The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Australian surgeon for exchange of faculty
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
Dr Jim Young, a colorectal surgeon from Adelaide, Australia, who is on a visit to Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) these days, feels that close liaison between Australia and the CMCH in terms of exchange of faculty, nursing professionals and students of health sciences is must for updating knowledge of all, working in the field.

He said purpose of his visit was to establish close contacts with other senior consultants and specialists here and encourage them to work with surgeons in Australia.

Specialist in large bowel cancer surgery, Dr Young said about 35-45 new bowel cancer cases per one lakh population were reported in Australia and the rate was increasing each year exponentially. Though in India the incidence rate was much less but if the population of the country was to be compared then the problem was acute.

The expert said in the treatment of rectal cancer patients were given a combination of radiation therapy and chemo-therapy pre-operatively. With this approach, patients in whom surgery was not possible, became operable and the affected area could be treated much better with higher survival rate.

Earlier, during a press conference at the CMCH yesterday, Dr Young said the results of surgery for the treatment of bowel cancer, especially of colon, and that of breast cancer were much better in both the countries, if these were performed by specialists.

Appreciating the facilities available at the CMCH, Dr Young said the Department of General Surgery was super-specialised into further sub-units. The Colorectal Surgery Unit had also established facilities like stoma clinic with stoma therapists to take care of patients post-operatively also, he observed.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor, in charge, Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, CMCH, said colorectal units in this part of the region were at places like AIIMS, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the CMCH. “On an average we receive 50 cases of colorectal cancer per year at the CMCH,” Dr Kapoor said.

Men hesitant to get infertility treatment, says expert
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
The true incidence of infertility is difficult to ascertain but evidence so far indicates that it is common and increasing at the rate of 10-30 per cent with many causes. A study carried by Dr Vineeta Munjal, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB), for over a period of 10 years with patients from Ludhiana, Jaipur and Delhi etc suggests that a majority of these people could not have child because of some problem in egg formation or a low sperm count.

In her study, Dr Munjal took patients between the age group of 25-35 hailing from all strata of society. The treatment of such patients involved total commitment with availability even on Sundays and off days. The availability of ultrasonologist on fertile day was also essential and laparoscopic procedures were undertaken to detect and manage abnormalities of uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries and relationships with each other.

“The women were more motivated and willing or maybe forced to come forward for treatment. Male partners most of the time refused to come for check-up or accept the treatment offered, which was in the form of medicines or intrauterine insemination (IUI)”, observed Dr Vineeta.

It was found that patients who had full faith in the treating doctor had better results. But the “non-serious” patients, expecting miraculous results with a magic wand, were the ones with poor results. “The ‘male’ factor was the main culprit. The very fact that the male had a deficiency was very difficult to digest. Often women were ready to take the blame on themselves. Even in cases where the problem could be solved by the IUI, about 30-40 per cent males refused the treatment modality offered because of financial constraints or due to their own laid-down ethics”, said Dr Vineeta.

Dr Munjal said that contrary to previous ideology, the recent concept was aggressive management of infertile couples, especially who were above the age of 30. Thorough investigative work-up was of utmost importance undertaken to determine the cause of infertility rather than blindly putting the patient on medication, and specific treatment should be initiated.

The assessment of detailed hormonal profile and their variations in the cycle of each individual was the key factor that determined the results, said Dr Munjal.

Kulbir adjudged best athlete
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 16
Kulbir Kaur annexed five titles (long jump, 50 m race, 100 m race, 200 m race and 400 m race) and was adjudged the best athlete in the annual sports day meet of the local Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, Sabzi Mandi, here today.

Mr Sohan Lal Lotey, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, gave away prizes to the winners. NCC cadets and NSS volunteers of the college along with shooters who brought laurels to the institute were also honoured by the chief guest.

Results: long jump- Kulbir Kaur 1, Ankita 2, Aman 3; shot put- Harmeet 1, Kulbir 2, Navjinder 3; discus throw- Harmeet 1, Kulbir Kaur 2, Sangeeta 3.

50 m race- Kulbir Kaur 1, Rajni 2, Sangeeta 3; 100 m race- Kulbir Kaur 1, Rajni 2, Neelam 3; 200 m race- Kulbir Kaur 1, Sangeeta 2, Ankita 3; 400 m race- Kulbir 1, Rajni 2, Sangeeta 3.

4x100 m relay- BA III-1, BA II-2, 10 plus 1-3; potato race- Renu 1, Sukhjeet 2, Gagan 3; sack race- Shivani 1, Rajni 2, Anupriya 3; chatti race- Sangeeta 1, Neelam 2, Harmeet Kaur 3; three- legged race- Anu and Jasmeet 1, Renu and Ruchi 2, Aman and Pawan 3.