Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: The quality of drinking water supplied by the
Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board differs from
area to area in twin cities with the posh localities getting water
almost without any bacterial contamination.
A study conducted by the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental
Studies, Osmania University, revealed that bacterial contamination was
maximum in areas with low socio-economic conditions (SEC), followed by
intermediate SEC and high SEC localities. As many as 52 per cent of
water samples from low SEC areas had dangerous coliform bacteria as
against 40 per cent in intermediate SEC and 10 per cent in high SEC
areas.
The OU team comprising Syed Azeem Unnisa and Bhupatthi Rao collected
about 50 water samples from high SEC areas like Banjara Hills, Jubliee
Hills, Raj Bhavan, Hitech City, Begumpet, and DRDL, intermediate SEC
areas like Dilsukhnagar, Pathergatti, Abids, Secunderabad, and
Kukatpally and low SEC areas like Bholakpur, Talab Katta, Chatrinaka,
Makhta Krishna Nagar, and Yousufguda. Of the 50 samples, 20 samples
(40 per cent) tested positive for bacterial contamination.
The findings were published in the prestigious international peer
review journal, the
Journal of Chemical, Biological and Physical Sciences. “The difference
was found to be statistically significant between areas with high and
low SEC while it was non-significant between areas with low and
intermediate SEC. Bacterial contamination is significant problem in
Hyderabad. These findings indicate that over last couple of years
there appears to be deterioration in the water supply system in
Hyderabad. It is also observed that there is progressive increase in
the frequency of contaminated water samples from areas with High SEC
to Low SEC,” they pointed out.
HMWS&SB general manager (quality assurance and testing) KS Narsappa said
though water is supplied to posh localities and slums from the same storage
reservoirs, the post source contamination is more in slums as water
and drainage lines
are laid side by side and also crisscross in several areas.
“The roads in upmarket areas are 40 to 60 feet wide and water line and
drainage lines are laid separately on either side of the road. The
water and drainage infrastructure is planned in colonies. However, in
slums, all lines of water, drainage and storm are laid side by side in
three-foot narrow lanes. Then this infrastructure is laid after total
haphazard development of slums,” he said.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Clinical trials to get humane:Volunteers to be insured, to get monetary compensation
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Volunteers participating in clinical trials will now
be covered by insurance and they will get compensation in case the
investigation process goes wrong.
Six years after formulating ethical guidelines on clinical trials on
humans, the Indian Council of Medical Research has now proposed to
make payment of compensation mandatory to volunteers if they suffer
harm from the trials. The quantum of compensation is yet to be worked
out. Every volunteer will be insured for adequate medical and
financial compensation.
The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) and Forum for Ethics
Committees in India (FERCI) have prepared draft guidelines on
compensation for research related injury. The ICMR has called for
public comments before December 31, and based on them, the final
guidelines and quantum of compensation will be fixed.
The debate on the need for compensation for volunteers renewed after a
number of pharma companies violated the ethical guidelines and used
illiterate people as guinea pigs Andhra Pradesh leads the country in
the number of clinical trials thanks to the location of a large number
of pharma companies and research institutions. “Participation in
clinical research carries inherent risks, which could lead to direct
or indirect physical, psychological, social or economic harms. These
risks are sometimes
foreseeable, sometimes unpredictable,” points out the document on
draft guidelines.
The new guidelines will apply to all clinical research, whether
sponsored by pharmaceutical or medical device industry, government,
academia, or individual investigators. Compensation will be provided
to the research participants when temporary or permanent injury occurs
due to participation in the clinical research. There will also be
compensation in case of injury to a child in-utero (unborn) through
the participation of the parent in clinical research.
The Informed Consent Document (ICD), which volunteers sign before
joining clinical trials, should clearly state that the research
participant has a right to claim compensation in case of research
related injuries and whom to contact in the Institutional Ethics
Committee for their rights as research participants.
According to the new guidelines, the sponsor of the clinical research
must purchase a ‘clinical trials liability insurance policy’. If there
is no provision for such a policy in Indian insurance firms, the
policy should be purchased from a foreign insurer with legal validity
in India.
Hyderabad: Volunteers participating in clinical trials will now
be covered by insurance and they will get compensation in case the
investigation process goes wrong.
