Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Ill-designed speed breakers irk motorists - The Hindu Tiruchi 1.9.2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Colicky pain and neurology. Aleem M A, Hakkim A M. BMJ 2016;354:i4195
BMJ
Practice
What Your Patient is Thinking“It’s just a bit of colic,” they said
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4195 (Published 17 August 2016)
Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4195
Rapid response
Re: “It’s just a bit of colic,” they said
Colicky pain and neurology
There are some neurological disorders that should also be considered as the causes for colicky pain in infants. They are infantile migraine, pre and post herpetic neurologia, radiculities muscle cramps and, rarely, lead poisoning.
Neurochemistry
Babies with colicky pain have higher levels of serum motilin, a hormone that stimulates contractions or spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Colicky babies may also have increased levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates the appetite. And it’s possible that one of the causes of colic pain is related to levels of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin increases intestinal contractions, melatonin suppresses them. In children and adults, serotonin and melatonin levels peak in the evening.Young babies are different. Their serotonin levels peak in the evening, but their melatonin levels don’t. As a result, there isn’t enough melatonin to counteract the serotonin and babies have more cramps. This would explain why colic tends to disappear after 3 months of age. That’s when melatonin circadian rhythms mature.
Competing interests: No competing interests
25 August 2016
M A Aleem
Neurologist
A M Hakkim
ABC Hospital.Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital . Apollo Hospital
Annamalainagar, Trichy 620018. Apollo Hospital Trichy 620010. Dhanakakshmi Srinivasan Medical college and Hospital , Perambalur 621113 . Tamilnadu India.
@drmaaleem
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
Can Act As A Double Edged Weapon. Aleem M A. BMJ 2016;354:i4201
Feature
Social networking for patients
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4201 (Published 10 August 2016)
Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4201
Rapid Response
Re: Social networking for patients
Can Act As A Double Edged Weapon
Health information in social media can act as a double edged weapon. So before going to act on any information about health issues, please try to clarify and confirm with a competent health professional.
Competing interests: No competing interests
18 August 2016
M A Aleem
Neurologist
ABC Hospital
Annamalainagar. Trichy 620018. Tamilnadu . india
@drmaaleem
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
No Need For NEET in India. Aleem M A . BMJ 2016;354:i4051
Views And Reviews
Personal View
NEET: India’s single exam for admission to mbbedical school promises transparency and quality
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4051 (Published 03 August 2016)
Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4051
Rapid response
Re: NEET: India’s single exam for admission to medical school promises transparency and quality
No Need For NEET In India
In India for the past so many years medical education has not been substandard and no sub standard students have been given admission to medical studies. About 70% of Indians are living in rural areas and it is divided by many states, many languages and many caste systems with poor economical status. So students studing in various education systems in various state board of examinations are facing difficulties of national common competitive examinations like NEET in India. Other than this, adaptation of quota reservation for various castes by different states is not possible under NEET system of admissions. If NEET based admissions are allowed, state medical colleges may not educate their own state students passing their school education in their own state languages. In India our Tamilnadu state follows medical admissions on the basis of +2 marks with the adaptation of 69% reservations. Thus intelligent students from the villages of various castes benefit every year without NEET in Tamilnadu.
Competing interests: No competing interests
16 August 2016
M A Aleem
Neurologist
ABC Hospital
Annamalainagar Trichy 620018 Tamilnadu India
@drmaaleem
Monday, August 15, 2016
Misuse of Vehicles - Readers Mail Tiruchi The Hindu 16.8.2016
The Hindu
Tiruchi TAMIL NADU
August 16, 2016
MISUSE OF VEHICLE
Recently a goods vehicle was involved in an accident on Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway near Kaikati in Tiruchi district and 10 people lost their precious lives and many were grievously injured. These types of vehicles are not meant for transporting people. But in rural areas these vehicles are used to transport 20 to 25 persons very often. So misuse of this type of vehicles should be banned. People should also be aware of the danger of travelling by such vehicles.
M A Aleem
Tiruchi
Friday, August 12, 2016
Re:Congenital Zika syndrome with arthrogryposis: retrospective case series study. Aleem M A.BMJ 2016;354:i3899
Research
Congenital Zika syndrome with arthrogryposis: retrospective case series study
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i3899 (Published 09 August 2016)
Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i3899
Rapid response
Re: Congenital Zika syndrome with arthrogryposis: retrospective case series study
Zika virus is a severely pathogenic virus causing many brain malformations, several birth defects and many neurological problems, including microcephaly in neonates. Two mechanisms hav been postulated for the development of central nervous malformations due to zika virus.
Zika virus activates the TLR3 (Toll Like Receptor 3) molecule normally used to defend against invading viruses in human cells.Then this hyper-activated TLR3 turns off genes that stem cells need to specialise into brain cells and turns on genes that trigger cell cell death, leading to various brain malformations. If this mechanism is proved, it will help to develop new therapies like TLR3 inhibitors against zika virus infection associated brain malformations.
The second possible mechanism by which zika viral infection causes brain malformations in the fetuses of zika virus infected women is interference with retinoic acid signaling by introducing its genome sequence repeats (called Retinoic Acid Response Elements or simply RARE consensus repeats) into the developing brain cells of the fetus. Retinoic acid (a metabolite of vitamin A) is one of the earliest factors for regulating the anteroposterior axis of neural tube and positioning of structures in the developing brain through RARE consensus sequence in promoter regions of retinoic acid-dependent genes.
Based on this, it may be helpful to design vaccines and other newer and effective treatments against zika viral infection and its complications in the near future.
