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| Tuesday,
July 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Experts discuss computer-aided drug designs SAS Nagar, July 22 Prof
B.M. Deb, a specialist in the field of chemical bonding and electron density theory from the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University inaugurated the workshop. In his address, Prof Deb emphasised that techniques from drug design should be based on firm theoretical foundations involving manifold linkages between molecular structure and molecular properties like electron density distribution. Computer-aided drug design has become the major component of drug design and discovery. Molecular
modeling, a major component of computer-aided drug design, is an emerging field which took shape as an offshoot of theoretical chemistry. Pharaminformatics involves the application of two emerging informatics-based scientific disciplines, namely bioinformatics and chemeoinformatics. These find wide-ranging applications in the field of drug design and discovery, stated Prof Deb. Earlier, Dr C.L. Kaul, Director,
NIPER, in his welcome address mentioned that among the many objectives of NIPER is to conduct continuing education for teachers, pharamceutical technologists, pharmacists and other pharmacy professionals. Eminent professors like V.M. Kulkarni from the UDCT, Mumbai, Prof S.P. Gupta from BITS Pilani, Dr G.N. Shastry from Pondicherry will deliver lectures during the technical sessions. During the workshop the main emphasis will be on giving hands-on training of PC-based molecular
modelling software to more than 30 participants who include scientists, researchers, teachers and students from various universities, institutes and industry from all over the country. |
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TREATMENT OF RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE SAS Nagar, July 22 This was stated by Dr
G. S. Kalra, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Fortis Heart Institute, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune here yesterday. He said a metallic device was now being used, instead of a balloon, to open the blocked heart valves and the treatment took only 15 to 20 minutes. Dr Kalra, who worked as a Professor of Cardiology at
G. B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi, for 13 years, said he had ample experience and had treated more than 5,000 cases so far. He said as part of its month-long anniversary celebrations the Fortis institute was carrying out surgery for the needy at concessional rates. Nearly 40 persons had been booked in this connection and all of them would be provided medical aid at cheaper rates. The treatment for a person suffering from rheumatic heart disease costs about Rs 55,000 but at present it was being offered to the needy for Rs 25,000 only. Dr Kalra said the disease occurred due to throat infection and was more common in poor people and over crowded societies. It generally sets in at a young age (10 to 20 years) and initial symptoms were joint pains. Slowly one noticed breathlessness and swelling in the body. The throat infection then turned into a heart disease. He said treatment through metallic device gave better results but many doctors could not handle this technical device as it was more demanding and required a lot of experience. He said he had introduced the new technique about three years ago. The patient was fully awake during the surgery as only local anaesthesia was given. Dr Kalra said if the heart valve was fully opened the problem did not recur for about 14 years. However, the treatment could be repeated if the symptoms occurred again. |
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Early detection ‘crucial’ in breast cancer SAS Nagar, July 22 What is most important in cervicle and breast cancer is early detection. In both cases, detection tests are easy and inexpensive, she says. Fast-changing lifestyles, specially among urban women, is the main cause of the rising incidence of breast cancer. Regarding early diagnosis Dr Dinshaw says that self-analysis is most effective in the early stages of the disease. “Only one needs to learn how self-analysis is done and after menopause mammography should be a regularly done,” she suggests. About cervicle cancer, Dr Dinshaw emphasises early detection. “There is a 10 to 15 year gap before a non-malignant cervicle cancer turns malignant. It is detected in the third stage of the disease, the chances of survival are few,” she says. The tests for diagnosing the disease are convenient and cost-effective. “Mammography for breast cancer and a pap smear test for cervicle cancer are tests which are now available in almost all government hospitals,” she says Pap smear tests are recommended once an year from the early 30s in every woman. Pointing out that there is dearth of these facilities in rural areas, Dr Dinshaw says, “In India, the top five cancers among women are of cervicle, breast, oral, ovarian and esophagus. These alone are responsible for two-thirds of the total deaths due to cancer among women. |
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Prevention
against AIDS stressed Chandigarh, July 22 Giving information about AIDS, Dr Kochhar stressed that it should be seen as a national calamity and should be fought by each one of us. “There is no definite cure and had no vaccine. Preventive education is the only means of avoiding HIV/AIDS”, he further added. Dr Ramneek Sharma, founder director, Surya Foundation, and vice-chairperson, Social Welfare Advisory Board, UT Chandigarh, spoke in detail about AIDS and different modes of HIV transmission and its prevention. She called upon students to further educate and spread the awareness on AIDS to their friends and colleagues. Mr S.S. Khanna, chairman and managing director of St Peter’s School, also elaborated on the dreadful disease and its prevention. |
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CISF lift hockey title Chandigarh, July 22 Coaching camp Three basketball players from Chandigarh including two girls have been selected by the Basketball Federation of India for the North and West zones combined coaching camp in sub-junior section to be held at Father Agnel Technical Education, Sector 9, Navi-Mumbai, from August1 to 18. Sanchi Sharma, Kiran and Raman Singh have been selected. They will report to the coordinator, Fr Orlando Rodrigues, on July 31and will be provided with free board and lodging. According to a Chandigarh Basketball Association press note, the East Zone and South Zone camps will be held simultaneously at other places.
