STAT+: Pharmalittle: Eisai executive to retire; Express Scripts adds three Humira biosimilars to formulary
Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. Birds are chirping and cool breezes are wafting by the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascots are racing about the grounds. As for us, we are ensconced doing the usual sorts of things — updating our to-do list, brewing cups of stimulation (our choice today is chocolate raspberry) and foraging for items of interest.
Speaking of which, we have gathered the latest bushel for your perusal if you scroll down a wee bit. Of course, all of this means that it is time to get cracking. So here we go. We hope you have a smashing day and conquer the world. And as always, please do stay in touch …
Eisai announced that Ivan Cheung, who ran its global Alzheimer’s drug program, will retire at the end of the month and be replaced by the son of Eisai chief executive officer Haruo Naito, STAT writes. The move comes after Cheung led the push for U.S. approval of the breakthrough medicine Leqembi. Keisuke Naito, 34, a senior vice president and chief strategy and planning officer, will become acting global Alzheimer’s officer. Cheung’s resignation comes less than a week after Eisai and Biogen were granted full approval for Leqembi in the U.S. The drug is the first medicine shown to slow progression of the disease, which afflicts some 6 million Americans.
Express Scripts will add three biosimilar versions of AbbVie’s blockbuster arthritis treatment Humira to its list of preferred drugs, Reuters notes. The biosimilars include branded and unbranded versions from Sandoz, the generic unit of Novartis, as well as one from Boehringer Ingelheim. Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefits manager owned by Cigna, said the biosimilars would be included as preferred brands on its formulary. The drugs, launched this month, add to competition for Humira in the U.S. that started in January with the launch of a biosimilar by Amgen that is already on Express Scripts formulary.
2 years 4 weeks ago
Pharma, Pharmalot, Biosimilars, Pharmaceuticals, STAT+
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
WBMCC invites Applications For Centralized Online Counselling of Sponsored DNB Seats, Check out details
West Bengal: The application for participation in centralized merit-based online counselling for admission to Sponsored DNB seats (Post MBBS and Post Diploma) 2023 is sought from the eligible candidates. The West Bengal Main Computerized Counselling (WBMCC) has released a detailed schedule.
All such candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria and are desirous of opting for the sponsored DNB (Post MBBS and Post Diploma) seats 2023 are required to submit their application to the Director of Medical Education, Dept of Health and Family Welfare, Swasthya Bhawan, GN-29, Sector —V, Kolkata -700091. (If they belong to the WIIMES cadre) or Director of Health Services, Dept of Health and Family Welfare, Swasthya Bhawan, GN-29, Sector —V, Kolkata -700091(11 they belong to WBHS or WI3PIIAS cadre).
The submission of the application will be via email at tr.noc.mert@gmail.com for the candidates of WBHS and WBPHAS and via email at wbcounselingcell@gmail.com for the candidates of WBMES in the required format. The circular is already published on the websites www.wbhealth.gov.in and www.wbmcc.nic.in dated 22.3.2023. The applications will have to be submitted by 5:00 pm on 17.7.2023.
Eligibility criteria for Sponsored DNB (Post MBBS) seats –
1. Candidates who are working under the Dept of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of West Bengal on a regular basis are eligible for Sponsored DNB (Post MBBS) seats.
2. Candidates must be in possession of the M1313S degree Certificate recognized by the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and possess a permanent registration certificate of MBBS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India/ State Medical Council.
3. Must have "Qualified" MEET PG 2023.
Also Read:TN Health Issues Clarification on eligibility for NEET PG, MDS candidates, check out details
Eligibility criteria for Sponsored DNB (Post Diploma) Seats -
1. Candidates who are working under Dept of Health and [Tamil) Welfare Govt. of West Bengal on a regular basis are eligible for Sponsored DNB (Post Diploma) seats.
2. Candidates who have passed the final examination leading to the award of Post Graduate Diploma from Indian Universities, which are duly recognized as per provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, Govt, of India i.e. have passed final examinations for Postgraduate diploma on or before 31-03-2021 as per provisions of the Trainee Reserve Rules 2015 and its amendments.
3. Candidate must have "Appeared" in DNB-PDCLT 2023.
The physical verification of the candidates shall be conducted from 12 noon till 3 pm on the days as follows: 17-07-2023 till 20-07-2023 (4 days). During such physical verification, the candidate has to attend with the original documents along with the filled-up and duly forwarded proforma as stated above and one set self-attested photocopies of the original documents before the Assistant Director of Medical Education at the Counseling Cell in the ground floor of Swasthya Sathi Building within premises of Swasthya Bhawan (for WBMES cadre) or Assistant Director of Health Services, MERT, in rd floor of B wing at Swasthya Bhawan (if they belong to WBVIS/WBPHAS cadre).
The following documents are required to be placed for verification (original and one set self-attested photocopy) -
1. MEET PG 2023/DNB PDCET 2023 --rank card and admit card
2. Any two of the following valid photo ID (Aadhar card/Voter card/Passport)
3. Age proof (birth certificate/class X admit card/class X certificate)
4. MBBS certificate and final rvIBBS mark sheet
5. Permanent Registration certificate issued by MCIINMC/WBMC
6. Caste certificate (as applicable and issued by the appropriate authority in West Bengal)
7. Non-creamy layer certificate for OBC candidates issued on or after 01.04.2023
8. PwD certificate (as applicable and issued by Medical Board of IPGMER Kolkata)
9. Proof of previous Diploma if acquired (on or before 31.03.2021)
10. Proof of any bond formalities (if applicable, to be completed on or before 31.03.2023)
11. Posting orders and joining reports as proof of regular service
The candidates who fail to submit email on time or fail during verification, or do not attend verification with required documents within the scheduled time, shall not be included in the list for provisional NOC (No Objection Certificate) for Centralized merit-based online counseling for admission to Sponsored DNB seats (Post MBBS and Post Diploma) 2023.
The provisionally eligible candidates shall be handed Provisional NOC on authenticated letterhead, and the scanned copy shall be uploaded to the websites www.wbhealth.gov.in and www.wbmcc.nic.in for public viewing on or after 29.07.2023. It shall also be communicated to NBEMS as per their instructions via email req.cc@natboard.edu.in latest by 31.07.2023. The format of NOC shall be provided by NBEMS in their notice 04.07.2023 on the website www.natboard.edu.in.
The candidates shall bear in mind that this NOC is purely provisional and does not ensure a seal for a particular candidate. The in-service candidates of the Dept. of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, must contact respective branch officials to find out whether they are eligible for trainee reserve as per extant rules so that seats are not wasted after allotment, if any.
To view the notice, click on the link below –
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/dnb-214034.pdf
Also Read:BFUHS Allocates 95 Seats For BSc Paramedical Courses, Check out Counselling Schedule
2 years 4 weeks ago
State News,News,West Bengal,Medical Education,Medical Admission News,Latest Medical Education News
Be well: Recognize the warning signs of ‘dry drowning’ and take quick action
Every year, there are some 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000 nonfatal drownings in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and not all of them meet the textbook definition.
Even if a child appears to be "safe" after a water incident, the child could still be in danger if even a small amount of water has entered the lungs.
