BODY & MIND
You can now ‘afford’ to live longer
Ravi Bhatia

THE National Capital region (NCR) has been witnessing to a tremendous growth in the healthcare sector with a large number of state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics mushrooming all over. With experts from various fields on their panels, these hospitals boast of offering specialised treatment for virtually every disease one can think of.

Some of the ailments, which a few years ago were considered to be terminal, are now being successfully treated in these hospitals contributing to the longevity of the people. Open-heart surgery is now passé. There are new and innovative methods to keep your heart ticking. Complete diseased organs can be replaced to keep you going for another few years. But, the only catch is that these specialised treatments come with a price tag which only a few can afford. The rest of course have to leave their fate in the hands of the almighty and the doctors at the government hospitals. The mantra apparently is, “You can live longer if you can afford it”.

At the same time, other specialised clinics are catering to the desire of the humans to look good. Corrective plastic surgery is the in-thing. If you do not like the way your nose turns up or down, you do not have to be depressed about it or live with it. Just walk into one of the specialised clinics and walk out looking the way you always wanted to be, thanks to the tremendous strides that the medical sciences have made.

Navigational surgery

Computer guided surgery, also known as image guided surgery or surgical navigation for hip and knee replacement surgeries, has become a reality in India with the launch of India’s first Computer Assisted Joint Replacement Centre in Mumbai.

This technology has been brought to India by Dr Thakkar, a senior orthopaedic surgeon and a pioneer in the field of computer guided hip and knee replacement surgery. A state-of-the-art facility is likely to be set up in the Capital soon. Joint replacement surgery is also an exercise in mechanical engineering. The surgeon measures the angles to which the leg is deformed, measures the dimensions of bones, which are diseased or damaged, assesses the tightness of Ligaments - the elastic that holds the joint, selects the part most appropriate for a given individual and plans the steps of the operation.

Till today, all this was done manually, with factor of human error creeping in from time to time, but now with introduction of computers, the chances of such errors are eliminated. The surgeon can now plan his surgery, including selection of proper fitting parts for each of his patient and simulate the steps of surgery even before going into the operation theatre, thereby reducing the human error factor. During the surgery the computer guides the surgeon at each and every step. The computer navigates the path of instruments in such a way that the part is fitted in the most optimum position. It also helps in adjusting the ligament tension so the operated joint is neither too tight restricting the moments, nor too loose resulting in far of fall while walking.

Explaining the technical aspects of the machine, Dr C. J. Thakkar said in a statement recently, that this system was called a navigator, as it not only guides the steps of surgery, but warns the surgeon of error at each step during the surgery.

The system consists of a machine no bigger than a household refrigerator. It has the computer console, touch screen monitor and infrared camera and a set of dedicated instruments, each of which is fitted with special reflective markers. In absence of this technology the surgeon some times has to take help of X-rays during surgery with inherent dangers of X-ray radiation to self and the patient. While this technology uses the safe infrared rays which are not harmful.

Hair-raising

Dr Arvind Poswal

Yes, it’s goodbye to baldness now. For at least those who can afford it. With Follicular Micro Hair Transplant, people can have perfectly normal hair that will even grow like natural hair. At least this is what Dr Arvind Poswal, MBBS, MIMA; MRS of Dr. A’s clinic in Chitaranjan Park here would have us believe.

It is claimed that the Japanese were transplanting single hair follicles even in the 19th century. However, transplant as a cure for baldness gained popularity only 1950 onwards, in the USA.

According to Dr Poswal, hair transplant is based on the surmise that one’s hair is of two types: Hormone-responsive hair that has shorter lifespan, and are slowly lost, following varying duration of exposure to normal testosterone levels in the body. Or Hormone-resistant hair that remain throughout our life-like those on the chest, face and back of the head. The proportion of each type of hair is genetically programmed in each human at birth. With certain medical measures, we might be able to extend the life of susceptible hair by a short period of time. But the moment we stop medication, we lose all the hair we were destined to lose in the first place. Moreover, long-term medical treatments are usually fraught with chances of adverse effects, says Dr Poswal. Hence, follicular hair transplant that involves shifting hair roots of genetically long lived hair individually, to the bald areas is now advised.

Till late 1980s, hair plugs or bunches (10-20 hair) were transplanted in three to four sessions. It was only 1990 onwards that follicular micrografting /single follicle grafting was attempted. And it virtually swept bald men off their feet.

One has to realise that before follicular micrografting, the hair plugs that were transplanted, used to give a very unnatural, toothbrush-like appearance. But in follicular micrografting, a 6 to 10 member technical team works at dissecting the hair roots into individual hair follicular units with the help of special binocular dissecting magnifiers.

Simultaneously, other transplant team members transplant these follicles very close together. The result is a virtually natural looking hair-growth in a single sitting of a few hours.

As the world of cosmetic surgery was gravitating towards the procedure of single follicle grafting/follicular micrografting. Dr Arvind Poswal’s clinics also introduced it in India in 1997. India can thus boast of world-class follicular micrografting facilities, the only disadvantage being a waiting list of three to seven days.

