Impact Of Brain Tumour

Ministry of Ayush has launched a special edition of the official research publication of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS) focused on the “Impact of Mann ki Baat on Ayush Sector”. Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal today launched the special edition of the journal in the presence of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, of Ayush, and senior officials of the Ministry. In his address, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said,  “Prime Minister’s “Mann ki Baat” conversations have been instrumental in giving a positive trust to Ayush. With its innovative and unique interactive style of presentation, the radio program has carved out a niche for itself and has become popular among communities. The content of this special edition of the journal has taken inspiration from various thoughts of our PM on the Ayush sector.” Ayush has been mentioned in about 37 of the “Mann Ki Baat” episodes. The Prime Minister had urged citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle, practice yoga, and adopt evidence-based Ayurveda and imbibe the Ayurveda way of life into their lifestyle. As a result of the Prime Minister’s efforts to promote the Ayush sector, there has been an increase in awareness about the benefits of traditional Indian systems of medicine, not only in India but also globally. The content of the special edition of the journal is inspired by various conversations of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Ayush systems during the last 9 years. It highlights the impact of “Mann ki Baat” on the Ayush sector and how Ayush is becoming a fundamental pillar of the country’s national health policy and health interventions.  A total of 24 articles by renowned experts are included in 7 potential areas i.e. Policy & Public Health, Science & Evidence, Health Education & Awareness, Yoga & Swasthavritta (Lifestyle, Exercise, Food, Nutrition), War against Corona, Industry & Academia Collaboration and Globalization & International Cooperation. The special edition includes a special message from Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Ministry of Ayush, eminent authors from academia (like Dr. BN Gangadhar, NMC and former Director NIMHANS), Industry (Like Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali, Dr. C K Katiyar of Emami), Research (Dr. Viswajanani Sattigeri of CSIR-TKDL), Clinicians, experts (Dr. Rajendra A Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai), Biotechnology experts (Kalpana Joshi, Professor, and Head Biotechnology, Savitribhai Phule Pune University), International experts and stakeholders (from Germany, Sweden, and USA) have contributed in this edition. Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS) is a peer-reviewed, open access, UGC-CARE-listed official publication of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), New Delhi. The Journal is published quarterly and is available in both print and online forms. It is a multidisciplinary platform for the publication of research in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha, and Homeopathy fields including interdisciplinary health sciences. The journal is published by Medknow, which is a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, one of the largest open-access publishers worldwide with more than 450+ medical journals in its portfolio. Also, Read This in Hindi► मन की बात संवाद आयुष को सकारात्मक विश्वास प्रदान करने में मददगार - सर्बानंद सोनोवाल

A brain tumour develops when certain genes in a cell's chromosomes become faulty and cease to function properly. These genes typically regulate the rate at which the cell divides and repair genes that correct deficiencies in other genes, as well as genes that should cause the cell to self-destruct if the damage is irreparable. A person may be born with a partial defect in one or more of these genes. Environmental factors may then cause additional mutilation. In a few other cases, however, environmental damage to the genes can be viewed as the sole factor. Behavioural Changes That Brain Tumours Cause Brain tumours and their treatments, in general, can alter a person's behaviour and ability to think. Patients' communication, concentration, and memory skills may suffer, and their personalities may shift. Brain tumours frequently cause personality changes and mood swings. Although the severity of these mood changes varies from person to person, it is relatively common for someone with a brain tumour to experience increased aggression and agitation. A brain tumour may also cause weakness, dizzy spells, poor balance or lack of coordination, personality or behaviour changes, confusion, speech problems, and fits (seizures). However, it is critical to note that the impact of a brain tumour on quality of life is determined by whether the tumour is benign or malignant in nature. Benign Tumour In the case of benign tumours, there is little variation in the patient's quality of life. There may be neurological deficits that can be corrected with regular physiotherapy and rehabilitation. We can keep a close eye on tumour recurrence using serial imaging. In the event of a relapse, the patient may be subjected to radiation or surgery. To answer an underlying question, a benign tumour does not impair quality of life after the ailment has been contracted. Most tumours do not leave residual deficits, making it simple to return to normalcy with timely rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Malignant Tumour The outcome of a malignant brain tumour is determined by the grade of the tumour itself. If the tumour is of Grade 1, the characteristic features that accompany it behave more or less like a benign tumour. However, chemotherapy and radiation are required for a Grade 4 tumour, which causes skin discoloration, hair loss, fatigue, and other physiological changes. As a result, people's quality of life suffers. Nonetheless, with the proper treatment and time, these changes are completely reversible. One thing to remember, regardless of the nature of the tumour, is to maintain a positive attitude toward the illness itself. A strong mind-set greatly aids the patient in overcoming the trauma of having a cancerous brain tumour. A holistic, positive outlook on life can go a long way toward rehabilitating a post-ailment patient. Needless to say, family support and strength go a long way toward a fruitful and blissful life for the patient. (Dr. Ravi Gopal Varma, Lead Consultant Neurosurgery & Program Director - Global Centre of Excellence in Neurosciences, Aster Hospitals Bangalore) Read More► Signs to Detect Vitiligo

