What Does Your Morning Face Say about Your Health?

The image you see when you look in the mirror while brushing your teeth in the morning can

reveal how well you slept the previous night, how stressed you are or, more importantly, how

good is your health, reports Hansa Venkateswaran

You may not look the same when you wake up every morning. On some days, there's an

enviable glow on your face, on some you are just okay and on other days, you look

completely sapped of energy as if you battled a storm the previous night. You may brush off

these different looks as something routine, but they can reveal a lot about your inner health.

Some may indicate common ailments while others can point to something more serious for

you to act upon.

“Since the skin is the largest organ of the body , it clearly reflects what goes on inside your

body and what the status of your health is,“ said Dr Neha Mittal, cosmetic physician at

Derma world Skin & Hair Clinics, Delhi. “There are various signs and symptoms that your

body starts exhibiting that depict that something is not normal... One should be aware of these

sudden changes in the skin, which are quite noticeable early in the morning.“

Here are some ailments you can read from your wake-up face:

THE LOOK: TIRED What it may mean:

A. LACK OF SLEEP

Sleep is a natural reset button for our brain and body , which is even more required these days

because of increased work pressure and stress. “Face is the index of the mind... a skipped

sleep is easily identified on the face,“ said Dr Jaidev Yadav , consultant dermatologist at

Vikram Hospital, Bengaluru.

B. DEPRESSION

Along with tiredness, depression can appear as skin lesions too. A trained dermatologist can

recognise this symptom and guide the patient to a psychiatrist for treatment. A major reason

for skin eruptions is alcohol and drug abuse, said Yadav. Other symptoms include vertigo

and insomnia.

THE LOOK: DRY FLAKY AND DULL SKIN ALONG WITH CHAPPED LIPS

Dehydration Lack of adequate intake of water is the prime reason for dehydration, said

Mittal. The person can also suffer from increased thirst, headache, dizziness, dry mouth and a

feeling of cold at times.

THE LOOK: DISCOLOURED UNDER-EYE What it may mean:

Anaemia Improper eating habits are the main reason for this. Moving away from traditional

eating to western foods and the eating-out culture are causing nutritional imbalance. For

example, taking lesser green leafy vegetables, dates and ragi that provide the required iron

has led to a drop in daily consumption. Eating fried foods has reduced the protein intake in

the diet. Lack of enough lentils (dal) and vegetables has led to reduced vitamin B intake, said

Dr Dharini Krishnan, a consultant dietitian based in Chennai. Those suffering from anaemia

may experience hair loss and weakness too. Women are more prone to this condition.

THE LOOK: PUFFY FACE

What it may mean:Cold andor sinusitis

It is usually accompanied by a stuffy nose and a heavy head. While the common cold is

caused by a virus, stuffy nose, specially if it isn't running, could be because of dust allergy ,

improper ventilation and clogged air-conditioning filters. Unclean carpets and upholstery of

the furniture also cause a cold due to the dust, explained Krishnan.

There can also be external sources causing the puffy face, according to Yadav.“Infections

from bacteria, fungi or viruses bear a direct correlation to the immunity of an individual and

are seen as a puffy face,“ he said.

THE LOOK: YELLOW SPOTS ON EYELIDS

a What it may mean: Heart diseases

“ The yellow spots on the eyelids are cholesterol-filled lesions, called xanthelasmata.

They are a warning sign that the person is at a higher risk for heart diseases. However, it is

not wise to wait for a heart disease symptom to show up on the skin. Adopt a heart-healthy

lifestyle, know about other d symptoms of heart trouble and visit your doctor if you

experience any of those.

THE LOOK: ACNE

What it may mean: Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal triggers lead to an oily face and, thereby , acne. If accompanied by unwanted

facial hair, irregular periods and weight e gain, it may be an indication of polycystic . ovarian

syndrome in women. Braind related ailments are known to show up as d acne, especially

among teens and tweens.

For a Glowing Wake-up Face, Make Yourself Healthy from Inside

A healthy and smiling face can be the simplest way to tell if a person's inner health is fine,

which is clearly reflected on the skin.“In Ayurveda, this concept is called Sara Pariksha

(examination of the health of the tissues). The primary factor that influences this is the diet

the person consumes and the lifestyle the person follows,“ said Dr Madhumitha Krishnan,

Ayurvedic physician at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru. “When a person is healthy , the agni

(digestive fire) is proper, which indicates that the food consumed is properly and adequately

converted into the various physiological factors that make up the human body . In turn, when

all these physiological factors work in harmony , the mental status of the person is good and a

person glows with health,“ she said.

