United News of Bangladesh

New medical research and innovative therapies are offering fresh hope to millions of people worldwide who suffer from migraine, a severe neurological condition that remains difficult to treat despite its widespread impact. Migraine affects more than one billion people globally and is one of the leading causes of disability. Patients experience intense headaches along with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and, in some cases, visual disturbances known as aura. The condition varies greatly from person to person, making treatment complex and often unpredictable. In the United Kingdom, 35 year old solicitor Megan Daniels uses a small handheld neuromodulation device several times a day to reduce migraine attacks. The device sends mild electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in her neck and face. Daniels says the treatment feels calming and helps prevent attacks as well as reduce their severity. Neurologists say this type of nerve stimulation is part of a growing range of non drug therapies aimed at disrupting pain pathways in the brain. Such devices are especially useful for patients who do not respond well to medication or cannot take certain drugs due to pregnancy or side effects. For decades, migraine treatment relied mainly on painkillers and drugs originally developed for other conditions, including heart disease, depression and epilepsy. While these medicines help some patients, others experience little benefit or suffer strong side effects. Overuse of painkillers can also worsen migraine, turning occasional attacks into chronic ones. A major breakthrough came with the discovery of calcitonin gene related peptide, or CGRP, a small protein involved in pain signaling in the brain. Scientists found that CGRP levels rise during migraine attacks and that blocking this peptide can reduce symptoms. Several CGRP targeting drugs are now available and have significantly expanded treatment options. Studies show that many patients experience fewer attacks over time, and some see major improvements after long term use. However, experts caution that these drugs do not work for everyone and are not a complete cure. Daniels, who suffers from vestibular migraine that affects balance, initially responded well to CGRP blockers. But after several months, her symptoms returned. She described being unable to walk properly, drive or leave her home during severe attacks. Researchers are now exploring other peptides linked to migraine, including PACAP and orexins, which are involved in sleep and brain signaling. New drugs targeting these molecules are currently in clinical trials and may offer additional preventive options. Another effective treatment has come from an unexpected source. Botox, widely used for cosmetic purposes, has been shown to reduce migraine frequency when injected around the head and neck. Doctors later discovered that Botox works by blocking the release of CGRP in sensory nerves rather than relaxing muscles alone. Many chronic migraine patients see their attacks cut by half after regular treatment. In more severe cases, doctors are turning to mechanical therapies. These include wearable devices placed on the neck, forehead, arm or head that deliver electrical or magnetic pulses to calm overactive nerves. Experimental devices are also being developed that use gentle vibrations inside the nose to reduce inflammation linked to migraine pain. Experts stress that no single treatment works for all patients. Instead, migraine care increasingly combines medication, nerve stimulation, lifestyle changes and psychological support. Good sleep habits, diet, exercise, stress management and therapies such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy are now considered important parts of long term care. Neurologists say understanding migraine as a chronic brain condition rather than just a headache is key to improving quality of life. While a complete cure remains elusive, the expanding range of treatments means patients today have more options than ever before to manage this disabling condition.   With inputs from BBC

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday sought cooperation from the World Heart Federation (WHF) to carry out basic research on medical science and to build skilled manpower in the health sector of the country. “Help us in conducting basic research on the medical science and give state-of-the-art training for the development of our manpower,” she said when WHF president-elect Dr Jagat Narula paid a courtesy call on her at Ganabhaban. PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting. Describing basic research as vital for the overall development of the country, Hasina said her government is laying greater importance on research on medical science for improving the healthcare sector. Referring to the research in the agriculture sector being carried out during her government, she said Bangladesh has attained food security by enhancing crops, milk, meat and fish production. “Research is mainly behind Bangladesh’s success in the agricultural sector, including attaining food security,” she was quoted. Focusing on the government’s measures for the health sector, the PM said her government’s main target is to reach healthcare services to the doorsteps. Read: PM gives directives to carry out different activities of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust She said her government has constructed 18,000 community clinics where 30 types of free medicines are available. The PM said her government has already established five medical universities in divisional headquarters as part of its plan to set up a medical university in every division to impart high education and research in medical science. She said many specialised hospitals have been built in public and private sectors at her government initiatives to treat heart, kidney and cancer patients, adding that they have a target to build specialised hospitals in every region. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has attained great success in the pharmaceutical sector as it is currently producing all the life-saving medicines and exporting them abroad. WHF President-elect Jagat Narula highly praised the health sector development of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Hasina, describing the advancement as “impressive progress.” He said Bangladesh has plenty of talented physicians who need appropriate training and assistance to boost their efficiency. “I am going to take over the charge of WHF in January next and have a target to work first with Bangladesh, India and Mongolia on heart diseases,” said the renowned cardiology specialist. Read: PM to inaugurate, lay foundation stones of 34 projects in Chattogram Sunday Dr Narula stressed the need for making aware the mothers about the non-communicable diseases as it helps to reach its benefit at grassroots quickly, At the meeting, it was informed that non-communicable diseases account for about 50 percent deaths in Bangladesh, of which heart diseases are responsible for 17 percent deaths. Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Professor Mir Jamal Uddin informed the meeting that the Prime Minister donated the institute Tk 7 crore from her relief and welfare fund to help procure valves, stents and pacemakers for poor and insolvent heart patients. As many as 300 Valves, 450 stents and 250 pacemakers have so far been set up in the hearts of the patients, he said. President of Bangladesh Society for Cardiovascular Intervention Prof Dr AKM Fazlur Rahman, National Professor Prof Brig. (retd) Abdul Malik, US expatriate Prof Chowdhury Hafiz Ahsan, Prof MG Azam and Prof Fazila-Tun-Nesa Malik, PMO Senior Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the meeting.

Bangladeshi scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri has been named for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for being instrumental "in developing vaccines that have saved millions of lives". The 70-year-old will be formally conferred the award -- the Asian equivalent of the Nobel -- at a ceremony on 28 November 2021, at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila. Read:BINA and scientist Dr Shamsun Nahar receive prestigious IAEA awards Dr Qadri was born to a middle-class family in Bangladesh that encouraged women to pursue an education and a career. She decided to specialise in medical research, earning a degree in biochemistry. Dr Qadri went on to earn a doctorate from Liverpool University in the United Kingdom. Set on working in her homeland, she taught at a local university and in 1988, joined the International Centre For Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), a global health research institute based in Dhaka.