Chandigarh, December 27
Potential cancer patients can breath easy as the cancer detection techniques are set to be revolutionised at the PGI here.

The commissioning of a state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (PET) scan at the department of nuclear medicine will go a long way in the early detection of neuro and cardio diseases, besides cancer for the patients of several northern states, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, according to sources.

The facility, which will be the first such facility north of New Delhi, is used for cancer detection with a very high sensitivity and it detects any structural changes. In fact, it scores over other traditional detection techniques such as ultrasound and CT scan.

“The commissioning of the facility was another initiative for better patient-care at the institute, which is going in for a major infrastructure upgrading next year”, the PGI director, Prof K.K. Talwar, said here today.

Talking about the benefits of the new facility, the head of the department, Dr B.R. Mittal, said the major advantage of this technique was that the whole body could be scanned after single injection of radiotracer rather than imaging different sections individually.

Different radioactive compounds of glucose, carbon and oxygen, which are normally used by body tissues, formed part of the position emission tomography and are injected into the body.

These compounds were selectively trapped within cancer cells and emit radiations, which were detected as bright spots on the computer screens, the sources informed.

Meanwhile, the radiation dose from this scan is comparable to that from a diagnostic CT scan and it does not have any side effects.

The information obtained from the PET scan enables the imaging of both structure and function in a single instrument at the same time. This allows more accurate localisation of cancer tissues, the sources adds.

Mohali, December 27
Dr G.S. Kalra, director cardiology, Fortis Hospital, was recently invited by the Cardiology Society of India (CSI) to conduct a live ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure on eight-year-old Neerja at the CSI 59th annual conference held at Hyderabad. Over 1,500 cardiologists and physicians from across the world and India participated in the conference. A VSD surgery is a procedure to close a hole in the heart. It is a technically demanding procedure and is being done by very few cardiologists in India.

A VSD is the most common heart defect present from birth. It is characterised by the persistence of one or more holes in the muscular wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers of the heart; the left and right ventricles. Neerja had a large VSD with pulmonary artery hypertension and symptoms of breathlessness.

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 27
Mohammad Hassan and Aakanksha would lead boys' and girls' teams of the city, respectively, in the 36th edition of junior national and inter-state carrom championship, to be held from December 30 to January 4 at Coimbatore. 

Mohammad Saqib, Mohammad Talib, Mohammad Arib, Naushad and Mohammad Aarish are other members in the boys' team. The girls’ team consists of Anjali Taneja, Farheen, Tuba Gulshan and Harshpreet.

Mazda Begum will be the manager of the teams, whereas Mazhar Khan and S.P. Dobhal will accompany as coaches. The teams have left for Coimbatore today. 

Chandigarh, December 27
Local pugilist Paramjeet Singh knocked down Satish Solanki of Haryana in the second day of the 15th All-India A.K. Misra Memorial Boxing Championship being played at the Skating Rink, Sector 10, here today.

In flyweight category, local pugilist Mukesh Kumar beat Manoj Kumar of Uttar Pradesh.

Other results: Weight Category: Prakash Darjee b Sarfraj Ansari, Rupak b Sandeep Singh, Jonathan b Sandeep, Rajesh Saini b Ponvendan, Gopal b Gagandeep Singh, Umesh b Meghal Kumar, Aboy Singh b Venkata Ramana.

Fly weight 51 kgs: Prem Prakash b Bijender Singh, S.B. Tappa b Govind Rai, Prabakaran b Jagdeep Singh, Deep Chand b Sandeep Kumar, Ram Kumar b Jaimin, Dileep b Surinder Singh, Subhash Limbu b Shrikant Yadav, Mukesh Kumar b Manoj Kumar.

Bantam Wight 54 kgs: Prasant b Ritesh Kumar, Indera Kumar b Surinder Singh, Ibumcha b Manjeet Singh, Surendra Gund b Amarajit, Harshal Dilip b Anoop Singh, Dhanwal b Aakar Chauhan, S.K. Tappa b Rahul Singh, Manoj Singh b Manoj Kumar.

Chandigarh, December 27
These championships have helped me a lot to reach to the international level, said S.B. Tamang from Assam Riffles, who is participating in the ongoing 5th All-India A.K. Mishra Memorial Boxing Championship. The 20-year-old boxer, who won a silver medal in the President Cup in Indonesia and is now in the city to take part in this championship for the fourth time.

Talking about his experience the boxer said, “The A.K. Misra boxing championship has really helped me to improve my skills and perform in a much better way. The first time I participated in this championship was in the year 2004, in which I was pushed out of the tournament. But In 2005, I won a silver medal. My performance was improving and confidence level was high in 2006. I performed well and won a gold medal.

Being an Olympic qualifier I can try and make it to the India camp.” In order to encourage boxing in India, the pugilist said, “Having a social status and recognition is what the players look for. More facilities should be given to encourage boxing. Cash rewards and other benefits, including a provision of a job can raise the standard of boxing within the country”.

Chandigarh, December 27
The Spice Telecom team moved into the semi finals defeating Taj team by 26 runs in 2nd Fun Cricket Tournament being held at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, here today.

Batting first after winning the toss, Spice made 142 runs for 7 wickets in the allotted 20-overs. Nitin made 37 runs while Sumit and Gagan contributed 32 and 28 runs, respectively.

For Taj, Hitesh and Vikram took two wickets each for 17 and 33 runs, respectively.

Chasing the target of 143, Taj batsmen could score 126 runs for 9 wickets in 20-overs. Nitin claimed three wickets while Mohit took one.

Nitin was awarded man of the match for his all-round performance.

In the second quarterfinal match, Airtel defeated Dell by 31 runs. The semi finals will be played on Saturday.

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