New Delhi, Jun 05 (ANI): Recently a study found that, Spironolactone is currently approved to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and conditions that cause people to retain fluid. It blocks the effects of male hormones like androgen which means that it's not an option to treat acne in men. However, those same anti-hormonal effects can help prevent acne outbreaks in women. Oral antibiotics are the most common systemic treatment for acne, and when combined with the large patient population, the result is that dermatologists prescribe the highest level of antibiotics per provider among all medical specialities.

New Delhi, Jun 04 (ANI): A blood test has offered hope of finding cancers before symptoms develop. The test that analyses free-floating DNA in blood may be able to detect early-stage lung cancer. The findings are from one of the first studies to explore whether sequencing blood-borne DNA is a feasible approach to early cancer detection. Early diagnosis is essential to improve survival rates for lung cancer. A blood test that could be done through a simple blood draw at the doctor's office could potentially have a major impact on survival. Tests that analyse cell-free DNA in blood, known as ‘liquid biopsies’, are already used to help choose targeted therapies for people already diagnosed with lung cancer.

New Delhi, Jun 03 (ANI): Many complain or boast about their insatiable appetite, science has found the reason. A USC study shows the brain's plumbing system serves double duty, flushing waste and channeling a hunger molecule that tells you when you should eat. The study shows that the brain regulates some processes by releasing and dispersing molecules, and in this case, a Neuropeptide, through cerebrospinal fluid. Drug developers are interested in creating pharmaceuticals that would target the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) system to control appetite, and thereby address obesity and other weight-related health problems. Cerebrospinal fluid has three chief assignments. First, its grueling eternal task is buoyancy, like the Greek Titan Atlas, supporting the brain. Second, it acts as a cushion after a blow to the head. Third, it is the brain's sewer system, clearing away metabolic waste. MCH stimulates appetite. It also can slow energy expenditure. Through a series of experiments with rats, the researchers stimulated release of the hunger peptide and then tracked it in the cerebrospinal fluid. Based on their findings, the researchers determined the peptide's release is likely influenced by circadian clock and a daily mealtime routine. The study has been published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

New Delhi, Jun 02 (ANI): According to a study, walking faster could make you live longer. The research, showed walking at an average pace was found to be associated with a 20% risk reduction for all-cause mortality compared with walking at a slow pace, while walking at a brisk or fast pace was associated with a risk reduction of 24%. The protective effects of walking pace were also found to be more pronounced in older age groups. Average pace walkers aged 60 years or over experienced a 46% reduction in risk of death from cardiovascular causes, and fast pace walkers a 53% reduction. The researchers sought to determine the associations between walking pace with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality. Increasing walking pace may be a straightforward way for people to improve heart health and risk for premature mortality, providing a simple message for public health campaigns to promote.

New Delhi, Jun 01 (ANI): A team of scientists has explored the reasons behind why glucose is fattening. According to the study, the researchers found and examined specialised compartments inside the cell to reveal the role of a molecule termed NAD+ in turning on genes that make fat cells. Glucose is the energy that fuels cells and the body likes to store glucose for later use. But too much glucose can contribute to obesity, and scientists have long wanted to understand what happens within a cell to tip the balance. A Google search for NAD+ revealed that the molecule is found in every cell of the body and that some scientists believe that boosting its production may be tied to better health and to the slowing down of the aging process. NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It's a molecule found inside cells in the body that helps transfer energy between molecules. NAD+ is believed to play important roles in longevity, aging, and diseases ranging from eurodegenerative disorders to cancer.

New Delhi, May 31 (ANI): Tobacco is one of the most common and preferred forms of addiction. Even though scientific evidences have revealed its harmful health effects, the use of tobacco in different forms has seen a dramatic increase, especially in the developing countries. This potentially lethal substance is responsible for more than 1 in 10 fatalities globally, with India featuring among the top four users of tobacco. About 11.2 percent smokers worldwide are Indian. Despite decades of research and strong initiatives for controlling diabetes carried out globally, the number of tobacco users in the world has not seen a declining trend. Besides cancer, the use of tobacco in any form is also a leading cause of Type-2 diabetes, the most common type of the disease as seen in adults. Research shows that smokers are 30 percent to 40 percent more likely to develop diabetes as compared to non-smokers. This risk doubled with the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day.

