The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the market authorisation of Serum Institute of India’s (SII) COVID-19 vaccine Covovax as a heterologous booster dose. This vaccine can be taken as a booster dose by people who have already taken two doses of Covishield or Covaxin. Earlier, the DCGI approved Covovax for […]
Researchers identify immune cell that helps kill bladder cancer tumors
Mount Sinai researchers have made two important discoveries about the mechanism by which bladder cancer cells foil attacks from the immune system. The research, published in Cancer Cell in September, could lead to a new therapeutic option for patients with these types of tumors. Advanced bladder cancer is aggressive and patients generally have poor […]
WHO asks China to share specific, real-time data on Covid situation
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Chinese officials and again asked for specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation in China, according to the statement released by the WHO website. In the high-level meeting, WHO asked for more genetic sequencing data, data on disease impact including […]
WHO chief asks China to share requested data to probe origins of Covid-19
World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday called on China to share the requested data concerning Covid-19 in a bid to understand the origins of the virus. “We continue to call on China to share the data and conduct the studies that we have requested, to better […]
History, theme, and significance of World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day was first established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic and to honor the lives of those who have died from the disease. It has been observed on December 1st every year since its inception. The theme of World […]
Type 2 diabetes linked with gestational diabetes in South Asian women: Study
Women of South Asian origin may be more likely to experience gestational diabetes due to the same complex genetics that increases their chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes, according to a study. The findings of the study were published in eLife. The discovery may lead to new ways to identify women […]
WHO looking to rename monkeypox to ‘MPOX’: Report
The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking to rename monkeypox to “MPOX” to destigmatize the virus, according to a US newspaper report. The decision follows growing pressure from Biden officials, who privately asked WHO to change the name, The Politico reported. The report said this decision could be announced on Wednesday. Citing people with knowledge of […]
WHO to identify pathogens that could cause future outbreaks, pandemics
The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens–agents that can cause outbreaks or pandemics–to guide global investment, research and development (R&D), especially in vaccines, tests and treatments. In a statement, the WHO on Monday said that starting with a meeting held last Friday, November 18, WHO is convening over 300 scientists who will consider […]
New AI blood test technology to detect liver cancer
A new artificial intelligence blood testing technology developed and used by researchers of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center to successfully detect lung cancer in a 2021 study has now detected more than 80% of liver cancers in a new study of 724 people. The findings were reported in Cancer Discovery and at the […]
Tuberculosis cases surged for the first time in many years: WHO
An estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) in 2021, an increase of 4.5 per cent from 2020, and 1.6 million people died from TB, according to the World Health Organization’s 2022 Global TB report. The burden of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) also increased by 3 per cent between 2020 and […]
Metabolism may offer more insight into risk of some diseases: Research
In an analysis of the metabolic profiles of healthy American babies, researchers found surprising differences among ethnic groups which may help make screening for inherited metabolic disorders, cystic fibrosis, or hypothyroidism much more accurate than traditional genetic disease screens. “We don’t want to miss a baby who is potentially sick, and we don’t want […]
China detects new Omicron sub-variants in fresh Covid flareup
New Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7, which are highly infectious with greater transmissibility have been detected in China, in the latest COVID flare-up, which comes just ahead of the 20th Party Congress. BF.7 subvariant spread to more Chinese provinces on Monday. The highly infectious virus was firstly detected in northwest China. On the […]
Ultrasound can move, break up kidney stones in awake patients: Study
A new procedure that combines the use of two ultrasound technologies may give an option to move moving kidney stones out of the ureter with minimum pain and no anaesthesia, according to a study. The findings of the new study were published in The Journal of Urology. In the procedure, the physician uses a handheld transducer […]
Covid-19 mRNA vaccines increase risk of cardiac-related death: Florida Surgeon General
Florida Surgeon General Dr Joseph A Ladapo on Saturday (local time) recommended against receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, especially to males aged 18 to 39 as it increases the risk of cardiac-related death. “Today, we released an analysis on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines the public needs to be aware of. This analysis showed […]
WHO launches new initiative to stop spread of invasive malaria vector in Africa
A new World Health Organization (WHO) initiative has been launched that aims to stop the further spread of this invasive mosquito species in the region. The WHO had identified the spread of Anopheles stephensi as a significant threat to malaria control and elimination in 2019 – particularly in Africa, where the disease hits hardest. Originally native […]