Plea in SC seeking expert panel to examine possible side effects, risk factors of Covishield

A plea was submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, urging the establishment of a medical expert panel overseen by a retired apex court judge. This panel would be tasked with assessing potential side effects and risk factors associated with the Covishield vaccine.

It claimed that UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has said that its vaccine against COVID-19, which was made under licence in India as Covishield, could cause low platelet counts and formation of blood clots in “very rare” cases.
For more information, click on the link below:

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Gynaecologist Dr Sravanthi Gadhiraju wins title of Mrs India Global Ambassador

Hyderabad: Inspiring others to have faith in their ability to achieve success, a well-known gynaecologist Dr Sravanthi Gadhiraju has been crowned the prestigious title of Mrs India Global Ambassador.   

She received the prestigious award in Gurugram for her outstanding representation of her state at the national level. This recognition led her to be honoured with the opportunity to serve as India’s global ambassador, showcasing the country’s rich culture, traditions, and values.   

Dr Sravanthi Gadhiraju previously clinched the title of Mrs India Telangana 2023.

Apart from winning the title, Dr Sravanthi Gadhiraju is also widely known for her duties as a devoted doctor towards her patients. With extensive experience in the medical field, she has held various roles, including Government Medical Officer, Tutor, Civil Assistant Surgeon, and Assistant Professor.    

Also read- After Losing 31 Kgs, Ghaziabad Physiotherapist Wins Beauty Pageant

In 2022, she founded Sravanthi Hospitals now serving as a Consultant Gynaecologist, contributing to comprehensive women’s healthcare services, a one-stop destination for females, offering access to specialized doctors under one roof.       

Dr Sravanthi Gadhiraju is a leading Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and an Obs-Gyn Laparoscopic Surgeon with close to a decade of clinical experience in the field. She studied MBBS at SVIMS, Tirupati and her MS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Gandhi Medical College in 2010.    

She has done Fellowship-Minimal Access Laparoscopic surgery in 2012 from World Laparoscopic Hospital-New Delhi.

Dr Gadhiraju is an International Fellow in Gynecology and Oncology at Rosewell Park Cancer Institute in 2018 in Buffalo City, USA. She is registered with the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council.

Mrs Deepali Phadnis and regional director Mrs Mamta Trivedi lead Mrs India and Mrs India Telangana pageants, respectively. It is India’s Largest National Platform to showcase the Beauty, Glamour, Talent and Culture of Indian Married Women.   

Also Read: Renowned Interventional Cardiologist Dr Tejas Patel wins Padma Bhushan, expresses gratitude

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NEET UG 2024: NTA releases advisory for candidates

Through an advisory, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued important guidelines, instructions to be followed on exam day by the candidates appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) for 2024.

Tomorrow i.e. Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 02:00 PM to 05:20 PM, NTA is going to conduct NEET-UG 2024 for more than 24 lakh candidates at various centres located in 557 cities across the country including 14 cities outside India.
For more information, click on the link below:
NEET 2024 Tomorrow: NTA Issues Advisory For Candidates, Complete Details Here

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Medical Colleges Under Tight Scrutiny of National Medical Commission

New Delhi: Medical Colleges have come under extremely tight scrutiny of the National Medical Commission (NMC), as the Apex Medical Regulator has stressed on meeting the faculty as well as infrastructure requirements.

Earlier, medical colleges were facing physical inspections, where a team of assessors would go and visit medical colleges and assess those facilities. This process was widely criticized and accused of being full of bribery and corruption. It was alleged that the assessor would take bribes and approve medical colleges. 

However, under the new system, the Apex Medical Regulator is slowly moving online in terms of inspection of medical colleges as well as overseeing the fulfilment of requirements. Although online, with features, like AEBAS and biometric attendance system, it is being difficult for medical colleges to engage ghost faculties.

“We are not conducting physical inspections, as far as possible. So the colleges have to fill up the report and NMC follows the reports,” Dr. Aruna Vanikar, the President of NMC UG Medical Education Board (UGMEB) told Medical Dialogues.