Competing interests: No competing interests
11 August 2016
M A Aleem
Neurologist
ABC Hospital.Apollo Hospitsl and Dhanalakhmi Srinivasan Medical college and Hospital
Annamaalainagar Trichy 620018.Apollo Hospital Trichy 620010.Apollo clinic 620018. Dhanalakhmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital Siruvachure Perambalur 631113.Tamiknadu India
@drmaaleem
Monday, August 8, 2016
EXCLUSIVE HELPLINE - In Reader's Mail The Hindu Tiruchi 9.8.2016
Reader’s Mail
THE HINDU TIRUCHI TAMIL NADUAugust 9, 2016
EXCLUSIVE HELPLINE
Dowry is one of the important aspects of modern matrimony and it is perpetuated by one and all with all its attendant societal ills. To do away with the age old menace may be a daunting task, but it can be regulated to a large extent by making the marriageable women aware of their rights. The government can step in by establishing an exclusive helpline in all districts in order to attend to the dowry-related problems that crop up in the run-up to the solemnisation of marriage.
A separate helpline exclusively to prevent the giving and accepting the dowry would be very much useful.
M.A. Aleem,
Tiruchi.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Air horns deafening in city . The Hindu Tirichi 7.8.2016
Air horns deafening in city
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
The HINDU TAMIL NADU TIRUCHI, August 7, 2016
Indiscriminate use of air horns by private and State-owned transport corporation buses has raised concern among residents of the city.
Though there are regulations in place to restrict use of high-decibel air horns, residents allege that there are no concerned efforts to check the noise pollution.
Incessant honking of air horns on roads, which deafens the ears, is not limited to private buses alone. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses, lorries and school buses also use high decibel horns.
This violation of traffic rule is clearly noticeable by road users across the city.
It is common to see pedestrians and two-wheeler riders getting agitated and showing signs of displeasure at drivers of buses and other vehicles whenever they use ear-piercing air horns.
It is observed that noise pollution caused by indiscriminate use of air horns is on the higher side during the peak hours — from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the office-goers and students use cars and motorcycles to reach their respective work places or educational institutions.
The violation is acute at Central Bus Stand and Chathiram Bus Stand, the hubs of city and mofussil buses.
There were incidents of accidents owing to blowing of air horns leading to panic reactions from other motorists.
Residents allege that buses, mainly the private ones, have been extensively using air horns so as to compete others in collecting more passengers waiting at various bus stops.
No action
Road transport, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and police officials, who are empowered to take action against those causing noise pollution, have not taken any action to curb the menace.
Stating that high level of noise pollution might cause hearing disorders, A. Aleem, former vice-principal, K.A.P. Viswanatham Medical College Hospital, Tiruchi, said that there had been a sharp increase in patients visiting hospitals with hearing disabilities.
A section of them was affected with continuous exposure to the high decibel of sound caused by buses and trucks.
“If the people are exposed to high level of noise, they will have to experience many health effects. It may cause hearing loss, severe headache, stress, fatigue and others,” Dr. Aleem said.
He warned that continuous exposure to noise pollution would precipitate the patients affected migraine. Moreover, the sudden honking would lead to accidents owing to the chances of loosing balance by the two wheeler riders.
V. Sathiyanarayanna, Regional Transport Officer, Tiruchi West, said that officials had been continuously taking action against those using high decibel air horns.
A drive against the menace was conducted a few months ago.
Such drives would be conducted shortly against violators, he said.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Olympic and Zika viral Infection prevention. Aleem M A, A M Hakkim. BMJ 2016;354:i4133
News
Sixty seconds on . . . Zika and the Olympics
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4133 (Published 27 July 2016)
Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4133
Rapid response
Re: Sixty seconds on . . . Zika and the Olympics
Olympic 2016 and zika viral infection prevention.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to August 21, 2016. The Paralympic Games are scheduled for September 7 to September 18, 2016. If any one plans to travel to Brazil for the Olympics or Paralympics, follow the recommendations of WHO and CDC below to help you stay safe and healthy during and after the trip.
Women who are pregnant-
They should not go to the Olympics 2016.
If you must go, talk to your doctor or other health care provider first; strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and use condoms or do not have sex during your trip.
If you have a male partner who goes to the Olympics, either use condoms or do not have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) during your pregnancy.
Women who are trying to become pregnant-
Before you or your male partner travel, talk to your doctor or other health care provider about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection.
See the WHO and CDC guidance for how long you should wait to try to get pregnant after travel to areas with Zika viral infected region.
You and your male partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.
Men who go to the Olympics and have a pregnant partner should use condoms or not have sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) during the pregnancy.
After Olympic 2016 trip:
If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip.
If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about your recent travel. Pregnant travelers returning from the Olympics can be tested for Zika virus infection.
To protect sex partners from Zika, men who have been to the Olympics should consider using condoms or not having sex for 8 weeks if they do not get symptoms of Zika. Men who have Zika symptoms or are diagnosed with Zika should use condoms for 6 months. If the man’s partner is pregnant, the couple should either use condoms or not have sex during the pregnancy.
Women who have traveled to an area with Zika should wait at least 8 weeks after travel before trying to get pregnant if they do not get symptoms of Zika. Women who have Zika symptoms should wait at least 8 weeks after symptoms start; men with Zika symptoms should wait at least 6 months after symptoms start before attempting conception.
At present all the travelers should continue to take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks after they leave Brazil to avoid spreading Zika, even if they do not feel sick.
Competing interests: No competing interests
04 August 2016
M A Aleem
Neurologist
A M Hakkim
ABC Hospital .Apollo Hospital. Dhanalakhmy Srinivasan Medical college and Hospital
No 1 Annamalainagar Trichy 620018.Apollo Hospital chennai bypass Road Trichy 620018. Apollo clinic Thillainagar Ttichy 620018. Dhanalakhmy Srinivasan Medical college and Hospital Siruvschure Petsmbakur Tamilnadu India
@drmaaleem