Author

Medically Speaking Team

Uncategorized

COVID-19 deaths rose in last 5 weeks with some countries showing increase in hospitalizations: WHO chief

by Medically Speaking Team July 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated on Wednesday that COVID-19 mortality have been increasing over the previous five weeks, with certain nations experiencing an increase in hospitalizations.

Addressing a media briefing WHO Director-General Tedros said, “COVID-19 deaths have been increasing for the last five weeks, and several countries are reporting increasing trends in hospitalizations following waves of transmission driven by Omicron subvariants.” Tedros said that though the world has learned a number of important lessons by being with COVID-19 for over 2 years now however he warned that one must not let their guard down.

“Although the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, we are now in a very different situation to where we were a year ago, and we have learned a number of important lessons,” the WHO chief said during the briefing.

He also laid great emphasis over treating vaccination as an elixir to save lives. “One of the most important is that the most effective way to save lives, protect health systems and reopen societies and economies is to vaccinate the right groups first.”

Tedros stated that even in nations where vaccination coverage has reached 70%, if substantial numbers of health professionals, older people, and other vulnerable populations remain unvaccinated, mortality will occur, health systems would be under strain, and the global recovery will be jeopardised.

This is not a hypothetical situation, he stressed.

Last week, WHO released an update to the Global COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, emphasising the need of vaccinating the most vulnerable groups, including 100% of health and care professionals, 100% of older people, and 100% of those at highest risk.

The WHO chief urged the world to “strive for the target of 70 per cent vaccination coverage, with a focus on targeted vaccination strategies that prioritize the most vulnerable, which is the most effective way to save lives.”

“While vaccines have saved countless lives, they have not substantially reduced transmission,” he noted.

He also emphasised the need of governments and the business sector continuing to collaborate and invest in the development of new vaccines to prevent both infection and sickness.

“We also need vaccines that can be delivered more easily, such as through nasal sprays or drops. Crucially, it’s essential as new vaccines and other COVID-19 tools are developed, they are available equitably to all countries.”

Tedros also urged all countries to strengthen their readiness and response plans for any possible future COVID-19 waves.

“In addition to vaccination, WHO urges all countries to assess and strengthen their readiness and response plans for future waves of transmission, including surveillance, testing, strong clinical management and a well-equipped health workforce,” he concluded.

July 28, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

Pharmaceuticals begin talks with Centre for development of monkeypox vaccine

by Medically Speaking Team July 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

Several pharmaceutical firms have begun conversations with the Centre about developing a viable vaccine against monkeypox, according to sources on Wednesday.

“The vaccine against monkeypox is under discussion with various vaccine manufacturing companies, but it is a very early stage for any such decisions. If it is required then we have potential manufacturers. If it is required in future then options will be explored,” sources told ANI. One of the vaccine manufacturing companies said there is no such next-generation vaccine specifically for monkeypox and the virus has also been mutated. “In future, there will be a requirement for the vaccine if cases rise,” the company said.

Several pharmaceutical companies are in talks with the government about developing a monkeypox vaccine.

So far, India has documented four instances of monkeypox. Three of the instances are from Kerala, while one is from Delhi.

Dr VK Paul, Member of Niti Aayog, told ANI that India is completely prepared for the illness and that there is no reason to fear.

“Our disease surveillance system has been energized even more to investigate such cases. The situation is under control, no reason to worry and panic,” Dr Paul said.

“We have to play a responsibility in case there is some individual who has symptoms who should come for diagnosis because this disease has to be represented differently. The individual could be taken care of. We have such systems and restrictions have already been issued. People with symptoms must come forward and report,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday declared monkeypox a global health emergency. However, the WHO chief Dr Tedros also said that “discrimination could be as harmful as the virus.”

Dr Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, has expressed worry, stating that cases of monkeypox are now being detected in countries where no cases had previously been recorded.

“The unexpected appearance of this disease globally and in a wide geographic area indicates that the disease may have been circulating below the detection of the surveillance systems. It is possible that sustained human-to-human transmission through close contact – direct or indirect – remained undetected for a period of time,” she said.

