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Patients in critical cardiac care units are found to utilise illicit substances: Study

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

In patients in the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU), illicit substance usage is associated with a roughly nine-fold greater risk of mortality or life-threatening events.

At the ESC Congress 2022, the research was presented. Dr. Theo Pezel, the study’s author from the Hospital Lariboisiere in Paris, France, said: “Our research demonstrates that compared to non-users, patients with acute cardiovascular conditions who use illegal drugs are more likely to pass away, go into cardiac arrest, or experience cardiogenic shock while hospitalised. Compared to people who only take one medication, people who use many drugs have an 11-fold increased chance of having a bad in-hospital prognosis.”

2 In the EU, 83.4 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 (about 29%) have ever taken an illegal substance. 3 The most widely used drugs include marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA), amphetamines, and heroin or other opioids. Illegal drug use has been associated with acute cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and aortic dissections4,5, but it is unknown how common drug use is among ICCU patients and what the immediate effects are.

In a series of patients treated for acute cardiovascular events, the Addiction in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ADDICT-ICCU) research examined the incidence of illegal drug use and its correlation with in-hospital significant adverse events. All consecutive patients admitted to the ICCU in 39 facilities across France from April 7 to April 22 supplied a urine sample for testing for illicit medications.

The prevalence of using illicit drugs was the main result. The secondary outcome was in-hospital serious adverse events, which were defined as death, cardiogenic shock, or resuscitated cardiac arrest.

70 percent of the 1,499 patients who underwent screening were males. It was 63 years old on average. Myocardial infarction, abrupt heart failure, arrhythmias, myocarditis, and pulmonary embolism were among the causes for hospitalisation. A total of 161 patients (10.7%) had at least one illegal substance test come back positive. 9.1% of people tested positive for marijuana, 2.1% for opiates, 1.7% for cocaine, 0.7% for amphetamines, and 0.6% for MDMA, among other substances.

Patients who used illegal drugs tended to be young: just 6% of patients 60 years of age or more and 33% of patients under the age of 40 reported using illicit drugs. 12% of males and 8% of women reported using drugs. Every patient filled out a form that included a question about current drug usage. Only 56.5% of individuals with a positive urine drug test admitted to using drugs currently, whereas 43.5% insisted they did not.

61 patients (4.1%), who spent a median of five days in the hospital, experienced a significant adverse event. After comorbidities were taken into account, illicit drug use was linked to risks of major adverse outcomes that were nearly nine times higher (odds ratio [OR] 8.84? 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.68-16.7; p0.001).

Cannabis use was linked to a three-fold increased risk of major adverse events (OR=3.53? 95% CI 1.25-9.95; p=0.001), whereas cocaine use was linked to a five-fold increased risk (OR=5.12? 95% CI 1.48-17.2; p=0.004) after adjusting for age and sex.

28% of drug users used more than one kind of substance. A greater frequency of serious adverse events was linked to multiple drug use than to single drug use, with an odds ratio of 11.4 (95% CI 4.31-32.7; p0.001).

Also Read: Researchers develop novel posterior uveitis eye disease diagnostic technique

Illegal drug use was widespread yet underreported among ICCU patients, according to Dr. Pezel. With odds ratios of 28.8 and 12.8, respectively, users hospitalised for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and acute heart failure had disproportionately high probabilities of passing away, experiencing cardiac arrest, or experiencing cardiogenic shock.

Our findings imply that patients admitted to the ICCU should undergo drug testing in order to identify individuals who are more likely to experience negative outcomes.

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August 30, 2022 0 comment

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Study identifies brain area that underlies people’s selfless, altruistic behaviour

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Oxford have discovered a specific area of the brain that plays a role in making an attempt to help others. The study, which was published in the journal Current Biology, demonstrates that the effortful, altruistic behavior—the decisions individuals make to benefit others—occurs in a different portion of the brain than the decisions one makes to benefit oneself physically.

It could be possible for clinicians to create methods for treating psychopathic behaviours if they have a better understanding of what exactly occurs in the brain when these decisions are made.

Additionally, it could help to better understand why individuals are willing to engage in common, labor-intensive acts of kindness like volunteering, recycling rubbish to reduce global warming, or stopping to assist strangers. The detected region lies in the front of the brain and is known as the anterior cingulate cortex gyrus (ACCg). Although it is well recognised to influence social behaviour, it has not yet been connected to making an attempt to assist others. Interestingly, the researchers discovered that when people choose self-serving actions, the ACCg is not active.

