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Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Fatty liver spiral: Health Minister J P Nadda says ICMR study shows over 84% of IT sector employees in Hyderabad have the condition
Health Ministry asks States and Union Territories to undertake screening, categorise risks More than 84 per cent of IT sector employees in Hyderabad had increased liver fat, indicating a condition called the MAFLD (or Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease). This is basically fatty liver brought on by obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The IT employees seem to be a vulnerable group because of their largely sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and lack of sleep. The study — based on data from 345 IT employees — found that 76.5 per cent had high levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad) cholesterol, 70.7 per cent were obese and 20.9 per cent had higher than normal fasting blood glucose levels. While the study was published in the journal 'Scientific Reports' earlier this year, it was reported recently in the Parliament by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. He was answering a question by AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi on the burden of MAFLD and what the government was doing to combat the challenge. Sale
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Fatty liver spiral: Health Minister J P Nadda says ICMR study shows over 84 per cent of IT sector employees in Hyderabad have the condition
More than 84 per cent of IT sector employees in Hyderabad had increased liver fat, indicating a condition called the MAFLD (or Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease). This is basically fatty liver brought on by obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. The IT employees seem to be a vulnerable group because of their largely sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and lack of sleep. The study — based on data from 345 IT employees — found that 76.5 per cent had high levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad) cholesterol, 70.7 per cent were obese and 20.9 per cent had higher than normal fasting blood glucose levels. While the study was published in the journal 'Scientific Reports' earlier this year, it was reported recently in the Parliament by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. He was answering a question by AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi on the burden of MAFLD and what the government was doing to combat the challenge. This is a chronic condition where excessive fat builds up in the liver. This can, over time, lead to inflammation and scarring, which damages the liver tissue. Unchecked, this leads to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Until recently, the condition was referred to as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) as the symptoms were similar to what would be seen in alcoholics but with alcohol consumption. It is estimated that anywhere between nine per cent and 32 per cent of the population is living with this condition. In the absence of early symptoms, most people are unaware that they have fatty liver, often associated with drinking alcohol. It is only when the condition progresses and the liver gets damaged that people may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin caused by bilirubin buildup when the liver does not function properly). Obesity, especially fat around the abdomen, insulin resistance, high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels — are all considered to be risk factors for MAFLD. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) — conducted with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences — has been initiated to look for regional risk factors for fatty liver disease. Phase I of the study conducted in three tehsils of Jaipur found that 37.2 per cent people had fatty liver disease, with the prevalence being higher in men. Importantly, it found that people consuming fast-food weekly were at an increased risk of fatty liver disease, with 76.3 per cent of the regular consumers of fast food having the condition, according to the reply in the parliament. The study in IT employees from Hyderabad, quoted above, also looked at the prevalence of various risk factors. It found that 71.9 per cent of the employees were sitting for long hours at work, 25.8 per cent had shift work, 69.9 per cent were sleep deprived, and 37.97 per cent were stressed. 'The work culture in the IT industry often involves engagement in sedentary activities for extended periods, shift work and irregular work hours, sleep deprivation, stress, and smoking, combined with unhealthy food options, creating the perfect storm for the development of metabolic syndromes and MAFLD,' the study said. Nadda said that the government, under its National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, was promoting healthy diet, regular physical exercise, weight management and reduced saturated fat and sugar content. 'States and Union Territories have been requested to undertake screening and risk stratification,' the minister answered. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Researchers develop colon-targeted drug delivery system
Hyderabad: A team of researchers from Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with scientists from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has developed a novel drug delivery system for colon cancer using cross-linked nanoparticles derived from mastic gum (MG)—a natural resin. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Their findings were published in 'Nature Scientific Reports' under the title 'Enhanced colon-targeted drug delivery through development of 5-fluorouracil-loaded cross-linked mastic gum nanoparticles.' The study, led by Nawaz Mahammed and T Reshma of Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Anantapur, centres on the targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)—a widely used chemotherapeutic agent—directly to the colon. The goal is to maximise therapeutic efficacy while minimising systemic toxicity and off-target effects. Conventional oral formulations of 5-FU are prone to premature degradation in the upper gastrointestinal tract, limiting their utility for colon-specific cancers. Encapsulation efficiency The team formulated cross-linked mastic gum nanoparticles capable of encapsulating 5-FU and releasing it in a controlled, zero-order kinetic profile—ensuring a consistent and sustained release rate over time. The formulation demonstrated an encapsulation efficiency of 83.5%, with an average particle size of 240 nanometres. Importantly, 95.2% of the drug was released in a colon-targeted manner, underscoring the platform's promise for site-specific drug delivery. Characterisation techniques, including fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, confirmed successful cross-linking of the MG, while scanning electron microscopy revealed uniformly spherical nanoparticles—features that contribute to the system's stability and targeting precision. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Among the various formulations evaluated, the cross-linked MG nanoparticles emerged as the most effective, demonstrating both structural integrity and optimal drug release characteristics. The study underscores the therapeutic potential of this approach in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer while reducing systemic exposure and associated side-effects.
