MUHC launches patient education portal
The McGill University Health Center (MUHC) is putting patients “in the know” with the launch of an online patient education library called the MUHC Health Education Collection (HEC). The virtual medical library offers a wide and growing range of bilingual educational material, developed by healthcare professionals. By increasing access to quality educational information on a wide variety of health topics, the MUHC hopes the HEC will become an indispensable tool for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Health Education Collection can be found at http://infotheque.muhc.ca/
Source:http://muhc.ca/newsroom/news/health-care-expertise-your-fingertips-247
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Azad, MoS on collision course?
Kounteya Sinha, TNN, Sep 25, 2010, 02.30am IST
DELHI: MoS for health Dinesh Trivedi seems to be on a collision course with his senior Cabinet colleague and Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as he has trashed a major ministry policy on tobacco.
Addressing the second national conference on tobacco or health in Mumbai, Trivedi said he does not believe in the merit of pictorial warnings on tobacco packets, and advocated replacing them with a slogan -- "tambaku maut ka saman hei".
His comments come at a time when the warnings are being considered as a major public health intervention to reduce use of tobacco, which kills 2,200 people daily across the country.
Azad, however, has been all praise for pictorial warnings.
In fact, he had recently said he hoped that pictorial warnings would be very visible and have a first-hand impact on smokers.
The minister also urged that at least 40% of the pack should carry the warnings instead of present 30%.
"We will implement it seriously," Azad had said, adding, "It is a matter of great satisfaction that one of the important items that is mandatory under Section-7 of the Tobacco Control Act 2003, which provides for mandatory depiction of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco packs is being implemented in India."
Activists are also shocked by Trivedi's comments.
Dr P C Gupta, director of Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, who was present during Trivedi's spech, told TOI that "pictorial warnings help tremendously in combating tobacco use has been scientifically proven. We are disappointed by Mr Trivedi's comments and shows the need to work on our own policy makers, educating them on the ills of tobacco use. Such gory warnings inform people and encourage them to quit. They are also very successful in stopping youngsters from smoking."
Plans are afoot to introduce a second round of pictorial warnings from December 1. Pictorial warnings were enforced on May 31, 2009, following the Supreme Court's intervention. As per the rules, the pictorial warnings should be rotated every 12 months.
Gory pictorial warnings are used in several countries including Australia, Belgium, Chile and Hong Kong to deter people from smoking. While Brazil changes the pictures every five months.
Presently, nine lakh people die annually in India due to tobacco-related diseases.
Around 250 million people use tobacco products like gutkha, cigarettes and bidis in the country. Of them, over 16% are cigarette smokers and 44% smoke bidis.
The health ministry estimates that 40% of India's health problems stem from tobacco use.
By 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India. More than 38.4 million bidi smokers and 13.2 million cigarette smokers face premature death due to smoking.
DELHI: MoS for health Dinesh Trivedi seems to be on a collision course with his senior Cabinet colleague and Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as he has trashed a major ministry policy on tobacco.
Addressing the second national conference on tobacco or health in Mumbai, Trivedi said he does not believe in the merit of pictorial warnings on tobacco packets, and advocated replacing them with a slogan -- "tambaku maut ka saman hei".
His comments come at a time when the warnings are being considered as a major public health intervention to reduce use of tobacco, which kills 2,200 people daily across the country.
Azad, however, has been all praise for pictorial warnings.
In fact, he had recently said he hoped that pictorial warnings would be very visible and have a first-hand impact on smokers.
The minister also urged that at least 40% of the pack should carry the warnings instead of present 30%.
"We will implement it seriously," Azad had said, adding, "It is a matter of great satisfaction that one of the important items that is mandatory under Section-7 of the Tobacco Control Act 2003, which provides for mandatory depiction of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco packs is being implemented in India."
Activists are also shocked by Trivedi's comments.
Dr P C Gupta, director of Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, who was present during Trivedi's spech, told TOI that "pictorial warnings help tremendously in combating tobacco use has been scientifically proven. We are disappointed by Mr Trivedi's comments and shows the need to work on our own policy makers, educating them on the ills of tobacco use. Such gory warnings inform people and encourage them to quit. They are also very successful in stopping youngsters from smoking."
Plans are afoot to introduce a second round of pictorial warnings from December 1. Pictorial warnings were enforced on May 31, 2009, following the Supreme Court's intervention. As per the rules, the pictorial warnings should be rotated every 12 months.
Gory pictorial warnings are used in several countries including Australia, Belgium, Chile and Hong Kong to deter people from smoking. While Brazil changes the pictures every five months.
Presently, nine lakh people die annually in India due to tobacco-related diseases.
Around 250 million people use tobacco products like gutkha, cigarettes and bidis in the country. Of them, over 16% are cigarette smokers and 44% smoke bidis.
The health ministry estimates that 40% of India's health problems stem from tobacco use.
By 2020, tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India. More than 38.4 million bidi smokers and 13.2 million cigarette smokers face premature death due to smoking.
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1996 was awarded jointly to Peter C. Doherty and Rolf M. Zinkernagel "for their discoveries concerning the specificity of the cell mediated immune defence"
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1996/
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1996/
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets
Risha Chitlangia, TNN, Sep 25, 2010, 02.04am IST
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzYIXYq
NEW DELHI: With surging dengue cases in the capital the demand for platelets has increased by 10 fold. And to meet the increasing demand, blood banks in the city claim they are organizing more and more blood donation camps. Meanwhile, 95 fresh dengue cases were reported on Thursday taking the tally to 2631.
"The demand for platelets has increased. We usually make 12-14 platelets everyday, but for the last one-and-a-half months we have been making 200-300 platelets everyday. Majority of the platelets is given to patients suffering from dengue,'' said a senior official with Indian Red Cross.
Most hospitals in the city have their own blood bank, still independent blood banks are flooded with requests for platelets. "All government hospitals have blood banks, but we still get a large number of requests for platelets from patients admitted in these hospitals. We are organizing voluntary blood donation camp everyday and are collecting 300-350 units of blood. We make 100 units of platelets everyday,'' said Dr Anju Verma, in-charge of Rotary blood bank.
Government hospitals too say that the demand for platelets is high. "Usually, our requirement is 80 units, but now it has increased to 150-200 units. There is definitely an increase in dengue cases,'' said Dr D K Sharma, medical superintendent, AIIMS.
