Category Health & Medical

What is meaning of term ‘Stem cell therapy’?

Stem cell therapy is therapy through cells. In this novel therapeutic approach, cells are administered directly into the body. Single cells are used for this purpose. But what are stem cells? Stem cells are the raw materials of the body, cells from which all the other cells develop. The stem cells divide and form cells that are called daughter cells. Now these daughter cells either become new stem cells or turn into specialised cells that undergo specific functions. They can turn into blood cells, bone cells, brain cells and so on. Stem cell therapy involves guiding the stem cells to turn them into cells doing specific functions. These cells can be used in patients whose tissues are affected or damaged by disease. So these stem cells are turned into specific cells and they repair the damaged tissues. Stem cell therapy is widely used in treating Parkinson’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease, type 1 diabetes, burns, heart disease, cancer and so on.

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A pandemic is when a diseases growth is exponential and the number of cases increases each day across the world. A pandemic situation is declared when a new disease affects several countries and populations.  Viral respiratory diseases are most likely to turn into a pandemic like the COVID-19. In the past, there have been numerous cases of influenza pandemics. Global pandemic is called by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after taking advice from international health experts. The WHO defines pandemics epidemics, and endemic diseases based on the rate of the spread of the disease.

An epidemic is a sudden unexpected increase in the number of cases of an illness in a specific geographical area. However, it does not mean the disease is contagious yellow fever, smallpox, measles, and polio are prime examples of epidemics. It can also refer to a disease or other specific health-related behaviour (such as smoking) if the number of cases is clearly above the expected occurrence in a community or region.

Meanwhile, a disease outbreak is endemic when it is present but limited to a partiodar region making the disease spread and rates predictable. It is also called a baseline. For example malaria is considered endemic in certain countries and regions.

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 A five-year-old girl in Karnataka recently tested positive for Zika virus.

Mosquitoes are notorious for their itchy bites, but what makes them a cause for concern is their ability to carry and spread deadly diseases to humans. Diseases spread by mosquitoes include Zika fever, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and malaria. Recently, a five-year-old girl in Karnataka tested positive for zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease.

 The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquito. It is transmitted by Aedes aegypti, which bites during the day and is generally found throughout the world.

Though the infection is not serious for most people, it can be dangerous for pregnant women. The infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly, a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected restricting brain growth. Aedes mosquitoes can be distinguished by their narrow, black body, and alternating light and dark bands on the legs.

What we need to do is to be aware of the symptoms of Zika fever and keep ourselves safe. The symptoms of Zika virus are fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint ache, and headache that last about a week.

Avoiding mosquito bites in places where the Zika virus has been reported is a way of preventing the disease. Stay fully covered in the mornings and sleep under a mosquito net during the night if your area is mosquito-prone. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in clean water. So removing stagnant water helps. Keep your clean to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

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In September 2022, Uganda announced its first Ebola fatality since 2019 in an outbreak in the central district of Mubende. But what is Ebola, what causes it, and what are its symptoms? Come, let’s find out….

Ebola is a rare, deadly viral haemorrhagic fever. It was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in 1976. DR Congo has experienced 14 Ebola outbreaks since then. There are different strains of the virus that are known to affect people. They include Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, Reston and Tai Forest. Death rate among the Ebola-infected people is high ranging up to 90 % in some outbreaks, according to the World Health Organisation.

Spreads from fruit bats?

A species of fruit bat is said to be the most likely source of the disease. People get exposed to the virus if they touch the skin or body fluids of infected bats It’s interesting to note that the infected bats themselves do not fall ill. But how does the virus spread among humans? It is through contact with the blood, body fluids, or secretions of an infected person or one who has just died from the disease. It is said that outbreaks are difficult to contain as people who are infected do not become contagious until symptoms manifest. High contagiousness occurs soon after their deaths, say, during funeral services.

Symptoms of Ebola

The Ebola virus has an incubation period of 2-21 days. High fever, fatigue, severe muscle and joint pain, headache, and sore throat are initial symptoms. As the disease progresses, the virus damages the immune system as well as the organs. Hence, the initial symptoms are often followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, skin eruption, kidney and liver failure, and sometimes internal and external bleeding.

