In a remarkable achievement, a team led by Dr Megraj Ingle in Mumbai, has successfully treated a 61-year-old man suffering from a rare and complex swallowing disorder, Achalasia. The patient, who had been struggling with severe difficulty swallowing for two years, found relief through an innovative treatment approach. This successful treatment not only brought immense relief to the patient but also improved his overall health. Two years ago, Suhas R. Mungaker, a resident of Mumbai experienced hiccups while eating which he initially dismissed as something everyone goes through. As time passed, he started to feel a sensation of gagging and the impression that food was getting stuck in his throat. To alleviate this, he would drink water and then attempt to eat again after a brief pause. Eventually, these issues seemed to subside for a while. However, he later began to have heartburn following meals, particularly during the summer months. He started taking antacids and other medications to manage the discomfort. His wife consulted with our family doctor about my ongoing issues with antacids, prompting him to recommend consulting Dr Megraj for further evaluation. Dr Megraj, director and senior consultant of gastroenterology at Gleneagles Hospital in Parel said, “On arrival, the patient was having difficulty eating food and weight loss as well as having chest pain. Done that revealed the presence of the rare condition known as Achalasia (wherein the esophagus is unable to move food and liquids down into the stomach). The endoscopy showed that there were three or four blockages in his esophagus. There was a narrowing of the esophagus close to the stomach. Every time he ate, the food would get lodged in his throat, and even drinking water afterward wouldn’t help as it would also get stuck. He often ended up vomiting the food back up. The endoscopy revealed a structure resembling a bird's beak. It is an uncommon condition due to the inability of the lower oesophagus sphincter to relax. This condition is quite uncommon, affecting only one in a million individuals. We see almost 10-20 yearly and no surgery was recommended." Dr Megraj added, “When was the barium swallow done that showed few hold-ups and the muscle in his oesophagus grew big and was holding his food and the oesophagus has got narrowed near the stomach. It is a procedure in which via endoscope a tunnel is created between layers of oesophagus wall & lower oesophagus muscle is cut. It’s a minimally invasive procedure. Recovery is fast, the day the patient got discharged he was swallowing food properly." “It was petrifying for me when two years ago, I would get hiccups during meals, which I dismissed without any action. It became extremely difficult for me to eat as I was diagnosed with a rare swallowing disorder which was unknown to me. However, I am forever indebted to Dr Megraj Ingle and his team for timely intervention. I can eat my favorite food without any difficulty now," added Mungaker. "At Gleneagles Hospitals, cutting-edge technology and advanced diagnostic tools empower us to tackle even the rarest swallowing disorders with precision and care. Our state-of-the-art equipment, combined with our expert medical team, ensures that patients receive the most innovative and effective treatments available for these complex conditions,” concluded Dr Bipin Chevale, CEO of the Mumbai hospital.
