health and food

Air pollution drops in India following lockdown

Paris (ESA) Apr 28, 2020
Lockdowns imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus have been recently linked with cleaner air quality over Europe and China. New images, from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, from the European Union Copernicus programme, now show some cities across India seeing levels drop by around 40-50% owing to its nationwide quarantine. On 25 March 2020, the Indian government placed its popu




health and food

FN America, Colt's awarded $383.3M to make M16A4s for Iraq, others

Washington DC (UPI) Apr 29, 2020
FN America and Colt's Manufacturing received a $383.3 million, five-year contract to manufacture M16A4 rifles for Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal through the Pentagon's foreign military sales program. The M16A4 is the fourth generation of the M16 series of military rifles. The Marine Corps began phasing out the M16 in favor of the M4 carbine in 2015. In 2008 the Sta




health and food

Search team finds bodies of all Koreans missing in Himalayan avalanche

Kathmandu (AFP) May 1, 2020
A search team on Friday recovered the last remaining two bodies missing after a Himalayan avalanche in January buried four South Korean trekkers and three locals. A wall of snow hit the trekkers at about 3,200 metres (10,500 feet) near the Annapurna base camp in Nepal on January 17, covering them under metres of snow. Avalanches and more snowfall since then made it too dangerous to lau




health and food

Indian officials capture rare snow leopard, send it to zoo

Shimla, India (AFP) May 3, 2020
A rare snow leopard captured as it savaged livestock in a remote village in the Indian Himalaya will be sent to a zoo instead of being released, officials said Sunday, triggering outrage from activists. The endangered creature was found on Saturday after it became trapped inside a pen containing sheep and goats in Giu village near the Tibetan border in India's Himachal Pradesh state. "T




health and food

India embarks on 'massive' coronavirus repatriation

New Delhi (AFP) May 5, 2020
India has embarked on a "massive" operation calling up passenger jets and naval ships to bring back some of the hundreds of thousands of its nationals stuck abroad due to coronavirus restrictions, the government said Tuesday. India banned all incoming international flights in late March as it imposed one of the world's strictest virus lockdowns, leaving vast numbers of workers and students s




health and food

Climate change could reawaken Indian Ocean El Nino

Austin TX (SPX) May 07, 2020
Global warming is approaching a tipping point that during this century could reawaken an ancient climate pattern similar to El Nino in the Indian Ocean, new research led by scientists from The University of Texas at Austin has found. If it comes to pass, floods, storms and drought are likely to worsen and become more regular, disproportionately affecting populations most vulnerable to clim




health and food

Gas leak at Indian chemical plant kills 11

Visakhapatnam, India (AFP) May 7, 2020
Eleven people were killed and hundreds hospitalised after a pre-dawn gas leak at a chemical plant in eastern India on Thursday that left unconscious victims lying in the streets, authorities said. Fears that the death toll from the incident on the outskirts of the Visakhapatnam, an industrial port city in Andhra Pradesh state, were not borne out however. The gas escaped out of tanks at a




health and food

How do I know if I’m a hoarder?


Given that the run on toilet paper isn’t over yet, we decided to ask some experts about the psychology of hoarding and other possibly obsessive-compulsive habits.




health and food

The soothing power of therapy bunnies


Rabbits are the millennial pet of choice, and their affection is more valuable now than ever




health and food

Alcoholics Anonymous wrestles with challenge of physical distancing


The international organization has been forced to cancel in-person meetings due to restrictions on group gatherings.




health and food

Just stay calm: How to stop worrying about keeping busy and focus on your mental health


How do you avoid overload when you have time to do everything?




health and food

How to protect yourself and others from infection as COVID-19 cases increase


Officials offer answers to numerous important questions about the coronavirus.




health and food

Despite battling COVID-19, oncologist continues treating patients virtually


As a medical oncologist in Connecticut, Dr. Justin Persico was all too aware of the people he treats, who would be at greater risk for exposure to the virus.




