Category Archives: Science & Technology

100 Indian students join UK university’s new online diabetes course

Education, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , ,

UNITED KINGDOM:

Birmingham City University launched its new Master’s Degree in Advancing Diabetes Care in partnership with the University Hospitals Birmingham Diabetes Team this week.

Representational image.
Representational image.(Bloomberg file)

Around 100 Indian students have enrolled for a UK university’s newly-launched online course focussed on supporting people living with diabetes and leading new research into the condition.

Birmingham City University launched its new Master’s Degree in Advancing Diabetes Care in partnership with the University Hospitals Birmingham Diabetes Team this week. The course is aimed at helping healthcare professionals develop specialist skills and techniques to enhance the level of care provided to people living with diabetes. The first cohort of students taking up their places on the course are based in India and are sponsored by Mumbai-headquartered pharmaceutical company Lupin Pharmaceuticals.

“When I was an undergraduate student of medicine, at that point in time in India we used to read about diabetes in the subcategory of lifestyle diseases. Now we have seen the spread of this disease across all age groups, impacting people with different social backgrounds,” said Dr Shishank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham.

“At this particular juncture the launch of the MSc is a very important step which will go a long way in not only providing quality training but in the exchange of best practice between the two sides. The students that are joining this course are all medical doctors and I wish them the best,” he said.

According to figures quoted by the university, India is home to nearly 77 million people with diabetes and the course has been designed to further research and development into diabetes care, particularly with COVID-19 causing a disproportionate mortality rate for people with diabetes. It is open to healthcare professionals including general practitioners (GPs), hospital-based doctors, specialist nurses and practice nurses, midwives, dietitians, podiatrists, pharmacists, psychologists and other roles across healthcare sectors.

“By providing training to medical doctors who specialise in diabetes care, we know what this is going to do, is to reach out to those communities who are most impacted by diabetes,” said Professor Philip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University. “The skills and knowledge that you develop on this course are going to result in evidenced-based effective diabetes care. We know the impact of this is going to be felt for generations,” said Plowden.

Professor Wasim Hanif, Professor of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Consultant Physician, & Head of Service in Diabetes at University Hospital Birmingham, said the reason the new course is important is that there are currently 463 million people living with diabetes globally.

“Globally every seven seconds somebody dies from diabetes, including in countries like India. To give you some perspective on these things, every day nearly 12,000 people die from diabetes. The aim of this course is to try and give the most advanced skills to healthcare professionals trying to manage diabetes,” he said.

The university says it hopes the brand new course will meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working in partnership with people living with diabetes. 

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Education / by Press Trust of India / posted by Akhilesh Nagari / October 04th, 2020

Jamia Researchers Develop Fastest Molecular Docking Tool for Drug Discovery Pipeline

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Drug discovery is a complex and long-drawn process that requires an interdisciplinary approach to discover new drug-like molecules called leads

Clarion India

New Delhi :

A team of researchers, led by Dr. Md. Imtiaz Hassan at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia(JMI), has developed a molecular docking-based high-throughput virtual screening tool as freeware named InstaDock.

Molecular docking is an in-silico method used for exploring protein-ligand interactions of therapeutic interest and is one of the most widely used approaches in drug development and discovery. Drug discovery is a complex and long-drawn process that requires an interdisciplinary approach to discover new drug-like molecules called leads.

In-silico approaches such as molecular docking are used in “virtual high-throughput screening” of chemical libraries containing millions of compounds to find potential leads in drug design and discovery.

Dr. Hassan and his students Taj Mohammad and Yash Mathur developed InstaDock, a free and open-access Graphical User Interface programme that uses standard tools to perform molecular docking and virtual high-throughput screening efficiently.

An InstaDock suite is a single-click executable, specially made for the convenience of non-bioinformatician and for people who are not experts in using computers. It is the easiest and more interactive interface than ever existing software that facilitates on-board visualisation and docking analysis in just a single click.

InstaDock has been accepted for publication by the Briefings in Bioinformatics, a reputed journal of the Oxford University Press with an Impact Factor of 9.1. InstaDock is freely available for academic and industrial research purposes at www.hassanlab.org/instadock.

