The unprecedented speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading in countries that have high levels of testing, the number of people a single infected person can spread the virus to, and doubling time of less than three days are a loud warning that things can go out of control in a short while. India … Continue reading Even if mild, Omicron variant can overwhelming health-care settings
Hospital
Why hospitals are hotbeds for coronavirus transmission
At 31.9%, the intensive care unit specialised for taking care of COVID-19 patients was the most contaminated in the hospital. And nearly 14% of all commonly used hospital objects and medical equipment had the virus on them. Across the world, hospitals have become the hotspot for novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. And hundreds of healthcare workers … Continue reading Why hospitals are hotbeds for coronavirus transmission
IMA condemns attack on doctors, nurses during JNU violence
In a strongly-worded statement, the Indian Medical Association has condemned attack on doctors and nurses when they tried providing medical aid to people injured in violence at JNU. If doctors and nurses are not safe in the capital of the country, it speaks volumes about the governance and lack of it, IMA says. After doctors … Continue reading IMA condemns attack on doctors, nurses during JNU violence
When hospitals become a theatre for police brutality
The wanton abuse of power by Karnataka police inside a hospital in Mangaluru a few days later set an even more dangerous precedent. It goes against the grain of the Geneva Convention, which accords special protection to hospitals even during times of war. Arrogance of power and misuse of authority were on full display when Delhi … Continue reading When hospitals become a theatre for police brutality
India on the brink of dry eye disease epidemic
Incidence of dry eye disease in India is about 1.9 million. The prevalence of dry eye disease will be about 40% of the urban population by 2030. Men get it as early as in their 20s and 30s while women get it in their 50s and 60s. Dry eye disease caused due to inadequate tear … Continue reading India on the brink of dry eye disease epidemic
An earthquake and a lie changed my life forever: Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi
In a Facebook post, Dr. Pankaj Charurvedi, a cancer specialist at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, recalls how his determination to reach Latur soon after the devastating earthquake 25 years ago and the selfless work that he did there changed his life forever. He has been an anti-tobacco crusader fighting many battles to control the usage … Continue reading An earthquake and a lie changed my life forever: Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi
TB infection in the eye can lead to autoimmunity
Researchers from L V Prasad Eye Institute have for the first time found evidence of how TB infection of the eye leads to autoimmunity causing widespread disease of the eye (uveitis). TB infection damages the blood-retinal barrier allowing blood to reach the retina. Once inside the eye, autoimmune cells specifically target the retina where they … Continue reading TB infection in the eye can lead to autoimmunity
Hyderabad researchers grow miniature eyes using stem cells
Researchers at the Hyderabad-based L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) have successfully grown miniature eye-like organs that closely resemble the developing eyes of an early-stage embryo. The miniature eyes were produced using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The iPS cells are produced by genetically manipulating human skin cells to produce embryonic-like stem cells that are capable … Continue reading Hyderabad researchers grow miniature eyes using stem cells
Indian researchers’ novel approach to early diagnosis of retinal diseases
Early diagnosis of certain eye diseases and studying the early progression of the diseases has now become possible, thanks to the work carried out by a team of researchers from three institutes — IISER in Kolkata, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad and BARC in Visakhapatnam. The researchers used the retinal data captured by a … Continue reading Indian researchers’ novel approach to early diagnosis of retinal diseases
Outdoor air pollution killed 0.65 million Indians in 2010: study
Of the 3.3 million premature mortality worldwide in 2010 caused by outdoor air pollution, about 0.65 million deaths took place in India. These deaths were in adults older than 30 years and in children younger than five years. India has the second highest premature deaths caused by outdoor air pollution. With 1.35 million deaths annually, … Continue reading Outdoor air pollution killed 0.65 million Indians in 2010: study