New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) While children are largely thought to be less susceptible to Covid-19’s serious effects on the lungs, a global study has indicated that in children suffering from severe infection with SARS-COV-2 virus, the health risks may go beyond the acute viral infection and can harm the heart.Scientists from Harvard University (US) and Murdoch University (Australia) analysed blood samples from 147 children across different Covid.Their study identified significant metabolic disruptions that affect how the body processes fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) critical to healthy heart structure.”This research challenges the widespread assumption that children are largely unaffected by Covid-19 based on the relatively mild respiratory effects,” said lead researcher Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Director of The Australian National Phenome Centre.Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the team measured 1,101 metabolites.The findings, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, showed that children with Covid and related MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) had major shifts in blood metabolic patterns, some of which include shifts in cardiovascular disease risk markers.MIS-C affects multiple organ systems and may cause considerable cardiac damage, including myocardial and vascular changes.The similarities were found between the molecular signatures of MIS-C and Covid in children, with the MIS-C patients being more severely affected.”A minority of children experience a more severe immunologically driven form of the disease (MIS-C) that is associated with longer-term gastrointestinal effects and cardiovascular disease,” said Nicholson.Despite milder clinical respiratory symptoms, children’s metabolic disturbances mirrored those seen in severe adult Covid patients, indicating a shared inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2, suggesting potential long-term health impacts.“We now need to do more research into the possible longer-term effects of Covid-19 in children” added Professor Julien Wist from the varsity.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The newly established All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are contributing to the scientific advancement of the country as well as redefining patient care, said Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.He said this while virtually addressing the first edition of the Conclave on “Best Practices” organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Health Welfare at AIIMS, Nagpur.The two-day Conclave seeks to showcase exemplary practices adopted by various AIIMS institutions, with a focus on patient-centric care, operational efficiency, digital transformation, and academic excellence.Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the setting up of 22 new AIIMS across the country was sanctioned. Of these nearly 20 are operational.The Union health minister noted that apex healthcare institutes are not only adding bed capacity to the country’s healthcare system but also enhancing research and innovation.“The new AIIMS are increasingly contributing to India’s scientific advancement through regionally relevant studies, ethical clinical trials, and translational research. It is encouraging to see the efforts to foster interdisciplinary collaborations, as these will be a key to solving complex public health problems in the years to come,” Nadda said.“AIIMS campuses are redefining patient care by offering high-quality, evidence-based, and affordable treatment through advanced infrastructure and a wide spectrum of specialties. Use of e-governance tools, transparent administrative frameworks, and patient-focused innovations such as Jan Aushadhi Kendras, digital registration systems, and dedicated helpdesks, demonstrate that efficiency and compassion can coexist in public healthcare settings,” he added.Nadda noted that “each AIIMS, established as an Institute of National Importance, integrates advanced clinical care, high-quality medical education, and research excellence”.The AIIMS is not only “strategically located to address regional disparities” but also serves as a Centre of healthcare innovation and learning, delivering equitable, affordable and evidence-based healthcare services,” Nadda said.He also emphasised the importance of sharing the best practices and innovations of each new AIIMS with other AIIMS for their wider adoption and utilisation. He also commended AIIMS Nagpur for “taking a lead and organising the first conclave on best practices”.Nadda stated that “this conclave is a pioneering initiative that seeks to consolidate rich experiences of new AIIMS in three key domains: teaching-learning and research; hospital services; and governance and patient convenience.”He underlined the significant role played by AIIMS in readying doctors to meet future healthcare challenges.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Residents of the national capital may finally get some relief from the relentless heat, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms and rainfall later on Friday, which are expected to ease the sweltering conditions that have gripped Delhi and surrounding regions for the past several days.

