New AIDS strain found in West Africa with closer link to monkey
French researchers have isolated a new strain of the AIDS virus in West Africa that appears to have close genetic links to a version that infects non-human primates such as chimpanzees. It's a reminder, they said, of how genetically flexible and cunning the human immuno-deficiency virus can be.The new strain …
India had 30 dropsy epidemic in past
India had witenssed more than 30 epidemics of dropsy over past hundred years due to accidental or deliberate adulteration of weed Argemone Mexicana (Mexican poppy) with mustard oil, according to Prof Gunavant Oza, Emeritus fellow of the University Grant Commission.
New optical detector could revoutionize astronomy
Physicists at Stanford have developed a new optical detector so sensitive that it can clock the arrival of a single particle of light and measure its energy with exceptional precision. When applied to light coming from celsetial objects, the device's ability to directly measure the location, arrival time, and energy …
Ottawa faces claim over PCB waste ban
A US company specialising in the clean-up of hazardous wastes is seeking US$6.3m in compensation from the Canadian government over Ottawa's ban on the export of polychorinated biphenyls (PCB) waste. The claim, filed under the investor-state arbitration provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), charges that Canada's 1995 …
Report cautious on Gulf ailments
A Senate committee has concluded that while the government failed many U.S. veterans of the Gulf War, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that explosure of Iraqi nerve gas caused the illnesses reported by thousands of soldiers. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee reached those conclusions after a yearlong study and …
Strain of HIV, new in Africa evades most standard tests
French researchers have discovered in Africa a new strain of the virus that causes AIDS that is so different from other known strains that it easily escapes detection by standard blood screening tests. The new variant of HIV-1 does not currently threaten the safety of the blood supply or otherwise …
Adulterated stocks go down the drain
Delhi health minister Harsh Vardhan has repeatedly appealed to mustard oil traders to destroy stocks or return the same to producers. But how is this to be done? While officials themselves seem cluesless on the best way of destroying adulterated oil, many traders have already emptied tins of mustard oil …
LIC to launch health policy
The LIC will soon launch a new health policy called "Jeevan Asha" covering about 30 diseases. Addressing a press conference on the 42nd anniversary of the LIC, Senior Divisional Manager R C Agarwal said this policy was an improvement over Asha Deep I and Asha Deep II.
Foetal tissue may prevent scarring
Unborn children could hold the key to performing operations that leave no scarring revealed a British doctor. The team discovered that by injecting foetal tissue into patients, their wounds healed without scarring.
Over 25,000 Nepalis HIV positive
About 25,000 Nepali citizens are feared to be infected with HIV. This was stated by Dr B B Karki, director of the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control. His statement is the first that a senior government official has admitted to the rapid progress of HIV in the country.
Breastfed children are healthier; say experts
A breastfed child is healthier and less prone to infections, say experts. Breastfeeding also saves unnecessary expenditure on alternatives like bottle feeding. Addressing reporters on the first day on World Breastfeeding Week, on Saturday , Arun Gupta, the national coordinator, Breastfeeding Promotions Network of India (BPNI), said the nation spends …
Diabetics' injections to vanish soon
Scientists believe diabetics will one day replace daily injections with an implanted shock wave container of cells that produce insulin therapy naturally, writes Sean Hargrave. Animal tests on the new technique have recently been set up by BetaGene, a Texan biomedical company. If successful, the company will begin human clinical …
Ban on new canals not acceptable to Karnataka
The high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister, Mr. J.H. Patel to discuss the stand to be taken by Karnataka on the revised scheme relating to the implementation of the interim award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal decided to adhere and reiterated the State's earlier stand.
Female infanticide alarming in Dharmapuri dt.
On an average 105 female infants were killed every month in Dharamapuri district throughout 1997. This was despite the tall claims of successive state governments and the many schemes launched to protect girl child.
Immunization project for Karachi slums
The slum dwellers of Karachi, constituting 40 per cent of its total population, are being provided with an usual deliverance against diseases they are quite vulnerable to. Mujahid Colony, a local slum cluster comprising 4,000 household and inhabited by different ethnic and lingual groups, has been adopted as a role …
No need for corporation on Krishna projects
Cong leader: Leader of the Congress in the Legislative Council of Karnataka, H.K Patil has questioned the wisdom of forming a seprate corporation for Krishna river basin projects when the state government could more easily acheive its target by utilising existing provisions for setting up a Development Authority for the …
Screening newborns for health
One in every 3,500 new-born babies worldwide is affected by a thyroid deficiency. Up to 1 in 900 babies are born with this deficiency in regions with low iodine diets. If the disease is detected within the earliest days of life and the child is treated promptly with a hormonal …
Polio drops on Dec 7, Jan 18
In a national drive against polio, Nepal will hold its third year immunization programmes on Dec 7 and Jan 18. A World Health Organization (WHO) report puts the number of children (below five) suffering from polio every year in Nepal at some where between 100-150m.