She further informed that NMC has been in talks with the medical colleges across the country on a daily basis to ensure that the medical colleges have been complying with the requirements regarding faculty numbers, biometric attendance, clinical materials and other rules. The process is ongoing and NMC has already reached out to the administrators of around half of the medical colleges.

“The UG Board has started taking action as our aim is to ensure the best quality of medical education. If medical students are not trained, how will they treat patients in the future?

Previously, the Government Medical Colleges used to give an affidavit stating that they would fulfil the requirements as per the rules. However, later, many of these colleges failed to fulfill such requirements.

“That’s why, as a first step, we have started imposing fines. Such practices are not going to be allowed anymore,” Dr Aruna Vanikar said, adding that no written communications have been issued yet and it will be done in the coming time. 

“We have a team of experts and if everything is found to be ok, no action is taken against the colleges. However, majority of the colleges have failed in this,” she further mentioned.

Also Read: First time: NMC slaps fine on 3 TN medical colleges for Faculty, Clinical Material Deficiencies

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that for the first time, taking note of deficiencies in faculty and clinical material, NMC imposed fines on medical colleges for violating the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER) rules. As per a recent media report, the Commission slapped a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh on government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, including the colleges in Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram, and Nagapattinam. Apart from these colleges, the Commission reportedly has also issued show-cause notices to many other colleges for deficiencies in Aadhaar-based biometric attendance.

NMC in the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 or MSMER 2023 had mentioned that the Commission may impose several forms of penalty such as issuing a warning to the medical college to rectify or comply, imposing monetary penalty up to Rs 1 crore, imposing penalty up to Rs 5 lakhs to the faculties of the medical college for misconduct. It may also withhold the accreditation process, recommend to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC to withhold the application process for any new course including an increase of seats in the existing course, reduce the number of students in the next or subsequent academic years, stop admission to one or more courses, recommend for withdrawal of permission, withhold or withdraw accreditation for up to five academic years.

The provisions of monetary penalties, as mentioned in the MSMER-2023 Regulations stated, “Monetary penalty not exceeding INR one crore per violation or act of omission by the medical institution.”

“Monetary penalty not exceeding Rupees five lakh for the faculty/Head of the Department (HoD)/ Dean/Director/doctor submitting false declaration/documents/records (including patients’ records). Further, they can also be charged or penalized for misconduct under the Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations in vogue,” the regulations further mentioned.

Tight Scrutiny of NMC to Ensure Quality of Medical Education: 

Under the new rules, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has done away with the requirements of getting recognition for the medical seats separately. Now, all the permitted seats are recognized. Therefore, after getting admitted to the MBBS course, the students do not have to worry about the recognition of the seats and they finish their course with a recognized degree. However, due to this, the need to ensure that medical colleges are complying with the prescribed standards of medical education has become more important than ever.

Stressing the need to ensure that the medical students are getting quality medical education, Dr. Vanikar further informed that this is why NMC has asked the colleges to give an Annual Declaration, through which the colleges will have to fill up the details explaining how their performance was last year. Referring to the AEBAS and biometric attendance system, she informed that the rules regarding this were implemented in 2022 to regularly check whether the faculties and resident doctors were regularly working or not.

“We are not doing any policing. Once a day they have to mark their attendance- only on the working days and not the holidays. Out of all these working days, only 75% of the working days attendance is mandated,” Dr. Aruna Vanikar said.

Notably, NMC has persistently urged medical colleges to adopt the Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance system (AEBAS). This move is aimed at ensuring transparency and authenticity in faculty attendance.

Also Read: Faculty Shortage, Violation of MSR: 349 out of 654 medical colleges get NMC Show Cause Notice

Minimum Number of Faculties:

The Apex Medical Regulator has also prescribed what should be the minimum number of teachers required to impart education to the students at the medical colleges. Dr. Vanikar informed that “As of now, we have not implemented the new MSR 2023, under which the required number of college faculties has been increased. Till the coming academic year, we have asked the colleges to comply with the requirements under MSR 2020.”

Informing that NMC gave enough time to the medical colleges to comply with the faculty requirement, she added, “Till February, several colleges did not have the required number of professors and association professors. However, if it is found that they have appointed the required number of faculties, no action is being taken against them.”

Indian Medical Colleges have been reeling under a shortage of adequate faculty for a long time. Last year, in an assessment conducted for the academic year 2022-2023, NMC had unveiled a disconcerting reality within a majority of medical colleges. Those institutes were riddled with ghost faculties and senior residents, coupled with none meeting the mandated 50% attendance requirement.

Last year, 349 out of the total 654 medical colleges across the country got a show cause notice from the Apex Medical regulator for violations of the Minimum Standard Requirements 2020 including a deficiency in having the required faculty numbers

Clinical Material:

Apart from the required number of faculties, the medical colleges also need to ensure that there is adequate clinical material available to impart education to the medical students. However, several colleges have been found to be lacking adequate clinical material such as blood bank facilities, enough number of OPD patients etc. 

Dr. Vanikar informed that for every medical student, there should be 8 OPD patients every working day and there should be around 80% bed occupancy. Similarly, for anatomy classes, Cadavers are required. Further, there are some specific requirements regarding basic clinical investigations, operative load, number of deliveries conducted etc. Regarding the Family Adoption Programme, she said me that every student should adopt three households.

Referring to the annual MBBS examinations, she added, “We have done away with the Inspector Raaj. The senior-most examiner is Assessor and he reports whether the examination was conducted properly or not. He will give the data regarding the internal and external examination.” She further added that NMC has asked for Faculty Declaration from the colleges and the faculties have been directed to submit their own CVs.

Also Read: Meeting Specialists Shortage, Dr VK Paul Calls for Support for DNB Programmes

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Health Bulletin 04/ May/ 2024

Here are the top health stories for the day:

NEET-UG 2024: NTA to hold undergraduate medical entrance exam tomorrow
Through an advisory, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has issued important guidelines, instructions to be followed on exam day by the candidates appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) for 2024.
Tomorrow i.e. Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 02:00 PM to 05:20 PM, NTA is going to conduct NEET-UG 2024 for more than 24 lakh candidates at various centres located in 557 cities across the country including 14 cities outside India.
For more information, click on the link below:
NEET 2024 Tomorrow: NTA Issues Advisory For Candidates, Complete Details Here
Dabur on ethylene oxide in masala products: ‘Not used in domestic markets’
Dabur India clarified that its domestic masala products, including those under the Badshah brand, are not treated with ethylene oxide. While ethylene oxide is used within prescribed limits for international markets, Dabur ensures adherence to safety standards, as affirmed by the Indian Spice Board. The company’s batches for export undergo scrutiny to meet required standards, with a preference for steam sterilization over ethylene oxide.
Despite recent bans on MDH and Everest spices in Singapore and Hong Kong due to elevated ethylene oxide levels, Dabur’s masala portfolio remains unaffected. The company emphasized its commitment to safety and established a micro lab to ensure sterilization of export batches without ethylene oxide.

Form expert panel to examine possible side effects, risk factors of Covishield vaccine; seeks plea filed in SC
A plea was submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, urging the establishment of a medical expert panel overseen by a retired apex court judge. This panel would be tasked with assessing potential side effects and risk factors associated with the Covishield vaccine.
It claimed that UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has said that its vaccine against COVID-19, which was made under licence in India as Covishield, could cause low platelet counts and formation of blood clots in “very rare” cases.
For more information, click on the link below:


What is FLiRT – The new COVID-19 variant on the rise in the US?

Since the COVID pandemic has slowed down and cases have dropped, there are now new versions of the virus popping up. One of these is called FLiRT, and it’s spreading fast in the US. FLiRT comes from a version of the virus called JN.1 that caused a lot of cases last winter. Scientists are especially worried about a part of FLiRT called KP.2.
About 25 percent of the new COVID cases in the US are from KP.2. Experts are still figuring out if FLiRT spreads easily or makes people really sick. They’ve found that FLiRT has changes in its spike protein, which helps the virus infect people.

