New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) The ‘Illness to Wellness’ initiative, a national campaign aimed at generating awareness on various mind and body conditions and providing holistic and broad stakeholder engagements with the overall objective of promoting healthy living, along with the Project Empathy Campaign of ILBS, organised contests for school students in Delhi-NCR to highlight World Hepatitis Day.

The contests — Shine in Public Speaking and Logo Designing, took place at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) on July 26.

The contests were organised to increase awareness, educate the public about hepatitis and to reduce stigma related to hepatitis. The theme for the contest was It’s Time for Action which aligned with the WHO (World Health Organisation) theme for World Hepatitis Day 2024. The contests were open to students in grades 6-12 and saw substantial participation from students from numerous schools across Delhi-NCR.

According to a 2024 WHO report, viral hepatitis caused 1.3 million deaths in 2022, making it the second leading infectious cause of death globally. Hepatitis B was responsible for 83 per cent of these deaths, while hepatitis C accounted for 17 per cent. Approximately 304 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C, with India ranking among the top 10 countries with the highest burden of viral hepatitis. In India, over 40 million people are affected by hepatitis B, and many continue to suffer due to prevalent misconceptions about the disease. This highlights the urgent need to increase public awareness and dispel the myths surrounding hepatitis.

On the occasion, Dr Shiv K Sarin, Director and Chancellor of ILBS, said, “It’s indeed time for action, to spread awareness and dispel misconceptions surrounding hepatitis. Many stigmas, such as the false association with AIDS, cloud our understanding of the disease. We need to recognise that Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and from mother to baby. Effective control of Hepatitis B can be achieved through the universal vaccination of newborns and treatment for those already affected. 90 per cent of people with Hepatitis C can be cured. Engaging with the youth is a powerful way to spread these crucial messages. I commend the Illness to Wellness initiative and the Project Empathy Campaign for organising this event, and I am glad that ILBS could host it.”

Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, said, “On World Hepatitis Day, we have an opportunity to reflect, renew and redouble our commitment and efforts on the critical subject of hepatitis that continues to impact societal health- warranting our unmitigated attention. I am happy to note the enthusiastic participation of the children, along with the encouragement provided by schools in Delhi-NCR to this important cause. I want to congratulate all the schoolchildren who participated in the various activities that have been undertaken under the Illness to Wellness and ILBS initiative, and emphasise that by spreading knowledge about this ailment, these students are helping in raising awareness and addressing the important aspects of the disease. I firmly believe that when children embrace a cause, positive change follows, as they become the future leaders driving greater sensitisation and societal progress.”

Illness to Wellness has consistently worked to raise awareness about Hepatitis B and C across India through various events. The initiative aims to disseminate crucial information vital for controlling these diseases and to emphasise the importance of good health for leading prosperous and fulfilling lives.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) Certain non-statin cholesterol-lowering medications may reduce the risk of liver cancer, according to a study on Monday.

The study, published online in the journal CANCER, suggests a potential protective effect of these medications, adding to existing evidence from past research on statins.

The study, led by the National Cancer Institute of the Maryland National Institute of Health, focussed on five types of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs: Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids.

These drugs are commonly prescribed to manage cholesterol and lipid levels, each operating through different mechanisms.

Researchers included 3,719 liver cancer cases and 14,876 matched controls without cancer.

The study also accounted for variables like type 2 diabetes and chronic liver disease status.

The results revealed that the use of cholesterol absorption inhibitors was linked to a 31 per cent reduction in liver cancer risk across the board.

Furthermore, these inhibitors showed similar protective effects when analyses were stratified by diabetes and liver disease status.

In line with previous findings, the study confirmed that statins were associated with a 35 per cent lower risk of liver cancer.

However, no significant associations were found between liver cancer risk and the use of fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, or niacin.

Interestingly, bile acid sequestrant use was associated with an increased risk of liver cancer in the overall analysis, although the data were inconsistent when broken down by diabetes and liver disease status.

The researchers emphasised the need for further studies to replicate these observations and clarify the potential risks associated with bile acid sequestrants.

The study adds a new dimension to the understanding of cholesterol management and its implications for liver cancer prevention, highlighting the need for continued research in this area.

As few studies have examined the effects of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs on liver cancer risk, the results of our study require replication in other populations.

“If our findings are confirmed in other studies, however, our results may inform liver cancer prevention research,” said Dr. McGlynn, of the National Cancer Institute.

–IANS

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New Delhi, 29 July (IANS) Amid mounting cases of cancer in India, health experts on Monday said that one out of nine Indians have a lifetime risk of developing cancer but most are preventable with early detection.

India is witnessing a rise in cancer cases. As per a recent Apollo Hospitals’ Health of Nation Report, India is the “cancer capital of the world.” It projected the number of annual cancer cases to rise from almost 1.4 million in 2020 to 1.57 million by 2025.

This alarming trend underscores the need for urgent and comprehensive government action to address the multifaceted causes and implement effective prevention and treatment measures.