Blood banks say the biggest problem they are facing is of arranging platelets for people with negative blood groups. "B negative person can be given platelets extracted from the blood donated by a B positive person, as platelets don't have Rh factor. But doctors often demand for platelets of the same blood group. Negative blood group is rare. Only 7% of the population has negative blood group. It is only then do we ask people to get their own donors,'' said a red cross official.
Though those admitted in government hospitals don't have to pay for platelets, people are forced to arrange from outside due to shortage in some such hospitals. "People have to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per unit of platelet. In a platelet transfusion which increases the count by 25,000 one needs at least six units. Single donor platelets cost anywhere between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,000,'' said a senior doctor with GTB hospital.
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzPF7uY
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzYIXYq
NEW DELHI: With surging dengue cases in the capital the demand for platelets has increased by 10 fold. And to meet the increasing demand, blood banks in the city claim they are organizing more and more blood donation camps. Meanwhile, 95 fresh dengue cases were reported on Thursday taking the tally to 2631.
"The demand for platelets has increased. We usually make 12-14 platelets everyday, but for the last one-and-a-half months we have been making 200-300 platelets everyday. Majority of the platelets is given to patients suffering from dengue,'' said a senior official with Indian Red Cross.
Most hospitals in the city have their own blood bank, still independent blood banks are flooded with requests for platelets. "All government hospitals have blood banks, but we still get a large number of requests for platelets from patients admitted in these hospitals. We are organizing voluntary blood donation camp everyday and are collecting 300-350 units of blood. We make 100 units of platelets everyday,'' said Dr Anju Verma, in-charge of Rotary blood bank.
Government hospitals too say that the demand for platelets is high. "Usually, our requirement is 80 units, but now it has increased to 150-200 units. There is definitely an increase in dengue cases,'' said Dr D K Sharma, medical superintendent, AIIMS.
Blood banks say the biggest problem they are facing is of arranging platelets for people with negative blood groups. "B negative person can be given platelets extracted from the blood donated by a B positive person, as platelets don't have Rh factor. But doctors often demand for platelets of the same blood group. Negative blood group is rare. Only 7% of the population has negative blood group. It is only then do we ask people to get their own donors,'' said a red cross official.
Though those admitted in government hospitals don't have to pay for platelets, people are forced to arrange from outside due to shortage in some such hospitals. "People have to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per unit of platelet. In a platelet transfusion which increases the count by 25,000 one needs at least six units. Single donor platelets cost anywhere between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,000,'' said a senior doctor with GTB hospital.
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzPF7uY
Tags: NEW DELHI: With surging dengue cases in the capital the demand for platelets has increased by 10 fold. And to meet the increasing demand, blood banks in the city claim they are organizing more and more blood donation camps. Meanwhile, 95 fresh dengue cases were reported on Thursday taking the tally to 2631.
"The demand for platelets has increased. We usually make 12-14 platelets everyday, but for the last one-and-a-half months we have been making 200-300 platelets everyday. Majority of the platelets is given to patients suffering from dengue,'' said a senior official with Indian Red Cross.
Most hospitals in the city have their own blood bank, still independent blood banks are flooded with requests for platelets. "All government hospitals have blood banks, but we still get a large number of requests for platelets from patients admitted in these hospitals. We are organizing voluntary blood donation camp everyday and are collecting 300-350 units of blood. We make 100 units of platelets everyday,'' said Dr Anju Verma, in-charge of Rotary blood bank.
Government hospitals too say that the demand for platelets is high. "Usually, our requirement is 80 units, but now it has increased to 150-200 units. There is definitely an increase in dengue cases,'' said Dr D K Sharma, medical superintendent, AIIMS.
Blood banks say the biggest problem they are facing is of arranging platelets for people with negative blood groups. "B negative person can be given platelets extracted from the blood donated by a B positive person, as platelets don't have Rh factor. But doctors often demand for platelets of the same blood group. Negative blood group is rare. Only 7% of the population has negative blood group. It is only then do we ask people to get their own donors,'' said a red cross official.
Though those admitted in government hospitals don't have to pay for platelets, people are forced to arrange from outside due to shortage in some such hospitals. "People have to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per unit of platelet. In a platelet transfusion which increases the count by 25,000 one needs at least six units. Single donor platelets cost anywhere between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,000,'' said a senior doctor with GTB hospital.
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WyzXQkQ
"The demand for platelets has increased. We usually make 12-14 platelets everyday, but for the last one-and-a-half months we have been making 200-300 platelets everyday. Majority of the platelets is given to patients suffering from dengue,'' said a senior official with Indian Red Cross.
Most hospitals in the city have their own blood bank, still independent blood banks are flooded with requests for platelets. "All government hospitals have blood banks, but we still get a large number of requests for platelets from patients admitted in these hospitals. We are organizing voluntary blood donation camp everyday and are collecting 300-350 units of blood. We make 100 units of platelets everyday,'' said Dr Anju Verma, in-charge of Rotary blood bank.
Government hospitals too say that the demand for platelets is high. "Usually, our requirement is 80 units, but now it has increased to 150-200 units. There is definitely an increase in dengue cases,'' said Dr D K Sharma, medical superintendent, AIIMS.
Blood banks say the biggest problem they are facing is of arranging platelets for people with negative blood groups. "B negative person can be given platelets extracted from the blood donated by a B positive person, as platelets don't have Rh factor. But doctors often demand for platelets of the same blood group. Negative blood group is rare. Only 7% of the population has negative blood group. It is only then do we ask people to get their own donors,'' said a red cross official.
Though those admitted in government hospitals don't have to pay for platelets, people are forced to arrange from outside due to shortage in some such hospitals. "People have to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per unit of platelet. In a platelet transfusion which increases the count by 25,000 one needs at least six units. Single donor platelets cost anywhere between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,000,'' said a senior doctor with GTB hospital.
Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WyzXQkQ
India's health system has failed miserably: Survey
Sumitra Deb Roy, TNN, Sep 25, 2010, 03.25am IST
Read more: India's health system has failed miserably: Survey - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-health-system-has-failed-miserably-Survey/articleshow/6623424.cms#ixzz10WxuQBm2
MUMBAI: In the recent past, India has been resting on its medical laurels, but an international survey has revealed that the reality is an altogether different story. The country's healthcare system fails miserably in almost all parameters when compared to six developed and developing nations such as the US and UK, China, Brazil, and Singapore, reveals a newly released study. The most telling finding was that despite having 10.8 lakh beds—the second highest among all the countries surveyed—there is less than one bed for every 1,000 people.
