Herbal drug lowers cardiac risk
A study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, an international journal says that ayurvedic drug, BGR-34, is effective in cutting down heart attacks by 50 per cent in diabetic patients. It also found that glycosylated haemoglobin level, tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes mellitus, of at least half of the patients who had participated in the clinical trial for the herbal drug was under control, said a government official. The results hold importance given that achieving near normal glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) significantly decreases risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications causing organ and tissue damage. Glucose is bound. to Glycosylated haemoglobin in the Red Blood Cells (RBCs).
SENSE THE arsenic
A Kolkata-based company in partnership with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has come up with a cost-effective and user-friendly arsenic detection and removal sensor that is capable of sensing soluble arsenic. “It is very different from the present day's available sensors, it is very easy to use, very cost effective and anyone can use it to detect arsenic easily,” said Sanjib Parial, MD of the manufacturing company. “In the currently available media, the solution is provided with a newly synthesised polymer adopting green synthetic protocols,” he said. As per WHO, soluble inorganic arsenic is acutely toxic. Intake of inorganic arsenic over a long period can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Simple scan AS GOOD FOR STROKES
Stroke patients who are treated based on simple imaging may have identical clinical outcomes to those treated based on advanced imaging, a new study suggests. The researchers have shown that a computed tomography (CT scan) could be sufficient for determining thrombectomy treatment in stroke.
Thrombectomy surgery can be performed to remove a large blood clot lodged in a blood vessel. It has been shown to be an effective treatment for improving clinical outcomes in stroke up to 24 hours from onset. “The results show that simple imaging, while not perfect, may be good enough. This basic technique is faster, which means patients could potentially be treated more quickly,” said Amrou Sarraj, Associate Professor from the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston.
Dogs born in summers AT RISK
Owing to higher level of outdoor air pollution during summers, dogs born during this time are more likely to be at higher risk of heart disease, according to a study. For both dogs and humans, outside air pollution during pregnancy and at the time of birth appears to play a role in later development of heart disease. Overall, dogs have a 0.3 to 2 per cent risk of developing heart disease depending on breed, but among those that are genetically predisposed to the heart disease, the birth month difference in risk was found to be marginal. However, breeds not genetically predisposed to the disease, such as Norfolk Terrier, Berger Picard, American Staffordshire terrier, English toy spaniel, Bouvier des flandres, Border Terrier and Havanese were also found to be at highest risk.
BIlIRUBIN CUTS CVD threat
Higher levels of bilirubin — a natural antioxidant — within the normal range in our blood may lower the rates of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) like heart failure, heart attack and stroke, finds a study. A yellow-orange pigment, formed after breakdown of red blood cells and removed from our body by the liver, bilirubin, has beneficial effects by acting as an antioxidant or interfering with atherosclerosis — a condition where fats, cholesterol etc. accumulate on artery walls.
It acts as a natural defence and can prevent or limit the damage that occurs to blood vessels in individuals with arterial blockage. According to the researchers from the Emory University in US' Georgia state, the antioxidant effect of bilirubin could be harnessed to reduce the chronic disease morbidity risk.