New Delhi, Nov 21 (ANI): Yoga is not only a healthy way of meditating and maintaining overall wellness but can also better an individual's sleep along with limiting their dependence on medicines for back pain and sleep disturbance. A new study has highlighted that Yoga and physical therapy (PT) are effective approaches to treating the aforementioned conditions while reducing the need for medication. Published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the research showed significant improvements in sleep quality lasting 52 weeks after 12 weeks of yoga classes or one-on-one PT, which suggests a long-term benefit of these non-pharmacologic approaches.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): Individuals exposed to the radiation emanating from a CT scan are at an elevated risk of developing thyroid cancer and leukemia, a new study says. Moreover, researchers concluded that patients receiving CT scans had in general marked increases in the risk of developing thyroid cancer and leukemia, especially in female patients and patients younger than 45. The study conducted from a National Health Insurance dataset in Taiwan between 2000 and 2013 has highlighted. Results showed that patients who developed thyroid cancer and leukemia had a significantly higher likelihood of having received CT scans. In studies that combined patients across age groups, exposure to medical CT scans was not associated with increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In older patients, the association between exposures to CT scans and non-Hodgkin lymphoma was not evident.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): As the researchers have discovered how the lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) progresses, they will now be able to provide a method to discover new treatment targets for the disease. In the study, researchers examined differentially affected regions in the lungs obtained from individuals with IPF and found that what looks like normal lung is already undergoing changes in specific genes. Fifty per cent of patients with IPF will die in three to five years following diagnosis, and the cause of IPF is unknown. The two FDA-approved drugs to treat IPF slow the progress of the disease, but do not reverse it.

New Delhi, Nov 18 (ANI): Running can reduce the probability of death from any cause, says a new study. If more people take up running and they don't have to run far or fast, there is likely to be substantial improvement in population health and longevity. It's not clear how good running is for staving off the risk of death from any cause and particularly from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

New Delhi, Nov 17 (ANI): A new research suggests that attaining menopause before the age of 40 is linked to several heart conditions in women. The study was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2019 in Philadelphia. During an average of seven years of follow-up, researchers found that women who had experienced premature menopause were significantly more likely to develop conventional heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high levels of "bad" cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

New Delhi, Nov 12 (ANI): People who experience cardiac arrests during weekends have fewer chances of survival, compared to those who undergo the same medical emergency over weekdays, claims a study. The preliminary research was presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2019 in Philadelphia.

New Delhi, Nov 09 (ANI): A new study conducted by Neuroscientists has identified a mechanism that may help build memories during deep sleep. This study centred on the role of the nucleus reuniens, an area that connects two other brain structures involved in creating memories - the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus -- and may coordinate their activity during slow-wave sleep. "Before this study, we did not know what was responsible for connecting the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus," added Hauer, who researched under the supervision of Clay Dickson, a professor in the Department of Psychology and Silvia Pagliardini, associate professor in the Department of Physiology.

New Delhi, Nov 06 (ANI): While some run to boost their stamina, others do it to maintain overall well-being. But now people have got yet another reason as it is found that running is linked to significantly lower the risk of death from any cause. The study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine stated if more people took up running--and they wouldn't have to run far or fast--there would likely be substantial improvements in population health and longevity. It's not clear how good running is staving off the risk of death from any cause and particularly from cardiovascular disease and cancer, researchers said. Nor is it clear how much running a person needs to do to reap these potential benefits, nor whether upping the frequency, duration, and pace--in other words, increasing the 'dose'-- might be even more advantageous. Researchers looked for studies on the association between running/jogging and the risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. They found 14 suitable studies, involving 232,149 people, whose health had been tracked for between 5.5 and 35 years. During this time, 25,951 of the study participants died. When the study data were pooled, any amount of running was associated with a 27 per cent lower risk of death from all causes for both sexes, compared with no running. And it was associated with a 30 per cent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and a 23 per cent lower risk of death from cancer. Even small 'doses'--for example, once weekly or less, lasting less than 50 minutes each time, and at a speed below 6 miles (8 km) an hour, still seemed to be associated with significant health/longevity benefits. This is an observational study, and as such, can't establish a cause.