“It is quite challenging for non-expert users to perform molecular docking and high-throughput virtual screening directly at a universal platform, as the process involves a large number of steps. We have presented InstaDock in such a way that it can be used by even non-bioinformaticians and people with very little knowledge of computers, which greatly enhances its scope of usefulness”, Taj Mohammad, Senior Research Fellow at Dr. Hassan’s Lab, said.

Yash Mathur said “we developed InstaDock with an aim to provide a simple and interactive drug-discovery platform to help curious minds and professionals alike, experiment and understand proteins in-silico with just a single click”

“The fields of molecular docking and high-throughput virtual screening are the much-needed areas of drug discovery and thus deployment of InstaDock is bound to greatly enhance the pre-existing procedures. It is a novel method that gives non-expert users the freedom and efficiency that is not provided by existing programs”, said Dr. Hassan.

Dr. Hassan said this work is a great effort of his students Taj Mohammad and Yash Mathur who worked constantly for a long time even in the lockdown situation. They are dedicatedly working in the field of structural biology, machine learning, drug discovery, and NGS analytics to contribute towards modern medical science.

Dr. Hassan’s lab is running several research projects related to drug design and discovery which can be accessed via www.hassanlab.org.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslims / September 25th, 2020

Community icon presented with Australian award

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , ,

JAMMU & KASHMIR / AUSTRALIA :

Reflections on half a century of community service in Australia: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad after the award ceremony on Tuesday 8 September 2020 at the front lawns of Government House in Sydney.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM, 90, a retired professor of mechanical engineering and a Quranic scholar and long time community leader was presented with his Order of Australia medals on Tuesday 8 September 2020 by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, QC, the Governor of NSW.

Watch video of Investiture Ceremony and citation for Dr Ahmad for the award.

The award was announced on Australia Day 26 January earlier this year but the investiture ceremony was much delayed due to the pandemic and was held in September at the Government House in Sydney under COVID-19 restrictions.

Dr Ahmad, professor and head of department of mechanical engineering in Kashmir was forced to leave his job and arrived in Australia in 1971 and has been in the forefront of building Islamic institutions, founding community organisations and promoting interfaith harmony for almost half a century.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad receiving the Award Medals from the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, QC on Tuesday 8 September 2020 at Government House, Sydney.

This was the first of a number of investiture ceremonies to be held in stages for the recipients of Order of Australia medals this year in compliance with COVID-19 regulations and health advice.

Dr Ahmad was accompanied by his eldest son Zia Ahmad and and daughters Fauzia Siddiqui and Najia Khalil at the award ceremony at Government House in Sydney.

Dr Ahmad with his daughter Fauzia Siddiqui (left), son Zia Ahmad and daughter Najia Khalil after the investiture ceremony at the Government House front lawn in Sydney on Tuesday 8 September 2020.

The Order of Australia was bestowed upon Dr Ahmad in recognition of his services to the Muslim community and for promoting interfaith harmony.

By profession, a retired engineer and academic having earned his major qualifications at Aligarh Muslim University, India, University of Wisconsin, USA and University of Sydney, Australia, he taught at various universities in India, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

A Quranic scholar of international standing, having obtained his Islamic education from original sources after mastering English, Urdu, Arabic and Farsi languages, his major passion in life is, and has been for most of his life, the application of Islam in the daily life of mankind, both for Muslims and people of other faiths and beliefs.

Dr Ahmad lives in Sydney with his wife Jamal Ara Ahmad surrounded by 70+ strong extended family and is a father, grandfather and great grandfather.

With the Governor of NSW at the front lawn of  Government House, Sydney.

The citation announced at the event for the award included a long list of services that he has been rendered by him to the Australian community during the last 50 years.

Citation for the award read at the Investiture ceremony

Below are some of Dr Ahmad’s community achievements:

  • Founding Secretary, Australian Islamic Mission (AIM) 1972.
  • Founding President, Muslims Australia (also known as Australian Federation of Islamic Councils AFIC) 1976-77.
  • Editor-in-Chief, Australian Muslim Times 1991; Chief Advisor, Australasian Muslim Times AMUST, 2014-current.
  • Member, Board of Trustees, International Council of Islamic Information (United Kingdom), since 1993.
  • Founder and Patron, Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) 1993.
  • Founder, Member and Patron, Aligarh Muslim University Alumni of Australia (AMUAA), since 1992.
  • Member, Association for Indian Muslims (United States), 1992.
  • Founder and Patron, Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare, since 1986.
  • Co-Founder and Chief Organiser, Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF), since 1985.
  • Founder and Member, Council of Islamic Affairs New South Wales (now ICNSW), 1974-1976.
  • Founding President, Sydney University Muslim Students Association, 1972-1974.
  • Assembly Member, Council of Parliament of World Religions, USA, since 1993.
  • Establishment of the Interfaith Youth Friendship Centre, 2006.

