In a release, Aurobindo Pharma highlighted that its revenue from operations also saw a significant boost, climbing to Rs 7,567 crore in the June quarter compared to Rs 6,851 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. 

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Mr. K. Nithyananda Reddy, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Company said: “We are pleased with our continued strong performance this quarter, with a significant top-line growth across all our business segments. Our profitability was sustained by improved gross margins and operational efficiencies, while ramping-up our recently commercialized plants. We are confident in our ability to achieve our growth targets for FY25.” 

US formulations (excluding Puerto Rico) revenue increased by 13.3% YoY to INR 3,555 Cr (USD 426 million). Europe formulations revenue increased by 7.9% YoY to INR 1,982 Cr (EUR 221 million)

Whereas, Growth Markets revenue increased by 49.2% YoY to INR 709 Cr (USD 85 million).

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma secures USFDA okay for generic version of Novo Nordisk Vagifem

Aurobindo Pharma Limited is an integrated global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The Company develops, manufactures, and commercializes a wide range of generic pharmaceuticals, branded specialty pharmaceuticals and  active pharmaceutical ingredients globally in over 150 countries.

The company has 29 manufacturing and packaging facilities that are approved by regulatory agencies including USFDA, UK MHRA, EDQM, Japan PMDA, WHO, Health Canada, South Africa MCC, Brazil ANVISA. The Company’s     product portfolio is spread over 7 major therapeutic/product areas encompassing CNS, Anti-Retroviral, CVS, Antibiotics, Gastroenterological, Anti-Diabetics and Anti-Allergic, supported by a strong R&D set-up.

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma arm buys Ace Lab for Rs 17.91 crore

The World Health Organization’s emergency committee will meet next Wednesday to decide whether to trigger its highest alert level over an Mpox outbreak sweeping through several African countries.

The WHO said in a note to journalists that the closed virtual meeting will start at 1000 GMT Wednesday.

“The committee will provide me with its views on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern,” WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.

If that turns out to be the case they will advise on “how to better prevent and reduce the spread of the disease”, he added.

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

The disease causes fever, muscle aches and large boil-like skin lesions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the country currently most affected by the latest outbreak, with 14,479 confirmed and suspected cases by August 3 and 455 deaths, according to the African Union’s health agency.

SOURCE: AFP

The post WHO’s emergency committee to meet August 14 over Mpox appeared first on Barbados Today.

