HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Ayush industry is steadily moving towards the $200 billion target, said Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush.

He said this while chairing the first Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting for the Ministry of Ayush in the national capital.

Jadhav highlighted that for the first time since the Ministry of Ayush became an independent ministry in 2014 under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a dedicated Parliamentary Consultative Committee has been established.

“This important step will help ensure focused discussions, better attention to Ayush-related matters, and stronger policy direction. It will further enhance the Ministry’s role in promoting a more holistic and globally recognised healthcare system,” the MoS said.

“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Ayush has grown rapidly with a strong network of research councils, statutory bodies, and national institutes. Through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the National Ayush Mission, health services are reaching millions, while the Ayush industry is steadily moving towards the $200 billion target,” he added.

Jadhav also hailed the International Day of Yoga 2025, held under the theme ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health,’ which marked a remarkable milestone with over 3 lakh participants joining in Visakhapatnam this year.

“This powerful display of unity and wellness reflects the growing global embrace of yoga. Alongside, initiatives such as Prakriti Parikshan and Moringa-based Ayush diets showcase our commitment to evidence-based research, preventive healthcare, and the promotion of a healthy, sustainable lifestyle,” Jadhav said.

During the meeting, Member of Parliament Purshottam Rupala suggested that the Ministry of Ayush enhance public awareness through campaigns using posters, banners, and other IEC materials.

He also emphasised the importance of recognising the contributions of grassroots Vaidyas at the village and district levels. He called for efforts to promote their expertise so that more people can benefit from Ayush and its systems can be further strengthened.

Jadhav expressed gratitude to the members for their active participation and meaningful contributions.

He emphasised that their inputs will be instrumental in strengthening the Ayush systems across the country and in advancing India’s leadership in traditional medicine on the global stage.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Ayurveda’s child-care system can build Swasth Balak and Swasth Bharat (a healthy child and healthy India), said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav.

The Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush, organised the 30th national seminar under the theme “Management of Illness and Wellness in Paediatrics through Ayurveda”.

The two-day seminar aimed to advance holistic paediatric healthcare by bringing together over 500 participants, including leading ayurveda scholars, researchers, practitioners, and students.

“Ayurveda’s Kaumarbhritya branch has the potential to transform child healthcare by combining preventive, promotive, and curative approaches,” said Jadhav, while delivering the valedictory address through a written message.

“The collective wisdom shared over the past two days will inspire new research collaborations and practical models for achieving Swasth Balak, Swasth Bharat,” he added.

The MoS emphasised that the outcome of this seminar will strengthen India’s paediatric healthcare framework.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, noted that the seminar had set a benchmark for academic exchange in paediatric ayurveda. He underlined the importance of evidence-based validation and stressed the need for collaborative studies to integrate Ayurvedic principles with modern healthcare practices.

Dr. Vandana Siroha, Director, RAV, in her concluding remarks, said that the success of the seminar reflects RAV’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Ayurveda practitioners and researchers.

The two-day programme featured 20 scientific research paper presentations on paediatric health in ayurveda, panel discussions on preventive and promotive healthcare in children.

The seminar concluded with a consensus that ayurveda’s holistic paediatric practices must be mainstreamed to complement India’s healthcare system, particularly in addressing lifestyle disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and emerging health challenges among children.

The event successfully reinforced ayurveda’s relevance as a foundation of holistic child healthcare and called for continued knowledge-sharing platforms at the national and global level.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Rising air pollution levels is surging acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the national capital, with 68,411 cases and 10,819 hospital admissions reported in 2024, the government said in the Parliament on Tuesday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, shared details of rising air pollution and respiratory diseases in urban areas.

“Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases,” said Jadhav.

The MoS noted that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducts sentinel surveillance of air pollution-related illnesses through the network of more than 230 sentinel surveillance sites spanning across 30 states/UTs.

Further, in August 2023, the government launched Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) digital surveillance through the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP).

He shared the ARI surveillance data of six sentinel sites of Delhi: AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, LHMC Group of Hospitals, RML Hospital, NITRD Hospital, and VPCI Hospital.