Treatment

Ebola can be diagnosed through tests of blood and tissues. If infection is confirmed in an individual, they should be immediately isolated to prevent the spread of the disease. Currently, there is no cure for Ebola. Two drugs, Inmazeb and Ebanga, have been approved for treating Ebola. Besides, fluids and electrolytes are administered either orally or intravenously, and medications are given to control fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other symptoms. Blood transfusions from survivors are done to improve survival. At present, there is the Ervebo vaccine, which is found to be highly effective against the Zaire strain. This is the first Ebola jab approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2019.

QUICK FACTS

* Ebola gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the DR Congo where the disease first surfaced.

*The worst Ebola epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people.

*The DR Congo has had more than a dozen epidemics, the deadliest killing 2,280 people in 2020.

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Are you aware that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in epidemic proportions all over the Indian subcontinent, including India? Estimates suggest that over 70% of the general population, both in urban and rural settings, and across socio-economic and geographic strata, have this deficiency. This, despite the fact that most of our country receives bountiful sunlight throughout the year, and our bodies possess the capability to create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

The reason, obviously, is the more sedate lifestyle that most of us are now used to. Vitamin D deficiency isn’t the only problem, as obesity too is getting bigger in India, with estimates suggesting that one out of every four people might now be overweight.

In a more connected world, we are more addicted to our devices than ever before. While these gadgets do make a lot of things easy and provide wholesome entertainment, they are also eating into all our leisure, making most of us couch potatoes. What’s more, plenty of services that are now available to us on our smartphones get almost everything delivered to us on the doorsteps, making even those minor social excursions to go out and buy something unnecessary.

It is important to incorporate some form of digital minimalism into your lifestyle. By having a philosophy with which you operate on the digital landscape, you will be surprised by the amount of time you can create and peace of mind that you are able to enjoy.

Once you create some time for yourself, it would be good spending it on some form of exercise. Even though most of us do not end up becoming elite athletes, it shouldn’t stop us from incorporating some of those best practices in our daily lives. Simple activities like walking, jogging, running, and cycling, too, come with a lot of benefits.

You can even bring in activities into your everyday commute. You can walk to your destinations if they are less than a couple of kilometres away. You can cycle around, always being mindful of vehicular traffic, even if you are going 5-10 km. You can even walk to the nearest bus stop and travel by public transport for longer distances. By doing these, you are not only leading a more active lifestyle, but you will also be reducing your carbon footprint, making for a greener planet.

The benefits of having a more active lifestyle are not limited to physical well-being. Research suggests that being physically active on a continuous basis also helps the emotional well-being of most individuals.

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With the incidence of diabetes in children on the rise, let’s take a look at the types of diabetes, risk factors for the disease, prevention and diet.

India is already known as the world’s capital of diabetes with its vast adult population having diabetes. And it’s not a disease that just affects adult population. The incidence of diabetes in children is steeply on the rise with an increase of 3-5% per year.

Types of diabetes in children

“Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and can affect children as young as 1 year of age. Childhood diabetes is on the rise with a worldwide estimate of 1 lakh children under 15 years likely to develop type 1diabetes. It develops due to a process called autoimmunity leading to permanent destruction of beta cells of the pancreas resulting in little or no insulin production. This gives rise to high blood sugar levels resulting in multiple short- and long-term damage to organs if untreated,” says Dr. Namratha Upadhya, Pediatrician, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore.

Type 2 diabetes which was once regarded as a disease of adults is increasingly seen in children now, and result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Children born with low birth weight and who grow rapidly during childhood can be at increased risk. Lifestyle factors such as excessive consumption of high-fat and calorie-rich foods, pre-packaged, refined and processed foods, coupled with minimal physical activity, and increased amount of screen time lead to children becoming overweight and obese. This puts them at a higher risk of developing type 2diabetes over time. Studies have shown that early onset of type 2 diabetes in children tends to be severe and progress faster than in adults, she says. There are other rare forms of diabetes which may occur due to genetic defects in insulin production or action, and diabetes occurring in children with certain chronic diseases and taking medications for some other illness.