Study Reveals Radiotherapy Benefits Persist for a Decade in Breast Cancer Patients A recent published study journal in the Lancet oncology states that providing radiotherapy after surgery could prevent breast cancer from returning in the same place for up to 10 years. This protective effect is limited after a decade, when the risk of cancer recurrence is similar to that in those who have not received radiotherapy. The findings provide a more complete picture of the long-term benefits of radiotherapy with breast cancer surgery, followed by radiotherapy which remains the standard care for women with early-stage breast cancer. Radiotherapy targets high doses of radiation to the breast to destroy any remaining cancer cells after removal of the tumour.The Scottish Breast Conservation Trial, led by the University of Edinburgh, looked at 585 women who received treatment for early-stage breast cancer in Scotland – half received radiotherapy and half did not. The average follow-up period for patients was 18 years, with some cases followed for more than three decades.After 10 years, 16 per cent of those who had radiotherapy had experienced the return of their cancer in the same location, compared with 36 per cent of those who did not have the treatment. Despite a reduction in cancer recurrence, survival rates did not improve with radiotherapy treatment. Average overall survival rates after 30 years were similar for those who received postoperative radiotherapy and those who did not – 19.2 years and 18.7 years, respectively. There were fewer deaths from breast cancer among those who received radiotherapy than those who did not – 37 per cent versus 46 per cent. By contrast, there were more deaths from other cancers in the group who received radiotherapy – 20 per cent versus 11 per cent.Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that radiotherapy for breast cancer provides substantial and sustained benefits, significantly reducing the risk of recurrence and mortality over a period of at least ten years. These long-term advantages underscore the importance of radiotherapy as a critical component of breast cancer treatment protocols, highlighting its role in improving patient outcomes and survival rates. The study's results support continued use and optimization of radiotherapy techniques to maximise its effectiveness for breast cancer patients.References: Reanalysis and results after 12 years of follow-up in a randomised clinical trial comparing total mastectomy with lumpectomy with or without irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 1456-1461The global intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is rising among children and teenagers: Study A recent published study in the journal BMJ, A new global analysis of the dietary habits of children and adolescents from 185 countries revealed that youth, on average, consumed nearly 23% more sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018 compared to 1990. Overall, intakes were similar in boys and girls, but higher in teens, urban residents, and children of parents with lower levels of education.The study drew from the Global Dietary Database, a large comprehensive compilation of what people around the world eat or drink, to generate the first global estimates and trends of sugar-sweetened beverage intake in youth. These were defined as soda, juice drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, and home-sweetened fruit drinks such as aguas frescas with added sugars and containing more than 50 kcal per 1 cup serving. The research team found that youth were drinking more and had nearly twice the overall intake of adults. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake among young people varied dramatically by region, averaging 3.6 servings per week globally and ranging from 1.3 servings per week in South Asia to 9.1 in Latin America and the Caribbean. The researchers found that children and teens in 56 countries, representing 238 million young people or 10% of the global youth population, averaged 7 or more servings per week.In recent years, many governments worldwide have been implementing measures such as soda taxes and restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks in schools to promote healthy dietary habits. These efforts are new and also face strong opposing forces such as aggressive industry marketing and the globalisation of the food sector.It is concluded that the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is on the rise globally among children and teenagers, posing significant public health concerns. The increasing consumption of SSBs is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental cavities. The findings emphasise the urgent need for effective public health strategies and policies to reduce SSB consumption in young populations, such as educational campaigns, taxation, and restrictions on marketing targeted at children and adolescents. Addressing this growing trend is crucial for improving the long-term health and well-being of future generations.References: Wang Y, Lobstein T. Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes 2006;1:11–25 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]Study reveals coronary atherosclerosis prevalent even in low-risk adults with normal cholesterol levelsIn a recent study published in the journal JACC Advances, researchers examined the presence of coronary atherosclerosis using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in asymptomatic adults without traditional risk factors based on their serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (apoB). They found that coronary atherosclerosis is common, and the prevalence increases with increasing levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, even in low-risk adults without traditional risk factors.Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, primarily due to coronary atherosclerosis, which begins early and progresses over time. Elevated LDL-C is a major contributor to ASCVD, and lowering LDL-C levels is essential for prevention. Traditionally, LDL-C levels of ≥160 mg/dL were considered elevated, while levels <100 mg/dL were deemed optimal. However, these thresholds may still be inadequate for preventing atherosclerosis or ASCVD.Data for the present study included a total of 1,033 participants aged 40–65 years. All participants were free of clinically symptomatic cardiovascular disease and were not undergoing lipid-lowering therapy. A subgroup of 184 participants with optimal risk factors was also identified. Individuals with high-risk conditions such as obesity, high creatinine levels, asthma, cancer, or pregnancy were excluded from the study. The median age of the participants was 51 years. Data on demographics, clinical history, and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) imaging were collected. Coronary atherosclerosis was diagnosed using the Agatson method and classified according to the American Heart Association guidelines.The study cohort had median serum LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB levels of 125, 144, and 94 mg/dL, respectively. A majority of the participants had a lower predicted 10-year ASCVD risk, with over 86% having <5% risk. Men showed a higher body mass index, atherogenic lipoprotein levels, and ASCVD risk compared to women.In conclusion, the study suggests that among asymptomatic, apparently healthy, middle-aged adults without traditional ASCVD risk factors, coronary atherosclerosis is common even at serum cholesterol levels considered to be normal. The condition's prevalence increases with higher LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB. Despite this population's relatively infrequent high-risk plaque features, healthcare professionals should consider lowering serum atherogenic lipoproteins through diet, lifestyle changes, or medication to potentially prevent or delay coronary atherosclerosis and improve their health outcomes.References: Serum Lipoproteins are Associated with Coronary Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic U.S. Adults Without Traditional Risk Factors. Faridi, K. et al., JACC Advances, 7_Part_1 (2024), DOI:10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101049,https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101049Study reveals high blood sugar at stroke admission linked to poor prognosisThe study published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology States that Having higher than usual blood sugar levels at the time of hospital admission for an ischemic stroke significantly increases the risk of a poor functional prognosis or death within three months of the stroke. This is the main conclusion of a study by the Endocrinology and Nutrition Services and the Neurology Department of Hospital del Mar, with researchers from the hospital's Research Institute, the RICORS-ICTUS network, and the CIBER of Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM). Inflammatory states in certain diseases can cause increased blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, which can influence prognosis. In ischemic stroke, elevated blood sugar levels are common but have not been thoroughly analysed. The Hospital del Mar study addresses this issue by reviewing data from 2,774 patients with ischemic stroke. The study considers blood sugar levels at the time of admission and compares them with each patient's usual levels. Additionally, variables such as age, diabetes, disability, stroke severity, and treatment received were taken into account.The study confirmed that elevated blood glucose levels at stroke admission are associated with worse functional outcomes and increased mortality three months post-stroke, independent of other factors. Even a modest 13% increase above usual glucose levels significantly worsens prognosis, regardless of baseline glucose levels. This association was also observed in patients with a history of diabetes, who comprised 35% of the study population.The study concluded that elevated blood sugar levels at the time of stroke admission are associated with a poorer prognosis. Higher admission glucose levels correlate with increased risk of adverse outcomes, including greater neurological impairment and reduced functional recovery. These findings have highlighted the importance of managing blood sugar levels promptly and effectively in stroke patients to improve overall outcomes and reduce long-term complications. Enhanced glycemic control during the acute phase of stroke may be crucial for optimising patient recovery and minimising disability.References: Climent, E., et al. (2024). Acute-to-chronic glycemic ratio as an outcome predictor in ischemic stroke in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular Diabetology. doi.org/10.1186/s12933-024-02260-9.