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400-bed Damani Multi-Speciality Hospital to come up in Borivali

Mumbai: In a bid to enhance the healthcare facilities in Mumbai, a 400-bed Damani Multi Speciality Hospital is to come up in Borivali. It will be developed on a part of the 8.8-acre plot acquired by Radhakishan Damani from CCI Projects.

Borivali, located in North Mumbai, is soon to witness the emergence of the largest hospital in the city, in terms of bed capacity, thanks to the efforts of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who also serves as the BJP’s and Mahayuti candidate for North Mumbai in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

During the curtain raiser event for Damani Multi Speciality Hospital in Borivali, Piyush Goyal, after reviewing the presentation, suggested to the hospital management to consider increasing the bed capacity from the initially planned 400 to 1,000 beds, in light of the growing healthcare needs of the population in North Mumbai.

According to an ANI report, He said that North Mumbai deserves the best state of health infrastructure and he would do his utmost to ensure that no one’s healthcare is compromised on the ground of easy access to a world-class health facility in the area. 

Also Read:Fortis Healthcare opens 80-bedded multi-speciality hospital in Bengaluru

Amidst a standing ovation, Damani Hospital management accepted the suggestion of Piyush Goyal and promised to enhance the bed capacity.

Piyush Goyal praised the Damania family for their unstinted philanthropy in the field of health care. The event was also attended by Speaker Lok Sabha Om Birla.

The hospital also accepted the advice of Piyush Goyal to add wings on Oncology and neo-natal Care. Urology- Lithotripsy, Nephrology, state-of-the-art radiation facility and PET- Scan centre. 

Speaking on the occasion, Piyush Goyal also asked Damani Hospital management to help in skilling and training nurses and Paramedics in Mumbai which would help not only create job opportunities for youth but also improve the standards of medical care in hospitals in the region.

Piyush Goyal also implored the project planners to push to complete the entire project by September 2026, which is 2 years earlier than what was being planned for completion in 2028.

He said that completion of the hospital in September 2026 would be a perfect 75th birthday gift to PM Modi on 17th September 2026, which is observed as Sewa Divas.

It may be noted that Damani Multi-super speciality Hospital, is an upcoming premier healthcare destination in Borivali (E), Mumbai. Notably, it will fill the crucial gap as the first multi-super speciality hospital in the north Mumbai region.

The multi-speciality hospital aims to serve society by offering world-class health care and infrastructure. It is built on a land parcel of 3.64 Acres (14,748 Sqm). The total construction area for the hospital’s 1,000-bed capacity is 16,00,000 sqft approximately. The building has a parking facility for 800 cars approximately.

As per the plans, the hospital is predominantly being created to cater to residents of North Mumbai. With its extensive range of services, advanced facilities, and patient-centric approach, it is set to make a significant impact on healthcare delivery in the region, reports news agency ANI.

Prioritizing excellence, leveraging technology, and engaging in community outreach, the Damani Multi-super speciality Hospital is poised to positively impact the health and well-being of the community it serves.

Also Read:Max Healthcare to double bed capacity in 4-5 years, will invest Rs 2500 cr in UP

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Challenges and Progress in Malaria Eradication: A Global Perspective – Dr Gagan Brar

Malaria, a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, continues to be a significant public health challenge in many parts of the world. Despite concerted efforts to eradicate it, malaria persists in certain countries, posing a threat to millions of lives.

Understanding the reasons behind its persistence, the measures taken by countries that have successfully eradicated it, the symptoms of the disease, the risk factors, and its relationship with other health issues like COVID-19 are crucial for advancing global health agendas.

Why Malaria Persists?

The persistence of malaria in some countries can be attributed to several factors:

Complexity of the Malaria Parasite: The Plasmodium parasite exists in various species and strains, some of which are more resistant to treatment and eradication efforts than others.

Drug Resistance: Over time, the malaria parasite has developed resistance to several antimalarial drugs, diminishing the effectiveness of treatment in certain regions.

Vector Control Challenges: Ensuring effective vector control measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying is difficult in some regions due to limited resources, infrastructure, and climate conditions.

