HEALTH

‘Screen drug firms’ literature’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 18
The second day of the national workshop on clinical pharmacology in the PGI’s Department of Pharmacology began with a lecture by Professor S.K. Garg of the Department of Pharmacology. On the “pharma-cokinetic” aspects of drugs, Professor Garg said “pharmacokinetics” dealt with the absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs in the body. This, he said, was an important field of clinical pharmacology.

In the second lecture of the day, Professor S.K. Tripathy of Kolkata delivered a speech on the evaluation of data from clinical trials. He also spoke on the method of scrutinising and critically analysing promotional literature distributed by drug companies about their products.

Professor V.K. Bhargava, a former head of the department, who is currently, working in Amritsar, spoke on the clinical significance of “pharma-cokinetic parameters”.

These parameters helped in designing drug dosage regimens for patients and enabled doctors to individualise drug therapy. Dr R. Uppal, a former member of the department faculty, spoke on rational use of drugs.

According to Dr Uppal, clinical pharmacologists should play a larger role in ensuring a rational use of drugs. The lectures were followed by a practical demonstration.

Specialised resection of liver performed
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, February 18
A team of doctors led by Dr Navin Raina, Senior Consultant Surgeon, Fortis Heart Institute, here has successfully conducted a highly-specialised resection of liver on a 72-year-old patient, Mr Iqbal Singh, at the institute.

In a statement issued here today, it has been stated that the rare resection of the liver was performed on a patient who was suffering from gall bladder cancer. Only a few centres nationwide have surgeons who have successfully performed liver resection of such enormity and magnitude wherein 40 per cent of the liver was surgically removed, the statement said.

Dr R.V. Karanjekar, Medical Director of the institute, has claimed that expert doctors at the institute have successfully performed the highly-complex procedure and the patient is on the “road to recovery”.

SPORTS

Cricket buffs offer prayers
Monica Sharma

Chandigarh, February 18
All roads led to religious places in the city today. As the evening sun disappeared behind the impressive buildings in the west, students rushed out of their residences to pray for the success of the Indian team in the World Cup match on Wednesday. In at least four city schools, special prayer sessions were held by members of various local cricket clubs soon after the study hours.

The reason behind their anxiety was not hard to see. In its match against Holland, the team had struggled hard to score just over 200 runs. Though the team succeeded in winning the game, the players lost face. Everyone was aware of the grim reality.

Dejected, but not disheartened, they had hoped against hope that the team would be able to perform better in their match against Australia. With anxious hearts wildly thumping against their chests, cricket fans occupied comfortable seats in front of their television sets.

All was well in the initial few overs, but soon the entire team collapsed like a pack of cards with the scoreboard showing only 125 runs. Their faith in the attacking abilities of the Indian bowlers and fielders was also shattered after the Aussies managed to chase the target by losing just one wicket.

Perhaps, it was then that the young innocents realised that efforts, and strategies, were not enough for the team to bring home the glittering cup. Something more was required to help them succeed in their match against Zimbabwe. No wonder, the little ones, having trust in the powers of prayers, decided to drive down to religious places for prayers.

They had done it before. After the conclusion of annual examinations, they had requested God to come to their rescue. The results had reposed their confidence in the magic of prayers. Their appeal had been accepted then, it would be accepted now also. They had no reasons to doubt.

As resolved, the enthusiastic youngsters reached temples in Sector 15, 16, 18, 20 and 45 at the decided time for requesting God to be there with the team in their hour of need.

They were confident that the Almighty would listen to them. The reason: Tuesday was Lord Hanuman’s day. He would not disappoint his followers, they were sure.

Some others reached Gurdwaras in Sector 8, 15, 22, 27 and 34 to pray for the heavenly support. Words were just not necessary as they stood in silence with their hands folded in complete devotion.

This was not all. Raman Sharma, a cricket buff from Sector 19, even pulled out a crumpled Rs 100 note from his jeans’ pocket for offering at a temple. “It will be worth the trouble if India wins the match,” he asserted. “Sweat, toil, tears and prayers seldom fail. I am sure,” he said.

Shikha, Gurvinder, Madhu enter quarterfinals
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, February 18
Shikha Sharma, Gurvinder Kaur and Madhu Walia all of the RSB, Chandigarh made it to the last eight of the women’s section of the All India Civil Services Table Tennis Tournament here today. In men’s section, Alkesh Saini and Harish Kumar (both from the RSB, Chandigarh) also moved up to make their grade in the quarter-finals.

Results: Men — Sourav Sen b Indeebar Chatterjee, 6-11, 9-11,11-9,11-8, 11-9; Sanjeev Shankar lost to Jagmohan Bisht, 9-11,11-6, 7-11,11-9, 9-11; Deepankar Adhikari b Shiva Barat, 11-7,10-12, 11-7,11-8; Dilip Kapoor b Vikas Sharma, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7; Alkesh Saini b Sanjay Khurana, 7-11,11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5; Harish Kumar b Debdath Mohanti, 7-11,11-8,11-9,10-12,11-8; Swapnil Namoshi b Amit Srivastava, 5-11,11-4,11-9,11-9; Shantan b KVP Rama Rao, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9.

Women — Madhu Walia lost to Moushmi Ghosh, 7-11, 5-11, 6-11; Leena A b Mantu Murmu, 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9; Geeta Tandon b Shailaya Gautam, 11-9,11-4,11-2; Rubi Kaur b Asha Sharma, 11-3,11-7,11-6; Rajni Gupta b Barkha, KC 11-5, 11-4, 11-9; Shikha Sharma b Arti Sharma, 11-6,10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 11-1; Chulbal Das b Chitra Gupta, 11-6,11-6,11-6; Gurvinder Kaur b Leena Kaur, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.

Veterans — N.S. Rawat b M.L. Sendhe; Som Nath b S.P. Jagan Nath; M. Sahid b Durae Leanu; Atul Shikle b L.S. Negi; S Tuvade b S.N. Tripathi; K. Jairam b Arun Kumar; Balbir Bedi b N. Sethi; and P.P. Manchanda b Ranjit Rai.