The joint study was conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and HOSMAC, a hospital planning and management consultancy firm. The UK tops the bed-patient ratio parameter with 3.9 beds higher than WHO's norm of three beds per 1,000 people. India's burgeoning population, say industry experts, cannot be used as an excuse given that China has 40.63 lakh beds, and meets WHO's norms (see box).
The report stated that to achieve the desirable norm a minimum of one-lakh beds have to be added to the country's existing kitty over the next 30 years. "About two-third of these beds have to come up in rural areas to ensure an even development of health infrastructure," said director of FICCI Shobha Mishra Ghosh, adding that in some areas even the UAE and Brazil surpass India in providing medical care.
China has successfully managed to create an efficient healthcare system with an army of medical personnel.
In terms of manpower, our neighbour has three times the number of doctors working in India, and 1.22 crore nurses. India has only 13.72 lakh nurses.
According to industry watchers, policy-makers must acknowledge that in the healthcare expenditure pie, the government's share is only around 26%. "One suggestion is that the government should emphasize on primary and secondary healthcare facilities, while leaving tertiary centres to the private sector," she added.
It goes unsaid that the urban-rural divide has to be addressed. "The government has to provide lucrative incentives for private players to move to rural and semi-urban areas," said managing director of HOSMAC, Dr Vivek Desai.
The only silver lining in the study is that India holds the top position in the number of medical and nursing colleges—-303 and 3,904 respectively. But then, despite having less than half the number of medical colleges as compared to India, the United States has more doctors on its rolls. "There could be many possibilities, but brain drain could be one of the main reasons," said Desai. Statistics suggest that in 2008 nearly one-tenth of doctors in the UK were not British citizens, while the percentage stood at 26% in the US.
Read more: India's health system has failed miserably: Survey - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-health-system-has-failed-miserably-Survey/articleshow/6623424.cms#ixzz10WxlsyFA
Read more: India's health system has failed miserably: Survey - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-health-system-has-failed-miserably-Survey/articleshow/6623424.cms#ixzz10WxuQBm2
MUMBAI: In the recent past, India has been resting on its medical laurels, but an international survey has revealed that the reality is an altogether different story. The country's healthcare system fails miserably in almost all parameters when compared to six developed and developing nations such as the US and UK, China, Brazil, and Singapore, reveals a newly released study. The most telling finding was that despite having 10.8 lakh beds—the second highest among all the countries surveyed—there is less than one bed for every 1,000 people.
The joint study was conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and HOSMAC, a hospital planning and management consultancy firm. The UK tops the bed-patient ratio parameter with 3.9 beds higher than WHO's norm of three beds per 1,000 people. India's burgeoning population, say industry experts, cannot be used as an excuse given that China has 40.63 lakh beds, and meets WHO's norms (see box).
The report stated that to achieve the desirable norm a minimum of one-lakh beds have to be added to the country's existing kitty over the next 30 years. "About two-third of these beds have to come up in rural areas to ensure an even development of health infrastructure," said director of FICCI Shobha Mishra Ghosh, adding that in some areas even the UAE and Brazil surpass India in providing medical care.
China has successfully managed to create an efficient healthcare system with an army of medical personnel.
In terms of manpower, our neighbour has three times the number of doctors working in India, and 1.22 crore nurses. India has only 13.72 lakh nurses.
According to industry watchers, policy-makers must acknowledge that in the healthcare expenditure pie, the government's share is only around 26%. "One suggestion is that the government should emphasize on primary and secondary healthcare facilities, while leaving tertiary centres to the private sector," she added.
It goes unsaid that the urban-rural divide has to be addressed. "The government has to provide lucrative incentives for private players to move to rural and semi-urban areas," said managing director of HOSMAC, Dr Vivek Desai.
The only silver lining in the study is that India holds the top position in the number of medical and nursing colleges—-303 and 3,904 respectively. But then, despite having less than half the number of medical colleges as compared to India, the United States has more doctors on its rolls. "There could be many possibilities, but brain drain could be one of the main reasons," said Desai. Statistics suggest that in 2008 nearly one-tenth of doctors in the UK were not British citizens, while the percentage stood at 26% in the US.
Read more: India's health system has failed miserably: Survey - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-health-system-has-failed-miserably-Survey/articleshow/6623424.cms#ixzz10WxlsyFA
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Dengue Fever
All you wanted to know about Dengue
TNN, Sep 8, 2010, 12.00am IST
Dengue fever is a very grave disease and self-medication should not be done. Medical attention is extremely important. Dr S P S Bakshi shares critical information about the disease that WHO declared as pandemic...
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Classic dengue fever, or 'break bone fever,' is characterised by acute onset of high fever of 3–14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms include:
- Frontal headache
- Retro-Orbital pain
- Myalgia
- Arthralgia
- Haemorrhagic Manifestations
- Rash
- Low white blood cell count
- Gastritis
The patient may also complain of anorexia and nausea. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about a week, but weakness, malaise, and anorexia may persist for several weeks. Some patients with dengue fever go on to develop Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease.
Prevention of Dengue Fever
- There is no tested and approved vaccine for dengue.
- Primary prevention of dengue is mosquito control.
Dengue fever and Homeopathy medicines
In Homoeopathy, we have a group of medicines which can be taken based on different symptoms of fever in different stages. The selection of homoeopathic medicines depends upon the individual response to infection and virulence of the virus. It is always better that medication is taken under the supervision of a homeopathic consultant for appropriate selection of medicine for dengue fever.
As there are no conclusive evidences of cure with Homoeopathic medicines it is always advisable to be in touch with the Hospital in case Dengue has been diagnosed as the medicines can only be given on the basis of the current stage of the fever for which certain diagnostic procedures are also important. Homoeopathy acts as an effective supportive treatment in the different stages of the fever.
The following can be given for treatment of Dengue:
Aconite, Arsenic Album, Baptisia, Belladonna, Bryonia, China officinalis, Eupatorium Perf, Gelsemium, Ipecac, Nux Vomica, Rhus Tox
Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever
- Use mosquito repellents.
- Discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
- Keep the water stores clean and closed.
- Keep yourself well covered when outside.
Myth
Dengue can only be contracted once.
Fact
There are four strains of the dengue virus. People who have already been infected by one particular strain will not be affected by that strain again but they may still be at risk of being infected by other strains, so it is never safe for someone to assume that he or she is already immune.
