Long COVID may harm cognition
In a finding that unearths yet another way Long COVID can harm health, new research finds the condition may trigger thinking declines.
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Sleep apnea symptoms linked to memory and thinking problems
People who experience sleep apnea may be more likely to also have memory or thinking problems, according to a preliminary study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting taking place April 13–18, 2024, in person in Denver and online. The study shows a positive association but did not determine whether sleep apnea causes cognitive decline.
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Pioneering research reveals empathetic communication can help overcome vaccine hesitancy
An international study has shown for the first time how empathetic correction of misinformation among vaccine-hesitant patients can significantly improve attitudes towards vaccination—and potentially boost vaccine uptake.
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Cancer trial discovers a potentially broader role for an established dual HER2-blocking treatment
An important discovery from the NCI-MATCH precision medicine initiative is published in Clinical Cancer Research.
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Study: Obesity a risk factor for stillbirth, especially at term
Obesity is a risk factor for stillbirth, and the risk increases as pregnancy advances to term, according to a large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
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Alembic Pharma Slashes the Price of Tofastar by 50% for Benefit of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
One of the leading pharmaceutical
majors in India, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited, has recently announced a 50% reduction in the prices of its Tofacitinib brand, Tofastar.
Tofastar 5mg tablets
contain Tofacitinib Citrate 5mg; and is approved by DCGI for treatment of patients
with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis
(PsA). It helps to reduce pain, tenderness, and swelling in the affected joints.
In an endeavor to make Tofacitinib
treatment more affordable, Alembic is now introducing Tofastar 5 mg tablets at
Rs. 19 per tablet, which is almost a thousand Rupees for 4 weeks of therapy.
Tofacitinib citrate contained
in Tofastar is the citrate salt form of tofacitinib, an orally bioavailable
inhibitor of Janus Kinase (JAK). Tofacitinib possesses immuno-modulatory and
anti-inflammatory activities.
Several international
guidelines including the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology
(APLAR) recommend consideration of JAK inhibitors in appropriate Rheumatoid
Arthritis patients. The use of JAK inhibitors may be applicable in patients
with high levels of rheumatoid
factor (RF) and anticitrullinated protein antibody (ACPA), high disease
activity, early joint damage, and failure of conventional synthetic
disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), after risk assessment.
Mr.
Vimal Wahi, VP –Sales & Marketing, from Alembic, said,
“Alembic remains committed to alleviating the challenges faced by millions of
rheumatoid arthritis patients in seeking access to essential medications. With the
price drop of Tofastar, we aim to ensure that every rheumatoid arthritis
patient can afford the highest quality medicine at a patient-friendly price. We
will also be launching Tofacitinib extended release 11 mg as Tofastar OD for
patient compliance very soon”.
References:
- Smolen JS, et al EULAR
recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and
biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2019 update Annals of the
Rheumatic Diseases 2020;79:685-699. - Fraenkel
L, et.al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021 Jul;73(7):1108-1123. doi:
10.1002/art.41752. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34101376. - Lau
CS, et. al 2018 update of the APLAR recommendations for treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019 Mar;22(3):357-375. doi:
10.1111/1756-185X.13513. Epub 2019 Feb 27. PMID: 30809944.
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After two failed kidney transplants, 41-year-old man undergoes transplant at Kauvery Hospital
Chennai: Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani, a unit of Kauvery Group of Hospitals a leading multi-speciality healthcare chain in Tamil Nadu successfully performed kidney transplant on a 41-year-old man.
But what makes this transplant different? For this determined individual, life had taken a daunting turn when the transplant team in Melbourne ruled out the option of a kidney transplant, leaving him with the bleak prospect of continued dialysis. Having already undergone two kidney transplants over the past two decades, both of which eventually failed, he was confronted with the challenges and risks that another transplant would entail.