July 28, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

ICMR floats tender to develop monkeypox vaccine

by Medically Speaking Team July 28, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

The Central Government has requested Expressions of Interest (EOI) in creating a vaccine against the monkeypox virus, only days after instances were confirmed in areas of India.

The government issued an EoI for the development of a monkeypox vaccine and diagnostic kits through a public-private collaboration. The Centre has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from experienced vaccine manufacturers and in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit manufacturers for joint collaboration in developing a vaccine candidate against monkeypox and diagnostic kits for this infection.

The last date for submission of EoI is August 10.

The objective of the tender read, “ICMR is willing to make available Monkeypox Virus strain/isolates for undertaking R&D, validation as well as manufacturing activities using characterized isolates of Monkeypox virus under the joint collaboration in the public-private partnership mode for the following two activities- 2.1 Development of vaccine candidate against Monkeypox disease. 2.2 Development of diagnostic kits for diagnosis of Monkeypox virus infection.”

The Monkeypox virus has been identified at the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, one of the Institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, and is being propagated on specified cell lines under biosafety laboratory settings. These isolates were purified and described further. Tissue culture infective dosage (TCID50) has been calculated, and bulk propagation of the viral stock has been accomplished, according to the tender document.

All Intellectual Property Rights and Commercialization Rights on Monkeypox virus isolates and their methods/protocols for purification, propagation, and characterization were reserved by ICMR. The tender copy stated that ICMR is legally entitled to enter into non-exclusive agreements with experienced Drug/Pharma/Vaccine/IVD manufacturers through defined agreements for undertaking R&D as well as manufacturing activities using characterised Monkeypox virus isolates of ICMR for development of vaccine against Monkeypox disease or Diagnostic kit for diagnosis of Monkeypox virus, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Product(s).’

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued the highest level of warning for monkeypox, declaring the virus a public health emergency of worldwide significance (PHEIC).

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. The disease is endemic in regions like West and Central Africa but lately, cases have been reported from non-endemic countries too, according to the WHO.

In India, a 34-year-old man from Delhi with no history of foreign travel tested positive for monkeypox on Sunday, taking the country’s tally of cases to four. Three cases of monkeypox were earlier reported in Kerala.

July 28, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

Covid case Update: India logs 18,813 cases and 57 deaths in 24 hrs

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

India reported 14,830 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

A total of 57 deaths were reported with 18,159 recoveries in the last 24 hours. India’s active caseload currently stands at 147,512. Active cases stand at 0.34%

Its daily positivity rate is at 3.5 per cent.

With 18,159 recoveries in the last 24 hours, total recoveries increased to 4,32,46,829. Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.47%.

87.31 cr Total Tests conducted so far with 4,26,102 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.

202.5 cr Total Vaccine doses (93.04 cr Second Dose and 7.57 cr Precaution Dose) have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

Daycare is associated to higher problems in preterm infants with chronic lung illness: Study

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

Attending daycare during the first three years of life is associated with an increase in lung difficulties among children born preterm and diagnosed with a kind of chronic lung disease, according to a recent study.

The research was published in the journal ‘The Journal of Paediatrics.’ The study indicated that preterm children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) who attended daycare were more likely to visit the emergency room, take systemic steroids, and have persistent respiratory problems than children who did not attend daycare.

“We are always looking for ways to minimise exposures in early childhood to prevent lung function problems in adult life,” said lead author Sharon McGrath-Morrow, MD, MBA, Associate Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine and leader of the Post-preemie Lung Disease Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“This study demonstrates that daycare is a modifiable risk factor associated with worse outcomes in preterm children with BPD,” he continued. Several previous research have found a link between daycare attendance and an increased risk of respiratory problems in children with extremely low birth weight. However, because those research focused on a specific centre or site, the findings were not generalizable throughout the community.

The researchers collected registry data from nine tertiary care facilities in the United States that participate in the BPD Collaborative Outpatient Registry to further assess the influence of daycare exposure on respiratory infections in children with BPD. Researchers collected data on daycare attendance, clinical features, acute care usage, and chronic respiratory symptoms from 341 former preterm children with BPD between the ages of 0 and 3.