Overall, intakes were similar in boys and girls, but higher in teens, urban residents, and children of parents with lower levels of education.The study drew from the Global Dietary Database, a large comprehensive compilation of what people around the world eat or drink, to generate the first global estimates and trends of sugar-sweetened beverage intake in youth. These were defined as soda, juice drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, and home-sweetened fruit drinks such as aguas frescas with added sugars and containing more than 50 kcal per 1 cup serving. The research team found that youth were drinking more and had nearly twice the overall intake of adults. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake among young people varied dramatically by region, averaging 3.6 servings per week globally and ranging from 1.3 servings per week in South Asia to 9.1 in Latin America and the Caribbean. The researchers found that children and teens in 56 countries, representing 238 million young people or 10% of the global youth population, averaged 7 or more servings per week.In recent years, many governments worldwide have been implementing measures such as soda taxes and restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks in schools to promote healthy dietary habits. These efforts are new and also face strong opposing forces such as aggressive industry marketing and the globalisation of the food sector.It is concluded that the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is on the rise globally among children and teenagers, posing significant public health concerns. The increasing consumption of SSBs is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental cavities. The findings emphasise the urgent need for effective public health strategies and policies to reduce SSB consumption in young populations, such as educational campaigns, taxation, and restrictions on marketing targeted at children and adolescents. Addressing this growing trend is crucial for improving the long-term health and well-being of future generations.References: Wang Y, Lobstein T. Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes 2006;1:11–25 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

After nearly a decade of keeping it under wraps, Olympic medalist Katie Ledecky has shared her POTS diagnosis with the world.

The athlete, who has won 14 Olympic medals for swimming, the most of any female Olympian, said she has POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).

In "Just Add Water: My Swimming Life," Ledecky's new memoir, which was published by Simon & Schuster in June, she wrote that the disease can cause "dizziness, fainting and exhaustion."

US OLYMPIAN SAMMY SULLIVAN SAYS ARMY SERVICE HELPED HER WIN BRONZE MEDAL FOR RUGBY

Here's more. 

POTS is a disturbance in the autonomic nervous system, which controls some of the normal regulatory functions of the body, according to Dr. Blair Grubb, a cardiologist and expert on POTS at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

"When the person stands, gravity will try to displace downward roughly 20% to 30% of the body's blood volume," he told Fox News Digital. 

In response to this displacement, the brain tells the heart to beat faster and more forcibly, and tells the blood vessels in the lower half of the body to tighten, or constrict, to three times the level they were previously, the doctor said.

"This allows for accumulation of much more blood than normal in the lower half of the body," Grubb said.

SLEEP DOCTORS SAY OLYMPIC ATHLETES' CARDBOARD BEDS COULD HAVE ‘DISASTROUS’ IMPACT

As more blood is displaced downward, the brain gets less and less oxygen. 

Ledecky discussed this effect in her book. She wrote, "I pool blood in the vessels below my heart when I stand. My body then releases extra norepinephrine or epinephrine, which adds additional stressors on my heart, making it beat faster."

Individuals with a genetic trait called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (also known as joint hypermobility syndrome) appear to be more susceptible to developing this condition, according to Grubb. 

"However, POTS is frequently triggered by a viral infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or COVID-19," he told Fox News Digital.