Climate and Environment: Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and rainfall play a significant role in the prevalence of malaria. Climate change can impact the distribution and transmission of the disease, making eradication efforts more challenging.

Socioeconomic Factors: Poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, lack of education, and poor sanitation contribute to the persistence of malaria by hindering effective control and prevention programs.

Political Instability: Political instability, conflicts, and lack of governance can disrupt healthcare systems, hinder prevention efforts, and create favourable conditions for the spread of the disease.

Challenges in Surveillance and Diagnosis: Inadequate surveillance systems and diagnostic capabilities lead to underreporting of malaria cases, allowing the disease to persist and spread unchecked.

Global Health Priorities: Competing health priorities and limited resources may divert attention and funding away from malaria eradication efforts, slowing progress in eliminating the disease.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained commitment, collaboration among stakeholders, research, innovation, and investment in health systems.

Success Stories in Malaria Eradication

Despite these challenges, significant progress has been made, with 44 countries and territories certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). These countries have implemented comprehensive measures including:

Absence of Local Transmission: Demonstrating no indigenous transmission of malaria within their borders for several consecutive years.

Robust Surveillance and Response: Implementing effective surveillance systems to detect potential malaria cases promptly and respond rapidly to prevent re-establishment of transmission.

Sustainable Control Measures: Maintaining vector control programs, access to high-quality diagnostics and treatment, and comprehensive prevention strategies.

Verification and Certification Process: Undergoing rigorous evaluation by an independent expert panel convened by the WHO to determine eligibility for malaria-free certification.

Countries employ a range of strategies including vector control, case management, surveillance and response, preventive chemotherapy, community engagement, and cross-sectoral collaboration to combat malaria and achieve malaria-free status.

Symptoms

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headaches, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, jaundice, seizures, and coma.

Prevention

Preventive measures include using insect repellent, sleeping under mosquito nets, wearing protective clothing, taking anti-malarial medications, removing standing water, indoor residual spraying, seeking medical advice promptly, and staying informed about malaria risks.

Risk Factors and Relapse

Behavioural aspects and individual characteristics influence the risk of contracting malaria. Factors such as travel to endemic areas, outdoor activities, failure to use protective measures, immune status, genetic factors, previous exposure, climate change, and drug resistance contribute to malaria risk.

After recovery, individuals may experience relapse, especially with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale infections. Completing full treatment courses, taking radical cure medications, regular follow-ups, lifestyle modifications, and consulting healthcare providers are essential to prevent relapse.

Malaria and COVID-19

While there is no direct causal relationship between malaria and COVID-19, individuals with compromised immunity may be more susceptible to infections. Co-infection with malaria and COVID-19 could lead to more severe illness and complications.

Overlapping symptoms, strain on healthcare systems, public health strategies, research, and surveillance are crucial for addressing the burden of both diseases.

To sum it up, the fight against malaria requires a multi-faceted approach involving political commitment, international collaboration, innovation, and investment in health systems.

By addressing the challenges, learning from success stories, understanding symptoms, risk factors, and relationships with other health issues like COVID-19, we can work towards achieving the ultimate goal of malaria eradication globally.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.

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Lack of Essential Equipment: NMC Halts Admission to MD Radiation Oncology course at GMCH Nagpur

Nagpur: In a major setback to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has halted admissions to MD seats in Radiation Oncology at the institute for the academic year 2024-2025.

According to a recent report by The Hitavada, the Apex Medical Commission stopped admissions after highlighting that the Department of Radiotherapy in the institute does not have adequate essential equipment. Due to this, the medical college will not be able to admit students to the MD Radiation Oncology course for the academic year 2024-2025. The seats will be restored based on the assessment of the medical college/institute, as per the maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023.

However, the decision by the Commission to stop admissions would not affect the students admitted by the medical college till the academic year 2023-2024. The PG degrees awarded to such students will be considered as recognised for the purpose of registration of the degrees awarded by the University.