Drinking water

Symptoms of diabetes in children “The presence of high blood sugar indicates diabetes. More common symptoms include excessive urination, excessive thirst, and getting up multiple times to urinate in the night. Children who have been toilet trained may suddenly start bed wetting. Parents may note excessive tiredness, weakness and unintentional weight loss in their children,” says Dr (Mrs.) Sumeet Arora, Consultant Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologist, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon. Early identification of these symptoms helps with timely diagnosis of diabetes preventing severe complications, sickness and the need for an intensive care unit admission.

What parents can do

“It is necessary to get your child’s blood sugars checked if you feel your child might have any of the symptoms of diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes, once started on treatment, might temporarily go into a phase of low insulin requirement which is referred to as ‘honeymoon’ phase and some might mistake this phase to be a cure for diabetes. Omitting insulin without supervision by your doctor might lead to a serious consequence in the child,” says Dr. Namratha. Hence it is necessary to get your child evaluated by a professional who can guide appropriately. “Parents need to inform school authorities by giving contact numbers of children’s doctor and guardian,” says Dr. Sobhana. Children with diabetes can lead a normal life with professional and family support. As parents, the best gift they can give to their child is by being role models themselves and lead by example, especially in adopting healthy eating practices, keeping oneself physically active and get your child checked if you feel your child is having symptoms of diabetes and also get your child screened for obesity.

Prevention/risk factors

 “There is no known prevention for type 1diabetes. It is an auto immune condition in which our immune system gets hyper activated for unknown reasons and destroy the insulin-producing cells. At present there are no established ways to prevent type 1 diabetes that can be used for children. However, research studies are ongoing towards finding medications to help prevent or delay onset of type 1 diabetes,” says Dr Sumeet Arora Having a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes puts an individual at a higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle-related disorder, where the body’s insulin is unable to work properly causing a state of insulin resistance. Being overweight poor lifestyle and having family members with type 2 diabetes, put an individual at risk for this condition. A healthy lifestyle is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. R. Sobhana, Consultant Diabetologist Women Center by Motherhood Hospital. Coimbatore. With this condition on the rise in children, it becomes increasingly important to identify those at risk at an early stage, she adds. There are body mass index charts that can be used by paediatricians to determine if the children are at an overweight or obese stage. Strategies to target a normal BMI include dietary modifications and moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.

Diet

Keeping the intake of high calorie/ high sugar and processed food and sugary drinks to a minimum, adopting healthy eating practices, eating a rainbow every day (meaning consuming at least 5 different types of whole fruits and vegetables of different colours a day), consuming whole over refined foods, avoiding screen time during meals and engaging in any form of physical exercise for at least 30 minutes a day will help prevent diabetes in children..

Treatment

“Type 1 diabetes requires basal bolus insulin therapy via multiple daily dose injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion via insulin pumps,” says Dr. Sobhana. There has been significant advancement in insulin pumps that along with continuous glucose monitoring sensor are able to maintain near normal blood sugars with little intervention from the user. “Type 2 Diabetes can be effectively managed with dietary and lifestyle modifications along with metformin, GLPI receptor analogues and newer pharmacotherapeutic agents,” says Dr. Sumeet Arora.

QUICK FACTS

• Childhood diabetes is on the rise with a worldwide estimate of 1 lakh children under 15 years of age likely to develop type 1diabetes.
• Early identification of symptoms helps with timely diagnosis, preventing severe complications, sickness and the need for a hospital admission.
• There is no known prevention for type 1 diabetes, which is an auto immune condition.
• A healthy lifestyle is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes.

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Both involve healing by stimulation. When certain parts of the body are stimulated, endorphin hormones are produced. This lessens pain and boosts blood and oxygen circulation. Muscles relax, thereby commencing the healing process. The traditional Chinese medicine believed that life energy, qi or chi, flows through fourteen ‘meridians’ in our bodies. As blockages in these ‘meridians’ are cleared, the body’s innate healing capacity is triggered and energy flow gets rebalanced.

Acupressure originated in Tibet prior to acupuncture. Acupressure, referred to as needleless acupuncture, employs firm physical pressure to massage acupoints. In this method of treatment, fingers, elbows or toes are used to press key points on the surface of the skin. People go for acupressure to bring down stress levels and brace up the immune system. Acupressure is a combination of acupuncture and pressure. On the other hand, acupuncture brings about a change in the physical functions of the body as thin, long and sterile needles are inserted right through the skin. The needles are then manoeuvred either manually or by electrical stimulation. When done by an expert, acupuncture is not painful.