Every year, there are some 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000 nonfatal drownings in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and not all of them meet the textbook definition.
Even if a child appears to be "safe" after a water incident, the child could still be in danger if even a small amount of water has entered the lungs.
Unofficially known as "dry drowning," this condition can cause inflammation or swelling and make it difficult to breathe even after a child is out of the water, according to Dr. Denise Scott, a pediatrician who is co-founder of Oklahoma City’s first after-hours pediatric urgent care clinic.
BE WELL: PREVENT DROWNING WITH THESE CHILD WATER SAFETY TIPS
"While ‘dry drowning’ is actually not a medical term or diagnosis, it does describe a condition that is a complication of a water event, termed ‘post-immersion syndrome,’" Scott told Fox News Digital.
"Post-immersion syndrome, considered a nonfatal drowning, describes an event in which a person was submersed in water but the lungs were not filled with water (thus dry)."
When this occurs, water has been inhaled — not swallowed — through the nose or mouth.
"Water in the airways can lead to laryngospasm, or vocal cord spasm, making it difficult to breathe," explained Scott, who also works on the JustAnswer.com platform fielding questions about a wide variety of children’s health issues.
"This makes it difficult to get air into the lungs."
Post-immersion syndrome can occur after anyone has been in any body of water, whether it’s a lake, swimming pool, bathtub or hot tub.
"Technically, any drowning is the result of not getting air in the lungs, whether the lungs are wet or dry," Scott said.
The most obvious sign of post-immersion syndrome is excessive or continuous coughing, Scott said.
"If someone inhales water, their response is to cough, which often expels the water," the doctor said. "The concern is when the cough continues after an episode of 30 to 60 minutes or longer."
Other warning signs that occur immediately after an episode or within an hour include difficulty breathing or speaking, rapid and hard breathing, chest pain, wheezing or vomiting.
Later symptoms, usually within two to three hours, can include confusion, sleepiness, and continued coughing and breathing difficulties, all of which can be signs of decreased oxygen, said Scott.
"A child who has either been rescued from water or inhaled water and has any of the above symptoms should be taken in for a medical evaluation," Scott said. "For any child who is not breathing, CPR should be given and 911 should be called."
A child with symptoms of post-immersion syndrome usually will be observed at the hospital for up to eight hours before the physician decides whether to pursue further treatment, Scott said.
SUMMER MELTDOWNS: HERE'S HOW EXTREME HEAT CAN AFFECT YOUR MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH
"Keeping a child calm can sometimes help the muscle spasms to relax," she added.
Although this condition is uncommon, it can be fatal if symptoms aren't addressed and lack of oxygen occurs, the doctor said.
"A severe laryngospasm that isn't relieved ultimately can lead to lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest," she warned. "Long-term effects are the result of poor oxygen to any organ system, especially the brain, which can result in seizures or brain damage."
Drowning is the most common cause of unintentional death in children between ages 1 and 4 and the second leading cause of death in children between ages 5 and 14, per the CDC.
Most drownings are preventable.
"First and foremost, children should never swim unsupervised or alone," Scott said.
"Young children who cannot swim should have an adult within arm's reach and wear a personal flotation device."
Private swimming pools should have a fence around them to prevent someone from wandering in, she went on. Children should always wear life vests when they're near or around lakes.
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While it’s a good idea to have young children take swim lessons, Scott emphasized that it is not a safeguard, nor should it give a false sense of security or take the place of close adult supervision.
Parents also should learn CPR, she added.
While post-immersion syndrome can happen to someone at any age, children are at the greatest risk, Scott said.
"Adults and teens are more likely to be at risk if they go swimming after consuming alcohol, but anyone can accidentally inhale water when submersed," she said.
"The vast majority of the time, this clears up with coughing. For persistent symptoms, one should seek medical care."
2 years 4 weeks ago
Health, childrens-health, be-well, health-care, lifestyle, respiratory-health
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
PAHO convenes health and foreign affairs authorities for second meeting on future pandemic agreement
PAHO convenes health and foreign affairs authorities for second meeting on future pandemic agreement
Cristina Mitchell
10 Jul 2023
PAHO convenes health and foreign affairs authorities for second meeting on future pandemic agreement
Cristina Mitchell
10 Jul 2023
2 years 4 weeks ago
Joining hands to eliminate litter and Dengue fever
“By collectively adopting these preventive measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of Dengue fever transmission and protect our communities’ health and well-being”
View the full post Joining hands to eliminate litter and Dengue fever on NOW Grenada.
2 years 4 weeks ago
Health, PRESS RELEASE, dengue, grenada green group, mosquito
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
MCC issues notice on BSc Nursing Counselling Process For Colleges Affiliated To IP University, Check out details
Delhi: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued a notice related to BSc Nursing counselling process for the college affiliated to IP University.
As per the notice, the counselling process of the BSc(H) Nursing program 2023-24 for the following colleges affiliated to IP University will be conducted by the university itself and not by MCC, in reference to Notification no. 30/2023 dated 28.06.2023 issued by GGSIPU.
1. Lakshmi Bai Batra, College of Nursing
2. St. Stephen’s College of Nursing, Tis Hazari, Delhi (Christian Minority)
3. College of Nursing, Hindu Rao Hospital
4. College of Nursing, Kasturba Hospital
5. Panna Dai, College of Nursing, DDU
6. Shakuntala Devi College of Nursing
Also Read:GGSIPU Extends deadline For Registration, Fee Payment, Documents Verification For MBBS, BSc Nursing admissions
However, the counselling for B.Sc(Nursing) courses for the Nursing colleges of VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and Dr RML Hospital will be conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee of DGHS as done in the previous year along with the following nursing colleges.
1. College of Nursing Florence Nightingale CON, New Delhi
2. College of Nursing LHMC, New Delhi
3. College of Nursing RAK CON, New Delhi, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing
4. College of Nursing Bhopal Nursing College, BMHRC, BHOPAL, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre
5. College of Nursing BHU, VARANASI
Bsc Nursing counselling process by IP University:
Documents verification –
Online verification of documents by the University
Closing Date MBBS, BSc Nursing
The candidate claiming benefits under the reserved category has to upload the relevant supporting documents duly issued by Competent Authority.
The candidates may kindly read Admission Brochure to see the details of documents required for being eligible to claim benefits under the Reserved Category and for the ARMY category, please upload Appendix 9(A)/9(B)/9(C) of the Admission Brochure 2023-24.
10.07.2023 (11:50 PM
The candidates note that University's Verifying Officer shall raise queries in cases where the document(s) is deficient or any discrepancy is observed. Candidates are advised to revert back/ upload the required documents immediately to claim the benefit of the reserved category on merit.
The online registration and submission of counselling participation fees for admission in program MBBS and BSc (Hons) Nursing based on the merit of NEET UG 2023 will be in respect of the following medical colleges/institutes affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi -
MBBS -
1. North DMC Medical College & Hindu Rao Hospital — NDMC (MC), Hindu Rao Hospital, Malkaganj, New Delhi (Admissions to be made against 85% State Quota seats only in respect of candidates who have completed their 11th & 12th class from any school located in the NCT of Delhi).
2. Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Sector 6, Rohini, Delhi (Admissions to be made against 85% State Quota seats only in respect of candidates who have completed their 11th & 12th class from any school located in the NCT of Delhi)
3. Army College of Medical Sciences, Near Base Hospital, Delhi Gantt., New Delhi (Admissions to be made against 100% sanctioned intake). The admission to the ALMS i.e. Army College of Medical Sciences, is for the children of eligible serving Army personnel, Ex-Army personnel, and war widows/widows of the Army. The children of categories of Army personnel as detailed in Chapter 7. I .4 of the Admission Brochure 2022-23 are eligible, and they are required to upload the relevant certificate Appendix 9 (A), 9(B), 9(C) & 9 (D) as given against the category applicable to them as proof of their eligibility for admission to ALMS.
All the concerned candidates/stakeholders are hereby informed that the admission of 100% seats in the MBBS program at VMMC & Safdadung Hospital, New Delhi, and ABVIMS, Dr. RML Hospital, will be conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee, DGHS. Hence, whosoever is desirous of seeking admission to these 02 affiliated medical colleges/institutes may apply on the website of MCC, DGHS. (https://mcc.nic.in).
BSC (Hons) Nursing –
1. Lakshmi Bai Batra College Of Nursing
2. St. Stephen's College Of Nursing, Tis Hazari, Delhi (Christian Minority)
3. College of Nursing Hindu Rao Hospital
4. College of Nursing Kasturba Hospital
5. Panna Dai College of Nursing, DDU
6. Shakuntala Devi College or Nursing
All the concerned applicants/stakeholders are hereby informed that the admission of 1 00% seats in the BSc (Hons) Nursing program at the College of Nursing, Safdariung Hospital, New Delhi, and College of Nursing. The Medical Counselling Committee, DGHS, will conduct Dr. RML Hospital. Hence, whosoever is desirous of seeking admission to these 02 affiliated medical colleges/institutes may apply on the website of MCC. DGHS. (https://mcc.nic.in).
Eligibility criteria
BSC (Hons) Nursing -
All candidates must appear in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test — Undergraduate of 2023 (NEET UG 2023) and qualify to be considered for admissions.
Admission terms and conditions -
The minimum qualifying criteria for entrance test to admission to BSc Nursing is as under –
1. General 50th Percentile
2. SC/ST/OBC 40th Percentile
3. General-PwD 45th Percentile
4. SC/ST/OBC-PwD 40th percentile
5. Regarding candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC, the marks obtained in 3 subjects, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, shall be 40% individually.
MBBS -
1. Candidate should be an Indian/ Overseas Indian / Nepal citizen. Non-Resident Indians and Foreign Nationals are not eligible.
2. The candidate should be medically fit to pursue the allocated course on medical examination.
3. The candidate should have attained the age of 17 years on or before 31' December of the year of his/her admission to the first year of the Course.
4. No provisional admission will be done for any result awaited or Compartment / Supplementary cases. The admission to the ACMS i.e. Army College of Medical Sciences, is for the children of eligible serving Army personnel, Ex-Army personnel, and war widows/widows of the Army. The children of categories of Army personnel, as detailed in chapter 7.1.4 of the Admission Brochure 2022-23, are eligible. They are required to upload the relevant certificate Appendix 9 (A), 9(B), 9(C) & 9 (D) as given against the category applicable to them as proof of their eligibility for admission to ACMS.
The candidate seeking admission under reserved categories has to mandatorily upload the entitled supporting certificate in his/her name. The Candidates, for further details, must read Chapter 6 (Reservation Policy) of the respective Admission Brochure 2023-24.
In case the candidate is claiming the seat reserved for DSC/DST/DOBC (wherever applicable) category, then He/ She should have passed his/ her qualifying exam from Delhi School/College and must have an SC/ST/OBC certificate issued by the Competent Authority of Govt. of NCT of Delhi only.
Reservation in OBC Category is not applicable for Master's Level and Postgraduate Diploma programs. The OBC category reservation applies only to the University School of Studies and Govt. Colleges (affiliated with GGSIPU) only.
For claiming reservation against the OBC category in Delhi Region, the candidate has to upload a valid OBC category certificate issued by a Competent Authority of Delhi in accordance with the list of OBC categories as per Govt. of NCT of Delhi. And suppose the OBC certificate is issued before 31.03.2023. In that case, it is mandatory for candidates to upload the OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate, which should be issued after 31st March 2023 with the OBC certificate.
The EWS category reservation applies only to the University School of Studies and Govt. affiliated Colleges. This will be implemented in accordance with the Govt. of India and Govt. of NCT of Delhi orders as applicable. EWS Certificate should be issued after 31st March 2023 stating valid for year 2023-2024.
For claiming a reservation on a seat reserved for DEFENCE Category, the candidate must upload the duly filled and signed Appendix 1 of Admission Brochure 2023-24 issued by the competent authority as mentioned in Admission Brochure 2023-24 along with supporting documents. Reserved Category Candidates who fail to upload documents as per notified schedule or whose documents are not in order will forfeit his/her right to the reserved category claimed and will automatically be converted to General Category as per University rules.
For MBBS only: Candidates claiming a seat in the "Delhi Region" must have passed the qualifying examination (i.e. 11th and 12th ) from any institutes/ Colleges located in Delhi. Allotment of seats in the wrong region on account of incorrect filling of form will lead to cancellation of the allotment at any later stage, and the candidate will automatically lose the right to the seat in his bonafide region if not available at the time of cancellation of seat.
For BSc (Hons) Nursing - Candidates claiming seats in the "Delhi Region" must have passed the qualifying examination from any institutes! Colleges located in Delhi. Allotment of seats in the wrong region on account of incorrect filling of form will lead to cancellation of the allotment at any later stage. The candidate will automatically lose the right to the seat in his bonafide region if not available at the time of cancellation of the seat.
The registration process and counseling fee -
The candidates who have qualified for NEET UG 2023 and have filled online registration form of GGSIPU earlier, and have paid the Non-Refundable Registration Fee of Rs. 1500, such candidates are required to enroll for a centralized online counselling participation fee of Rs 1000 (non – refundable) through Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card. The last date to pay was 6.7.2023 up to 11.50 pm.
The candidates who have qualified for NEET UG 2023 and have not filled online registration form of GGSIPU earlier and have not paid the Non-Refundable Registration Fee of Rs. 1500, such candidates are required to register and pay the registration fee of Rs 1500 online and subsequently required to enrol for a centralized online counseling participation fee of Rs 1000 (non – refundable) through Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card. The last date to pay was 6.7.2023 up to 11.50 pm.
To view the notice, click on the link below –
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nursing-213866.pdf
Also Read:JIPMER To Conduct 1st Year PG Orientation Program From 19th To 21st July
2 years 4 weeks ago
State News,News,Delhi,Medical Education,Nursing education News,Latest Medical Education News
STAT+: The new weight loss drugs are revolutionizing our understanding of desire. Food cravings could be just the beginning
One month it was pizza. Starting in the late afternoon, while he was teaching a chem lab or grading student work, a part of Anthony Fernandez’s brain would stray to visions of steaming pies. The thought of sinking his teeth into one would tug at him as he packed up his things and walked to his car.
