The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

First dental operating microscope installed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 15
Venturing into micro-dentistry, a city dental surgeon has initiated the use of surgical dental operating microscope and the equipment, claimed to be the first of its kind in the northern states, was installed here today.

Addressing a news conference here today, Dr Rajan Bir Singh Thind of Thind Dental Clinic said he was extremely excited about what the state-of-the-art microscope would enable him to do for his patients. The microscope, he added, would provide improved vision for the dental surgeon with the help of intra-oral cameras and digital X-rays.

The innovative equipment would also provide improved vision of the dental procedures to the patients which could be achieved with the help of intra-oral cameras, television monitors, digital cameras, digital X-rays and imaging software that would display these images.

According to Dr Thind, micro-dentistry would open up numerous possibilities of providing precision diagnosis, minimally invasive treatment, root canal treatment under microscope, precision crown and bridges, besides microscope-assisted dental implant and gum surgery.

Mr Ron Pennar, former Director of Education in Canada, who inaugurated the new facility, said in the present era of precision in every field of health care, dentists should not lag behind in making use of microscope and wonders of micro-dentistry.

“Gynaecological advancement a boon for mankind”
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
A local gynaecologist, Dr Davinder Kaur, who recently attended an international conference on gynaecology at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, is impressed by advances in the field, which according to her, will be of immense value to mankind.

“The conference helped me to gain more knowledge in gynaecology and obstetrics and needy patients can now look forward to improved care thanks to modern techniques, as demonstrated during the conference,” said Dr Davinder Kaur, MD of Saran Hospital and Nursing Home, Mullanpur, near here, which primarily caters to the needs of rural people.

The conference, FIGO 2006, held in the Malaysian capital from November 5 to 10, was attended by gynaecologists from all over the world. It is held every six years in different countries. Earlier, Dr Davinder Kaur attended the previous two editions at Montreal and Washington DC in 1994 and 2000, respectively, besides national and regional conferences.

“Women in rural areas have always been ignored and neglected. Proper cure is hardly sought for ailments which later prove fatal. Timely medical intervention can save many precious lives,” says the gynaecologist, whose husband is a surgeon and daughters are pursuing the medical stream.

'Adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep lung diseases at bay'
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 15
At least 10 to 15 per cent of the world’s adults, over the age of 40, may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In India, the prevalence of COPD is assessed as 5 per cent for male and 2.7 per cent for female subjects of over 30 years of age.

Making these observations at an awareness lecture to mark the World COPD Day, Dr Akashdeep Singh, pulmonologist at Christian Medical College and Hospital, here said COPD burden represented the tip of an iceberg. Many people who had COPD did not even know about it and the prevalence of the disease was increasing worldwide.

He said, "COPD is a devastating lung disease that progressively robs a person of the ability to breathe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that COPD kills more than 2.75 million people each year. Worldwide it ranks as the fourth leading cause of death, alongside HIV/AIDS. The condition results primarily from smoking tobacco. Years of smoking cause damage to the airways in the lungs. This lung damage continues to progress with the use of tobacco."

He stated that average current and former smokers would not notice respiratory symptoms for several years. Typically, they would notice progressive shortness of breath when they reached their 40s. Other symptoms included chronic cough and increased mucus production. In technical terms, COPD was a slowly progressive disease, characterised by a decrease in the ability of the lungs to maintain the body's oxygen supply and remove carbon dioxide.

Dr Akashdeep added, "November 15 marks the fifth year of the World COPD Day. The theme this year was ‘Breathless not Helpless’, which emphasises that breathlessness and other symptoms of COPD are not simply a normal part of aging, and that there is treatment available to help people with this ailment."

He disclosed that the CMCH had organised several events to create awareness about pulmonary diseases and ill-effects of smoking. These included seminars for junior physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers on the latest international guidelines for COPD diagnosis and treatment, educating the common people about the risk factors for COPD and stressing the need to adopt healthy lifestyle which should be free of tobacco.

Over 1000 examined at eye camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 15
More than 1000 patients were examined for eye ailments and sight defects at a free eye check-up camp organised by SNS Pahwa Charitable Hospital here today.

A team of doctors, led by Dr S.K. Chopra, chief ophthalmic surgeon and former Head, Eye Department at CMC Hospital, conducted the check-up for problems like short and far-sightedness, cataract, glaucoma and retinopathy in diabetic persons.

Free medicines were distributed among patients. At least 105 patients requiring corrective surgery were registered for operations in the Eye Department of the hospital.

SPORTS

Surjit Academy lads stun Pak club
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, November 15
Excelling in pace and power, the Surjit Academy of Jalandhar edged past their experienced opponents Javed Club of Pakistan 4-3 to secure a berth in the semifinals on the second day of the 5th All-India Jagtar Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament being played at the Prithipal Astro-turf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here today. The winners were trailing 1-2 at half-time.

The PNB Academy of New Delhi, Namdhari XI and the BKSP Club of Bangladesh too won their respective encounters to complete the semifinals line up.

In a major upset, upcoming lads from the Surjit Academy of Jalandhar proved their mettle against the star-studded Javed Club team from Pakistan, which had as many as seven internationals in its ranks. The academy players went into an early lead when Deepak Sharma scored off a penalty stroke in the fifth minute of the match.

The visitors pressed hard for the equaliser but their attempts failed to elicit the desired results. They earned two penalty corners midway through the first half, however, could not take advantage of these opportunities.

In the 29th minute, Aniyat Ullah and Yasir Shabbir weaved a fine move and managed to dodge past the academy defenders and the latter rolled the ball into the net, much to the chagrin of the custodian, Gurnam Singh, to level the score.

Four minutes later, Amir Shahid converted a penalty stroke to put his side ahead (2-1). Surjit Academy players began the proceedings in the second session with renewed vigour. They immediately swung into action and earned two penalty corners in quick succession, but failed to translate these chances into goal.

In the 50th minute, Bikramjit Singh scored a superb field goal to restore parity again. Five minutes later, Jaswinder Singh sounded the board to make it 4-3 while Gurjit Singh added one goal to the tally in the 64th minute, which sealed the Pakistan club’s fate.

Earlier, in the day, the PNB Academy, New Delhi, defeated the SAI, Lucknow, 3-1 to assure themselves a place in the last four stage. All the goals were scored in the first session.

For the PNB Academy, Sajjan Singh, Satish Lamba and Rohan Singh scored one goal each while Rajesh reduced the margin for the losers.

In another match, the Namdhari XI outclassed the AIR India XI 3-1. After the first barren half, AIR India went ahead in the 38th minute through a field goal scored by Heera. Namdhari players restored parity in the 53rd minute through Gurvinder. He again struck in the next minute while the third goal came off Jatinder Pal Singh’s stick.

The fourth match of the day was played between the BKSP Club of Bangladesh and the SAI, Orissa, in which the former came out triumphant 5-4. The issue was resolved through tie-breaker as the two sides were tied one-all at the end of regular period.

Second leg of basketball league from Nov 25
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 15
The second leg of the Mepal Leaf Gymkhana Ludhiana Basketball League for the rural and urban school teams, sponsored by the NRIs, Mr Lakhbir Singh and Mr Surinder Pal Singh Chahal, will start on November 25 here at the Guru Nanak Stadium. Matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

According to Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, District Basketball Association, Ludhiana, mini boys and girls as well as junior boys and girls teams have been invited to take part in the league. Players born on or after January 1, 1994, are eligible for the mini section, while those born on or after January 1, 1989, are eligible for participation in the junior section.

Interested players have been advised to apply with age proof certificates attested by the head of their respective institutes. Entries should reach Mr Dhaliwal by November 23.