Latest news with #NationalLibraryofMedicine
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Disc Herniation: 4 exercise that can bring relief
Disc herniations are becoming more common day by day. Affecting approximately 5 to 20 adults out of every 1000 adults (According to NCBI). A herniated disc is a condition affecting the spine in which annulus fibrosus is damaged, enabling the nucleus pulposus (normally located within the center of the disc) and has become one of the most common causes of back pain. Disk herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear called disk degeneration. Sometimes twisting and turning while lifting can also cause a herniated disk. And as people age, they become less and less flexible and more prone to tearing or rupturing with even the slightest twist. What are the symptoms of disc herniation? The most commonly occurring symptoms of disk herniation are: (Mayo Clinic): Numbness or tingling in spine: Most people who have a herniated disc often have radiating numbness or a tingling sensation in their backs. Weakness: muscles served by the affected nerves tend to weaken. This can cause you to stumble or it can affect your ability to lift and hold items in future. Lower back pain: The pain is likely felt in the thighs and calf muscles. You might also have pain in some parts of your foot. How to know if you have a herniated disc Over 85% of patients with symptoms associated with an acute disease of herniated disc will resolve within 8 to 12 weeks, as per a study published in the National Library of Medicine , titled 'Disc herniation'. However, for those who have an abnormal neurological condition, further evaluation and treatments are needed. X-ray: Almost every clinic does X-rays. This imaging technique can be used to ass for any structural instability. CT scan: It is the preferred study to visualize bony structures in the spine. It can also show calcified herniated discs. MRI: It is the preferred and most sensitive study to visualize herniated discs. MRI findings will help surgeons and other providers plan procedural care if it is indicated. Safe and effective exercises for disc herniation Cobra pose: This pose effectively relieves back pain. Lie on your stomach with both hands on the floor near your chest; slowly straighten both arms so that your head, chest, and shoulders are off the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, lower your head, chest, and shoulders, and repeat at least 5 to 10 times. Cat-cow pose: This stretch combines two yoga poses that help create space between the disks that are causing you pain and relieve the pressure on your spine. When doing this pose, get on your hands and knees and look upward. Imagine a string is pulling your belly button to the floor, creating an arch in your low back. Exhale and move into rounding your back and transition to looking downward at your chest. Repeat these alternating motions ten times for three rounds. Bird-dog pose: This exercise promotes good posture by working the deep spinal muscles and increasing low back muscle stabilization. To do this exercise, start on your hands and knees with your knees bent and hands directly under your shoulders to ensure proper alignment. Make sure your shoulders are correctly aligned with your hands and your knees with your hips. At the same time, kick your right leg out while keeping it aligned with your torso. Hold this position for a few pauses and return to your starting position. Standing extension: This exercise helps combat the habitual hunch that strains your back. This helps move the disks in a neutral position. To begin this exercise, start by standing up in a proper posture. Set your hands on your lower back and begin to push your pelvis forward. Keep extending your back until your gaze meets the ceiling. Start by doing this motion ten times for three rounds.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune Inc: How a Pune engineer started growing this wonder mushroom, a perfect energy booster for wrestlers and fitness buffs