By the time he pulled out of the Merrimack College campus, the urge would become a tractor beam, reeling him into the small shop just shy of Route 125 for a slice or three.
It would go on like that for weeks. Intrusive phantom wafts of bubbling hot cheese seeping into his psychic space. An unwelcome rush of saliva. A pizza-shaped itch begging to be scratched. Then suddenly they would be gone. Replaced by a new fixation: coconut jelly sticks from Heav’nly Donuts one month, Dunkin’s Beyond Sausage sandwich the next.
Fernandez knew it was these roving food obsessions that were losing him his latest weight loss battle. The 53-year-old chemistry professor had been hovering between 275 and 295 pounds for most of his adult life. At 5’10”, that made him obese by most body mass index calculations. Then during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, while much of the rest of the country struggled with the “quarantine 15,” Fernandez shed 20 pounds while hunkering at his Massachusetts home. When he lost easy access to fast food, the weight followed.
But as stores and restaurants began to open up again, the numbers on his scale crept steadily higher. So did the number of fatty acids and excess sugar in his blood. Around Thanksgiving 2021, Fernandez’s doctor approached him about trying something different: a new weight loss drug called Wegovy.
Originally developed for people with type 2 diabetes like Fernandez’s parents, Wegovy — the brand name for one of an expanding class of injectable medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists — was helping people lose up to 15% of their body weight. The needles initially made him hesitate. But by late February last year, Fernandez came around to the idea. The first time he tried Wegovy, he made his wife stand next to him just in case he fainted. But the pen hid the needle from sight and he barely felt it pierce his skin. By the end of that first month, his urges had evaporated.
“From the get-go, I stopped having a lot of those in-between meal cravings,” Fernandez said. “I don’t find that I need those snacks in the middle of the day or late at night. I used to need something after I put the kids to bed. I’d pull out a bag of carrots and a jar of hummus and eat the whole damn thing. I don’t do that anymore.”
Fernandez is among an exploding number of Americans taking these drugs for weight loss — more than 5 million people in the U.S. were prescribed a GLP-1 agonist in 2022, up from about 230,000 in 2019, according to a recent analysis by data insights company Komodo Health. Their rapid adoption is a testament to their striking effectiveness — unmatched by any weight loss drugs in history. But even scientists who’ve spent decades dissecting the actions of the gut hormone these medicines are designed to mimic have been surprised by their potency.
GLP-1 was first identified more than 40 years ago as a chemical messenger produced in the gut that tells the pancreas to crank out more insulin. Scientists learned pretty quickly that it does so by binding to GLP-1 receptors dotting the surface of beta cells in the pancreas. But only in recent years have researchers begun to understand the extent to which the brain also uses GLP-1 as a signaling molecule. It’s through networks of neurons coated with GLP-1 receptors that GLP-1 agonists act to suppress eating — not only, as was long believed, by communicating feelings of fullness, but also by altering circuits in the brain that drive desire.
This wasn’t obvious back when these drugs were beginning to be developed. They weren’t, originally, even designed to get into the brain. But more and more, scientists are learning that’s where they work to cause weight loss. These revelations have the potential to lead to more potent versions of these drugs in the future. They also raise an even more tantalizing question: If hormone hacking can erase food cravings, what other destructive desires might it liberate us from one day?
2 years 4 weeks ago
In the Lab, The Obesity Revolution, addiction, neuroscience, Obesity, STAT+
Diabetes and heart disease
Diabetes
particularly type 2 diabetes has been increasing in prevalence worldwide. In Jamaica 11.9 per cent of our population above the age of 15 have a diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, and cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for the diabetic patient.
Diabetes
particularly type 2 diabetes has been increasing in prevalence worldwide. In Jamaica 11.9 per cent of our population above the age of 15 have a diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, and cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for the diabetic patient.
Diabetic patients have an increased risk of atherosclerotic disease (that is laying down cholesterol in arteries) and the risks of stroke, coronary artery disease/heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease are all increased in the diabetic population. In addition, diabetics have been shown to an increased risk of heart failure that is not related to atherosclerosis. Given these findings a diagnosis of diabetes suggests the need to find measures to ameliorate these risks. Early studies looking at the treatment of diabetes suggested that lowering of the blood sugar levels over time decreased the likelihood of some of the complications of diabetes. These included the risk of eye disease, kidney disease and nerve disease. Interestingly, these studies did not demonstrate a reduction in the risk of cardiac and vascular disease despite improved diabetic control. Studies found that treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol in the diabetic patient reduced the risk of developing heart disease and for many years this was the primary focus of risk reduction. However, over the past five to 10 years new medications to lower blood sugar have been shown to improve outcomes and to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The improvement in the efficacy of medications available for treatment of diabetes can be traced back to 2008 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States changed the criteria for the approval of medications for diabetes. Prior to this date, it was enough to show that a medication improved glucose control. The experience with rosiglitazone, a medication which effectively lowered blood sugar but at the cost of an increased risk of heart attack and worsening of heart failure, lead to a change in the way in which medications for diabetes were approved. After 2008 companies developing new medications for diabetes needed to show that medications not only lowered blood sugar but that they did not worsen cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Several classes of medications have been approved under this new standard with the last two groups: the glucagon like peptide agonists (GLP1 agonists) and the sodium glucose co-transport 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) demonstrating the ability to significantly improve cardiac outcome in patients with diabetes.
Currently, physicians who are treating patients with diabetes have several modalities to improve cardiac and vascular outcomes including lifestyle measures, management of additional cardiac risk factors and the use of diabetic medications with the ability to reduce death and disability from cardiac and vascular disease.
Lifestyle measures
All diabetic and cardiac societies advise lifestyle measures for the general population as well as for those diagnosed with diabetes. There is good evidence to suggest that lifestyle measures can help prevent abnormal glucose handling in the body and thus reduce the likelihood of the development of diabetes. Lifestyle measures can also significantly reduce the incidence of associated conditions that worsen cardiac and vascular outcome in the diabetic patient as well as improving outcome in those diabetic patients with heart disease. Dietary measures and exercise have been shown to reduce the incidence of patients with abnormal blood sugars going on to develop type 2 diabetes. They also reduce the risk of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity which increase cardiac risk in the diabetic patient. Studies have also suggested that in patients with established heart disease (including diabetics) diet and exercise can improve cardiac outcome.
Cigarette smoking is one of the most important causes of avoidable death worldwide and significantly worsens the risk of heart and vascular disease in the diabetic patient. From the point of view of the heart and blood vessels any amount of smoking (even second-hand smoke) serves as a spur to vessel damage and the laying down of cholesterol in arteries. Obesity is prevalent in the Jamaican population (55.5 per cent of Jamaican adults). Obesity not only increases the risk of type 2 diabetes itself, but also increases several cardiac risk factors and the incidence of heart disease including heart failure and coronary artery disease. Good sleep hygiene, avoiding/limiting alcohol, not using illicit drugs and stress management all play important roles in improving long term cardiac and vascular outcome in all populations including diabetics.