TNN, Sep 8, 2010, 12.00am IST
Dengue fever is a very grave disease and self-medication should not be done. Medical attention is extremely important. Dr S P S Bakshi shares critical information about the disease that WHO declared as pandemic...
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Classic dengue fever, or 'break bone fever,' is characterised by acute onset of high fever of 3–14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms include:
- Frontal headache
- Retro-Orbital pain
- Myalgia
- Arthralgia
- Haemorrhagic Manifestations
- Rash
- Low white blood cell count
- Gastritis
The patient may also complain of anorexia and nausea. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about a week, but weakness, malaise, and anorexia may persist for several weeks. Some patients with dengue fever go on to develop Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease.
Prevention of Dengue Fever
- There is no tested and approved vaccine for dengue.
- Primary prevention of dengue is mosquito control.
Dengue fever and Homeopathy medicines
In Homoeopathy, we have a group of medicines which can be taken based on different symptoms of fever in different stages. The selection of homoeopathic medicines depends upon the individual response to infection and virulence of the virus. It is always better that medication is taken under the supervision of a homeopathic consultant for appropriate selection of medicine for dengue fever.
As there are no conclusive evidences of cure with Homoeopathic medicines it is always advisable to be in touch with the Hospital in case Dengue has been diagnosed as the medicines can only be given on the basis of the current stage of the fever for which certain diagnostic procedures are also important. Homoeopathy acts as an effective supportive treatment in the different stages of the fever.
The following can be given for treatment of Dengue:
Aconite, Arsenic Album, Baptisia, Belladonna, Bryonia, China officinalis, Eupatorium Perf, Gelsemium, Ipecac, Nux Vomica, Rhus Tox
Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever
- Use mosquito repellents.
- Discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
- Keep the water stores clean and closed.
- Keep yourself well covered when outside.
Myth
Dengue can only be contracted once.
Fact
There are four strains of the dengue virus. People who have already been infected by one particular strain will not be affected by that strain again but they may still be at risk of being infected by other strains, so it is never safe for someone to assume that he or she is already immune.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Drug to cut cancer therapy side-effects
CHANDIGARH: Cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy have to cope with some side-effects, including hair loss. They have a hope: a drug, developed by Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), promises to reduce these side-effects by 75%. It will soon be available in the market.
The drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2- DG) has completed three phases of clinical trials and has been sent to a Hyderabad-based laboratory for commercial production pending final approval from the Directorate General of Health Services.
At present there is no drug available that can reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy. If the drug is given to any cancer patient before radiotherapy, the side-effects such as hairfall, nausea, loss of appetite and sleeplessness can be substantially reduced. The multi-centric trials had been carried out in eight cancer hospitals and research institutes.
W Selvamurthy, chief controller (R&D), DRDO said: "The drug has been tested on adult malignant cancer patients with success and it has been patented."
The drug is an analogue of glucose which is structurally same as the blood glucose cells in a human body. The cancer cells are hyperactive as they proliferate rapidly and feed on glucose cells in the body, thus depriving the body of its immunity and energy level. Selvamurthy explained: "These cancer cells start eating the analogue glucose, which does not provide energy like the real glucose cells in the blood. Consequently, it weakens the cancer cells. The radiation from the radiotherapy then destroys these weak cells easily without affecting the surrounding normal cells in the body."
The drug has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Dr V M Katoch, director of the ICMR said: "This is a promising drug that will definitely make a significant contribution to the pharmaceutical market."
Read more: Drug to cut cancer therapy side-effects - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Drug-to-cut-cancer-therapy-side-effects-/articleshow/6576536.cms#ixzz10304w7eJ
The drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2- DG) has completed three phases of clinical trials and has been sent to a Hyderabad-based laboratory for commercial production pending final approval from the Directorate General of Health Services.
At present there is no drug available that can reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy. If the drug is given to any cancer patient before radiotherapy, the side-effects such as hairfall, nausea, loss of appetite and sleeplessness can be substantially reduced. The multi-centric trials had been carried out in eight cancer hospitals and research institutes.
W Selvamurthy, chief controller (R&D), DRDO said: "The drug has been tested on adult malignant cancer patients with success and it has been patented."
The drug is an analogue of glucose which is structurally same as the blood glucose cells in a human body. The cancer cells are hyperactive as they proliferate rapidly and feed on glucose cells in the body, thus depriving the body of its immunity and energy level. Selvamurthy explained: "These cancer cells start eating the analogue glucose, which does not provide energy like the real glucose cells in the blood. Consequently, it weakens the cancer cells. The radiation from the radiotherapy then destroys these weak cells easily without affecting the surrounding normal cells in the body."
The drug has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Dr V M Katoch, director of the ICMR said: "This is a promising drug that will definitely make a significant contribution to the pharmaceutical market."
Read more: Drug to cut cancer therapy side-effects - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Drug-to-cut-cancer-therapy-side-effects-/articleshow/6576536.cms#ixzz10304w7eJ
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Most deaths of children under five occur in India, says Unicef report
NEW DELHI: This is another ranking that India would hate to top.
Close on the heels of recording the largest number of women dying during child birth, the country now occupies another top spot. India holds the unenviable record of being home to the highest number of children who die before reaching their fifth birthday.
According to the latest United Nations under-five mortality estimates, released on Friday by UNICEF, India recorded 17.26 lakh under-five deaths with a mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) of 66 in 2009.
However, there are some silver lining in these depressing figures.
The statistic was much worse in 1990 -- the base year from when the progress made by countries to combat child mortality is calculated.
In 1990, India had recorded 31 lakh under-five deaths, with a mortality rate of 118.
According to the report, India's under-five mortality rate will be 39 in 2015, which works out to an average annual reduction rate of 3.1% since 1990.
Be that as it may, the report says, "India is making insufficient progress: under-five mortality is at least 40 deaths per 1,000 live births and the average annual rate of reduction is at least 1% but less than 4%."
The under-five mortality is increasingly concentrated in a few countries. About half of global under-five deaths in 2009 occurred in only five countries: India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan and China.
India and Nigeria, which have 21% and 10% under-five mortality rates last year, respectively, together account for nearly a third of under-five deaths worldwide.
However, globally, the number of deaths among under-five chidren has fallen from 12.4 million in 1990 to 8.1 million in 2009. Since 1990, the global under-five mortality rate has fallen by a third -- from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births to 60 in 2009.
All regions -- except Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and Oceania -- have seen reductions by at least 50%. But the rate of decline in these three regions is insufficient to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4.