Dr Indu Aggarwal, Head of the Department of Preventive Oncology at RGCIRC, said that tobacco consumption remains the foremost preventable cause of cancer in India.

“Nearly 267 million adults use tobacco, which is linked to a high incidence of oral, lung, and other cancers. Unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles further increase the risk of cancers such as colorectal, breast, and pancreatic,” she told IANS.

Increased life expectancy and an ageing population also contribute to the rising cancer rates, as older individuals are more susceptible to various types of cancer. Oncogenic infections, such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B and C viruses, significantly contribute to cervical and liver cancers, respectively.

Promoting HPV and Hepatitis B vaccinations to prevent cancer-related infections is crucial.

Increased funding for cancer treatment technology and quality post-treatment care is necessary for a larger patient population and improved well-being of cancer survivors, said the experts while lauding the government’s recent efforts to exempt three more cancer drugs from customs duty.

“The recent Budget has seen an increase in healthcare expenditure, including reducing customs duty on essential cancer drugs. This measure aims to make new treatments more affordable and accessible. However, more needs to be done to expand healthcare schemes and improve infrastructure,” Dr Prathmesh Pai, Director at Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India, told IANS.

To combat this crisis, experts emphasise the importance of public awareness, organised screening programmes, and increased funding for cancer research.

“Prevention and early detection are crucial. By focusing on these areas, we can significantly reduce the cancer burden and improve patient outcomes,” Dr Aggarwal said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) Genetic testing, a long-established medical practice, could jeopardise patient data, raising concerns about the potential privacy abuse because data is treated like a commodity, claimed a study on Monday.

Genetic testing is generally used to analyse changes in genes to decode the inherited risk of various diseases.

A recent commentary in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) highlights these concerns, urging careful consideration of the cost involved.

“Near- and long-term expansion in no-cost testing and industry partnership in genetics, with patient data as the commodity, is likely,” said Kirsten Bartels, a genetic counsellor at Providence Health Care Heart Centre, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

Bartels emphasises that the “commodification of patient data is not a standard healthcare practice and should not be adopted without thorough evaluation”.

The commentary points out that sponsored genetic testing is available for various conditions such as neuromuscular and eye disorders, and must be prescribed by medical professionals, similar to provincially funded tests, instead of making it a transaction.

The researchers said that the inclusion of a broader range of genes in sponsored testing could lead to unintended consequences, including potential harm to patients.

Stringent privacy laws safeguard patient data, but these protections may not be in every country, “raising concerns about patient identification and data security, leaving the patients vulnerable to privacy leaks” and other issues.

The study suggests that this is something that the governments should look after.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) Increasing protein intake may not be linked with gastro issues and kidney problems but a high-carb diet can cause severe harm, contended health experts on Monday.

In India, protein intake is generally low, and a high-protein diet does not harm healthy kidneys.

According to the latest meta-analysis, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, a high protein diet is associated with lower Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

The study led by Nanchang University researchers showed a lower CKD risk significantly associated with higher-level dietary total, plant, or animal protein (especially for fish and seafood) intake.

“A high-carb diet often causes acid reflux, while increasing protein intake can mitigate this by lowering carbohydrate consumption. Conversely, a high-carb diet can lead to uncontrolled blood sugar in diabetics, potentially causing chronic disease,” Shashikant Iyengar, Metabolic Health Coach, told IANS.

“Having the recommended amount of protein is not hazardous for healthy kidneys,” added Dr. Sudhir Kumar from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, in a post on X.

The top neurologist explained that “for adults (above the age of 18 years), the recommended protein intake is 1 gm, 1.3 gm, and 1.6 gm per kg body weight for people engaged in minimal, moderate and intense physical activity, respectively”.

According to the recent guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein intake is 0.83g protein/kg/day for healthy men and women (requirements of 97.5 per cent of the population.

However, the target is rarely met by most Indians, said the experts.

Dr Piyush Ranjan, Senior Consultant & Vice Chairman, Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS that Dr Ranjan said “overall a balanced diet should include good quality and quantity of proteins. But excess intake especially of animal proteins and commercial supplements may be detrimental.”

He noted that recommended protein intake for adults varies between 1-2 mg per kg body weight, and that it depends on the physical activity, age, gender, and other comorbid conditions.

Dr Ranjan said animal and vegetable proteins differ slightly in their qualities, and increasing intake may be harmful for people already suffering from kidney issues.

“Excessive protein intake can lead to certain side effects. The most important risk is kidney damage, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease. Excess of animal protein can also cause a rise in uric acid causing stones in the kidney,” he stated.

Further, a protein-rich diet is also blamed for causing bloating and other gastrointestinal issues.

“Among the gastrointestinal side effects altered bowel habits, flatulence and halitosis (bad breath) may be seen with excessive protein intake,” Dr Ranjan said.

Iyengar, however, disagrees. He said, “More acid reflux symptoms are found after a high carbohydrate diet. High carbohydrate diets could induce more acid reflux in the low oesophagus and more reflux symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease”.

–IANS

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