We frequently have to determine if we can be bothered to make an attempt to assist others out, from holding wide a door to volunteering for a charity, but the brain mechanisms underlying these acts have remained mysterious, according to Dr. Patricia Lockwood, the paper’s lead author. We have come a step closer to understanding what motivates some people, but not others, to conduct actions that are frequently physically taxing in order to help others — even when doing so doesn’t immediately benefit them.

38 people between the ages of 18 and 35 participated in the study. Each participant was required to participate in a difficult decision-making exercise and complete a questionnaire to rate their level of empathy.

While having a functional MRI scan, the subjects made decisions. This highlights several brain regions that are active when people choose to “work” or “rest” to assist themselves or another person.

They had to squeeze a gadget that assessed their grip strength if they selected the job option. They had to keep doing this for long enough to cross a threshold that was displayed on the screen in real time.

They were informed whether they would be working for themselves or for another person for each choice. They had to exert enough pressure to cross the finish line and receive the reward, which was a variety of points that could be exchanged for cash, either for themselves or for the other nameless person they were playing for.

The researchers were able to find patterns in the brain that indicated how much effort people were willing to put in by using a novel statistical approach to analyse the data.

They discovered that the ACCg was the only part of the brain to exhibit the effort pattern when people made these choices to assist others, but it did not respond in any way when people chose to exert effort in order to reward themselves. It’s interesting to note that individuals who reported having a high level of empathy also had the highest effort patterns in ACCg. The researchers discovered that those who shown greater effort in the ACCg also contributed greater grip strength.

The study team’s next step will be to look at what happens to persons who exhibit effortful helpful behaviour after experiencing lesions in that region of the brain as a result of a stroke or another type of brain injury.

Also Read: Researchers develop novel posterior uveitis eye disease diagnostic technique

Additionally, they will study how antisocial behaviour affects a person’s ability to put forth effort in activities and their propensity to assist others.

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Researchers develop novel posterior uveitis eye disease diagnostic technique

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Five to ten percent of blindness globally is caused by the uncommon inflammatory eye disease uveitis. The need for immunosuppressive treatment and severe disease progression are commonly linked to posterior uveitis in particular. The underlying choroid, which supplies the retina with nutrition, as well as the retina itself become inflamed in posterior uveitis. Researchers at the University of Bonn’s Department of Ophthalmology looked at color-coded fundus autofluorescence as a potential novel diagnostic tool. The kind of uveitis may be identified by the retina’s fluorescence. This is a crucial prerequisite for accurate illness diagnosis and treatment.

Uveitis, a Common Eye Condition

Scientific Reports reported the results of the study. The uncommon condition posterior uveitis causes blurred vision, floaters, and odd light perception, but no discomfort in people who have it. “However, there might be dire repercussions: Uveitis accounts for five to ten percent of blindness globally. Uveitis is an uncommon condition, but posterior uveitis in particular may have a bad prognosis and frequently needs immunosuppressive treatment, according to Dr. Maximilian Wintergerst of the University of Bonn’s Ophthalmology Department.

The sickness manifests itself in many ways. The retina or choroid in the eye becomes inflamed in posterior uveitis. The choroid provides nutrition to the retina’s outer layers while the retina transforms the incoming light into nerve impulses.

The many subtypes of uveitis are difficult to identify from one another, according to Wintergerst. However, since various subtypes frequently require various therapy modalities, a precise diagnosis is even more crucial. To help with the diagnosis of posterior uveitis, researchers from the University of Bonn’s Department of Ophthalmology, along with peers from the University Hospital Bonn’s Medical Biometry and Rheumatology Departments and the University Hospital of Ophthalmology in Bern (Switzerland), have looked into a new imaging technique.

Color-coded fundus autofluorescence was assessed by the team (Spectrally Resolved Autofluorescence Imaging). The newly created apparatus for the tests was given to the researchers by the CenterVue (iCare) firm of Padua (Italy). The retina is illuminated during this procedure using blue light.

The retina reflects light at a different wavelength after it has been absorbed by it. The instrument divides the signals into a green and a red component before measuring the fluorescence.

