Meditation May Aid Smoking Cessation Treatment

Meditation combined with medication and cognitive therapies may be more beneficial in treating nicotine addiction than drug-plus-talk therapy alone.

Pallavi and Vikram of Batch-18, presented on the technical topic of European Regulatory (EMA).This presentation gave brief insight about the regulations for drugs and medical devices and also the approval procedures.

Walking lowers Cardiovascular disease [CVD] Risk in Patients with IGT [Impaired Glucose Tolerance].

In those with impaired glucose tolerance, walking just 2000 steps per day -- the equivalent of 20 minutes of walking at a moderate pace -- lowers CVD risk by 10%.

Stroke risks increase with high levels of anxiety

The negative health effects of anxiety, such as increased coronary heart disease risks, have long been documented and accepted in the medical community. But now, research suggests that individuals with high levels of anxiety have an increased risk for stroke.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops, and this cuts off oxygen and nutrients that are vital for the brain. When this happens, brain cells die, and depending in which side of the brain the stroke occurs, effects can include paralysis, vision or speech problems, memory loss and behavioral changes.

Hybrid clotting factor means fewer injections, better disease control for hemophilia patients

A Phase III clinical trial led by UC Davis researchers has confirmed that a new coagulation factor (rFIXFc) dramatically reduces the number of injections needed to maintain effective clotting for HEMOPHILIA B patients.

The recombinant protein fuses clotting factor IX with an immunoglobulin (antibody) molecule, which prevents the body from rapidly metabolizing the hybrid protein. As a result, rFIXFc can be administered once a week, or even every two weeks, rather than every other (or every third) day. This extended half-life could have an enormous impact on hemophilia treatment. 

An Apple (or Statin) a Day will keep the MD away

If individuals ate just one extra apple a day, approximately 8500 deaths from vascular disease could be prevented. 

Statins and apples are both iconic. "An apple a day is known throughout the English-speaking world as a saying for health, and statins are now some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. 

The new American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association(ACC/AHA) guidelines for the management of cholesterol suggest treating primary-prevention patients if they have an LDL-cholesterol level between 70 and 189 mg/dL and a 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease >7.5%. In the UK, the guidelines are less aggressive and recommend statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease if the 10-year risk score is >20%.

                                            Role play - Trovan trial

          There was an outbreak of meninigococcal meningitis in Nigeria, Kano in 1996. It too almost 12,000 lives and affected close to 1,00,000 people in 6 months. Pfizer conducted trovan trial using trovafloxacin in IDH (Infectious Disease Hospital) recruiting 200 children without any informed consent forms, approval from ethics committee and regulatory authority; no GCP Guide lines were followed.

As a result of trial, 11 children died out of which 5 deaths were from trovan and many were left disabled. This was brought into light when it was published in an American journal and case was registered at U.S district court.

There was an out of the court settlement where Pfizer gave 175,000$ to 4 families based on DNA reports. Clinical trials have to be conducted on an ethical basis and government has to make sure that it is done in safe manner and for the benefits of people.