It showed that in 2022, a total of 67,054 cases were reported to the emergency departments of these six sites, while 9,878 required hospital admission. In 2023, the cases jumped to 69,293, while hospital admissions dropped to 9,727, the Minister said.

However, Jadhav noted that “there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death or disease exclusively due to air pollution”.

“Health effects of air pollution are a synergistic manifestation of factors, which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of individuals,” he explained.

The Ministry of Health also issues health advisories on air pollution to all states every year to support them in preparedness for such health problems at all levels of health care facilities across the country.

Health sector preparedness and response mechanisms on air pollution and health-related issues such as Air Quality Index (AQI) reports are also shared with states for preparedness and response mechanisms, the Minister said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) on Tuesday launched its new Medical Application Portal designed for ‘ISO 15189:2022’ applicant laboratories, marking a major step in NABL’s mission to enhance ease, efficiency and transparency in the accreditation process.

The portal has been reimagined to mirror the real-world operations of medical laboratories, offering a streamlined application process with improved user experience, reduced timelines, and greater accuracy, according to Commerce Ministry.

QCI Chairperson Jaxay Shah said with the new NABL Medical Application Portal, tasks that once took weeks or even months can now be completed within just two to three hours.

He added that this marks one of the most significant disruptions in the quality ecosystem and that the same approach will now be extended to other sectors, embedding technology-driven efficiency, innovation, and responsiveness at the heart of India’s quality journey.

The portal introduces several enhancements including a restructured application flow, standardized templates, a comprehensive pre-registration checklist, an intuitive interface, and a multi-user access feature that enables laboratories to assign multiple users with distinct access rights.

This is expected to accelerate data entry, enhance oversight, and ensure accountability throughout the accreditation lifecycle.

NABL Chairperson Dr Sandip Shah that the portal is a transformational step towards making the accreditation process more transparent and efficient.

He added that with multi-user access and simplified features, NABL is enhancing ease of doing business for laboratories and reinforcing its commitment to India’s quality ecosystem.

The initiative is expected to benefit hundreds of medical laboratories across India, providing them with an intuitive, transparent, and efficient digital platform for accreditation under ISO 15189:2022.

The launch event included a live demonstration of the portal, a walkthrough of its features, and an interactive Q&A session with participants from medical laboratories nationwide, said the ministry.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) is strengthening surveillance of dog bites in all states, said Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, in the Parliament on Tuesday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Jadhav shared steps undertaken to strengthen rabies treatment in the country.

“The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), is undertaking strengthening of surveillance of all animal bites in all States/UTs. Data on dog and other animal bite cases and related deaths are reported by all States/UTs, through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP),” Jadhav said.

States are provided with a budget for the implementation of the NRCP under the National Health Mission (NHM).

“Funding includes capacity building of healthcare staff, procurement of rabies vaccines, printing of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on rabies and dog-bite prevention, data entry support, review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, and establishment of Model Anti-Rabies Clinics and wound-washing facilities,” the Minister said.

Further, life-saving drugs such as Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS)/Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) are provided free of cost in the public health facilities under the National Free Drug Initiative of NHM.

“These drugs are also included in both the National and State Essential Drug Lists. Also under the Central Sector component, the National Centre for Disease Control implements rabies control activities through awareness, lab strengthening, guidelines, and training materials, etc,” Jadhav said.

He also informed that the National One Health programme is enhancing rabies diagnosis through vet labs across states.

“To strengthen involvement of the veterinary sector under the “National One Health Programme For Prevention and Control of Zoonosis” committees have been formed in all States and veterinary laboratories to strengthen diagnosis of animal Rabies,” the Minister said.

To create awareness among the public and healthcare professionals, dog bite protocols, IEC materials, and training videos on the management of animal bite/dog bite cases have been created and disseminated across the country, Jadhav stated.

Meanwhile, animal activists nationwide have been protesting against the Supreme Court’s verdict to put all the stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region into shelters.

The apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of the alarming rise in dog-bite incidents, including the recent death of a six-year-old child in Delhi following a stray dog attack. During hearings, the court observed that urgent intervention was required and directed sterilisation along with relocation of the canines to shelters.