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I am trying to lose weight. However, I feel weak when I try to go on a strict diet. I am not losing a lot of weight, but in turn feeling very lethargic and fatigued.

Whenever you try to lose weight the right way, it is essential that you consult a dietician. Only starving yourself will make you weak. Your body needs the right vitamins, minerals and proteins which self-dieting won’t give you. The fact that you are feeling lethargic and fatigued means that you are not dieting the right way. To stay healthy, it is also essential to have good sleep and regular exercise.

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Besides theine and certain aromatic substances, tea contains a substance called tannin. It is an astringent acid that can dry up the digestive juices and cause indigestion. Tannin is present in strong tea and tea that has been standing for a long time. After pouring boiling water on the tea leaves or tea bags, three minutes is enough to extract most of the flavour and aromatic substances. That is when the tea should be poured into the cup for drinking, for, it will not contain harmful amounts of tannin. The longer the tea infuses, the more tannin will be present.

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Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus, which transmits disease from animals to humans, with symptoms very similar to smallpox but less severe. Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which is usually mild and from which most people recover in a few weeks. It is related to smallpox, which killed millions around the world every year before its eradication in 1980, but has far less severe symptoms. The virus does not spread easily between people and the risk to the wider public is said to be very low.  Outbreaks of the virus have been found in Europe, Australia and America. * The symptoms often include a fever and rash – but the infection is usually mild and clears up on its own, lasting between 2 and 4 weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus can be contained with the right response in countries outside of Africa where it is not usually detected.

MONKEYPOX ORIGINS

• Discovered in 1958  in colonies of research monkeys. First human case identified in 1970 in Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Occurs mostly in remote parts of Central and West Africa
• Virus has two main types – West African strain thought to be milder than Central African variant

HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION

• Via respiratory droplets – requires prolonged face-to-face contact
• Close contact with body fluids or lesions, or by touching contaminated clothing or bedding

GENERAL SYMPTOMS

Incubation: Time from infection to symptoms can range from 5-21 days.

Initial illness: Fever, headache, muscle aches, swellings, exhaustion.

Itchy rash: May develop on face, then spread to hands and feet.

Lesions: Go through various stages until scabs form and fall off. Lesions can cause scarring.

Outcome: Illness typically lasts for 2-4 weeks. In Africa, monkeypox has been shown to be fatal in up to 1 in 10 people who contract disease.

Treatment: Smallpox vaccine proven to be 85% effective against monkeypox. Antiviral drugs could help relieve symptoms.

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The tsetse fly bites humans and sucks their blood. This causes sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease accompanied by fever, headache, and joint pain. It also causes trouble sleeping. It is said that thousands die in Africa every year from the disease.

In the tropical regions of Africa, the bloodsucking tsetse fly carries deadly diseases to humans and other animals. It is a brownish-colored insect, only a little larger than the common housefly. When it is at rest its wings close flat on the back and are completely overlapping, whereas those of the housefly are held somewhat erect and spread. There are 21 known species of the tsetse fly. Some carry the disease trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) from one human victim to another. Others carry the disease nagana to cattle and other animals.

When the fly bites an infected victim, the insect draws into its own bloodstream a parasite called a trypanosome. After going through a stage of development in the fly, the parasite is transferred to the next victim. Thus the disease, caused by the parasite, is passed from person to person, from animal to animal, through the bite of the fly. The disease is so called because in the last stages of the illness the victim falls into a sleep, which often ends in death.

The tsetse fly breeds in brushy places in tropical forests and on the edges of rivers and lakes. The female, unlike most insects, does not lay eggs. Instead, she deposits on the ground a single full-grown larva at intervals of about two weeks. The larva hides in brush and immediately goes into the pupal stage, from which it emerges as a mature fly.

Tsetse flies belong to the genus Glossina of the family Glossinidae, which is related to the Muscidae. The scientific name of the commonest carrier of African sleeping sickness is G. palpalis. The principal carrier of nagana is G. morsitans.

Trypanosomiasis is generally not found in the United States except in people who have traveled to Africa. Early symptoms include headache, fever, and muscle aches. Later, you may experience mental confusion or coma. Trypanosomiasis causes swelling in the brain and is fatal, if untreated. If you’ve been bitten by a tsetse fly, your doctor can run simple blood tests for sleeping sickness. Antitrypanosomal medications, such as pentamidine, are highly effective in treating sleeping sickness.

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The crescent-shaped areas under our eyes have a large concentration of tiny blood vessels. When a person is sleepy, tired or sick, the capillaries swell and become visible through the skin dark patches If you develop these bags under your eyes due to lack of sleep you can get rid of them temporarily by cooling the area with ice and reducing the swelling.

If you have these dark patches all the time whether you sleep well or not, it suggests that the pigment in that area is darker than in the rest of the face. In such cases you may have to consult a dermatologist if you want to get rid of the bags. The dermatologist can treat the problem with creams, chemical peels or other methods.

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‘Forever chemicals’ or PFAS are widely present in non-stick kitchenware, plastics, water-resistant materials, paints, carpets and clothes. On entering the body they accumulate in the bloodstream, and impact gut flora or lungs, causing asthma and other diseases.

As PFAS bind to serum proteins in the blood, regular blood or plasma donations result in a significant reduction in blood PFAS levels; plasma donations were more effective, corresponding to a 30 per cent decrease.

Although results suggest that this is a viable tool for removing PFAS from the bloodstream, what does it mean for recipients of the blood? Potential recipients are very likely to already have PFAS in their bloodstream, and there is no data to suggest that receiving blood contaminated with the compounds exposes them to additional risks.

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According to reports, “tomato flu” is detected in children in Tamil Nadu’s neighbouring State, Kerala. In a bid to stop the mysterious flu from spreading to Tamil Nadu, a medical team is carrying out tests on those entering Coimbatore for fever, rashes and other illness at Walayar checkpost on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. But what is this new flu and what are its symptoms? Let’s find out.

Over 80 children below five years of age in Kollam district in Kerala are suffering from what is called “tomato flu”, an unidentified fever. What is of concern is that the number from this rare viral infection is predicted to go up.

Symptoms

Infected children experience skin irritation, and develop huge red blisters on different parts of the body, and hence the name “tomato flu.” They feel dehydrated and run a high temperature. It is said that the symptoms of the tomato flu are very much like in a chikungunya infection.

Besides a high fever, skin irritation and blisters, the symptoms of the tomato flu include fatigue, body ache, swelling in joints, coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Some children reportedly experience abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. With the cause of the fever still not known, parents should exercise caution. As of now, there is no specific medicine to treat this fever.

WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT THE INFECTION…

*Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms.

*Drink a lot of boiled-and-chilled water to stay hydrated.

*Stay indoors and take ample rest.

*Keep yourself isolated and avoid close contact with family members, as this infection is likely to spread from person to person.

* Do not scratch the blisters as it may spread the infection.

* Last but not least, maintain hygiene.

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Staring at your smartphone or any other digital device could speed up blindness. A study by University of Toledo in Ohio (USA) found that blue light from digital devices triggers the production of a toxic chemical that kills light-sensitive cells in our eyes. The resulting damage can speed up macular degeneration – a leading cause of vision loss.

Dr Ajith Karunarathne from the University of Toledo said: “We are being exposed to blue light continuously, and the eye’s cornea and lens cannot block or reflect it. It’s no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye’s retina.”

Macular degeneration begins with the death of photoreceptor cells (light sensitive cells) in the retina. These cells need molecules called retinal to sense light and trigger a cascade of signalling to the brain. “You need a continuous supply of retinal molecules if you want to see,” Karunarathne said.

When blue light hits our eyes, it triggers retinal to produce toxic molecules that kill off the eye’s photoreceptor cells. “Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they’re dead, they’re dead for good,” Karunarathne adds.

Retinal and blue light need each other to cause their damage; either one on its own wasn’t found to kill photoreceptor cells. The researchers say that people should avoid using digital devices in the dark because this can dilate pupils and cause more blue light to enter the eyes.

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