Bhopal gas victims may not have got adequate compensation, but they will help scientists on toxicity research

2010

Syed Akbar

Hyderabad, June 26: Bhopal gas victims may not have got adequate compensation, but they will soon help groups of Indian scientists to understand the mechanisms of toxicity in humans and evolve biological markers for the killer gas methyl isocyanate.

The Indian Council of Medical Research will take up research work to find out whether there are any long term effects of MIC or methyl isocyanate gas on the Bhopal population either exposed to or affected in the gas tragedy in December 1984. The research will cover three successive generations of the victims.

Now that 26 years have passed since the gas tragedy, the ICMR wants to know if the MIC had really triggered any genetic disorders, growth and development disorders, congenital malformation including low birth weight in the subsequent generations.

The investigations will centre around recorded cases of congenital malformations and/or low birth weights, and delayed developmental disorders, including delayed milestones of the affected members of the family and their sibling.

Other developmental issues like retardation of genitalia and reproductive functions will also be assessed. The study gains significance in the backdrop of reports that initially high incidence of congenital malformations in the wake of the Bhopal disaster was found to be well within the national average.

"Soon after the tragedy health experts and researches were divided in their views. While one group felt that chromosomal alterations and damage in the victims was one-time toxic manifestation, others were of the view that it could be the fore-runner of chromosomal abnormalities. The ICMR work will clarify on this," said senior geneticist Dr MN Khaja.

Minorities Minister Mohammad Ahmadullah in trouble in Saudi Arabia

Syed Akbar

Hyderabad, Oct 21: Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Ahmadullah had to face embarrassment in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah after Saudi immigration authorities stopped him for questioning just before he was to board a flight to Hyderabad, along with his wife and two sons.

The minister went to Saudi Arabia last week on an "official" trip to oversee arrangements for the pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh in the ensuing Haj next month. Ahmadullah went on the Haj visa, which makes him mandatory to stay there till the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca is over. This year Haj falls in the last week of November. Early exit of Haj visa pilgrims is not allowed under Saudi laws.

But as the minister was returning to India without performing the Haj, the immigration authorities grew suspicious and questioned him. Ahmadullah then sought the help of the consul-general of India in Jeddah. The minister and his family was spared from an imminent detention on the assurance extended by the consul-general officials. Later, the Union Ministry of External Affairs contacted the Saudi Haj ministry to virtually bail out the minister. The Indian authorities told their Saudi counterparts that the minister had to attend to some unavoidable task back home in India to enable him to fly to Hyderabad.

Ahmadullah, who apparently wanted to perform Umrah with his family members opted for the Haj visa as the Saudi government had stopped issuing visas for Umrah. Performing Umrah on the Haj visa and returning home before completing the Haj pilgrimage is a violation of Saudi law. Moreover, since the minister has opted for the Haj visa, he got the benefit of Haj subsidy. Umrah pilgrims do not get subsidy.

Using his political clout the minister obtained the Haj visa for himself and his family, thus denying Haj for four other genuine applicants. The State has a fixed quota for Haj and the visas are issued based on the draw of lots. Of the 27,800 people who had applied for Haj, a little over 6,000 could make it for the Haj. The Minister Haj visa got wasted as he returned without performing the pilgrimage. In the process he denied four others of the rare religious opportunity.

Ahmadullah denied having faced any embarrassment and justified his visit to Saudi Arabia on the Haj visa. "No one has stopped me. Right now I am in airport and will reach Hyderabad tomorrow," he said denying reports of his detention as baseless.

The wonders of Triphala: Three-herb therapy for irritable bowel syndrome

2010
By Syed Akbar
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS for short is indeed a great health nuisance. IBS is characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, and often lack of control over one’s bowels. It causes lot of trouble particularly when one is travelling. It is medically yet not known what actually causes irritable bowel syndrome. But Ayurveda has a unique herbal formulation of three plants which greatly reduces the discomfort and the problems associated with IBS.
Triphala, heralded by Ayurveda experts as a great herbal formulation, is the best natural remedy for IBS. Triphala as the name suggests is a combination of three herbs or fruits. In Ayurvedic contest Triphala meansa combination of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula. Regular intake of Triphala either in powder form or in tablets or capsules readily available in market will solve the problem of IBS to a great extent. But as is the case with any herbal formulation, Triphala takes sufficiently long time to act on the digestive system to give the much-needed results. One has to continue the dosage for a reasonable time to get rid of IBS.
Besides IBS, Triphala has been found to a good blood purifier and as a laxative. It promotes good colon health, reduces weight, fights ulcers and prevents cancerous growths. Triphala controls gas formation in the digestive system and solves the problem of flatulence associated with IBS. Ayurvedic doctors prescribe Triphala for hypertension too.
=============
Quick Remedies
=============
Students who are dull in studies may try Triphala formulations to sharpen their memory. Regular intake of a teaspoon of Triphala powder acts on the brain stimulates the nervous system and increases one’s memory power.
Triphala tea is often prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors as a general body toner to improve one’s health. Triphala tea powder is available in the market. Follow the guidelines of the manufacturer while preparing the Triphala tea at home.
Those suffering from dental decay and cavities may try Triphala mouth wash. Take a little quantity of Triphala powder, mix it with warm water and gargle it as a mouth wash.
Ayurveda practitioners prescribe Triphala powder (teaspoon) or tablets twice daily for IBS patients. It has to be taken after the meal.