Awards and recognition of Dr Ahmad’s contribution include:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Australian Muslim Achievement Awards, 2011.
  • Sir Syed Award, AMU Alumni of Australia, 2003.
  • Centenary Medal for contribution to Australian society, 2001.
  • Services to Islam Award, Australian Muslim Professionals (FAMP), 1994.
  • Community Service Award in recognition of a valuable contribution to the Bicentenary, 1988.

Read more about Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad’s life and achievements.

source: http://www.amust.com.au / AMUST (Australian Muslim Times) / Home> News> Top News / by Zia Ahmed / September 11th, 2020

Remembering the freedom fighter who grafted animal testicles onto humans to help build India

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was a staunch Congressman and author of a book titled ‘Regeneration in Man’. Wednesday marks his 81st death anniversary.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was a freedom fighter who also grafted animal testicles onto humans

India’s political leadership during the British Raj was dominated by lawyers and journalists. A noted exception was Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (1880-1936), one of Delhi’s richest men, who dexterously balanced his busy medical practice with a deep involvement with politics.

Ansari was a close companion of Gandhi and an icon of the Khilafat movement. The few scholars who have studied his life have focused solely on his role as a Congress leader, and on his skills on the negotiating table of high politics. His exploits with the scalpel have been ignored. More than 80 years after he died, on May 10, 1936, it is remarkable that forget any serious study, there is hardly any discussion about the hundreds of operations he conducted in India in which he grafted animal testicles – from bulls, monkeys and sheep – onto human beings.

Adviser to princes

Dr Ansari studied at Queen’s Collegiate school in Benares and at the Muir Central College in Allahabad (which was later incorporated into Allahabad University). He later joined the Nizam College in Hyderabad where he was given a scholarship in 1900 to study medicine in the UK. After earning a medical degree at the University of Edinburgh, he worked in London at Charing Cross hospital, the Lock Hospital and St Peter’s Hospital. He returned to India in 1910, and set up his practice in Calcutta before shifting to Delhi.

He acted as medical adviser to the princes of Alwar, Rampur, Joara and Bhopal. His two older brothers were well-known hakims, who practised the traditional unani system of medicine. They were close to the scholars at the respected Islamic school in Deoband. His own circumstances and family background proved crucial in his positioning as a key functionary during the Khilafat movement of 1919. This movement was launched by Indian Muslims to urge the British government to preserve the authority of the Turkish Sultan as Caliph of Islam with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.

A new science

Along with his political activity, Ansari turned his mind to a matter that has obsessed physicians for centuries: the quest for medical interventions to help ageing clients produce heirs. In the early 20th century, medical journals in Europe and America were increasingly documenting cases of xenotransplantation – the transplantation of living cells, tissue or organs from one species to another. It was through such articles that Ansari became interested in this field.

In his role as a medical practitioner, Ansari was also constantly faced with a large number of patients suffering from a “real or imaginary decline in their mental, physical and sexual powers”. His brothers attempted to treat such with traditional medicines. But Ansari looked to Europe for possible answers.

In 1921, 1925 and 1932 he visited Vienna, Paris, Lucerne and London and spent a considerable amount of time in laboratories, hospitals and clinics. He met and observed urologist Dr Robert Lichenstern, Eugen Steiach, Dr Serge Voronoff  – all of whom are considered pioneers in the field of grafting animal testicles onto humans. He also collected vast amounts of literature on the subject, sourcing books and journals from Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and the US.

This procedure may now be ridiculed but in the Roaring Twenties there was quite the rush of men wanting to undergo these regenerative surgeries. Ansari offered a treatment to his clientele in India that was only available to the elite in the West.

Rejuvenating the nation

According to Ansari, there were a few key reasons why the people of India suffered from poor health. These included unhygienic surroundings, poverty and the lack of medical facilities, as well as seclusion and segregation of the sexes, and rules confining the choice of marriage partner to a limited circle.