However, the demonstrators have been stressing that the solution lies not in confinement but in scientific sterilisation drives, community awareness, and stricter implementation of pet ownership rules.

They argue that mass relocation would only worsen the problem by straining resources and isolating the animals from communities that often care for and feed them.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Girls who go through puberty (the onset of menstruation) before the age of 11 or women who give birth before the age of 21 have double the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and obesity, and quadruple the risk of developing severe metabolic disorders, according to a study.

The study led by researchers at the US-based Buck Institute for Research on Aging revealed that later puberty and childbirth are genetically associated with longer lifespan, lower frailty, slower epigenetic ageing, and reduced risk of age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

“We show that genetic factors favouring early reproduction come with a significant cost later in life, including accelerated ageing and disease. It makes sense that the very factors that help enhance the survival of the offspring may lead to detrimental consequences for the mother,” Pankaj Kapahi, Professor at the varsity.

Noting that the public health implications of the research are significant, he stated that “these risk factors, whether positive or negative, clearly have significant influence on a variety of age-related diseases and should be considered in the larger context of overall health.”

The research, published in the journal eLife, was based on regression analysis on nearly 200,000 women in the UK to confirm genetic associations.

The study identified 126 genetic markers that mediate the effects of early puberty and childbirth on ageing.

Kapahi said the study highlights the role of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a critical mediator of this process, finding that early reproductive events contribute to a higher BMI, which in turn increases the risk of metabolic disease.

“One can envision that enhancing the ability to absorb nutrients would benefit the offspring, but if nutrients are plentiful, then it can enhance the risk of obesity and diabetes.”

Kapahi noted that understanding the long-term impact of reproductive timing allows for the development of personalised health care strategies that could help mitigate the risks associated with early puberty and early childbirth. He added that lifestyle modifications, metabolic screenings, and tailored dietary recommendations could improve long-term health in women.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Facing digital eye strain? According to a study, just one hour of scrolling social media reels on smartphones can cause eye fatigue.

The study published in the Journal of Eye Movement Research found that it is not just the time spent on digital devices but also the type of content being used that can cause the condition.

“Social media content causes greater pupil fluctuations than reading or watching a video,” said the researchers from SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

The team stated that “prolonged smartphone use, exceeding 20 minutes at a time, can lead to physical and mental health issues, including psychophysiological disorders”.

Digital devices and their extended exposure to blue light cause digital eyestrain, sleep disorders, and visual-related problems.

To examine the impact of 1 hour of smartphone usage on visual fatigue among young Indian adults, the researchers developed a portable, low-cost system that measured visual activity.

The system measured blink rate, inter-blink interval, and pupil diametre. Measured eye activity was recorded during 1 hour of smartphone usage of e-book reading, video watching, and social-media reels (short videos).

“Social media reels show increased screen variations, affecting pupil dilation and reducing blink rate due to continuous screen brightness and intensity changes. This reduction in blink rate and increase in inter-blink interval or pupil dilation could lead to visual fatigue,” the researchers explained.

Regarding discomfort, 60 per cent of participants experienced mild to severe discomfort after prolonged smartphone use, including symptoms like eyestrain, neck pain, and hand fatigue.

Furthermore, 83 per cent of the respondents indicated experiencing some form of psychophysiological disorders, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, or mental exhaustion. To reduce discomfort, 40 per cent of participants reported taking precautions, such as using blue light filters or enabling dark mode settings to reduce the impact of screen exposure.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The wisdom provided by Ayurveda — the ancient system of medicine — can offer new dimensions to paediatric healthcare, said Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush on Monday.

The Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush, organised the 30th national seminar under the theme “Management of Illness and Wellness in Paediatrics through Ayurveda”.

It aims to advance holistic paediatric healthcare by bringing together leading Ayurveda scholars, researchers, practitioners, and students.

“Ayurveda has always placed child health as the cornerstone of a flourishing society. This National Seminar is a timely initiative to highlight Ayurveda’s comprehensive approach to both illness management and wellness promotion in paediatric care. The deliberations here will enrich practitioners, researchers, and students, advancing paediatric healthcare through Ayurveda,” said Jadhav, in a written note.

