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Kolkata: Dr Santanu Sen, a former Rajya Sabha member who recently turned rebel, has been removed from his position as a state-government-nominated member of the West Bengal Medical Council. Sen, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, had attracted attention following his outspoken comments on the tragic rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August.
Sen had turned a rebel over the recent incident of rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August this year and at that point in time, had made some comments that posed an embarrassment for his party.
According to an IANS report, last month, Trinamool legislator and the Council President, Sudipto Roy, also a medical practitioner, sent a letter to the state Health & Family Welfare department seeking Sen’s removal from that chair.
Also Read:West Bengal Medical Council Registrar removed amid allegations of Illegal Appointment
In the letter to Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Narayan Swarup Nigam, Roy stated that Sen should be removed from the body because of his absence in six consecutive meetings of the council since January 1, 2024, without proper excuse and hence, he should be deemed to have vacated his post.
Finally, the Health & Family Welfare Department accepted the proposal of Roy and on Friday, announced the decision to remove Sen from the council, news agency IANS reported.
However, the state government is yet to announce the name of Sen’s replacements.
State government sources said that the name of the replacement is expected to be announced by next week. A cold war between Roy and Sen started brewing when the R.G. Kar tragedy surfaced, with Sen becoming vocal against a section of the state healthcare system. Things worsened further over the central agency probe on the financial irregularities at R.G. Kar, as a part of which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted raid and search operations at the residence and hospital of Roy in north Kolkata and also questioned him at the central agency office.
Also Read:West Bengal Medical Council cancels Dr Sandip Ghosh’s registration
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Bangalore: In a recent BSE filing, Biocon has informed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has issued an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) with a
Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) status for the Company’s Bengaluru API
facility.
This is based on a surveillance inspection conducted by the agency between the 23rd to 27th of September,
2024.
“This is to inform you that the Company has received an Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) with a Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), for our API facility (Site 2), located at SEZ Plot no. 2,3,4 and 5 Bommasandra-Jigani Link Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka,” the Company stated.
VAI means objectionable conditions or practices were found, but the agency is not prepared to take or recommend any administrative or regulatory action.
Biocon Limited, publicly listed in 2004, is an innovation-led, global biopharmaceutical company. It has developed and commercialized novel biologics, biosimilars and complex small molecule APIs in India and several key global markets, as well as generic formulations in the US and Europe.
Read also: USFDA classifies Biocon Biologics Biocon Park Site in Bengaluru as VAI
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Mumbai: Five years after Dr Payel Tadvi’s tragic suicide, the prosecution has moved to frame charges against the former head of the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Topiwala National Medical College & BYL Nair Charitable Hospital. The plea, filed before the special SC/ST court, alleges that Dr Chiang’s actions contributed to the harassment and mistreatment that ultimately led to Tadvi’s death.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a special court in Mumbai has decided to proceed with the trial against three women doctors accused of abetting the suicide of their junior colleague, Dr Payal Tadvi, a postgraduate medico in 2019. The court, on May 30, dismissed the discharge applications filed by the accused, who are currently out on bail and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each of them for filing pleas that lacked merit.
Dr Payal Tadvi, a 26-year-old postgraduate medical student from a tribal community, died by suicide on May 22, 2019, after being subjected to severe harassment and caste-based abuse by three senior students at the medical college. The three students were arrested in May 2019 and later released on bail, facing charges under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act as well as the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act.
On November 13, special public prosecutor Pradip D. Gharat filed a plea before the court, arguing that Dr Ching should be called together with the other accused for framing charges. The prosecution’s plea highlights several incidents that allegedly point to Dr Ching’s failure to intervene effectively. According to the plea, Tadvi’s mother, Abeda Salim Tadvi, and her niece, Asha Tadvi, approached Dr Chiang multiple times, informing her about the ongoing harassment Tadvi faced at the hands of her seniors. However, Dr Chiang allegedly dismissed their concerns, claiming that such incidents were common and did not warrant any special attention.
Payal Tadvi then informed her mother that the department head had called her and the three seniors to discuss the incident. The prosecution claims that Dr Chiang failed to intervene appropriately and exacerbated the situation by siding with the accused seniors. The prosecution submitted that Dr Ching’s action, therefore, had encouraged and provoked the seniors, which facilitated the offence instead of preventing it. According to the prosecution, Dr Ching’s actions thus incited the seniors, which enabled rather than prevented the offence.
The charge sheet filed by the Mumbai Police presents strong evidence of the caste-based nature of the harassment Dr Tadvi faced. The documents include a suicide note in which Dr Tadvi had accused the three seniors of using casteist slurs against her. The charge sheet also includes testimony from witnesses who describe the verbal and physical bullying Dr Tadvi endured during her time at the college.