Preterm children with BPD who attended daycare were three times more likely to visit the emergency department and four times more likely to receive systemic steroids, according to the study. However, because those research focused on a specific centre or site, the findings were not generalizable throughout the community.

Preterm children with BPD who attended daycare were three times more likely to visit the emergency department and four times more likely to receive systemic steroids, according to the study. “Providers should educate families with newborns and young children with BPD about the possible dangers of daycare attendance, particularly prior to the age of one year,” he concluded, “while also keeping the family’s financial requirements in mind.”

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

Parents’ drinking habits may be connected to their children’s addiction to processed foods: Research

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to a new study, children with a parent’s history of alcoholism are more likely to exhibit indicators of addiction to highly processed foods.

The findings were reported in the journal ‘Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.’ Highly processed foods, such as ice cream, chocolate, pizza, and fries, contain excessively high levels of refined carbs and fats, which may cause some people to get addicted.

Researchers at the University of Michigan sought to discover if a significant risk factor for addiction—a parent with alcohol issues—predicted an increased likelihood of addiction to highly processed foods.

As many as one in every five persons appear to suffer from this clinically serious addiction to highly processed foods, which is characterised by loss of control over consumption, strong cravings, and an unwillingness to cut back despite unfavourable effects.

“People with a family history of addiction may be more likely to develop a problematic relationship with highly processed foods, which is especially difficult in a food environment where these foods are cheap, easily accessible, and heavily marketed,” said Lindzey Hoover, a U-M psychology graduate student and the study’s lead author.

However, addictive responses did not stop with food, as those with food addiction were also more likely to have personal issues with alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, and vaping, according to the study.

Diets heavy in processed foods and excessive consumption of addictive drugs are the primary causes of avoidable death in the modern world. This study implies that treatments are required to reduce both addictive eating and drug use at the same time.

“Public health policies that have decreased the damage of other addictive drugs, such as banning marketing to children,” Hoover said, “may be relevant to examine to lessen the detrimental impact of highly processed foods.”

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

Know how to Protect Yourself from Monkeypox as Cases on rise

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

As the number of monkeypox cases in the country rises, so do concerns about how to protect ourselves against this viral zoonotic sickness. Notably, on Sunday, the national capital announced its first case of monkeypox in a 31-year-old male with no travel history, making it India’s fourth case.

The virus first appeared in the nation on July 14, when a UAE visitor returned to Kerala. While the second case of monkeypox was recorded in Kannur, Kerala, on July 18, India announced its third case in Malappuram, Kerala, on July 22. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a worldwide health emergency last week.

As the incidents spread from state to state, residents may experience a wave of terror. However, by taking the proper measures, the infection can be avoided. The United Nations has suggested several strategies to protect ourselves against the virus.

– By restricting contact with those who have the illness or are confirmed cases.

– Those who live with sick persons should advise them to isolate themselves and, if possible, cover any skin breaks (for example, by wearing clothing over the rash).

– It is critical to use a face mask when in close proximity to an infected person, especially if they are coughing or have mouth sores, and when handling an infected person’s clothing or bedding. Wear disposable gloves to avoid skin-to-skin contact.

– Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after touching the infected person, their clothing (including sheets and towels), or other items or surfaces (such as utensils or dishes) that may have come into contact with rashes or respiratory secretions.

– Clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces, appropriately dispose of contaminated trash (such as dressings), and wash the infected person’s clothing, towels, bedding, and dining utensils in hot water and soap.

– Seeking medical assistance as soon as you notice any symptoms or develop rashes.

Monkeypox may be transmitted from human to person as well as animal to person contact. In the case of people, coming into touch with another infected individual by face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact can result in monkeypox.

The Indian government has also released instructions on the monkeypox sickness.

The guidelines emphasise “monitoring and early identification of new cases as critical public health strategies for epidemic containment, requiring the reduction of the risk of human-to-human transmission.” It describes infection prevention and control (IPC) methods, IPC at home, patient isolation and ambulance transfer plans, extra precautions that must be followed, and the duration of isolation procedures.”