In his 1927 presidential address to the Congress in Madras, he dwelt on the problem of healthcare in India.

He said:

“Sixty percent of the revenues of India is absorbed by the Military Department in the name of Defence of the country but the government ought to know that there can be no defence of the country when people are allowed to exist in such a state of utter physical degeneration. The real defence lies in tackling the problem of manhood and improving the general health of the nation.”

In the last decade of his life, Ansari conducted such testicle grafting operations on around 700 people. These included property agents, merchants, jewellers, bankers, provincial civil servants, sportsmen and labourers.

In a letter to Aziz Ansari, his cousin, the doctor wrote that Eugen Steinach “urged me to publish my researches (sic) and not to hide my light under the bushel”.

Ansari meticulously noted down around 440 cases of grafting that he had done. He monitored or kept in touch with these individuals for a period of three to four years after the surgery. In one case, he wrote that a wrestler whose testicles were badly damaged by an opponent and lost his “sexual power” for eight years underwent grafting and found that his sexual appetite was restored. In another case, a man in his early 50s, who was a heavy drinker and had contracted sexual diseases in his 30s, found his health to be deteriorating drastically. After Ansari grafted slices of a bull’s testicles onto the man’s gonads, he gained weight, became healthy, and started leading a normal life with a new wife. Through such case studies, Ansari emphasised that his surgeries resulted in the rejuvenation of patients, which added to the productivity of the nation.

He gave Gandhi a copy of his book Regeneration in Man, who read it with great interest in one day. Describing it as evidence of “research and great labour”, Gandhi, whose aversion to western medical practices is well known, asked his friend: “What is revival of youth worth if you cannot be sure of persistent physical existence for two consecutive seconds?”

But for the short, well-built, moustachioed doctor who played the role of Othello in a play while a student at the University of Edinburgh, these procedures were part of a larger vision for a “universal campaign against the disability of old age”.

source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home / by Danish Khan / May 10th, 2017

Celebrating the Centenary of “Zinda Tilismath”

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

In today’s era of social media, people are slowly losing the essence of celebration; rather they prefer to be amused and entertained. Celebration is an active state of expressing reverence and appreciation.

Here’s me celebrating the centennial anniversary of “Zinda Tilismath” and acclaiming their achievements in the field of Unani Medicine.

Unani medicine is popular in South Asian countries and its use is currently growing in other parts of the world. The history of Unani medicine can be traced back to the ancient Greek practitioners Hippocrates and Galen. Over the next few centuries, their principles were soon taken up by the by numerous Arab and Persian scholars. The very famous Ibn Sina, who is also known as Avicenna was an Arab philosopher and physicist, who wrote Kitab-al-shifa (Book of Healing) and the Canon of Medicine. This system, earlier known as “Galenics”, later became to be known as Unani Tibb, (Unani being the Arabic word for “Greek” and Tibb an Arabic word for “medicine”)

In India Hakeem Mohammed Moizuddin Farooqui founded the factory, Karkhana Zinda Tilismath which is known to produce one of the world’s best products of Unani Medicine.

Karkhana Zinda Tilismath is located in Amberpet, Hyderabad and this year celebrates its centenary. The outset of Karkhana Zinda Tilismath in Hyderabad not only promoted the Unani medicine but also led to an industrial revolution and opened job opportunities for many.

Hakim Mohammed Moizuddin Farooqui with his eldest son Minhajuddin Farooqui and staff members. Labour Welfare Officer of factory, CM Ansari can be seen in this Photo.

In 1920, Hakeem Mohammed Moizuddin formulated his very first Herbal medicine which was named “Zinda Tilismath” (an Urdu word for living magic). Many Hyderabadis and others who romanticize Unani medicine in India and around the globe pledge that this potion has a magical cure for all ailments. This magic started in 1920 when three hundred thousand vials in the 1950s-60s were made and recently the sales of the potion have shot up to seven hundred thousand bottles.

Zinda Tilismath consists of only five ingredients – eucalyptus, which is the main ingredient at 70 per cent and camphor, menthol, thymol, and ratanjyoth (a bark of a tree to give colour to this medication). This herbal medicine is unusual as it can be applied both externally and can also be consumed by adding few drops in to the milk or other drinks. A laboratory in Pune has confirmed that “Zinda Tilismath” can be used for preventing swine flu.