According to Wintergerst, “the particular posterior uveitis subtype implicated determines, among other parameters, the green-to-red ratio of the light emitted from each inflammatory centre.” 45 study participants had their eyes tested by the researchers. Prior to treatment, the precise subtype of uveitis was identified in each case. This comprised the results of laboratory tests, radiologic and serologic examinations, and occasionally genetic and multidisciplinary clinical evaluations.

Greater diagnostic accuracy using color-coded fundus autofluorescence

About 800 inflammatory foci in the patients’ eyes were examined by the researchers using the green-red ratio in the fundus fluorescence. According to Prof. Dr. Dr. Robert Finger, co-author of the study and director of the uveitis clinic at the University Hospital Bonn’s Department of Ophthalmology, “our results show that this ratio can be very characteristic and useful as a marker for differentiating the various posterior uveitis subtypes.”

It could enable us to make diagnoses with greater assurance in the future. This is a significant step for the University of Bonn’s Ophthalmology Department, especially as Finger collaborates with colleagues to oversee the country’s national uveitis registry, TOFU (Treatment exit options for non-infectious uveitis, www.tofu-uveitis-register.de).

Also Read: Children with Down syndrome like crunchy, fatty meals and detest sticky ones: Study

Long-term illness progression documentation and therapy suggestion development are the objectives.

According to department director Prof. Dr. Frank Holz, “In the current work, we offer the precise technological foundation of color-coded fundus autofluorescence in ophthalmology in partnership with our international colleagues.” In addition to more accurate diagnosis, this technique may in the future provide improved monitoring of posterior uveitis.

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August 30, 2022 0 comment

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Children with Down syndrome like crunchy, fatty meals and detest sticky ones: Study

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Children with Down syndrome like greasy, crispy meals and detest brittle or sticky foods, according to a research. These decisions might, however, lead to a less healthful diet.

The Journal of Texture Studies reported the outcome. According to Carolyn Ross, a professor at the School of Food Science at Washington State University, “Children with Down syndrome especially like delicacies like Pirate’s Booty and puffed corn.” “These foods don’t have a lot of nutrients, but they dissolve easily, which is a great benefit for the kids. Making nutrient-dense meals with those qualities is now the difficult part.”

The study investigated the preferred and disliked food textures of children with Down syndrome and compared these preferences to those of ordinarily developing kids.

Around 5,100 kids in the United States are born each year with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder brought on by a complete or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. Impairments in eating and swallowing are frequent and a major indicator of higher mortality in those people.

Children with Down syndrome don’t eat as much as kids who are usually developing, but no one has looked into whether food textures play a role in this. According to Ross, this research may assist doctors, parents, and other caregivers in deciding what foods their children will consume while, ideally, encouraging food producers to design their goods to meet the particular demands of this demographic.

Ross remarked that there was a significant study gap in this area. “You can go down a rabbit hole of knowledge online and find a lot of anecdotal anecdotes. However, research like these helps lessen choking incidents by letting parents and medical professionals know what these kids are most likely to consume. If we can give those items some nutritious value, that will truly benefit a lot of people.”

Children with Down Syndrome

People with Down syndrome frequently choke because they may not chew their food well or “pack” it, overfilling their mouths and cheeks without swallowing.

More so than typically developing children, children with Down syndrome experience a number of health complications, such as difficulties eating and swallowing, as well as sensitivity to certain food textures. Ross aims to make it easier for kids with Down syndrome to consume more wholesome foods and get used to novel textures.

We want to educate people on the preferred food textures for children with Down syndrome and how to transition them from pureed foods to more nutrient-dense, texturally complex foods, according to Ross.

218 kids between the ages of 11 and 18 in 30 states received boxes containing 16 commercially available types of food thanks to Ross and her team. 111 of those boxes went to kids with Down syndrome, while the remaining ones went to a control group of kids who are usually developing.

To make sure that flavour wasn’t the basis for a texture preference, the boxes contained four items in each of four distinct texture groups. Before sending the boxes, the study team asked parents which flavours they didn’t enjoy so that such goods wouldn’t be included. To ensure that enjoyment wasn’t the result of novelty, all of the study participants consumed one of each item each day for a week.

The parents afterwards sent the recordings of their kids interacting with and consuming each food item to the research team.