Shooting meet PATIALA Dr Jasneet Bhullar was followed by Ravinder Singh and Paramvir Sidhu in that order. On the distaff side in the same event, Supreet Bajwa stood first, while Sureya Talwar and Zenith Sidhu clinched the second and third spots, respectively. Results: .22 open single rifle: junior boys: Ravinder Singh — 1, Paramvir Sidhu — 2, Jaspreet Dhiman — 3. junior girls: Sureya Talwar — 1, Zenith Sidhu — 2, Makhwinder Kaur — 3. Air istol, women: Dr Sumanpreet Bhullar — 1, Manglita Bhadwal — 2, Paramjit Bhullar — 3. Air rifle, men: Ravinder Sidhu — 1, Jasmanbir Kaleka — 2, Attal Sekhon — 3. Women: Rana Subpreet Sidhu — 1, Lalita — 2, Avneet Dhother — 3. Junior men: Ravinder Sidhu — 1, Jashanbir Kaleka — 2, Attal Sekhon — 3. Sub-junior men: Indermeet Sra — 1, Alamjit Sidhu — 2, Jujhar Singh — 3. Sub-junior women: Lalita — 1, Avneet -2. |
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Padukone’s selection a ‘right’ decision Chandigarh, July 22 Mr D.V. Bhatia, vice-president of the All-India Tennis Association (AITA), echoed the views in positive sense. Mr Bhatia, who is also the president of the Chandigarh Gymnastics Association (CGA), said the presence of large number of well-known and reputed sportspersons in majority of the committees would certainly improve the selection criteria. He said it was also nice that some senior officers of the Union Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India had been included to review the recommendations of the former sportspersons. Mr D.S. Bedi, Director-Principal of Shivalik Public School, said the appointment of the former champion was a decision that would help deserving sportspersons to get their share. Bedi said the presence of other top players like Ajit Pal Singh, P.T. Usha etc. would strengthen the credibility of the committee. He said up till now players who had put in a lot of hard work were a neglected lot. It was a correct decision on the part of the Union Sports Ministry to give prominence to eminent sportspersons. Sanjeev Aggarwal, a former cricketer, said though some positive attempt had been made to make the Arjuna Award selection system transparent, one surprising fact was that nobody among the Dronacharya Award winners had been included in the selection committee. He said coaches had been an indispensible part of sports and their views were equally vital while taking any decision. Virender Mehta, a former national badminton player, said the selection of Prakash Padukone as the head of the committee would send positive signals to the entire sporting community. He added that Prakash enjoyed a clean image in the sporting circles. |
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NRI’s dream of reviving sports in the region Chandigarh, July 22 Seeing poor sports facilities in the country, Gurdeep has decided to start a sports trust. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, he said, the main task of the trust would be to create a corpus fund initially for the welfare of sportspersons and for those who were economically weak but possessed potential to rise in sports. He said in a period one month he would mark the beginning of the trust. He added that during international events like Olympics, Commonwealth Games, etc. he had been visiting the venues to help and cheer Indian sportspersons in their respective events. Otherwise a textile businessman, Gurdeep, now aged 38, is married to a local girl, Ramanpreet, who he says is also a social worker. He visits India five to six times a year. According to him, India had no dearth of sportspersons but they lacked international exposure and were without advanced training equipment and facilities to have an edge on others. He cited the example of the Netherlands where even a small town had the most sophisticated facilities like synthetic courts, indoor halls, indoor swimming pools and Astroturf. Gurdeep said Punjab and Chandigarh had enormous talent and players like Abhinav Bindra in shooting, Sachin Ratti in badminton, along with various athletes and hockey players, were doing well in foreign lands. He said he had the mission to give sports a real thrust by working on his plan.