Furthermore, “contacts should be evaluated at least daily for the emergence of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days (as per case definition) following the last contact with a patient or their contaminated items during the infectious period,” according to the guidelines.

The government guideline also urged people to “raise awareness and educate people about Monkeypox virus prevention measures, such as avoiding contact with any sick person’s material, isolating the infected patient from others, practising good hand hygiene, and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.”

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

New heart model is being developed to help people suffering from heart failure

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences researchers have developed a novel lab-based model of a heart and circulatory system that will help in the testing of devices to cure one of the most frequent kinds of heart failure.

The study’s findings were published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.’ RCSI collaborated with the National College of Art and Design on the study, which employed two distinct types of circulatory models, including a silicone heart model (NCAD).

Heart failure is classified into two types: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (HFrEF).

Ejection fraction is a measurement of the heart’s capacity to circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

The proportion of individuals presenting with heart failure with normal or maintained ejection fraction measurement has increased in recent years, most likely due to an increase in the frequency of common risk factors such as advanced age, high blood pressure, and obesity. Women are more vulnerable than males.

In this RCSI study, a model known as a’mock circulatory loop’ was created to simulate both a healthy heart and a heart in failure with intact ejection fraction. The model allows for the evaluation of prospective heart failure therapy devices in terms of their impact on both chambers on the left side of the heart.

This model may put equipment to the test to check the left atrium, the upper chamber responsible for receiving oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, as well as the left ventricle, the bottom chamber responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood across the body.

“Half of the patients presenting with heart failure have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and the numbers are increasing in the developed world in particular due to the increase in the prevalence of risk factors,” said Dr Aamir Hameed, Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine and Principal Investigator with the Tissue Engineering Research Group at RCSI. The illness can be difficult to cure with medications and places a significant strain on health-care systems worldwide.

“The establishment of this lab-based model represents a watershed moment in heart failure research because it allows for the testing of devices with the potential to cure an illness that affects millions of people worldwide, enhancing their quality of life and lowering the strain on health systems.”

“Until now, no lab model had been developed that could both mimic the cardiac cycle and features two independently controlled cardiac chambers to fully simulate the blood flow of the left atrium and the left ventricle during the resting phase of the cardiac cycle,” said Dr Andrew Malone, Postdoctoral Researcher at RCSI. This is a significant step forward in the creation of a reliable method of assessing heart failure device therapy.’

Enterprise Ireland financed the study, which is assisting in the development of the RCSI pipeline spin-out business, Pumpinheart Ltd., which will commercialise a revolutionary medical device for the treatment of heart failure with maintained ejection fraction.

“We are excited to use this intriguing new model through our spin-off Pumpinheart, which has the potential to turn our research into a real-world treatment for patients who would otherwise have limited treatment options,” Dr Hameed added.

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

India is capable of limiting COVID spread, but no room for complacency, since instances increased from March 2022: Sources

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

India has been able to limit the spread of COVID-19 in comparison to several other countries around the world, but there is no room for complacency as six states are reporting more than 1,000 daily cases of COVID-19 and 181 districts in the country reported a weekly positivity of more than 10% in the week ending July 25, according to official sources on Tuesday.

According to the sources, 107 districts recorded weekly positive ranging from 5% to 10% in the week ending July 25, indicating that the threat of COVID-19 is far from finished.

“Because it is the same virus that is circulating over the world, chances are it will return to India if we do not remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions. This is the difficulty we face “According to a source.

According to officials, India has observed a spike in COVID-19 cases since March, with an average daily case count of 19,627 instances in the last week and a case positivity rate of 4.53 percent.

Between July 20 and July 26, Kerala recorded 2,234 average daily cases, accounting for 11.38 percent of all cases in the country. Following it were Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Odisha. In the previous week, all of these states reported more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases.

During the period, Gujarat, Assam, Telangana, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh recorded 500 to 1,000 average daily cases.

Assam has 26 districts with weekly positivity of more than 10%, followed by West Bengal with 16 for the week ending July 25.

