The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Bone and joint cancer treatment in city
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
“There is a new ray of hope for patients suffering from bone and joint cancer. They will not have to go to Delhi or Chennai for treatment as it can now be treated at Oswal Cancer Hospital at reasonable cost,” said Dr R.R. Saggar, Senior Consultant, Department of Orthopaedics, Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, at a press conference here today.

Dr Saggar has recently returned from the Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Institute of Orthopaedics, Rizzoli (Italy), after getting training on bone and joint cancer management from Professor M. Mercuri.

Mr Avtar Singh, a patient from Patiala was successfully operated upon by Dr Saggar here recently. “I had severe pain in my left leg about four months ago. I consulted many doctors in Patiala, but could not get relief. One of my friends sent me here and now after the operation, I am feeling much better,” said Mr Avtar Singh. The patient will be discharged within three-four days.

Dr Saggar said, “We do not give 100 per cent guarantee, but I am sure that the patient will not face any problem for the rest of his life”.

While giving details, he said the joint used in the operation was made in Chennai by biomechanical engineers. “It is of stainless steel and costs 8 to 10 times less than imported custom-made prosthesis. Hence more persons can now afford this knee-replacement surgery,” he said.

“These prosthesis are made on order after careful evaluation of patient’s disease and stage of cancer. The size and diameter of the bone is checked by using CT scan and X-rays. It takes about two weeks to get the joint made. Till then patient receives chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” added Dr Saggar.

“The cost of treatment will not be more than Rs 75,000,” said Dr Saggar.

Health Tips
Take plenty of liquids, fruits, vegetables

Heat has the potential of being both a blessing and a curse. To a certain point it is comfortable, soothing and welcome. Past this point it can be a nuisance. Our wise and loving creator placed within us wonderful mechanisms that automatically protect our health and well being in normal circumstances and in many conditions of emergency as well. Fortunately, our bodies are created so that we can combat heat quite satisfactorily . The brain has specific centres that regulate response to heat, conserving it or dissipating it as the situation demands.

These centres are set off by reflex mechanisms responding when the skin changes temperature. The temperature of the blood as it flows through these centres also influences their activity. To remain comfortable, the body must eliminate as much heat as it receives. Normally, human body temperature is 39 degree C, measured by mouth. By rectum it is one degree higher, and by armpit it is one degree lower. Body heat is highest in late afternoon or early evening, lowest at four or five o’clock in the morning. When the body is warm, the surface blood-vessels dilate, allowing more blood to be sent through this area, taking it from internal organs, whence heat loss cannot occur efficiently. When the body is heated, the blood volume increases. The increase comes about by means of added fluid drawn from the tissues, especially of the skin, muscles and liver. The rate of flow is also increased, to more efficiently expose the blood to the cooling effect of dilated surface vessels.

Some preventive measures:

Clothing should be loose , not only at the top and bottom but in the middle as well. Light colours are preferred to dark colors because they deflect heat rays from the body.

Clothing prevents sweat evaporation because the air between the skin and the cloth becomes warm, hurried and stagnant. As a result, sweat soaks into the material, lowering its value as a cooling agent.

During hot weather avoid junk food and overeating. Eat more protein and carbohydrates than fat and starch. Salads and fresh fruits are not only appetising but they add bulk fluid, valuable adjuncts to the summer diet.

Take more fluids. The most important single factor in beating the heat is fluid. Thirst is usually a good indicator that fluid is needed, but this symptom tends to lag behind the body’s demands. The temperature of the fluid is not hearly so important as the quantity.

Take bath twice or thrice a day. Bathing in either warm or cool water is fine while it lasts. It is cleansing, stimulating and relatively harmless. Where heat relief is concerned, its value is primarily mental. The weather is just as hot after you bath as it was before.

Exercise moderation in activity. If you are not accustomed to heavy exercise, hot weather is certainly not the time to begin it. Many a person has forced himself into added activity- only to have his fun cut short by becoming overheated. It is well to remember that outdoor activities in direct sun can affect the brain if the head and neck are not adequately covered.