Since the face depicts the inner health, the solution is to consume healthy , nutritious foods

rich in vitamins, minerals and fibres, so that the body is healthy from within, said Mittal from

Dermaworld.

One must also follow a skincare routine based on hisher skin type, which should include

cleaning, toning and moisturising, she added. “Include exercise in your routine. Start with

brisk walking and top it with easy exercise for a fit body. Exercising improves blood

circulation and makes your body flexible,“ she said, adding, “Limit the amount of alcohol

and caffeinated drinks“. In short, adopt a healthy lifestyle and wake up to see a healthy you.

Source: The Economic Times

Pneumonia drug patent is terrible for public health

Giving Pfizer sole right to manufacture this medication will put it out of reach of those who
need it most.

India’s Patent Office has dealt a major setback to hopes for improved access to an affordable
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) by granting a patent to the US pharmaceutical
corporation, Pfizer, for its PCV13 product, marketed as Prevnar 13. The monopoly granted to
Pfizer allows it to control the PCV13 market in India until 2026 and blocks Indian
manufacturers from supplying a lower-priced version of this vaccine.

In India, which carries the world’s highest burden of pneumonia, accounts for nearly 20% of
global infant deaths from this disease.

Pneumonia causes more than a quarter of deaths in children under the age of five – nearly one
million young lives lost per year – whilst India, which carries the world’s highest burden of
pneumonia, accounts for nearly 20% of global infant pneumonia deaths.

Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) presently control a duopoly market for PCV, the world’s
best-selling vaccine that has brought in a whopping $39 billion in sales in the last eight years
to the two pharmaceutical corporations. The high price tag and absence of competition has
allowed these corporations to quickly capture over 50% of the private vaccine market in
India.

Meanwhile, about one third of countries around the world (about 60 countries),
predominantly low-and middle-income countries where millions of children risk getting
pneumonia, have not yet been able to introduce the PCV in their national immunisation
systems due to the exorbitant prices the two corporations charge – despite a 2007 World
Health Organization (WHO) recommendation.

In 2016, with the aim of enabling and accelerating production of affordable PCV, MSF
challenged Pfizer’s unmerited patent claims on the vaccine in India after the European Patent
Office revoked the same patent judging it to be non-inventive. The patent is also under
dispute in South Korea and before the US Patent Trademark Appeal Board.

The decision granting Pfizer a monopoly on the PCV13 could prove to have a deadly impact
on public health. Manoeuvring to figure out new routes to develop a non-infringing PCV
vaccine could delay the availability of cheaper drugs. In the absence of competition, the price
of the pneumonia vaccine will remain inflated and out of reach for many parents and
developing governments. At the lowest global price of nearly $10 a child, which isn’t
accessible to most countries, it is now 68 times more expensive to vaccinate a child than in
2001.

In India, Pfizer’s PCV had until recently been available solely in the private market with an
out-of-pocket price tag of over Rs.10,000, reducing the impact of the vaccine as it fails to
reach the most vulnerable children. At this juncture, a lower-priced PCV is critically
important to increase vaccine coverage across the country in the coming years. Leena
Menghaney is the SouthAsia head of the Access Campaign at Médecins Sans Frontières

Source: Hindustan Times

After cardiac stents, Centre slashes knee implant prices

As per estimates, the move could result in savings of Rs 1,500 crore annually to patients

requiring knee replacement surgery.

The price of commonly used cromium cobalt knee implants is fixed at Rs 54, 720 and

dominates about 80% of the market.

A day after PM Narendra Modi announced in his Independence day speech that prices of

knee surgery would be brought down, country’s drug price regulator — National

Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixed the selling price of knee implants from Rs

54,000 to Rs 1.14 lakh, nearly 70% lower than most surgeries currently cost. Goods and

Services Tax will be extra.

The price for the commonly used cromium cobalt knee implants that rules about 80% of the

market share is fixed at Rs 54,720, which is currently available for between Rs 1 lakh and Rs

1.5 lakh.

Titanium alloy which comes close second will now cost Rs 67, 110 that was available for

about Rs 2 lakh – Rs 2.5 lakh.

NPPA, in a detailed order, has created different slabs based on the implant material and the

part of knee that needs replacement.

Cancer patients needing an implant have been provided major relief, with costs for

specialised implants slashed to Rs 1,13,950 from the current over Rs 5 lakh and above.

As per estimates, the move could result in savings of Rs 1,500 crore annually to patients

requiring knee replacement surgery.

