Category:

Uncategorized

Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai has announced the beginning of a ‘heart transplant’ programme

by Medically Speaking November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, one of Mumbai’s major hospitals, has announced the commencement of a ‘Heart transplant’ programme and division at its Mumbai location. The initiative will be directed by Dr. K R Balakrishnan, a famous cardiac surgeon and pioneer in the field of heart transplants in the nation. Jaslok Hospital will collaborate with MGM Hospital in Chennai to bring this concept to life in a first-of-its-kind cooperation. According to official data, the city has witnessed a total of 163 heart transplants in the previous five years.

Speaking on the occasion Jitendra Haryan, CEO Jaslok Hospital said, “We are thrilled to be expanding our transplant services and offerings to include heart transplants as well. Dr. K R Balakrishnan is a well-known cardiac surgeon in the country, and we are happy to bring his services and expertise to our patients in Mumbai and the larger western region. It is heartening to see the increase in the number of organ donations that happen in the city giving a new lease of life to many. ”

While the program will be led by Dr. K R Balakrishnan, he will be supported by the prestigious cardiac surgeons and cardiologists’ team at Jaslok Hospital. The programme will provide outstanding quality and outcome, comprehensive support services, easily accessible care, team consisting of transplant surgeons, critical care experts, infectious diseases Consultants, specially trained support nursing & other paramedical staff for ICU and wards, liaison officers, transplant coordinators, dedicated beds in ICU,cardiac rehab, and specialized post op care.

Dr. K R Balakrishnan is known as the pioneer of heart transplants in the country. A graduate of KEM Hospital, University of Bombay, he is one of the most awarded healthcare practitioners, who is known for his work in end-stage heart failure management, pediatric cardiac transplants and liver and heart transplants. In a career spanning more than 30 years, he has successfully performed over 329 transplants in the country.

MGM Healthcare CEO, Harish Manian said, “MGM Healthcare Chennai is very happy to associate with Jaslok Hospital Mumbai to provide Heart & Lung Transplant service under the leadership of Dr. K R Balakrishnan and team. The association with Jaslok is strategic in nature, which will help knowledge sharing and on-site transplant support from the team of experts from MGM Healthcare Chennai. Dr. K R Balakrishnan and team will be having a dedicated Heart Failure Clinic to evaluate the patients. This association also strengthens our relationship with Jaslok Hospital and enhances our commitment to get closer to our patients in Western India.”

As per recent estimates, heart disease is the number one cause of mortality and a silent epidemic among Indians. Data from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) indicates that around 90 people die because of heart attacks every day in the city. All the speakers at the event stressed on the importance of organ donation to make any transplant programme successful and urged people to donate their organs.

The launch event was presided by dignitaries such as Dr. S K Mathur, President ZTCC, Dr. Suresh Rao, Cardiologist, MGM Hospital Chennai, Dr. A B Mehta, Director Cardiology Dr. Hemant Pathare, Additional Director of Heart & Lung transplant at Jaslok Hospital, along with others from the Jaslok Hospital team.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Cataract Surgery results in four persons losing sight after at Muzaffarpur hospital

by Medically Speaking November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

A private medical camp in Bihar providing free cataract treatment resulted in four persons losing sight in one eye.

On November 22, the Eye Hospital in Muzaffarpur held a free clinic for 65 people. Twenty-five of them were infected, and four of them had to have their operated eyes removed to prevent the illness from spreading further.

Muzaffarpur Civil Surgeon Dr Vinay Kumar Sharma told reporters on Tuesday: “It is a serious matter. We have ordered a three-member committee that includes an eye specialist. We have sent some patients to SKM College and Hospital of the town for better treatment”.

Rammurti Singh, one of the patients whose eye had to be taken out post-surgery, said: “I started feeling severe pain in my operated eye. When I consulted back to Eye Hospital, I was advised that my operated eye has to be taken out or else, the infection could spread… But who will compensate for my lost eye? It is sheer negligence on part of the hospital”.

Eye Hospital secretary Dilip Jalan said: “After some patients complained of acute pain in their operated eyes, we started their treatment and referred some patients to Patna. It is true that operated eyes of four persons had to be taken out”.

The Muzaffarpur CS said: “We can fix responsibility for lapse only after the probe report”.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Vaccine for at-risk children by next month, says Covid Task Force Chief NK Arora

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

Dr. NK Arora, chairman of the country’s Covid Task Force, told NDTV today that vaccination for children with comorbidities will begin in December, followed by the vaccine launch for healthy children in the first quarter of next year. According to him, there is also a push to cut the number of doses of ZyCoV-D – the Zydus-Cadilla vaccine from three to two.
A “prioritisation process” for the country’s 44 crore children is in place, he said, and a list of comorbidities is being developed, just as it is for adults.