Witnesses have corroborated these claims. The prosecution stated that five key witnesses in the case had confirmed the role of the accused in abetting Tadvi’s suicide. One of Dr. Tadvi’s colleagues testified that during a meeting with Dr. Ching, the three accused students were only given a verbal warning. Furthermore, Tadvi’s mother and husband had requested Dr. Chiang to transfer Tadvi to a different college unit, but the department head refused.
Also Read: Payal Tadvi Suicide Case: Maharashtra Medical Council issues notice to 2 accused doctors
As per the recent media report in Hindustan Times, the plea said, “As a result of her acts of omission to take the proper steps in spite of the knowledge of torture and harassment, the said ragging, ill-treatment, harassment, and torture of the deceased by the charge-sheeted accused was increased to such a level that the deceased committed suicide.”
The prosecution filed the plea because Dr. Ching’s name had emerged in several investigative reports, where she was implicated in facilitating the ragging. The plea also highlights the findings of the college’s ragging prevention committee, which reportedly held Dr. Ching accountable for her failure to prevent the harassment. Despite being made aware of the situation, the committee’s report states that Dr. Ching took no decisive action to protect Dr. Tadvi or address the systemic issues within the department.
According to the Hindustan Times, the prosecution’s plea, filed before Special Judge SM Tapkire, stated, “It is, therefore, necessary that Dr Ching Ling Chung Chiang should be joined as an accused, since, from the overall consideration of the seriousness of the offense, the facts of the case, and the relevant laws, the case stands made out against her… The charge sheet shows that she is also responsible for the suicide…”
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The Instagram post claims that just 1 teaspoon of flaxseed a day will make your boobs grow. The claim is Mostly False.
An Instagram post titled “After 11 Years as a Heart Surgeon, Here Are Secrets I Believe Everyone Should Know..” claims that just 1 teaspoon of flaxseed a day will make your boobs (breasts) grow. The video shared by Instagram user “holistic.biohack” has made various claims. Amongst the other claims the post also targets flaxseeds that take just 1 teaspoon of flaxseed a day and it will make your boobs grow because flaxseed increases estrogen.
The post has 40,221 likes and can be accessed here.
The claim is Mostly false. Flaxseed offers many health benefits, but 1 teaspoon daily is unlikely to significantly increase breast size and is not medically recommended for this purpose.
The human breast is made of two main components: parenchyma and stroma. The parenchyma includes branching ducts that develop into secretory structures, while the stroma, primarily made of fat tissue, supports this growth. These structures are first recognized in the embryonic stage. Development of the ductal system called branching morphogenesis, begins before birth but pauses in early childhood. At puberty, hormones stimulate interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells, transforming the basic prenatal structure into a mature mammary gland. Breast development during puberty is primarily driven by estrogen, supported by growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). This process begins between 8½ and 13½ years and is described in Tanner stages. The first stage (pre-adolescent) shows only nipple elevation, with no additional tissue growth since infancy. Subsequent stages involve the growth of glandular and supportive tissues.
Flax (Linum usitatissimum), a blue-flowering annual herb, produces seeds with a nutty taste and crispy texture, ranging from golden yellow to reddish-brown. Rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, and dietary fibre, flaxseed offers numerous health benefits, including lowering blood glucose and reducing cancer risk. It is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids for non-fish eaters. Flaxseed proteins, primarily globulin and albumin, are comparable to soy, rich in arginine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid, and possess antifungal properties. High in phytoestrogens(lignans) and antioxidants, flaxseed is a valuable functional food for promoting health.
Flaxseed is a nutrient-rich functional food that contributes to overall health, containing beneficial compounds such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, dietary fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phytoestrogens (lignans), and antioxidants. It offers health benefits like lowering blood sugar levels and reducing cancer risk. While flaxseed contains phytoestrogens that may influence breast tissue, the effect is minimal and not supported by significant evidence. Moreover, there are no studies to validate the claim that consuming just one teaspoon of flaxseed daily can make boobs grow.
A case report was published in the BMJ Case Report which describes a 70-year-old man who developed gynecomastia after taking flaxseed oil, likely due to its phytoestrogens stimulating breast tissue growth, combined with statins lowering testosterone, amplifying hormonal effects, but further research is needed for confirmation.
Another study featured in Nutrition and Cancer concluded that flaxseed may influence estrogen levels in postmenopausal women, improving hormone balance and potentially reducing breast cancer risk, as supported by studies showing its impact on sex hormone profiles.
Studies have highlighted the potential of flaxseed to stimulate breast tissue growth due to its phytoestrogen content. However, the growth it stimulates is not significant enough to cause a noticeable difference. Additionally, there is no medical consensus within the healthcare community recommending the use of flaxseed for making boobs grow.
