Monthly Archives: May 2015

UP ‘miracle baby’ born at 750gm, fits into palm

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

Aligarh :

Doctors at a local medical facility in Aligarh are in disbelief as they attend to a baby who just 750 gm, and almost fits in the palm. Born pre-mature at seven months to Pinki, 20, from Chandaus village, the baby is said to be stable, but still under high-risk.

According to doctors, the normal birth weight of the baby should be around 2.6 kg and the condition is ‘extreme high-risk’ when the weight at birth is less than 1000 gm.

Gynecologist Anjula Bhargava, who delivered the baby said, “The mother had various complications when she came to us. So, we had to go ahead and deliver baby. At seven months, the baby should be at least 1.5 kg. This is a tiny baby with partly developed respiratory system, among other difficulties. He needs to be immediately shifted to a bigger facility to survive,” she says.

But the father of the baby, who’s a BSF jawan, is unable to afford the cost of the treatment outside Aligarh. Immediately after the birth, on May 21, when the family went looking a facility in town, they were simply turned down by because of the risk involved.

They finally managed to admit the baby at Aligarh’s Makhan Lal Hospital & Child Care Centre, where he’s presently undergoing treatment.

Child specialist at the Centre, Dr Sunil Gupta, said, “We took him only after making it clear that there is no guarantee of his survival, though we will give our best. In this case, the mortality rate is high. They told us how they spent hours looking for the right medical facility. All I can say is the child is lucky to survive with no medical care for hours after the birth. A normal child should weigh 2.5 kgs at the birth and lesser than 1.6 kg is low birth weight, and lesser than 1,000 gm is extreme low birth weight.”

At the centre, he is being continuously being supplied with oxygen to strengthen respiratory system. The treatment is also on to keep away Septicemia (blood infection), and to make sure that he tolerates feed, said Dr Gupta.

Uncle of the baby, Om Prakash, who is a farmer, said they were heartbroken when they first saw the baby. “We did not know where to go for help. We just wrapped him in a cloth and rushed from one medical centre to another in the scorching heat. When three centres turned us down, we lost hope. Now the doctors tells me his condition is improving,” he says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Eram Agha, TNN / May 25th, 2015

Lucknow scientists find molecule that fights lifestyle diseases

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A wonder molecule, isolated from a Himalayan tree, may hold the key to a new and efficient drug against diabetes and obesity.

The adiponectin hormone was discovered more than 15 years ago. But despite a large number of laboratory studies demonstrating its potential as a drug candidate, the molecule could not be exploited because of the logistical problems in creating the drug in laboratories.

Indian researchers have now come up with a solution to the problem. They have isolated a molecule from the Himalayan Elm tree that mimics adiponectin. The molecule is orally active, which means it can be developed as an orally consumable medicine.

The drug candidate was isolated from the stem-bark of Kashmir Elm, a tree found in mountains from Afghanistan to Nepal, including Kumaon and Garhwal in India. The tree grows at elevations of 800-3,000 m.

“Initial studies suggest that our molecule (called GTDF based on its long and complicated chemical name) is non-toxic. But we would prefer to do preclinical trial jointly with a company in large animals,” team leader Sabyasachi Sanyal from the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, told Deccan Herald.

Laboratory studies so far have demonstrated the molecule’s ability to tackle lifestyle diseases like diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity. However, it is early days as the drug development process can take anything between 15 and 20 years from the initial leads.

“It is an interesting piece of work that shows GTDF is an orally active adiponectin-receptor activator. The studies will prove a panacea in treating obesity as well as diabetes,” said Avadesha Surolia, an Indian Institute of Science professor not associated with the study.

The CDRI findings have been accepted for publication in American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes.

The Lucknow team stumbled upon the new properties of GTDF while researching on it as a bone-fracture-healing agent.

The same CDRI team in 2012 had reported on the new-bone-forming properties of GTDF, because of which it is being developed as an oral medicine for bone fracture. The technology was transferred to a US company, Kemextree, for drug development.

“While trying to decipher how it conducts its bone-forming activity, we identified it as an orally active small molecule that mimics the action of the hormone adiponectin,” said Sanyal.

The CDRI scientists further studied the compound’s medicinal properties in collaboration with the Zydus Research Centre, Ahmedabad, and the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / by Kalyan Ray, New Delhi / DHNS – June 11th, 2014

Ganj carnival to be monthly feature

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Lucknow :

In view of the success of Ganj Carnival that was organized in the city this Sunday, the administration has decided to make it a regular event to be held once a month in the summer months and fortnightly in the rainy and winter seasons.

After a meeting here on Tuesday, district magistrate Raj Shekhar said, “Considering present weather conditions, available resources and effort needed to keep the tradition of ‘Ganjing’ alive, district administration has decided to organise the carnival once a month.” Food court, art gallery, Handicraft, talent hunt, completions , photo exhibition, fun zone will be standard features but theme will be different each time.

In summers, the carnival will take place on the second Sunday of month and will be held on alternate Sundays rest of the year. Carnival will not take place during the Lucknow Mahotsava. Accordingly, timing for no traffic zone in Hazratganj was also decided—6pm to 11 pm in summer and rainy seasons and 5pm to 10pm in winters.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / May 27th, 2015

Tourism dept weaves ‘Banarasi life’ into heritage walk

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel

Lucknow :

Varanasi is set to join the ‘experience tourism club’ with state tourism department deciding to start a heritage walk in the temple town, soon. ‘Circle of life’ walk, promises to be an experience of the Banarasi way of life and will have 16 major attractions in the stretch between Assi Ghat and Dal Mandi.

A meeting of tourism officials with representatives from International Center for Sustainable Cities took place here on Thursday to finalise the route map and work out logistics. Consultant on the job and heritage walk specialist Sameeha Sheth said experience is the work in the tourism sector these days and Varanasi is full of elements to provide a bagful of memories.

“The heritage walk would link all unique tangible and intangible assets of Varanasi, its historic core and significant establishment along the river Ganga. Covering approximately 4 km, the heritage walk would also allow visitors to experience, rituals and expressions performed at different ghats, temples, maths and other significant cultural escapades,” she said.

Talking to TOI, UP Tourism director general Amrit Abhijat said, “More than 160 lakh tourists including 6.5 lakh foreigners head to the city annually. Each comes with his own idea of the world’s oldest city but many fail to get the real feel of the city and go back dissatisfied. Heritage trails are a good way to showcase the best in a place and prepare individuals for a person to person publicity.”

He added that infrastructure on and along the spots on the route and would be augmented. For this the department is collaborating with the local municipal corporation and administration. List of work to be undertaken includes raising signage, putting up waste bins, installing lights, creating public toilets and parking spaces, setting up ticket information kiosks and providing drinking water facilities. Landscaping and creation of photo-points will also be taken care of.

CIRCLE OF LIFE

– State tourism department plans heritage walk in Varanasi, UP’s favourite tourist destination after Agra

– Name proposed for the walk is ‘Circle of life’ promising a visitor experience of Banarasi way of life through its craft, culture and cuisine.

– Consultants said at least three private heritage trails were operating already

– Private tours not giving complete view of Varanasi. Also, very expensive

– Training of guides and volunteers to begin mid-May and walk to commence from July

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda, TNN / May 01st, 2015