“We will go in a stepwise manner. But ultimately, I think somewhere in the latter half of December, I think we should be able to start the paediatric vaccination for priority children. And soon as soon as we finish these, which are 10 to 15 per cent, we move on to healthy children,” Dr Arora told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

Outlining the plan, he said while they are waiting for the dosage trial results of ZyCov-D, “Covaxin has also finished trial and we are expecting by December-end and Covovax (from Serum Institute of India) also to finish their paediatric trial,” he said.

Asked why the authorities are going ahead with with ZyCoV-D or Covishield for children without the approval of the WHO, he said, “We have seen the data, there are no safety concerns” as these are all inactivated vaccines.

Contending that opening of schools is “almost like an emergency” as the children are suffering from “cognitive and intellectual, physical and all sort of social developmental issues”, Dr Arora said, “I would request the whole country this state governments and the private sector schools that schools must be open”.

“Parents should send their children because we have a good a cohort of immunised adults. And special efforts have been made that all schools and staff are immunized. Parents should see that all adults in their families where children are going to school are also immunised, so that children are covered by a ring of protection. In addition to that … most of the children are already infected. So they are protected in a way,” he said.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

“Already Working” on vaccine targeting Covid vaccine: Pfizer

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

In the event that the present inoculation is ineffective against the new strain, Pfizer has already begun developing a version of its Covid-19 vaccine that particularly targets the ‘Omicron’ variation, according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
According to Bourla, his company began testing the current vaccine against the ‘Omicron’ form on Friday, which was initially discovered in South Africa and revived worries of a global Covid-19 outbreak.

“I don’t think the result will be the vaccines don’t protect,” Bourla said.

But the testing could show that existing shots “protect less,” which means “that we need to create a new vaccine,” Bourla said.

“Friday we made our first DNA template, which is the first possible inflection of the development process of a new vaccine,” he said.

Bourla likened the situation to the scenario earlier this year when Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech developed a vaccine in 95 days when there were concerns the previous formula would not work against Delta, though that version ultimately was not used.

The current vaccine is “very effective” against Delta, the executive said, adding that the companies expect to be able to produce four billion vaccine doses in 2022.

On Monday, the World Health Organization warned the new Covid-19 ‘Omicron’ variant poses a “very high” risk globally.

Bourla said he was also “very confident” that Pfizer’s recently unveiled antiviral pill would work as a treatment for infections caused by the mutations, including ‘Omicron’.

Among newly-infected, high risk patients treated within three days of the onset of symptoms, Pfizer’s pill has been shown to cut hospitalization or death by nearly 90 percent.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Omicron variant to be treated in Lok Nayak Hospital: Delhi Govt.

by Medically Speaking November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

The Delhi government designated Lok Nayak hospital on Tuesday for the treatment of Sars-CoV-2 patients infected with the novel Omicron type. According to an order issued by SM Ali, special secretary for health, “Lok Nayak would designate one or more different wards (when needed) for isolating and treating such patients [those revealing the presence of the new variety].”

Referring to the development in a tweet, health minister Satyendar Jain said the Delhi government was “fully prepared” to fight the new variant of coronavirus, which has been declared a variant of concern by WHO.”Hereby, we are designating Lok Nayak hospital as a dedicated hospital to treat the new variant of coronavirus (Omicron),” he said.

As per government officials, [international] travellers are also being allowed to isolate in four private hospitals in the city as paid facility.

This comes after the meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Monday, after which deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the state was prepared to tackle any rise in Covid-19 infections. All passengers arriving in Delhi from “at-risk” countries, including all of Europe, will need to take an RT-PCR test at the airport and will have to quarantine at home for at least eight days even if their samples return negative, senior state officials said.

According to authorities, at least one tourist from Germany has been hospitalised to Medanta hospital in Delhi, where he is suspected of being infected with the new type. His sample has already been sent to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for genome sequencing, and a result is expected soon.

Meanwhile, the government is looking into two clusters of Covid-19 infections in Maharashtra and Karnataka to see if the new version is present. There have been no verified cases of the new variety in the nation as of yet.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Moderna CEO alerts Covid-19 vaccine less effective against Omicron

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

Moderna’s CEO warned on Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be as effective against the Omicron strain as they have been against the Delta variant, setting off new alarm bells in financial markets.
As Stephane Bancel’s statements sparked fears that vaccination resistance could lead to more sickness and hospitalizations, prolonging the epidemic, crude oil futures fell by more than a dollar, the Australian dollar fell to a year low, and the Nikkei index lost ground.

“There is no world, I think, where (the effectiveness) is the same level . . . we had with Delta,” Moderna CEO Bancel told the Financial Times in an interview.

“I think it’s going to be a material drop. I just don’t know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I’ve talked to . . . are like ‘this is not going to be good’,” Bancel said.

