Vedanta’s BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), one of India’s leading cancer hospitals, and Anuva, a genomics biotech company with a centre in India and backed by a UK-based hub, on Thursday jointly announced a strategic collaboration to build a Cancer Genomics Biobank for cancer research in India.

Anuva and BMC aim to use this cancer bio/data bank for clinical research to identify relevant insights for precision medicine application for cancer in India.

“Our collaboration with Anuva will bring together the best of knowledge, technology and research to serve the people of India better, through precision medicine and targeted treatment,” she said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr Jonathan Picker, CEO of Anuva, and Dr Bhawna Sirohi, Medical Director of BMC, at the BALCO Medical Centre at Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

“I am tremendously excited to embark on this endeavour with BALCO Medical Centre. Despite all the research, cancer still remains the third leading cause of death. As a genetic disease, the research needs to be personalized to the affected populations,” said Dr Picker.

“This partnership will provide us a bridge to support “bench to bedside” research, driving our efforts to accelerate progress in treating cancer and also help patients with cancer live longer with better quality of life,” added Dr Sirohi.

A cancer focused bio/data bank is aimed at helping both organisations accelerate discoveries by bringing together biological factors with the background risk elements, at a population level, to find the critical genes that drive cancer. The resulting knowledge is expected to improve understanding of how genetic variants influence cancer, thereby, increasing effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment.

Headquartered in Singapore with presence in India, Dubai, Boston and the United Kingdom, Anuva descibes itself as a translational research company with a mission to create the most diverse genomic bio/data bank of Asian populations, which is being utilised for research and development. In addition, it says its cohorts and biorepository allows for follow-on clinical and translational studies, which greatly empower drug development opportunities.

BMC marks the flagship initiative of the Vedanta Medical Research Foundation (VMRF), a non-profit organisation initiative of Vedanta Resources and Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (BALCO), to contribute towards prevention of cancer.

 

 

 Stirling (UK),

It is well known that aerobic exercises, such as running and cycling, can help you live longer, but less has been known about the effect of lifting weights on longevity.

Now, results from a new study suggest that adding weightlifting to your exercise regime, even in later life, is a sensible thing to do if you want to avoid an early death.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, aimed to find out if lifting weights was linked to a lower risk of death from any cause, either on its own or alongside moderate to vigorous exercise.

Moderate-intensity exercise was described as “activity where you worked up a light sweat or increased your breathing and heart rate to moderately high levels”, and vigorous activity as “activity strenuous enough to work up a sweat or increase your breathing and heart rate to very high levels”.

The researchers led by a team from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, analysed data on just under one lakh men and women from ten cancer centres in the US. The participants had an average age of 71 and an average body-mass index of 27.8 (overweight). They followed the group for just shy of a decade, monitoring deaths from any cause, including heart disease.

Around a quarter of people (23 per cent) reported lifting weights, with 16 per cent doing so regularly – between one and six times a week. And around a third (32 per cent) either met or did more than the recommended amount of aerobic exercise.

Weightlifting and aerobic exercise were independently linked with a lower risk of premature death from any cause, except cancer.

For adults who reported no aerobic activity, any weightlifting was associated with a nine per cent to 22 per cent lower risk of early death, depending on how often they lifted weights. For those who did not lift weights but did any level of aerobic exercise, this was 24 per cent to 34 per cent.

However, the lowest risk was seen in those who did both weightlifting and aerobic exercise. For example, lifting weights once or twice a week and doing at least the recommended amount of aerobic exercise had a 41 per cent to 47 per cent lower risk of premature death.

The study also found that women benefited more from weightlifting than men.

Explanation for the findings

Possible explanations for these findings are that weightlifting may have similar beneficial effects to aerobic exercise. For example, reducing heart disease risk factors by improving blood pressure and blood lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) profile.

Other recent research that combined studies on muscle strengthening and health outcomes found similar results, but also found a reduced risk of cancer, overall. Perhaps this new study did not find effects for cancer as they were targeting a population already at higher cancer risk, given the participants were part of a cancer screening programme. The best effects were again seen from combining aerobic and strengthening activity.

Measuring exercise by asking participants to recall how much they exercised over the past year, for example, is a good option for large observational studies of this type, but it can mean over or under-reporting may influence the findings. A study that used digital devices such as smart watches to measure actual activity would provide more accurate results.

People in this study were also recruited as part of a cancer screening trial, so the study would probably recruit people with an interest in health, which means they might be more physically active as a result. This means that in the general population, the risk of earlier death related to not exercising or lifting weights is possibly even higher.

The findings from this study, and others, show that lifting weights, either on their own or with aerobic exercise, can help reduce the risk of early death. Lifting weights should be a lifelong commitment. It is never too late to start, and the results could be a healthier, longer life. 

Fluffy, tender, tangy and sweet dahi vada are a combination of all your favorite flavors and textures in one tasty snack. They consist of homemade fried lentil dumpling fritters, dunked in creamy whipped yogurt and topped with both spicy and sweet chutneys. Try my heirloom and classic dahi vada recipe with step-by-step photos for a fun appetizer or shareable party treat.