Dr Vaishali Sharma, MD (AIIMS) COAG (Harvard) RCOG Associate (London), Gynaecologist, Laparoscopic Surgeon & Infertility Specialist, Dr Vaishali Sharma’s IVF Centre, Delhi told medical dialogues, ” Flaxseed contains phytoestrogens, which mimic our natural estrogen hormone present in women, and estrogen is definitely responsible for all female characteristics, including breast size. A small amount of flaxseed consumed daily may enhance the size slightly, but it is not likely to cause a very remarkable increase.”
Flaxseed is a nutrient-rich food with numerous health benefits, but its impact on breast tissue growth is minimal and not significant enough to cause noticeable changes. Consuming 1 teaspoon of flaxseed a day is not medically recommended for noticeably increasing breast size. There is no evidence to support this claim. Hence the claim consuming just one teaspoon of flaxseed daily will make boobs grow is Mostly false.
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Hyderabad: Amid growing concerns over the increasing number of unqualified medical practitioners in Telangana, another quack has recently come under scrutiny. He is accused of treating patients at his clinic in Banjara Hills and is now being investigated by the Telangana Medical Council (TSMC).
Known as “Dr. VRK,” this individual has allegedly been providing unverified treatments and questionable medical advice to people. He allegedly promotes a self-styled “VRK Diet” which includes dietary recommendations and extensive prescriptions, particularly for conditions like type 1 diabetes, cancer cure and reversal of chronic kidney disease.
Also read- Dentist, Wife with ANM degree booked for deceiving Patients with Fake Dental Treatments
Apart from these illegal practices, the individual has also prescribed modern medicines and vitamins to patients without a medical degree and registration certificate under the Telangana Medical Council or National Medical Commission. The fake name of this individual came to light through his prescription pad.
Highlighting his fraudulent activities, the doctor’s community has called for action against him. The Telangana Medical Council (TSMC) has initiated an investigation after receiving multiple complaints against him.
Telangana Medical Council member Dr Naresh Kumar told TOI, “He is leveraging an honorary doctorate to claim medical authority, misleading patients into believing he is a qualified medical doctor.”
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Telangana Medical Council (TSMC) uncovered an individual posing as a licensed medical practitioner in Ramantapur. This individual was reportedly administering injections of distilled water to patients, misrepresenting it as legitimate medical treatment.
The council discovered the fake doctor practising allopathy, prescribing medications, and administering injections under the guise of a registered doctor’s name. Shockingly, he deceived patients by injecting distilled water, leading them to believe they were receiving proper medical treatment. Additionally, he used unauthorised antibiotics and steroids, which were found in his clinic.
Also read- Fake doctor menace continues! TSMC uncovers quack injecting patients with distilled water
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China: A review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology revealed that the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) varies depending on the type and dosage of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.
Drawing on data from 19 clinical studies, the findings indicated that dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and sogliflozin were linked to a higher risk of DKA. In contrast, canagliflozin at a dose of 300 milligrams was associated with the lowest risk.
The advantages of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in managing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are well-established, but their application is constrained by the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The impact of varying SGLT2 inhibitor doses on DKA risk in T1DM remains unclear. Therefore, Ying Liu, Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and colleagues performed a network meta-analysis to assess the incidence of DKA across different dosages in T1DM treatment.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a network meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of DKA at different doses in the treatment of T1DM. They searched electronic databases and clinical trial registries, including PubMed, Embase (Ovid SP), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Ovid SP), and ClinicalTrials.gov, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with T1DM from inception to December 2023.
Two researchers independently performed literature screening, quality assessment, and data extraction according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They conducted a statistical analysis using Stata 15.1 and R 4.1.3 software.
Based on the study, the researchers reported the following findings:
• Nineteen clinical studies and one clinical trial were included in the analysis.
• Five different SGLT2 inhibitors were evaluated.
• The incidence of DKA was significantly higher compared to placebo for the following:
• Dapagliflozin 5 mg (OR: 2.57).
• Empagliflozin 10 mg (OR: 2.68).
• Sogliflozin 200 mg (OR: 4.04).
• Sogliflozin 400 mg (OR: 5.96).
• Based on P scores, SGLT2 inhibitors triggered a lower overall incidence of DKA than the placebo.
• Treatment with 300 mg of canagliflozin demonstrated the lowest incidence of DKA.
“Our study found that the use of 5 mg dapagliflozin, 10 mg empagliflozin, 200 mg sogliflozin, and 400 mg sogliflozin in combination with insulin for treating T1DM was associated with an increased risk of DKA. Other SGLT2 inhibitors appeared to have a safer profile. However, it is important to note that SGLT2 inhibitors are not approved for treating T1DM in China, and their use requires close monitoring for potential adverse reactions,”
Reference:
Liu, Y., Yang, S., Jiang, A., Dan, Z., Zhao Yang, C., & Su, N. Risk of diabetic ketoacidosis caused by sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 15, 1453067. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1453067
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USA: In a phase 1 study, the bumetanide nasal spray demonstrated safety and exhibited pharmacokinetics comparable to oral bumetanide.