Omicron – which the World Health Organization (WHO) said carries a “very high” risk of infection surges – has triggered global alarm, with border closures casting a shadow over a nascent economic recovery from a two-year pandemic.

News of its emergence wiped roughly $2 trillion off the value of global stocks on Friday, although some calm was restored this week as investors waited for more data on the characteristics of Omicron.

Remarks by President Joe Biden that the United States would not reinstate lockdowns had also helped soothe markets before comments from the Moderna chief spooked investors.

Biden has called for wider vaccination, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged everyone aged 18 years and older to get a booster shot. Britain too has expanded its COVID-19 booster programme amid Omicron fears.

HONG KONG EXPANDS CURBS

Fear of the new variant has prompted countries around the world to move quickly to tighten border controls to prevent a recurrence of last year’s strict lockdowns and steep economic downturns.

Hong Kong authorities have expanded a ban on entry for non-residents from several countries. It said non-residents from Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia would not be allowed to enter as of Nov. 30.

Additionally, non-residents who have been to Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel and Italy in the past 21 days would not be allowed to enter the city from December 2, it added.

The global financial hub, among the last places pursuing a zero-COVID strategy, has already banned non-residents arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

In Australia, five travellers tested positive for Omicron.

They are vaccinated and in quarantine, officials said, adding they are asymptomatic or display very mild symptoms.

Singapore’s health ministry said two travellers from Johannesburg who tested positive for the variant in Sydney had transited through its Changi airport.

Australian authorities have also identified a sixth traveller who was most likely infected with the variant and had spent time in the community.

Canberra delayed on Monday the reopening of the nation’s borders for international students and skilled migrants, less than 36 hours before they were due to be allowed back in.

“We’re doing this out of an abundance of caution but our overwhelming view is that whilst (Omicron) is an emerging variant, it is a manageable variant,” Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told a media conference.

CURBS AND CONCERNS

First reported on November 24 from South Africa, Omicron has since spread to over a dozen countries.

The WHO has urged countries to use a “risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures”.

The global curbs have, however, triggered concerns about vaccine inequality.

“The people of Africa cannot be blamed for the immorally low level of vaccinations available in Africa – and they should not be penalized for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

India, home to the world’s largest vaccine maker, has approved supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to many African countries and said it stands ready to “expeditiously” send more. China too has pledged 1 billion doses to the continent.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Omicron scare: Hospitals in Chandigarh are on high alert

by Medically Speaking November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

The threat presented by the new South African variety, Omicron, has caused the Health Department to place UT hospitals on high alert in order to reactivate Covid beds.

According to the action plan, the hospital in Sector 48 will open with 121 oxygenated beds (including 17 ventilator beds) as soon as the GMCH-32 reaches roughly 80% occupancy.

Special arrangements have been made in the Sector 45 hospital for children with a sufficient number of ventilator beds. The sub-district hospitals at Sector-22 and Mani Majara are also prepared to take initial care of some patients. Besides, three mini-Covid care centres are in the state of temporary closure and can be revived withing a notice of two or three days.

A review meeting was held today to discuss the emergent issues especially because of the new variant of concern, Omicron. The meeting was attended by the Director Principal of GMCH-32, the Director, Health Services, and Dr Naveen, from the PGI.

The Covid test of all patients visiting the OPDs of the GMSH-16, sub-district hospitals at Sectors 22, 45 and Mani Majra, and the GMCH-32 has been ordered by the department. In case of any hospital admission, all patients will be subjected to rapid antigen test (RAT) and RTPCR tests, and in case of OPDs, all patients are to be subjected to RAT.

In view of the MC elections, the Director, Health Service, will appoint a nodal officer with each of the returning officer and provide all assistance required, in accordance with the directions of the State Election Commission and the prevailing ground situation.

Persons sans mask to be challaned

It has also been decided by the authorities to challan/fine residents for not wearing a mask in public places and to ask them to undergo the Covid test.

UT holds meeting with religious leaders

The UT Health Department held a meeting with religious leaders to encourage their followers to come forward for vaccination. Dr Nagpal, Medical Superintendent of GMSH-16, and Dr Manjit Trehan, District Immunisation Officer, met Maulana Mohd Ajmal Khan, Imam of Sector-20 mosque in Chandigarh, and Father Kajus, Father James and Father Tharthus of the Sector 19 church and requested them to support the Administration in increasing the pace of vaccination against Covid. Special camps will be held.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Sputnik V, Sputnik Light will be able to neutralize Omicron, says RDIF

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to the Gamaleya Institute, the Russian COVID-19 vaccines Sputnik V and Sputnik Light are predicted to neutralise the novel coronavirus strain Omicron.

