Chandigarh, August 5
The use of botulinium toxin therapy in facial enhancement that already has a huge market in the US and other developed countries is fast catching up in the tricity and the adjoining region.

Even as the therapy is expensive and costs more than Rs 5,000 for one therapeutic session with benefits accruing for a limited period, at least 30 persons aspiring to flaunt youthful looks visit the Department of Dermatology at Gyan Sagar Medical College, Rajpura, every month, said Dr Vikas Sharma, head of the department, Dermatology.

During the last two months, more than one hundred people aspiring for better looks by availing themselves of botulinium toxin shots came to us, claimed National Skin Hospital officials at Panchkula. The people in the 33-55 age group from both sexes are looking for better looks, said doctors.

However, the use of this therapy can also result in adverse effects even after spending huge amounts if the treatment is not done by experts like a dermato laser surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, cautioned Dr Vikas.

Talking about the causes of wrinkles and the therapy, the dermatologist said wrinkles on the face can be caused by muscle activity, photo ageing, loss of collagen and subcutaneous fat.

The toxin is injected in the affected parts of the body to remove wrinkles so that the person looks young, said Dr Vikas.

The botulinium toxin, actually invented for therapeutic use in neurological and muscular disorders, acts by blocking the release of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine, which is necessary for muscular contraction, thus inducing muscle paralysis, said the doctor.

Though there are seven types of this toxin, three sero types including types A, B and F are used for medical purpose and only Type A is used to remove facial wrinkles, added the dermatologist.

Facial wrinkles can be in the form of crow feet (immediately near the sides of eyes), bunny lines (that radiate near the nose), frown lines, neck wrinkles and chin dimples, said Dr Vikas.

As it is an expensive treatment and the beneficial effects are for a limited period of six months, both the doctor and therapy seeker, however, should be aware of a few botulinium toxin preparations being imported from a neighbouring country that have a shorter shelf life thus reducing the already limited periodic benefits of the therapy, said the dermatologist.

Besides, the use of therapy by an untrained person can result in adverse effects like drooping of eyebrows and eyelids in addition to headache, respiratory infection, backache, and acne, added Dr Vikas.

Mohali, August 5
“Breast-feeding helps mother lose 500 calories per day and protect the newborn baby from bronchitis, ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhoea and urinary tract infections besides boosting the IQ of the baby.” This was stated by Dr Swapna Misra, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Fortis Hospital, in a communication sent to members of health clubs in the tri-city by the hospital as part of the International Breast-feeding Week, which ends on August 7.

According to Dr Misra, “For both mother and baby any bit of breast milk helps, but more is always better. Breast-feeding protects the mother from developing cancer and bone disorders and reduces the fat deposit that has accumulated during pregnancy.

“The colostrum that a baby receives during his first days of nursing provides immediate benefits. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months, followed by breast-feeding in conjunction with iron-rich foods until the first birthday,” she added.

Citing statistics, Dr Misra said: “It has been researched that babies who are not breast-fed have an 80 per cent increased risk of developing diarrhoea and a 70 per cent increased risk of developing ear infection. Important long-term benefits include a reduced risk for asthma, allergies, childhood obesity and some childhood cancers. Data shows clearly that if an infant is exclusively breast-fed for four months, the probability of childhood-onset diabetes is greatly reduced.”

Dr Misra said: “Combining working and breast-feeding sounds much easier than done. It can be difficult for a breast-feeding mother to leave her baby for more than a couple of hours as no one else can feed the baby unless she leaves expressed milk. Also, some women may find breast-feeding painful, stressful and tiring. Nevertheless, considering the endless benefits it offers to both the baby as well the mother, breast-feeding is surely worth considering,” she opined.

Chandigarh, August 5
Over 100 athletes took part in the Chandigarh South District Athletics Championship at Athletics Stadium, Sector 7, here today.

The one-day competition had various events like 100m, 200m, 800m races, long jump and shot put in the boys’ and girls’ (u-14 and u-16) sections.

Results:

U-14 boys: 60m race: 1 Vishnu Dev Sharma (GHS Raipur Khurd), 2 Anand Kumar (SGGSS-35), 3 Sukhtaran (Mount Carmel-47); 200m race: 1 Vishwjeet (Saint Soldier-28), 2 Sukhtaran (Mount Carmel-47), 3 Anand Kumar (SGGSS-35); 800m race: 1 Sumit Hooda (GMSSS-32), 2 Rahul (Saint Soldier-28), 3 Vishwjeet (Saint Soldier-28).

