KARACHI- The US drug regulator has approved a new tuberculosis (TB) drug for treating hard-to-treat drug-resistant TB that makes the treatment regimen shorter and simpler. Pretomanid, a novel compound developed by the non-profit organization TB Alliance, was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on August 14. TB is the leading infectious cause…
Compiled by: Prof. Dr Fazal Ghani, Dean Postgraduate Dental Studies, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar (Pakistan) More than 40% of under-18s didn’t visit an NHS dentist last year, figures show. Dental surgeons are calling for the government in England to encourage all schools to go sugar-free in a bid to combat tooth decay. They say it…
KARACHI: According to the results of a study, drinking coffee may boost the body’s fat-fighting defences, which could be the key to tackling obesity and diabetes. The study, published in the journal, Scientific Reports, is one of the first to be carried out in humans to find components which could have a direct effect on…
University of Birmingham research experts gathered medical professionals from around the world in Dubai to finalise international surgical guidelines that will help to save thousands of lives in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMIC) countries. The National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery (NIHR GHRU) gathered experts to finalise International Guidelines on…
Use of charcoal as a teeth-cleaning agent is an ancient practice. You might have also heard your elders at home tell you how they would rub powdered charcoal on their teeth to whiten them. With the advent of advanced and more effective dentifrices the use of charcoal had become somewhat obsolete. However, in recent times…
KARACHI: According to new set of guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva, people can reduce their risk of developing dementia by regularly exercising, avoiding harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol use, maintaining a healthy diet, controlling their weight, maintaining a healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. “In the next…
ROME: Three United Nations agencies recently launched a new European Union-supported global initiative to address the root causes of rural gender inequalities and thus strengthen efforts to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The EU will allocate 5 million euros to finance a four-year program of the Rome-based Food…
Throughout history many misconceptions have circulated regarding the inoculation of polio vaccine. Apart from the paranoia that OPV can cause the recipient to fall sick, many people are of the belief that OPV can make girls infertile; several other believe that it’s a western plot to introduce diseases in the Muslim population. A research paper…
Why are anti-vaxx people fearful of vaccine? Quitting vaccination will cause resurgence of defeated infections! The last two centuries have witnessed significant progress in the invention, development and availability of many vaccines against diseases that are potentially fatal. Smallpox vaccine remains the most celebrated discovery in this area, whereas, there has been an incontrovertible reduction…
KARACHI: The President of Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation (NARF), Prof Dr Muhammad Wasey Shakir stated that infectious diseases like TB, typhoid, and meningitis were some common contributors to the high ratio of epilepsy in Pakistan. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Dr Wasey Shakir said that head injury, brain infection, diabetes,…