05 December,2024 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLow in calories and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, mushrooms make for an excellent addition to your diet and according to new research, eating just five small mushrooms a day could help combat a range of diseases, including heart disease, cancer and dementia. This is due to two key antioxidants — ergothioneine and glutathione. These substances play a significant role in neutralising damaging 'free radicals', which are implicated in a variety of severe diseases, according to researchers. “What we found is that, without a doubt, mushrooms are highest dietary source of these two antioxidants taken together, and that some types are really packed with both of them,” said Robert Beelman, director at the Penn State Centre for Plant and Mushroom Products for Health in the US. Portobello. Enoki. Porcini. Chanterelle. Stinkhorn. Puffball. Dung Cannon. Hair ice. Or the almost unpronounceable Hydnellum peckii. Try as hard but you can never remember - or pronounce - names of the nearly 14,000 kinds of mushroom found worldwide. You can’t eat them all either as a few are poisonous with macabre names (Deadly Dapperling, Destroying Angels, Death Cap, Autumn Skullcap). A few psychedelic mushrooms are so trippy that countries have tagged them illegal. However, there are several edible ones that are packed with nutrients. According to the Coimbatore-based Mushroom Foundation of India, mushrooms are rich in protein, carbohydrate and vitamins, are low in caloric value and hence are recommended for heart and diabetic patients. They are rich in proteins as compared to cereals, fruits and vegetables; the proteins are retained even after cooking. Since mushrooms possess low caloric value, high protein, high fibre content and high K: Na ratio, they are ideally suited for diabetic and hypertension patients, say researchers. There are eight most popular mushrooms in India, like button mushroom which are small, edible mushrooms with a closed cap and light brown or pale white flesh. It is the most popular mushroom variety grown and consumed the world over. It is good source of essential nutrients such as vitamins (B vitamins, vitamin D), minerals (selenium, copper, potassium), and antioxidants. Oyster mushroom are known for their tender flesh and velvety texture. A cup of raw, sliced oyster mushrooms has only 28 calories, and is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium and is high on nutrients like niacin, folic acid, vitamins C and B12, and the amino acid ergothioneine. Other varieties found in India are Shiitake mushroom, Cordyceps mushroom, Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Reishi mushroom, Turkey Tail mushroom and Chaga mushroom. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 December,2024 12:52 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSA team of researchers from Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based platform that can transform the search for molecules promoting healthy ageing. Published in the journal Nature Aging, the research represents a significant step forward in understanding and addressing the biological mechanisms of ageing. The AI platform -- AgeXtend -- is a multimodal geroprotector prediction platform that leverages bioactivity data from known geroprotectors to identify new molecules with the potential to slow ageing. The platform encompasses advanced AI modules capable of predicting geroprotective potential, evaluating toxicity, and identifying target proteins and mechanisms of action. This comprehensive approach ensures both accuracy and safety in the discovery process. “AgeXtend bridges the gap between artificial intelligence and biology, enabling us to not only predict potential anti-aging molecules but also understand how they work,” said Dr. Gaurav Ahuja, senior researcher and co-author of the study. The research demonstrated AgeXtend's remarkable ability to identify the longevity-enhancing effects of well-known compounds such as metformin and taurine, even when these molecules were excluded from the training data. AgeXtend further screened approximately 1.1 billion compounds, uncovering numerous promising candidates that were validated through rigorous experiments on yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans, and human cell models. “This platform has immense potential to unlock new pathways for therapeutic interventions in aging and age-related diseases,” Ahuja said. The study also explored natural metabolites from the human microbiome and their role in regulating cellular senescence. This underscores AgeXtend’s versatility and potential to uncover previously unknown mechanisms driving ageing. “AgeXtend is not just a prediction platform; it is a discovery engine. This work opens new possibilities to explore the biological complexity of ageing and find innovative ways to promote health and longevity. It’s an honour to contribute to such transformative research,” said Sakshi Arora, the first author of the study This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 December,2024 12:32 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSA study on Wednesday proved a suspected link between poor sleep and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). MASLD (formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is the most common liver disorder: it affects 30 per cent of adults and between 7 per cent and 14 per cent of children and adolescents. This prevalence is predicted to rise to more than 55 per cent of adults by 2040. While previous studies have implicated disturbances in the circadian clock and the sleep cycle in the development of MASLD, the new study by researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland showed for the first time that the sleep-wake rhythm in patients with MASLD does indeed differ from that