One of these infections can trigger an autoimmune response, in which the body's immune system attacks itself and produces antibodies that interfere with the ability of blood vessels to tighten, the doctor said.

POTS can also occur on its own, without any obvious triggers.

A POTS patient’s symptoms will depend on how much blood is displaced downward, experts say.

"It can vary from mild cases where your heart races and you get a little dizzy upon standing, all the way to presenting as a disabling condition, disallowing patients from being upright," Valerie Iovine, PT, a physical therapist at Strive Physical Therapy in Philadelphia, told Fox News Digital.

"It can also change over the course of life, but can also change day to day or week to week."

The disorder’s name — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome — literally translates to "when you become more upright, your heart races," noted Iovine, who treats many patients with POTS and also has the disorder herself.

"The heart will flutter in an attempt to properly oxygenate the brain," she said. 

"But in addition to the dizziness, headaches, passing out or near passing out, many with this disorder don't realize that it can account for other issues, like temperature dysregulation, blood pressure dysregulation and GI dysfunction."

In more extreme cases, patients may have difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering — sometimes called brain fog, according to Grubb.

WITH SOME OLYMPIC EVENTS POSTPONED, SEINE RIVER WATER QUALITY POSES CONCERNS

People may also experience blurred vision, black spots in their visual field, tunnel vision and headache. 

"Even greater displacement of blood can cause the individual to lose consciousness," Grubb said.

The primary treatment for POTS is increasing water and salt intake, Grubb said. 

"It is also important to recondition the patient through exercise, building the strength in their lower extremities," he said.

Some medications, such as midodrine and droxidopa — known as vasoconstrictors — can work to tighten blood vessels and increase blood return to the heart, according to Grubb. 

WHAT IS ANGELMAN SYNDROME? COLIN FARRELL’S SON IS LIVING WITH THIS RARE DISEASE

Still other drugs, such as fludrocortisone or desmopressin, work by increasing the volume of fluids available for the heart to pump. 

"Medications such as pyridostigmine facilitate nerve transmission and help the nervous system work more effectively to maintain normal vascular function," Grubb added.

Many often use the term "exercise intolerance" when describing symptoms of POTS, but Iovine said that "poorly prescribed and dosed exercise" is the problem.

"Exercise is the best management for POTS," she said.

"I would argue that for these patients, movement is medicine."

In her book, Ledecky noted that swimming can be an effective treatment for POTS, writing that "reclined aerobic exercise, such as swimming, and strengthening your core, can provide relief."

Seeking care from a cardiologist and a physical therapist is essential, according to Iovine.

The cardiologist can help to get vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure under control, she said, while a knowledgeable physical therapist can help to manage symptoms and increase upright tolerance. 

"Things like proper hydration, extra electrolytes, and being able to keep cool can also help manage symptoms," Iovine advised.

"The heat will make the blood vessels expand, making it harder to get the blood up the head against gravity," she said.

"POTS can be a challenge for anyone — from people with complicated pre-existing conditions, all the way to the top athletes, like Katie Ledecky," Iovine told Fox News Digital. 

The disease can often cause a flu-like feeling after exercise, something called post-exertional malaise/post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PEM/PESE). 

"This is when the autonomic nervous system can have a reflexive reaction to stress or exercise, either making existing symptoms worse or creating a new host of issues in people with POTS," Iovine said. 

"This can pose an issue in the sense of rigorous exercise for an Olympic athlete — or in other cases, exertion may be as simple as getting out of bed and walking to the kitchen."

POTS causes a "dynamic disability," Iovine noted.

"One day, it may allow you to swim like an Olympic athlete, and other days, [it will] have you stuck in bed or even in a wheelchair."

POTS is particularly challenging in athletic activities that involve frequent "start and stop" activities, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer and field hockey, added Grubb.

Both experts emphasized that POTS is a "real illness."

"People who were previously quite healthy develop severe limitations and disabilities," Grubb said.

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"They can experience disabling fatigue, exercise intolerance, heat intolerance, palpitations, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting and brain fog."

Iovine said that due to the "invisibility" of the disease combined with the high heart rate and variability of presentations, it is often dismissed as a function of mental health.

"Patients are often turned away from proper care, made to believe it is all in their heads," she said.

"POTS is a very real condition, and the good news is that there are very real management strategies as well," Iovine went on.

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While there is no cure for POTS, many patients are able to manage their symptoms and return to their daily activities.

Added Iovine, "Build up your care team and your confidence to advocate for your health and keep to your regimented routines for management."