in the midmorning.
Depending on the quantity of sea weed consumed, the children were divided into three groups – low, middle or high intake.
The study, which was completed in 417 children, found that boys with middle and high intake of seaweed had lower diastolic blood pressures as compared to those with low seaweed intake. Systolic blood pressure and pulse was not associated with seaweed intake in boys.
In the case of girls, those with high seaweed intake had significantly lower systolic blood pressures than those with low seaweed intake. The diastolic blood pressure of girls with low seaweed intake was also higher than those of middle and high intake of seaweed.
Intake of salt, other diet or lifestyle factors like sleep and physical activity, did not affect the apparent effect of seaweed on blood pressure.
The study thus indicates that seaweeds could influence blood pressure in children. However, it does have some shortcomings. The dietary record was maintained for a very small duration. Blood pressure was measured only once following the baseline measurement. Studies carried out for longer durations could provide a clearer picture regarding the benefit of seaweeds on blood pressure.
It appears to be very early to decide, based on this study alone, whether seaweed intake in children could affect blood pressure in later adulthood. Further studies are required to establish this beneficial effect of seaweeds.
Reference:
1. Wada K, Nakamura K, Tamai Y, Tsuji M, Sahashi Y, Watanabe K, Ohtsuchi S, Yamamoto K, Ando K, Nagata C. Seaweed intake and blood pressure levels in healthy pre-school Japanese children. Nutr J. 2011 Aug 10;10:83.
Source-Medindia
Researchers in Japan conducted a study to assess the benefits of a diet of seaweeds on blood pressure in children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. This age group was selected keeping in mind that early control of blood pressure through diet could reduce the incidence of hypertension in adulthood.
Baseline blood pressure was recorded before the study. Height and weight were either recorded or the details were obtained from parents, and body mass index was calculated. Information regarding the child’s lifestyle and health status was obtained from the parents. Physical activity was recorded based on an outdoor playtime checklist.
Food intake of the children was recorded by the parents for 3 days covering 2 consecutive weekdays and 1 weekend day.
Blood pressure was measured once in the midmorning.
Depending on the quantity of sea weed consumed, the children were divided into three groups – low, middle or high intake.
The study, which was completed in 417 children, found that boys with middle and high intake of seaweed had lower diastolic blood pressures as compared to those with low seaweed intake. Systolic blood pressure and pulse was not associated with seaweed intake in boys.
In the case of girls, those with high seaweed intake had significantly lower systolic blood pressures than those with low seaweed intake. The diastolic blood pressure of girls with low seaweed intake was also higher than those of middle and high intake of seaweed.
Intake of salt, other diet or lifestyle factors like sleep and physical activity, did not affect the apparent effect of seaweed on blood pressure.
The study thus indicates that seaweeds could influence blood pressure in children. However, it does have some shortcomings. The dietary record was maintained for a very small duration. Blood pressure was measured only once following the baseline measurement. Studies carried out for longer durations could provide a clearer picture regarding the benefit of seaweeds on blood pressure.
It appears to be very early to decide, based on this study alone, whether seaweed intake in children could affect blood pressure in later adulthood. Further studies are required to establish this beneficial effect of seaweeds.
Reference:
1. Wada K, Nakamura K, Tamai Y, Tsuji M, Sahashi Y, Watanabe K, Ohtsuchi S, Yamamoto K, Ando K, Nagata C. Seaweed intake and blood pressure levels in healthy pre-school Japanese children. Nutr J. 2011 Aug 10;10:83.
Source-Medindia
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