in healthy individuals. In the paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Network Physiology, the team showed that patients with MASLD woke 55 per cent more often at night, and lay 113 per cent longer awake after having first fallen asleep, compared to healthy volunteers. Patients with MASLD also slept more often and longer during the day. “People with MASLD have significant fragmentation of their nightly sleep due to frequent awakenings and increased wakefulness,” said Dr Sofia Schaeffer, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Basel. The team recruited 46 adult women and men diagnosed with either MASLD, or MASH, or MASH with cirrhosis; compared them with eight patients who had non-MASH-related liver cirrhosis. These were also compared with 16 age-matched healthy volunteers. Each study participant was equipped with an actigraph -- to track gross motor activity with a sensor worn on the wrist -- to be worn at all times, which tracked light, physical activity, and body temperature. The results showed that sleep patterns and quality as measured by the actigraph were similarly impaired in patients with MASH, MASH with cirrhosis and non-MASH-related cirrhosis. Further, 32 per cent of patients with MASLD reported experiencing sleep disturbances caused by psychological stress, compared to only 6 per cent of healthy participants. The findings showed that "sleep fragmentation plays a role in the pathogenesis of human MASLD,” said Schaeffer. While it remains unknown whether MASLD causes sleep disorders or vice versa, the underlying mechanism likely involves "genetics, environmental factors, and the activation of immune responses -- ultimately driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 December,2024 11:09 AM IST | New DelhiThe traditional medicinal plant Subabul may help manage insulin resistance related to type 2 diabetes, according to research from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology. Subabul or Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit is a fast-growing leguminous tree commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant's leaves and immature seeds are eaten in the form of soups or salads, both raw and cooked. It is a rich source of protein and fibre. It has been traditionally used in human and animal food by different ethnic communities. The team examined the therapeutic potential of the seedpods from Subabul in managing insulin resistance, which occurs when cells in the body don't respond properly to insulin, ultimately leading to diabetes. They then developed a bio-activity-guided fraction and four active compounds by selecting the most active fraction after screening all the fractions for their bioactivity. The bioactive fraction showed enhanced insulin sensitisation in free fatty acid-induced skeletal muscle cells (C2C12). Further, "isolated active compound quercetin-3-glucoside from the plant showed upregulation of mitochondrial deacetylase enzyme Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which regulates insulin sensitivity along with the upregulated translocation of GLUT2,” the team said. GLUT2 is a protein that helps move glucose and fructose across cell membranes. The study also showed stable interactions of quercetin-3-glucoside with the SIRTI residue via the formation of hydrogen bonds The findings, published in the journal ACS Omega, "demonstrated the therapeutic potential of this plant in enhancing glucose uptake, following the ethnobotanical claim of the plant being used for diabetes and related diseases", the researchers said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 December,2024 09:55 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSUS researchers have, in a study on Monday, found a link between hidden belly fat, known as visceral fat, and abnormal proteins in the brain -- hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Visceral fat refers to the accumulation of fat around internal organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys, and the mesentery of the intestine. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which lies beneath the skin, visceral fat is metabolically active and poses greater health risks. The study, presented at the ongoing annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), showed that visceral fat can predict the risk of Alzheimer’s up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear. The study included 80 cognitively normal midlife individuals (average age: 49.4 years), of which about 57.5 per cent were obese, and the average body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 32.31. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri examined the association of BMI, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, liver fat fraction, thigh fat, and muscle, as well as insulin resistance and HDL (good cholesterol), with amyloid and tau deposition in Alzheimer’s disease. A higher level of visceral fat was related to increased amyloid -- accounting for 77 per cent of the effect of high BMI on amyloid accumulation. Other types of fat did not explain obesity-related increased Alzheimer’s pathology, the team said. “Our study showed that higher visceral fat was associated with higher PET levels of the two hallmark pathologic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease -- amyloid and tau,” said lead study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, post-doctoral research associate at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. The study also showed that higher insulin resistance and lower HDL were associated with high amyloid in the brain. The effects of visceral fat on amyloid pathology were partially reduced in people with higher HDL. The team urged for lifestyle modifications to reduce belly fat and cut down the development of Alzheimer’s disease. “This study goes beyond using BMI to characterize body fat more accurately with MRI and, in so doing, reveals key insights about why obesity can increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Dolatshahi said. Also Read: Kidney disease, diabetes may elevate heart disease risk 28 years sooner, finds study This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