“It is noticed that orthopedic-knee implants are having unjustified, unreasonable and

irrational high trade margins leading to their exorbitant prices which affects the out of pocket

expenses of patients and lakhs of patients are not able to pay for arthroplasty procedures…

the estimates of such patients requiring arthroplasty intervention, both diagnosed and

undiagnosed, is about 1.5 to 2 crores out of which only about 1 lakh plus well off patients are

in a position to pay for it every year,” an excerpt from the order reads.

“After cardiac stents, we have now decided to bring knee implants under price control,” said

Ananth Kumar, minister for chemicals and fertilizer, which NPPA comes under.

“Government will take stringent action against hospitals, importers, retailers if they charge in

excess of the MRP.”

The industry insiders though agree there was a need to rationalize implant prices, however,

there is also skepticism about how much patients will benefit ultimately.

“The implant price, as I see it, will be cheaper by just about 20-25%. There wasn’t a loot

going on as it was made out to be, even though there was a need to regulate prices,” said Dr

Amit Nath Misra, senior orthopaedic surgeon, Apollo Hospital.

A certain section believes, hospitals will find ways to maintain the profit margin.

“Bringing down the cost of the implant may not necessarily mean the cost of procedure will

also come down. Knee replacement procedure isn’t all about the implant cost there are other

costs involved that may go up to maintain a certain profit margin,” said a senior orthopaedic

surgeon at a government hospital.

Source: Hindustan Times

After cardiac stents, Centre slashes knee implant prices

Understanding the new DNA tech Bill: All your questions answered

The 2015 draft DNA Fingerprinting Bill is back in a new version, and includes some

important additions and deletions. What are they? What is the need for such a law in the first

place, and what are the problems with having one?

DNA analysis is an extremely useful and accurate technology in ascertaining the identity of a

person from his/her DNA sample, or establishing biological relationships between

individuals.

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After a gap of two years, a proposed legislation to regulate and standardise DNA testing is

back in discussion. Last week, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it was preparing

to finalise a fresh version of the DNA Fingerprinting Bill, a draft of which was ready in 2015

but could not be introduced in Parliament. Also last week, the Law Commission of India

released a revised draft of the Bill that is now called The DNA Based Technology (Use and

Regulation) Bill, 2017 with some very important changes.

The proposed law, which has been in the making since 2003, seeks to establish regulatory

institutions and standards for DNA testing, and supervise the activities of all laboratories

authorised to carry out such tests.

DNA analysis is an extremely useful and accurate technology in ascertaining the identity of a

person from his/her DNA sample, or establishing biological relationships between

individuals. A hair sample, or even bloodstains from clothes, from a scene of crime, for

example, can be matched with that of a suspect, and it can, in most cases, be conclusively

established whether the DNA in the sample belongs to the suspected individual. As a result,

DNA technology is being increasingly relied upon in investigations of crime, identification of

unidentified bodies, or in determining parentage.

But information from DNA samples can reveal not just how a person looks, or what their eye

colour or skin colour is, but also more intrusive information like their allergies, or

susceptibility to diseases. As a result, there is a greater risk of information from DNA

analysis getting misused. This is why some groups are opposed to the Bill — they have been

advocating greater caution in collecting, storing and using a person’s genetic data. The whole

debate has been over provisions that can minimise the risks of misuse.

What the Bill proposes

The Bill seeks to set up two new institutions — a DNA Profiling Board and a DNA Data

Bank. The Board, with 11 members, is supposed to be the regulatory authority that will grant

accreditation to DNA laboratories and lay down guidelines, standards and procedures for

their functioning. It will advise central and state governments on “all issues relating to DNA

laboratories”. It will also be the authority to make recommendations on ethical and human

rights, including privacy, issues related to DNA testing.

A national databank of DNA profiles is proposed to be set up, along with regional databanks

in every state, or one for two or more states, as required. In the 2015 draft, the national

databank was proposed to be set up at Hyderabad, possibly because the Centre for DNA

Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, the premier DNA laboratory, is located there. The new draft

does not specify the location of the national databank. All regional DNA databanks will be

mandated to share their information with the national databank.

DNA, DNA tech Bill, DNA testing, DNA testing technology, DNA profiles, DNA samples,

Law Commission, Supreme court

Certain DNA Profiling Board-accredited labs would be authorised to carry out DNA testing

and analysis. These are the only places to which DNA samples, picked up from a crime

scene, for example, by police, can be referred for analysis. Data from the analyses will need

to be shared with the nearest regional DNA databank which will store it and share it with the

national databank.

The databanks will maintain five sets of databases — for DNA samples picked up from crime

scenes, for suspects or undertrials, and for offenders, missing persons, and unidentified dead

bodies. The previous Bill provided for maintaining a database of people who volunteered to

give their DNA profiles, but that has now been deleted. A provision for creation of other

indices “as may be specified by the regulations”, too, has been left out.