Also Read: HC allows to use of Rs 3.67 crore unspent funds for GMC Nagpur equipment

The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court back in 2017 had directed the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), now National Medical Commission (NMC) not to stop the admissions to the PG Radiotherapy course till the proposed Cancer Hospital or Institute comes up in the college premises.

While considering a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Dr. Krishna Kamble, the HC bench had clarified that the PG course offered in Radiotherapy was rare in Maharashtra in a Government set-up. Back then, the State Government had proposed setting ip Cancer Hospital/Institute in the college premises.

Considering this aspect, back then, the Division bench of the HC had directed the MCI, now NMC to continue the recognition of PG course in Radiotherapy or Radiation Oncology by carrying out inspections from time to time as per the law, till a Cancer Hospital/Institute got set up in the college.

However, halting the admissions to the course, NMC stated, The Board got the assessment of GMCH done for verification of infrastructure, clinical material, faculty for all-round training of students, as per curricular requirement,” as quoted by The Hitavada. It further mentioned that the Board “found deficiencies, such as inadequate OPD workload in the department, procurement of Linear Accelerator under process at Government-level, and Brachytherapy machine not functioning.”

Also Read: NMC permission to GMC Nagpur for 4 MCh Neurosurgery Seats

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Aurobindo Pharma receives tax demand of over Rs 13 crore, including interest, penalty

New Delhi: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd has been issued a tax demand exceeding Rs 13 crore by the GST authority. This demand encompasses both interest and penalties and relates to the company’s ineligible input tax credit claim.

The Deputy Commissioner (ST) STU-1 of GST, Punjagutta Division, Hyderabad, Commercial Taxes Department, Telangana, has passed an order under relevant provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and TGST Act 2017 for the FY 2018-19 demanding reversal of ITC and payment of GST amounting to Rs. 6,54,50,645 along with interest of Rs.5,92,20,900/-. A penalty of Rs. 65,51,354.

It claims ineligible ITC and orders reversal of ITC and demanding GST along with interest, the company stated.

The Company is intending to file appeal before Appellate Authority, Aurobindo Pharma stated in a BSE filing.

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma appoints T Vijaya Kumar as President – RnD (Specialty Drug Delivery)

There is no material impact on the Company financials or operations due to the said order, the Company further added.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Sun Pharmaceutical Industries had been served with a tax demand of over Rs 1.11 crore by authorities, citing disallowed input tax credit.

Read also: Sun Pharma served with tax demand of Rs 1.11 crore

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Medical Bulletin 04/ May/ 2024

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise may synergistically enhance health

Researchers from the University of Sfax in Tunisia discovered that combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training may improve body composition and cardiometabolic parameters more than either practice alone.

The study published in the journal PLOS ONE explained that time-restricted eating limits when individuals eat but not what individuals eat. High-intensity functional training combines intense aerobic and resistance exercise.

Time-restricted eating involves limiting food intake to specific windows of time, promoting metabolic flexibility and weight management. High-intensity exercise, characterized by short bursts of intense activity, enhances cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and metabolic rate. When integrated, these approaches may optimize insulin sensitivity, blood sugar control, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the combination may promote fat loss, muscle growth, and cellular repair mechanisms.

In the study, researchers assigned 64 women with obesity to one of three groups: time-restricted eating (diet only), high-intensity functional training (exercise only), or time-restricted eating plus high-intensity functional training (diet and exercise).The participants following only the time-restricted eating regimen ate only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Subjects in the functional training groups worked out three days a week with an instructor.

The results showed that all three groups experienced significant weight loss and decreases in waist and hip circumference after 12 weeks. All three groups also showed positive changes in glucose and lipid levels.

Researchers also observed improvementsin fat-free mass and blood pressure among those in the diet and exercise group as well as the exercise groups. However, those improvements weren’t seen in the diet-only group.Subjects in the diet and exercise group generally saw more pronounced changes in body composition and cardiometabolic parameters than either diet or exercise alone groups.