Six years after formulating ethical guidelines on clinical trials on
humans, the Indian Council of Medical Research has now proposed to
make payment of compensation mandatory to volunteers if they suffer
harm from the trials. The quantum of compensation is yet to be worked
out. Every volunteer will be insured for adequate medical and
financial compensation.
The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) and Forum for Ethics
Committees in India (FERCI) have prepared draft guidelines on
compensation for research related injury. The ICMR has called for
public comments before December 31, and based on them, the final
guidelines and quantum of compensation will be fixed.
The debate on the need for compensation for volunteers renewed after a
number of pharma companies violated the ethical guidelines and used
illiterate people as guinea pigs Andhra Pradesh leads the country in
the number of clinical trials thanks to the location of a large number
of pharma companies and research institutions. “Participation in
clinical research carries inherent risks, which could lead to direct
or indirect physical, psychological, social or economic harms. These
risks are sometimes
foreseeable, sometimes unpredictable,” points out the document on
draft guidelines.
The new guidelines will apply to all clinical research, whether
sponsored by pharmaceutical or medical device industry, government,
academia, or individual investigators. Compensation will be provided
to the research participants when temporary or permanent injury occurs
due to participation in the clinical research. There will also be
compensation in case of injury to a child in-utero (unborn) through
the participation of the parent in clinical research.
The Informed Consent Document (ICD), which volunteers sign before
joining clinical trials, should clearly state that the research
participant has a right to claim compensation in case of research
related injuries and whom to contact in the Institutional Ethics
Committee for their rights as research participants.
According to the new guidelines, the sponsor of the clinical research
must purchase a ‘clinical trials liability insurance policy’. If there
is no provision for such a policy in Indian insurance firms, the
policy should be purchased from a foreign insurer with legal validity
in India.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Probiotic curd lowers cholesterol levels
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: If you are obese and have high cholesterol level, just include 200 grams of
probiotic curd in your daily diet. And within a fortnight, your cholesterol level will
start showing a decline. Probiotic curd is the best natural source of nutrition with
anti-cholesterol properties as compared with artificially prepared diets and medicines.
Researchers at the city-based National Institute of Nutrition have found that eating
probiotic curd daily will greatly help those suffering from obesity and consequent high
cholesterols in their blood. All that one has to do is to add a probiotic bacterium
called Lactobacillus acidiphillus in the regular curd to obtain this magical health
benefit. Alternatively, one can purchase probiotic curd containing this bacterium.
According to NIN scientists, obesity is a significant worldwide problem and about 50
million overweight subjects live in India. The morbid obesity has reached epidemic
proportions in the country affecting five per cent of the population. Overweight
individuals have increased risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, diabetes and lipid profile abnormalities.
The NIN team selected 30 obese people based on their body mass index (BMI). They were
divided into two groups – one getting probiotic curd in their daily diet, the other
eating the regular food. Blood samples were collected on the first day of the study and
on the 15th day for analysis of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides and high-density
lipoprotein (HDL).
“HDL is good cholesterol and it should be present in good quantity. Total cholesterol and
triglycerides should be present within the limits. The lipid profile of an individual
shows whether he or she is susceptible to major health issues like heart diseases,
diabetes and stroke,” says senior scientist Dr MN Khaja.
The results are startling and high significant from the point of view of health. Those
who took probiotic curd daily showed lower cholesterol levels. Their total cholesterol
came down from 144 to 136.94. Those who consumed regular diet showed higher TC with the
total cholesterol levels shooting up by 28. The TG levels also came down in obese people
on probiotic curb supplementation from 157 to 120. Those who had regular diet showed an
increase by 11.
“The high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol levels tremendously and significantly
increased from 34 to 38 after 15 days supplementation. There was a significant change in
the lipid profile parameters in the obese subjects after supplementation with probiotic
dahi,” the NIN study concluded.
Hyderabad: If you are obese and have high cholesterol level, just include 200 grams of
probiotic curd in your daily diet. And within a fortnight, your cholesterol level will
start showing a decline. Probiotic curd is the best natural source of nutrition with
anti-cholesterol properties as compared with artificially prepared diets and medicines.
