Assam govt to spend Rs 325 crore for cashless medical treatment of needy citizens

By

Guwahati, Aug 14 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the state government is set to spend at least Rs 325 crore for the cashless medical treatment of needy citizens, and the cabinet has cleared the decision. The initiative, Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Asom Yojana, will get the additional funding of Rs 325 crore for the current fiscal year, and the cabinet has given the nod on Wednesday night under the chairmanship of CM Sarma.Meanwhile, on the power front, the Cabine…

70 pc of dog farms in S. Korea closed business after dog meat ban: Ministry

By

Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS) Seven out of 10 dog farms in South Korea have closed their doors since the country enacted a law banning dog meat consumption a year earlier, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday.Of a total of 1,537 dog farms nationwide, 1,072, or 70 percent, have shut down their operations since the special bill on banning dog meat consumption took effect in August last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.The shuttered farms had raised 346,000 dogs, w…

Indian food industry urged to make 'truthful, honest declarations' on packaging labels

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Wednesday, urged the food manufacturing industry to make “truthful and honest declarations” on food labels and packages.At the National Stakeholder Consultation on ‘Comprehensive analysis of Regulatory Framework on Food Labelling, Advertisement and Claims’, held at the Vigyan Bhawan, here, the FSSAI underlined the collective responsibility to ensure that the information on food packages are accurate, transpar…

3-judge SC bench to hear afresh issue of strays in Delhi-NCR

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) A 3-judge Bench of the Supreme Court was notified on Wednesday to consider afresh the issue of relocating stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. As per the causelist on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria will take up the suo moto case titled “In Re: ‘City hounded by strays, kids pay price'” on Thursday.In the same suo motu matter, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan on Monday had directed municipal bodies acr…

Class 11 student dies after collapsing in classroom in TN's Villupuram

By

Chennai, Aug 13 (IANS) A 17-year-old Class 11 student collapsed and died inside a private school in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the district and sparking intense public attention after video footage of the incident surfaced online.The student, identified as Mohan Raj of Mel Theru in Villupuram, had arrived at school as usual and taken his seat in the classroom when the tragedy occurred. Eyewitnesses said he suddenly fainted and fell to the floor without warnin…

NIT Rourkela study to boost bone regeneration technology

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) Researchers from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have uncovered how natural sugar-like molecules in the human body can alter the behaviour of a protein responsible for bone formation and repair.The findings, published in the journal Biochemistry, can be used for advanced treatments in bone and cartilage regeneration, improved implants, and more effective protein-based medicines.From building tissues and supporting chemical reactions to acting as signa…

AI-assisted colonoscopies may raise deskilling risk among doctors: The Lancet

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) Amid increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine, a new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal, showed that doctors regularly performing AI-assisted colonoscopies may lose their ability to detect precancerous growths (adenomas) in the colon without AI assistance.Colonoscopy, typically performed by an endoscopist, enables the detection and removal of adenomas, leading to the prevention of bowel cancer.Numerous trials have…

Bird flu alert: UP CM orders extra vigilance, calls for tightening security in zoos, sanctuaries

By

Lucknow, Aug 13 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday took cognisance of the potential threat of H5 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and directed all the departments and officials concerned to undertake a swift and coordinated action plan.The Chief Minister said that the safety of protected animals and birds is the state government’s top priority, and negligence at any level will not be tolerated.He also ordered enhanced security across all zoos, bird sanctuaries, cow shelte…

Govt’s 5-pronged strategy playing key role to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: Dr NK Ganguly

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) Even as India aims to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) by 2027, the five-pronged strategy led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is showing results, said Dr NK Ganguly, former Director General at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).Speaking to IANS, Ganguly highlighted the government’s efforts towards eliminating the painful and profoundly disfiguring disease, commonly known as elephantiasis.With an estimated 67 crore people at risk — accoun…

Women with Down syndrome at high risk of Alzheimer's disease: Study

By

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) Women with Down syndrome have more advanced signs of Alzheimer’s disease than men do, according to research.However, the average age of Down syndrome diagnosis is the same for both men and women, said the University of California, Irvine.The study suggests that women with Down syndrome may carry a higher burden of beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau — two hallmark Alzheimer’s proteins — than men. It was particularly high in the occipital lobe in women with sporadic Alz…