1. Heat wave: maximum temp of a station > 40°C for Plains, >37°C for coastal stations & > 30°C for Hilly regions. Departure from normal > 4.5°C or temp > 45 heat wave >6.4°or > 47 C severe Heat Wave at least in 2 stations in a Meteorological subdivision for > 2 consecutive days.
2. Under the influence of approaching Western Disturbance, there is possibility of rise in Relative humidity over northwest India from 05 April 2018, as a result heat wave would abate over West Rajasthan.
3. Maximum temperatures were markedly above normal (5.1°C or more) at most parts of Jammu & Kashmir; at many parts of West Rajasthan; at some parts of Arunachal Pradesh; appreciably above normal (3.1°C to 5.0°C) at most parts of Himachal Pradesh; at some parts of East Rajasthan. The highest maximum temperature of 43.2°C recorded at Phalodi (West Rajasthan) over the plains of the country
4. Skill Development Minister will be meeting the Union Health Minister to submit documents that support the medicinal properties of arecanut. The Heart Care Foundation of India has come out in strong opposition as chewing areca nut or betel quid is linked to many cancers.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Abdominal pain and altered bowel habits (constipation and/or diarrhea) with no identifiable cause
6. FICCI Health Services Committee Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, 3rd April 2018 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
7. 38% of childhood #asthma may be attributable to air pollution. Pollution from road vehicles alone was linked to 24%. (journal Environment International)
8. Those who drank > 680 grams of sugar had twice the risk of death from heart disease compared to those who drank < 28 grams (American Heart Association meeting). The WHO recommends adults consume no more than six teaspoons (or 25 grams) of sugar daily
9. Duodenal mucosal resurfacing is a novel, minimally invasive, catheter-based upper endoscopic procedure involving hydrothermal ablation of the duodenal mucosa and subsequent mucosal healing, offer a new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
10. Unacceptable: A woman gave birth in an autorickshaw in Chhattisgarhs Koriya due to non-availability of doctors.
11. As per the World Health Organisation, around one in 160 children has autistic disorder which begins in childhood and carries on into adulthood.
12. Elevated blood pressure before conception may increase the chances for pregnancy loss, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The authors conclude that lifestyle changes to keep blood pressure under control could potentially reduce the risk of loss. The study appears in Hypertension.
13. eHealth division of Ministry of Family & Health Welfare, Govt. of India has placed the draft of Digital Health Information Security in Healthcare Act (DISHA) for public comments. I hope all of us spend enough time in making sure that the draconian penal provisions are out.
14. Tribune: The Punjab Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, to pay a compensation of Rs 40 lakh along with 9 per cent interest to a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh for unprofessionally destroying the bone marrow of his 7-year-old daughter before her donor gave his marrow for transplant. The girl later died.
15. A lawsuit filed in Idaho on March 30 claims a fertility doctor used his own sperm to inseminate his patient in 1980.
16. India has one doctor for every 921 people, as of December 2017, which is way ahead of the doctor-population ratio of 1:1000 prescribed by WHO (TOI)
17. The number includes ayurveda, homeopathy and unani (AUH) practitioners, along with allopathy doctors.
18. If modern medicine doctors alone are considered, the ratio soars to 1:1596. (TOI)
19. There are 7.63 lakh ayurveda, unani and homeopathy doctors in the country, and assuming that even 80% of them are practising, there are 6.1lakh AUH doctors.
20. According to MCI 10.4 lakh doctors are registered with the state branches of the council. However, not more than 8.33lakh MBBS doctors are in active service.
21. Scientists have developed a novel technique that prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication. The method, called Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA), will increase treatment options for high-risk patients who need heart valve procedures. The findings by researchers at the National Institutes of Health will publish in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions on April 2.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

Vice President CMAAO

emedinews@gmail.com