Apart from the zinda tilismath, there are other products also manufactured by the factory including zinda balm, Faroooky tooth powder and zint (throat lozenges) which had to compete with halls, Vicks and the strepsils throat lozenges.

The door of the factory is always open and plays host to school children, exhibiting their benefits of herbal medication. They also allow pharmacy students to conduct their research and studies on their medicine.

Girls of St. George’s Grammar School on an Industrial Visit- November 3, 2015

Currently, the third generation of this prominent Unani Hakeem Mohammed Moizuddin Farooqui is running the company and are striving to maintain their reputed family business.

source: http://www.heritagetimes.in / Heritage Times / Home> Medicine / by Dr. Zareen Fatima / September 03rd, 2020

Who is this Freedom fighter from Bihar?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Science & Technology, , , , , ,

Muzaffarput, BIHAR :

Dr Maghfoor Ahmed Ajazi

He was born in village Dihuli of District Muzaffarpur, in Bihar on 3 March 1900.

His father Moulvi Hafizuddin Husain was a zamindar. He first went to a Madarsa, then to North Brooke Zila School, Darbhanga, from where he was expelled for opposing the Rowlatt Act. He passed the matriculation from Pusa High School and was admitted in B.N. College, Patna, for higher studies.

His mother died in his childhood. His elder brother Maulana Manzoor Ahsan was also a freedom fighter.

He was married to Azizul Fatima. His marriage was all Khadi i.e. Bride and Groom both wore hand woven Khadi clothes. After nikah marriage function was transformed into an a public meeting for freedom struggle.

He left his studies at B.N. College to follow Gandhi and joined the non-cooperation movement in 1921.

There after he actively participated in the freedom movement. He mobilised masses against Britishers by organising volunteer corps, Ramayan Mandali, and also collected fund for freedom struggle through ‘Muthia’ drive. ‘Muthia’ meant to take out a muththi or fist of grain before preparing every meal to fund freedom struggle. Once Ajazi unknowingly reached at house of his cousin sister in a remote village. He asked for a ‘Muthia’. He got answer in negative. His sister recognised him and requested him to take meal. But Ajazi refused to take not only meal but even a glass of water. When his sister promised to take out muthia and donated the dues then he agreed to take meal.

He organised ‘Sewa Dal’ established by Sarojini Naidu and formed ‘Ajazi Troop’ to promote and train youngsters for freedom struggle. He first time attended AICC session held at Ahmedabad in 1921 and supported the motion of Maulana Hasrat Mohani on ‘Complete Independence’.

He represented Central Khilafat Committee at the All Parties Conferences. On the direction of Mohd Ali Jauhar he took the charge of Khilafat Committee Calcutta. There he was arrested in a protest march led by Neta ji Subhash and was arrested and released at a farther most place from Calcutta.

He obtained degree from Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College. In August 1942 movement his house was searched and he worked under ground, though his promising eldest son Muzaffar Husain Ajazi died at young age on 25 July 1942.

Ajazi opposed Jinnah’s Two-nation theory. Muslim League workers used to come in batches at his residence, virtually spitting and shouted slogan. Ghaddar-e-Qaum.

He was also a poet and writer in the Urdu language as well as an orator. His papers, diaries, letters and files are preserved in national libraries.  

After independence Ajazi devoted his whole life for the welfare of the downtrodden and for protection of rights as well as development of Urdu language. He was also actively associated with trade union movement.


Ajazi died on 26 September 1966 at his residence in Muzaffarpur city.     

source: http://www.milligazette.com / The Milli Gazette / Home> News> Family & Kids / The Milli Gazette / October 14th, 2020

Dental Surgeon from JMI Reports a Novel Discovery in a Human Lower Jaw

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

Ghaziabad, UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

The complexity of a human body has been unraveled yet again, this time from an Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon from Faculty of Dentistry(FOD), Jamia Millia Islamia(JMI).

Dr Imran Khan / WhatsAp


Dr. Imran Khan who is currently working as a Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, FOD, JMI has recently published this interesting case report in a U.S based Scientific Journal “Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Cases” September-2020 edition.


His discovery is about a Novel Anatomical opening in the human lower jaw which generally are referred as Foramen in anatomical/medical terminology. This New opening or foramen has been named as Novel Aberrant Mandibular Angle Foramen (NAMAF).