Also Read: Heart Attack can be treated by help of Artificial Intelligence: Study

The largest home-use test with children with Down syndrome that we are aware of, according to Ross, “we coded a lot of data.” Additionally, research revealed a significant distinction in texture preferences between kids with and without Down syndrome.

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August 30, 2022 0 comment

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Heart Attack can be treated by help of Artificial Intelligence: Study

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

One of the leading causes of death globally is heart disease, with women dying from it at a higher rate than males. Cardiologists have been worried about this for a long time, and it has spurred discussion about the causes and effects of potential therapy gaps in the medical community.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

The problem starts with the symptoms: unlike men, who usually suffer chest pain extending to the left arm, a heart attack in women frequently manifests as nausea and vomiting or abdominal discomfort radiating to the back. Unfortunately, patients and healthcare professionals commonly misinterpret these symptoms, which has terrible consequences. The publication The Lancet reported the study’s findings.

In women, the clinical presentation and risk profile are distinct.

The connection between biological sex and heart attacks has now been thoroughly studied by an international research team under the direction of Thomas F. Luscher, professor at the Center for Molecular Cardiology at the University of Zurich (UZH). “Indeed, the illness phenotype seen in males and females differs noticeably. Our study demonstrates that the risk factor profile of men and women upon hospital admission differs considerably “Declares Luscher Female heart attack patients had greater fatality rates than male heart attack patients when age disparities at admission and preexisting risk factors like hypertension and diabetes are taken into account. The cardiologist continues, “However, when these variations are statistically considered, women and men have similar mortality.”

Current risk models encourage the undertreatment of patients who are female.

Researchers from Switzerland and the United Kingdom examined information from 420,781 individuals who experienced the most typical type of heart attack across Europe. The study, according to first author Florian A. Wenzl of the Center for Molecular Medicine at UZH, “shows that established risk models which guide current patient care are less accurate in females and encourage the undertreatment of female patients.” Wenzl adds, “We were able to construct a unique artificial intelligence-based risk score that accounts for sex-related variations in the baseline risk profile and improves the prediction of mortality in both sexes using a machine learning algorithm and the biggest datasets in Europe.

Also Read: Triple-negative breast cancer: Nitric oxide “scavengers” are being used by researchers

AI-based risk profiling enhances personalised healthcare

Big Data analytics and artificial intelligence, in the opinion of many researchers and biotech firms, are the next step toward individualised patient care. Wenzl declares that “our work signals the dawn of artificial intelligence in the management of heart attacks.” The key to tailored therapy is the ability of contemporary computer algorithms to learn from vast data sets and produce precise predictions about the prognosis of specific patients.

Artificial intelligence has enormous promise for the treatment of cardiac disease in both male and female patients, according to Thomas F. Luscher and his team. The use of this new score in treatment algorithms, according to Luscher, “would hopefully increase the survival of patients with heart attacks—both male and female—by improving existing treatment techniques and reducing sex disparities.”

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August 30, 2022 0 comment

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Triple-negative breast cancer: Nitric oxide “scavengers” are being used by researchers

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

Researchers are looking into a potential new therapeutic approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer. Amir Abdo Alsharabasy, a CRAM doctorate candidate, is creating nitric oxide scavengers in Professor Abhay Pandit’s lab as part of a unique treatment approach for this aggressive form of breast cancer.

Triple-negative invasive breast cancer is resistant to hormone therapy and other HER2 protein-targeting therapies. Triple-negative breast cancer is typically more aggressive, more difficult to treat, and more likely to recur when compared to cancers that are hormone receptor-positive or HER2-positive.

“Nitric oxide, one of the primary free radicals created by tumour tissue, plays a crucial role in the evolution of breast cancer by stimulating the spread of cancer cells to other areas of the body at specific concentrations. As a potential novel treatment approach for triple-negative breast cancer, our goal is to develop injectable hydrogel formulations that can reduce or “scavenge” nitric oxide levels while enhancing carbon monoxide generation.

By stimulating the spread of cancer cells to other body parts at specific quantities, nitric oxide, one of the primary free radicals generated by tumour tissue, contributes significantly to the development of breast cancer.

Our objective is to produce injectable hydrogel formulations that can decrease or “scavenge” nitric oxide levels while increasing carbon monoxide generation, potentially leading to the development of a novel treatment strategy for triple-negative breast cancer.