World anaesthesia day – October 16: Wrong dosage of anaesthesia may prove fatal

2010
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Little did the family of Raghavendra Rao, 44 realise that he would not return home when he was admitted to NIMS for a minor ankle problem. Raghavendra Rao slipped into coma and finally death after he was administered anaesthesia for a simple surgical procedure. Though Raghavendra Rao is an extremely rare case study for doctors, the incident has nevertheless raised several issues including the expertise of our anaesthetists and how well trained they are to handle critical cases.
As the world remembers Boston dentist William Thomas Green Morton, who on October 16, 1846 assisted surgeon John Collins Warren in removing a tumour from the neck of a patient in what has become the first known case of surgery without pain (an, without; aesthesia, sensation), city doctors emphasise the importance of quality training for anaesthetists and updation of knowledge and skills at regular intervals. In memory of Morton’s assistance in painless surgery, October 16 is observed as World Anaesthesia Day.
Not many patients or their attendants know that an anaesthetist is one of the most important persons in any surgical team. Often the role of an anaesthetist becomes more important than that of a surgeon. It is no wonder then that after Raghavendra Rao’s sad episode, many patients are insisting on well-qualified and well-trained anaesthetists to be part of their surgical team. After all, it’s a matter of life and death for the 
patient.
“An anaesthetist has a crucial role to play both at the time of surgery and during recovery post surgery,” points out Dr N Somasekhar Reddy, senior orthopaedics surgeon. “The role of an anaesthetist doesn't end with surgery but is crucial for controlling pain after surgery”.
Dr Somasekhar however argues that with modern equipment and anaesthetic drugs, especially the regional anaesthetic techniques, have cut down complications associated with anaesthesia.
The State, for that matter the country, has an acute shortage of well-trained and well-qualified anaesthetists. The shortage is such acute that an anaesthetist has to often run across hospitals to administer anaesthesia to surgical patients. This leaves a little time for the anaesthetist to tend more time to any of his patients. Lack of proper monitoring of patients post surgery often leads to severe complications associated with 
anaesthesia.
As Dr Ratnam Naidu, consultant anaesthetist of Apollo Hospitals, says an anaesthetist has a “significant role in defining the patient care” in terms of pre-operative assessment peri-operative and post-operative management.
The role of an anaesthetist is not restricted to operating rooms any more. “His services are important in emergency rooms to cath labs. Anaesthetists play significant role in pain management in cancer wards and in Obstetrics wards too,” he clarifies.
But what becomes important for an anaesthetist is “better understanding of patho-physiology of disease process, fluid and blood transfusion therapy”, as Dr Ratnam says. He, however, does not want to attribute anaesthesia complications to doctors. “Unsuccessful outcomes do occur, not due to negligence, but due to expected risk of anaesthesia and surgery and the fact that humans practice medicine, not computers”.
On the other hand, Dr Aftab Ahmed, specialist in internal medicine, argues that “anaesthesia, given appropriately after proper assessment of patient, in a right dose is the most effective method in conducting painful procedures including surgery.”
However, if given without considering the patient’s over all medical condition, anaesthesia can sometimes cause life threatening complications affecting heart, lungs and brain. “It’s a double edged sword, to be used very cautiously by an anaesthetist,” cautions Dr Aftab.

--------------------------------
Anaesthesia complications
--------------------------------
Serious complications associated with anaesthesia are generally rare, though often they may lead to even death. Doctors classify complications as normal, rare and extremely rare. It is the extremely rare complications that create major trouble to patients as well as doctors attending them.
Here are some of the broad complications associated with anaesthesia:
1. Nausea and dizziness
2. Back ache
3. Short term loss of memory
4. Respiratory problems
5. Damage to nervous system
6. Muscle pain and blurred vision


------------------------
Types of anaesthesia
------------------------

Anaesthesia is generally of three types. A qualified anaesthetist decides which type of  anaesthesia should be administered to the patient concerned. A lot of thought and consultation with physician and surgeon goes before the anaesthesia is administered. The physician certifies whether a patient is fit for surgery. He also writes a note of caution if the patient has existing health complications like heart and kidney problems. 
The age of the patient is also important.
1. General anaesthesia: In general anaesthesia the patient becomes unconscious and needs external breathing support. It is used in major surgeries.
2. Regional anaesthesia: A large part of the body is made senseless in regional anaesthesia.
3. Local anaesthesia: Only a smaller area is covered under local anaesthesia. Broadly speaking, local and regional anaesthesia do not cause any major complications.

