New way to diagnose head, neck cancer in early stages discovered

It is a very common occurrence for head and neck cancers to be diagnosed late. But because of new research conducted in Germany it is now possible to be able to diagnose the oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), which are the most common type of head and neck cancers, at an early stage. The researchers had tested the mechanical properties of OSCC cells, and found them to be ‘softer’ than benign cells. The main authors of the study Josef Kas and Torsten W. Remmerbach said, “Early diagnosis and treatment of OSCCs is…

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Chikungunya rears head again in Mumbai

Chikungunya, the breakbone fever, has made a comeback to Mumbai after a span of one and a half years.The BMC on Thursday confirmed four cases of the viral disease that wreaked havoc in Delhi this year, affecting thousands and its complications claiming 13 lives. The health report from the civic body stated that at least 20 more people are suspected to be suffering from the disease that spreads through the bite of the same aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits dengue. Physicians from the private sector are not surprised by the…

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5.5 Lakh Head and Neck Cancer Cases Every Year in India: Experts

Head and neck cancers account for more than 5.5 lakh of the total cancer cases reported in India every year, putting India in the sixth place worldwide, said health experts. Quoting the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the experts said approximately eight lakh cases are diagnosed each year, out of which 5.5 lakh cases are of head and neck cancer. “Primarily a lifestyle-related disease, such cancer is highly preventable. As much as 80 per cent of the causation is attributed to tobacco consumption, while 75 per cent is due…

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Childhood Head Injury May Up Mental Illness, Mortality Risk

Brain injuries, including concussions in childhood, can increase the risk of mental illness, poor school attainment as well as premature death, finds a study. The findings showed that people who had experienced a single mild, moderate or severe brain injury during childhood were at twice the risk of being admitted to hospital as a mental health inpatient (an increase in absolute risk from 5 per cent to 10 per cent). They were 50 per cent more likely to use a mental health service (increase from 14 per cent to 20…

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Helmets Prevent Severe Head Injuries in Bike Accidents

Despite some criticism of bike helmets for not being protective enough, they do cut the risk of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) by half when riders suffer a head injury, a U.S. study suggests.Riders with helmets were also less likely to die from their injuries, and less likely to break facial bones, than those not wearing a helmet, researchers report in American Journal of Surgery. “It’s similar to wearing a seat belt, said Dr. Jerri Rose, a pediatric emergency physician at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland,…

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Twitter Appoints New Global Media Team Head

Micro-blogging website Twitter has tapped long-time executive Ross Hoffman as the company’s new vice president of global media – in the third appointment to that role in the last six months. Hoffman, who was most recently senior director of brand strategy and has been at the company in various roles since 2010, is taking over the media team from Nathan Hubbard, who late last month announced he was leaving the company, a report on technology website Re/code said on Thursday. Twitter confirmed the move to the publication, with a spokesperson…

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