While these methods are gaining increasing popularity in the West, a large proportion of the Indian population and doctors are unaware of the treatment and its benefits. With this in mind, to boost the patient and his physician’s confidence in the final result, Dr A’s clinics have started the facility of limited transplants.

Follicular microhair transplant is also being used to give better appearance to people who have got toothbrush-like punch grafts done by older techniques. It is also successful over scars, burns, traction, alopecia, eyebrow, moustache, and beard areas.

So now Follicular Micro Hair Transplant, the world’s most advanced technique of transplanting hair, is available in South Asia, One can have perfectly normal hair that will grow regularly and look natural. They will be growing out of one’s own skin, enabling people to run their fingers through them. There is no worry of hair-fall, but yes, greying will occur, just like with normal hair. This hair can be cut or shaven repeatedly.

What is required is a certain artistic acumen on the part of the transplant specialist to give a natural look. Haphazardly transplanted hair follicles may still grow, but will not look natural. Thus, the purpose of the transplant may well be defeated. Follicular micrografting is done under local anaesthesia and is virtually painless. And the patient is free to leave immediately after the treatment.

BHR procedure

As a testimony of India’s emergence as a global healthcare destination, Apollo Hospitals successfully conducted a Birmingham Hip Re-surfacing (BHR) procedure on a British national. The surgery is an indication of the trend with patients from the Western countries preferring India as destination for their healthcare requirements even for surgical procedures like BHR, a procedure developed in Birmingham, Britain and available in the West. Today, a British patient, 59-year-old Mr Cyril Parry, joined four other international patients, one each from Britain, Canada, Bangladesh and Tanzania, to express their views on Indian healthcare services and the reasons why they chose India as a healthcare destination.

The five patients join over 95,000 international patients who have satisfactorily undergone treatment at various Apollo Hospitals Group till now.

From its inception in 1983, Apollo Hospitals have consistently provided comprehensive medical solutions to patients across the globe with global standard success rates in various complex medical procedures achieved through Medical Expertise and ably supported by state-of-the-art medical infrastructure and facilities available at its centres. These initiatives have met with considerable success, as is evident in the consistent flow of patients from several regions of the world, including the UK and the North America.

SPORTS

Goel celebrates bid win
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 15
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel joined a group of former Olympians, international sportspersons and media personnel at the National Stadium conference hall on Saturday to celebrate the allotment of the 2010 Commonwealth Games to New Delhi, at the Commonwealth Games Federation meeting, in Jamaica on November 13.

Mr Goel said the entire country was rejoicing at the prospect of playing host to the Commonwealth Games, for the first time ever, seven years from now. He said the credit for India winning the games bid should go to all those who are directly or indirectly related to sports.

He also thanked the media for highlighting the strong points of India, particularly its organisational abilities, during the visit of the Commonwealth Bid Evaluation Committee to New Delhi.

Among the prominent sportspersons present at the celebration get-together were former Olympian hurdler Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, former Indian cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi, Gursharan Singh, hockey veterans H. S. Chimney, M. K. Kaushik, Nandi Singh, Ashok Kumar and Zafar Iqbal, badminton players Madhumita and Vikram Bisht, rider H S Sodhi, boxer Mohammad Ali Qamar and table tennis player Manjit Dua.

Mayank Sidana to lead Delhi Under-17 team
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 15
Mayank Sidana will lead the Delhi Under-17 team in the first two matches of the Junior Cricket Championship against Haryana and Punjab to be played at the Harbaksh Singh Stadium and Patiala respectively. The match against Haryana will be played from November 20 to 22 while the tie against Patiala will be held from November 25 to 27. Robin Bisht has been named the vice-captain. The team was selected at a meeting of the Delhi and District Cricket Association selection committee headed by chairman-cum-convenor Sunil Dev and attended by Raj Kumar Sharma and Rajinder Singh.

The team: Mayank Sidana, Robin Bisht, Saurav Jain, Surya Vardhan Azad, Anuj Jain, Raman Sachdev, Vartik Tihara, Rajat Gupta, Ujwal Nanda, Karan Harit, Varun Singh, Ashwat Kumar (wk), Manu Kapoor, Rahul Mehta, Kumar Abhishek and Shahwez Khan. Stand-byes: Rohit Sharma, Showmick Chatterjee, Rohan Sahdev, Saurav Srivastav (wk), Shantanu Pandey, Harjinder Singh, Afroz Massey, Sumit Singh, Pargat Singh and Chetan Chopra. Mr Sunil Dev said the players will report to manager T V Subramaniam and coach Radhey Shyam Sharma for regular net session at the National Stadium on Sunday at 9 am.

Salwan Boys advance

New Delhi, November 15
An all-round display by Arun Choudhary (3 for 13 and 42 n o) and deadly bowling of 4 for 20 by leg-spinner Sawan Saini helped defending champions Salwan Boys beat Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Sriniwaspuri by seven wickets and entered the quarter-final of the Sardar Harbans Singh Sistani Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament at the S S Khalsa School ground, Lajpat Nagar.