New Delhi, May 31 (ANI): According to the National Family Health Survey in India, 45% of men and 7% of women in the age group of 15-49 are tobacco users. Tobacco use has been linked with a wide spectrum of illnesses including cancer, lung disease, diabetes, eye disease and arthritis. Tobacco use is the second most significant cause of Cardiovascular Diseases after hypertension. Cigarette smoke contains at least 4000 chemicals, about 250 of which are definitely known to be toxic and 50 are known to cause cancer. The best way to save oneself from illnesses associated with this regressive habit, society needs to understand that smokers need help to quit. Graphic warnings on cigarette packets have helped smokers quit in countries as varied as Brazil, Canada, Singapore and Thailand.

New Delhi, May 30 (ANI): Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic (long-lasting) joint condition is the second most common rheumatologic problem and the most frequent joint disease with a prevalence of 22% to 39% in India. Clinical data indicates that more than 20% of osteoarthritis patients are in the age group of 45-50 years. It is important to note that patients below 50 years of age belong to the working population. Therefore, the condition has severe socio-economic implications. The World Health Organisation states that 80% of osteoarthritis patients have limitations in movement, and 25% are unable to perform routine activities. Dr. J Maheshwari, Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital said, “Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage-the cushioning surface in the joint, wears away. This leads to the bones rubbing against each other, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. A significant drop in physical activity and rise in obesity, the disease is catching up speedily with the working population.”Preliminary treatment options for knee arthritis include medication, dietary changes, maintaining a healthy body weight. Secondary treatment option is, patients should discuss Total Knee Replacement surgery.

New Delhi, May 29 (ANI): Turns out, most popular vitamin and mineral supplements provide no health benefit, contrary to popular belief. According to a study conducted by the St. Michael's Hospital, common vitamin and mineral supplements have no consistent benefit for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death or no harm. The systematic review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C - the most common supplements - showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular matters or early death. Generally, vitamin and mineral supplements are taken to add to nutrients that are found in food. The study found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause. His team reviewed supplement data that included A, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E; and ß-carotene; calcium; iron; zinc; magnesium; and selenium. The term 'multivitamin' in this review was used to describe supplements that include most vitamins and minerals, rather than a select few.

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): A study has claimed that a lifestyle counselling programme may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. A 5-year healthy lifestyle counselling programme for adult men was linked with a reduce risk of developing cancer related to overweight, diet and smoking over 25 years. So far, evidence for effects of lifestyle interventions on cancer have been limited, but study showed that advice for a heart-friendly lifestyle could prevent some cancers in the long term. The changes to a healthier diet and quitting smoking in adult life will reduce the risk of some lifestyle-related cancer forms, which are on the rise in the population.

New Delhi, May 23 (ANI): Early physical therapy can be beneficial for those experiencing lower-back pain, a study suggests. The study found that those who saw a physical therapist at the first point of care had an 89 percent lower probability of receiving an opioid prescription, a 28 percent lower probability of having advanced imaging services, and a 15 percent lower probability of an emergency department visit - but a 19 percent higher probability of hospitalisation. The authors noted that a higher probability of hospitalisation is not necessarily a bad outcome if physical therapists are appropriately referring patients to specialised care when low back pain is not resolved by addressing potential musculoskeletal causes first. These patients also had significantly lower out-of-pocket costs.

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): Improving heart health could prevent frailty in old age, finds a study. The study found that even small reductions in risk factors helped to reduce frailty, as well as dementia, chronic pain, and other disabling conditions of old age. Many perceive frailty to be an inevitable consequence of ageing but the study found that severe frailty was 85 percent less likely in those with near ideal cardiovascular risk factors. It also found that those with fewer heart disease risk factors were much less likely to have other conditions unrelated to the heart including chronic pain, incontinence, falls, fractures, and dementia. The study analysed data from more than 421,000 people aged 60-69. The researchers analysed six factors that could impact on heart health. They looked at uncontrolled high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, plus being overweight, doing little physical activity and being a current smoker.

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): According to a study, minimising exposure to common hormone-disrupting chemicals may help reduce obesity rates. Chemicals that interfere with how our bodies store and process fat are referred to as 'obesogens', and have been suggested as a possible contributor to the increasing number of obesity cases. Obesogens reprogram how our cells work in two main ways: they can promote fat accumulation through increasing the number and size of fat cells or by increasing appetite, or they can make it more difficult to lose fat by changing our ability to burn calories. Based on the findings of the review, the researchers suggest specific recommendations to reduce ‘obesogen’ exposure.