HA “plays many roles in tumour tissues,” according to Amir. But there hasn’t been much study on how it works with nitric oxide. The study, which was just published in Biomacromolecules, tries to understand how these interactions work as well as how different effects on nitric oxide levels and breast cancer cell migration are affected.

Under the supervision of Prof. Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of CRAM, the study was co-authored by Dr. Pau Farras from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences in the Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway and Dr. Sharon Glynn from the Lambe Institute for Translational Research.

The study investigated the nitric oxide-scavenging abilities of HA. Nitric oxide cannot drive cancer cells into a tumour environment because, as the researchers discovered, it is transformed to particular nitrogen-centered free radicals when it interacts with the HA.

These results highlight the prospect of employing modified HA as a critical element in numerous biological applications and further our knowledge of how HA contributes in nitric oxide-induced cell migration.

Also Read: Study suggests that betamethasone may benefit prostate cancer radiation treatment

We are focusing on NO itself in an effort to avoid the side effects/reactions of these inhibitors, Professor Abhay Pandit said in response to the study. Recent developments in research regarding the roles of nitric oxide with tumour progression ultimately led to a number of ongoing clinical trials for evaluating the effects of NO-synthase inhibitors.

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Antiviral drug tecovirimat effective in treatment of monkeypox symptoms, find researchers

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

According to a UC Davis Health research, using the antiviral tecovirimat to treat monkeypox skin lesions and symptoms appears to be both safe and effective. The study is one of the first to test and describe the effects of utilising this antiviral medication to treat monkeypox patients. Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is an antiviral medication licenced by the FDA for the treatment of smallpox.

It limits viral spread within the body by interfering with the action of the protein involved in the release of the encased virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have approved the compassionate use of tecovirimat to treat adults and children with orthopoxvirus infections, including monkeypox. In a study letter published in the journal JAMA, infectious disease experts from UC Davis gave information on 25 monkeypox patients who underwent tecovirimat treatment.

“On the use of tecovirimat for monkeypox infection, we have a minimal amount of clinical information. There is still a lot to learn about the disease’s typical course and how tecovirimat and other antivirals might impact it,” Angel Desai, the lead author, said. She specializes in infectious diseases of adults at UC Davis Health.

As of August 22, 2022, there had been about 45,500 cases of monkeypox worldwide. According to a recent research, 13% of patients required hospitalisation, despite the fact that symptoms usually resolve on their own in 2-4 weeks.

Patients referred to UC Davis Medical Center, mostly by the Sacramento County Department of Public Health, were included in the new research between June 3 and August 13, 2022.

Oral tecovirimat was given to individuals who had skin lesions on several body parts or in sensitive areas such as the face or genital region. A high-fat meal should be eaten within 30 minutes of the weight-based therapy, and it should be repeated every 8 or 12 hours.

Clinical data were collected by in-person or telephone interviews at the first in-person evaluation for treatment, as well as on days 7 and 21 after the commencement of therapy.

The tecovirimat therapeutic regimen was completed by 25 individuals with a confirmed monkeypox infection. They were all gentlemen. They ranged in age from 27 to 76. (the median age was 40). HIV was discovered in 9 individuals.

After symptoms occurred, four patients received a dose of JYNNEOS immunisation, but only one patient received the smallpox vaccine (taken more than 25 years ago).

Symptoms in patients with monkeypox, MPX

According to the study, 92% of patients had lesions in their anal or genital regions. All patients had painful lesions, but only about half of them had fewer than 10 spots all over their bodies.

Prior to beginning their antiviral therapy, the patients had symptoms or lesions on average for 12 days. The majority of the patients (76%) had a fever, which was followed by fatigue (32%), a sore throat (20%), and chills (20%). Other symptoms included backache (12%), muscle pain (8%), nausea (4%), and diarrhoea (4%).

All of the patients finished the tecovirimat therapy and responded favourably to the medication. With the exception of one patient, they all received treatment for two weeks.

40% of patients had recovered from their lesions by day 7 of treatment. 92% had recovered and experienced no pain by day 21.

On day seven of therapy, the most common side effects were fatigue (28%), headache (20%), nausea (16%), itching (8%), and diarrhoea (8%).

“We must be extremely cautious when interpreting the data. It can be challenging to distinguish between side effects brought on by therapy and those brought on by an infection “said co-author and expert on infectious diseases George Thompson.