The highest rate of child mortality continues to be in Sub-Saharan Africa, where one in every eight children dies before five years, which is nearly 20 times the average of one in 167 for developed regions.
South Asia has the second highest rate, where one in 14 children in the same age group dies.In this region, more than half of all childhood deaths occur in the first 28 days after their birth.
Around 40% of under-five deaths occur within the first month of their birth, and 70% occur within the first year. Pneumonia (18 % of deaths) and diarrhoeal diseases (15%) are the most common causes of death.
Read more: Most deaths of children under five occur in India, says Unicef report - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Most-deaths-of-children-under-five-occur-in-India-says-Unicef-report/articleshow/6574126.cms#ixzz0zrwKNMtA
Close on the heels of recording the largest number of women dying during child birth, the country now occupies another top spot. India holds the unenviable record of being home to the highest number of children who die before reaching their fifth birthday.
According to the latest United Nations under-five mortality estimates, released on Friday by UNICEF, India recorded 17.26 lakh under-five deaths with a mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) of 66 in 2009.
However, there are some silver lining in these depressing figures.
The statistic was much worse in 1990 -- the base year from when the progress made by countries to combat child mortality is calculated.
In 1990, India had recorded 31 lakh under-five deaths, with a mortality rate of 118.
According to the report, India's under-five mortality rate will be 39 in 2015, which works out to an average annual reduction rate of 3.1% since 1990.
Be that as it may, the report says, "India is making insufficient progress: under-five mortality is at least 40 deaths per 1,000 live births and the average annual rate of reduction is at least 1% but less than 4%."
The under-five mortality is increasingly concentrated in a few countries. About half of global under-five deaths in 2009 occurred in only five countries: India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan and China.
India and Nigeria, which have 21% and 10% under-five mortality rates last year, respectively, together account for nearly a third of under-five deaths worldwide.
However, globally, the number of deaths among under-five chidren has fallen from 12.4 million in 1990 to 8.1 million in 2009. Since 1990, the global under-five mortality rate has fallen by a third -- from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births to 60 in 2009.
All regions -- except Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and Oceania -- have seen reductions by at least 50%. But the rate of decline in these three regions is insufficient to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4.
The highest rate of child mortality continues to be in Sub-Saharan Africa, where one in every eight children dies before five years, which is nearly 20 times the average of one in 167 for developed regions.
South Asia has the second highest rate, where one in 14 children in the same age group dies.In this region, more than half of all childhood deaths occur in the first 28 days after their birth.
Around 40% of under-five deaths occur within the first month of their birth, and 70% occur within the first year. Pneumonia (18 % of deaths) and diarrhoeal diseases (15%) are the most common causes of death.
Read more: Most deaths of children under five occur in India, says Unicef report - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Most-deaths-of-children-under-five-occur-in-India-says-Unicef-report/articleshow/6574126.cms#ixzz0zrwKNMtA
Kids born in Kerala, Delhi likely to have longest lives
It is n't called God's own country for nothing — going by life expectancy statistics, Kerala will be the best place in India to be born in, followed by Delhi. An average Indian, in 2021, will live four years more than today. But Keralas average will exceed India's by about six years.
According to the Union health ministry's latest projections, the life expectancy at birth (LEB) the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year of an Indian male will be 69.8 years in 2021 compared to 65.8 at present and 63.8 years in 2001.
In comparison, an average Indian woman can expect to live to 72.3 years by 2021, compared to 68.1 now and 66.1 in 2001.
According to projections published in the latest Family Welfare Statistics 2009, a male child born in Kerala is expected to live till 75.2 years by 2021 while a female child will live till 78.6 years.
The second best place will be Delhi where the LEB for a man will be 73.5 years in 2021 and 77.4 years for a woman. At present, an average male in Delhi lives till 71 years of age while a female lives till 74.8.
With the thrust we are giving to reducing neonatal deaths, the life expectancy of an average Indian is bound to increase, Union health secretary K Sujatha Rao told TOI. Though it has been stagnant at around 63 years for the past decade, it will increase by at least six years in the next decade.
An interesting projection made by the ministry is that women in most states will live more than 70 years by 2021, the exceptions being Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh (69.5), Madhya Pradesh (69.3) and Assam (68.8 years). However, the LEB of men will be below 70 years in a lot more states.
Men will live to be over 70 (in 2021) in a few states Himachal Pradesh (72.4), Gujarat (71.9), Punjab (71.5), West Bengal (71), Maharashtra (70.9), the north-eastern states except Assam at 70.9, Tamil Nadu and Bihar at 70.6 and Karnataka at 70 years.
In comparison, men in Rajasthan will live till 69.6 years, Jharkhand 69.5, Andhra Pradesh 69.4, Jammu and Kashmir 69.2, Uttarakhand 68.5 years in 2021, Uttar Pradesh 68.7, Madhya Pradesh 68, Orissa 67.8, Assam 67.1 and Chhattisgarh 66.5 years.
Rao said, we are increasing institutional deliveries and giving incentives to women coming to a hospital to deliver their child. This way, we cut down on deaths at birth. Besides, we have started home-based neonatal care by community health workers for women who return from an institution delivery. This way, we are reducing deaths of children within the first month of life on account of low weight.
She added: We are also starting sick new born units in all district hospitals for these children. Neonatal and infant mortality directly affects life expectancy.
As far as women are concerned, the LEB in 2021 in Himachal Pradesh will be 76.1 years, Gujarat 74.9 years, Punjab 74.8 years and Maharashtra 74.7.
Females born in Karnataka will have a LEB of 74.5 years by 2021, West Bengal 74.3, Tamil Nadu 74, Haryana 73.7 years, Andhra Pradesh 73.3 and Rajasthan 73.1 years.
Pointing out some interesting facts, a health ministry official said, At present in 2010, males born in only two states Delhi (71.4) and Kerala (72) live beyond 70 years of age. This will increase to three states in 2011 and six in 2016. In comparison, women in 10 states live beyond the age of 70 at present. This will increase to 13 states in 2011, 17 states in 2016 and 19 states in 2021.
Read more: Kids born in Kerala, Delhi likely to have longest lives - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kids-born-in-Kerala-Delhi-likely-to-have-longest-lives/articleshow/6574960.cms#ixzz0zrupxzUL
According to the Union health ministry's latest projections, the life expectancy at birth (LEB) the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year of an Indian male will be 69.8 years in 2021 compared to 65.8 at present and 63.8 years in 2001.