Speaking to IANS, IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava said: “The maximum temperature in Delhi-NCR remains high, and the night temperature is also above normal. Due to these conditions, we had issued a red alert on Thursday. For June 13, we are expecting hot and humid conditions during the day, with a possibility of a heatwave in some parts of the region. Accordingly, we have issued an orange to red alert for today.”Srivastava added that thunderstorm activity is anticipated by Friday night, with wind speeds ranging from 40 to 60 km/h.”This weather pattern may persist for the next two to three days, which is likely to bring down the maximum temperature,” he said.”Currently, Delhi is recording temperatures around 44 degrees Celsius. We expect this to fall to around 40 degrees Celsius by June 15 or 16.”Srivastava also said that northwestern India is also expected to remain hot, with no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 48–72 hours.”We estimate a potential drop of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in the coming days. However, western Rajasthan will continue to face severe heat conditions, for which a red alert has been issued. Warm night conditions are being observed across the region, with night temperatures also staying above average, increasing the overall impact.”The IMD has issued red alerts for Punjab and Haryana for the next two days due to expected extreme conditions. Rajasthan is also under a red alert for Friday, which will be followed by an orange alert for the next two days. In Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, orange alerts have been issued as cooler weather is expected over the weekend.Srivastava also noted a likelihood of light to very light rainfall in parts of Delhi, associated with the thunderstorm activity.“While the intensity of the rainfall may be low, it will contribute to a temporary cooling effect and offer some respite from the oppressive heat.”Responding to whether this summer has been hotter than usual, Srivastava said: “Heatwaves are not new to Delhi or North India. We witnessed similar extreme temperatures last year as well. It would not be accurate to say this year is significantly worse; rather, such patterns are becoming increasingly frequent.”–IANSjk/vd