What is Dahi Vada

Dahi Vada are a popular street food from North India. “Dahi” means yogurt and “Vada” means deep fried fritters or dumplings, and the recipe is about as straightforward as it sounds.

 

Fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings are coated in a simple creamy yogurt, and topped with classic Indian chutneys.

Dahi vada are often made for special occasions and festivals, but can also be enjoyed anytime for a party snack or appetizer.

A perfect dahi vada recipe starts with tender and puffy homemade fried lentil fritters that are soaked in water, drained, and then covered in tangy whipped yogurt.

These fluffy fritters are traditionally made with the ivory colored skinned urad dal, also known as black gram or urad bean or matpe bean.

Generous helpings of both spicy green coriander chutney and sweet tamarind chutney are beautifully drizzled over the top before serving.

The result is an impressive and delicious snack that includes just the right balance of sour, sweet, savory, and spicy flavors in every bite.

While dahi vada do require some time to make, you’ll quickly see with one taste how very worth every bit of effort they are. And, much of the prep work – like making both of the chutneys and yogurt – can be done well in advance.

Follow my step-by-step instructions with photos below to learn how to make the best traditional, authentic dahi vada recipe from scratch, with tips to ensure they turn out terrific every time.

You can also check the salty and savory South Indian variation of dahi vada called as Thayir Vada which has a complete different taste and flavor profile.

How to make Dahi Vada

Soaking Lentils

1. Soak 1 cup heaped urad dal (200 grams husked and split black lentils) overnight or for at least 4 to 5 hours. Later drain all the water using a colander or strainer. If you prefer, you can rinse the soaked urad dal.

Grinding Lentils

2. Then add the drained and soaked lentils in your trusted blender or mixer-grinder.

3. Add in ½ teaspoon chopped green chilies or serrano/thai chillies, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing) and salt as needed.

Note: For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free asafoetida or skip it.

 

The eventual outcome of these children as they grow into adult life depends on the support they receive from educational institutions, family and friends.

 

Chandigarh, September 28

Four years after undergoing a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant at the PGI here, a 32-year-old recipient from Uttarakhand delivered a baby girl.

Prof Ashish Sharma, Head, Department of Renal Transplant Surgery, PGI, said, “Less than 150 pancreas transplants have been carried out in India so far. Out of these, 38 have been done at the PGI alone. This is the first childbirth happening after pancreas transplant at our institute and possibly the first in India.”

Expressing happiness at the successful delivery in this high-risk case, Prof Seema Chopra, obstetrics incharge at the institute, said, “There were different opinions as she was considered to be a high-risk patient given her history of diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure. Ultimately, after consultation with an obstetrics team, she decided to proceed ahead. Fortunately, her glucose, blood pressure and kidney function remained within normal limits throughout the pregnancy. However, in view of her high-risk status, it was decided to perform a Caesarean section at nine months and she delivered a baby girl weighing 2.5 kg with an uneventful recovery.”

The mother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13 when she developed loss of consciousness, and had been under treatment at the Department of Endocrinology, PGI, since then.

एक स्वस्थ शरीर के लिए स्वस्थ भोजन की आवश्यकता होती है एक स्वास्थ्य जीवन जीने के लिए हर व्यक्ति को संतुलित आहार की आवश्यकता होती है संतुलित आहार का मतलब यह नहीं होता कि हम भोजन पेट भर कर खाएं संतुलित आहार का अर्थ होता है जिसमें उचित मात्रा में प्रोटीन, विटामिन और कार्बोहाइड्रेट ,वसा आदि उपस्थित हो आज के टाइम में बच्चों से लेकर बड़ों तक हर कोई जंक फूड खाने की आदत बना चुके हैं क्योंकि जंक फूड बहुत ही स्वादिष्ट होता है और आसानी से हर जगह उपलब्ध हो जाता है तथा या कम दाम में भी मिल जाता है दिखने में भी बहुत ही आकर्षक और सुंदर दिखाई देता है जिसके कारण लोग बहुत ही आसानी से जल्द इसकी ओर आकर्षित हो जाते है  यह जंक फूड हमारे स्वास्थ्य के लिए लाभदायक नहीं होता अपितु यह हानिकारक होता है।जी जो की कई सारे बीमारियों का कारण बनता हैं। एक स्वस्थ भोजन से हमारे शरीर की रोग प्रतिरोधकता क्षमता को बढ़ती है जो कि हमें कई प्रकार के बीमारियों से लड़ने की क्षमता प्रदान करती है भोजन को हमें स्वाद के अनुसार नहीं बल्कि शरीर को स्वस्थ और मजबूत बनाने के लिए खाना चाहिए। एक स्वास्थ्य भोजन हमारे अच्छे शरीर का निर्माण करता ही है साथ ही हमारा बौद्धिक विकास भी करता है शरीर को स्वस्थ होना सबसे बड़ी उपलब्धि है एक स्वस्थ शरीर के साथ स्वस्थ दिमाग हमें कामयाबी की ओर लेकर जाता है|