Vaidya Devendra Triguna, President, Governing Body, RAV, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for elevating yoga and ayurveda globally and commended RAV for its focus on paediatric wellness.

Prof. (Dr.) Manjusha Rajagopala, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), highlighted that the Ministry of Ayush has seen tremendous growth in public trust since its inception.

She further expressed gratitude to robust government support and the dedication of Ayush professionals.

Dr. Vandana Siroha, Director, RAV, in her address, reiterated the seminar’s importance in realising the vision of “Swasth Balak, Swasth Bharat,” and underscored Ayurveda’s paediatric branch, Kaumarbhritya, for its comprehensive approach to child wellness.

The event also saw scientific presentations spotlighting evidence-based approaches in paediatric Ayurveda; interactive dialogues on preventive and promotive child healthcare.

The experts underlined that integrating time-tested practices with modern scientific validation will not only help in preventive child healthcare but also in holistically addressing emerging health challenges.

This convergence of knowledge will serve as a foundation for shaping resilient and healthier generations.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) US researchers are building a non-invasive system using ultrasound to deliver drugs anywhere in the body with precision, as well as with reduced side effects.

The new system, being developed by a team of Stanford University researchers, uses nanoparticles to encapsulate drugs along with ultrasound to unleash the drugs at their intended destinations.

In a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the team showed in rats that their system can deliver ketamine to specific regions of the brain and painkillers to specific nerves in limbs. Using a new sucrose formulation, they found that nanoparticles are safer, more stable, and easier to produce.

“Turns out just a little bit of sugar is all you need to make this work,” said Raag Airan, Assistant Professor of radiology, Stanford Medicine.

The researchers found that a 5 per cent sucrose solution inside the nanoparticles made them relatively stable in the body, yet responsive to ultrasound stimulation.

That means that even when the nanoparticles are delivered into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, most of the drug is released only where it’s needed. A narrow beam of ultrasound, externally applied, pinpoints the target, releasing the drug.

Such a system has the potential to make a wide range of drugs safer and more effective.

“We can maximise the therapeutic effect and minimise the off-target effects,” Airan said.

Initially, the nanoparticles consisted of a polymer shell filled with a liquid core of uncommon chemical compounds. But as it did not work, the team tried adding a variety of common substances to the liquid core, from polymers to salts, to modulate its response to ultrasound.

Finally, they tried sugar. After testing different types and concentrations of sugars, the researchers found that 5 per cent sucrose added to the liquid core achieved the best balance of ultrasound response and stability at body temperature.

The researchers then tested the drug delivery system in rats, comparing animals that were given an injection of free, unencapsulated ketamine with those given ketamine encapsulated in nanoparticles with 5 per cent sucrose.

When the researchers applied ultrasound to a particular brain region, the nanoparticles delivered about three times as much drug to that region as to other parts of their brain — demonstrating targeted drug release.

If the system works in humans, clinicians may be able to isolate the emotional effects of ketamine — to treat depression, for example — while blocking the dissociative effects of the drug, the researchers said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology, granted its support to an indigenously developed AI-powered blood testing device for primary healthcare, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Monday.

The TDB signed an agreement with New Delhi-based Primary Healthtech for the project titled “IoT-enabled point-of-care blood testing device for affordable and accessible healthcare powered by AI/ML algorithms.”

“The project will focus on enhancing the current prototype (M1) to perform five tests simultaneously, reducing patient waiting time, and setting up commercial-scale manufacturing. This next-generation Mobilab will include tests such as haemoglobin, creatinine, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), among others,” the Ministry said.

Mobilab, developed previously by the company, is a portable, battery-operated clinical chemistry analyser device created by Primary Healthtech. It is IoT-enabled and powered by AI/ML algorithms, capable of testing over 25 parameters related to the kidney, liver, heart, vitamins, and cancer.

“Ensuring quality healthcare access in rural and remote regions is a national priority. This project not only addresses affordability and accessibility but also demonstrates India’s capability in developing indigenous, AI-powered diagnostic solutions for primary healthcare,” said Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB.

The collaboration also underscores TDB’s commitment to fostering indigenous healthcare innovations aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and advancing India’s presence in affordable medical technologies globally.

