Medicine | Page 292 of 378 | SpiritIndia.com

Exercise :: Walking not enough for significant exercise benefits

Walking is a popular form of exercise, but may not be enough to experience significant health benefits, a University of Alberta study shows. “Generally, low-intensity activity such as walking alone is not likely going to give anybody marked health benefits compared to programs that occasionally elevate the intensity,” said Dr. Vicki Harber, lead author on the Health First study, which was presented recently at the American College of Sports Medicine annual conference.

Health :: The common cold – no cure in sight

What’s the best treatment for a cold? Some say rest and lots of liquids, others say to feed a cold and starve a fever. But what if a person has a cold with a fever? Does medication help?

Gene :: Scientists Publish Analysis of Honey Bee Genome

A research consortium, supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), today announced the publication of a high-quality draft genome sequence of the western honey bee, finding that its genome is more similar to humans than any insect sequenced thus far.

Diarrhea :: Point-of-Use Water Treatment Reduces Diarrhea in Refugee Camps

Point-of-use water treatment and improved water storage reduced the incidence of diarrhea by 90 percent when compared to improved water storage alone in camps for the internally displaced in Liberia, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In camp settings during emergencies, diarrheal diseases have accounted for more than 40 percent of all deaths, and a majority of deaths of small children. The study evaluated Procter & Gamble’s (NYSE: PG) PUR(R) Purifier of Water and is the first to test the effectiveness of PUR under emergency conditions. It is published in the October 2006 edition of Tropical Medicine and International Health.

Psychiatry :: First Mani Bhaumik Award to UW Scientist for Insights into Brain’s Neuroplasticity

The Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA has named University of Wisconsin’s Richard Davidson as the first recipient of The Mani Bhaumik Award. The award was established earlier this year to support scientists in the international community who advance the understanding of the brain and the conscious mind in healing through visionary research, books and education. Bhaumik, co-inventor of the laser technology that made LASIK surgery possible, has funded the annual $10,000 award.

Candidiasis :: Schering-Plough’s NOXAFIL, Posaconazole for Treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis OPC

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved NOXAFIL(R) (posaconazole) Oral Suspension for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), including infections refractory to itraconazole and/or fluconazole. OPC is a fungal infection of the mouth and throat caused by the yeast Candida. NOXAFIL is a novel triazole antifungal agent discovered and developed by Schering-Plough Research Institute.

Constipation :: Unfounded fear of addiction prevents laxative use

Many people with constipation are confused about the cause of their condition and its appropriate treatment with laxatives. Results of a new large-scale global survey, announced today, show that many people wrongly fear that laxatives are addictive and that their use for long periods of time actually causes constipation.1,2

Ulcerative Colitis :: Mesalamine associated with rapid mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis patients

Combined data analysis from two trials demonstrated that treatment success is associated with mucosal healing in patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis who received either 2.4 or 4.8 grams of mesalamine per day. By 6 weeks, 67% of patients achieved both treatment success and mucosal healing, while only 5% achieved treatment success without demonstrating mucosal healing. The results were presented by University of Chicago researcher David T. Rubin, MD, at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Ulcerative Colitis :: Adherence to ulcerative colitis medications is not affected by drug formulation or dosing regimen

Poor adherence to medication is a recognized medical problem, costing an estimated $100 billion a year in the United States.(i) New data show that while there is a steady decline in adherence to medications for ulcerative colitis (UC), drug formulation and the number of pills taken each day do not affect long-term adherence. The data were presented today at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology by University of Chicago researcher Sunanda Kane, M.D.

Health :: Bayer HealthCare acquires western OTC cough & cold business of Topsun Science and Technology

Bayer HealthCare (BHC) and Topsun Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Topsun, 600771.SS) together announced that BHC’s Consumer Care Division has signed an agreement in China to acquire the Western over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold portfolio of Topsun Science and Technology Qidong Gaitianli Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the consideration of RMB 1,072 million (approximately EUR 103 million) plus contingent payments of RMB 192 million (approximately EUR 19 million) subject to fulfilment of certain performance criteria.