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) A gene transfer approach to treating the bleeding disorder haemophilia B remains safe and effective long-term, according to a study by UK-based scientists.Haemophilia B is a rare genetic disorder caused by insufficient levels of a circulating protein called factor IX, which promotes blood clotting.Scientists from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and University College London used a one-time gene therapy intervention to address the disorder.Their finding, based on 13 years of follow-up data, published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows an almost 10-fold reduction in annualised bleeding rate. It supports the long-term viability of gene therapy for the disease’s treatment.”The key benefit is that gene therapy is a one-time, simple intravenous infusion that’s very straightforward to do and potentially has positive effects for a lifetime,” said Andrew Davidoff, from the St. Jude Department of Surgery chair.Haemophilia B is an X-linked genetic disorder affecting 1 in approximately 25,000 male births.While the disorder can range in severity, frequent spontaneous bleeding and life-threatening haemorrhages occur due to insufficient blood-clotting factor IX.Treatment for haemophilia B has traditionally been expensive for lifelong supplementation of the clotting factor, but gene therapy offers a potentially transformative means to address the disorder.The study included 10 adults with severe haemophilia B who received the gene therapy drug between March 2010 and November 2012.After initial safety and efficacy successes reported in 2014, the patients were followed over 10 additional years and have all maintained a steady level of factor IX and an excellent benefit in terms of freedom from bleeding.In the field of gene therapy, questions remain regarding the enduring viability of these treatments, with key stakeholders, including patients and families, waiting to see what the long-term outcomes will be, such as durability and stability of expression.”For these 10 patients, the factor levels are stable and have been at the same level across these 13 years,” said principal investigator Ulrike Reiss, St. Jude Department of Haematology.”Further, we have not seen any side effects or toxic events in the long-term follow-up.”The lack of toxic events is noteworthy. Upon administering the gene therapy, over 90 per cent ends up in the liver.While a small degree of liver inflammation was noted shortly after vector administration, it was curbed by steroid administration and did not return after initially resolving, the team said.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Blood transfusion is the cornerstone of effective healthcare and emergency responses, said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia on Friday, ahead of the World Blood Donor Day.World Blood Donor Day is marked annually on June 14. This year the theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”The day honours the silent heroes among us — voluntary, unpaid blood donors — whose simple yet powerful act of donating their blood saves countless lives each day.Wazed noted that to build resilient national health systems it is essential to have the critical and continuous need for safe blood and blood products.Yet many people, especially in low- and middle-income countries, do not have access to safe and timely transfusion services.“Blood transfusion is a cornerstone of effective healthcare and emergency response. From mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, to children suffering from severe anaemia to patients undergoing surgery or living with chronic blood disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia, and sickle-cell disease — blood saves lives,” said the Regional Director.“In crisis situations, such as natural disasters or conflict, timely access to safe blood is often the difference between life and death,” she added.Wazed said that strong national systems and a stable base of voluntary, unpaid donors who are willing to give blood regularly are key to achieving universal access to safe blood.Meanwhile, the Regional Director noted that all countries in the WHO South-East Asia have developed national blood policies aligned with the global health body’s recommendations on blood safety.These policies advocate for nationally coordinated blood transfusion services based on 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donations (VNRD), and adherence to national or internationally recognised blood standards.“Currently, nearly 50 per cent of our Member States have achieved close to 100 per cent VNRD coverage, contributing significantly to the blood supply required for national health systems. Across our region, approximately 82 per cent of all donated blood is sourced from voluntary, unpaid donors, reflecting strong community engagement and donor motivation,” Wazed said.Further, Wazed stated that all blood collected in the SE region is screened for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) and tested for the necessary serological parameters.She urged all governments, health authorities to renew support for national blood transfusion programmes.“On World Blood Donor Day 2025, let us remember that each blood donation is not just a medical act — it is an act of compassion, commitment, and hope. It is a lifeline to someone, somewhere, who may never meet their donor, but whose life was touched forever,” Wazed said.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Vaccinated patients hospitalised with Covid-19 who developed acute kidney injury had better outcomes than unvaccinated patients with the same condition, according to new research on Friday.The study led by researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) showed that patients with prior vaccination were less likely to stay on dialysis after discharge, and more likely to survive than unvaccinated patients.Acute kidney injury, or AKI, is common among people infected with Covid, with rates running as high as 46 per cent. It can lead to a mild decrease in kidney function or, if severe enough, to dialysis. The long-term renal and survival outcomes of these patients, however, have not been well understood.The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Kidney Medicine, suggest that Covid vaccination can reduce long-term kidney function decline and mortality risk.“The Covid vaccine is an important intervention that can decrease the chances of developing complications from the Covid-19 infection in patients hospitalised with acute kidney injuries,” said lead author Dr. Niloofar Nobakht, Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.“It is important for individuals to discuss the benefits of getting vaccinated for Covid-19 with their doctors as it can decrease the chances of needing dialysis, which can severely affect the quality of life of patients and lead to further complications including death,” Nobakht added.The researchers analysed about 3,500 patients hospitalised with Covid between March 1, 2020, and March 30, 2022.Of those patients, 972 developed acute kidney injury, with 411 (42.3 per cent) unvaccinated and 467 (48 per cent) having received at least two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.They found that 65 (15.8 per cent) unvaccinated patients were more likely to need a type of dialysis for critically ill patients called continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) compared with 51 (10.9 per cent) vaccinated patients.In addition, unvaccinated patients had 2.56 times the odds of needing CRRT after hospital discharge, 5.54 times the risk of dying in the hospital, and 4.78 times higher risk of dying during long-term follow-up compared with vaccinated patients.–IANSrvt/

Ahmedabad, June 12 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday described the crash of Air India Flight AI171 as a “national tragedy that has plunged the entire country into mourning” and expressing grief over the immense loss of life, assured families of the victims that the government will provide unwavering support during this time of sorrow.Amit Shah visited the Civil Hospital in Asarwa, Ahmedabad, to meet the sole survivor, other victims’ families, and assess the medical response. He also chaired a high-level review meeting with officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Gujarat government to oversee rescue operations and coordinate investigations.”This heartbreaking incident has shaken us all,” he said at a press briefing. “The Hon’ble Prime Minister reached out immediately, and all relevant departments of the Government of India, along with the Gujarat Government, are working together on relief and rescue operations.”Providing an update on the casualties, he noted: “The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers, including both Indian nationals and foreign citizens, as well as 12 crew members. Amidst this tragedy, I have received some hopeful news -one passenger has survived. I have personally met him.”In a post on social media platform X earlier, Amit Shah expressed his anguish: “Pained beyond words by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. Disaster response forces were swiftly mobilised. I have spoken with Gujarat CM Shri Bhupendra Patel, State Home Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi, and the Police Commissioner to take full stock of the situation.”Shah emphasised the scale and severity of the disaster, revealing that DNA identification is currently underway to formally confirm the identities of the deceased. “Only after the DNA process is completed will we be able to release the names,” he said. The minister also highlighted the catastrophic nature of the incident, noting that the blaze erupted with such intensity after the plane went down that “there was no opportunity to save anything.”The wreckage was quickly engulfed, making immediate rescue efforts extremely difficult. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, striking a doctors’ hostel near a medical college.–IANSjanvi/vdThe impact triggered a devastating explosion, resulting in the deaths of over 200 individuals, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground. Authorities are continuing recovery and identification operations.–IANSjanvi/vd

