Health

In an effort to address increasing deaths from liver cancer in Southeast Asia, which are projected to double by 2050 to over 200,000 deaths annually, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday called on the countries in the region to urgently scale up efforts to provide universal access to prevention, vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment of viral hepatitis B and C. Liver cancer is currently the fourth biggest cause of cancer deaths in the region, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths among men. Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO Southeast Asia, said on World Hepatitis Day that we have the knowledge and tools to prevent, diagnose and treat viral hepatitis, yet people with chronic hepatitis B and C are still waiting to access the services they need. “We need to accelera...

In a highly challenging and life-changing medical feat, a team of doctors successfully corrected severe scoliosis in a 14-year-old boy from Manipur.   The boy had been living with scoliosis -- a condition characterised by an abnormal curvature of the spine. In a challenging five-hour procedure, surgeons successfully removed a hemivertebra, a half-formed vertebra in the spine. This intricate surgery required precise correction to align the spine properly while carefully protecting the surrounding nerves. Several major hospitals had considered the operation too risky, citing the high potential for paralysis. The surgical team`s expertise was crucial in navigating the complexities of the spine and ensuring a safe outcome for the patient. "This surgery was particularly challenging due to th...

India is witnessing a significant increase in the incidence of head and neck cancers, with projections estimating 2.1 million new cancer cases by 2040, healthcare experts said on Saturday. On the World Head and Neck Cancer Day, experts said this alarming trend underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors and the implementation of effective public health strategies. A recent study by Delhi-based NGO, Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, highlighted that at least 26 per cent of cancer patients in India have head and neck cancer. "India is seeing a surge in head and neck cancer cases, especially among young men, due to increased tobacco consumption and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Around 80-90 per cent of oral cancer patients have been found to use tobacco in s...

Bengaluru doctors successfully treated a 32-year-old woman with a rare autoimmune disease amid her pregnancy.  Autoimmune disorders like Factor 13 acquired deficiency can complicate pregnancies, as antibodies generated by the mother may affect foetal development, particularly the heart. Factor 13 deficiency is exceedingly rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 2-3 million individuals, and requires specialised care. The patient, Shradha (name changed), faced multiple fertility challenges due to the autoimmune disorders, including ANA (antinuclear antibody), APL (antiphospholipid antibody), and NK cell deficiency. Despite undergoing multiple treatments like IUI and IVF, she experienced three consecutive miscarriages. It was during her second miscarriage, that Shradha was diagnosed with t...

health experts hint at a growing concern regarding liver disease among youngsters between the age group of 23-35 years old. Various conditions such as alcohol-related liver disease, fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis are causing liver damage. This has led to higher mortality and morbidity rates in the youth. Timely screening and management of these fatal liver conditions are key to improving the outcome and saving the lives of youngsters battling liver disease. The liver is a vital organ that is responsible for various functions in the body. This includes functions like detoxification, nutrient processing, regulating hormones, repairing damaged tissues, functions of the immune system, and storing essential nutrients and chemicals. Currently, there’s been a significant rise in experienc...

A team of doctors in Kerala performed a five-hour heart transplant operation, giving a new lease of life to a 13-year-old girl suffering from severe cardiomyopathy -- a disease of the heart muscle.   The procedure was carried out at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Paediatric heart transplants are rare due to the limited availability of donor hearts and high costs, making such treatment inaccessible to many. The young patient had been on a ventilator for two months, confined to the ICU. The breakthrough came when the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) allocated a donor heart to SCTIMST. The organ came from a 47-year-old school teache...

The conventional wisdom that a daily glass of wine is beneficial for health is based on years of flawed scientific research, revealed a study on Thursday. "There is simply no completely `safe` level of drinking," said lead researcher Tim Stockwell from the University of Victoria in Canada. The study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, debunks the previous studies, which stated that moderate drinkers live longer and have lower risks of heart disease than abstainers. The main issue is that these studies often include older adults without accounting for their lifetime drinking habits, Consequently, moderate drinkers are compared to "abstainer" groups, which may include individuals who quit drinking due to health issues, making the moderate drinkers appear healthier ...

Mumbaikar Kapil Gala is a relieved man after the successful completion of a complex aortic valve replacement surgery earlier this month. Gala, a 39-year-old had achondroplasia, was treated Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre by a team of doctors who came together to address only the third such case in the world, according to the city hospital.  Born with achondroplasia, commonly referred to as dwarfism, Gala had multiple leg deformities and underwent eight surgeries on his feet to enable independent walking. Employed in the financial industry and managing a family independently, he faced a sudden onset of paraplegia a year ago, threatening his mobility and independence. The Mumbaikar was then admitted under the care of spine surgeons Dr Raghvendra Ramdasi and Dr Manish Kothari, Dr. Nih...

The Union Budget 2024 was announced earlier today and saw quite a few advancements that will shape the future of India. While experts dissect the many different areas that will see a significant impact, its impact on healthcare is promising, especially for cancer treatment, believe healthcare experts.  With a boost to healthcare, India`s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced that three cancer medicines Trastuzumab deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab have been fully exempted from custom duty for cancer patients. Further, there will also be changes in basic customs duty on X-Ray tubes and flat panel detectors for domestic X-ray machines`s production.  With such important changes, mid-day.com spoke to India`s healthcare experts to get their reactions. Reny Varghese, CAO, Zynova...

The shape of a person`s kneecap may indicate their risk of developing osteoarthritis - a common and debilitating joint disease, suggested a study.  Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) in Australia focussed on potential differences in kneecap shape between men and women, given that women with knee osteoarthritis often experience more severe symptoms. The team made use of CT scans to analyse the kneecaps of healthy individuals and patients awaiting knee replacement surgery. They employed advanced image analysis techniques to create 3D models of the kneecaps and measured the surfaces’ shapes. While the study “did not find distinct differences in kneecap shapes between sexes, it revealed that individuals with osteoarthritis exhibited more pronounced variations in knee...