India ranks 10th in terms of scientific research

Syed Akbar

Hyderabad, Oct 18: India ranks 10th in the world in terms of scientific research but it has to work harder to achieve its past glory of 1970s when it stood eight, according to a report of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS).

The TWAS, which is holding its 21st general meeting in the city for three days from Tuesday, pointed out that nevertheless, "India by any measure, is on a roll". Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the general meeting which will be attended by around 350 scientists and researchers from 50 developing countries.

According to TWAS editor Daniel Schaffer, "what’s true for India's economy is also true for science. The government spending on research and development has grown by 15 per cent or more each year over the past several years. While India has recently approached the one per cent threshold of expenditures in R&D as proportion of GDP, it still lags far behind other

countries." In India the percentage inched forward from 2.5 per cent to 2.6 per cent.

"Today, India ranks 10th in the world in internationally peer-reviewed scientific publications. That’s up from 12th in 2003. While India’s publication output has accelerated over the past several years, it

still falls short of its ranking in the 1970s, when it was eighth," TWAS said in its report ahead of the city's general meeting.

According to the report, the disparity in patents between China and India is even more glaring. In 2006, China received 2,452 patents while India received just 648.  The report, however, added that the good news is that the number of patents has increased with the rise of high-technology companies focusing on R&D.

On the environment front, India is not a polluting nation. India, which has some 18 per cent of the world’s population, produces just 4.5 per cent of the

world’s greenhouse gases. Approximately, six per cent of India’s energy is produced by renewables, largely traditional biomass.

Stating that India has some five million people working in S&T, TWAS report said yet, its ratio of S&T workers to the overall workforce is

about 120 per one million workers. In China, it’s 715. In South Korea,

3,700. And in the US, 4,600.

 "When observers look at where India has been and where it is heading, they see a rapidly emerging economic and scientific powerhouse that is successfully drawing on its expanding capabilities to build a vibrant

society characterised by prosperity and confidence.  India has a complex web

of S&T organisations that are moving ahead at a breakneck speed," Daniel said.

The opening ceremony will include the announcement of the 2010 winner of the Ernesto llly Trieste Science Prize and the official presentation of TWAS prizes, medals and certificates to the 2010 winners. Dr CR Rao, world renowned statistician and professor emeritus at Pennyslvania Sate University, will be given the India Science Prize.

Parkinson's disease - Part one: Take coffee to put off parkinson's

By Syed Akbar
With Parkinson's disease increasingly posing a major challenge to researchers and health planners world wide, the World Parkinson Congress comes out with good news. Take coffee regularly and avoid
or delay Parkinson's disease. Caffeine present in coffee plays a crucial role in people, who are genetically or otherwise susceptible to Parkinson's.
One can now find out whether one's genetic make-up helps in preventing the onset of Parkinson's when he or she becomes old. If their genetic set up carries a particular version of gene called GRIN2A,
they can benefit the most from sipping coffee.
Scientists at the World Parkinson Congress, which concluded early this week in  Scotland, reported that the genetic makeup of a person with Parkinson’s may determine how well he or she will respond to drugs
such as caffeine. This is one of the first genome wide association studies that looked at genetic and environmental interactions.
The investigators scanned the complete genetic code or genome of 4000 people, about half of whom had Parkinson’s disease, for nearly a million markers. They then collected data on the amount of caffeinated
coffee the subjects drank over their lifetimes.
Studies have shown that caffeine may decrease a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s. Preliminary findings from this new study suggest that subjects who carry a version of the gene GRIN2A benefited the most from coffee.
According to Dr Haydeh Payami, an investigator at New York State Department of Health, the new findings may help researchers identify patients, who are likely to respond to drugs that target the same
physiological pathways as caffeine. Such drugs are currently being investigated as new treatments for Parkinson’s.
Concurring with the research finding, Dr Margaret Sutherland of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, USA, said "the next challenge will be to validate that the coffee and GRIN2A
association can be replicated in a larger group of patients."
Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development at Parkinson’s UK, is hopeful that new drugs, without caffeine’s stimulant and diuretic effects, will prove helpful to patients.
"The new results suggest the possibility of screening patients for their genetic makeup to determine if they are likely to benefit from drugs that target the brain cells affected by caffeine. Such screening could be
done at the outset of clinical trials, and could also become part of routine practice," said Dr Haydeh Payami.
Parkinson’s disease attacks parts of the brain that are needed to control movement. Common symptoms include involuntary shaking, slow movement, stiff muscles and impaired balance, all which worsen as the
disease progresses.  A drug called L-dopa can control symptoms, but causes troubling side effects and does not slow progression of the disease, the researchers said.