New Delhi, Nov 05 (ANI): In a recent study it was found that the percentage of patients with serious mental illnesses ending up in hospital can be reduced by 40 per cent if they have a care plan. The study was published in the journal 'Health Services Research'. The study, which tracked 20,000 patients with a severe mental illness through the healthcare system, also found that seeing the same GP reduced the risk of unplanned hospital admission by around 25 per cent. The findings of the research revealed the importance of continuity of care at the GP's for improving health outcomes for patients with a severe mental illness, the authors of the study said. Severe mental illnesses affect between one and two per cent of the population and include conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. People with severe mental illness often experience several other physical health problems. Their life expectancy is around 20 years shorter than the general population.

New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): 'Hygiene is two-thirds of health' is a well-known proverb and when it comes to female hygiene it becomes a serious concern. Feminine hygiene products have no doubt become a must-have for several women today, but have you ever spared a thought if they are really true to their purpose? If not, here's the answer! Women's feminine hygiene practices particularly vaginal douching and use of feminine powder - may be associated with higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their blood, according to a new study published in the Journal of Women's Healthy. The study used biomarkers to link the use of feminine hygiene products to VOC exposure. Feminine hygiene products also included tampons, sanitary napkins, sprays, wipes, and other products. Moreover, researchers showed that black women used vaginal douching significantly more and had significantly higher whole blood concentrations of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB). The use of feminine powder was significantly associated with higher blood concentrations of ethylbenzene. These products may be a direct source of VOC exposure or they may be related to other activities that increase exposure. "Based on the findings of this study, feminine hygiene products that expose the vulvovaginal tissue to harmful VOCs should be avoidedh, especially during pregnancy," suggested Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health and Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA.

New Delhi, Oct 29 (ANI): A recent study has discovered that community-based health programs successfully improved the health of mothers and babies in India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. To assess the impact of community-based health interventions linked to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, an international team of researchers looked at eight essential maternal and newborn health indicators in rural Nigeria, Ethiopia, and India, representing more than 22 million people. Indicators included antenatal and postnatal care, births in health care facilities, hygienic umbilical cord care, breastfeeding initiation and more. The researchers found some improvements; for example, more women in Ethiopia and Uttar Pradesh, India had access to maternity care in 2015 than in 2012. In Gombe, Nigeria, socioeconomic issues as well as the Boko Haram threat prevented most women from receiving adequate care, although some positive family behaviour, such as hygienic cord care, showed marked improvement.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (ANI):: Risk of lung cancer can be reduced by consuming a diet which is high in fibre and yogurt, says a study. The benefits of a diet high in fibre and yogurt have already been established for cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal cancer. The new findings based on an analysis of data from studies involving 1.4 million adults in the United States, Europe, and Asia suggest this diet may also protect against lung cancer. Participants were divided into five groups, according to the amount of fibre and yogurt they consumed. Those with the highest yogurt and fibre consumption had a 33 per cent reduced lung cancer risk as compared to the group who did not consume yogurt and consumed the least amount of fibre. Shu said the health benefits may be rooted in their prebiotic (nondigestible food that promotes growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines) and probiotic properties. The properties may independently or synergistically modulate gut microbiota in a beneficial way. The study's lead authors are Jae Jeong Yang, PhD, a visiting research fellow from the Seoul National University, South Korea, and Danxia Yu, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt.