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Italian
golfer to visit city Chandigarh, July 22 His visit was mainly to assess the possibility of opening a national golf academy here in view of the large number of top-class golfers now belong to the city. He felt satisfied with the kind of facilities being provided in the CGA range. Wing Commander Aprajit also discussed the itinerary of renowned golf coach Dr Denato of Italy in the middle of the next month. Later, Mr Azad said top golfers like Amandeep Johl and Harmeet Kahlon would benefit from this camp. Among others who present at the meeting were, the CGA president, Mr D.P. Azad, the senior vice- president, Mr Jagdeep Singh Cheema; the secretary — Mr Vivek Wahi the Director of Hero Honda Golf Academy, Mr Jessy Grewal. |
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Golf training
course for juniors Chandigarh, July
22 Talking to TNS, Ajay
said the aim of the scheme was to promote junior golf in Chandigarh to
make the sport affordable for students as also to further popularise
the game in the city. This will be done by subsidising the coaching
fee for school-going students. Ajay said the club had decided to
permit him to enrol non-member students on the coaching programme on a
first-come first-serve basis. The first 15 non-member students would
be permitted to attend the course. Under the programme coaching
would be conducted on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Competitions
would be held once a month for the trainees attending the course. |
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Order on coop housing societies Chandigarh, July 22 An order passed by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, says it has come to the notice of the Administration that the managements of the cooperative house building societies are being elected from all members of the societies. As a result, in many cases, the allottee members who had invested substantial amount of savings in house building are suffering on account of office-bearers elected with the support of non-allottee members, indulging in unscrupulous practices detrimental to the interest of the group housing societies. These societies were registered for the sole purpose of house building. The members who are either not eligible or did not apply for the allotment of land at the relevant time should not be allowed to form part of the management. The interest of a person who has become a member by contributing just Rs 100 cannot be compared with that of the members who have paid lakhs of rupees for the construction of flats. To protect the interests of thousands of genuine members who were allotted land and who consequently invested lakhs of rupees into house construction, the Registrar under rule 45 of Punjab Cooperative Societies Rules, 1963, ordered that non-allottee members should not be eligible to vote for election to management committees or executive committees to construct and manage the affairs of societies. And also they would not be eligible to contest the election for office-bearers of the management committees of executive committees or the societies. However, the non-allottee members can elect one member from among them for every hundred or less than hundred non-allottee members to represent them and watch their interests in matters concerning filling vacant slots , if any, by way of substitution in the society on account of any allottee member opting to relinquish his right. |
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Centre
to check sale of stolen vehicles Chandigarh, July 22 The centre being set up in collaboration with the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, is expected to be inaugurated by the Inspector General of Chandigarh Police in the coming days, said sources in the police department. Basically the facility — to be set up the Chandigarh Police headquarters in Sector 9 here — will provide fully computerised national database of stolen vehicles. An official said it was using the information technology (IT) for the prevention of crime. The user would have to fill a form and pay a nominal fee to access information about a second-hand vehicle. Officials dealing with the cases of auto thefts in the city said theft of vehicles and subsequent fake
registration of such vehicles on the basis of forged documents had become a headache for police of different states. So far the National Crime Record Bureau maintains a record of over four lakh vehicles. The facility enables to check registration of vehicles with the help of fake NOCs. Record of all vehicles recovered by the police could be verified with the help of the facility. In the past six months, at least 54 per cent of the vehicles, including four-wheelers, were stolen from the southern and the central parts of the city. A total of around 300 vehicles were lifted from the city in the past six months, as per the official record of the police. As per the records apart from the theft of vehicles, the city and its neighbouring towns of SAS Nagar and Panchkula are major centres for the sale of stolen vehicles. Several gangs of auto lifters have been busted by the city police in the past but thefts continue. Police sources said against any organised gang of vehicle thieves operating in the city during the past, vehicle theft is more and more being managed individually or by two persons. |
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City lawyer made rly
panel member Chandigarh, July 22 The zonal committee, which comprises mainly Members of Parliament and those nominated by the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committees, has five railway divisions under its jurisdiction. The zonal committee has a wide area of operation. It will oversee the state of amenities provided in all five divisions, including those with their headquarters at Ambala and Ferozepore. It will also study proposals for having new railway stations in various divisions, changes in train schedules, etc. A committee member has powers to look into the grievances of railway users and forward these to the Railway Ministry for necessary action. |
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