The latest report of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS- 3, 2005-06) presents the grim picture for the state of Karnataka. The survey predicts that nearly 70 percent of women and 87 percent of men in Karnataka had never heard of HIV/AIDS.

The report released by Madan Gopal (Secretary of the Health Department) stated that most men and women supported the inclusion of HIV/AIDS in the school curriculum in Karnataka.

Researchers say increasing wait times for hernia surgery for infants and toddlers under two, not only leads to more emergency visits, but could also potentially damage testicles or ovaries

Inguinal hernia, a bulging tissue in the groin area that could also be present at birth, is one of the most common surgical childhood disorders responsible for vomiting, lack of bowel movements and other symptoms, leading to increasing number of emergency room visits.

A study to be published in Lipids reveals, a crop of genetically modified soya bean that could help prevent heart attacks, has successfully passed the first phase of testing in USA.  If approved, it will be the first genetically modified food to carry direct human health benefits. So far, bio-technology firms have tried to develop crops with increased yields, resistancy to pests and disease or the ability to thrive in harsh conditions.

A new study suggests post natal depression, an acuter form of ‘baby blues’ that could cost the life of a new mother or baby, is more due to nature than nurture.  This is in contrast to the findings of previous studies that claimed the serious mood disorders were related to the mother’s circumstances, personality and hormonal changes and which often went undiagnosed and untreated.  A long-lasting condition affecting 10 to 15% of women, it prevents mothers from bonding with their babies, causes suicidal thoughts and if untreated both not only the mother, but the child also suffers which affects the short or long-term development of the baby.

France, Italy and Spain may have lifted the ban on gay men’s blood donation, however, Scotland’s blood transfusion service, despite calls from gay men’s groups, has refused to do the same.

A petition to the Scottish Parliament demanded a review of the donation rules to let healthy gay and bisexual men give blood.

A new study conducted by British scientists discovered that intake of fish twice a week might help in preventing kidney problems in diabetics.

The study, published in the November edition of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, showed that intake of fish lowers abnormal levels of protein in the urine of diabetes patients.

The researchers analyzed the records of over 22,000 middle-aged and older English men and women, 517 of whom were diabetics, especially type 2 diabetes.