Government plans penicillin revival to fight rheumatic fever

(Indian Express, Oct. 1, 2019): In a bid to fight drug resistance and tackle rheumatic heart disease, the Government of India is planning a revival of penicillin, one of the oldest antibiotics known to man. Not many organisms have developed resistance to it yet.

Penicillin went out of production in India because of unrealistic price control, officials said. The government is now planning to procure penicillin centrally for three years and give it to all children between 5-15 years who have a sore throat, at least once. The drug will be dispensed through primary health centres or administered by ASHAs. A committee has been formed with officials from the department of health research to finalise the contours of the plan to tackle rheumatic fever and heart disease burden and revive penicillin.

A senior health ministry official said, “We are looking at a plan to deal with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease load and are trying to revive penicillin availability because it is the cheapest option for rheumatic fever treatment. We are exploring various options including talking to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to take it off the price control list. Also, to kickstart production, we are looking at procuring the medicine centrally — enough stock for three years so that manufacturers are encouraged to restart production.”

Fabric Hygiene: Always choose a quality laundry detergent to remove dirt and stains from clothes

Hygiene of the clothes we wear is an important aspect of personal hygiene. Clothes get dirty and need to be changed every day.

Dirty clothes, especially underclothes and socks, can harbor microorganisms. Re-wearing dirty clothes many times or sharing dirty, sweaty sports equipment can lead to skin infections. Unpleasant body odor can also arise from bacteria that accumulate on stains, from mold on clothing and from stale cigarette smoke that has permeated fabric. Washing clothes keeps clothes free from micro-organisms.

Usually two layers of clothing are worn: The internal layer (or underclothes) such as pants, vest and T-shirt and the outer layer of clothing. ....read more

Hand sanitizers may not protect against flu virus

Rubbing hands with ethanol-based sanitizers should provide a formidable defense against infection from flu viruses, which can thrive and spread in saliva and mucus. But findings published in the journal mSphere suggest that that a splash of hand sanitizer, quickly applied, isnt sufficient to stop the influenza A virus.

The influenza A virus remains infectious in wet mucus from infected patients, even after being exposed to an ethanol-based disinfectant (EBD) for two full minutes, report researchers at Kyoto Profectural University of Medicine, in Japan. The secret to the viral survival was the thick consistency of sputum, the researchers found. The substances thick hydrogel structure kept the ethanol from reaching and deactivating the virus. ....read more

Healthcare News Monitor

Failed drug molecules may be reused as semiconductors: Study

The Week- PTI

Researchers have found a way to repurpose drugs that fail pharmaceutical clinical trials into organic semiconductors, an advance that can pave the way for the development of new types of flexible electronics and biosensors. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, noted that biological molecules once considered for cancer treatment can now be redesigned as organic semiconductors for use in chemical sensors and transistors. The researchers, including those from the University of Illinois in the US, looked at a well-studied class of bioactive molecules called DNA topoisomerase inhibitors which prevented the genetic material from replicating, and was once explored as a potential anti-cancer agent. "While examining these pharmaceutical molecules, we noticed that their molecular structures looked much like the organic semiconductors we were working with in the rest of my group," said co-author and biomolecular engineering professor Ying Diao of the University of Illinois. The study noted that the DNA topoisomerase inhibitors were flat and contained neatly stacked columns of electrically conductive molecular rings, which according to the researchers were features of a good semiconductor. The researchers said that these molecular columns are linked together by hydrogen bonds that are capable of moving charges from column to column, and forming bridges which transform the entire molecular assembly into a semiconductor.

Aurangabad: Now, elderly to get social and financial guidance at GMCH

The Times of India – Arpita Sharad

AURANGABAD: Marking the International Day for Older Persons, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH)s geriatric department has opened a guidance centre for its elderly people in the OPD building. The guidance centre was inaugurated by GMCH dean Kanan Yelikar on Thursday in the presence of deputy director of health services Swapnil Lale, district civil surgeon Sundar Kulkarni and director of Marathwada Mehsul Prabodhini Anjali Dhanorkar. A poster presentation was also held in OPD hall on care of geriatric population and their rights. The centre would serve as a support for the elderly people who need health-related guidance, who are financially weak and those who lack family or social support. Speaking at the inauguration, dean Kanan Yelikar said that while the children should ensure that they take proper care of their elderly parents, the older persons should also learn to adjust with the changing times. "With the new generation taking charge, the things may not happen as before but it is important to adapt with the changes," Yelikar said.

Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai Launches "Apollo Life Saver", a Public Awareness Initiative to Create Awareness About Medical Emergency Services

Business Wire

Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai today announced the launch of a yearlong public awareness programme called “Apollo Life Saver”. Apollo Life Saver will educate the public and create awareness about medical emergency services and offer basic life support training and first aid management in medical emergencies. Training will be provided to individuals especially in institutions such as housing societies, schools, colleges and corporate houses. Patients often experience warning signs before an impending medical emergency and tend to either ignore it or put off medical intervention. However, if the condition worsens some can be left with a critical or life threatening condition. For early diagnosis & screening people can walk into the Apollo Emergency Department wherein the patient will be examined and assessed by the emergency physician and thereafter will be counselled/ advised regarding future course of treatment and action. The patient will not be levied any fee for the consultation by emergency physician. The initiative will focus on driving an understanding of the importance of early diagnosis of an ailment that may worsen if not tackled at the earliest.