New Delhi, Oct 25 (ANI): A recent study suggests that consuming low salt diet and maintaining healthy blood vessels in the brain may keep away dementia. The new study builds upon research published last year in 'Nature Neuroscience' by Dr. Faraco and senior author Dr. Costantino Iadecola, director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute and the Anne Parrish Titzell Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine. The 2018 study found that a high-salt diet caused dementia in mice. The rodents became unable to complete daily living tasks such as building their nests and had problems passing memory tests. The research team determined that the high-salt diet was causing cells in the small intestine to release the molecule interleukin-17 (IL-17), which promotes inflammation as part of the body's immune response. IL-17 then entered the bloodstream and prevented the cells in the walls of blood vessels feeding the brain from producing nitric oxide. This compound works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow. Conversely, a shortage of nitric oxide can restrict blood flow. Based on these findings, Dr. Iadecola, Dr. Faraco and their colleagues theorised that salt likely caused dementia in mice because it contributed to restricted blood flow to the brain, essentially starving it. However, as they continued their research, they realised that the restricted blood flow in mice was not severe enough to prevent the brain from functioning properly. In their new - Nature - study, the investigators found that decreased nitric oxide production in blood vessels affects the stability of tau proteins in neurons. Tau provides structure for the scaffolding of neurons. This scaffolding, also called the cytoskeleton, helps to transport materials and nutrients across neurons to support their function and health. Once tau detaches from the cytoskeleton, the protein can accumulate in the brain, causing cognitive problems. The researchers determined that healthy levels of nitric oxide keep tau in check.

New Delhi, Oct 22 (ANI): A recent study has discovered that the human body starts getting resistant to antibiotics for treating harmful bacteria for a variety of stomach conditions, and the changes have more than doubled in 20 years. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive exposure to medications designed to kill or halt their growth. It is one of the greatest threats to global health today, causing more than 750,000 deaths every year and, without urgent action, this number is expected to rise dramatically in the future. The research was presented today at UEG Week Barcelona 2019. The study analysed 1,232 patients from 18 countries across Europe, investigated resistance to antibiotics regularly taken for 'helicobacter pylori' (H. pylori) infection, a harmful bacterium associated with gastric ulcer, lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Presenting the study, lead researcher Prof Francis Megraud explained: " 'H pylori infection is already a complex condition to treat, requiring a combination of medications. With resistance rates to commonly used antibiotics such as clarithromycin increasing at an alarming rate of nearly one per cent per year, treatment options for 'H pylori' will become progressively limited and ineffective if novel treatment strategies remain undeveloped." 'H pylori' is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans and is estimated to be present in one-half of the world's population. 'H pylori' leads to inflammation of the stomach lining, namely gastritis, which can result in peptic ulcers. Underlining the severity of the situation, in 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified clarithromycin-resistant 'H pylori' as a high priority bacterium for antibiotic research and development. The survey also found that the rates of primary clarithromycin resistance in 'H pylori' were highest in southern Italy (39.9 per cent), Croatia (34.6 per cent) and Greece (30 per cent), aligning with previous reports that predict that both Italy and Greece will have the highest number of deaths due to antimicrobial resistance amongst EU members by 20507. The high levels of resistance exhibited in these countries have been attributed to the overconsumption of antibiotics for conditions including cold and flu, and a lack of institutional support for antibiotic resistance containment strategies. "The findings of this study are certainly concerning, as 'H pylori' is the main cause of peptic disease and gastric cancer," commented Mario Dinis-Ribeiro, president of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. "The increasing resistance of 'H pylori' to a number of commonly-used antibiotics may jeopardise prevention strategies.

New Delhi, Oct 21 (ANI): Mothers who consumed snus, which is moist powdered smokeless tobacco that contains nicotine, during their pregnancy, their offsprings are likely to suffer from systolic blood pressure, says a recent study. Snus, when placed between gums and upper lip delivers high doses of nicotine yet, does not include the combustible by-products found in smoked tobacco. Unlike typical American chewing tobacco or dip, there is no need to spit when using snus. According to study, nicotine use during pregnancy, regardless of whether it is in snus, cigarettes, smoked tobacco or vaped tobacco products, is not safe and may have a negative impact on the future health of the child. The current study isolated nicotine exposure by studying women, who used only Swedish snus during pregnancy. Previous studies of women, who smoke during pregnancy, have consistently found adverse effects, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. In this study, the researchers measured blood pressure and heart rate among 21 children, five to six years of age, whose mothers used snus during pregnancy and 19 children of similar ages whose mothers used no tobacco products during pregnancy. They found that the systolic blood pressure of the children exposed to snus was 4.2 mmHg higher than the children with no nicotine exposu