Understanding the limitations of a life bound to dialysis, which offered only a few more compromised years, he harboured a strong desire to witness his daughter grow and secure his family’s future. This stubborn will to live a healthier and more fulfilling life prompted him to explore the possibility of another transplant despite the formidable risks of rejection and infection.
In search of a second opinion, he reached out to the eminent transplant team at Kauvery Hospital. After meticulous evaluation, his wife and younger brother emerged as potential kidney donors. Despite challenges, the team selected his younger brother as the donor. However, complications arose as the patient had antibodies against his brother’s kidney in significant strength, coupled with rare antibodies (AT1R and anti-endothelial antibodies) in his blood, raising the risk of rejection by 80 per cent.
Undeterred, the transplant team at Kauvery Hospital took up the challenge of this difficult transplant. Understanding that transplantation offered the best chance at reclaiming his life, he willingly embraced the carefully chosen desensitization protocol, leading to a challenging yet successful transplant surgery.
Post Surgery, the team closely monitored the transplanted kidney for potential antibody- related injuries, requiring expert intervention. One month after the surgery, he triumphed over challenges, free from dialysis. His kidney function is back to normal, and he has happily regained a healthy, normal life.
Dr Prabhu Kanchi, Nephrologist and Dr Swaminathan Sambandam an acclaimed kidney transplant surgeon at Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani, expressed their satisfaction: “This remarkable case epitomizes our commitment to providing advanced medical solutions even in the face of complex challenges. The patient’s unwavering determination and our team’s expertise synergized to create a life-transforming outcome.”
Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder & Executive Director of Kauvery Hospitals said, “Much appreciation to the patient for his determination to go through with yet another transplant and for choosing to put his trust and faith in us. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure and dedicated medical professionals bear testimony to our commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare. Kudos to Dr Prabhu Kanchi and Dr Swaminathan Sambandam and their team for pushing the boundaries of medical excellence thereby offering hope for patients.”
The success story of this patient stands as a testament to Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani’s dedication to transforming lives through groundbreaking medical interventions. The hospital continues to be a beacon of hope for patients facing complex medical conditions, delivering exceptional care and fostering a brighter future.
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Indoco Remedies arm commences commercial production of oral care products
Mumbai: Warren Remedies Private Limited, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Indoco
Remedies Limited has commenced its commercial production on March 1, 2024 from its Greenfield
manufacturing facility located at Aurangabad, Maharashtra to manufacture Oral Care Products.
Commenting on this occasion, Aditi Panandikar, Managing Director-Indoco Remedies Ltd. said,
“It gives us immense pleasure to announce that Warren Remedies Private Limited, Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of Indoco Remedies has commenced its commercial production of Oral Care Products to
cater to the needs of its customers. The said manufacturing facility will provide us requisite capabilities
and edge in meeting demand of Oral Care Products .”
Read also: Indoco Remedies Baddi facility gets GMP certification from EU Health Authority
Indoco is a fully integrated, research-oriented pharmaceutical company with presence in 55 countries.
The Company’s turnover is US$ 200 million.
The Company has 9 manufacturing facilities, 6 for FDFs and 3 for APIs, supported by a state-of-the-art
R&D Centre and a CRO facility. The facilities have been approved by most of the Regulatory Authorities
including USFDA and UK-MHRA.
Indoco develops and manufactures a wide range of pharmaceutical
products for the Indian and international markets. Indoco has 9 domestic marketing
divisions with a brand portfolio in various therapeutic segments including Gastro-intestinal,
Respiratory, Anti-Infective, Stomatologicals, Ophthalmic, Nutritionals, Cardiovascular, Anti-Diabetics,
Pain Management, Gyneacology etc. Top Indoco brands include Cyclopam, Febrex Plus, Sensodent-K,
Karvol Plus, ATM, Oxipod, Cital, Sensoform, Sensodent-KF, Cloben-G, Glychek, Kidodent, Carmicide,
Rexidin, MCBM 69, Methycal, Homide, Cal-Aid, etc. On the international front, Indoco has tie-ups with
large generic companies across the globe.