The objections

The main issue is whether DNA technology is foolproof, and whether the proposed law

adequately addresses the possibility of abuse. It has been argued that although DNA

technology is the best method available to carry out this kind of identification, it is still

probabilistic in nature. There are chances, however remote, that a wrong match is generated.

If the DNA result is taken as the ultimate evidence, no recourse will be available to an

individual who has been wrongly matched.

More frequently asserted are the privacy-related objections. Questions such as whose DNA

can be collected and under what circumstances, whether the consent of the individual is

required, who can access the database, to what uses the DNA information can be put apart

from identifying an individual, and the circumstances under which a record can be deleted,

have been raised repeatedly. It has been pointed out that information like ancestry or

susceptibility to a disease, or other genetic traits, is liable to be misused. It has also been

argued that DNA tests have not led to an improvement in conviction rates in countries where

it is already being followed.

The justifications

The new draft Bill does try to address some of these concerns, although it reiterates complete

faith in DNA technology. DNA profiling is “an accurate and well established scientific

technique”, says the Law Commission report that has proposed the new draft.

The new draft Bill does try to address some of these concerns, although it reiterates complete

faith in DNA technology. DNA profiling is “an accurate and well established scientific

technique”, says the Law Commission report that has proposed the new draft.

The draft has introduced a new provision that explicitly prohibits the collection of any

“bodily substance” from an arrested individual (for the purposes of a DNA test) without

his/her consent, except if the individual is arrested for certain specific offences. However, if

the consent “is refused without good cause”, and a magistrate is satisfied of the need for a

DNA test, he/she can order the arrested person to give a sample.

Samples picked up from a crime scene, belonging to those who are not offenders or suspects,

would not be matched with the databases. Such DNA profiles would have to be expunged

from the records on a written request from the individual concerned.

The new Bill has also removed a provision that allowed DNA profiles in the databank to be

used for “creation and maintenance of population statistics databank”.

While the penalty for misuse of data remains a prison term of up to three years and a fine up

to Rs 1 lakh, a reference to a minimum prison term of one month has been removed.

Source: The Indian Express

A ‘skin’ that tracks movement

Test of flexibility: Scientists Chandramouli Subramaniam, left, and Mihir Kumar Jha display

the wearable gesture tracking device. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

IIT–Bombay team produces a wearable device that may help stroke survivors

A thin, light, wearable gesture-tracking device that behaves like a second skin and is able to

precisely detect mechanical movements such as bending and stretching of the joints of the

hand — fingers, knuckles and wrist — has been developed by researchers at the Indian

Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

The device can find applications in physiotherapeutic recuperation of stroke patients,

personalised point-of-care health monitoring systems, and robotics.

Accurate measurement

While commercially available activity trackers can estimate parameters such as number of

steps taken and calories burnt, this device can accurately measure the amount of motion

taking place in all the three joints during any activity or gesturing, the researchers said.

The device is capable of instantaneously detecting movements and is quite sensitive — it can

detect variations of about 2 mm during stretching and about 5 degrees during bending in all

the three joints.

What makes the device particularly unique is its ability to track the amount of bending of

individual joints and distinguish the differing extent of movement occurring simultaneously

in all the three joints of the hand.

“The device can be directly put on skin, on gloves or any artificial surface like robots,” says

Prof. Chandramouli Subramaniam from the Department of Chemistry at IIT–Bombay. The

performance and sensitivity of the device is not compromised by humidity or temperature.

Across all joints

“Though we tested the device on the three joints of the hand, it can be used for tracking the

movement of any joint in the body,” says Prof. Subramaniam.

The researchers used a polymeric film as a matrix in which carbon nanotubes are uniformly

distributed. When the matrix is stretched or bent, the way the carbon nanotubes are connected

changes. This produces a change in the electrical pathway across the device which is

measured as change in resistance.

Unlike other devices which use metallic electrodes, the one developed by the IIT–Bombay

team uses the same carbon nanotubes for electrodes. “Metal electrodes are more prone to

failure and fatigue and are uncomfortable when used directly on skin. So we made the

electrodes by coating a cotton thread with carbon nanotubes,” says Priya Rathi, the first

author of the paper.

Studies will be carried out on healthy individuals and those with arthritis to understand the

difference in movement of joints. Later, those with early-stage arthritis will be enrolled and a

longer-duration study will be conducted, says Prof. Subramaniam.

The results of the research were published in the journal ACS Omega.

Source : The Hindu