New York: Scientists have demonstrated that normal brain ageing is accelerated by approximately 26 per cent in people with progressive Type 2 diabetes compared with individuals without the disease, according to a study. There is already strong evidence linking Type 2 diabetes with cognitive decline, yet few patients currently undergo a comprehensive cognitive assessment as part of their clinical care. The results, published today in eLife, suggest that by the time Type 2 diabetes is formally diagnosed, there may already be significant structural damage to the brain. The findings also suggest that the patterns of Type 2 diabetes-related neurodegeneration strongly overlap with those of normal ageing, but that neurodegeneration is accelerated. Sensitive ways to detect diabetes-associated changes to the brain are therefore urgently needed. "Routine clinical assessments for diagnosing diabetes typically focus on blood glucose, insulin levels and body mass percentage," said Botond Antal, a doctoral student at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, US. "However, the neurological effects of Type 2 diabetes may reveal themselves many years before they can be detected by standard measures, so by the time Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by conventional tests, patients may have already sustained irreversible brain damage," Antal added. The team evaluated the relationship between typical brain ageing and that seen in Type 2 diabetes from a dataset, which includes brain scans and brain function measurements, of 20,000 people aged 50 to 80 years old. The results were then compared with a meta-analysis of nearly 100 other studies. Their analysis showed that both ageing and Type 2 diabetes cause changes in executive functions such as working memory, learning and flexible thinking, and changes in brain processing speed. However, people with diabetes had a further 13.1 per cent decrease in executive function beyond age-related effects, and their processing speed decreased by a further 6.7 per cent compared to people of the same age without diabetes. Further, MRI scans of people with and without diabetes showed that people with diabetes had even more pronounced decreases in gray matter beyond the typical age-related effects -- a further 6.2 per cent decrease in grey matter in the ventral striatum, but also loss of grey matter in other regions, compared with normal ageing. "Our findings suggest that Type 2 diabetes and its progression may be associated with accelerated brain ageing, potentially due to compromised energy availability causing significant changes to brain structure and function," said Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, at the varsity's Director of the Laboratory for Computational Neurodiagnostics. "By the time diabetes is formally diagnosed, this damage may already have occurred. Our results underscore the need for research into brain-based biomarkers for Type 2 diabetes and treatment strategies that specifically target its neurocognitive effects," Mujica-Parodi noted. (Agency) Read More► Does Vitamin D Affect Fertility?

Jerusalem: Pregnant women's exposure to air pollution has been identified as one possible factor for low-birth-weight in babies, which can further lead to poor health outcomes, researchers have shown. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research, also revealed that mothers who are underweight and come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more exposed to the possibility of being affected by air pollution. Further, the study found that the association with air pollution was stronger among female babies and first births - a fact that is thought to be due to a biological mechanism that is yet to be identified. "It is now clear that governments need to set up the infrastructure to integrate environmental and health data at the personal level," said Professor Hagai Levine of the Hebrew University (HU)-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health. The team looked at the link between air pollutant PM2.5 and the birth weight of 3,80,000 singleton babies born to mothers all over in Israel between 2004-2015. Israel, a country with the highest fertility rate among countries under OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and high levels of the air pollutant PM2.5, made it an ideal location to look for an association between low birth weight and poor air quality. The team used personal, anonymised data and detailed high-resolution pollutant data to produce more accurate statistical analysis. The model included siblings, and it enabled the estimation of the variance in low birth weight to be accounted for by variances between different mothers, leading to more accurate estimates. The data used by the research team included: personal anonymised data on the mothers, including the area where they lived and the weight of their babies at birth; and daily air pollutant concentration over each square kilometre of Israel, derived from satellite data. The study clearly showed the association between the level of the air pollutant PM2.5 and low birth weight. The association of air pollutants with low birth weight raises the question of whether the governments should take the impact on the developing baby into account and increase its efforts to reduce pollution. (agency) Read More► 'Preventing diabetes among youth, pregnant women a challenge'