The Gamaleya Institute believes that both Sputnik V and Sputnik Light will neutralise the current Omicron variant, according to Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

According to Kirill Dmitriev, the Gamaleya Institute has already began producing a new version of the Sputnik vaccine suited to Omicron, based on current methods for developing vaccination versions for variants of concern as soon as possible.

In the unusual event that such a change is required, the new Sputnik Omicron version can be ready for mass manufacturing in 45 days, he noted.

“The Gamaleya Institute believes that Sputnik V and Sputnik Light will neutralise Omicron as they have the highest efficacy against other mutations. In an unlikely case a modification is needed, we will provide several Sputnik Omicron boosters by February 20, 2022,” said Dmitriev.

The Russian Sputnik V and Sputnik Light vaccines have proven to be highly effective against all variants of SARC-Cov-2 known to date. The RDIF said that Sputnik vaccine’s efficacy is based on the heterogeneous boosting approach using two different vectors for two shots, pioneered by the Gamaleya Institute, and a proven adenoviral vector platform, which triggers a broader immune response as compared to mRNA vaccines.

The B.1.1.529 variant, named Omicron, was first reported to WHO from South Africa on November 24. The global health body said on Monday that Omicron is a highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations, including 26-32 in the spike, some of which are concerning and may be associated with immune escape potential and higher transmissibility. However, there are still considerable uncertainties, added the global health body.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

No cases of Omicron variant found so far in India, says health minister

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

As countries began to impose new restrictions on the newly discovered Omicron variant, which is said to be more lethal than the Delta variant, which was the cause of India’s devastating second coronavirus wave, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday that no case of the new variant has been detected so far in the country.

Addressing the upper house of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, during the question hour, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandvaiya said, “No case of COVID19 variant Omicron reported in India so far”.

Owing to the information received on the virus, the minister said that an advisory has been issued in this regard. He further assured that all necessary precautions are being taken to stop the virus from entering the country.

“We are immediately checking suspicious cases and conducting genome sequencing. We have learnt a lot during the COVID crisis. Today, we have a lot of resources and laboratories. We can manage any situation,” the minister said.

His remarks came on the day when Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a review meeting with states and UTs on Tuesday and advised them to ramp up testing for early identification and management of cases.

While underlining that the new variant doesn’t escape RT-PCR and RAT tests, Bhushan asked states and UTs to ensure adequate infrastructure and supervised home isolation. ln view of the possible threat that the new Variant of Concern (VoC ) can pose to the nation, the ministry has asked all states and UTs to focus on intensive containment, active surveillance, enhanced testing, monitoring of hotspots, increased coverage of vaccination and ensure augmentation of health infrastructure.

Meanwhile, India has issued new guidelines for the international passengers arriving in India, after some countries reported the cases of this variant. As per the advisory, the self-declaration board form on Air Suvidha Portal, which has the travel history of the last 14 days of all international passengers arriving in India, is filled completely before boarding.

The new guidelines also said that airlines shall put in place a proper randomization process for testing about 5 per cent of the passengers in flights on arrival. “Additional RT-PCR facilities, as required, may also be set up at all airports,” it added.

Similarly, Genestrings lab is deploying its staff at the Delhi airport for testing the passengers for COVID is increased the testing capacity, as Delhi airport witnessed huge international arrival passengers on peak time. The lab also aims to provide the test reports in four hours to reduce the waiting time period of the passengers by ensuring adequate requirements of staff

The B.1.1.529 Covid variant or Omicron, first detected in South Africa last week, was designated by the World Health Organisation as a ‘variant of concern’, the health body’s top category for worrying coronavirus variants.

The Centre on Sunday introduced stricter guidelines for people travelling from or transiting through ‘at-risk’ countries and issued a slew of directions to the states for ramping up testing-surveillance measures and health facilities. It also decided to review the resumption of international flights.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Uncategorized

Amid Omicron fears, Austrian women tests positive for Covid-19 in Vrindavan

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

Officials reported on Monday that a 41-year-old Austrian woman visiting the holy town of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of infected foreigners in Mathura district to four.

“In the RT-PCR test, one more foreign national was found to be coronavirus positive on Monday,” said Dr. Bhudeo Singh, the incharge of the Rapid Response Team.

On Saturday and Sunday, three foreigners from Spain, Switzerland, and Austria tested positive for coronavirus.

Officials claimed all four stayed in Vrindavan for a fortnight and underwent the Covid-19 test before returning home.

They’ve been segregated from the rest of the world. The region around Giridhar Ashram in Sheetal Chhaya in Vrindavan has been designated as a containment zone because all of the infected foreign nationals were residing there, according to officials.

On Sunday, Mathura District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said an alert has been sounded in the district after the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in South Africa and a few other countries.

A close watch is being maintained in Vrindavan, which attracts a large number of foreigners, he said.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts