Minister of Social Development Dina Pule ordered investigation into funding and care issues at Sarepta nursing home

India is globally recognized for its advanced medical education, high-tech pharmaceutical industry, and significant achievements in producing affordable and quality medicines. International recognition of its expertise in innovative treatment methods, modern clinics, and medical education contributes to strengthening bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and India in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

To further strengthen this cooperation, during the visit of the Director of the Agency for the Development of Medicine and Pharmaceuticals, Abdulla Azizov, to the Republic of India, a meeting was held with the management and representatives of ERA University at the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum venue.

During this meeting, issues regarding the development of cooperation in medicine, medical education, and scientific research, improving the quality of personnel training, and implementing joint projects were discussed. During the negotiations, ERA University put forward an initiative to establish a modern clinic in the Karakalpakstan Republic specializing in the early diagnosis, detection, and treatment of rare diseases.

Furthermore, the parties exchanged views on the prospects of launching joint educational programs in medicine and pharmaceuticals, developing academic exchange, conducting scientific research, and enhancing specialist qualifications.

Following the meeting, the parties stated their readiness to expand practical cooperation in medicine and medical education, jointly implement promising projects, and consistently develop bilateral ties.

As part of the visit of the Director of the Agency for the Development of Medicine and Pharmaceuticals, Abdulla Azizov, to the Republic of India, he also participated in a round table organized at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in India under the leadership of the Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov.

The event was held with the assistance of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Dr. Vikramjit Singh Saxena, Chairman of the International Council of CII, as well as leaders and representatives of major Indian companies operating in the pharmaceutical, chemical, banking, and other strategic sectors, took part.

The round table discussed Uzbekistan's investment potential, reforms being carried out in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, prospects for creating high value-added production, technology transfer, and implementing joint investment projects.

Indian entrepreneurs also presented their proposals and initiatives regarding expanding investment activities in Uzbekistan, establishing joint ventures, and strengthening cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

The meeting with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of India, Piyush Goyal, was dedicated to further expanding trade and economic and investment partnership between Uzbekistan and India, increasing mutual trade volumes, developing industrial cooperation, and supporting joint investment projects.

Particular attention at the meeting was paid to deepening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. Prospects for the production of medicines and medical devices, technology transfer, scientific research, implementation of innovative developments, and realization of joint projects with high added value were discussed.

In conclusion, the parties emphasized that it is crucial to consistently continue the dialogue on strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and India, expanding business ties, and realizing future joint projects.

Carmen Freire and her scientific staff from the University of Granada conducted a long-term study that established that exposure to certain chemicals affects the age of first menstruation (menarche).

It was found that the insecticide chlorpyrifos leads to later menarche, while dithiocarbamate fungicides cause earlier menstruation compared to girls who had no contact with these substances.

The study involved 506 girls. Between the ages of 7 and 10, the content of metabolites of the insecticide chlorpyrifos (including 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol), diazinon (2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol), and organophosphates (diethyl thiophosphate and diethyl dithiophosphate) were analyzed in their urine, as well as metabolites of dithiocarbamate fungicides (ethylthiourea).

Information on the age of menarche was collected from the girls themselves or their parents through questionnaires during subsequent visits, covering ages from 7 to 16 years. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the relationships, taking into account various confounding factors. The results of this work were published in the journal Environmental Research.

In girls whose urine contained chlorpyrifos metabolites, menstruation started later (the risk ratio was 0.71). This trend became even more pronounced with excess weight or obesity (risk ratio 0.69), although no statistically significant interaction between these factors was found.

Conversely, early menstruation was observed in girls with detected metabolites of dithiocarbamate fungicides. The risk ratio was 1.32 for concentrations up to the 75th percentile inclusive and 1.39 for concentrations exceeding the 75th percentile.

Another part of the material discusses climatic factors affecting the spread of the celestial longhorn beetle—a rare brightly colored beetle. Entomologists determined that this species inhabits the south of Primorsky Krai, northeastern China, and the Korean Peninsula. Researchers calculated that under current conditions, the area of suitable habitats is about 3.6 million square kilometers.

However, according to a press release received by the N + 1 editorial office from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, even with moderate global warming, this area could decrease by about half by the end of the century, and under bleaker forecasts—by almost 80 percent. This data was published in the journal Far Eastern Entomologist.

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) has already resulted in over 1,700 deaths, with a total of 3,802 cases registered to date, according to the latest update provided by the national government, neighboring Angola.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of the African Union's public health agency, Africa CDC, warned during his second visit to the city of Bunia, near the disease epicenter, that it is not yet possible to determine when the epidemic will reach its peak. Kaseya emphasized that about 80% of new cases are not detected through contact tracing, but rather through community transmission.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), plans to arrive today in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, and is expected to visit Bunia later this week. The epidemic, which was declared on May 15, is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.

The response to the crisis has been hampered by several factors, according to the Africa CDC, including delays in contact tracing, access problems to affected regions, mistrust from communities, and acts of violence perpetrated by armed groups and some local residents.

In terms of research, two clinical trials of post-exposure prophylaxis drugs are underway in the Ituri province, in addition to two separate vaccine trials conducted in the United Kingdom and Canada. This outbreak is mainly concentrated in the remote Ituri province, in eastern DRCongo, responsible for almost 90% of the cases, although cases have been confirmed in five other provinces, including the large city of Kisangani.

Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda announced that it was free of Ebola after the last patient left the country in mid-June. A significant challenge remains the lack of identification of the index patient, aggravated by displacements caused by armed conflict and illegal mining in the area, which prevents the tracing of thousands of people exposed to the infected.

The WHO reported that it is monitoring more than 17,000 potential contacts, approximately 80% of whom are observed daily. Recently, health professionals in the city of Mongbwalu, a severely affected area, presented an ultimatum regarding pending salaries. Previously, there were strikes by health professionals in Bunia due to non-payment and dangerous working conditions. The WHO also reported that more than 100 health professionals have been infected since the beginning of the epidemic, making them the 17th person in the country.