The phase 1 clinical study, published in the journal Circulation, has evaluated a novel intranasal formulation of bumetanide, demonstrating its safety and pharmacokinetic profile comparable to established oral and intravenous formulations.
Bumetanide, a loop diuretic widely used for managing fluid retention in conditions such as heart failure and renal disorders, has long been administered orally or intravenously. The new nasal spray formulation offers an alternative route of administration, potentially enhancing convenience and compliance in clinical settings.
Decompensated heart failure is often attributed to reduced absorption of oral diuretics caused by gut edema, frequently necessitating inpatient admission for intravenous diuretic therapy. Considering this, Andrew P. Ambrosy, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research, Pleasanton, CA, and colleagues conducted an open-label, randomized, controlled, crossover trial to evaluate the bioavailability of a novel bumetanide nasal spray compared to oral and intravenous formulations of the drug.
For this purpose, the researchers enrolled 68 healthy volunteers who received treatment with oral, intranasal, and intravenous bumetanide in one of four randomly assigned sequences, with each administration separated by a 48-hour washout period. Serum and urine samples were collected to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug.
The investigation revealed the following findings:
The authors concluded that while establishing the proof of concept and ensuring long-term safety will require extensive further research, this phase 1 study provides promising evidence of the safety and efficacy of bumetanide nasal spray in a healthy population.
They emphasized that diuretic therapy has been a cornerstone of heart failure management for decades, making developing improved therapeutic options for patients a pressing need. The researchers hoped these findings would pave the way for phase 2 trials and inspire further innovative scientific exploration within this critical drug class.
“The introduction of a bumetanide nasal spray represents an innovative step in drug delivery technology, combining ease of use with effective pharmacological action. If validated in subsequent trials, this formulation could expand treatment options for patients requiring diuretic therapy, enhancing outcomes and quality of life,” they wrote.
Reference:
Ambrosy AP et al. A randomized study comparing a novel intranasal formulation of bumetanide to oral and intravenous formulations. Circulation 2024 Nov 18; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.072949)
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A new study published in the journal of Nature Scientific Reports found that niacin consumption had a greater impact on all-cause mortality in the individuals without diabetes than in people with the disease.
A water-soluble nutrient that is essential for many bodily physiological functions is niacin, often known as vitamin B3. Pellagra is characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death and has been connected to niacin deficiency. In an effort to avoid pellagra, certain countries have implemented niacin fortification programs for wheat flour and cereals.
One of the first drugs used to treat dyslipidemia was niacin. It was frequently used, particularly before statins were developed. Niacin can enhance high-density lipoprotein cholesterol while dramatically lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. In the Coronary Drug Program, niacin’s cardiovascular advantages were initially shown. Following a randomized treatment period, niacin decreased mortality at long-term follow-up and moderately decreased cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals.
Few studies have examined the relationship between dietary niacin consumption and long-term health outcomes in different groups by highlighting the complex effects of niacin on cardiovascular disease risk and long-term health. This study evaluated the relationship between dietary niacin consumption and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality which offers important information about the suggested dietary niacin intake for people in general.
A total of 26,746 US people aged 20 years or older with a median follow-up of 9.17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2018 were included in this study. 1,096 cardiovascular fatalities were among the 3,551 all-cause deaths that occurred during this time. The participants were categorized into various dietary niacin consumption quartiles, and hazard ratios (HRs) for death were compared using Cox models.
When compared to those in the lowest consumption quartile, the ones with the greatest dietary niacin intake were at a decreased risk of dying from all causes. The HR for cardiovascular mortality in the highest quartile of niacin consumption was 0.73. Dietary niacin consumption and mortality using limited cubic spline were shown to be dose-response related.
In terms of all-cause mortality, subgroup analysis revealed a significant interaction between diabetes and dietary niacin consumption. Higher dietary niacin intake is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause death in US adults, according to this population-based cohort analysis.
Overall, when compared to this population-based cohort study, US individuals who consume more dietary niacin have lower rates of cardiovascular and all-cause death. Niacin consumption had a greater effect on all-cause mortality in the individuals without diabetes than in people with the disease.
Source:
Lin, L., Chen, S., Zhang, C., Li, L., Chen, Y., Li, D., Cai, Q., Zhou, X., & Yang, F. (2024). Association of dietary niacin intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018. In Scientific Reports (Vol. 14, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79986-9
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