health and food

Children need more screen time during coronavirus crisis, professor says


A professor of psychology at Stetson University says that additional screen time for children during this strange period in history is healthy so they may maintain their social contacts and interact with their peer groups.




health and food

COVID-19 on the brain? Here are eight vitamins to get your immune system in shape


Certain vitamins, minerals and other supplements can support your immune system as a whole, even though they haven’t been researched for their impact on COVID-19 specifically.




health and food

Stress eating and coronavirus: Weight Watchers rolls out Zoom virtual workshops


In mid-March, WW International, also known as Weight Watchers, decided to close its 3,000 physical locations but didn’t want to leave members to fend for themselves in these trying times.




health and food

Is all this screen time damaging my eyes? (Yes. But here’s what to do)


Avoiding screens before bed and taking breaks to stare out the window will help mitigate the damage.




health and food

How to access virtual therapy while in-person appointments are out of the question


In this time of social isolation, mental health is top of mind. Here’s a guide to video chat, phone and even text therapy in Canada




health and food

Take a beginner’s dance class taught by National Ballet’s of Canada First Soloist Tina Pereira


Tina Pereira’s dance repertoire with the company includes The Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” Katerina in “The Taming of the Shrew,” and the title role in “Carmen” to name a few.




health and food

It’s OK to slow down: Why you don’t have to optimize your coronavirus quarantine


The pandemic has not given us time to self-actualize. It has robbed us of time and exhausted us. And it’s OK to feel that way, experts say.




health and food

The healing power of hypnotherapy


This versatile treatment can soothe ills ranging from anxiety and phobias to pain and childbirth.




health and food

Toronto’s fitness studios find creative ways to keep clients moving during COVID-19 shutdown


From “Animal Flow” to “Move Like an Avenger” and kids Muay Thai, the city’s many shuttered fitness clubs and studios are offering creative online options to keep you moving.




health and food

Sex and social distancing: How to up your sexting game


Don’t know how to start or what’s appropriate? A sex educator has some tips




health and food

How to strengthen your resolve to exercise during quarantine


For starters, give up the notion that the inspiration to exercise is going to sweep over you like a sweaty tsunami. “Exercise,” says one expert, “needs to be a non-negotiable if we want to stick with it.”




health and food

Think you’re not cut out for meditating? Think again


It might just melt away your lockdown stress




health and food

I changed my outlook with one workout


How do you change what’s holding you back? Confront it




health and food

Body image activists caution about glorifying Adele’s new look


We just shouldn’t be commenting on Adele’s body at all, activists say.




health and food

Face-Aging Selfies Help Modify Risky Skin Behaviors for Teens

(MedPage Today) -- Witnessing ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced facial aging firsthand may be a useful tool to convince youth to slather on the sunscreen, a new study suggested. In a randomized trial of high school teens in southeast Brazil...




health and food

COVID-19 Update: CDC Reopening Plan Shelved; Trump Exposed Again?

(MedPage Today) -- Note that some links may require registration or subscription. The Trump administration has decided not to implement a CDC-backed plan to reopen America, including step-by-step advice for mass transit, day care facilities, schools...




health and food

Detroit Children's Hospital Ousts Wayne State Pediatricians

(MedPage Today) -- A group of Wayne State University pediatricians will not be able to practice at the Detroit Medical Center's Children's Hospital of Michigan, effective July 1. The move is the latest in a years-long rift between WSU and a pediatricians...




health and food

Force-Sensing Ablation Catheter Makes Headway in Persistent Afib

(MedPage Today) -- Outcomes after radiofrequency (RF) ablation with a contact force-sensing catheter were promising for people with persistent atrial fibrillation (Afib) in the PRECEPT study. The device yielded 61.7% freedom at 15 months from...




health and food

COVID-19 Testing Lags in Prisons and Jails

(MedPage Today) -- This story, the second on incarcerated individuals, is part of a MedPage Today series examining the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations. Previous reports focused on the homeless, immigrants in detention, the undocumented...




health and food

REACH2 Highlights Efficacy of JAK1/2 Inhibitor vs Standard Care for Acute GVHD

(MedPage Today) -- Study Authors: Robert Zeiser, Nikolas von Bubnoff, et al.; Nelson Chao Target Audience and Goal Statement: Oncologists, hematologists The goal of this study was to determine the benefit/risk profile of the Janus kinase (JAK...




health and food

Rheumatoid Arthritis Triple Therapy Little Used in U.S.

