Washington, August 7 (IANS) Five biomarkers, medical indicators found in the blood, associated with higher odds of clinical deterioration and death in Covid-19 patients, say researchers. The study, published in the journal Future Medicine, will help physicians better predict outcomes for Covid-19 patients. "When we first started treating Covid-19 patients, we watched them get better or get worse, but we didn't know why," said study co-author Juan Reyes from the Geor

New Delhi, August 7 (PTI): Serum Institute of India on Friday said it has entered into a new partnership with international vaccine alliance Gavi and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate manufacturing and delivery of up to 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India as well as other low and middle-income countries. "The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help them increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains

New Delhi, August 6 (IANS) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged member countries in the South-East Asian region to maintain essential health services and accelerate resumption of disrupted health care services hit by the coronavirus pandemic, as an integral part of the COVID-19 response. A rapid assessment of 25 essential services carried out by WHO in May showed significant disruptions to essential health services across the world, including WHO South-East Asia Reg

New Delhi, August 6 (IANSlife): For women who have recently become mothers, a healthy and nutritious diet is essential to boost lactation, just as much as its essential for a newborn to get its share of required nutrition. This makes it mandatory for the mother to consume food that will benefit her physical health and give her enough energy to combat post-pregnancy pressures, especially with the pandemic disrupting our daily lives. This World Breastfeeding Week, Rohit Shelatkar, VP

Moscow, August 4 (IANS) The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that a Covid-19 vaccine that it developed in partnership with the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology appears to be safe. On August 3, a "final medical examination" of participants in clinical trials of the vaccine took place at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, it said in a statement. The results clearly showed that all volunteers had a clear immune response

New Delhi, August 4 (IANS) Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Tuesday announced the launch of Favipiravir, under brand name FluGuard, at Rs 35 per tablet for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 in India. Favipiravir is an oral anti-viral treatment approved in India for the potential treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 disease. The stocks of FluGuard will be available in the market from this week, Sun Pharma said. "With over 50,000 Covid-

Mumbai, Augùst 3 (IANS) Mumbai-headquartered pharmaceutical company Wockhardt on Monday announced that it has entered into an agreement with the UK government to fill-finish millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines. As per the terms of the agreement, the company has reserved manufacturing capacity to allow for the supply of multiple vaccines to the UK government in its fight against Covid-19, including AZD1222, the vaccine co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-ou

New Delhi, August 3 (IANS) From maintaining a distance of six feet, using visor rather than mask, following respiratory etiquette, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday issued guidelines for re-opening of gyms and yoga centres as a part of the third phase of easing of lockdown. Yoga institutes and gymnasiums are slated to open from August 5. The guidelines aim to minimize possible physical contacts between staff, members and visitors and maintain social distancing, oth

New Delhi, August 3 (PTI): The Drugs Controller General of India has given nod to the Serum Institute of India for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed by the University of Oxford, in the country.        Government officials told PTI that the approval for conducting phase 2 and 3 clinical trials by the SII was granted by DCGI Dr V G Somani late Sunday night after a thorough evaluation based on the recommendation

New York, Aug 2 (IANS) Frontline health workers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds faced much higher risks of testing positive for Covid-19 than individuals in the general community during the peak of the deadly respiratory disease, new research has found. The findings demonstrated how the Covid-19 pandemic and systemic racism are inextricably linked and need immediate attention. Black, Asian, and minority ethnic healthcare workers appeared to be disproportionately

Moscow, August 2 (IANS) Russia is planning a mass vaccination campaign against the novel coronavirus for October, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said. "We plan wider (vaccination) for October because we need to launch a new system of treatment gradually," the Minister told TASS News Agency on Saturday. Murashko pointed out earlier that clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology were

New York, Aug 1 (IANS) Researchers have revealed that well-being strategies such as breathing exercises can improve mental health in college students and manages stress and anxiety. The research team evaluated three classroom-based wellness training programs that incorporate breathing and emotional intelligence strategies, finding that two led to improvements in aspects of wellbeing. The most effective programme led to improvements in six areas, including depression and social co

Brussels, July 30 (IANS) The European Commission said that it has signed a 63 million-euro contract with American pharmaceutical company Gilead to secure doses of Veklury, the brand name for Remdesivir, for the treatment of COVID-19. The Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that batches of Veklury will be made available to the EU member states and the UK from early August, reports Xinhua news agency. The distribution will be coordinated by the European Commission. Remde

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters): Nearly one in three children around the world have high levels of lead in their bloodstream, according to a new study, as widespread lead pollution puts millions of young people at risk of irreversible mental and physical damage. Some 800 million children had lead levels of 5 micrograms per decilitre or higher in their bloodstream, the study carried out by United Nations agency UNICEF and environmental group Pure Earth showed, levels considered hig

PARIS, July 29 (Reuters) - Sanofi and GSK said they had reached an agreement with Britain to supply it with up to 60 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and that discussions with other governments were ongoing. No vaccine has yet been approved to treat or prevent COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus which has killed more than 659,000 people and triggered economic havoc worldwide. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Sanofi and

LONDON/CHICAGO, July 28 (Reuters) - Coordinators of a global coronavirus vaccines funding scheme are looking at a wide range of potential prices for COVID-19 shots, with a reported $40 per dose price tag the “highest number” in that range, one of the co-leads of the project said on Monday. Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccine alliance, which is co-leading the COVAX facility designed to ensure fair global access to COVID-19 shots, said the facility had no spe

July 28, (Reuters)- Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc launched two 30,000-subject trials of COVID-19 vaccines that could clear the way for regulatory approval and widespread use by the end of this year, the companies said on Monday. The trials, both announced on Monday, are the first late-stage studies supported by the Trump administration’s effort to speed development of measures against the novel coronavirus, adding to hope that an effective vaccine will help end the pandemic. M

New Delhi, July 27 (PTI): The human clinical trial of indigenously developed Covaxin, a possible vaccine against the novel coronavirus, began at an institute here on Monday, a senior official said. The much-awaited trial of BBV152 COVID-19 vaccine or Covaxin commenced at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, one of the 12 centres selected by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting phase one and two of the process, the official at the facility said.

Tokyo, July 27 (IANS) Working men with higher incomes are nearly twice as likely to develop high blood pressure than men who have a lower income, say researchers. More than one billion people have high blood pressure worldwide. Around 30-45 per cent of adults are affected. High blood pressure is the leading global cause of premature death, accounting for almost 10 million deaths in 2015. Of those, 4.9 million were due to ischaemic heart disease and 3.5 million were due to stroke.

Mumbai, July 26 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently seeking Covid-19 treatment at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, has opened up on the alarming effects of the deadly virus on the mental health of the patients. Taking to his blog, Big B penned a lengthy note, saying, "In the darkness of the night and the shiver of the cold room, I sing... eyes shut in attempted sleep... there is no one about or around... and the freedom to be able to do that will extend I know if in