Every day, startup founder Shailesh Modak dresses like a scientist who deals with sensitive cultures that must not be contaminated. Only after he is gloved and masked does Modak cross the threshold to meet his new enterprise: a form of mushroom, called Cordyceps, which grows in the Himalayas and is believed to provide the kind of energy boost that the body demands after an intense workout. 'An added advantage is that it is vegetarian,' says Modak, the founder of Pune-based 365Dfarms. Modak is an IT engineer who transitioned into entrepreneurship, exploring various ventures including beekeeping, hydroponic farming of leafy vegetables, strawberries, and microgreens, as well as saffron agriculture. He considered growing Cordyceps as a solution to an issue he faced: he had empty shipping containers from his saffron business. Moreover, Cordyceps militaris has a market value of Rs 1 lakh per kg. 'The shipping containers were of no use. Woh pahle se aise pada rahata tha (These used to be just lying around). We needed to grow a different crop. We were searching for an idea when we came across Cordyceps mushrooms. This is a one-of-a-kind fungus. I trained from IISER Solan in growing this mushroom,' he says. Cordyceps seemed ideal for a farm business that was looking for quick production and high turnover. Unlike the button mushrooms that are ubiquitous in the markets and must be consumed within a couple of days, the Cordyceps can be dried and stocked for up to one-and-a-half years. Though it has not been marketed well, especially in Maharashtra, Cordyceps is seeing a rise in awareness and market size. 'The first clients that we are targeting is the wrestling hub near Warje. The wrestling community knows about this a lot because it is being used in Haryana. The Indian government has started promoting the Cordyceps because this is a natural dopamine,' says Modak. He has been researching, studying, failing and tweaking for 10 months. Only last month, he cracked it and got his first harvest. He is reaping his second harvest at present. 'Our setup capacity is 12 to 14 kg per cycle, that is two-and-a-half months,' he says. At a modest estimate, Modak expects a revenue of Rs 12 lakh from the mushrooms per annum. 'The main issue is marketing. The customer has to be made aware,' he says. The book Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, featured by the National Library of Medicine of the United States government, states, 'Since 1964, only Cordyceps sinensis has been recorded officially as a herbal drug in Chinese pharmacopoeia.' Cordyceps sinensis, known as Dongchongxiacao (winter-worm summer-grass) in Chinese, is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines and medicinal mushrooms, the book says. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
3 Hot drinks to try if you're over hot chocolate
3 Hot drinks to try if you're over hot chocolate Although hot chocolate is a typical winter treat, there are times when you want to try new flavours that also provide the same comfort and warmth. There are many options this cold season. Whether you're avoiding sugar or dairy, wanting to change your usual cocoa routine, or simply staying away from heavy cream or chocolate, these drinks provide comforting, cosy substitutes that still warm your hands and heart. The National Library of Medicine states that the benefits of drinking hot beverages are backed by scientific evidence. The soothing experience of holding a warm cup is not merely psychological; it also helps maintain a healthy internal body temperature, which is particularly important during the winter months. The drinks below add special spices, health advantages, and diversity to your seasonal drink menu, making them ideal for chilly mornings or peaceful evenings. 1. Turmeric Latte This anti-inflammatory mixture, which has a lovely golden colour and offers warmth along with health benefits, also contains milk, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. According to Healthline, 'Turmeric contains several bioactive compounds which have several potential benefits, such as improving gut health and the immune system.' 2. Ginger Tea with Lemon and Honey Ideal for warming up and naturally boosting your immune system, ginger tea calms digestion. Lemon adds brightness, followed by honey with its sweetness. 3. Chai Tea Latte This beverage combines black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, offering a harmonious mix of rich spices and mild caffeine for everyday comfort that is both energising and cosy. Also see: This is how drinking wine affects your weight The post 3 Hot drinks to try if you're over hot chocolate appeared first on Bona Magazine.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Alternatives proteins will shape the future of food. So what's holding them back?