As per the report published NAMAF was masquerading a fracture in the lower jaw, since no one else has ever reported any foramen in the described area of lower jaw it was only during the surgical procedure itself.


Dr.Imran and his team could identify and record this novel finding. These Foramens in the human body serve as passages through which various blood vessels and nerves supply different structures and organs of the human body.


The published novel report also involves Dr Deborah Sybil (Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, JMI), Dr Mandeep Kaur (Professor & Oral & Maxillofacial Radiologist, Faculty of dentistry, JMI), Dr. Nikhat Mansoor (Professor, Department of Biosciences, JMI), Dr. Ifra iftikhar
(Maxillofacial surgeon, New Delhi) Dr Rizwan Khan (Orthopedic Surgeon , Jamia Hamdard) & Dr Shubhangi Premchandani (Trainee Intern, Faculty of Dentistry, JMI).


The Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, JMI Prof(Dr) Sanjay Singh who himself is also a vastly experienced Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon has congratulated the research team on this novel finding and has expressed his pleasure on this unique discovery.


Prof (Dr) Sanjay Singh said that novel structures like the one reported here will make surgeons more alert to exercise utmost precaution while operating on the prescribed area. It will also help other surgeons & anaesthetists executing precise treatment protocols and avoid unexplained local anaesthesia failures.


The FOD, JMI has been ranked 19th best dental college in the country by the MHRD’s NIRF2020.

source: http://www.jmi.ac.in / Jamia Millia Islamia / Home / Ahmed Azeem , PRO, Media Corodinator / August 10th, 2020

Hyderabad startup makes devices for labs affordable

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Livo develops three products for analysing blood samples

Dr Junaid Shaik (CEO) and Faisal Ahmed Sheikh (CTO) of Livo.

Hyderabad:

To help pathologists get access to high-end devices for their daily blood tests, Hyderabad-based startup Livo has developed three products in this space.

These devices include scanner, smearer and stainer which helps in getting a complete blood picture (CBP). The Livo A-1000 is a pathology scanner that scans the sample and also produces digital reports, thus helping pathologists to work remotely. “The scanner uses machine learning features and super resolution technology and is low priced when compared with the scanners available in the market,” said Dr Junaid Shaik, co-founder, Livo.

In addition, the AutoSmearer (A-700) is a device that is used to collect blood samples and smear to get a morphology report. The other product, Haematology Stainer, helps in staining the sample in to provide microscopy results in 90 seconds.

All the three devices have been developed by the company in-house and have been in the research and development for last two years. “We were planning to launch our product A-700 in April and A-1000 in August. However, due to the pandemic-led lockdown our whole supply chain broke down and we had to postpone our sales. We are getting a lot of interest from doctors and have received 25 pre-orders for A-700 and 11 for A-1000. Recently, we also closed a distribution deal for 800 devices in the South India region,” said Dr Shaik.

The other founders of the company include Faisal Sheikh and Professor Prasanth Kumar, head of mechanical department, IIT-Hyderabad. It recently raised Rs 1 crore from angel investors and industrialists Ravi Reddy, Dr Praveen Kumar and others. It is looking to raise another Rs 5 crore in the coming months which will be used to fund manufacturing of the devices

While moderate rains are very likely to occur at many places, thunderstorm accompanied with lightning will also occur at isolated places.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Business / by Sruti Venugopal / August 14th, 2020

Al Hamd, Mesco commence COVID relief operations in Hyderabad

Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Education, SCHOLARSHIPS, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

“God forbid, if the patient dies, we have also kept arrangements in place to shift the body to the graveyard and also to look into other formalities like shroud, etc,” added Dr. Fakhruddin.

Hyderabad :

Al Hamd and Mesco led by Dr. Md. Fakhruddin Sahab and Abdul Azeem has initiated COVID relief operations. The team will function round the clock in the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad.

The team will be fully equipped with operational vehicles after a formal inauguration on 3 August, the operations then will begin in full swing. People can access their services through the helpline number 8008834011.

People of Hyderabad are panicked and confused with the way COVID is being managed in the state. Hospitals remain overcrowded with no beds available and the people are at a loss not knowing what to do. In such a scenario, Hyderabad is likely to explode, more so after Bakrid, predict some health care professionals.

Al Hamd and Mesco have jointly come to relief, especially the poor, marginalized sections of society from this mess. While several are unaware of being asymptotic or symptomatic others take it easy thinking they are invincible.