Treatment of hypertension in diabetes
Hypertension and Diabetes (particularly Type 2 diabetes) frequently coexist. They have several risk factors in common including obesity, inactive lifestyle, family history etc. They also have several shared hormonal and metabolic abnormalities. Hypertension is twice as common in the diabetic population as compared to the general population. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes together increase the risk of increase heart enlargement, stroke and heart failure more than either condition alone. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of treating hypertension to reduce risk, with greater benefits being noted in the population with type 2 diabetes. One study found that lowering the systolic blood pressure by an average of 5.6mmHg lowered the risk of cardiovascular death by 18 per cent. A large meta-analysis of studies including approximately 79000 patients found that lowering the systolic blood pressure to less than 130 mmHg lowered the risk of stroke by 39 per cent. Evidence has been found that treating hypertension in diabetic patients lowers the risk of severe kidney disease, heart failure, eye disease. Most major diabetic societies suggest targeting blood pressures less than 130 systolic and less than 80 diastolic to improve outcome.
Treatment of high cholesterol in diabetes
Cholesterol abnormalities are common in diabetes. The most common findings are an increase in the triglycerides and a lowering of the HDL (good cholesterol). The LDL (bad cholesterol) is usually not significantly elevated but the type of LDL particles that are found in the diabetic patient may be more likely to result in heart and vascular disease. There is a substantial body of evidence that using statin drugs in diabetes improves outcome. There is some debate among the cardiac and diabetic societies as to when to treat, how aggressively to treat and what the goals of treatment should be. In general diabetics between the ages of 40-75 with risk factors for vascular disease or established vascular disease should be on statin therapy. The American College of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association propose that all diabetes between the ages of 40-75 should be treated regardless of baseline cholesterol.
In our next article we will look at the impact of diabetic medications on the cardiovascular outcome of the diabetic patient.
Dr Ernest Madu, MD, FACC and Dr Paul Edwards, MD, FACC are consultant cardiologists for the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) and HIC Heart Hospital. HIC is the regional centre of excellence for cardiovascular care in the English-speaking Caribbean and has pioneered a transformation in the way cardiovascular care is delivered in the region. HIC Heart Hospital is registered by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and is the only heart hospital in Jamaica. Send correspondence to info@caribbeanheart.com or call 876-906-2107.
2 years 1 month ago
'Biggest health risk of the 21st century'
PRESIDENT of the Medical Association of Jamaica Dr Brian James has made an impassioned plea to health-care workers to do something about what he describes as the biggest health risk of the 21st century — climate change.
Speaking at the launch of MDLink Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday, Dr James, while underscoring that laboratory services are a crucial aspect of medical decision-making, said this generation will have to do something about the impact of climate change on health as it does not bode well for vulnerable populations.
"Some of the health impacts of global warming include a one-degree rise in temperature which translates to 3.4 per cent increase in cardiovascular mortality, Dr James said. "Crime precipitates mental health concerns. At higher temperatures there is an increase in the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses among indoor and outdoor workers. Outdoor workers, women, children, athletes and the elderly are at increased risk of heat-related injury."
Further, Dr James said climate change presents an increased risk in vector capacity for the transmission of dengue and food-borne diseases like salmonella.
Moreover, he said the largest impact of climate change in the health industry is that large carbon footprint.
"This means it's an area with a significant opportunity to play a part in mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming," he said before giving suggestions for the greening of the diagnostic lab environment.
To make the lab environment green, Dr James suggested lab operators and health-care workers start the discussion and make climate change and global warming a part of the new culture of the health environment; reduce laboratory plastic waste by implementing recycling and reusing strategies to reduce carbon footprint; conserve water; reduce energy consumption; share resources; and use greener techniques.
He added that he was confident MDLink will become an active and committed partner in climate action.
2 years 1 month ago
A new era for Alzheimer's treatment begins
A proven treatment to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's — a devastating disease that robs individuals of their personality, autonomy, and ultimately life — has long been out of reach.
But within the next year, Alzheimer's patients could conceivably have access to not just one such treatment, but two.
A proven treatment to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's — a devastating disease that robs individuals of their personality, autonomy, and ultimately life — has long been out of reach.
But within the next year, Alzheimer's patients could conceivably have access to not just one such treatment, but two.
This new era for Alzheimer's treatment began this week, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to a new Alzheimer's drug, lecanemab, which is being sold by its manufacturer Eisai under the brand name Leqembi. Memory clinics are already reporting increasing curiosity among patients about the new treatment, and they expect interest will only grow following the FDA's final sign-off.
In the next few weeks, new clinical trial results are also expected for another treatment candidate, donanemab, which has had impressive preliminary results.
Just two years ago, the Alzheimer's community was in turmoil. An earlier drug, called aducanemab and known by the brand name Aduhelm, had reported disappointing clinical trial results, but the FDA, over the objections of its scientific advisers, still decided to grant "accelerated approval" to the drug, which has a lower threshold for approval and is reserved for drugs that address an unmet need. The controversy cast a pall over the medication, Medicare severely limited coverage, and few prescriptions were written for a treatment once hoped to be a breakthrough.
People who work in the field describe a community at war with itself, as some advocacy groups pushed for more access to aducanemab even as many clinicians remained unconvinced.
Lecanemab could offer a fresh start. The clinical data appears more promising. The FDA's advisers endorsed it last month. The preliminary results from donanemab appear even more impressive, though they need to be confirmed in forthcoming reports.
It is still a fraught moment for providers and patients. The treatments require an extensive patient evaluation before being prescribed, regular infusions in their administration, and careful monitoring over time to catch potentially dangerous side effects — all a challenge for the US health system. Not enough doctors are trained in caring for patients with memory problems. There are not enough infusion centres. Medicare covers some of the scans that could be used to identify patients who may benefit from lecanemab, but not others.
The logistical challenges could be daunting, said Sanjeev Vaishnavi, a clinical neurologist at the Penn Memory Center who is helping to lead its planning efforts. The centre sometimes has a months-long waiting list from patients who are seeking more specialised care than their primary care doctor is able to provide. If the demand for lecanemab is high, new patients could end up waiting for years — at which point, they may no longer benefit from the drug.
"I think the concern is, how can we deliver appropriate care to the right individuals in a timely manner?" Vaishnavi said, articulating his fear that patients could end up "stuck in a morass of bureaucracy".
Nevertheless, he said, "it's an exciting time."
Alzheimer's afflicts at least six million Americans. While only a subset may benefit from lecanemab, it holds enormous promise for those patients and their families — and for the many Alzheimer's patients who will follow in the years to come, as the country's population ages. This disease is distinct not only for its prevalence but also for the way it works. Over time, it wears away a person's personality and sense of self. Ultimately, it is 100 per cent fatal.
Science has searched for an effective treatment; for decades, potential breakthroughs would show promise and then flame out. The failures led some researchers in recent years to question the entire premise of most Alzheimer's research, though lecanemab may prove to be a kind of validation of the amyloid hypothesis that has driven drug development.
Jason Karlawish, the co-director at the Penn Memory Center, described his colleagues, patients, and their families as "travellers who finally see they arrived at land after traversing a dangerous ocean."