The global food system is at a breaking point. Climate change, population growth and supply chain vulnerabilities are exposing the limitations of traditional agriculture. Alternative proteins, whether plant-based, cultivated or derived from precision fermentation, offer a direct path to a more secure and sustainable future. The industry is projected to reach $290 billion by 2035, according to the Boston Consulting Group, fuelled by growing demand for these sustainable and ethical food choices. Yet despite the sector's potential, global regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep pace. The result is a patchwork of approvals, delays and inefficiencies that slow entry to market, restrict investment and limit global consumer access. What was once a niche industry is now a mainstream solution. Plant-based burgers are lining supermarket shelves, cultivated meat is already commercialised, cultivated seafood is nearing commercialisation, and precision fermentation technology is producing proteins that are making their way into everyday products. If you have tried oat milk in your coffee, or a protein bar made from alternative ingredients, you have already experienced this shift. Alternative proteins require anywhere from 45 to 97 per cent less land than conventionally farmed proteins, according to the Good Food Institute, offering a more stable and sustainable supply chain. These products also produce outsized environmental benefits. If the alternative protein remains on track to capture just over 10 per cent share of the global protein market by 2035, the industry will contribute to a reduction of 0.85 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent worldwide by 2030, equal to decarbonising 95 per cent of the aviation industry. These products are also healthier alternatives, often formulated with less saturated fat, fewer additives and more sustainable ingredients. In several studies, including by the US-based National Library of Medicine, replacing animal meat with alternative proteins – like plant-based meats – led to significant decreases in unhealthy cholesterol. However, bringing an alternative protein product to the market requires navigating a maze of regulatory systems, each with different safety and risk assessments, approval timelines and labelling requirements. Some countries have established clear, science-based regulatory pathways, allowing companies to move efficiently from development to market. Others require years of safety evaluations and millions of dollars in compliance costs, leaving businesses uncertain about when, or if, their products will gain market access. This uncertainty is compounded in the event that an alternative protein enterprise seeks international expansion, a process that requires adherence to each jurisdiction's unique certification and testing processes, resulting in added costs, delayed entry to market, and ultimately, dampened investor confidence in a promising product. The lack of a unified approach creates inconsistencies that pose as barriers to global expansion, slowing the adoption of innovative solutions that promise vast benefits in public health, food security and sustainability. It is clear that early adopters like Abu Dhabi will provide a global model of responsible, sustainable growth within these future-oriented industries Global regulatory harmonisation is urgently needed for a faster, more efficient regulatory path to reach its full potential. Clear, consistent standards would enable alternative proteins to scale quickly, increasing their availability and meeting consumer demand. Just as the pharmaceutical industry benefits from international regulatory alignment through frameworks like the International Council for Harmonisation, a similar global consensus on harmonised food safety assessments and safety dossiers, common and portable (across country) safety tests, labelling would reduce redundancies and accelerate the sector's growth. Some governments are likewise stepping up to address these challenges, and encouraging progress is being made. In 2023, regulatory agencies in Singapore and the US signed an agreement to share safety assessments for cultivated meat, reducing approval timelines and demonstrating that international co-operation is possible. However, such bilateral agreements must expand into broader international protocols that establish standardised safety assessments, clear labelling requirements and mutual recognition agreements if the industry is to scale swiftly enough to tackle the challenges it aims to solve. The issue was a recurring theme at the Future Food Tech event in San Francisco I participated in earlier this year. Throughout panel discussions, breakout sessions and conversations with top industry leaders, the consensus was clear: regulatory fragmentation presents the greatest obstacle to progress, and global collaboration presents the surest way forward. Earlier this month, the US Congressional National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnologies released its final report, outlining 50 recommendations, including several on streamlining regulations for biotechnology products. In a major one-day conference discussing the report, representatives of both the UK and Swedish governments voiced support for regulatory harmonisation in order to maximise the potential of biotechnology products, such as alternative proteins. As key global markets around the world reach the same conclusion – that streamlined, harmonised regulation is the path forward – it is clear that early adopters like Abu Dhabi will provide a global model of responsible, sustainable growth within these future-oriented industries. The question is no longer whether alternative proteins will shape the future of food – they will. The real question is which governments will take the lead in enabling the kind of regulatory consensus needed to support the industry's growth, and which will fall behind in a sector set to redefine global food production.
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
A drug carrying the FDA's most serious warning recalled by a Florida company
A pharmaceutical company based in Naples with research and development division based in Coral Springs recalled a drug for failing an in-house testing of medication degradation. Lupin Pharmaceuticals' Clomipramine Hydrochloride capsules are used 'for the treatment of obsessions and compulsions in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD),' according to the National Library of Medicine. The 2,724 recalled 100-count bottles of 25 mg capsules come from lot No. M300464 with an expiration date of June 2025. Lupin issued no press release for the June 27 recall. READ MORE: The role fake Viagra played in a 70-year-old Miami doctor losing his license Clomipramine also counts as an antidepressant and carries an FDA 'Black Box Warning' or 'Boxed Warning' on the packaging that begins: 'Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of clomipramine hydrochloride or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.' If you experience a medical problem because of this or any other drug, first notify a medical professional. Then tell the FDA via the MedWatch program, either online or by calling 800-332-1088.
