New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Taking low-dose aspirin may treat flu-induced blood vessel inflammation, creating better blood flow to the placenta during pregnancy, according to the world-first study conducted in mice.

Low-dose aspirin is commonly taken to prevent preeclampsia — high blood pressure condition in pregnancy — as it stops the body from creating chemicals that cause inflammation.

The study, led by an international team from RMIT University in Australia in collaboration with a team from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, examined whether the treatment for preeclampsia could be applied to flu infections.

They found very promising results in animal studies — mice treated daily with low-dose aspirin had less inflammation and improved foetal development and offspring survival.

On the contrary, foetuses and placenta from mice with influenza A were smaller than those from uninfected mice. They also found the foetuses with low blood oxygen and poor blood vessel development.

Flu infections during pregnancy can resemble preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that causes inflammation to the aorta and blood vessels, said lead researcher Dr Stella Liong, a post-doctoral research student at RMIT University in Melbourne.

She explained: “When the vascular system gets inflamed, it leads to poor blood flow and affects the aorta’s function.”

“This is especially a problem during pregnancy where good blood flow to the placenta is crucial to the development of the foetus.”

While the research still awaits human clinical trials, Liong said low-dose aspirin is already recognised as safe to take during pregnancy.

However, pregnant people must seek medical advice before taking new medications, the research team said.

–IANS

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Bhopal, July 2 (IANS) At least four children have died while several others have been hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning at a shelter home in Indore on Tuesday.

The first case was reported on Tuesday morning when a child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died during treatment. Following this, some more children fell ill who had to be rushed to the Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitshalaya in Indore.

By the time the police and the district administration swung into action, three more children lost their lives, all orphans aged between 5 and 15 years.

The children were all inmates of the Bal Ashram of Shri Yugpurush Dham in the Malharganj police station area.

Taking serious note of the matter, District Collector Ashish Singh has transferred three officials, including a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM).

A committee has been formed to probe the matter under the supervision of a senior IAS officer, which will submit its report soon.

“The exact reason behind the deaths is not known yet. Things will be clear once the post-mortem reports are received,” a senior official told IANS.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 2 (IANS) Karnataka has witnessed a rise of 42 per cent in dengue cases as compared to last year, Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Tuesday.

He also directed the officers to take up awareness programmes by carrying out the door-to-door campaign in the capital city of Bengaluru.

Rao said 6,187 positive cases of dengue have been detected in the state while six persons have died since January.

He said that cases have been also reported from Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Haveri, Chitradurga, Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada districts.

“Health officers have been directed to fix prices for private hospitals for testing. Deaths can only be prevented when the dengue is detected at an early stage. The officers are instructed to act and be vigilant in this regard,” Minister Rao said.

He said that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officers and Asha workers should carry out door-to-door campaigning in Bengaluru and create awareness about dengue in Bengaluru.

“The medical officers of primary health units in rural areas should pay a compulsory visit to schools and children should be made aware of dengue. The science teachers have already been trained regarding the destruction of larva and dengue,” the minister said.

He said that the government will also start a campaign on Friday over the containment of dengue.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) In a shocking case, doctors here removed 1,500 stones from the gallbladder of a 32-year-old woman.

The woman, an IT professional, regularly consumed junk and fatty foods, which left her feeling bloated, distension, and heaviness. To overcome this, she routinely took over-the-counter (OTC) antacids for the last 3 to 4 months.

The woman also had a few episodes of recurrent pain in the right upper abdomen, which used to radiate to the back and shoulder on the right side. Most of the time, the pain was associated with nausea and vomiting.

She contacted her family physician, and an ultrasound was advised, which revealed that her gall bladder was full of stones.

Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital advised keyhole surgery for the removal of the gallbladder (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy) along with stones.

The team led by Dr Manish K Gupta, Vice Chairperson and Senior Consultant, Laparoscopic & General Surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, made 10mm and 5mm holes in her abdomen and took out the gallbladder.

“It was surprising to find out that the gall bladder was full of multiple large and small stones numbering almost more than 1,500,” the doctor said.

Dr Manish noted that changing lifestyles, sometimes long gaps between two meals, and long fasting that leads to the precipitation of bile are all increasing the incidence of gallstones in the country.

“Even though small, the stones may slip down to the Common Bile Duct (CBD) and lead to jaundice and pancreatitis. Similarly, large stones, if left untreated in the gallbladder for a very long time, can predispose to cancer of gall bladder due to chronic irritation,” he added.

The patient was discharged on the very next day of surgery and was able to eat a normal diet and move around independently, the doctor said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) A combination of medicines and behavioural therapies can help adults effectively quit tobacco, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday releasing its first-ever clinical treatment guideline.

According to the global health body, of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users, more than 750 million people or above 60 per cent wish to quit.

Yet 70 per cent of people lack access to effective cessation services — a gap caused due to challenges faced by health systems, including resource limitations, the WHO said.

The WHO recommends a comprehensive set of tobacco cessation interventions, including behavioural support delivered by health-care providers, digital cessation interventions and pharmacological treatments in the first guideline on tobacco cessation.

The guidelines, it said, are relevant for all adults seeking to quit various tobacco products, including cigarettes, water pipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs).

“This guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against these dangerous products,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“It empowers countries with the essential tools to effectively support individuals in quitting tobacco and alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases,” he added.

Further, the WHO said combining medicines with behavioural interventions have significantly increased quitting success rates.

The UN health body called on countries to provide these treatments at no or reduced cost to improve accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

It also recommends varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), bupropion, and cytisine as effective treatments for tobacco cessation.

–IANS

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