"I'd much rather be in this place than where things were two or three years ago," he told me. "This is what we've been waiting for for decades."
This story first appeared on
Vox
.
com.
It was written by Dylan Scott who has covered health care for
Vox
. He has reported on health policy for more than 10 years, writing for
Governing
magazine, Talking Points Memo and STAT before joining
Vox
in 2017. Read more:
https://www.vox.com/policy/2023/7/7/23784663/alzheimers-drug-lecanemab-leqembi-full-fda-approval
2 years 1 month ago
Pneumologist warns of virus risks
Santo Domingo.- Respiratory diseases that are occurring in the country due to several viruses, including Covid-19, as well as others due to bacteria, tend to cause similar symptoms, such as fever and general malaise, but what modifies the disease are the risk factors that the patient may have.
The intensivist pulmonologist, Emil Jorge Manzur, said there are mild cases, and his main recommendation is that if a patient has a history of respiratory problems and other diseases, he should pay attention to him and not abandon his medication, especially when they present difficulty breathing.
Covid on the rise
“There are three, and be careful if more viruses are spread because we not only have Covid, which is already three weeks in the rise of cases; we have influenza, metaneumovirus, we have adenovirus, which are very frequent at this time, among others, without counting the bacterial infections that we commonly see,” expressed the respiratory tract specialist.
He explained that almost all these infections are symptomatic, and these symptoms must be treated.
“The patient should be concerned” whether or not they have difficulty breathing or if the symptoms last more than five days because there are specific things that can be done for each of these viruses or bacterial infections that could modify the disease,” added Jorge Manzur.
Do not self-medicate with antibiotics
Faced with the fact that many people say they are using the same medications prescribed to them when they tested positive for Covid-19 on previous occasions, the specialist does not rule it out completely, although without self-medicating with antibiotics.
He said most people used antiallergic and mucolytic and may do so now, as well as some expectorant syrups.
“What is wrong in the case is that they add antibiotic without knowing if it is bacterial, it is wrong that they use Ivermectin, because they are not used in any context” and other drugs they used in the first line.
As for vitamin and mineral supplements (such as vitamin D, zinc, melatonin, and others) indicated when Covid was at its highest peak, the physician understands that it is not wrong to use them either. However, there is nothing to prove that the impact of the disease will be less.
Avoiding contracting viruses collectively
The renowned pulmonologist calls to take care of oneself within the framework of the possible, to value avoiding exaggerated conglomerations of people without mask protection; if you have a respiratory symptom, you must protect “your neighbor” and use a mask.
“Again, it is a very individual issue because what we do not want is that everyone gets it at the same time,” indicated Jorge Manzur, who added that most people will contract one of these viruses, but we must take care of the most sensitive ones, to avoid a severe impact.
Do not be afraid
“We do not recommend that everyone should be afraid, but we must be aware that the problem is individual. Whether it is bad for you or not is your own problem,” the pulmonologist pointed out.
Dr. Jorge Manzur said that for Covid-19, there are currently some drugs, but he acknowledged that they are expensive, one of which costs more than 30,000 pesos.
2 years 1 month ago
Health, Local
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Dr Abhijit H Joshi takes charge as vice-chancellor of Desh Bhagat University
Chandigarh: Dr Abhijit H Joshi has been appointed as the vice-chancellor of Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh. Dr Joshi has been working as the dean of the faculty of Ayurveda and professor, and head of the Department of Ayurveda and Yoga, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune.
Desh Bhagat University welcomes the doctor and stated, "We are delighted to introduce Prof. (Dr.) Abhijit H Joshi as the new Vice Chancellor of DBU. With his extensive experience and expertise, Prof. Joshi brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas that will propel our university to greater heights of excellence. As the new VC, Prof. (Dr) Abhijit H Joshi is committed to providing quality education, fostering research, and nurturing the holistic growth of our students. His leadership will guide us on an exciting journey of growth and development. Welcome, Prof. (Dr.) Abhijit H Joshi, to Desh Bhagat University! Let's inspire, innovate, and make a difference!."
Also Read: PGIMER appoints Prof Dr Naresh Panda as new Dean Academics
Prof. (Dr.) Abhijit Joshi started his education at the Jilha Parishad School in Shirala, the rural region of Sangli District. He has done his BAMS and M.A. (Sanskrit) from Shivaji University Kolhapur. He acquired his M.D. in Ayurveda from Pune Vidyapeeth and his PhD from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. He has been awarded D.Litt. by Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bengaluru, Yoga Samskutham University, Boston, USA, Charisma University, British West Indies and Lincoln University, Malaysia. He received his Post Doctoral Diploma from Harvard University (Executive Global Systems), Boston, USA.
Prof. (Dr) Abhijit Joshi has about 20 years of professional experience which includes teaching, research, administration, and institution building. He is a popular professor famous for his extremely logical and practical approach towards the most difficult situations. He has dedicated himself for the development of the Department of Ayurveda of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and is the backbone of the Vidyapeeth.
He is an academician at par and teaching is his passion. He started his teaching career in the year 2001 as a Lecturer in a college in a rural area of Maharashtra and subsequently assumed position of the Vice Principal in the same college. Currently, he is a Dean of the Faculty of Ayurved and Professor and HoD of the Department of Ayurved and Yoga, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. He has been very instrumental throughout his academic career and has contributed to the expansion of the Institutions he worked in.
Prof. (Dr) Abhijit Joshi is actively involved in many important quality initiatives undertaken by NAAC, Bangalore for quality higher education and is a Member of the NAAC Peer Team since 2017. He is also associated with many Government and Non-Government, National, and International Bodies as an Expert on various committees.
His incessant contribution to research and innovation has brought him many accolades. He has carved a niche in the area of literature research, Ayurveda literature, in particular. Currently, he has various research projects at his disposal, in the field of Ayurved and Sankrit. Some significant milestones of his journey are the conferment of a Presidential Award, i.e. Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman – 2019 for his contribution for the cause of Sanskrit Language, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan National Award, Pride of India Honor, Aryabhatta Award, Gold Medal from European Ayurved Academy for M.D. Research, C.P.D. International Award from the College of Ayurved U.K. (London), International Rugved Vaidyak Bhushan Award from International Ayurveda Association & European Ayurveda Academy, National Award for outstanding contribution in the field of Ayurvedic Research by Siddhapeeth, Pune and so on.
Also Read:Bond fee for MBBS admissions at AFMC Pune increased from 61 lakh to 65 lakh
2 years 1 month ago
State News,News,Health news,Chandigarh,Doctor News,Latest Health News,JB Next
Idaho Drops Panel Investigating Pregnancy-Related Deaths as US Maternal Mortality Surges
On July 1, Idaho became the only state without a legal requirement or specialized committee to review maternal deaths related to pregnancy.
The change comes after state lawmakers, in the midst of a national upsurge in maternal deaths, decided not to extend a sunset date for the panel set in 2019, when they established the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, or MMRC.
On July 1, Idaho became the only state without a legal requirement or specialized committee to review maternal deaths related to pregnancy.
The change comes after state lawmakers, in the midst of a national upsurge in maternal deaths, decided not to extend a sunset date for the panel set in 2019, when they established the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, or MMRC.
