Chandigarh, November 19
Research work presented by Pratibha Khosla, PhD, a student in the Department of Pharmacology, PGI, has won the first prize in the plenary session of the Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology at Bangalore.

The work was done at the Department of Pharmacology, in collaboration with the Departments of Gastroenterology and Histopathology, of the medical research institute.

Out of hundreds of papers six best papers were selected.

The researchers made oral presentations in the prestigious session of the conference.

The winning paper was entitled “Effects of combination of curcumin and rosiglitazone in experimental model of acute pancreatitis” and was co-authored by Dr P. Pandhi, professor and head of the Department of Pharmacology, Dr Samir Malhotra (Pharmacology), Dr R. Nada (Histopathology), Dr Surinder Rana and professor Deepak Kumar Bhasin (Gastroenterology).

The research work was on protective effects of curcumin (the active component of turmeric) in combination with rosiglitazone (an anti-diabetic drug) on animal model of acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a common entity that is usually caused by alcohol and gallstones.

This research was conducted on rats in whom pancreatitis was induced by giving caerulein, a chemical compound. Curcumin and rosiglitazone were found to have beneficial effects in this animal model of acute pancreatitis.

“Although the results of our study are exciting, it is too early to say whether these drugs can be used in humans,” informed professor Pandhi, the chief guide.

This team of researchers from PGI plans to extend this research and conduct further studies to better characterize the effects of these drugs so that in future we can use this treatment.

Chandigarh, November 19
An Ambala-based woman who tested HIV positive at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, has kicked up a major controversy. Her husband alleged that infected blood was transfused to his wife after she admitted to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the GMCH authorities rebutttd the allegation. They said he blood transfused to the woman at the hospital was safe and the patient must had infection before reaching here.

Rajesh, the husband, said his wife gave birth to a baby boy on November 11 at the hospital but two days after the delivery he was told that she was suffering from HIV positive. I got her blood tested at Ambala also but nothing wrong was found there, said Rajesh.

The woman was brought to the hospital on November 11 with complication of placenta pravia because of which there was severe bleeding, said Dr Harsh Mohan, medical superintendent, PGI.

The patient was transfused three units of blood during her stay at the hospital and the blood samples of the patient were taken when she was found as HIV positive, said medial superintendent. The patient was transfused a unit of blood at Ambala civil hospital last month also, added Dr Harsh Mohan.

Officials at the Blood Transfusion Council, Chandigarh, however, also rebutted the claim of Rajesh.

Suvir Saxena, secretary of the State Blood Transfusion Council, Chandigarh, said the infection caused by HIV positive was not detectable before the six weeks of infection to victim.

Chandigarh, November 19
The ICL has elaborate plans to hold Test matches along with 50-50 overs tourney after its first edition of Twenty-20 at Panchkula starting this month.“Eventually we are going to have our international team and other cricket-playing nations would also be roped in for the purpose”, said Ashish Kaul, executive vice- president of Essel Group at Hotel Mountview here today.

Lashing out at the BCCI, Kaul said it (BCCI) was just a private body as was ours. “Who says BCCI’s team represents the country? They are as recognised or unrecognised as we are”.

The ICL has made its impact at the international level as people all over understand what is the league, added Kaul.

Disclosing the plans of the league, the official said the group would focus on developing the cricketing infrastructure in the country. “We will set up our Research and Development centres for promoting the game at every level across the country. Besides, the group will also set up formal training grounds and cricket academies all over the country to unearth talent”, said Kaul.

On being asked about financial matters, Kaul said, “Money is no problem for us. We can rope in many big business houses for sponsorship. Otherwise also, we can run the league in the same way for another 10 years without any support”.

On the prospects of the forthcoming tournament at Panchkula, he said the tournament, which would be played according to the existing rules and regulations, would be a great success.

Chandigarh, November 19
SGGS College for Women-26, Chandigarh, won the Punjab University Inter-College Volleyball (Women) championship for 2007-08. The championship was held at PU grounds here today.

MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, and Dashmesh Girls College, Badal bagged the second, third and fourth positions, respectively.

The results

SGGS College for Women, Chandigarh, b MCM DAV College (Women), Chandigarh 3-0 ( 25-11, 25-06, 25-18).

Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, b Dashmesh Girls College, Badal, 3-0 ( 25-23, 26-24, 25-18)

GGS College for Women, Chandigarh, b Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, 3-0 ( 25-17, 25-15, 25-16).

Ball Badminton:

DAV College, Chandigarh won the Panjab University Inter-College Ball Badminton ( Men) Championship. SGGS College, Chandigarh, GGD SD College, Chandigarh, and Panjab University campus team secured the second, third and fourth, positions.

The results:

DAV College, Chandigarh, b SGGS College, Chandigarh, 2-0 ( 29-26, 29-10)

Match for the third and fourth places: GGD SD College, Chandigarh b PU Campus , Chandigarh 2-0 ( 29-05, 29-16). 

Patiala, November 19
Punjabi university gymnasts showed a lot of agility and won the overall team championship in the women's rhythmics category at the All-India Inter-University Gymnastics Championship being held at Punjabi University here today.

The hosts, whose domination, barring an aberration here and there, was almost complete, accumulated 145.65 points to top the pecking order. Kurukshetra University, whose gymnasts faltered at crucial junctures, collected 127 points to be placed second while gymnasts of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, managed to garner just 101.95 points and were ranked third.