New Delhi, Oct 20 (ANI): While trauma in itself can pose risk to a child's healthy development, overthinking on such events makes the kid more prone to suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), says a recent study.If they think their reaction to traumatic events is not normal, they become more likely to develop PTSD, the study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, has found. Children begin down this route when they have trouble processing their trauma and perceive their symptoms as being a sign that something is seriously wrong. While most children recover well after a traumatic event, some go on to develop PTSD that may stay with them for months, years, or even into adulthood. Researchers worked with over 200 children aged between eight and 17 who had attended a hospital emergency department following a one-off traumatic incident. These included events such as car crashes, assaults, dog attacks, and other medical emergencies.

New Delhi, Oct 16 (ANI): Exercise not only treats and prevents many forms of heart disease but is also highly beneficial for the people living with and beyond cancer, suggests a study. To spread the message, an initiative called Moving Through Cancer -- led by Kathryn Schmitz, professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, and an international team of health practitioners and researchers - has been initiated. According to the researchers, exercise is important for cancer prevention and can lower the risk of developing colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, bladder, esophagus and stomach cancers. Exercise during and after cancer treatment can help improve fatigue, anxiety, depression, physical function, and quality of life, and can also help improve survival after a breast, colon or prostate cancer diagnosis. Depending on the patient's activity levels and abilities, the researchers generally recommend 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise three times a week and 20 to 30 minutes of resistance exercise twice a week.

New Delhi, Oct 15 (ANI): Recently developed gene therapy seems to be a promising alternative for treating one of the most common causes of blindness, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), claims a study. Researchers said the hope is that gene therapy will free patients from nearly monthly eye injections by offering a potential "one-and-done" treatment. It's not just about convenience; a more consistent treatment may also help people keep more of their vision. AMD is a degenerative eye disease that happens when part of the retina is damaged. The damage happens when new, weak blood vessels form behind the retina at the back of the eye. These abnormal vessels leak, causing scarring and killing off the cells that allow us to see. One main reason why is that patients are undertreated. This is because most people with AMD must go to the ophthalmologist's office every four to eight weeks for an injection directly into their eye (oftentimes in both eyes). This can be a difficult schedule to maintain for many elderly patients struggling with other maladies and reliant on others to get them to their ophthalmologist visits. It's also unsustainable for the health care system.

New Delhi, Oct 14 (ANI): Study found that patients suffering from dry eye can be cured with a new eye drop made from human antibodies. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are the first to identify the presence of a specific type of antibody, called anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies, or ACPAs, in human tear fluid. They are also the first to demonstrate that patients with dry eye disease experienced reduced signs and symptoms of the condition in response to a new eye drop treatment -- made from human pooled antibodies -- that targets ACPAs. The findings from their early-stage clinical trial are reported in the journal -- The Ocular Surface. Dry eye disease is caused by abnormalities in the tear fluid and results in dry areas over the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye, which can lead to disabling eye pain and sensitivity to light in severe cases. It was discovered that strands of DNA extrude from neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to form webs on the surface of eyes affected by severe dry eye disease and cause inflammation. The new eye drops treat dry eye disease by knocking the immune system out of this cycle, at least partially. The drops are formulated using pooled antibodies -- which are made from immune globulins processed from the donated blood of thousands of individuals, all containing varied types of antibodies -- that counteract the negative effects of ACPAs.