The committee was composed of a family medicine physician, an OB-GYN, a midwife, a coroner, and a social worker, in addition to others who track deaths in Idaho that occur from pregnancy-related complications. Wyoming studies its maternal deaths through a shared committee with Utah. All other states, as well as Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, and Puerto Rico, have an MMRC, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group.
A majority of the state committees were established within the past decade as federal officials scrambled to understand state and local data to address gaps in maternal care. The committees review deaths that occur within a year of pregnancy and identify trends, share findings, and suggest policy changes.
Liz Woodruff, executive director of the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, said she was “incredibly disappointed” by the legislature’s decision to scuttle the committee. “It seems relevant that the state of Idaho supports a committee that works toward preventing the deaths of pregnant women,” she said. “This should be easy.”
The committee disbanded despite a high rate of maternal mortality in the United States that exceeds those of other high-income countries. The U.S. recorded 23.8 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, compared with 8.4 in Canada and 3.6 in Germany, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And the U.S. rate is sharply rising. In March, a few weeks before Idaho lawmakers adjourned their 2023 session, the CDC released data that showed the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. climbed in 2021 to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Idaho has a particularly acute problem. Its pregnancy-related mortality ratio was 41.8 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, according to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee report from that year.
Hillarie Hagen of Idaho Voices for Children, a nonprofit focused on low- and moderate-income families, said that the committee used the Idaho-specific data to do deep-dive analyses and that an information void would be left by shuttering the board.
“How do we make decisions and policy decisions to improve the health of mothers and their babies if we’re not tracking the data?” she asked. “From our perspective, having consistent data and trends shown over time helps make more sound policy decisions.”
The decision to disband the board came as two hospitals that serve rural areas announced they would stop providing services for expectant mothers. One of the hospitals cited trouble recruiting and retaining OB-GYNs after the state last summer enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the country.
The committee, tasked with investigating deaths both individually and collectively, found that almost half of the maternal deaths in Idaho in 2020 occurred after delivery.
Amelia Huntsberger, an OB-GYN and a member of the committee, noted also that patients covered by Medicaid during pregnancy are overrepresented in maternal death rates, which led the panel to recommend expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months rather than the current 60 days.
Huntsberger made national headlines this year when she announced plans to leave both her job and the state, citing the state’s abortion ban and the move to dissolve the MMRC.
But in their legislative session, Idaho lawmakers decided not to advance a bill that would have embraced the committee’s recommendation to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage.
The legislation creating the review committee included a “sunset clause” to dissolve the committee on July 1, 2023. Following a contentious session of the Health and Welfare Committee of the Idaho House of Representatives in February, House Bill 81, which would have renewed the committee, failed to advance.
Republican state Rep. Dori Healey said she sponsored the bill because of her work as an advanced practice registered nurse when the legislature is out of session. “For me, being in the health care field, I think it’s always important to understand the why behind anything. Why is this happening? What can we do better?” Healey said. “I feel like in health care we can only improve with knowledge.”
Healey said she hadn’t anticipated the strong opposition to the bill. In declining to advance it, lawmakers cited costs of running the panel, although some, like Huntsberger, say its operation was covered by a federal grant.
The MMRC was funded by the federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant program, aimed at improving the health of mothers, infants, and children. Idaho has received more than $3 million annually in Title V funds in recent years, according to statistics cited by Huntsberger.
The MMRC, whose members say annual operation costs stand at about $15,000, was deemed budget-neutral, running at no cost to the state.
In an interview with KFF Health News, Marco Erickson, vice chair of the Health and Welfare Committee, said Idaho’s Republican Party has been focused on reducing government spending. He said the same maternal data could be adequately culled through epidemiology reports already published by the Department of Health and Welfare.
“Anytime that there is a death of a mother and child, there is value in evaluating why it occurred,” Erickson said. “The whole committee saw the importance but saw there was another way to do it. It wasn’t that they didn’t think it was valuable.”
Erickson, who previously oversaw elements of maternal and child health in his role as a health program manager for Nevada’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health, said that information could become siloed in government, but it was worthwhile to improve existing bodies, rather than creating a committee anew.
“I think it could be covered elsewhere, and if it’s not being done, they need to make a loud voice to cover it in the existing programs,” he said. “We’re happy to sit down together to find a solution that works.”
The lobbying group Idaho Freedom Foundation celebrated the end of the committee, contending it was a “vehicle to promote more government intervention in health care,” and citing the group’s recommendation to extend Medicaid coverage to mothers for 12 months postpartum.
Elke Shaw-Tulloch, public health administrator at the Department of Health and Welfare, said the department would “continue to collect raw data on maternal deaths and gather as much data as possible through limited, existing sources.” But, she said, it will not have the ability to compel reporting on cases or convene committee members to investigate deaths.
“We are currently assessing what actions we can take and working with stakeholders to address solutions moving forward,” she said.
A group to do so has not yet convened since the legislative session ended in April, although stakeholders say they will focus on bringing another bill before the Idaho Legislature to reinstitute the committee in the 2024 session.
Stacy Seyb, a maternal-fetal specialist who grew up in rural western Kansas and chaired the committee until its dissolution, said that supporting medical providers in more rural areas was part of his lifelong mission and that the work won’t necessarily stop.
“We knew once it didn’t get out of committee that ‘Oh, well, we’re sunk,’” Seyb said. “I know one thing we want to do is collect as much information as we can over the year. Whether it will get reviewed or not, I don’t know.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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2 years 1 month ago
Medicaid, Race and Health, States, The Health Law, CDC, Disparities, Idaho, Pregnancy, Rural Health
Health & Wellness | Toronto Caribbean Newspaper
Happy Cancer season star family! Welcome home to you!
BY AKUA GARCIA Happy Cancer season star family! I pray you are all well. We have shifted seasons from the airy season of Gemini into the fresh waters of Cancer. Get the tissue box; you might need it! Cancer is our first water sign of the zodiac. The water element highlights our intuitive insight, our […]
The post Happy Cancer season star family! Welcome home to you! first appeared on Toronto Caribbean Newspaper.
2 years 1 month ago
Spirituality, #LatestPost
News Archives - Healthy Caribbean Coalition
Mobilising for 2025 – A Caribbean Civil Society NCD Forum
Mobilising for 2025 – A Caribbean Civil Society NCD Forum
July 6-7, 2023
Courtyard Marriott Hotel | Bridgetown, Barbados
Background
Mobilising for 2025 – A Caribbean Civil Society NCD Forum
July 6-7, 2023
Courtyard Marriott Hotel | Bridgetown, Barbados
Background
This meeting: Mobilising for 2025 – A Caribbean Civil Society NCD Forum represents a reconvening of face to face meetings of HCC member organisations and partners. The aim of the Forum is to bring together HCC member civil society organisations (CSOs) and key stakeholders to discuss NCD (including Mental, Neurological and Substance Abuse Disorders – MNSDs)[1] prevention and control priorities in the Caribbean as we reflect on where we are including current progress and challenges and map a path forward to place the region back on track to meet SDG NCD Target 3.4: Noncommunicable diseases and mental health: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
Much work is needed as the most recent 2022 NCD Progress Monitor showed the Caribbean was significantly off track across most areas including risk factor interventions (WHO Best Buys and Recommended Interventions) and treatment indicators (management guidelines and drug therapies). As a result, the NCD-related health and socioeconomic toll on our fragile economies continues to rise as we face the interconnected challenges of, climate change and food insecurity, exacerbated in our Small Island Developing States (SIDS) settings. From June 14-16, high-level officials from across the SIDS will convene in Barbados for the SIDS Ministerial Conference on NCDs and Mental Health where they will unite in their endorsement of what is anticipated to a be a bold action-oriented Political Outcome Document which recognizes the key health and development threats of NCDs, commercial determinants and climate change and presents concrete actions to tackle these threats as a SIDS community through a highly anticipated SIDS NCDs Roadmap.