03 December,2024 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSEating more plant-based protein than animal-based protein may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a new study on Monday. The study, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, showed that the risk reductions are likely driven by the replacement of red and processed meats with plant proteins and eating more legumes and nuts. “Such a dietary pattern is beneficial not just for human health but also the health of our planet," they said in the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study aims to pioneer the investigation of an ideal ratio of plant to animal protein and how it impacts health, specifically heart health. "The average American eats a 1:3 plant-to-animal protein ratio. Our findings suggest a ratio of at least 1:2 is much more effective in preventing CVD," said lead author Andrea Glenn, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University. Glenn worked on the study as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Chan School. To prevent CHD, a ratio of 1:1.3 or higher should come from plants, Glenn said. The team used 30 years of data on diet, lifestyle, and heart health among nearly 203,000 men and women. Throughout the four-year study period, 16,118 CVD cases, including over 10,000 CHD cases and over 6,000 stroke cases, were documented. The results showed that people who consumed a higher ratio of plant to animal protein (about 1:1.3) had a 19 per cent lower risk of CVD and a 27 per cent lower risk of CHD. Further, people who had their 21 per cent of energy coming from proteins and adhered to a higher plant-to-animal protein ratio saw a 28 per cent lower risk of CVD and a 36 per cent lower risk of CHD. According to the researchers, replacing processed meat with several plant protein sources, particularly nuts and legumes can improve blood lipids and blood pressure as well as inflammatory biomarkers. It is partly because plant proteins are often accompanied by high amounts of fibre, antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
02 December,2024 07:34 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSEarly diagnosis and treatment can help 70 per cent of patients with epilepsy -- a chronic neurological condition -- to lead normal lives, said health experts here on Monday. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that epilepsy affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. “India contributes to 10-12 million people, over one per cent of the total population and nearly one-sixth of the global burden. The prevalence in India ranges from 3.0 to 11.9 per 1,000 population. The high incidence has become a serious public health challenge for us and there is an urgent need for early diagnosis, clinical interventions, and care,” Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology, at Fortis Hospital, said. Symptoms of epilepsy include sudden numbness, body stiffness, shaking, fainting, speech difficulty, and involuntary urination. Despite its long history, awareness about epilepsy remains limited. Dr. Madhukar Bhardwaj, Director & HOD Neurology, Aakash Healthcare, said epilepsy is more common among children aged 8-12 years in India, with a five-year prevalence rate of 22.2 per 1,000 children. However, Gupta noted that the condition is significantly rising in adults. “In children, congenital abnormalities and infections dominate, while in young adults, traumatic brain injuries, neurocysticercosis, and meningitis are significant contributors. In our country neurocysticercosis, caused by tapeworm infections, accounts for nearly 30 per cent of epilepsy cases. Among the elderly, strokes and neurodegenerative conditions are leading causes,” Gupta said. The experts also shared on unique challenges faced by women with epilepsy, particularly due to the stigma around marriage and pregnancy. “Hormonal changes can exacerbate seizures, as seen in catamenial epilepsy, while societal attitudes often impact their personal lives. Despite this, advances in treatment have allowed most women to lead normal lives, with modern medications proving safe during pregnancy,” Gupta said. “Timely diagnosis and treatment can help 70 per cent of patients lead normal lives with proper medication and lifestyle adjustments,” Bhardwaj said. The management of the conditions includes antiepileptic medications, dietary therapies like the ketogenic diet, avoiding alcohol, and surgical interventions such as resective brain surgery and vagus nerve stimulation. “In the event of a seizure, proper first aid is critical. Lay the person on their side, avoid restraining them, and note the duration of the seizure. If it lasts more than two minutes, seek medical help immediately. Contrary to common misconceptions, never force objects into their mouth or make them inhale strong smells,” Bhardwaj said. He also urged individuals with epilepsy to avoid high-risk occupations like driving, piloting, or factory work involving sharp objects, as these could endanger themselves and others during a seizure. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
