FRIDAY, September 5, (News Locale) - The Indian Health Ministry has taken strong exception to reports citing the presence of toxic metals like lead in Ayurvedic medicines. The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) under the Health Ministry said such reports were biased against Ayurveda.

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THURSDAY, September 4, (News Locale) - The autism - measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) vaccine link has existed for a long time now with various studies proving and disproving this link. A new study by researchers at the Columbia University in New York suggests there is no evidence to prove the MMR vaccine causes autism.

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Washington, Sept 4 (ANI): Pycnogenol, bark extract from the French maritime pine tree, may help reduce overall knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms, according to a new study.

The researchers also examined what happens to joint symptoms after treatment with Pycnogenol is terminated and found that no relapse occurred after two weeks.

Pycnogenol acts as potent anti-inflammatory and the lasting effects found in this study suggest that it may help the joints to recover.

"The current study is in accordance with the two previous Pycnogenol studies for osteoarthritis. Again the pain is gradually decreasing during the course of three months treatment with Pycnogenol," said Dr. Peter Rohdewald, co-author of the study.

"This study again showed that patients required significantly less analgesic medication while supplementing with Pycnogenol, whereas this was not the case with the placebo-treated control group," Rohdewald added.

One hundred patients were included in the study and were randomly allocated to either a Pycnogenol or placebo group. Patients were supplemented with 150 mg Pycnogenol or placebo per day over a period of three months.

They were allowed to continue taking their NSAID or analgesics prescribed before the study but had to record every pill taken. The established Western Ontario McMaster questionnaire for joint function was employed to rate the pain level, and obtain measures of joint stiffness and to what extent the arthritis affects participation in daily activities.

Patients were investigated in two week intervals over the treatment period of three months and a final time two weeks after discontinuation of medication.

The overall score, summarizing pain, stiffness and daily activities, improved statistical significantly by 20.9 percent in the Pycnogenol group.

Interestingly, the joint improvement achieved with Pycnogenol persisted after intake of Pycnogenol was discontinued for four weeks.

The researchers found that the joint pain decreased by 40.3 percent after completion of the three months supplementation with Pycnogenol and two weeks later the pain was still 36.1 percent lower than at baseline.

Furthermore, 38 percent of patients in the Pycnogenol group required less NSAID's or other analgesic medication for joint pain.

"The anti-inflammatory potency of Pycnogenol explains the success in lowering joint pain and stiffness for arthritic joints. After three recent clinical studies on osteoarthritis, Pycnogenol continues to demonstrate its effectiveness for osteoarthritis symptoms making it a viable, natural and safe alternative for individuals," said Rohdewald.

"This is the first study that investigated whether a relapse of symptoms occurs after taking Pycnogenol is stopped. The results show a lasting effect after discontinuation which suggest the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Pycnogenol has allowed the joints to recover," Rohdewald added.

The study is published in the August journal of Phytotherapy Research. (ANI)

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Washington, Sept 4 (ANI): A regular exercise regime during pregnancy can not only help expecting mothers with their body image, but also protect them from depression, says a new study.

The study has proposed that women who stay active and are more positive about their changing shapes might stay away from depression both during and after pregnancy.

"Our study supports the psychological benefits of exercise to improve body image and lessen depressive symptoms," said lead study author Danielle Symons Downs, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology and obstetrics and gynaecology at Penn State University.

For their study, the researchers surveyed 230 Pennsylvania women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period about their symptoms of depression, exercise habits and feelings about weight, appearance and other aspects of body image.

The results were found to be consistent with previous research indicating that women who experienced depressive symptoms early in pregnancy were likely to experience later pregnancy and postpartum depression.

However, now they found that women who experienced higher levels of depression symptoms also reported less satisfaction with their appearance throughout the trimesters of pregnancy.

"If someone is depressed and not very happy with how their body looks, especially with regard to the physical changes that occur during pregnancy, it can influence depression later on," said Downs.

Women who reported more depressive symptoms during the first trimester were moiré inclined to engage in less exercise behaviour in early pregnancy.

Also, women who exercised more prior to their pregnancy had greater body satisfaction during the second and third trimesters and less depressive symptoms in the second trimester.

This, according to Downs, indicates that avid pre-pregnancy exercise might protect women from negative depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction during mid-to-late pregnancy.

"There is no question that pregnant women, in consultation with their health care providers, should try to maintain a regular and moderate exercise regimen," said Michael O'Hara, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Iowa.

He advised that beginners should take it easy when exercising. Women could keep up with what they were doing beforehand physically, but they should not go all-out during pregnancy if they were sedentary before.

The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine. (ANI)

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