(MedPage Today) -- Triple therapy -- with methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine -- is little used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the U.S. today, and clinical outcomes showed less efficacy than regimens combining...




health and food

Hybrid Approach Takes Refractory Afib Ablation Up a Notch

(MedPage Today) -- A "hybrid convergent" surgical-plus-transcatheter procedure was better than endocardial catheter ablation alone for treating refractory atrial fibrillation (Afib) in the CONVERGE randomized trial. Additional ablation of the...




health and food

Kawasaki Disease From COVID-19 in Kids: How Common?

(MedPage Today) -- As health organizations have started warning about unusual presentations of a Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19, some pediatric cardiologists noted that even classic cases are likely going undercounted...




health and food

Novel Nasal Spray Flops for Home Tachycardia Conversion

(MedPage Today) -- Calcium-channel blocker nasal spray etripamil flopped for rapid conversion of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in its pivotal phase III trial, but the story may not be over for the novel agent. The novel agent...




health and food

OncMadness: Meet the Blue Ribbon Panel

(MedPage Today) -- OncMadness 2020 is upon us. In this first-of-its-kind online education competition in oncology by oncologists, hosted by MedPage Today, 32 oncology hot topics will face off -- only one can be champion! Helping MedPage Today...




health and food

Ethics Consult: Recommend COVID Patients Enroll in Drug Trial?

(MedPage Today) -- You make the call




health and food

Women Have Good Chances of a Second IVF Pregnancy

(MedPage Today) -- Women who conceived their first child via assisted reproductive technology (ART) and returned for a second baby had better than even probability of getting pregnant again, according to a large population-based study. After six...




health and food

S-ICD Pulls Even With Conventional ICDs

(MedPage Today) -- Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) performed on par with conventional transvenous ICDs (TV-ICDs) in the first head-to-head randomized trial. The overall primary composite endpoint of inappropriate...




health and food

Study Backs Cytokine Targeting for COVID-19 Tx

(MedPage Today) -- Survival rates were significantly higher, though mechanical ventilation-free survival did not differ between hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with high-dose anakinra (Kineret), an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and...




health and food

Promise of T1D Vaccines; Can Bariatric Surgery Be Essential?

(MedPage Today) -- Researchers developed a potential vaccine for a certain type of virus infection that leads to an autoimmune attack, which may result in turn in part to the development of type 1 diabetes. "Our hope is that these trials will show...




health and food

'We're Safer From Death If We're Not Born': What We Heard This Week

(MedPage Today) -- "We're safer from death if we're not born. The bottom line is, there's some element of risk." -- Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-Md.) at a House hearing on Wednesday questioning whether contact tracing for COVID-19 really needs to...




health and food

Five Days of G-CSF Adequate for Breast Cancer Chemo

(MedPage Today) -- Five days of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) proved as effective as 7 to 10 days for preventing chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with early breast cancer, a randomized trial showed...




health and food

Three Drugs Better Than One in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

(MedPage Today) -- Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who received a combination therapy with three antivirals -- protease inhibitor lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), nucleoside analogue ribavirin, and injectable interferon beta-1b (Betaseron...




health and food

NIH 'Shark Tank' to Develop Faster, Cheaper, More Reliable COVID-19 Tests

(MedPage Today) -- WASHINGTON -- Millions more coronavirus tests are needed to curb the spread of the virus and guide decisions around safely reopening businesses and schools, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chair of the Senate Health, Education...




health and food

COVID─19 pandemic leads to rise in circulation of counterfeit drugs




health and food

Indian analytical instruments industry expects low govt funding & curtailed Capex in post─COVID─19 phase




health and food

DCGI extends validity of registration of BA/BE study centres