Shimla, June 12 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu on Thursday said a potato processing plant would be set up in Una district at a cost of about Rs 20 crore.He said the support price for the crop would soon be declared to strengthen the economy of the farmers.Chairing the state-level multi-stakeholder consultative conference organised by Himachal Pradesh Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network here, the Chief Minister said the government was promoting green energy and natural farming in a big way.The minimum support price had been fixed for crops produced from natural farming, and it would be further increased in the coming times.Highlighting the importance of natural farming, he said many new schemes would be implemented to boost the rural economy.Sukhu said that after the north-eastern states, the highest increase in cancer cases had been witnessed in Himachal Pradesh. The efforts were on to find out its root cause, and a change in food habits could also be a main reason for the rise.The Chief Minister said 80 per cent of the state’s population depends on agriculture for livelihood and is the backbone of Himachal’s economy, contributing about 14 per cent to the state’s GDP. He also expressed concern over the changing pattern of weather that was adversely impacting agriculture.”This challenge could be faced effectively by taking steps like climate-tolerant agriculture, promotion of pulses, extensive animal husbandry, more use of traditional seeds, laying emphasis on water security and soil conservation, etc.,” he said.The Chief Minister said traditional seeds and crops grown through natural farming are rich in nutrition and also require less water.”We need to reuse such traditional crops, and these have to be further improved through research to ensure nutritious food and a clean environment for future generations.”The Chief Minister also released a book based on the experiences of natural farming on this occasion. He praised the farmers engaged in natural farming and also detailed the efforts being made by the government in promoting this system of agriculture. Padma Shri recipient Nek Ram Sharma apprised the Chief Minister about the conference. He also discussed the importance of millets along with the conservation of water, forests, and land.–IANSvg/vd

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) When the United Nations General Assembly adopted June 21 as…

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171, calling it a “heart-rending disaster” as they conveyed their condolences to the affected families and offered prayers for strength and recovery.

“I am deeply distressed to learn about the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. It is a heart-rending disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. The nation stands with them in this hour of indescribable grief”, President Murmu posted on social media platform X.Vice President Dhankhar also posted his grief on X, saying: “The unfortunate incident in Ahmedabad has left us confronting a devastating human tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. In this moment of grief, the nation stands united in solidarity with them.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the incident, calling it a national tragedy.”The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. I have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected,” he said on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his condolences and assured that all necessary emergency response mechanisms had been activated.”Pained beyond words by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. Disaster response forces have been quickly rushed to the crash site. I have spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and the Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad, to assess the situation,” Shah posted.BJP National President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda termed the crash “extremely tragic” and said he had been in close contact with state leaders to monitor ongoing relief operations. “I spoke with Gujarat BJP State President and Union Minister C.R. Paatil and Health Minister Rushikesh Patel to get updates on healthcare arrangements and relief efforts,” Nadda said.He urged BJP workers to assist on the ground, adding: “I appeal to all BJP workers to actively engage in relief and rescue operations and provide every possible assistance to the affected families. I pray for strength for the bereaved and a speedy recovery for the injured.”The crash occurred shortly after Air India Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport en route to London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, went down near the Meghaninagar area, causing widespread panic among the residents.Emergency teams immediately locked down surrounding roads to ensure unhindered rescue and medical operations. Search, recovery, and treatment efforts are currently ongoing.–IANSjk/vd