Read also: Indoco Remedies Canagliflozin Tablets for type 2 diabetes adults get USFDA tentative okay
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Loneliness increases the risk of health deterioration in older adults
The loneliness often experienced by older people in our society has a negative effect on their physical health, according to researchers from Amsterdam UMC and the University of Glasgow. Emiel Hoogendijk, epidemiologist at Amsterdam Public Health, analysed research results from more than 130 studies and found that loneliness led to an increase in physical frailty, which in turn increases the risk of adverse health outcomes such as depression, falls and cognitive decline. These results are published today in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
“Recently, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is more attention for the potential harmful effects of loneliness and social isolation on the health of older people. We wanted to see how far these effects went and saw that all kinds of reduced social functioning, such as loneliness, social isolation and lack of social support, were associated with physical decline in older adults,” says Hoogendijk.
Led by Peter Hanlon, clinical research fellow at the University of Glasgow, along with researchers from Amsterdam UMC, Canada, Australia and Sweden, researchers analysed the relationship between social functioning and physical frailty in older adults. “Frailty refers to a lot of different forms of physical deterioration, such as weight loss, reduced walking speed and decrease in muscle strength. These can all then have an effect on, for example, how likely you are to fall,” says Hanlon.
Previous research has already indicated that frailty can lead to a decrease in social contact, “In some cases, physical vulnerability can also cause people to lose social contacts or become lonelier, for example because they become less mobile,” says Hoogendijk. This research shows that this relationship can also be reversed, with a decrease in social contact leading to frailty.
Impaired social functioning can have harmful effects on health, with the US Surgeon General claiming last year that loneliness is just as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. “We know that people with feelings of loneliness or with a lack of social contacts have a higher risk of, amongst others, depression and various chronic diseases. For example, a lack of social contact can have a direct effect on the immune system, but it can also have an indirect effect on health, for example through an unhealthier lifestyle. We want to do more research into this in the coming period,” says Hoogendijk.
Impaired social and physical functioning often occur at the same time. “Older people who are physically vulnerable often also have to deal with a decline in both social and mental functioning. As we are caring for older adults, we need to pay attention to all of these aspects,” says Hanlon. He concludes: “Loneliness, for example, is not an easy problem to solve. However, there is more and more knowledge available about possible effective interventions, including activities that support older people to increase their social connections.”
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Children with sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity and dry mouth more likely to have dental caries: Study
Children with sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity and dry mouth are more likely to have dental caries suggests a new study published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
A study was done to evaluate the presence of sleep disorders, obesity and anxiety associated with cavitated carious lesions in children aged 8 to 10 years. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Northeast of Brazil. The sample was comprised of 793 schoolchildren randomly selected from public and private schools. Calibrated examiners (Kappa >0.80) performed the clinical examination of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System and applied the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaires. The anthropometric variables evaluated were weight and height. Negative binomial regressions (α ≤ 0.05) were performed. A Directed Acyclic Graph was prepared using DAGitty software (version 3.0), to select the co-variables for the statistical fits. Results: The prevalence of tooth decay was 52.8%. The mean number of tooth surfaces with cavitated caries was 2.2(2.8), 58.9% of the schoolchildren had some type of sleep disorder, while 20.2% were anxious and 29.1% were obese. Sleep disturbance (RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05–1.83), general anxiety (RR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.32–2.21), obesity (RR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.17–1.86) were associated with dental caries in the final model. The presence of carious lesions was higher in children with sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity, and those who experienced dry mouth.
Reference:
de Lima LCM, Bernardino VMM, Leal TR, Granja GL, Paiva SM, Granville-Garcia AF. Sleep disorders, anxiety and obesity associated with untreated dental caries in children eight to ten years of age. J Public Health Dent. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12595
Keywords:
Children, sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity, dry mouth, dental caries, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, de Lima LCM, Bernardino VMM, Leal TR, Granja GL, Paiva SM, Granville-Garcia AF
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