New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): According to a study, minimising exposure to common hormone-disrupting chemicals may help reduce obesity rates. Chemicals that interfere with how our bodies store and process fat are referred to as 'obesogens', and could be a possible contributor to the increasing number of obesity cases. Obesogens reprogram how our cells work in two main ways: they can promote fat accumulation through increasing the number and size of fat cells or by increasing appetite, or they can make it more difficult to lose fat by changing our ability to burn calories. Previous studies have identified these chemicals in many everyday products, such as pesticides, plastics, flame retardants, repellent coatings on kitchen utensils and clothes, and artificial sweeteners. This comprehensive analysis aims to highlight to health professionals, and the public, the main sources of obesogens, and includes specific recommendations on minimising exposure. The research was presented in Barcelona at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2018.

New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): Hypertension is ranked as the third biggest risk factor for heart disease in India. As per World Health Organisation (WHO), it is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths in the country. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" and can cause damage to the cardiovascular system and internal organs, such as the kidneys. Hypertension can cause significant damage to women during pregnancy. Obesity is another risk factor of hypertension. It is advisable to focus on the lifestyle risk factors of hypertension that you can change such as limit the amount of alcohol, quit smoking, exercise regularly, manage body weight, balanced diet.

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): Researchers have developed a new blood test which could rapidly detect signs of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is tough to cure because it is usually not discovered until it has reached an advanced stage. But a new diagnostic test developed by researchers promise to detect the disease at early stage. Blood test for early cancer detection is known as liquid biopsies. They have the potential to detect cancer early on without having to do invasive surgical procedures like tumor biopsies. The test can rapidly screen a drop of blood for biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. It can provide results in less than an hour. To screen for pancreatic cancer in the blood, researchers are developing new methods that involve collecting and analyzing nano-sized biological structures called exosomes. The test is simple, apply a drop of blood on a small electronic chip, turn the current on, wait for few minutes, add fluorescent labels and look at the results under a microscope. If a blood sample tests positive for pancreatic cancer, bright fluorescent circles will appear. This test could be used as a primary screening strategy to identify patients who would subsequently need to undergo more expensive and invasive diagnostic methods like a CT scan, MRI or endoscopy

New Delhi, May 16 (ANI): Turns out, an altered body odour can indicate a specific infection among humans. According to a study conducted by the Penn State, suddenly altered body odour indicates malaria even if the microscope doesn't. Typhoid Mary may have infected a hundred or more people, but asymptomatic carriers of malaria infect far more people every year. An international team of researchers was working toward a way to identify malaria patients including infected individuals who show no malaria symptoms and hence made the interesting discovery. People who have malaria but are not symptomatic abound in the heaviest areas of malaria infestation. Even blood tests do not necessarily pick up the infection with the Plasmodium parasite, especially at low parasite densities. DNA tests for the parasite usually show infection, but they are far from rapid. The researchers wanted to see if they could identify changes in human odours associated with malaria infection that might be useful for diagnosing infected individuals. They were particularly interested in identifying those who were infected but had no symptoms. Only if both microscopy and DNA studies were negative were subjects considered malaria-free. Infected patients for the initial studies were both microscopy and DNA positive for malaria. In some later analyses, the researchers included 77 people who were positive for malaria according to DNA but showed no parasites in the microscopic tests. These results far exceed any currently available rapid diagnostic tests.

New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Popping antibiotics on a regular basis can significantly increased the risk of kidney stone, according to a latest study. It is the first time that medicine intake has been linked to kidney stone. A study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia led by Gregory E.Tasian noted that there has been sharp increase in kidney stone cases by 70 percent over the past 30 years. The team analysed electronic health records from the United Kingdom, covering 13 million adults and children. They found that five classes of oral antibiotics were associated with a diagnosis of kidney stone disease. The risk was higher in children in comparison to adults. The finding suggested that antibiotic prescription practices accounts to modifiable risk factor in developing kidney stones.

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Diabetes is a chronic condition that causes an increase in blood sugar levels in the body. Among its various forms, gestational diabetes affects about three million women annually in India. It typically emerges between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, causing an increase in blood sugar levels. It can develop in women without any prior history of diabetes. While in most women, it disappears after the birth of the baby, in others, it can develop into Type 2 diabetes, in the absence of necessary precautions or lifestyle changes.

