Morning Medtalks With Dr KK

1. 478 breathing: The numbers in the name of the 4-7-8 breathing technique show how many seconds every action takes – 4 is for breathing in, 7 is for holding the breath, and 8 is exhaling. It is important to do this regularly, in no more than 4 breath cycles. This method will help you cope with stress and anxiety, as well as insomnia and other sleep disorders.
2. Obstructive sleep apnea is common and is associated with daytime sleepiness and increased risks of motor vehicle accidents and cardiovascular disease. CPAP is considered first-line therapy for symptomatic or moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea; mandibular-advancement devices and various surgical options are other approaches.
3. Primary liver cancer is the fourth most common tumor worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs mainly in the context of cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C virus infection, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Underlying liver disease limits therapeutic efficacy.
4. Surgery to remove retained products of conception is one of the most common gynecologic operations performed worldwide. Pelvic infection is a serious potential consequence of such surgery, particularly in low-income countries.
5. Women who begin treatment of anxiety with benzodiazepines during pregnancy have a significantly increased risk for spontaneous abortion compared to their counterparts who do not take these drugs, results of a large-scale study suggest by Anick Bérard, PhD, from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
6. A 24-month period of conditional registration with review towards the end is the sanction imposed on paediatric registrar, Hadiza Bawa-Garba, for her return to medical practice, concluded todays hearing at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester. The conditions will come into effect on July 29th this year, the day after her current General Medical Council (GMC) suspension from the register expires. In their statement, the Tribunal wrote that it was "satisfied that a period of conditional registration would be an appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case which would adequately address Dr Bawa-Garbas extended absence from clinical practice whilst at the same time protecting the public and maintaining confidence in the profession."

India trade ministry says no legal basis to ban e-cigarette imports

Reuters (Excerpts from a storey by Aditya Kalra, Neha Dasgupta)

1. India’s trade ministry says it cannot impose a ban on electronic cigarette imports as there is no legal basis for doing so.
2. This comes amid repeated calls for a ban from the country’s health ministry, which urged states and government agencies last year in an “advisory” to step up efforts to halt sales and imports, warning vaping devices pose a “great health risk”.
3. India’s Jubilant group, one of whose units has the franchisee for Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in the country, is already exploring importing Juul’s vaping device.
4. Halting imports of e-cigarettes into India will be against multilateral commitments with the World Trade Organization, according to the internal government memo dated March 18.
5. The country must first prohibit local sales through federal regulations that “can stand the scrutiny of law”, the memo adds.
6. Once that is done, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) can announce an “import ban”, the memo said.
7. As of now, the health ministry’s “advisory” cannot be a legal basis for a ban, the trade ministry, which has the power to impose import bans, said in the memo that is not yet public.
8. Jubilant spokesman said, “we believe there is demonstrable scientific evidence” that such products are a viable alternative to cigarettes and that the group is “exploring the category”.