Researchers at the city-based National Institute of Nutrition have found that eating
probiotic curd daily will greatly help those suffering from obesity and consequent high
cholesterols in their blood. All that one has to do is to add a probiotic bacterium
called Lactobacillus acidiphillus in the regular curd to obtain this magical health
benefit. Alternatively, one can purchase probiotic curd containing this bacterium.
According to NIN scientists, obesity is a significant worldwide problem and about 50
million overweight subjects live in India. The morbid obesity has reached epidemic
proportions in the country affecting five per cent of the population. Overweight
individuals have increased risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, diabetes and lipid profile abnormalities.
The NIN team selected 30 obese people based on their body mass index (BMI). They were
divided into two groups – one getting probiotic curd in their daily diet, the other
eating the regular food. Blood samples were collected on the first day of the study and
on the 15th day for analysis of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides and high-density
lipoprotein (HDL).
“HDL is good cholesterol and it should be present in good quantity. Total cholesterol and
triglycerides should be present within the limits. The lipid profile of an individual
shows whether he or she is susceptible to major health issues like heart diseases,
diabetes and stroke,” says senior scientist Dr MN Khaja.
The results are startling and high significant from the point of view of health. Those
who took probiotic curd daily showed lower cholesterol levels. Their total cholesterol
came down from 144 to 136.94. Those who consumed regular diet showed higher TC with the
total cholesterol levels shooting up by 28. The TG levels also came down in obese people
on probiotic curb supplementation from 157 to 120. Those who had regular diet showed an
increase by 11.
“The high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol levels tremendously and significantly
increased from 34 to 38 after 15 days supplementation. There was a significant change in
the lipid profile parameters in the obese subjects after supplementation with probiotic
dahi,” the NIN study concluded.
And now the hypersonic version of BrahMos, the most powerful cruise missile ever
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Nov 28: The new version of the BrahMos missile, now under
development in the city, can deal a lethal blow to targets as far away
as 290 km in flat two minutes.
The hypersonic version of the BrahMos achieved a maximum speed of Mach
6.5 or six and a half times the speed of sound in air during
laboratory experiments here. Before it is ready for field trials in
2016, DRDO teams involved in the BrahMos Aerospace Project want to
increase the speech by Mach 0.5 to Mach 7 or 8365 km per hour. Since
this cruise missile has a flight range of about 290 km, it can hit the
target in flat two minutes.
A Mach is the speed of sound in air and is calculated at 1195 km or
717 miles per hour.
BrahMos missile has two versions – supersonic and hypersonic (BrahMos
II). The hypersonic version with speeds greater than Mach 5 is under
development in the city. Even at Mach 2.8, the maximum speed BrahMos
supersonic missile achieved during its test flight on August 12 this
year makes it the fastest cruise missile in the world. At Mach 7, the
hypersonic version will be way ahead of all cruise missiles developed
so far by any country.
"We have completed tests up to Mach 6.5," BrahMos Aerospace Private
Limited Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Dr A Sivathanu
Pillai said in Chennai. The target is to achieve Mach 7, he added.
BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The
air and submarine versions are under development.
However, for BrahMos to achieve hypersonic speeds in real field trials
scientists need to make certain changes to its components. A new
engine need to be designed, which could withstand such high speeds and
high temperature. Moreover, there will be a lot of vibration and the
components need to withstand it.
India wants to integrate BrahMos with Sukoi-30MK-I for the air launch.
Once the integration part with changes in the aircraft is over,
BrahMos will be ready for launch from the air. According to defence
officials here, trial flights are likely to be conducted in the new
year.
BrahMos is being manufactured in Pilani and Thiruvananthapuram,
besides Hyderabad.
Hyderabad, Nov 28: The new version of the BrahMos missile, now under
development in the city, can deal a lethal blow to targets as far away
as 290 km in flat two minutes.
The hypersonic version of the BrahMos achieved a maximum speed of Mach
6.5 or six and a half times the speed of sound in air during
laboratory experiments here. Before it is ready for field trials in
2016, DRDO teams involved in the BrahMos Aerospace Project want to
increase the speech by Mach 0.5 to Mach 7 or 8365 km per hour. Since
this cruise missile has a flight range of about 290 km, it can hit the
target in flat two minutes.
A Mach is the speed of sound in air and is calculated at 1195 km or
717 miles per hour.