The diverse array of civil society actors impacted by NCDs – including those representing: all chronic diseases, key groups such as people living with NCDs (PWLNCDs), young people, related lived experiences, climate change, food systems, and academia – have and continue to play a critical role in driving and supporting rights-based, equitable, evidence-informed NCD responses across the region.
The post Mobilising for 2025 – A Caribbean Civil Society NCD Forum appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.
2 years 1 month ago
Meetings, News, Slider
EC$81.23 million Covid-19 related expenditure for 2020–2021
Grenada’s EC$81.23 million Covid-19 related expenditure had the greatest allocation for Transfers and Social Protection, and the least allocation for the Health Sector
View the full post EC$81.23 million Covid-19 related expenditure for 2020–2021 on NOW Grenada.
2 years 1 month ago
Health, coronavirus, COVID-19, linda straker, who, world health organisation
Glaucoma detection key to MIGS success
I am a comprehensive ophthalmologist practicing at the Center for Excellence in Eye Care, a subspecialty ophthalmology group in Miami. Given our location, we see a high proportion of minority patients from the Caribbean.Minorities, overall, experience a higher incidence of visual impairment from glaucoma than non-minorities.
There are many potential reasons for health care disparities among minority populations, including income and language barriers, medication costs and other factors. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study showed a correlation between glaucoma and corneal thickness, and
2 years 1 month ago
Covid vaccines arrive - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers
Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers
2 years 1 month ago
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Investigational Three-Month TB Regimen Safe but Ineffective
The first clinical trial of three-month tuberculosis (TB) treatment regimen is closing enrollment because of a high rate of unfavourable outcomes with the investigational course of treatment. AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5362, also known as the CLO-FAST trial, sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a three-month clofazimine- and high-dose rifapentine-containing regimen.
Interim data analysis showed that participants taking the investigational regimen experienced ongoing or recurring TB at rates above the study protocol's threshold.
Based on these findings, the study’s independent Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommended closing enrollment and modifying the treatment and follow-up of participants who received the investigational regimen to optimize outcomes. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, accepted the DSMB recommendations. Participants are notified of the findings, and analyses of the study data are ongoing.
The daily regimen evaluated in CLO-FAST consisted of eight weeks of clofazimine (a 300 mg two-week loading dose followed by 100 mg for six weeks), high-dose rifapentine (1200 mg), isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (PHZEC), followed by five weeks of clofazimine (100 mg) with rifapentine, isoniazid and pyrazinamide (PHZC). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the investigational regimen or six-month standard-of-care treatment or to participate in a sub-study focused on the investigational regimen’s pharmacokinetics (i.e., how the body distributes, absorbs, metabolizes and excretes drugs). The trial began enrollment in November 2021 and had enrolled 104 of 185 planned adult participants at sites in Haiti, India, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe at the time of the interim analysis.
While the investigational regimen did not meet study efficacy criteria, the DSMB determined there were no safety concerns with the drugs. In alignment with DSMB recommendations, participants randomized to receive the investigational regimen will complete the full three months of treatment as planned, then take an additional three months of rifampin and isoniazid. Follow-up of participants in the investigational arm will be extended from 65 weeks to 117 weeks. Participants who already completed the investigational regimen will be monitored closely to confirm they remain free of TB and will receive full standard treatment as indicated.
The World Health Organization estimates that 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2021, and 1.6 million people died-the first increase in those estimates in more than a decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 13 million people in the United States live with latent TB infection. TB bacteria remain alive but inactive-and 8,300 TB cases were reported nationwide in 2022. Identifying shorter TB treatment regimens is crucial for limiting the spread of infection, reducing drug resistance, improving the quality of life for people with TB disease, and reducing demands on health systems worldwide.
The interim results of the CLO-FAST trial do not support advancing this specific regimen for further evaluation, but the study data will provide essential evidence to inform TB science. NIAID continues prioritising research to advance TB treatment, including evaluating new drug combinations to simplify or shorten treatment duration. NIAID and the A5362 study team express deep gratitude to the study sites and participants participating in the CLO-FAST trial.
2 years 1 month ago
Pulmonology,Pulmonology News,Top Medical News
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Bombay HC Directs DY Patil Medical College to return original documents to 3 students
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court bench has recently directed Kolhapur-based DY Patil Medical College to return back the original certificates of three medical students by July 10, 2023.
These documents include the MBBS marksheets of those three students and their degree certificates. All these documents are essential for admission to Postgraduate courses. It was alleged by the students that their documents were being wrongly withheld by their institute.
Further, the HC bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale slammed the institute for not having representation before the Court despite being issued a notice on June 15.
“It is not just regrettable but a matter of concern that a college believes that no court can compel it to attend or act in a certain manner,’’ the Bombay High Court bench further noted.
Approaching the High Court bench the petitioner students claimed that their institute was wrongly withholding their original documents when they sought to leave.
While considering the matter, the HC bench took note of the fact that back in the year 2018, the State Government of Maharashtra had issued a notification disallowing private medical colleges from demanding compulsory service bonds after the completion of medical studies of their students.
Times of India adds that during the hearing of the case on June 15, the HC considered the submissions by the counsel for the students, and the Counsels for the Centre and University Grants Commission. After noting their submissions, the HC bench observed that even though the college was served with the petition, it did not appear before the Court. In order to ensure that the college had the opportunity to submit its reply and be heard, the HC bench issued another notice and the matter got adjourned by the Court. At that time, the bench had clarified that no further adjournments would be considered if the college stayed away.
However, the college still stayed away during the hearing of the matter on June 28. Taking note of this, the HC observed, "DY Patil College obviously does not think it is necessary to respond to notices issued by the court or to remain present…if the college fails to remain present despite notice it takes the consequences," adding "it will not be permitted to complain that it was not heard."
The Daily adds that the institute has also not issued the original post graduate certificates and marksheets since May 2022. The Counsel for UGC informed that back in the year 2018, it had notified that the colleges recognised by it as universities or deemed universities could not retain original certificates submitted at the time of admission.
Taking note of this, the court noted that it was “wholly unable” to see especially in the face of the UGC directive “how the DY Patil Medical College can conduct itself in this fashion’’. With this observation, the bench directed the college to hand over the original documents to the three petitioner doctors and listed the matter for further hearing on June 17 to ensure compliance.
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