In comparison, an average Indian woman can expect to live to 72.3 years by 2021, compared to 68.1 now and 66.1 in 2001.
According to projections published in the latest Family Welfare Statistics 2009, a male child born in Kerala is expected to live till 75.2 years by 2021 while a female child will live till 78.6 years.
The second best place will be Delhi where the LEB for a man will be 73.5 years in 2021 and 77.4 years for a woman. At present, an average male in Delhi lives till 71 years of age while a female lives till 74.8.
With the thrust we are giving to reducing neonatal deaths, the life expectancy of an average Indian is bound to increase, Union health secretary K Sujatha Rao told TOI. Though it has been stagnant at around 63 years for the past decade, it will increase by at least six years in the next decade.
An interesting projection made by the ministry is that women in most states will live more than 70 years by 2021, the exceptions being Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh (69.5), Madhya Pradesh (69.3) and Assam (68.8 years). However, the LEB of men will be below 70 years in a lot more states.
Men will live to be over 70 (in 2021) in a few states Himachal Pradesh (72.4), Gujarat (71.9), Punjab (71.5), West Bengal (71), Maharashtra (70.9), the north-eastern states except Assam at 70.9, Tamil Nadu and Bihar at 70.6 and Karnataka at 70 years.
In comparison, men in Rajasthan will live till 69.6 years, Jharkhand 69.5, Andhra Pradesh 69.4, Jammu and Kashmir 69.2, Uttarakhand 68.5 years in 2021, Uttar Pradesh 68.7, Madhya Pradesh 68, Orissa 67.8, Assam 67.1 and Chhattisgarh 66.5 years.
Rao said, we are increasing institutional deliveries and giving incentives to women coming to a hospital to deliver their child. This way, we cut down on deaths at birth. Besides, we have started home-based neonatal care by community health workers for women who return from an institution delivery. This way, we are reducing deaths of children within the first month of life on account of low weight.
She added: We are also starting sick new born units in all district hospitals for these children. Neonatal and infant mortality directly affects life expectancy.
As far as women are concerned, the LEB in 2021 in Himachal Pradesh will be 76.1 years, Gujarat 74.9 years, Punjab 74.8 years and Maharashtra 74.7.
Females born in Karnataka will have a LEB of 74.5 years by 2021, West Bengal 74.3, Tamil Nadu 74, Haryana 73.7 years, Andhra Pradesh 73.3 and Rajasthan 73.1 years.
Pointing out some interesting facts, a health ministry official said, At present in 2010, males born in only two states Delhi (71.4) and Kerala (72) live beyond 70 years of age. This will increase to three states in 2011 and six in 2016. In comparison, women in 10 states live beyond the age of 70 at present. This will increase to 13 states in 2011, 17 states in 2016 and 19 states in 2021.
Read more: Kids born in Kerala, Delhi likely to have longest lives - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kids-born-in-Kerala-Delhi-likely-to-have-longest-lives/articleshow/6574960.cms#ixzz0zrupxzUL
Thursday, September 16, 2010
In a first,pacemaker fitted in brain helps cure OCD
48-Year-Old Patient Had Been Suffering For Two Decades
Kounteya Sinha | TNN
New Delhi: In a rare first for Asia,Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) a medical condition that results in repetitive behaviour such as handwashing,checking or cleaning has been treated with a pacemaker fitted in parts of the brain.
A team from VIMHANS in the capital has successfully implanted a pacemaker in the brain of an OCD patient,which has significantly reduced her peculiarities in just two weeks time.
The team,including neurosurgeons Dr Alok Gupta and Dr Sanjeev Kumar and psychiatrist Dr Ashutosh Tripathi,used Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to implant the pacemaker for sending electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.
DBS,which has been used in select regions of brain till now,has provided remarkable therapeutic benefits for disorders like such as Parkinsons and dystonia.However,it has been used for the first time to treat OCD.
DBS involves precise stimulation of particular parts of the brain through the implantation of removable electrodes.Two electrodes have been wired to both sides of patients brain (anterior limb of internal capsule) which communicate through the pacemaker,the battery of which has been put inside her chest.We can alter the function of any part of the brain by stimulating it.If stimulated with low frequency electrodes,the area starts to get excited.With high frequency,it blocks off the pathway and reduces symptoms.In her case,we used high frequency electrodes to block the pathway of the brain that was causing OCD, Dr Gupta explained.
The 48-year woman patient had been suffering from OCD for the past 21 years.She had been living in constant fear of all kinds of touch,scared that any contact with her children or object would severely soil her hands.
Her condition had become so acute that she stopped eating or going to the toilet on her own.In fact,she would sit all day on the bed without touching anything,waiting for her children or husband to feed her or take her to the toilet.
To make matters worse,if she touched anything by mistake,she would wash it several times.Strangely,she would not turn off the tap even after using it.
Two weeks since the implant,she has not just started eating on her own but is now completely independent, Dr Gupta added.
Though there are a number of medications and psychological therapies available to treat OCD,it is estimated that about 10% patients dont respond adequately to these firstline interventions.
DBS is for those patients who dont respond to medication.Psychiatrists need to identify these patients before the brain pacemaker can be used.Besides,the price of this form of treatment is yet to be determined.DBS used for Parkinsons patients costs $8000 in India, Dr Gupta said.
Oddballs For A Reason
Obsessive compulsive disorder has affected millions of people through the years,including some famous personalities... Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo never took off his clothes or boots American aviator-directorphilanthropist Howard Hughes couldn't stop washing his hands Brtish football star David Beckham loses his cool when books aren't kept in pairs American tycoon Donald Trump avoids shaking hands Actress Cameron Diaz uses her elbows to push open doors Michael Jackson,Beethoven,Albert Einstein,Harrison Ford,Jessica Alba and Penelope Cruz have all suffered from this psychiatric behavioural disorder
In India,OCD is a very common psychiatric disorder,but this is hardly recognized
Some common obsessions with OCD patients are fear of dirt or germs,concern with order,symmetry (balance) and exactness,worry that a task has been done poorly,constantly thinking about certain sounds,images,words or numbers all the time Common compulsions of an OCD patient are cleaning,grooming,washing hands,brushing teeth repeatedly,checking drawers,appliances to be sure they are locked or turned off,arranging items in certain ways and counting to a certain number over and over again
1%-3 % of people across the globe suffer from OCD
Jessica Alba
Beckham
Kounteya Sinha | TNN
New Delhi: In a rare first for Asia,Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) a medical condition that results in repetitive behaviour such as handwashing,checking or cleaning has been treated with a pacemaker fitted in parts of the brain.