Scores: Sarvodaya Vidyalaya: 134 for 9 in 25 overs (Amardeep Singh 66, Chanchal Singh 32, Sawan Saini 4 for 20, Arun Choudhary 3 for 13). Salwan Boys: 136 for 3 in 17.2 overs (Arun Choudhary 42 n o, Narender Singh 30, Ratan Rawat 25, Amardeep Singh 3 for 31).

Anshuman hits ton

A stroke-filled century by Anshuman Kambhoj and deadly bowling by Manish Adhikari (4 for 20) helped Alpine Club beat Bank of India by 179 runs in an A-II Division match of the DDCA League at the Yamuna Sports Complex ground. Scores: Alpine Club: 260 for 6 in 40 overs (Anshuman Kambhoj 100, Akash Vij 41, S. K. Dogra 3 for 77).

Bank of India: 81 all out in 29.2 overs (Vijender Kumar 38 n o, Manish Adhikari 4 for 20, Mohit Verma 3 for 18).

In another match, Universal Club beat Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) by 126 runs in A-II Division. Scores: Universal Club: 205 for 8 in 35 overs (Kuldeep Singh 55, Rajat Sharma 35, Gajender Singh 3 for 18, P K Soni 2 for 48). LIC: 79 all out in 19.5 overs (P K Soni 14, Rahul Puri 6 for 22).

Piyush, Pankaj star

Deadly bowling spells by Piyush Tiwari and Pankaj Mohan enabled Kirori Mal College defeat Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce by 44 runs in the Inter-College Cricket Tournament at the Khalsa College ground.

Scores: 197 in 38 overs (Mohit Saini 33, Tajesh Anand 27, Ayush Mohan 26, Akshay 25, Bharat Khurana 3 for 30, Jitesh 2 for 19, Gaurav 2 for 2).

SGGSCC: 153 for 9 in 40 overs (P. Biswas 39, P. Tiwari 2 for 23, Saurabh Bhambi 2 for 24, Pankaj Mohan 2 for 29).

Associate move up

Associate beat JRA by four wickets in the 3rd Eventus Cup Cricket Tournament.

Zara enjoy royal treat in Indian Open Polo
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 15
Zara defeated Royal Kashmir 7-4 in the Indian Open Polo Championship at the Jaipur Polo ground on Saturday. For Zara, the goal scorers were Dhrupal Godara, Alezandro Trauerso (2) and Gerardo Mazzini (4) while Jai Shergill, Oliver Taylor and Nacho Gaonzales scored for Royal Kashmir.

Sunday’s fixtures: McDowells Signature vs Haryana Polo Club (1.15 pm); Royal Kashmir vs Jindal Steel (2.45 pm)— Jaipur Polo ground..

Bodyguards beat Rabbits

Bodyguards beat Rabbits by 4-3 1/2 goals and Gunners beat ASC/Artillary by 3 `BD goals to 2 in the Ratanda Cup Polo Tournament at the Army Equestrian Centre Polo ground on Saturday. Tarun Sirohi and Jagat Singh scored two goals each for Bodyguards while S K Yadav scored two goals for the losers, who started with a handicap of one and a half goal. In the second match, Ravi Rathore scored two goals for Runners, who started with a handicap of one and a half goals. Akhil Sirohi scored two goals for ASC/Art. Sunday’s fixture: Zara vs Bodyguards; 10 am—Army Equestrian Centre ground.

Club Golf finals today

The North Zone regional finals of the McDowell's Signature Club Golf Championship promises to be an exciting affair with eight top-drawer golf clubs set to clash with each other on Sunday. Noida, Rambagh, Chandigarh, Aravalli, Lucknow, Classic, Delhi and Jaypee Greens Golf Clubs will play hosts to the finals.

Licences of 17 ration shops suspended
Our Correspondent

Noida, November 15
The Civil Supplies Department has suspended the licences of 17 ration shops. In all, 232 ration shops were inspected by the department officials during the past fortnight.

Three diesel agents were suspended and fine of Rs 7500 was recovered from the defaulting shopkeepers. Besides, five wholesale kerosene outlets, two marketing godowns and two paddy procurement centers were also inspected.

District Civil Supplies Officer I. M. Hashmi disclosed licences of three civil supplies depots in Noida, five in Javer, five in Bisarakh, two in Dadri and two in Dankaur had been suspended. Besides, licences of dealers in Mandi Shyam Nagar and Ladpura and Ghojha villages had also been suspended.

Besides Rs 3500 in Javer, Rs 3400 in Dadri Block, Rs 250 in Dankaur, Rs 800 in Dadri City had been recovered under various cases for the government treasury. The District Civil Supplies officer has impressed upon dealers to make available essential commodities to the public at all times on urgent basis.

Posters have been pasted giving necessary information at all ration depots for people’s convenience and guidance. Besides, the accountants of gram panchayat had been asked to check the BPL ration cards of all consumers to ensure that all cards were genuine, Mr Hashmi said.