02 December,2024 07:19 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSChronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) -- a common fungal infection that claims 340,000 lives every year worldwide, can turn lethal for about 1 in three people with lung diseases, finds a study by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital. CPA, caused by exposure to airborne spores of the mould Aspergillus, causes gradual scarring of the lungs for months and years. It is a debilitating condition that causes severe tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness, and coughing up blood. While exposure to Aspergillus is harmless to most people, it may affect those with lung damage. The study, based on a major global review and published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed that around 32 per cent of people who have had prior damage from lung diseases will die after five years if they also get infected by CPA. Nearly 15 per cent of people with CPA will die in the first year following other lung diseases. AIIMS Delhi researchers Dr. Abinhav Sengupta and Dr. Animesh Ray examined the death rates in 8,778 patients described in the literature from all continents except Antarctica. The international study including researchers from the University of Manchester, showed that CPA patients with prior tuberculosis (TB) had a lower overall 5-year mortality of 25 per cent. However, they also found that patients with CPA end up being misdiagnosed as having TB, and then not treated with antifungal agents. Treatment with antifungal drugs or surgery is key to improving symptoms and also reducing the risk of death, the researchers said. Further, people older than 60, and those having interstitial lung disease, current cancer, and smoking-related lung disease carried worse outcomes, said the team. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 December,2024 12:50 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSSARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic, remains in the skull and meninges for years after infection, leading to a long-lasting effect on the brain, according to a major German study. Researchers from Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) found that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remains in the brain's protective layers -- the meninges, and the skull's bone marrow for up to four years after infection. These spike proteins are responsible for triggering chronic inflammation in affected individuals and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, the team found. Prof. Ali Ertürk, Director at the Institute for Intelligent Biotechnologies at Helmholtz Munich said that the long-term neurological effects include “accelerated brain ageing, potentially leading to a loss of five to 10 years of healthy brain function in affected individuals." The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, may also have neurological symptoms of long Covid such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and “brain fog,” or cognitive impairment. About five to 10 per cent of people infected with Covid are likely to experience long Covid -- approximately 400 million individuals may carry a significant amount of the spike protein. Notably, vaccines against the deadly virus significantly reduce the accumulation of the spike protein in the brain, said the researchers. However, the reduction was “only around 50 per cent in mice, leaving residual spike protein that continues to pose a toxic risk to the brain”. For the study, the team developed a novel AI-powered imaging technique to understand how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein affects the brain. The method, which offers a three-dimensional visualisation of viral proteins, was deployed to find previously undetectable distributions of spike protein in tissue samples from Covid-19 patients and mice. The findings revealed significantly elevated concentrations of spike protein in the skull's bone marrow and meninges, even years after infection. The spike protein binds to so-called ACE2 receptors, particularly abundant in these regions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
01 December,2024 01:01 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe Southeast Asia region, including India, has about 3.9 million people living with HIV (PLHIV), representing 10 per cent of the global burden, WHO's Regional Director, South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, said ahead of World AIDS Day. In the region, 78 per cent of PLHIV knew their status in 2023. While 66 per cent received lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, 64 per cent had suppressed viral load. Wazed informed that despite treatments, the region also has a high burden (80,000 children and adolescents aged 0-14) due to vertical transmission (mother-to-child); and about 53,000 infants are born with congenital syphilis. "These children are one too many as there are effective interventions to eliminate mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, labour, and childbirth," she said. "While we have made significant strides in reducing HIV/AIDS rates through strong national commitments, we must acknowledge the ongoing challenges that persist," Wazed noted. In addition, marginalised populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, people who inject drugs, trans and gender-diverse individuals, and prisoners continue to face disproportionate impacts due to stigma, discrimination, and in some cases, criminalisation. She called for “confronting the inequalities” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030. Further, Wazed called the theme, "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right" this year, "a rallying cry for accessible, rights-based healthcare that empowers those affected by HIV/AIDS to live vibrant and fulfilling lives". The Regional Director also urged for "boldly tackling the stigma and discrimination that stand as formidable barriers to accessing prevention, treatment, and care". "On this World AIDS Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the health and rights of all individuals affected by HIV/AIDS," Wazed said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
01 December,2024 08:30 AM IST | New DelhiADVERTISEMENT