Thompson teaches at the UC Davis School of Medicine in the areas of internal medicine, infectious diseases, medical microbiology and immunology.

Also Read: Children with Down syndrome like crunchy, fatty meals and detest sticky ones: Study

The research was tiny and there was no control group. As a result, determining antiviral efficacy in terms of symptom duration and severity was challenging. The time between the development of symptoms and the initiation of antiviral medication differed amongst individuals.

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August 30, 2022 0 comment

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UNGA prez lauds ‘world pharmacy’ India for helping distant nations during COVID pandemic

by Medically Speaking August 30, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

UNGA President Abdulla Shahid described India as the world’s pharmacy on Monday, saying that New Delhi has reached not just neighbouring nations, but also Latin America and the Pacific, and has demonstrated its human face of compassion.

Foreign Minister of Maldives visit to India

In an interview with ANI, Shahid, the Foreign Minister of Maldives, who is on a visit to India, said, “India is the world’s pharmacist and has reached out to several countries. I have found that India has reached not only the neighboring countries but also as far as Latin America and the Pacific. India has really shown its human face of compassion.” Moreover, while speaking on the menace of terrorism, he highlighted that “when it comes to terrorism, we have to agree that it has no religion, no creed, and it is pure evil. The world should be able to unite against this.”

Calling out for reforms in UN governance, Shahid on Monday said that the Security Council must reflect the reality of geopolitics of the current world order.

“The IG and the inter-governmental negotiating process for the security council reform have been going on for 14 years. Time and time again I have during this one year, called on the member states to hasten this process because the security council has to be reflective of the current geopolitics of the world, it cannot be a thing of the past because it that happens the credibility of the organ itself will continue to fail.”

This statement is in resonance with India’s call for UN reforms.

At a UNSC briefing on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and Cooperation”, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj noted, “The most urgent thing therefore for us to do is to make the Security Council more representative of developing countries, so as to reflect current geopolitical realities.”

While praising UNGA President and Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid’s energetic leadership, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Sunday that his visit to India will strengthen India’s multifaceted ties with the Maldives.

On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra met with Shahid and discussed furthering India’s relations with the Maldives.

Secretary Kwatra complimented the UNGA President on his ‘Presidency of Hope’ and for his visionary leadership during the UNGA’s 76th session. Notably, the UNGA president introduced the President of the General Assembly’s (PGA) Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Youth Empowerment Fellowship – the PGA’s Fellowship for HOPE – in November.

The Fellowship hopes to benefit eight young diplomats throughout the course of the 76th session, thanks to the generous assistance of Member States.

Shahid, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday, held a productive visit, meeting and interacted with members of the UN Country Team, to enhance the India-UN relationship.

The UN Country team hosted the UNGA president at the UN House in New Delhi. “Inspiring exchange on his 5 Rays of Hope for unity through turbulence, overcoming Covid and empowering women & youth. Underlined India’s leadership role at all levels for Sustainable Development Goals,” Kwatra said.

Last year, in his address to the opening of the 76th General Debate, Shahid talked about his five rays of hope.

“Vaccinating the world is my top focus. We simply must close the gap on vaccine access,” he said of his first hope.

Also Read: Children with Down syndrome like crunchy, fatty meals and detest sticky ones: Study

The second is long-term recovery from the epidemic. Third, he stated that he will handle climate change. The fourth aim for his administration is tied to gender problems, while the fifth is focused on advancing women’s rights and roles internationally.

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5 Amazing benefits of morning meditation by a yoga expert

by Medically Speaking August 16, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

The practise of meditation aids in bringing your body and mind into harmony. A person can be more productive thanks to the mental clarity, tranquilly, and focus that meditation provides. According to Yoga Guru, Naturotherapist, and Founder of Yoga Sanjivani & Boonwellness Dr. Surender Choudhary, you should get the greatest benefits if you meditate
in the morning.

1. Lessens tension

The stillness we experience while meditation frees us from all stressors and keeps us connected to a profound inner serenity. Morning meditation helps to bring about the serenity and quiet required to reduce stress. Open-air morning meditation encourages physical, mental, and psychological wellness.

2. Increases immunity

There are numerous positive advantages of yoga and meditation on both physical and mental health. In addition to nutrition, our mental health also affects our immunity. When our mental health is strong, our physical health also improves. When you breathe in the fresh morning air while practising meditation, it helps to boost your immune system. The health advantages of breathing exercises after meditation are doubled.

