Moms obesity in pregnancy linked to lower IQ, poor physical health in son: Study

The study, published in the journal BMC Pediatrics, noted that obesity in pregnant mothers is linked to lagging motor skills in preschoolers, and lower IQ in middle childhood for their sons.

NEW YORK: Obesity in pregnant mothers may affect their sons physical and mental development later in life, according to a study which suggests the effects in infants are comparable to the impact of lead exposure in early childhood.

The study, published in the journal BMC Pediatrics, noted that obesity in pregnant mothers is linked to lagging motor skills in preschoolers, and lower IQ in middle childhood for their sons....read more

Positive affirmations and optimism in life prolongs life by 15%

Researchers from Harvard, Boston University and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System have shown a link between optimism and longer life expectancy i.e. living 10 to 15 percent longer and 50 to 70 percent chance of reaching age 85.

Optimists look for and find opportunities in negative situations. Optimism can be learned and practiced. This year, during the period between Christmas to New Year, take out time to review the CMAAO 2019 year, celebrate your successes, and look forward to a positive and productive new CMAAO 2020 year. ....read more

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Healthcare News Monitor

Chandigarh: 4 January Aushadi shops told not to sell non-generic medicines

ET Healthworld- Shimona Kanwar

After finding that some of the Jan Aushadi drug stores are selling non-generic medicines, the UT health department has issued notice to all the four Jan Aushadi shops in the city not to sell other medicines which are not on the PMs mandate (as provided in these Jan Aushadi). "The licence has been issued for selling generic medicines only and those who use the same permit for selling medicines other than the generic ones will not be allowed to function. We have issued notices to all the Jan Aushadi stores in the city," said Dr G Dewan, director, health services, UT. These drug stores have been opened as a part of the Jan Aushadhi campaign initiated by the Government of India for making quality medicines available to all at affordable prices. The Jan Aushadhi project is an initiative of the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, Government of India, and is being coordinated by the bureau of pharma public sector undertakings of India which would be the main suppliers of the medicines under this project. Jan Aushadi supply generic medicines that reduces the cost to more than 75% of the branded one.

Zydus Cadila in talks to sell two units for Rs 1,200 crore

ET Healthworld- Indulal PM&Reghu Balakrishnan

Zydus Cadila, a group company of listed drug-maker Cadila Healthcare, is in preliminary talks with several strategic and private equity investors to sell two of its divisions — anti-infectives and gynaecology — for about Rs 1,000-1,200 crore, seeking to lower debt and strengthen its balance sheet. This is part of a broader strategy to reduce debt in the company’s capital structure after it borrowed more to help finance the Rs 4,600-crore acquisition earlier this year of Heinz India’s consumer wellness business. Zydus has approached larger rivals, such as Cipla and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, besides financial investors, such as Advent International, Blackstone, KKR and Carlyle, top industry sources told ET. KKR, Blackstone and Carlyle declined to comment. Zydus, Advent, Sun Pharma and Cipla could not be immediately reached for their comment. Investment bank Jefferies has been mandated to run a formal process to find a buyer. The anti-infectives and gynaecology divisions contributed Rs 565 crore and Rs 282 crore to FY19 overall annual revenue of Rs 11,940 crore, the annual report of the Ahmedabad-based company showed. The anti-infective division named Vivo sells under brands such as Ampilox, Biotax, Amicin, Monotax — all acquired from Biochem Pharma in 2011.

Rare surgery for ruptured aorta saves life, offers hope for future too

ET Healthworld- TNN

When 52-year-old Devendra Gupta was wheeled into the emergency at BLK super-specialty hospital with a ruptured aorta and dangerously low blood pressure, the doctors didn’t know what to do. Repairing the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from heart to rest of the body, would require giving general anaesthesia which could lower the blood pressure further and kill him. Not doing so was killing him anyway. In a quick-thinking of sorts, the doctors used an artery and a vein in one of his thighs to put Gupta on heart-lung machine, instead of using the artery and vein near the heart. This could be done while the patient was still awake, under local anaesthesia, thus avoiding the risk of any serious fall in blood pressure. Once the blood circulation was restored via the machine, surgeons cut open the chest under general anaesthesia to repair the aorta – an innovative approach that didn’t just save Gupta’s life, but also paved a way to save many other patients with a similar condition. It has also found a mention in the latest issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

HC seeks AIIMS response on cancer patients plea to provide treatment

ET Healthworld- PTI

The Delhi High Court has sought response of the Centre and AIIMS on a plea by a woman, suffering from fourth stage of esophageal cancer, seeking direction to the hospital to provide her medical treatment. Justice Navin Chawla, in an interim order, asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to examine and render full treatment to the woman if she goes there till January 16. "Till the next day of hearing, in case the petitioner (woman) produces herself for examination/ treatment before the respondent no. 2 (AIIMS), it shall examine and render full treatment to the petitioner," the court said and listed the matter for further hearing on January 16. 52-year-old Shashi Bala filed a petition in the high court seeking direction to the AIIMS to provide her treatment according to her present medical condition and after considering her previous reports and tests conducted in two different hospitals. Esophageal cancer is the one arising from the esophagus - the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Advocates Lalit Naagar and Ashish Negi, appearing for the woman, also sought direction to the central government to frame guidelines to be followed by government hospitals wherein no patient should be denied medical treatment if he/ she is earlier treated at some other hospital.