A team from VIMHANS in the capital has successfully implanted a pacemaker in the brain of an OCD patient,which has significantly reduced her peculiarities in just two weeks time.
The team,including neurosurgeons Dr Alok Gupta and Dr Sanjeev Kumar and psychiatrist Dr Ashutosh Tripathi,used Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to implant the pacemaker for sending electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.
DBS,which has been used in select regions of brain till now,has provided remarkable therapeutic benefits for disorders like such as Parkinsons and dystonia.However,it has been used for the first time to treat OCD.
DBS involves precise stimulation of particular parts of the brain through the implantation of removable electrodes.Two electrodes have been wired to both sides of patients brain (anterior limb of internal capsule) which communicate through the pacemaker,the battery of which has been put inside her chest.We can alter the function of any part of the brain by stimulating it.If stimulated with low frequency electrodes,the area starts to get excited.With high frequency,it blocks off the pathway and reduces symptoms.In her case,we used high frequency electrodes to block the pathway of the brain that was causing OCD, Dr Gupta explained.
The 48-year woman patient had been suffering from OCD for the past 21 years.She had been living in constant fear of all kinds of touch,scared that any contact with her children or object would severely soil her hands.
Her condition had become so acute that she stopped eating or going to the toilet on her own.In fact,she would sit all day on the bed without touching anything,waiting for her children or husband to feed her or take her to the toilet.
To make matters worse,if she touched anything by mistake,she would wash it several times.Strangely,she would not turn off the tap even after using it.
Two weeks since the implant,she has not just started eating on her own but is now completely independent, Dr Gupta added.
Though there are a number of medications and psychological therapies available to treat OCD,it is estimated that about 10% patients dont respond adequately to these firstline interventions.
DBS is for those patients who dont respond to medication.Psychiatrists need to identify these patients before the brain pacemaker can be used.Besides,the price of this form of treatment is yet to be determined.DBS used for Parkinsons patients costs $8000 in India, Dr Gupta said.
Oddballs For A Reason
Obsessive compulsive disorder has affected millions of people through the years,including some famous personalities... Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo never took off his clothes or boots American aviator-directorphilanthropist Howard Hughes couldn't stop washing his hands Brtish football star David Beckham loses his cool when books aren't kept in pairs American tycoon Donald Trump avoids shaking hands Actress Cameron Diaz uses her elbows to push open doors Michael Jackson,Beethoven,Albert Einstein,Harrison Ford,Jessica Alba and Penelope Cruz have all suffered from this psychiatric behavioural disorder
In India,OCD is a very common psychiatric disorder,but this is hardly recognized
Some common obsessions with OCD patients are fear of dirt or germs,concern with order,symmetry (balance) and exactness,worry that a task has been done poorly,constantly thinking about certain sounds,images,words or numbers all the time Common compulsions of an OCD patient are cleaning,grooming,washing hands,brushing teeth repeatedly,checking drawers,appliances to be sure they are locked or turned off,arranging items in certain ways and counting to a certain number over and over again
1%-3 % of people across the globe suffer from OCD
Jessica Alba
Beckham
Despite 59 % drop, India tops maternal mortality
NEW DELHI: Though India has seen a dramatic fall in maternal mortality rate (MMR) by 59% between 1990 and 2008, the country is still home to the highest number of women dying during childbirth across the world.
India's MMR stood at 570 in 1990, which fell to 470 per 100,000 live births in 1995, 390 in 2000, 280 in 2005 and 230 in 2008.
India, which has seen an annual decrease of MMR by 4.9% since 1990, now records 63,000 maternal deaths a year.
For instance, the lifetime risk of maternal death (the probability that a 15-year-old female will die eventually from a maternal cause) is 1 in 140 -- inarguably a shamefully high figure.
According to the latest report, " Trends in Maternal Mortality", released jointly by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and World Bank, just days before Who's Who of the Planet meet at New York for the all-important Millennium Development Goals (MDG) meeting, the number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 34% from an estimated 5.46 lakhs in 1990 to 3.58 lakhs in 2008.
Even though the progress is notable, the annual rate of decline is less than half of what is needed to achieve the MDG target of reducing the MMR by 75% between 1990 and 2015.
This will require an annual decline of 5.5%. The 34% decline since 1990 translates to an average annual decline of 2.3% per year.
Shockingly, 1,000 women are still dying daily from pregnancy-related causes globally.
"Pregnant women still die from four major causes: severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, hypertensive disorders and unsafe abortion. Out of the 1,000, 570 lived in sub-Saharan Africa, 300 in South Asia and five in high-income countries. The risk of a woman in a developing country dying from a pregnancy-related cause during her lifetime is about 36 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country," the report said.
In Asia, the number of maternal deaths is estimated to have dropped from 3.15 lakhs to 1.39 lakhs, a 52% decrease.
Among developing regions, the adult lifetime risk of maternal death is highest in sub-Saharan Africa (1 in 31), followed by Oceania (1 in 110) and South Asia (1 in 120), while the developed regions had the smallest lifetime risk (1 in 4,300).
Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "maternal health is extremely important for all of us because life begins from here. I am aware that a large number of maternal deaths take place in India, which can be prevented. By preventing the three delays in seeking health care and by addressing the causes of maternal mortality like post-partum hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labour and unsafe abortions, a lot of avoidable maternal deaths can be prevented."
Read more: Despite 59% drop, India tops maternal mortality list - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Despite-59-drop-India-tops-maternal-mortality-list/articleshow/6561490.cms#ixzz0zi9Fj4S6
India's MMR stood at 570 in 1990, which fell to 470 per 100,000 live births in 1995, 390 in 2000, 280 in 2005 and 230 in 2008.
India, which has seen an annual decrease of MMR by 4.9% since 1990, now records 63,000 maternal deaths a year.
For instance, the lifetime risk of maternal death (the probability that a 15-year-old female will die eventually from a maternal cause) is 1 in 140 -- inarguably a shamefully high figure.
According to the latest report, " Trends in Maternal Mortality", released jointly by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and World Bank, just days before Who's Who of the Planet meet at New York for the all-important Millennium Development Goals (MDG) meeting, the number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 34% from an estimated 5.46 lakhs in 1990 to 3.58 lakhs in 2008.
Even though the progress is notable, the annual rate of decline is less than half of what is needed to achieve the MDG target of reducing the MMR by 75% between 1990 and 2015.