योग स्वस्थ जीवन व्यतीत करने की कला तथा विज्ञान है। योग से आत्मज्ञान की प्राप्ति तथा सभी प्रकार की शारीरिक परेशानियों को दूर करना है। योग मनुष्य के मन और आत्मा की अनंत क्षमता को बढ़ाकर आत्मज्ञान की प्राप्ति करवाता है। योग करने से हमें अच्छी नींद आती है तथा हमारा शरीर स्वस्थ और तंदुरुस्त रहता है। योग से हमें शांति तथा आनंद प्राप्त होता है। योग से हमारा मस्तिष्क एकाग्रचित होकर काम करता है तथा हमारे मन में अच्छे विचारों का निवास होता है। योग हमारे शरीर को स्वस्थ, लचीला तथा शक्तिशाली भी बनाए रखता है। 

New Delhi: Scientists have discovered a new virus similar to SARS-CoV-2 in a Russian bat that can infect humans and is resistant to currently available vaccines. 

In a research paper published Thursday in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers from Washington State University said the virus, known as ‘Khosta-2’, comes under a sub-category of coronaviruses called sarbecovirus — the same category to which SARS-CoV-2 belongs.

The discovery highlights the need to develop universal vaccines against sarbecoviruses to protect the human population against future Covid-like pandemics, the researchers point out. 

Sarbecoviruses are respiratory viruses that frequently undergo recombination — a process of viral strains mixing to make a new strain.

Researchers from the Washington State University in the US first discovered the virus in Russian bats in late 2020. 

The team had identified two new viruses and named them Khosta-1 and Khosta-2. They determined that while Khosta-1 didn’t pose much threat to humans, Khosta-2 demonstrated some troubling traits.

Although the virus initially appeared to pose no threat to humans, when they looked more closely, they were “really surprised to find they could infect human cells”, Michael Letko, WSU virologist and one of the authors of the study, said in a press statement. 

The team also found that Khosta-2 was resistant to both the monoclonal antibodies and serum from individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. 

“Genetically, these weird Russian viruses looked like some of the others that had been discovered elsewhere around the world, but because they did not look like SARS-CoV-2, no one thought they were really anything to get too excited about,” Letko, a virologist at WSU, said in the statement. 

Although hundreds of sarbecoviruses have been discovered in recent years — predominantly in bats in Asia — the majority are incapable of infecting human cells, the team said. 

“That changes a little bit of our understanding of these viruses, where they come from, and what regions are concerning,” Letko said. 

“Our research further demonstrates that sarbecoviruses circulating in wildlife outside of Asia — even in places like western Russia where the Khosta-2 virus was found — also pose a threat to global health and ongoing vaccine campaigns against SARS-CoV-2,” Letko said. 

If you are addicted to binge-watching late at night, then know that it can be bad for your heart and push you towards diabetes because you are not able to burn enough fat for energy.

US researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have found that “night owls” are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes or heart disease than people who get to bed and wake up early.

 

London, (PTI) Children with certain immunodeficiency diseases may have a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19, according to a study.

Researchers noted that most children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 develop a mild illness or show no symptoms at all, but for a small percentage, serious complications may develop.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that children with certain immunodeficiency diseases carry mutations in genes that regulate the body’s immune system against viral infections.

“Mortality is much higher among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases infected with SARS-CoV-2,” said Qiang Pan-Hammarstrom, a professor at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

“Our results indicate that basic immunological examination and genetic analysis should be conducted in children with severe COVID-19 or multi-inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The clinicians will then be able to help these children with more precise therapies based on their genetic changes,” said Pan-Hammarstrom.

Researchers performed genetic and immunological analyses in young patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases — also called inborn errors of immunity — who developed severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection.

“Our results clarify the molecular mechanism of these immune diseases, which opens up the possibility of developing a more targeted therapy,” Pan-Hammarstrom said.

“The knowledge acquired from the study also allows us to develop better strategies for the treatment and prevention of severe COVID-19 disease in these patients,” the scientist said.

The study included 31 children aged five months to 19 years. All children had some type of primary immunodeficiency disease without a molecular diagnosis and suffered from severe COVID-19.

Participants were recruited from August to September 2020 in Iran. None of them were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Eleven of the children, more than one-third, died of complications from the infection, the researchers said.

Five children, 16 per cent, met the criteria for multi–inflammatory syndrome, MIS-C. Some of the children lacked antibodies to the coronavirus, they said.

“This suggests that many children with this type of immune disease cannot produce antiviral antibodies and therefore would not have the full benefit of vaccination,” said Hassan Abolhassani, assistant professor at Karolinska Institutet, and the study’s first author.

Genetic analyses showed that more than 90 per cent of the participants, 28 children, had mutations in genes that are important for our immune defense, and that could explain their immunodeficiency, the researchers said.

An important mechanism was mutations that affect proteins which regulate the immune system during virus infection, known as interferons, they said.

The study also included a literature review, where the researchers globally found reports of about 1,210 patients with primary immunodeficiency disease and COVID-19. About 30 per cent of them were children.

The mortality rate among children with primary immunodeficiency disease and COVID-19 was more than 8 per cent, compared with about 0.01 per cent among children in the general population, they added. PTI