Medical Research

Don't expect human life expectancy to grow much more, shows research

Humanity is hitting the upper limit of life expectancy, according to a new study. Advances in medical technology and genetic research not to mention larger numbers of people making it to age 100 are not not translating into marked jumps in lifespan overall, according to researchers who found shrinking longevity increases in countries with the longest-living populations. We have to recognise there's a limit and perhaps reassess assumptions about when people should retire and how much money they'll need to live out their lives, said S. Jay Olshansky, a University of Illinois-Chicago researcher who was lead author of the study published Monday by the journal Nature Aging. Mark Hayward, a University of Texas researcher not involved in the study, called it a valuable addition to the mortality literature. "We are reaching a plateau" in life expectancy, he agreed. It's always possible some breakthrough could push survival to greater heights, but we don't have that now, Hayward said. Wh

ICMR to conduct first Chintan Shivir for sickle cell disease research

New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is scheduled to organise the first brainstorming session on sickle cell disease research for two days.The top scientists and medical experts all over the country will participate in the Chintan Shivir to be held from September 5 to September 6, 2024.According to the sources, the purpose behind organising the brainstorming session is to identify the research, diagnosis and affordable treatment for sickle cell disease."We want to identify the research properties that can be taken up in sickle cell disease and existing scenarios with respect to the screening , the diagnosis, treatment, preventive measuresand awareness," said sources.During two days, panel discussion will have six different sessions, like patient perspectives understanding the patients living with SCD and their needs, strategic open brainstorming, screening methods & strategies, antenatal and newborn screening point of care tests, ..

Engrail Therapeutics closes oversubscribed $157 million Series B financing

Funding from the Series B round will propel the advancement of the company's pipeline through multiple stages of clinical development

Make India leading power in medical research, health care: President

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday asked the health care fraternity to work towards making India a leading power in medical research and ensure facilities are so affordable that people from across the world can come to the country to avail them. She was the chief guest at the inauguration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. Hailing GMCH for the services it had rendered in the past 75 years, the President said affordable medical facilities were necessary for the overall development of any society. The COVID pandemic made everyone realise the importance of a strong health care system, she said. "It was the hard work of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals which ensured India could vaccinate such a huge population speedily against the disease," she said. Pointing out that lack of doctors was a big obstacle in providing universal health care, the President said the country had recently seen a good increase in

Pig kidney in a human body? This experiment is working fine a month later

This marks the longest a pig kidney has survived and functioned in a person, although a deceased one

Medical education in India going through golden era: Union Minister Baghel

Medical education in India is going through its golden era, Union Minister of State for Health S P Baghel said Thursday, asserting that doctors trained here are highly valued globally and one will find an Indian doctor in every part of the world. Addressing the 42nd Foundation Day of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), he said healthcare workers have played a major role in enhancing the perception of India as a global powerhouse. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, delivering the keynote address at the event, said in the last two years 25 courses have been introduced. "This growth serves to provide greater opportunities for medical students and India is able to garner the best health services and expert doctors, serving to fulfil the nation's requirements leading to a healthier society and healthier nation," he said. Reiterating that the medical sector plays a paramount role in the country's development, Mandaviya urged students to commit to ...

IIT Madras launches Department of Medical Sciences and Technology

The course offers an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for designing life-saving medical devices, drug discovery, artificial intelligence in medicine, and fundamental medical research

Budget focus on medical research, aims to eliminate sickle cell anaemia

Facilities of state-run ICMR labs will be made available for private sector research, says Finance Minister

Alzheimer's drug trial shown to slow cognitive decline, says report

A new drug, lecanemab, has been found to slow down cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients, according to a study that could lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. The study results were presented at the 15th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) Conference in San Francisco, US, on November 29. The study is also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Amyloid-clearing and cognitive decline-slowing drug lecanemab, which is poised for FDA approval early next year, will be a positive step in the treatment of Alzheimer's, the study said. Alzheimer's is a complex disease with multiple underlying causes tied to the biology of aging, therefore, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) has long held that a combination drug approach is needed, the study said. Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. "Today's results show that lecanema

Significant decline in sperm counts globally, including India: Study

An international team of researchers has found a significant decline in sperm counts over the years in many countries globally, including India. Sperm count is not only an indicator of human fertility but also that of men's health, with low levels being associated with increased risk of chronic disease, testicular cancer and a decreased lifespan, the researchers said. The decline reflects a global crisis related to modern environment and lifestyle, with broad implications for the survival of the human species, they said. The study, published on Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction Update, used data from 53 countries. It includes an additional seven years of data collection (2011-2018) and focuses on sperm count trends among men in regions not reviewed previously, specifically South America, Asia and Africa. The data shows, for the first time, that men in those regions share the significant decline in total sperm counts (TSC) and sperm concentration (SC) seen previously in Nort

Lab-grown blood transfusion: The many problems it could address if it works

It could end shortages of rare groups, and drastically cut the risk of infections from transfusions

Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2022 Counselling Round 2 Allotment List released

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) Tamil Nadu officially released the Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2022 Counselling Round 2 Allotment List today

Medical education in Hindi will bring big positive change in country: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the beginning of medical education in Hindi will bring a big positive change in the country. Lakhs of students will be able to study in their language and doors for many new opportunities will also open for them, he said. He was reacting to the launch of such a course by Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhopal. Shah on Sunday released textbooks for three subjects in Hindi for MBBS students as part of an ambitious project of the Madhya Pradesh government to impart medical education in Hindi language. Calling it an important day in history, Shah said Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to start the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) course in Hindi.

WHO researcher Rajiv Bahl is new ICMR head and secy, health research

Bahl joined WHO in 2003 where he coordinates research and guidelines development in areas of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; was earlier with AIIMS

Drug reactions can be life-threatening; not to be neglected: KGMU doctors

Rashes that do not itch, swollen eyes, burning sensation in lips and sore throat could be symptoms of severe adverse drug reaction (ADR)

Long Covid syndrome in children less common than in adults, US study finds

The risk of long COVID in children appears to be lower than what has been reported in adults, according to a study conducted in the US. Some people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can experience long-term effects from their infection which can last for months. The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that many of the symptoms children experience post-COVID-19 are similar to those seen in adults, but there are some features more unique to kids, such as hair loss, skin rashes and diarrhea. The risk for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID appears to be higher in children younger than five years of age, those with medical complexity and those admitted to the intensive care unit, the researchers said. "There has been a critical need to understand the impact of COVID-19 in children both in the short as well as long-term, said Suchitra Rao, infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital Colorado, US. "This is one of

At least 8 Indian companies working to develop monkeypox vaccine: Report

Among the companies that are working with ICMR are Serum Institute of India (SII), Reliance Life Sciences, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, and Biological E

ICMR-NIV analysis finds A.2 strain of monkeypox virus in first two cases

An analysis of India's first two monkeypox cases by an institute of the Indian Council of Medical Research revealed that the duo who returned from the UAE were infected with the virus strain A.2

Centre asks states to step up surveillance to curb Covid-19 spread

States have been asked to screen 2 per cent of international travellers randomly with RT-PCR tests and send all positive samples for genomic sequencing

Bharat Biotech's Covaxin induces wider immune response, say experts

However, experts say that Covaxin induces a wider immune response and thus antibody production against the spike protein may be less intense