According to the sources, if the trend of cases continues, “we need to be more cautious,” and they emphasised the approach of “test, track, treat, vaccine, and adherence of COVID suitable behaviour.”

They claimed that adult immunisation was carried out on an unprecedented scale.

According to reports, it took 202 days from the commencement of COVID-19 immunisation on January 16, 2021 to reach the milestone of 50 crore doses, and 77 days to reach the milestone of 100 crore vaccine.

The following 50 crore doses were given out in 79 days, and India hit the 200 crore doses milestone on July 17 after 192 days.

According to sources, 96% of the 12-year-old population received the first dosage of COVID-19, 88% received the second dose, and 7.58 crore precaution doses were delivered.

The government has launched COVID Vaccine Amrit Mahotsava to offer free precautionary doses at government facilities, with the goal of increasing precautionary dosage uptake by all eligible people.

People aged 18 and above with a sufficient distance from the last dosage are eligible, and the campaign, which began on July 15, will run until September 30.

Since July 15, there has been a rise in both total dosages and cautionary doses, according to sources.

According to them, India has achieved significant progress in COVID management using a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategy.”

They said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped the ‘Jan-Andolan’ and ‘Jan-Bhagidari,’ which are critical in the management of any infectious illness.

While 31,193 COVID-19 instances have been documented per million population in India, the worldwide figure is 72,091. In France, the figure is substantially higher (4,96,500) UK (3,46,304) Italy (348,750), Spain (278,074), and the United States (348,750). (2,68,282)

India has reported 374 fatalities per million people, whereas the worldwide figure is 807. The figure is 3,047 for the United States, 2719 for the United Kingdom, and 2246 for France.

According to sources, the first dosage was administered to 1.01 billion qualified recipients in India, which is three times the population of the United States and 6.9 times the population of Russia. They stated that 929.9 million eligible beneficiaries in India had been fully vaccinated, which is 4.3 times the population of Brazil and 13.4 times the population of the United Kingdom.

They also underlined that on PM Modi’s birthday, 2.5 crore vaccination doses were provided in a single day, which is similar to the population of Australia.

According to sources, any sense of complacency or exhaustion in the struggle against COVID-19 must be addressed.

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Uncategorized

COVID cases in Delhi have increased, with 781 new infections recorded in previous 24 hours

by Medically Speaking Team July 27, 2022

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to a bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department on Tuesday, the national capital has seen an increase in COVID infections, with 781 new cases registered in the previous 24 hours.

Yesterday, the city recorded 463 new illnesses. The number of active cases in the city has risen to 2,862. Case positivity is presently at 6.40 percent, down from 8.18 percent yesterday.

According to the news, 465 COVID patients recovered in the previous 24 hours, bringing the city’s total number of recoveries to 19,20,569.

The virus killed two patients. The death toll has now reached 26,305.

During this time, a total of 12,209 COVID samples were examined.

In the previous 24 hours, 24,654 people were vaccinated as part of the immunisation campaign. The total number of dosages administered thus far is 3,56,85,177.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recorded 14,830 new COVID-19 cases in India in the previous 24 hours on Tuesday.

In the previous 24 hours, 36 people died and 18,159 people were rescued.

The active caseload in India is now 147,512. It has a daily positivity rate of 3.5%.

According to the ministry, 30,42,476 doses of COVID-19 vaccination were delivered in the previous 24 hours out of a total of 2,02,50,57,717 doses administered across the country thus far.

The Central Government is dedicated to speeding up and broadening the scope of COVID-19 immunisation across the country. The national COVID-19 vaccine campaign began on January 16, 2021.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccine universalization began on June 21, 2021. The vaccination effort has been accelerated by the availability of more vaccinations and enhanced visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs, allowing them to better manage and streamline the vaccine supply chain.

As part of the statewide immunisation campaign, the Government of India has been supplying free COVID vaccines to states and union territories.

In the next phase of the COVID-19 immunisation programme, the Union Government would acquire and deliver (at no cost) to States and UTs 75% of the vaccines manufactured in the country by vaccine makers.

July 27, 2022 0 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts