Category: LIFESTYLE

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The global prevalence of atopic dermatitis — a chronic skin condition — is expected to reach 42.42 million by 2033, according to a report on Monday.

The report by GlobalData, a data and analytics company, showed that the global burden of 12-month diagnosed prevalent cases of atopic dermatitis is forecast to increase at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 0.10 per cent — from around 42.02 million cases in 2023 to 42.42 million cases in 2033.

This increase will be particular in the seven major markets — the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan, the report said.

The report reveals atopic dermatitis cases, also known as eczema, are rising because of the increasing prevalence of environmental and lifestyle risk factors and the increase in the incidence of atopic dermatitis in adulthood. It causes inflammation, redness, and intense itching.

“The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is unclear and most likely stems from the interaction of a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental and lifestyle risk factors, and dysfunctional cell-mediated immunity,” said Yixuan Zhang, Epidemiologist at GlobalData.

According to GlobalData epidemiologists, there were around 44 per cent of mild 12-month diagnosed prevalent cases of atopic dermatitis, 42 per cent of moderate cases of atopic dermatitis, and 14 per cent of severe cases of atopic dermatitis in 2023 in the seven major markets.

Atopic dermatitis is a complex disease presenting with a range of clinical manifestations and symptoms, depending on the patient demographic and disease severity. In severe cases, atopic dermatitis is associated with sleep disturbances due to the pruritic rashes that appear on the skin during a flare-up, depression, anxiety, and loss of productivity, contributing to the economic and disease burden globally.

“The highest prevalence is seen in childhood, followed by the middle-aged and older population. A positive correlation has been found between a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and disease burden,” Zhang said.

However, new epidemiological patterns are slowly emerging, such as atopic dermatitis prevalence increasing in low-income countries and new atopic dermatitis-onset in adults becoming increasingly more common, particularly in the West,” Zhang added.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Healthcare workers can enable early detection of autism by identifying red flags specific to autism during routine immunisation, said a paediatric neurologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Taking to social media platform X, Dr. Sheffali Gulati, Professor and faculty-in-charge at the Child Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics at AIIMS Delhi, explained what autism is and how it can be identified early.

“Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by social deficits and qualitative impairment in communication, along with some fixed interests and behaviour,” Gulati said.

She noted that the condition comes with “some fixed patterns of interest, and there may be sensory issues within them”.

She explained how to identify autism in a baby within 2 years.

“If a 6-month-old baby is not responding to his/her name or has not started babbling till one year; if he/she is not speaking words at 16 months; is not speaking two words at 24 months; or has forgotten some vocabulary, then autism may be suspected in him/her,” Gulati said.

“It is important for us to look at all the development milestones, along with the red flags specific to autism, whenever children come for immunisation,” Gulati said, emphasising the importance of early intervention in disorder.

She further noted that behavioural therapy comprised the major part of early intervention along with some medications “which can help their development to become better in future”.

She also called on people to accept the diversity brought about by the children with autism and to begin acceptance right home.

“We have to keep in mind that these children with autism are different from the rest. Everyone has different diversity which has to be accepted. And when we talk about inclusion in society, it should begin from home, then in school and society”.

The children with autism “have the same right to a dignified life as anyone else”, said Gulati, while urging people “to move forward with a humanistic approach”.

A recent study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, showed that autism is a significant health burden in India.

The study, based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, showed that India had 708·1 case of ASD per 100, 000 persons in 2021. Of these, 483·7 were females, while 921·4 were males. About 140 per 100,000 persons suffered poor health and disability due to ASD in India in 2021.

Globally, an estimated 61.8 million people, or one in every 127 persons were autistic in 2021.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Over 71.81 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers have been generated (till December 22) and 46.53 crore health records have been linked with ABHA, the government said on Sunday.

In addition to this, over 3.55 lakh health facilities have been registered on Healthcare Professionals Registry (HFR) and more than 5.38 lakh healthcare professionals have been registered on HPR.

In the last 10 years, the country has implemented transformative policies and initiatives that reflect a steadfast commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

A key milestone in this journey was the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

AB-PMJAY provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per eligible beneficiary family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations corresponding to 1,961 treatment procedures across 27 specialties.

As of December 17, AB PM-JAY has made significant strides with over 36.28 crore Ayushman Cards issued, empowering millions with health coverage.

Gender-wise utilisation shows that women account for 49 per cent of the issued Ayushman cards and almost 50 per cent of total hospital admissions, showcasing the scheme’s role in promoting gender equity in healthcare, according to the Health Ministry.

Additionally, AB PM-JAY has successfully empaneled 30,932 hospitals across the country.

Another cornerstone of India’s healthcare achievements is Mission Indradhanush, which has expanded immunisation coverage under the Universal Immunisation Programme.

“Mission Indradhanush includes a provision of 11 types of vaccines enhancing protection against preventable diseases. A total of 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated in all phases of Mission Indradhanush conducted so far in the country,” informed the ministry.

These efforts are underscored by a remarkable improvement in key health indicators, which highlight the effectiveness of targeted healthcare strategies and interventions.

Maternal Mortality Ratio reduced from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2017-2019 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20. Infant Mortality Rate reduced from 32 per 1000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 and Total Fertility Rate is reduced from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21.

“This progress is a testament to consumer-centric policies and initiatives supported by regular monitoring to ensure efficiency and impact.,” the ministry said.

—IANS

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Seoul, Dec 22 (IANS) South Korea has confirmed its 14th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza for the season at a farm near the capital city of Seoul, authorities said on Sunday.

The latest case was detected at a poultry farm in Hwaseong, just south of Seoul, which is raising 202 chickens and 67 wild geese, according to the agriculture ministry, reports Yonhap news agency.

To prevent further the spread, officials have taken measures to control access to the farm to carry out investigations, and culled the affected chickens and wild geese.

The Gyeonggi provincial government plans to conduct inspections on 18 poultry farms in Gimpo, 38 kms west of Seoul, by Tuesday.

Last week, the country confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) for the season at a duck farm in the southwestern region. The latest case was detected at a duck farm in the county of Buan in North Jeolla Province, some 190 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the authorities.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, which has infected 34 people in the Golden State.

According to the governor’s office, this action came as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, “signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.”

To date, no person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle.

Bird flu was first detected in the US in the wild bird population in South Carolina in January 2022, and in the wild bird population in California in July 2022.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) The 55th GST Council meeting has unveiled a series of pivotal recommendations designed to deliver targeted relief, streamline compliance processes, resolve industry ambiguities and promote trade facilitation, experts said on Sunday.

Among the key proposals is a retrospective amendment to the blocked credit provisions, which now replaces the term “plant or machinery” with “plant and machinery” in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Safari Retreats case.

“This distinction clarifies the eligibility for Input Tax Credit (ITC) based on the usage of the two terms. Furthermore, the amendment to the Input Service Distributor (ISD) provisions will incorporate inter-state reverse charge mechanism (RCM) transactions, providing much-needed clarity within the ISD framework,” said Krishan Arora, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat.

Addressing long-standing uncertainties, the Council has clarified that vouchers are neither to be classified as goods nor services. Similarly, goods stored in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) or Free Trade and Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) prior to export clearance or supply to the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) will not be considered as a supply of goods or services, aligning the treatment of SEZ/FTWZ and customs bonded warehouses.

In a bid to enhance accessibility to appellate mechanisms without undue financial burden, the Council has also proposed reducing the pre-deposit requirement from 25 per cent to 10 per cent, specifically in cases involving penalties.

“Additionally, the introduction of a track and trace mechanism for commodities prone to evasion signals a significant step toward bolstering transparency within the GST regime,” said Arora.

Other noteworthy recommendations include a reduction in the GST rate on fortified rice kernels to 5 per cent, and the full exemption of gene therapy from GST, making essential goods and advanced medical treatments more affordable.

“The exemption on gene therapy for life-saving measures is welcome since the costs associated with such therapy are significant and sometimes out of reach of the person, who needs it. The GST exemption would bring it within reach of more people,” said Gyanendra Tripathi, Partner and Leader (West), Indirect Tax, BDO India.

The clarification that no GST is applicable to penal charges levied by banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for non-compliance with loan terms will ease the financial burden on borrowers.

Similarly, the exemption of GST on contributions made by general insurance companies to the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is expected to lead to lower motor insurance premiums, benefitting vehicle owners.

According to Tripathi, a concept note to simplify the process of GST registration for small assessees is again a welcome step since there is variance in the documentation requirements for registrations in different locations and it is hoped that the registration process is uniformly prescribed, for smaller as well as large assessees.

Collectively, these measures underscore the Council’s commitment to fostering a more business-friendly environment, ensuring fairness, and enhancing clarity within the GST framework, experts noted.

—IANS

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New York, Dec 22 (IANS) Heart muscle can regenerate after failure in some people with artificial hearts, an international research team has found.

The team co-led by a physician-scientist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Sarver Heart Center in the US found that a subset of artificial heart patients can regenerate heart muscle, which may open the door to new ways to treat and perhaps someday cure heart failure.

There is no cure for heart failure, though medications can slow its progression. The only treatment for advanced heart failure, other than a transplant, is pump replacement through an artificial heart, called a left ventricular assist device, which can help the heart pump blood.

“Skeletal muscle has a significant ability to regenerate after injury. If you’re playing soccer and you tear a muscle, you need to rest it, and it heals,” said Hesham Sadek, chief of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Medicine.

“When a heart muscle is injured, it doesn’t grow back. We have nothing to reverse heart muscle loss,” Sadek said in a paper published in the journal Circulation.

Sadek led a collaboration between international experts to investigate whether heart muscles can regenerate.

The project began with tissue from artificial heart patients provided by colleagues at the University of Utah Health and School of Medicine led by Stavros Drakos, a pioneer in left ventricular assist device-mediated recovery.

The investigators found that patients with artificial hearts regenerated muscle cells at more than six times the rate of healthy hearts.

“This is the strongest evidence we have, so far, that human heart muscle cells can actually regenerate, which really is exciting, because it solidifies the notion that there is an intrinsic capacity of the human heart to regenerate,” Sadek said.

It also strongly supports the hypothesis that the inability of the heart muscle to ‘rest’ is a major driver of the heart’s lost ability to regenerate shortly after birth. It may be possible to target the molecular pathways involved in cell division to enhance the heart’s ability to regenerate, said the study authors.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, Dec 21 (IANS) The ‘Ayushman Bharat PM-Jan Arogya Yojana’ has become a boon for the poor in the country. A large number of people are undergoing treatment free of cost under this scheme.

People are receiving treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh annually. A key benefit is that patients can receive treatment at any registered hospital across the country. Whether the illness is serious or not, all treatments are provided free of cost under this scheme.

Murlidhar, a resident of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who was battling a life-threatening illness like cancer, received treatment under this scheme and his health is now much improved. He is happy that he was treated successfully, and it did not put any financial burden on him, thanks to the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Murlidhar was diagnosed with stage 1 cancer in 2023 and also had kidney issues. He could not afford treatment at a private hospital. However, under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, he was able to get cancer treatment at the hospital.

Murlidhar told IANS: “In 2023, I learned about my cancer diagnosis. I also had kidney problems. After starting my treatment at the hospital under the Ayushman Card, I faced no issues. All tests, including CT scans, ultrasounds, and blood reports, were fine, and I received excellent services. This scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a boon for the poor and middle class. I am grateful to PM Modi. I am happy with the 24-hour treatment available at the registered hospital. I hope to be running again very soon.”

Murlidhar’s wife, Rekha, said: “When I found out about my husband’s illness, I was worried, but I gathered strength and decided to face the challenges. Now, my husband is fighting the disease with determination and is slowly recovering. I am very happy. I consider PM Modi as my brother and pray for his long life. His Ayushman Yojana is benefiting many people.”

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Brains of people with high glucose levels and inflammation can age faster, increasing their risk of developing dementia, according to a study.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden used an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to analyse brain images from 739 cognitively healthy people aged 70-years to explore the brain’s biological age.

They found various risk and health factors that determine the speed at which the brain ages.

The study, presented in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, showed that diabetes, stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, and inflammation were linked to brains with an older appearance,

On the other hand, healthy lifestyles involving regular exercise were linked to brains with a younger appearance, the study added.

The team conducted MRI scans of the participant’s brains and then estimated the age of the resulting brain images using their AI-based algorithm. Further, blood samples were taken for measuring lipids, glucose, and inflammation; and their cognitive abilities were also tested.

The AI tool estimated the brain age for both sexes to be on average 71 years. The researchers then looked at the ”brain age gap” by subtracting the participants’ estimated biological brain age from their chronological age.

“A take-home from the study is that factors that adversely affect the blood vessels can also be related to older-looking brains,” said lead author Anna Marseglia, a researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

This “shows how important it is to keep your blood vessels healthy, to protect your brain, by making sure, for instance, that your blood glucose level is kept stable,” Marseglia added.

The team next aims to launch a study to understand how women and men may differ in how they build resilience,

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Some people with artificial hearts can regenerate heart muscle, according to a study, an advance that may open the door to new ways to treat and someday may also cure heart failure.

There is currently no cure for heart failure. The treatment for advanced heart failure includes a transplant, and a pump replacement via an artificial heart. Known as the left ventricular assist device, this can help the heart pump blood.

Researchers from the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine in the US said that “skeletal muscle has a significant ability to regenerate after injury”.

The team began the study with tissue from artificial heart patients. They included researchers from Sweden and Germany and used their own innovative method of carbon dating human heart tissue to track whether these samples contained newly generated cells.

The results, published in the journal Circulation, showed that people with these artificial hearts could regenerate muscle cells at more than six times the rate of healthy hearts.

“This is the strongest evidence we have, so far, that human heart muscle cells can actually regenerate, which really is exciting, because it solidifies the notion that there is an intrinsic capacity of the human heart to regenerate,” said Hesham Sadek, director of the Tucson’s Sarver Heart Center at the varsity.

The researcher explained that some artificial heart patients can remove their devices because of the reversal of symptoms. This can happen if the artificial heart provides cardiac muscles the equivalent of bed rest in a person recovering from a soccer injury.

The findings suggest it “may be possible to target the molecular pathways involved in cell division to enhance the heart’s ability to regenerate,” Sadek said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) From just 50 biotech startups in 2014 in India, the ecosystem has grown to nearly 9,000 in the last decade, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

At an event held in the national capital, Singh attributed the increase to the remarkable growth in bio-economy in the last 10 years — from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024. The bio-economy industry is expected to reach $300 billion by 2030.

“With the kind of threat of pollution, the climate challenges, etc., being faced, this government has held sustainability at a very high priority. This is quite contrary to the times till about 10-15 years ago when India was not taken very seriously as far as issues like climate or the green concerns because they thought either India was alien to it or maybe we didn’t understand the seriousness of it,”

Singh noted that “sustainability” is of high priority for the government amid the continuing threat of “pollution, and the climate change challenges”.

He also highlighted India’s aim to achieve a net zero target by 2070, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at COP-26 in 2021.

Singh informed that in the last few years, the government has undertaken several initiatives towards sustainability. This includes the Green Hydrogen mission, the mission for climate change, and the deep sea mission.

The government’s recently introduced ‘BioE3 Policy’ is also an important step forward towards sustainable growth in the backdrop of climate change, depleting non-renewable resources and unsustainable waste generation.

“The rise of biotech startups is pivotal for our future economy. These efforts place India at the forefront of the global bioplastics movement, showing the world how biotechnology can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” Singh said, in October.

–IANS

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