“Periods of fasting force the body to burn calorie reserves – fat, after immediate reserves are consumed – and intense physical activity also burns fat. Time of eating can affect a person’s weight. Consuming a larger number of calories later in the day can leave less time for a body to metabolize calories, as there is less calorie consumption when you sleep. Although more research is needed, it’s believed that eating in alignment with circadian rhythms might enhance metabolism, although the ideal timing for meals can vary based on individual lifestyle and metabolic differences,” said the study authors.

Reference:Ranya Ameur ,Rami Maaloul ,SémahTagougui,FadouaNeffati,Faten Hadj Kacem,Mohamed Fadhel Najjar,AchrafAmmar,Omar Hammouda; Unlocking the power of synergy: High-intensity functional training and early time-restricted eating for transformative changes in body composition and cardiometabolic health in inactive women with obesity; PLOS ONE; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301369

Study suggest staying active to boost quality of life in middle-aged women

According to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine, consistent adherence to physical activity guidelines throughout middle-age is associated with a higher health-related quality of life in women.

Staying active during middle age offers numerous benefits that significantly enhance the quality of life for women. Regular physical activity during this life stage helps maintain cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke. It also supports healthy weight management, which is crucial for overall well-being and reducing the risk of obesity-related health issues. Additionally, staying active improves muscle strength, flexibility, and bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss.

In the study, researchers used data collected at three-year intervals beginning in 1996 from 11,336 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Participants were classified as either meeting WHO physical activity guidelines — of 150 minutes of activity a week — consistently throughout the fifteen-year exposure period. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the physical health composite score (PCS) and mental health composite score (MCS), which included questions about functional health and well-being.

The results revealed that on average, people who consistently met physical activity guidelines and those who first started to meet guidelines at age 55 had a three-point higher PCS compared to those that did not meet physical activity guidelines. The effect of physical activity on the PSC was significant even after controlling for socioeconomic factors and pre-existing health diagnoses. However, there was no significant association between physical activity and MCS.

“Combined with existing evidence, this study contributes to growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age,” the authors say. “An important public health message is that being active for as many years as possible, even if women start to meet physical activity guidelines in their mid-50s, could have important health benefits in terms of physical health, especially in physical functioning.Our study shows that it’s important for women to be active throughout mid-age to gain the most benefits for physical health in later life. Ideally, women should increase their activity levels to meet the guidelines by age 55,” said the study authors.

Reference:Binh Nguyen ,PhilipClare,Gregore I. Mielke,Wendy J. Brown,Ding Ding; Physical activity across midlife and health-related quality of life in Australian women: A target trial emulation using a longitudinal cohort; PLOS Medicine; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004384

Children with hypertension at higher risk for heart conditions, finds study

According to a study being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, youth with high blood pressure are nearly four times more likely to be at long-term risk of serious heart conditions including stroke and heart attack.

Hypertension affects one of every 15 children and adolescents worldwide and is a growing concern, according to previous researches. A child is diagnosed with hypertension when their average blood pressure is at or above the 95th percentile for their age, sex and height. While the reason for the increase in pediatric hypertension is not entirely clear, it is considered to be due to obesity.

High blood pressure can cause many heart conditions, including:

1. Coronary artery disease where the arteries that supply blood to the heart are narrowed and damaged. Too little blood flow to the heart can lead to chest pain, called angina and cause irregular heart rhythms.

2.Heart failure where the heart muscle weakens or becomes stiff and functions poorly.

3. Metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of health conditions that can lead to stroke or diabetes.

The study found that during an average follow-up of 13 years, youth with hypertension were at two to four times higher risk of experiencing heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or cardiac surgery compared to youth without hypertension. Experts said that improved blood pressure screening and treatment during childhood may reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease as an adult.

“Devoting more resources to pediatric blood pressure screening and control could lower the risks of long-term heart conditions in children with hypertension. More awareness about the importance of regular screening and follow-up for pediatric hypertension may prevent children from developing significant adverse heart outcomes later in life”said Cal H. Robinson, MD, pediatric nephrology fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and presenting author.

Reference:Cal H. Robinson, MD et al.; Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in children and adolescents with hypertension: A population-based, propensity-matched cohort study; Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meetingheld May 3-6 in Toronto.

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