New Delhi, Oct 13 (ANI): Men and women are different on various dimensions including benefiting from low-calorie diets, proves a study. In the study of more than 2,000 overweight individuals with pre-diabetes who followed a low-calorie diet for eight weeks, men lost significantly more bodyweight than women, and they had larger reductions in a metabolic syndrome score, a diabetes indicator, fat mass, and heart rate. Women had larger reductions in HDL-cholesterol, hip circumference, lean body mass (or fat-free mass), and pulse pressure than men. The findings have been published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): Mild anxiety and depression have been found in parents or caregivers surrounding children with atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. The researchers assessed the impact of an atopic dermatitis diagnosis on the families of 35 children aged 1-6. They evaluated 83 family members and caregivers and found that all respondents reported at least mild severity anxiety with some showing moderate severity anxiety. The study found that depression and anxiety scores were associated with the persistence and longevity of atopic dermatitis. Researchers did not find an association between scores and the severity of the disease, meaning that depression or anxiety was not observed to increase where atopic dermatitis was more severe. Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema causes the skin to become itchy, red dry and cracked. It is a chronic condition that most often occurs in people who have allergies and can develop alongside asthma and hayfever.

New Delhi, Oct 11 (ANI): While stress is at no time considered healthy, maternal stress during or even before pregnancy can affect the infant's brain development, found a new study. The study looked at the relationship between maternal stress and brain development in 251 premature kids. Researchers found evidence for the impaired development of a white matter tract, the uncinate fasciculus, in babies whose mothers experience more stress in the prenatal period. These findings were published in the Journal Biological Psychiatry. A score of severity of stress was calculated based on how many stressors they experienced as well as how severe those stressors were. This is what was related to the baby's brain. Researchers used a medical imaging technique called diffusion tensor imaging that was specifically developed to look at the structure of the white matter, which has previously been implicated in anxiety disorders. A mother's poor mental health may also lead to altered early behavior such as more frequent crying.

New Delhi, Oct 10 (ANI): A recent study found that diabetic patients, who regain weight, lose out on the initial benefits of reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to those who maintain their weight. Regaining weight previously lost is common and can deteriorate the initial benefits of lowered heart disease or stroke risks. Few studies have directly compared cardiometabolic risk between people who successfully lost weight and maintained the weight loss to those who regained weight, particularly among people with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers analysed data from nearly 1,600 participants with Type 2 diabetes in an intensive weight loss study who lost at least 3 per cent of their initial body weight. The researchers used data from the Look AHEAD study, which assessed a year-long intensive lifestyle intervention program to promote weight loss, compared to standard care for heart disease and stroke risk, among people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and who were overweight. The intensive lifestyle intervention program focused on achieving weight loss through healthy eating and increased physical activity, while standard care consisted of diabetes support and education.

New Delhi, Oct 07 (ANI): In a study to identify types of indoor air contaminants, researchers found that people and ventilation systems greatly impact the chemistry of indoor air at workplaces. A team of engineers at Purdue University has been conducting one of the largest studies of its kind in the office spaces of a building rigged with thousands of sensors. The goal is to identify all types of indoor air contaminants and recommend ways to control them through how a building is designed and operated. "If we want to provide better air quality for office workers to improve their productivity, it is important to first understand what's in the air and what factors influence the emissions and removal of pollutants," said Brandon Boor, an assistant professor of civil engineering with a courtesy appointment in environmental and ecological engineering. The data is showing that people and ventilation systems greatly impact the chemistry of indoor air -- possibly more than anything else in an office space. The researchers presented their initial findings at the American Association for Aerosol Research Conference in Portland, Oregon.

New Delhi, Oct 05 (ANI): We all know that low birth weight leads to various health issues at birth; however, a recent study has revealed that it is associated with cardiovascular risk as well in children. In the study published in the 'Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease', researcher Amna Umer explored how low birth weight correlates to cardiovascular risk factors in childhood.

New Delhi, Oct 04 (ANI): What can bolster the risk of cancer and early death in mid-aged adults with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke is less sleeping hours! Yes, it has been found that these adults are at a high risk of cancer and dying early if they sleep for less than six hours a day. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.