3. Good for peaceful sleep

A healthy mind and body depend on getting enough sleep. Your ability to function at work and in your personal life may suffer if you don't get enough sleep at night.

You may get better sleep if you meditate in the morning. Your heart rate is under control and your stress levels are reduced when you meditate. Meditation in savasana (Yognidra) is particularly beneficial for getting better rest. Additionally, you can do this right before bed to aid in a restful night's sleep.

4. Increases productivity

Working professionals may find benefits from morning meditation. You must begin morning meditation if you feel less productive. Meditation eases daily tension and anxiety while assisting with present-moment attention. Working professionals benefit from increased awareness and self-assurance from meditation.

Additionally, you can meditate when you’re feeling anxious or exhausted. This would aid in lowering stress levels and improving focus.

5. Beneficial for reducing anxiety

Your personal and social life may be impacted by anxiety. However, mindfulness meditation may be your greatest option for treating stress and anxiety because of the unique ways that various meditation techniques affect the brain. One of the best methods for assisting people in managing their anxiety is meditation.

Whenever you get anxiety, take some time to meditate. Additionally, practising breathing
techniques significantly reduces anxiety.

In all, morning meditation is a fantastic approach to enhance general wellness. You feel more
relaxed, energised, and focused as a result. As a result, morning meditation increases
productivity.

August 16, 2022 0 comment

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Multiple shots of the BCG vaccine protect type 1 diabetic patients from COVID-19, study finds

by Medically Speaking August 16, 2022

written by Medically Speaking

A recent study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers showed the effectiveness of repeated doses of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine in protecting against COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients with type 1 diabetes conducted at the start of the pandemic (before COVID-specific vaccines were available), the researchers found that 12.5% of placebo-treated individuals and 1% of BCG-treated individuals met criteria for confirmed COVID-19, yielding a vaccine effectiveness of 92%.

The BCG-vaccinated group also displayed protective effects against other infectious diseases, including fewer symptoms, lesser severity and fewer infectious disease events per patient. No BCG-related systemic adverse events occurred.

BCG’s broad-based infection protection suggests that, in addition to COVID-19, may potentially provide protection against new SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogens.

The researchers are hoping the results will spur a larger scale study of the effects of the BCG vaccine in patients with type 1 diabetes, considered among the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19.

The BCG vaccine is an avirulent tuberculosis strain Mycobacterium bovis historically given to protect against tuberculosis and, since its introduction in 1921, has been the most widely administered vaccine in the history of medicine.

Considered to be extremely safe, BCG is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines and is given to roughly 100 million children per year globally. BCG is also one of the most affordable medicines, costing less than a dollar a dose in many parts of the world.

“Multiple studies have shown that adults with type 1 diabetes who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness.

We found that three doses of BCG administered prior to the start of the pandemic prevented infection and limited severe symptoms from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Unlike the antigen-specific vaccines currently in use to prevent COVID-19, BCG’s mechanism of action is not limited to a specific virus or infection,” says Denise Faustman, MD, PhD, director of the Immunobiology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The participants in the COVID trial had previously enrolled in a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of the BCG vaccine for type 1 diabetes. Participants in the test group had received multiple vaccinations prior to the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.

“This data set is unique and exciting because the patients were all vaccinated with multiple doses of BCG prior to the onset of the epidemic. Prior to the trial they had no known exposure to tuberculosis or prior BCG vaccination. This eliminates the major confounding factors that have limited other trials.

The results support the idea that BCG needs time to have a clinical effect, but its effects may then be very lasting and durable” says Hazel Dockrell, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, an infectious diseases expert who was not officially involved in the study.

The 144 adult type diabetics (96 BGC treated and 48 placebo) analyzed in the COVID-19 trial were part of an ongoing Phase IIb clinical trial testing BCG as a treatment for adults with established type 1 diabetes. Patients were followed for COVID-19 related outcomes for 15 months.

Outcomes for the COVID-19 trial included: COVID-19 infection rate, COVID-19 related symptoms, reduction overall infections disease and SARS-CoV-2 antibody-level presence and intensity. The type 1 diabetes outcomes were not unblinded as part of this study and will be unblinded at the completion of the trial in 2023.

Source: Massachusetts General Hospital

August 16, 2022 0 comment

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