Equipment, arrangements in place

The team of Al Hamd and Mesco will focus more on preventing the spread of the disease. Talking to Clarion India, Dr. Fakhruddin, who is leading the team and is also the general secretary of the Mesco Foundation, said, “We will create awareness and educate the people on how to prevent the spread of the disease. And then among the identified cases, we will educate the attendants how to take care of themselves as they are taking care of the patient during home quarantine.”

“The medicinal sachets to be distributed in the containment zones will contain everything a COVID patient and his/her attendant needs. The sachet contains different packets for different uses such as a packet containing personal protection equipment such as soaps, gloves, masks, sanitisers. Another packet has immunity-boosting drugs such as tablets of vitamin C, Zinc, B complex, paracetamol, thermometer, pulse oxy-meter. The third packet will have virus-specific treatment medicines such as anti-biotic and other medicines as prescribed by the doctor.”

“Everything has been thought of. Even the attendant will be given a kit containing face shield, goggles, cap, shoe covers, masks. These will be available in the Mesco office and also delivered at doorstep as per the necessity,” added Dr. Fakhruddin.

Ambulance services are also available if the patient is critical. “And, God forbid, if the patient dies, we have also kept arrangements in place to shift the body to the graveyard and also to look into other formalities like shroud, etc,” added Dr. Fakhruddin keeping in mind the difficulties people are facing after the death of a COVID-infected person.

Since the team is operating low profile as of now, only people from the containment zones in the old city of Hyderabad are being taken care of as they are reluctant to get tested due to various rumours. The cost of test along with the treatment is crossing the margins of common men.

“The infection is spreading due to lack of knowledge, overconfidence among the people and carelessness. If one person in the family is infected, other family members are vulnerable. We plan to educate them about the initial symptoms which they should not ignore and start treatment soon even if they do not go for tests.”

“In 90% of the cases timely treatment has saved lives. Our main aim is to save patients from hospitalisation as much as possible. Many people are working to fight COVID and our work is also complementing these efforts. We have sought permission from the Drug Control Authority to supply oxygen as the Government of India has authorised the same,” said Dr Fakhruddin.

Call Centre

The volunteers at the call centre will receive the calls and counsel the people guiding them about the preventive methods and also train them to use the kits, especially using the thermometer and the pulse oxy-meter.

“Wrong readings of the oxy-meter have caused panic among the people. So, It is important to train the people on reading the thermometer, oxy-meter and ways to monitor the patient and sanitise as much as possible the articles used by the patient. We have also included tissues and wet wipes in the kit so they can dispose of them.” Dr Fakhruddin explained.

Economic situation analysed

“The medicinal sachets are given for a very nominal amount. Doorstep deliveries will be done to study the economic situation of the family. If the family is very poor, the team will also ensure they receive ration and other essentials. Thus, along with health care, even food supplies are provided,” Clarion India said.

For tests, the team has tied up with some diagnostic centres in the city which will charge the patients referred by the Al Hamd-Mesco team at a subsidised rate.

MPLAD funds

The team is also trying to rope in MLAs to use the MPLAD (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds for this relief operation. Their work is already in the process of duplication in other states where the MLAs have come forward to provide financial assistance.

“A manual has been prepared which we have sent to other philanthropic institutions and doctors so they can also start relief operations at the earliest. We all need to work together irrespective of caste, creed and religion,” Dr Fakhruddin explained saying that the Mesco Foundation had been doing philanthropic activities for the past several decades now.

300 doctors and parademics

The organisation have a team of 300 doctors and trained paramedics as volunteers at the call centre to deliver the kits and to drive the vehicles.

The Al Hamd Charitable Trust which is sponsoring the entire operation cost is located in Secunderabad. The Trust chairperson and founder, Abdul Azeem Mohammed, said, “We are filling in the gap of the lapses in the way COVID is being handled by both the government and the corporate hospitals. While the corporate hospitals are fleecing the patients, the government hospitals are not fully quipped.”

“The relief operation process is very scientific but schematic. When a person calls on the helpline, it gets connected to the IT-based WhatsApp location logger and to the computer for the patient record maintenance. The coordinator who receives the call after taking the details connects to the doctor as per the need.

