Prior price approval mandatory for scheduled drugs

NEW DELHI – The government has referred 39 cases to state drug controllers to prosecute firms selling scheduled drugs without securing the mandatory approval of their prices, Minister of State for Chemicals Srikant Jena said Friday.

In a written reply to a question on pricing of scheduled drugs in the Rajya Sabha, Jena said … Original source on Gaea Times at : Prior price approval mandatory for scheduled drugs.

Snake venom may harbour heart disease, cancer cure

WASHINGTON – In a study on how the body responds to toxins in snake venom, Japanese scientists have reported that their findings could help in the development of therapies for heart disease and cancer.

The researchers claimed that inhibiting a protein found on the surface of blood cells known as platelets may combat both irregular blood …. Read the original article  : Snake venom may harbour heart disease, cancer cure.

Vitamin D deficiency ‘ups risk of heart disease, stroke in black teens’

WASHINGTON – Vitamin D deficiency is associated with arterial stiffness, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, in black teens, a new study has found.

“While we think of the sun as providing humans with most of our body’s requirement of vitamin D, 95 percent of the 44 black teenagers living in sunny Georgia who …. Read the original article  : Vitamin D deficiency ‘ups risk of heart disease, stroke in black teens’.

White button mushrooms ‘keep immune system healthy’

WASHINGTON – White button mushrooms enhance the activity of critical cells in the body’s immune system, Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists have found.

The animal-model and cell-culture study was conducted at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University by centre director Simin Meydani, colleague Dayong Wu, and others.

The results …. Original source  : White button mushrooms ‘keep immune system healthy’.

Calcium supplements may up heart attack risk for women

LONDON – Women who take calcium supplements to improve bone density in middle age could face 30 percent higher risk of heart attacks, warn researchers.

Researchers in New Zealand’s Aberdeen and Auckland universities found the link after reviewing 11 studies covering 12,000 people who were taking supplements of calcium compounds.
Hundreds of thousands …. Original source  : Calcium supplements may up heart attack risk for women.

Calcium supplements ‘increase heart attack risk’

LONDON – Calcium supplements, commonly taken by older people for osteoporosis, increase the risk of a heart attack, according to a new study.

An international team of researchers analysed the results of 11 randomised controlled trials of calcium supplements (without co-administered vitamin D) involving 12,000 patients.

Differences in study design and quality were taken into account to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone

WASHINGTON – A recent study has revealed that individuals with mild H1N1 infection may go undetected using standard diagnostic criteria.

The study has , therefore, concluded that coughing or other respiratory symptoms are more accurate in determining influenza infection than presence of a fever.

Currently, public health officials rely on body temperature (detecting fever) to screen individuals …. Source  : Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone.

Pebble in sandwich costs woman 3,000 pounds

LONDON – A British woman suffered a damaged tooth after biting into a sandwich that had a pebble in it. She had to endure four complex dental procedures costing 3,000 pounds.

Karen Addy, 48, thought she was having a healthy sandwich that she bought for 2.20 pounds.
Suddenly she felt a crunching sensation and found a …. Original source  : Pebble in sandwich costs woman 3,000 pounds.

Drugs used to treat addiction may help people lose weight

LONDON – A combo pill of two addiction drugs can help people lose weight, say US researchers.

Naltrexone, commonly used to treat alcoholics and heroin addicts, and the anti-smoking drug bupropion led to greater weight loss than diet and exercise alone, reports The Lancet.

It is thought the treatment may help beat food cravings.

However, one UK expert …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cheers! Red wine can suppress inflammation in humans

WASHINGTON – A popular plant extract, called resveratrol, can suppress inflammation in humans, according to a new study.

The extract is already known to prolong life in yeast and lower animals due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Resveratrol is produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi, and is … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cheers! Red wine can suppress inflammation in humans.