Primary Healthtech, founded by alumni of IIT Guwahati, is working to develop affordable diagnostic technologies for underserved populations.

The company holds a patent for “a transmittance-based system/kit for point-of-care quantification” transferred from IIT Guwahati and has filed over six additional patent applications related to integrated mixers, assay development, centrifuges, and proprietary optical systems. The device has already undergone trials on 10,000 patients and recently received a CDSCO manufacturing license.

“With Mobilab, we envision bridging the healthcare gap for rural and underserved communities, ensuring that advanced diagnostics are available at the point of care, anywhere in India,” stated the promoters of Primary Healthtech.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) A team of scientists from Japan has identified hidden immune ‘hubs’ that drive joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects millions worldwide and can have a devastating impact on patients’ lives. Yet, about one in three patients responds poorly to existing treatments.

The team from Kyoto University discovered that peripheral helper T cells (Tph cells) — a key type of immune cell involved in RA — exist in two forms: stem-like Tph cells and effector Tph cells. The stem-like Tph cells reside in immune “hubs” called tertiary lymphoid structures within inflamed joints, where they multiply and activate B cells.

Some of these then become effector Tph cells that leave the hubs and cause inflammation. This continuous supply of effector Tph cells may explain why inflammation persists in some patients despite treatment.

Targeting the stem-like Tph cells at their source could offer a new therapeutic strategy, bringing hope for more effective symptom relief and improved quality of life for patients living with RA, the team explained in the paper, published online in the journal Science Immunology.

“Using cutting-edge analytical techniques that have only recently become available, we have uncovered a new aspect of the immune response at the sites of joint damage in RA,” said first author Yuki Masuo from Kyoto.

“Because stem-like Tph cells can both self-renew and differentiate, they may represent a root cause of the disease.”

Building on their earlier work, which showed that Tph cells build up in the joints of patients with RA and contribute to inflammation, the team analysed immune cells from inflamed joint tissue and blood of people with RA using a comprehensive approach called multi-omics. This combines different types of biological data to get a full picture of the dynamic behaviour of Tph cells in RA-affected joint tissue.

The results revealed that most stem-like Tph cells live inside these immune hubs, where they interact closely with B cells.

Further, by growing stem-like Tph cells and B cells together in the lab, the researchers found that this interaction not only helps stem-like Tph cells develop into effector Tph cells but also activates B cells.

On the other hand, effector Tph cells are found outside the hubs, where they interact with other immune cells, such as macrophages and cytotoxic (killer) T cells that promote inflammation.

Overall, the study reveals the presence of two types of Tph cells with different roles in inflamed joint tissue. Stem-like Tph cells live within immune hubs, where they self-renew and help activate B cells. Some of them mature into effector Tph cells, which then leave immune hubs and cause inflammation.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) A Covid-19 infection can accelerate ageing in blood vessels around five years, particularly in women, according to research.

As blood vessels ages, it can make arteries stiffer — raising the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack, explained the researchers.

“We know that Covid can directly affect blood vessels. We believe that this may result in what we call early vascular ageing, meaning that your blood vessels are older than your chronological age and you are more susceptible to heart disease,” said Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, France.

“If that is happening, we need to identify who is at risk at an early stage to prevent heart attacks and strokes,” Bruno said.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, included 2,390 people from 16 different countries (Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Turkey, the UK, and the US) who were recruited between September 2020 and February 2022.

The results showed that all three groups of patients who had been infected with Covid, including those with mild Covid, had stiffer arteries compared to those who had not been infected.

The effect was greater in women than in men and in people who experienced the persistent symptoms of long Covid, such as shortness of breath and fatigue.

Notably, people who had been vaccinated against Covid generally had arteries that were less stiff than those of the unvaccinated. Over the longer term, the vascular ageing associated with Covid infection seemed to stabilise or improve slightly.

The Professor noted that one reason for the difference between women and men “could be differences in the function of the immune system”.

“Women mount a more rapid and robust immune response, which can protect them from infection. However, this same response can also increase damage to blood vessels after the initial infection,” Bruno said.

–IANS

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