The required kit is then delivered to the home of the caller by the paramedics who will also check on the patient and see if there is a need for oxygen. The paramedics go along with oxygen concentrators if there is a need so that no time is wasted in making arrangements for an oxygen cylinder. Medicines for symptomatic or asymptomatic patients are prescribed by highly-qualified doctors,” said Abdul Azeem.

“We have no non-medical staff because every single person associated in this relief operation is trained. So we have medical and paramedical staff”, Abdul Azeem told Clarion India.

“We ensure sanitisation at the office. The staff is also in uniform and equipped with all precautionary devices. We want the attendant of the COVID patient also to be healthy so we have designed a kit for them as well.

The most important feature of this relief operation is a mobile ICU which is owned by a handful of hospitals in the city. The mobile ICU has a ventilator, defibrillator, ECG, Oxygen concentrator, etc.

Another important feature that has been designed for the mobile ICU is the dead body carrier which is a freezer and will be inserted perpendicular to the driver’s cabin,” Abdul Azeem added.

The Mesco Foundation runs 5 schools in Hyderabad. The foundation has Pharmacy College in Hyderabad. Apart from educational institutes, they also have healthcare services at nominal costs, and take up relief work during natural disasters.

Al Hamd Foundation is a charitable trust to help the poor, needy people through old-age homes, food distribution, healthcare, blood banks, scholarships for poor students, etc.

Both the foundations collaborate for most of their projects regarding healthcare. While Mesco provides technical support, the financing and manning are done by the Al Hamd Foundation.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Sana Sikander / July 07th, 2020

MP Inaugurates Comprehensive COVID Care At Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital

Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Karnataka (under research project), Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, who heads COVID-19 Task Force for Narasimharaja Assembly Constituency, this morning inaugurated the Comprehensive COVID Care facility set up at Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital (BAMH) on Old Mysuru-Bengaluru Road. The Hospital has been converted into a modern 75-bed hospital and can be extended to 100 beds. 

Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital has tied up with Brindavan Hospital for this initiative and the facility will be entirely managed by Brindavan Hospital. It has facilities including Intensive Care Units, Surgery and Haemodialysis, ventilator support and even can handle child birth cases of COVID-infected pregnant women.

The Brindavan Hospital and the Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital will be treated as one hospital and as the State Government has mandated all Private Hospitals in the State to hand over their 50 percent of the beds to COVID care, all the beds at Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital will be reserved for COVID patients and all the non-COVID patients will be treated at Brindavan Hospital. 

MP Pratap Simha inaugurating the Comprehensive COVID Care facility at the hospital along with Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital President Iqbal Ahmed.

A team of specialist doctors, technicians and paramedical staff will run the Hospital with utmost precautions to help the District Administration in its efforts to control the pandemic. Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital President Iqbal Ahmed, Dr. M.R. Aiyappa, General Physician and Diabetologist and Dr. Ravindranath, Orthopaedician at Brindavan Hospital, Dr. K. Javed Nayeem, Dr. Mohan, Dr. Imran and others were present.

Disinfectant tunnel 

On the occasion, a unique disinfectant tunnel was inaugurated by the MP where liquid is not sprayed on the entrants but are fumigated with thick smoke. The smoke is, however safe to inhale. The tunnel has been installed by S3V Technologies and is called ‘3V Safe Tunnel’. Impressed by the tunnel, MP Pratap Simha asked the company representatives to demonstrate the tunnel to Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar so that such facilities can be installed at all the other COVID Care Centres, and hospitals. 

MP Pratap Simha seen exiting a unique disinfectant tunnel where people are fumigated at Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital this morning.

Protest held, withdrawn 

A group of five to six people claiming to be members of Waqf Board in Mysuru objected to the conversion of Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital into a COVID Hospital. Claiming to be the owners of the building and the property where the hospital stands, the members protested. They objected for the commercial use of the Hospital and at the same time said that the hospital is located in a thickly populated area and there is a danger of virus spreading. 

Narasimharaja Sub-Division ACP Shivashankar, Inspector Shekhar and Pratap Simha intervened in the protest and asked the Waqf Board members to withdraw the stir. They told the protesters that real estate matters could be sorted out in other platforms later.

The Hospital has been taken over as COVID-19 is a national disaster and people who object to such issued can be booked under National Disaster Management Act, they said. The protest was later withdrawn. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Covid-19> News / July 24th, 2020