BrahMos missile has two versions – supersonic and hypersonic (BrahMos
II). The hypersonic version with speeds greater than Mach 5 is under
development in the city. Even at Mach 2.8, the maximum speed BrahMos
supersonic missile achieved during its test flight on August 12 this
year makes it the fastest cruise missile in the world. At Mach 7, the
hypersonic version will be way ahead of all cruise missiles developed
so far by any country.
"We have completed tests up to Mach 6.5," BrahMos Aerospace Private
Limited Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Dr A Sivathanu
Pillai said in Chennai. The target is to achieve Mach 7, he added.
BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The
air and submarine versions are under development.
However, for BrahMos to achieve hypersonic speeds in real field trials
scientists need to make certain changes to its components. A new
engine need to be designed, which could withstand such high speeds and
high temperature. Moreover, there will be a lot of vibration and the
components need to withstand it.
India wants to integrate BrahMos with Sukoi-30MK-I for the air launch.
Once the integration part with changes in the aircraft is over,
BrahMos will be ready for launch from the air. According to defence
officials here, trial flights are likely to be conducted in the new
year.
BrahMos is being manufactured in Pilani and Thiruvananthapuram,
besides Hyderabad.
Ripe and spoiled sapota to yield ethanol, the clean automobile fuel, say ANGRAU scientists
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: And now sapota will fuel your vehicle. Ripe sapota
is capable of yielding high-grade ethanol, which is projected as the
future automobile fuel.
Researchers at the department of agricultural microbiology and
bioenergy in Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University have
successfully obtained high quality ethanol from ripe and spoiled
sapota using special types of yeasts for fermentation. They maintained
a particular temperature and pH value to obtain ethanol from over
ripened and spoiled sapota.
Production of ethanol, which is increasingly used as an alternative or
additive to automobile fuel, from sapota will not only help in saving
foreign exchange to the country but will also help in utilization of
spoiled fruits that otherwise go into the garbage bin. As much as 40
per cent of 14 lakh tones of sapota produced in the country every year
are lost after the harvest. In monetary terms the loss is estimated to
be Rs 6750 crore. This can now be utilised in production of ethanol.
The researchers pointed out that sapota is highly perishable in nature
and requires a quick disposal. In glut period, a large quantity of the
fruit is wasted. “Sapota is good source of sugars, which range from 12
to 18 per cent. Because of its high sugar content the over ripened or
spoiled sapota can be used in a profitable manner. One of the
approaches is fermentative production of alcohol from over ripened
sapota fruits,” they said.
In view of fast depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution
due to gaseous emissions, alternative fuels such as bioethanol and
biodiesel are increasingly becoming popular. Biofuel such as alcohol
or ethanol can be obtained by microbial fermentation of plant biomass
to generate the green fuel.
Among all the sustainable alternative fuels, ethanol is an important
fuel source, which is renewable and reduces the green house effect,
global warming and climate change. The humble sapota is going to play
a key role in future thanks to the pioneering research by city
agricultural scientists.
Hyderabad: And now sapota will fuel your vehicle. Ripe sapota
is capable of yielding high-grade ethanol, which is projected as the
future automobile fuel.
Researchers at the department of agricultural microbiology and
bioenergy in Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University have
successfully obtained high quality ethanol from ripe and spoiled
sapota using special types of yeasts for fermentation. They maintained
a particular temperature and pH value to obtain ethanol from over
ripened and spoiled sapota.
Production of ethanol, which is increasingly used as an alternative or
additive to automobile fuel, from sapota will not only help in saving
foreign exchange to the country but will also help in utilization of
spoiled fruits that otherwise go into the garbage bin. As much as 40
per cent of 14 lakh tones of sapota produced in the country every year
are lost after the harvest. In monetary terms the loss is estimated to
be Rs 6750 crore. This can now be utilised in production of ethanol.
The researchers pointed out that sapota is highly perishable in nature
and requires a quick disposal. In glut period, a large quantity of the
fruit is wasted. “Sapota is good source of sugars, which range from 12
to 18 per cent. Because of its high sugar content the over ripened or
spoiled sapota can be used in a profitable manner. One of the
approaches is fermentative production of alcohol from over ripened
sapota fruits,” they said.
In view of fast depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution
due to gaseous emissions, alternative fuels such as bioethanol and
biodiesel are increasingly becoming popular. Biofuel such as alcohol
or ethanol can be obtained by microbial fermentation of plant biomass
to generate the green fuel.
Among all the sustainable alternative fuels, ethanol is an important
fuel source, which is renewable and reduces the green house effect,
global warming and climate change. The humble sapota is going to play
a key role in future thanks to the pioneering research by city
agricultural scientists.
Hyderabad doctor finds better, cheaper alternative to artificial secretin injection for diagnosis of pancreatitis
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: A city team has found a cheap and safe alternative
to the costly hormone, secretin, used in endoscopic ultrasound for
diagnosis of complicated pancreatic diseases including cancer.
All that a patient has to do now is to drink a glass of orange-lemon
juice that costs less than Rs 30 before the endoscopic ultrasound
procedure. He need not take the injection of secretin, imported at a
cost of about Rs 15,000. Secretin is injected before endoscopic
ultrasound for complicated pancreatic problems for better
visualisation of the ducts in the organ. Secretin helps in the
dilation of the ducts and thus a doctor will be able to see the
pancreas better and effectively diagnose the disease.
The city team led by Dr Abdul Khaliq, gastroenterologist at Care
Hospital, found that 200 ml of orange-lemon juice taken before the
procedure works similar to artificial secretin and provides a clear
view of the pancreas and its ducts. Since orange-lemon juice is
natural, it does not cause any side effects. Secretin injection is
known to create problems in some patients.
Dr Abdul Khaliq won an award for this pioneering work from the Indian
Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. “So far, the procedure
involving secretin injection has been limited to the rich. Now that a
glass of orange-lemon juice works similar to secretin, even lower
middle class patients can avail of the diagnostic facility,” he
pointed out.
Endoscopic ultrasound is used to visualise organs with details when
compared to other tests like CT scan or MRI. “Pancreas has ductal
system, which collect the pancreatic juice and drain into small
intestine and this pancreatic juice helps in the process of digestion.
One of the important stimulants for the pancreatic juice secretion is
hormone secretin,” Dr Khaliq said.
Secretin is produced physiologically by the intestinal cells when
these cells are exposed to acid. It is also commercially available for
diagnostic purposes and injected into the body. Since orange-lemon
juice contains citric acid, it stimulates the intestine to produce
secretin naturally. Moreover, this natural secretin helps in better
visualisation of the problem, thus replacing the need for injecting
artificial secretin.
Hyderabad: A city team has found a cheap and safe alternative
to the costly hormone, secretin, used in endoscopic ultrasound for
diagnosis of complicated pancreatic diseases including cancer.
All that a patient has to do now is to drink a glass of orange-lemon
juice that costs less than Rs 30 before the endoscopic ultrasound
procedure. He need not take the injection of secretin, imported at a
cost of about Rs 15,000. Secretin is injected before endoscopic
ultrasound for complicated pancreatic problems for better
visualisation of the ducts in the organ. Secretin helps in the
dilation of the ducts and thus a doctor will be able to see the
pancreas better and effectively diagnose the disease.
The city team led by Dr Abdul Khaliq, gastroenterologist at Care
Hospital, found that 200 ml of orange-lemon juice taken before the
procedure works similar to artificial secretin and provides a clear
view of the pancreas and its ducts. Since orange-lemon juice is
natural, it does not cause any side effects. Secretin injection is
known to create problems in some patients.
Dr Abdul Khaliq won an award for this pioneering work from the Indian
Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. “So far, the procedure
involving secretin injection has been limited to the rich. Now that a
glass of orange-lemon juice works similar to secretin, even lower
middle class patients can avail of the diagnostic facility,” he
pointed out.
Endoscopic ultrasound is used to visualise organs with details when
compared to other tests like CT scan or MRI. “Pancreas has ductal
system, which collect the pancreatic juice and drain into small
intestine and this pancreatic juice helps in the process of digestion.
One of the important stimulants for the pancreatic juice secretion is
hormone secretin,” Dr Khaliq said.
Secretin is produced physiologically by the intestinal cells when
these cells are exposed to acid. It is also commercially available for
diagnostic purposes and injected into the body. Since orange-lemon
juice contains citric acid, it stimulates the intestine to produce
secretin naturally. Moreover, this natural secretin helps in better
visualisation of the problem, thus replacing the need for injecting
artificial secretin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)