HEALTH

Correct diagnosis must, Governor tells radiologists
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8
The UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), today called upon radiologists to lay stress on accuracy and research, as their role in making correct diagnosis was of immense importance.

Speaking after inaugurating the XI National Conference of Indian Radiographers at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, the Administrator emphasised on greater international cooperation in the field of health-care. He also stressed on the implementation of guidelines and instructions prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in making use of radiology for diagnosing various diseases.

The Secretary, Medical Education and Health, UT, Mr S.C. Poddar, while delivering his speech requested delegates to follow safe techniques to avoid radiation hazards to general public.

During the technical sessions, various radiologists, oncologists, medical physicists and radiographers presented their papers. Emeritus Professor of PGI B.D. Gupta talked about the storage of X-ray films and said the information technology and digital conversion of the images were the greatest revolution in recent years that should be taken advantage of in general radiology. ``It is a safe and inexpensive way of film storage and can be used in tele-medicine also,’’ Prof Gupta said.

Cancer specialist from Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Dr Rajiv Bedi highlighted the role of radiology in cancer detection. Dr Sudha Suri, Dean, PGI and Head, Department of Radio Diagnosis and Imaging, PGI, chaired the session on clinical radiology and stressed on the acceptability of recent advances of digital imaging for medio-legal cases. Dr Suman Kochar, Head, Department of Radio-Diagnosis, GMCH, spoke on the recent advances in computerised tomography said with the latest 64 slice multi-slice CT scanners moving heart and all its blood vessels could be seen and three-dimensional images of the heart could be obtained.

Prof B. D. Gupta and Dr Kanta Chokra of AERB chaired special session on linear accelerator technology in cancer treatment. The conference would conclude on Monday.

Over 3.5 cr PGI grant unutilised
Neelam Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8
A huge amount of research grants has been lying unutilised at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMR) here. These were given to it by various funding agencies for various projects and schemes last year.

Objections have been raised in the yearly audit of the institute. The audit report has revealed that the grants received from various sources, including the Centre and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), have been put to a limited use and a large portion of it is lying unutilised.

It has been pointed out that more than Rs 4 crore was available with the institute during the early months of the last financial year. But only Rs 47.13 has been utilised so far.

As regards grants totalling Rs 7.11 crore that were received for 11 research projects and various schemes from other institutes, a sum of Rs 17.84 lakh has been lying unutilised.

The non-utilisation of the grants given by outside agencies is a matter of concern for the institute as these have been sustaining its major research projects. The PGI’s faculty often lament that the institute’s own research grants to its faculty comes to peanuts as a large number of the research projects have been allotted to faculty and research students.

“To make research projects, funded by the PGI, more meaningful and result-oriented, it is contemplating certain changes in the procedures of allotting the research projects from the next academic session,” said a senior faculty member.

Experts to explore HIV, TB connection
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8
More than 60 per cent of the HIV positive persons in the country suffer from tuberculosis (TB) in the initial stages of the disease. This correlation between the two diseases becomes crucial as the HIV/AIDS infection does not have any clear symptoms and the TB can be an important pointer for a patient to get his HIV status checked.

`“Contrary to the pattern of infection in western countries, we have seen a large number of HIV positive persons in India falling sick due to TB initially. We can safely say that TB can be an important pointer towards HIV and TB patients should get their HIV status checked,’’ said Dr Ajay Wanchu of the Department of Internal Medicine at the PGI while briefing mediapersons yesterday about the forthcoming two-day Indo-US Symposium on recent advances in AIDS research, beginining on Sunday.

The New York University School of Medicine, and the PGI are carrying out research to establish the utility of diagnostic markers for the detection of sub-clinical TB in HIV-infected individuals. It implies evolving certain tests to diagnose HIV positive status early.

The PGI is also working on the project funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research to find why some persons, who are repeatedly exposed to the HIV virus, do not get infected by it. “We are also trying to find out at the PGI why is it that some persons who, even after repeated sexual intercourse with the infected persons, do not acquire the virus, while others do. Our findings should be complete after a few months to pinpoint the cause,’’ added Dr Wanchu.

According to the doctor, the other relatively less occurring symptoms among the HIV positive patients in the country are fungal infections, pnemocystis and intestinal infections. 

Orthopaedic Dept holds conference

Chandigarh, January 8
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, PGI, and the Alumni Association (Indian Chapter), organised its annual conference at the PGI here today. The theme of the conference was on the techniques employed for fixing fractures that have not responded to conventional surgical treatments. TNS

CLTA to hold special coaching camp 
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, January 8
A special coaching camp will be organised for junior players by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) at the CLTA stadium in Sector 10, Chandigarh, from January 9 to 17.

According to Mr Rajan Kashyap, chairman, CLTA, two renowned coaches of the country, T. Chandrasekhran, senior coach with the National Tennis Academy, and Mr Gajendra Singh, Director of Coaching Programme, All India Tennis Association (AITA), have been deputed by the AITA to conduct the programme.

Mr Kashyap said the CLTA’s faculty of 12 coaches was at present training 350 boys and girls on its 14 synthetic and clay courts. The visiting coaches would assist the CLTA in upgrading the coaching arrangements by using latest international techniques.

The faculty would design a plan for the Chandigarh Academy for Rural Tennis (CHART), where selected children of servicemen of the Army were being trained at the CLTA. 

Four petrol stations checked 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 8
Four petrol stations — M/s Modern Automobile, Sector-15; M/s Bhagat Singh and Sons, Sector-17; M/s Happy Service Station, Sector-17; and M/s National Service Centre, Sector-17 — were checked and found to be in perfect order today.

The team was led by officials of the Food and Supplies Department, Weight and Measure Department and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Director Food and Supplies, Mr Arun Kumar, said the stocks of petrol and diesel were checked and found to be correct.

In order to ascertain the purity, a density check was conducted and it was found to be within permissible limits.

The physical stocks and quality of the petrol and HSD were also found to be in order. During inspection, no complaint was received regarding quality and quantity of the petroleum products. The Deputy Commissioner said that such checks would continue to provide quality service to consumers. He further said complaints with regard to quality and quantity of any petroleum product, could be sent or lodged at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Sector-17, Chandigarh, either in writing or on phone No 2709000 or at the office of the District Food and Supplies Officer, Sector-17, Chandigarh at phone No 2703956. He said strict action would be taken against the culprit.

250 learner’s licences issued
Our Correspondent

Mohali, January 8
As many as 250 learner’s driving licences were issued at a special camp organised by the police here today. Stating this the SP, Mr Rakesh Agrawal, said another such camp would be held after two months on a date to be fixed by the SDM. The learner’s licences given today would be converted into regular ones on that day.

A procession was also held in the town by schoolchildren as part of the Traffic Week which concludes tomorrow. The procession, which was aimed at spreading awareness about road safety, started from Gian Jyoti Public School in Phase II and terminated at Phase VII.