HEALTH

‘Lifestyle changes increase chances of infection’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
About thirty per cent patients succumb to intra-abdominal infections pushing the mortality rate to 50 per cent when these infections arise as a complication of a previous surgical procedure. This was stated by Professor Pfeifer from Austria.

During the first-ever conference organised in India by the Department of General Surgery, PGI, on intra-abdominal infections, he said millions of dollars were being spent in managing these patients all over the world.

Professor R. Guleria from New Delhi said available antibiotics required multiple daily doses or combination multi-drug therapy to provide adequate coverage. Mortality was higher in patients who received inappropriate therapy.

Cautioning that these drugs should be used judiciously as they had severe toxic effects on body systems, Prof A. Chakraborty from Chandigarh said fungi earlier considered as a silent bystanders had been seen to be real culprits leading to adverse outcomes and high mortality in the seriously ill patients.

Elaborating on the results of the first perspective study on fungal infection on severe acute pancreatitis, Prof R. Kochhar said that of the patients studied a total of 36 per cent developed infection with fungi.

Prof Pallab Ray was of the opinion that changed lifestyle and food habits contributed to change in stable ecology of gut bacteria leading to increased chances of infections associated with abdominal surgery.

Infection rate may be as high as 60 per cent following liver transplantation and contribute to more than fifty per cent of mortality, said Prof Rajan Saxena from Lucknow.

Parasitic diseases rampant in Third World
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
The CME workshop on “Molecular techniques for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases” and “ Transfer of basic technology to rural areas” was inaugurated by Prof K K Talwar, director, PGIMER, here today.

The workshop being attended by about 100 scientists from India and abroad is aimed at highlighting the problems faced by developing countries Prof Talwar, in his inaugural address, said non-communicable disease burden was increasing in countries like India where various parasitic and tropical diseases were highly prevalent.

Prof Mahajan presented shocking figures on various parasitic infections. He said 40 per cent of humans were infected by a parasite. Malaria alone was responsible for 1.5 million deaths annually, mostly in children.

Intestinal infections like hookworm and round worm infected 900 million to a billion people while a parasite causing dysentery or diarrhea infected 500 million. Ninety per cent of these infections occured in the developing world, said Prof Mahajan.

Awards for PGI doctors
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
Two of the three best poster presentation awards have been won by the doctors of the PGI, Chandigarh, at the just concluded National Conference on Intra-abdominal Infections organised by the Department of General Surgery, PGI.

Dr Ashwani Kumar Kudari, a senior resident in gastrointestinal surgery, presented an innovative technique of reconstruction after complex duodenal injuries. Dr Ahammed from the department of gastroenterology presented the results of his perspective study on fungal infections in severe acute pancreatitis.

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SPORTS

Mani, Jaipreet clinch titles
Our Golf Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 15
Mani Chander clinched the Grewal Salver trophy as she continued her steady game on the last day for a final three-day tally of 248 in the 15th Chandigarh Ladies Amateur Golf Championship played at the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Mani played a 13-over card today. She double-bogeyed on the first, fifth and 14th holes and lost a stroke on seven holes. Her play today was a far cry to the opening day’s play when she returned a card of 81 on a wet and windy day.

But Pauline J.M. Singh made the most of the sunshine returning the best card of the day to jump from fourth position to the second spot. Pauline stroked a birdie on the 11th hole. But one double bogey and 11 bogeys saw her finish the day with 84. She occupied the second spot which was 13 strokes behind the leader Mani.

Sonali Chhibber and Rabiya Gill who had occupied the second and third spot, respectively on the first two days, played badly today. Sonali 20 over and Rabiya 18 over to finish third and fourth with scores of 267 each.

Thirteen-year-old Jaipreet Ghuman, the leader from day one in the Challenge Bowl competition for the nett score, clinched the trophy with an overall nett score of 202. Binny Bath overtook a number of ladies with some good putting on the last day to finish second.

The scores:

Silver Salver (gross): Mani Chander 248, Pauline J.M. Singh 261, Sonali Chhibber 267, Rabiya Gill 267, Dimple Minocha 276, Binny Bath 281, Mala Singh 285, S. Ratia 285.

Challenge Bowl (nett): Jaipreet Ghuman 202, Binny Bath 221, Deepu Dhanoa 223, Mani Chander 224, Pauline J.M. Singh 225, Pikka Singh 227, Mala Singh 228, Harinder Sandhu 229.

Ladies Challenge Cup (0-12 hanndicap) nett: Mani Chander 224, Pauline J.M. Singh 225, Sonali Chhibber 231.

Bawa Gill Trophy (13-24) gross: Binny Bath 281, S. Ratia 285, Mala Singh 285.

Rani Jagdish Kaur (13-24) nett: Binny Bath 221, Pikka P. Singh 227, Mala Singh 228.

Meters and Instruments (25-36) gross: Jaipreet Ghuman 289, Deepu Dhanoa 301, Neelu Chopra 321.

Ell Ess Trophy (25-36) nett: Jaipreet Ghuman 202, Deepu Dhanoa 223, Neelu Chopra 234.

Lady Governor’s Cup (above 50): Gross - Binny Bath 281, S. Ratia 285, Mala Singh 285; Nett - Binny Bath 221, Deepu Dhanoa 223, Mala Singh 228.

Junior Shield (under 18): Gross - Mani Chander 248, Rabiya Gill 267, Shivali Aggarwal 288; Nett - Jaipreet Ghuman 202, Mani Chander 224, Rabiya Gill 243.

Test for technical officials on March 25
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
To update the technical knowledge for the conduct of state and national athletics championships in the state, the Haryana State Athletics Association (HSAA) has decided to hold a test for state technical officials on March 25. The test will be held at Jat Bhavan 2B, Sector 27 A, here.

According to H.S. Bhadu, secretary, HSAA, officials who would pass the test will be recommended for the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) technical test to be conducted by the AFI on May 7.

“The purpose of conducting the tests is to select talented technical officials for officiating in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi,” said Bhadu.

Interested persons should report to V.K. Verma, athletics coach, on March 25 at 9 am at Jat Bhavan.

Cricket trials on March 18
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 15
Trials to select cricketers will be held by Shri Shri Cricket Academy on March 18 at 2 pm at DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, here.

Arun Kumar Kanojia, director of the academy, said that players in the age groups of under-10, under-12 and under-15 would be selected during the trials.

The academy proposes to select 20 boys in each age group for providing individual attention.

Boxers selected for national meet
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
The Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association has selected its team which will represent Chandigarh in the 53rd Senior National Boxing Championship which will be organised in Hyderabad from March 18 to 24.

The team: 48 Kg - Jatinder, 54 Kg - Narinder Singh, 57 Kg - Sanjay 60 Kg - Bhagel Singh, 64 Kg - Suman Saurabh, 69 Kg - Dharminder, 75 Kg - Manoj, 81 Kg - Vikas, 91 Kg - Hardeep, Plus 91 Kg - Kaptan.

J.D. Singh will accompany the team as manager while Sanjay will be the coach.

ADMINISTRATION

Fun Republic
AE Brij Mohan suspended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
The Chandigarh Administration today suspended assistant engineer Brij Mohan.

The AE is in judicial custody following his arrest in a case pertaining to building violations at Fun Republic, Mani Majra.

Under the rules, a government employee who remains in custody for over 48 hours is deemed to be under suspension.

The AE was arrested by the CBI following his suspected role in the case.

The CBI had booked vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and proprietor of Dhillon Complex Kewal Dhillon and SDO (building), estate office, T.P. Singh.