Take salts regular in hot weather. If too much salt is taken in average summer heat, extra water is pulled from the tissues to help excrete it. This action deprives the body of fluid vitally needed to form sweat. The best way to replenish salt loss in hot weather is by seasoning food in a reasonable manner.

In first-aid, remove casualty from the source of heat, preferably to a cool room. Undress the patient and wrap him in a sheet or towels, soaked in cold water. Note the body temperature of the patient every five minutes and regularly fan him. When the temperature is down to 38 degree C ( 101 degree F ) replace the wet sheet with a dry one. Continue fanning. If body temperature rises again, restart the cooling treatment.

Persons working under conditions of high temperature and humidity should be encouraged to drink cool water. It has been found in India that a man doing hard work in the sun requires about one litre of water per hour. For a sedentary worker requirement is half this quantity. Protective goggles, shields and helmets are useful. The temperature and humidity in the work environment may be controlled by proper ventilation and air-conditioning. When working in the sunlight, wear a cap to protect head. Eat light, nutritious food taking care to include in diet plenty of liquids, vegetables and fruits.

Anil Dheer

Biomedical waste disposal: docs resent high rates
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 4
Close on the heels of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation finalising an agreement with a private company for the disposal of biomedical waste, the medical community does not seem to be prepared to accept the rates fixed by the corporation for the hospitals.

Under the agreement between the MC and the Medicare Incin Pvt Ltd, each hospital in the state will have to pay Rs 2.70 per bed per day for the waste disposal. The doctors have been arguing that the mere bed strength should not determine the cost of disposal. The district president of the Indian Medical Association, Dr Gursharan Singh, pointed out, it was the occupancy in the hospitals which led to the biomedical waste. “When there is no occupancy why should the hospital and the nursing homes pay?” he asked.

He said even if a hospital had only a 20-bed capacity it would have to pay at least Rs 1500 every month, whether there were any admissions or not. This was usually the minimum-bed strength of the hospital in the state. Besides, those hospitals which were located at a distance from the disposal plant would have to pay additional money, he added.

Dr Gursharan Singh further said that the issue would be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting of the state body of the IMA being held at Amritsar. He observed that this was a costly proposition and not every hospital can afford it. “Ultimately the cost will pass on to the patients,” he pointed out. He hinted that the IMA may moot alternate measures like organising cooperative incinerators which can be installed at a relatively lower price.

Homoeopathy workshop ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
A two-day workshop on homoeopathy, organised by the International Council of Ayurveda in collaboration with the Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies (SOSVA) at Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, concluded here today.

Prof Gurdev Singh, Director, SOSVA, was the chief guest and stressed upon the need for proper documentation and spread of information for the doctors working in alternative system of medicine.

Mr Hira Lal Jain, president of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital presided over. Dr Ashok Sharma, secretary general, International Council of Ayurveda, and Dr B.D. Dutt, regional chairman of the council asked the delegates to accept and work within homoeopathy.

The homoeopathy doctors demanded that government should encourage ayurveda and homoeopathy and fund the research projects of these sciences.

During first scientific session, Dr Deepinder Singh gave a presentation on the topic “Homoeopathy and AIDS” with multimedia. He said that homoeopathy could help in decreasing viral load of the patient suffering from AIDS. He added that the AIDS patients needed care and love of the society. Dr Tarun Chaudhary presented a paper on history of Homoeopathy.

Dr Parmod discussed the role of homoeopathy for malignant disorders. Dr Nirdosh presented some chronic cases treated by homoeopathy. Prof Baldev Singh from DIET, Jagraon, discussed relevance of homoeopathy in the present hi-tech age. In the end, Dr Ravinder Kochhar, Principal of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, thanked the delegates and the ICA for participating and holding the workshop in the college. He assured that college would continue to support any organisation working for the cause of science and humanity.