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): Healthy eating habit in women may help protect hearing in women, according to a new study. The research conducted by the Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patterns of healthy eating may lower risk of hearing loss by 30 percent. In the new study, researchers examined the relation between three different diets and risk of developing hearing loss: The Alternate Mediterranean diet (AMED), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) in 70,966 women who were followed for 22 years and found that eating a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of acquired hearing loss in women.

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): Obesity may worsen symptoms for patients with lupus, according to a study. In a recent Arthritis Care & Research study of 148 women with lupus, obesity was linked with worse disease activity, depressive symptoms, and symptoms of pain and fatigue. The association was consistent across different definitions of obesity. The study's findings highlight the need for lifestyle interventions in lupus patients who are overweight to help reduce health risks and the debilitating symptoms of the disease. The findings have been reported in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a new Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Kongo. However, a recent research suggests prophylactic mass vaccination programmes are not a realistic option in the battle to prevent the disease. Ebola virus outbreak control depends on surveillance and the isolation of cases, according to the study. It revealed that very high proportions of potentially affected populations would need to be protected by vaccination to establish herd immunity, i.e. the level of immunity that prevents virus transmission within a population. At this level, 80 percent of a population would need to be immunised to prevent outbreaks, even if a highly effective vaccine that protects 90 percent of individuals after vaccination was available. Such vaccination rates are currently unachievable. In a vaccination trial during the West African Ebola virus epidemic, only 49 percent of individuals who had been in contact with Ebola virus patients could be vaccinated. 34 percent of contacts refused vaccination although they had been exposed to the disease. There are currently no clinical vaccine candidates available that protect against all four human-pathogenic Ebola viruses. A large vaccination programme would also be costly and impractical, the study points out. Some 462 million people are living in the areas affected by Ebola virus outbreaks, many of them in very remote rural areas. The study pointed out that the clinical vaccine candidates will need to be focused on health care workers who are often involved in disease transmission, potentially in combination with the vaccination of patient contacts.

New Delhi, May 08 (ANI): Over one lakh thalassemia patients across the country die before they turn 20 due to lack of access to treatment. India is one of the worst thalassemia affected countries in the world with more than four crore carriers and over one lakh thalassaemia majors under blood transfusion every month. People suffering from thalassaemia, unknowingly, pass on this genetic disorder to their children. Every year more than 10,000 children with thalassaemia major are born in India. The inherited blood disorder destroys the red blood cells extensively, leading to anaemia. Children with mild thalassemia do not show any symptoms, and doctors may not diagnose it until a routine blood test reveals anaemia. Only on further investigation and testing for iron-deficiency, is when thalassemia is detected generally. The focus needs to be on early diagnosis, which gives the patient and family due time to contain the disease. Most thalassemia major patients require blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks, depending on their consumption of the infused cells. Regular transfusions provide patients with the red blood cells needed to survive. However, once these red blood cells are broken down, the body is left with an excess of iron.

New Delhi, May 07 (ANI): At-risk adolescents are less likely to exhibit depressive symptoms on social media as they age, finds a study. The research suggests that adolescents with depression may feel less denounced describing depressed mood on social media than previously hypothesized. Social media use can provide important information on the mental health of adolescents, including the descriptions of their experiences. The purpose of this study was to analyze the patterns of social media posting describing depressive symptoms among an at-risk cohort of adolescents at two time points.

New Delhi, May 06 (ANI): According to a new study, Cancer cells thrive in stiff tissue. According to the research conducted by the University of Notre Dame, stiffer breast tissue creates an environment more prone to cancer by enabling the disease to interfere with the surrounding healthy cells. While studying tumor growth metastasis, scientists fabricated a human tissue model in order to examine how cancer cells interact with connective tissue in the breast. The model allowed the team to control the stiffness of the tissue, mimicking both healthy and cancerous breast tissue structures. They found the manipulation of fat cells to be stiffness-dependent.

New Delhi, May 05 (ANI): Weight loss surgery can have far worse effects than initially thought. According to a study conducted by the Wiley, weight loss surgery can cause declines in bone mass and strength and it is linked to an increased risk of bone fractures. Skeletal changes after surgery appear early and continue even after weight loss plateaus and weight stabilizes. Nutritional factors, mechanical unloading, hormonal factors, and changes in body composition and bone marrow fat may contribute to poor bone health. The study appears in the journal JBMR Plus.