Jashandeep Kaur and Kiranjit Kaur, chief architects of the resounding win, made it a one-two for the hosts.

The hard working Jashandeep accumulated 56.75 points to be declared the best all-round gymnast in the rhythmics section while Kiranjit Kaur, who gave a hot chase to her team-mate, collected 56.70 points to be placed second.

The third place went to Pooja Chouhan of Kurukshetra University. She collected 54.80 points for her effort, at times looking she would give the hosts a run for their money, before faltering towards the end.

In the apparatus championship for men, Mahesh stood first in the floor exercises. He was followed by Manoj Yadav of Agra University, Sohan of GNDU, Amritsar, and Sachin Sukhpal of Chowdhury Charan Singh University, Meerut, in that order.

In the pommel horse event, Manoj Yadav gave a much improved display to bag the top honours. He was followed by Surinder of Punjabi university and S.Kokate of Pune university.

In the roman rings event, N.G Vijay of Osmania University bagged the first place while the second and third slots went to Kuljinder Singh of Panjab university and Mandeep of Chowdhury Charan Singh University, Meerut.

Chandigarh, November 19
The team of Sikhya School, Sector 46, lifted the trophy, accumulating 42 points in the girls’ category of the 32nd Sub-junior Chandigarh State Boxing Championship at Boxing Hall, Sports Complex, Sector 42, here today.

Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, finished runners-up with 17 points.

In boys’ section of the championship, Sharda Saravhitkari School, Sector 40, pugilists grabbed the top position with 32 points trailing Guru Nanak Khalsa School, Sector 30, (15 points) at the second spot.

According to C.K. Jerath, general secretary of CABA, the winners will go for the national tournament to be held at Nagaland from December 11 to 16.

The association will also organise a 11-day preparatory camp from November 26 at the complex. The players will have to report Bhagwant Singh, the coach, on November 26 at the venue.

Chandigarh, November 19
Chandigarh-based Satinder Sharma, an international grade-1 hockey umpire, has been given another prestigious assignment by the world hockey body.

He will be among the 11 hockey umpires appointed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the next year's Beijing Olympic Games. It will be his second Olympics assignment. He had supervised in the Athens Olympics also.

Satinder, working as an assistant manager with the State Bank of India, PU branch, is in the elite group of FIH umpires. Rated as one of the best hockey umpires in the world, Satinder has so far officiated as hockey umpire in 91 international matches.

On completion of his 100 internationals, the FIH will confer on him the "Golden Whistle." When he completes this unique feat, Satinder will become the first Indian to be presented the “Golden Whistle” award by the FIH. "I am looking forward for the “Golden Whistle” award and I hope I will achieve this milestone within two years.

He had earlier officiated in the Junior World Cup, Olympic Games, Asia Cup, Championship Trophy and all other major international tournaments.

Chandigarh, November 19
The defence ministry’s Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA) is in the process of procuring land in Chandigarh for accommodating its local establishment here, which will help consolidating and streamlining its functioning.

At present the local unit of DGQA, called the Senior Quality Assurance Establishment (SQAE), was housed in a rented residential accommodation, which had severely restricted its functioning, DGQA officials said.

Allocation of land by the UT Administration would enable the SQAE to set up its own testing laboratories to carry out its task of quality assurances. Presently, the SQAE is dependant of laboratories of its parent establishment located as far away as Bangalore or those of scientific or industrial institutions located nearby.

According to DGQA officers, a case for land acquisition is in advance stages of progress. The defence ministry has accorded its sanction for procurement, and the approval of the UT Administration is being sought. The SQAE has identified land adjoining the CII premises in Sector 31 for establishing its setup.

The SQAE is involved in the testing and quality assurance of electronic components and related systems produced by public and private organisations in this region, before they are inducted in the armed forces. It is also involved in defect analysis and rectification.

The origin of the DGQA dates back over a 100 years and is tasked with providing quality assurance cover for the entire range of arms, ammunitions, equipments and stores supplied to armed forces from indigenous and foreign sources. It is also responsible for import substitution, documentation, codification and standardisation for minimising the variety in inventory.

Chandigarh, November 19
The decision of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) to shift dairies from certain UT villages has sparked off a war of words between the Congress and the BJP.

Close on the heels of the CTCC meeting flaying the corporation, headed by BJP-SAD mayor Harjinder Kaur of taking this "anti-people" decision, the BJP today hit back at the "majority Congress".

Recently the authorities concerned had decided to shift dairies from Hallomajra, Kajheri, Palsora, Maloya and Dadumajra. These villages have been included in the MCC.

In fact, a meeting of the BJP office bearers held here today blamed the decision on the Congress administration. It was decided that a delegation of the BJP would take up the issue with the administration.

Office-bearers were of the opinion that earlier sufficient time was given by the administration before shifting dairies from Burail, Badheri and Attawa villages. In fact, the people of these three villages were rehabilitated by giving them plots in Maloya, the office-bearers claimed.

Earlier, CTCC general secretary and prominent rural leader Bhupinder Singh Badheri had blamed the corporation, led by BJP-SAD mayor, of taking the "anti-people" decision which would threaten the livelihood of the hundreds of the rural residents.

Observers believed that the ongoing tussle over the dairy issue was the result of the rural units of both parties becoming active in the rural areas.

In fact, with former union minister Harmohan Dhawan joining the BSP, the fight for wooing the rural voters had intensified among the Congress, the BJP and the BSP, the observers added.