This will require an annual decline of 5.5%. The 34% decline since 1990 translates to an average annual decline of 2.3% per year.
Shockingly, 1,000 women are still dying daily from pregnancy-related causes globally.
"Pregnant women still die from four major causes: severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, hypertensive disorders and unsafe abortion. Out of the 1,000, 570 lived in sub-Saharan Africa, 300 in South Asia and five in high-income countries. The risk of a woman in a developing country dying from a pregnancy-related cause during her lifetime is about 36 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country," the report said.
In Asia, the number of maternal deaths is estimated to have dropped from 3.15 lakhs to 1.39 lakhs, a 52% decrease.
Among developing regions, the adult lifetime risk of maternal death is highest in sub-Saharan Africa (1 in 31), followed by Oceania (1 in 110) and South Asia (1 in 120), while the developed regions had the smallest lifetime risk (1 in 4,300).
Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "maternal health is extremely important for all of us because life begins from here. I am aware that a large number of maternal deaths take place in India, which can be prevented. By preventing the three delays in seeking health care and by addressing the causes of maternal mortality like post-partum hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labour and unsafe abortions, a lot of avoidable maternal deaths can be prevented."
Read more: Despite 59% drop, India tops maternal mortality list - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Despite-59-drop-India-tops-maternal-mortality-list/articleshow/6561490.cms#ixzz0zi9Fj4S6
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Two NLM® Milestones: PubMed® Adds 20 Millionth Citation, PubMed Central® Logs 2 Millionth Article
PubMed, the National Library of Medicine® (NLM) free online database of the world's biomedical literature, recently attained a major milestone when the 20 millionth citation was added to the database. This occurred on July 27, 2010.
That same day, coincidentally, PubMed Central (PMC), the National Institutes of Health free digital archive for life sciences and biomedical literature, added its 2 millionth full-text article. PubMed Central was developed and is supported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Library of Medicine.
PubMed provides free access to MEDLINE®, the NLM database of citations and abstracts in the fields of medicine, nursing dentistry, veterinary medicine, health care systems and preclinical sciences.
PubMed was first released in January 1996 as an experimental database under the Entrez retrieval system, with full access to MEDLINE. The word "experimental" was dropped from the Web site in April 1997, and on June 26, 1997, a Capitol Hill press conference featuring Vice President Al Gore officially announced free MEDLINE access via PubMed.
In 1996, the last full year before the launch of PubMed, subscribers to the online version of MEDLINE conducted about 600,000 searches each month. When PubMed provided free access to MEDLINE, usage almost immediately tripled. Today, PubMed usage is approaching one billion searches annually.
PubMed Central debuted in February 2000, providing free access to two journals. Today, PMC contains more than 650 journals which deposit their complete content, as well as some historic journal collections from the 1800s.
That same day, coincidentally, PubMed Central (PMC), the National Institutes of Health free digital archive for life sciences and biomedical literature, added its 2 millionth full-text article. PubMed Central was developed and is supported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Library of Medicine.
PubMed provides free access to MEDLINE®, the NLM database of citations and abstracts in the fields of medicine, nursing dentistry, veterinary medicine, health care systems and preclinical sciences.
PubMed was first released in January 1996 as an experimental database under the Entrez retrieval system, with full access to MEDLINE. The word "experimental" was dropped from the Web site in April 1997, and on June 26, 1997, a Capitol Hill press conference featuring Vice President Al Gore officially announced free MEDLINE access via PubMed.
In 1996, the last full year before the launch of PubMed, subscribers to the online version of MEDLINE conducted about 600,000 searches each month. When PubMed provided free access to MEDLINE, usage almost immediately tripled. Today, PubMed usage is approaching one billion searches annually.
PubMed Central debuted in February 2000, providing free access to two journals. Today, PMC contains more than 650 journals which deposit their complete content, as well as some historic journal collections from the 1800s.
Monday, September 13, 2010
IITs can undertake medical research
NEW DELHI: With the IIT Council giving its consent to the institutes to start courses in medicine, IITs can now undertake inter-disciplinary research in the field of medicine, bio-engineering, biotechnology and related subjects. The approval comes even as health ministry has not favoured IITs starting medical courses, suggesting instead that they consider starting PhD programmes, involving collaboration between engineering and medical science.
The council's nod to hiring foreign faculty will also require policy-level changes. Though there are 4,267 vacancies of which only 2,983 have been filled, security clearance is required ahead of hiring of a foreign national at a salary that is on a par with his Indian counterpart. "We will set up a mechanism the with home ministry so that the process can be done without any hiccups," HRD minister Kapil Sibal said.
Interestingly, the ministry's proposal for Innovation Universities says foreign nationals will be hired as faculty for which the Citizenship Act needs to be amended.
Lack of consensus on reforms in the JEE — proposed by the Damodar Acharya committee — led the IIT Council to set up another panel, under T Ramasami, secretary, science and technology, that will submit its report in three months.
On JEE was no consensus on an alternate model for the present system. Though there was agreement that class XII results should be given weightage, the Damodar Acharya panel report, which has suggested normalization of class XII results, did not find enough support. Directors of seven IITs felt that the existing system of test should continue as an add-on examination along with the marks in class XII and aptitude test.
Read more: IITs can undertake medical research - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IITs-can-undertake-medical-research/articleshow/6534359.cms#ixzz0zOruiSwP
The council's nod to hiring foreign faculty will also require policy-level changes. Though there are 4,267 vacancies of which only 2,983 have been filled, security clearance is required ahead of hiring of a foreign national at a salary that is on a par with his Indian counterpart. "We will set up a mechanism the with home ministry so that the process can be done without any hiccups," HRD minister Kapil Sibal said.
Interestingly, the ministry's proposal for Innovation Universities says foreign nationals will be hired as faculty for which the Citizenship Act needs to be amended.
Lack of consensus on reforms in the JEE — proposed by the Damodar Acharya committee — led the IIT Council to set up another panel, under T Ramasami, secretary, science and technology, that will submit its report in three months.
On JEE was no consensus on an alternate model for the present system. Though there was agreement that class XII results should be given weightage, the Damodar Acharya panel report, which has suggested normalization of class XII results, did not find enough support. Directors of seven IITs felt that the existing system of test should continue as an add-on examination along with the marks in class XII and aptitude test.
Read more: IITs can undertake medical research - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IITs-can-undertake-medical-research/articleshow/6534359.cms#ixzz0zOruiSwP
Monday, September 6, 2010
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