Health

As winter begins, experts are witnessing a concerning trend which is a significant increase in kidney stone cases among adults aged 25-55 This seasonal spike in kidney stone formation has raised alarms within the medical fraternity and underscores the need for increased awareness and preventive measures such as prompt hydration and timely intervention. A kidney function test regularly is recommended for patients to know about the functioning of their kidneys. The winter season not only sees an increase in joint issues, respiratory illnesses, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and skin conditions but can also contribute to the formation of kidney stones. This can be attributed to reduced water intake in winter months coupled with a physiological increase in calcium levels during the winter m...

While oat, almond, and soy milk have emerged as popular alternatives to cow’s milk, a new study showed it may be lacking in proteins and essential amino acids. Over the last decade, these plant-based beverages have also seen remarkable growth in the global market due to their environmentally-friendly approach. But extensive processing is causing chemical reactions that cut down the protein quality and, in some cases, produce cancer-causing compounds, claimed researchers from the University of Copenhagen. Lead author Professor Marianne Nissen Lund, from the varsity’s Department of Food Science said that plant-based drinks cannot “replace cow’s milk” in terms of “proper nutrition”. In the study, the team examined 10 different plant-based drinks and compared them with cow’s milk to underst...

A diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3 fatty acids, combined with fish oil supplements, can significantly reduce the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men with early-stage disease, claims a study. The research by the University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences offers new evidence that changes in diet can play a crucial role in slowing down the growth of cancer cells in patients who are undergoing regular monitoring of cancer but have not yet begun medical intervention. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, “suggest that something as simple as adjusting your diet could potentially slow cancer growth," said Dr. William Aronson, Professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The dietary changes may help “extend the time befor...

Love to binge on ultra-processed food (UPFs) like chips, biscuits, sausages, burgers, soft drinks, and instant noodles? Beware, these can make you age faster biologically, warned a study.  A person`s biological age is a relatively new way of measuring a person`s health. It refers to how old a person seems based on various molecular biomarkers. A person with a healthy lifestyle may have a biological age younger than their chronological age, while poor lifestyle choices, such as a diet high in UPFs, can accelerate biological ageing, said researchers from Monash University in Australia The study, published in the journal Age and Aging, involved 16,055 participants from the US aged 20-79 and showed that for every 10 per cent increase in UPF consumption, the gap between biological and chrono...

In a rare medical case of 49 year old Manpreet Kaur, who suffered from Granulosa cell tumor in her ovary successfully underwent surgery to remove her 9.2 kg tumour, lasting over 10 hours and losing over 1.5 litres of blood. According to Dr MD Ray Department of Oncology Surgery, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS Delhi, "This kind of complicated recurrent cancer patient should not be considered inoperable unless it is explored by an experienced cancer surgeon with an expert Onco anaesthetic team in a high volume centre." "But with the patience and expertise it was done ultimately. Total blood loss was 1.5l and duration of surgery - 10 hours. Weight of the tumor is 9.2kg , the patient doing fine and her overall survival would be increased." Dr Ray explained On possible treatment and ...

Influenza or flu virus can remain infectious in refrigerated raw milk for up to five days, scientists have warned.  The new Stanford University study comes at a time when outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cattle have raised concerns about the potential for a new pandemic. “This work highlights the potential risk of avian influenza transmission through consumption of raw milk and the importance of milk pasteurisation," said study senior author Alexandria Boehm from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and the Stanford School of Engineering.  Proponents of raw milk claim that it leaves more beneficial nutrients, enzymes, and probiotics than in pasteurised milk, and can boost immune and gastrointestinal health. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tied raw milk to over 200 ou...

Mumbai doctors have successfully treated a 34-year-old woman, Seema Ravikanth Patil, for a rare and complex heart condition known as Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SOVA). The patient, diagnosed with multiple congenital aneurysms, underwent a meticulously planned surgical procedure that has given her a new lease on life. It was done by the team of experts at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre was led by Dr Pavan Kumar, a renowned cardiovascular surgeon, along with cardiologist Dr Nitin Gokhale and cardiac anaesthesiologist Dr Namrata Kothari. Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SOVA) is an exceptionally rare condition, characterised by the abnormal expansion of the aortic root due to weak elastic tissue. Aneurysms of the Sinus of Valsalva are observed in approximately 0.09 per cent of the general ...

The early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, incidence rates among adults aged 25-49 are rising across the globe, but India shows the lowest rate among 50 countries, according to a new study.  The research, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology, showed early-onset CRC are rising in 27 of 50 countries/territories worldwide. Of these 20 have seen a faster rise in early-onset. In 14 other countries, including the US, rates are increasing in young adults while stabilising in those 50 years and older. India, on the other hand, has shown the lowest incidence rate both in terms of early onset and among older adults. “The increase in early-onset colorectal cancer is a global phenomenon,” said lead author Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist, of cancer survei...

Every 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air increase in annual exposure to fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is associated with an 8.6 per cent increased risk for mortality across India, finds a study on Thursday.  The study, published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, revealed that long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution concentrations higher than the 5 micrograms per cubic meter annual average recommended by the WHO is potentially associated with 1.5 million deaths a year in India. The findings showed that the 1.4 billion people in India live in areas with PM2.5 concentrations above that recommended by the WHO guidelines. "High levels of annual PM2.5 exposures are observed in India causing a huge mortality burden (not limited to cities that are highlighted during the extreme poll...

Developing antidepressant medications that target cells in the gut may open a novel path towards effective treatment of mood disorders like depression and anxiety, finds a study. Targeting gut cells may open new ways to reduce depression and anxiety.  These gut-targeting medications may also lead to fewer cognitive, gastrointestinal, and behavioral side effects for patients and their children than current treatments. “Antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft that raise serotonin levels are important first-line treatments and help many patients but can sometimes cause side effects that patients can’t tolerate,” said Mark Ansorge, Associate Professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University Vagelos. Ansorge noted that the study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, suggests tha...