Long jump: 1 Debashish (KV-47), 2 Rahul (Saint Soldier-28).

Shot put: 1 Parag (St Johns-26).

U-16 boys: 100m race: 1 Ashish Lohan (Saint Soldier-28), 2 Paramjit Singh (SGGSSSS-35), 3 Debashish (KV-47);

400m race: 1 Vimal Singh (Adarsh Club-45), 2 Manjeet Singh (GMSSS-35); 800m race: 1Amandeep (SGGSS-35), 2 Vimal Singh (Adarsh Club-45), 3 Vipul Sharma (GHS-11).

Long jump: 1 Ashish (Saint Soldier-28), 2 Baljeet (SGGSS-35), 3 Anil (SGGSS-35).

High jump: 1 Karan (SGGSSSS-35), 2 Suraj (SGGSSSS-35), 3 Amritpal (GHS Raipur Khurd).

U-14 girls: 60m race: 1 Kiranpreet Kaur (GMSSS-40), 2 Geetan (GMSSS-37), 3 Santosh (GHS Raipur Khurd); 200m race: 1 Kiranpreet Kaur (GMSSS-40), 2 Harmeet Kaur (GMSSS-33), 3 Geetan (GMSSS-37); 800m race: 1 Harmeet Kaur (GMSSS-37), 2 Kritika (KV-47), 3 Dikshan Sharma (Saint Soldier-28).

Shot put: 1 Kirandeep (GHS, Raipur Khurd), 2 Kushboo (GHS Raipur Khurd), 3 Charanjeet (Athletic Club-46).

U-16 girls: 100m race: 1 Lovneet (St Annes-32), 2 Radhika (Saint Soldier-28), 3 Manju Kumari (GHS, Raipur Khurd); 400m race: 1 Lovneet (St Annes-32); 800m race: 1 Ramandeep (GMSSS-37), 2 Manju Kumari (GHS Raipur Khurd), 3 Sweety (GHS Raipur Khurd).

High jump: 1 Ramandeep (GMSSS-37), 2 Sweety (GHS Raipur Khurd).

Long jump: 1 Radhika (Saint Soldier-28).

Shot put: 1 Jaspreet Kaur (St Stephens-45), 2 Sukhdeep (GMSSS-37), 3 Puneet Kaur (Saint Soldier-28).

Chandigarh, August 5
Over 70 local budding athletes participated in the North District Athletics Championship held at Athletics Stadium, Sector 7, here today. Various events were organised in the girls’ and boys’ (u-14 and u-16) sections.

Results

U-14 boys: 60m race: 1 Sonu (GMSSS MM Town), 2 Shaurya (Vivek High School-38), 3 Manjinder Singh (Youth Club, Khuda Ali sher); 200m race: 1 Gurbhej Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher), 2 Parambir Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher), Kuldeep Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher); 800m race: 1 Sonu (GMSSS MM), 2 Niranjan Singh (Athletic Club, Sector 7), 3 Arjun Tomar (KB DAV-7).

U-16 boys: 100m race: 1 Suman Kumar (DAV SSS-8), 2 Bipal (DAVMS), 3 Brinderpal Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher); 400m race: 1 Harpreet Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher), 2 Amritpal Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher), 3 Varinder Singh (YC, Khuda Ali Sher); 800m race: 1 Dharamvir Singh (DAVSSS-8), 2 Sarabjit Singh (GMSSS MM), 3 Suman Kumar (DAV SSS-8).

U-14 girls: 60m race: 1 Manju (GHS, Khuda Ali Sher); 800m race: 1 Manju Sharma (Athletic Club-7), 2 Charanjeet Kaur (GMSSS MM), 3 Jashanpreet Kaur (GMSSS MM).

U-16 girls: 100m race: 1 Yogita (GMSSS-10), 2 Sandhya (GMSSS-16), 3 Anadita (Athletic Club-7); 400m race: 1 Amandeep (GMSSS MM), 2 Yogita (GMSSS-10), 3 Sandhya (GMSSS-16); 800m race: 1 Amandeep Kaur (GMSSS MM), 2 Gurpreet Kaur (GMSSS-20).

Shot put: 1 Himpreet Kaur (YC, Khuda Ali Sher).