While there are currently no approved disease -modifying therapies to treat progressive MS, results from a recent Phase III trail could change that landscape. In a press announcement by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, the company announced that the experiental monoclonal antibody, ocrelizumb, significantly slowed progression of disability compared to placebo in a Phase II trial involving 732 people with primary progressive MS. Additional data from the trial will be reported at the…
A herbal drug for diabetes that costs Rs.5 per pill, developed by two Lucknow-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), and licensed to Delhi-based Aimil Pharamaceuticals Pvt. Ltd for commercialization, has been launched in parts of north India. The drug, branded BGR-34, is a combination of natural extracts derived from four plant species…
Older people with chronic conditions often suffer from multiple illnesses and it is very confusing and taxing for them to see different specialists at different times. Its also very hard for them and their family caregivers to follow different instructions from different clinics and doctors. So this is definitely a great initiative by TTSH to simplify one aspect of care for the elderly Struggling with multiple illnesses including diabetes, high blood pressure, gout attacks and chronic kidney…
By Dr Raghuvirsinh Solanki, Consultant plastic and Oncoreconstructive Microsurgeon. Are all breast cancer patients, who have had their breast removed, eligible for reconstruction? All patients wishing to undergo breast reconstructive surgery are eligible for reconstruction provided medical fitness and stage of cancer allows it. We do not offer reconstruction in advanced stages usually as it delays adjuvant treatment. What are the different types of reconstruction…
Says Dr Subhojit Dey, cancer researcher at the Indian Institute of Public Health. He tells us why, and how to protect yourself. 70% of Indian women with breast cancer seek medical help at the late stage. 5-year survival rate is around only 60%. In Developed Countries, for example in the USA 60-80% women reach the doctor at an early stage and 5 year survival is almost 90%. Awareness is key and saves lives. Breast cancer incidence is increasing. What are the factors…
Misconceptions, early warning signs and the latest reseach that offers hope… PatientsEngage interviews Dr.Jacob Roy Kuriakose, Vice President, Alzheimer’s Disease International on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Month. 62% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries. Why is this? Is it due to lifestyle, diet or lack of awareness? What can be done to lower the numbers? With increasing life expectancy, number of people with dementia is going up. …
Thomas Insel, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, announced he would be joining the growing ranks of Google Life Sciences. Insel has served as NIMH's director for 13 years. He wrote in his statement, "The [Google Life Sciences] mission is about creating technology that can help with earlier detection, better prevention, and more effective management of serious health conditions. I am joining the team to explore how this mission can be applied to mental…
Swapna Kishore was a caregiver for her mother for many years. She has created many online resources for dementia caregivers in India, including an English website, Dementia Care Notes and its Hindi version Dementia Hindi. Here, she answers some questions by PatientsEngage. Please tell us about your mother's early dementia symptoms and how her condition progressed. My mother's early symptoms included mild disorientation, memory problems, and repeating herself…
You’ve been asked to take a terminally ill loved one home. Are you ready for this? Dr. R. Akhileswaran, Medical Director, HCA Hospice Care, Singapore tells you how to make the last days as comfortable as possible in this interview with PatientsEngage. Plus, talking about death and other questions we are too afraid to ask. 1. Patients in their last stage of life are often advised by doctors to take the patient home but family members are often afraid to do so. …
