Latest news with #R.K
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
How genetic factors influence the onset and progression of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a multifaceted endocrine-metabolic condition, is increasingly being recognised as not only a reproductive disorder but also a genetic and lifestyle-driven health challenge that affects a growing number of women across India. While clinical attention has often centred around irregular periods and infertility, recent studies and clinical experiences point to the crucial and often overlooked hereditary nature of this condition. Affecting an estimated 5 to 20 % of women of reproductive age in India, PCOS is now understood to be a spectrum disorder -- presenting differently across individuals. According to Dakshayani D., head of obstetrics and gynaecology at MGM Healthcare, Chennai, PCOS is a 'multisystemic pathology,' often seen with irregular cycles, weight gain, hirsutism (excessive growth of dark, coarse hair in women in a male-like pattern, typically on the face, chest and back), acanthosis nigricans (a skin condition characterised by dark, velvety and thickened patches of skin, often found in body folds like the neck, armpits and groin) and in some cases, infertility. She notes that some women may show classical ultrasound findings of multiple peripheral ovarian cysts and increased ovarian volume, while others may have no cysts at all. 'PCOS is not a uniform disease; it manifests differently from lean PCOS to obese PCOS with symptoms such as male-pattern hair growth, scanty or heavy bleeding and insulin resistance varying in severity,' she adds. The genetic element The strong familial clustering of PCOS has led clinicians to view genetics as a significant component in its development. 'There is strong clinical evidence that the condition runs in families,' says R.K. Vidhyalakshmi, lead consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at SRM Global Hospitals, Chennai. 'First-degree relatives -- mothers, sisters and daughters have a significantly increased risk.' Genomic studies support these clinical observations. Variants in genes such as CYP11a, CYP17, CYP19, INSR, LHR, FSHR, and DENND1A -- all involved in steroid hormone synthesis and ovarian function have been identified in women with PCOS. 'PCOS is a polygenic disorder with no single causative gene,' explains Mannan Gupta, chairman, department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Elantis Healthcare, New Delhi. 'Instead, several gene variants act together with environmental triggers.' Sapna Raina, clinical lead at Narayana Health City, notes that the risk of developing PCOS in women with a family history can be as high as 25–50 %, further underscoring the need for early surveillance in adolescent girls with known familial risk. Early recognition is key Given its variable presentation, early detection of PCOS often depends on clinical vigilance and awareness of familial risk. Dhivya Sharona, consultant gynaecologist at Rela Hospital, Chennai, stresses the need to distinguish PCOS from PCOD -- the latter being a condition limited to ovulatory dysfunction. 'PCOS is broader, and includes metabolic and androgenic symptoms even in the absence of ovarian cysts.' She highlights the increasing prevalence among young Indian women, attributing it to a combination of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors such as poor dietary habits, high stress and sedentary behaviour. Hormonal screening -- including LH, FSH, AMH, testosterone, prolactin, estradiol, DHEAS, TSH and progesterone -- along with imaging (preferably 3D ultrasonography), enables more accurate assessment of ovarian morphology. '3D USG offers a reliable view of stromal volume and blood flow, which are critical in PCOS evaluation,' adds Dr. Dakshayani. Lifestyle intervention and preventive care Despite its hereditary links, PCOS is highly modifiable through early lifestyle adjustments. 'Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding refined carbohydrates, and engaging in regular physical activity can delay or even prevent the onset of symptoms in at-risk individuals,' says Dr. Gupta. He also recommends stress management, sleep hygiene, and periodic hormonal evaluation for adolescent girls with family history. 'Even a 5–10% weight loss can help regulate menstrual cycles and improve insulin sensitivity,' says Dr. Vidhyalakshmi, adding that prevention starts with education and personalised counselling. Dr. Raina stresses early behavioural interventions in families known to carry a genetic risk. 'Families often share not just genes but habits. Encouraging healthier food choices, reducing processed food intake and promoting physical activity from adolescence can alter outcomes significantly.' Emerging therapies and personalised approaches As understanding of PCOS deepens, treatment is moving towards individualised care models. 'Pharmacogenomics and polygenic risk scoring are being explored to customise treatment based on genetic profiles,' notes Dr. Gupta. 'This will enable clinicians to predict which patients are likely to respond better to specific hormonal or metabolic therapies.' For hirsutism, Dr. Sharona recommends laser hair reduction for long-term improvement, though medications like spironolactone, finasteride and Eflornithine-based topical creams can offer temporary relief. Therapies such as metformin, myoinositols, oral contraceptives and ovulation-inducing agents like Clomiphene, Letrozole and gonadotrophins are tailored based on whether the primary concern is infertility, metabolic imbalance, or hyperandrogenism.'There's no universal treatment for PCOS -- each patient's symptoms and hormonal profile guide the management,' emphasises Dr. Sharona. Despite its high prevalence, PCOS remains underdiagnosed and underreported. 'The social stigma and silence around menstrual health contributes to delays in diagnosis,' says Dr. Raina. 'It is time we normalise conversations around PCOS within families and schools.' With clinical evidence pointing strongly towards hereditary transmission, clinicians believe that family history must be considered a key diagnostic tool -- not just a background detail. By raising awareness, integrating preventive care early and leveraging advances in genetic research, it may be possible to change the trajectory of PCOS for future generations.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Chaos averted at Ahmedabad Rath Yatra after elephant runs amok
AHMEDABAD: Panic briefly erupted during the peaceful Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad near Khadia crossroads around 10:00 am on June 27 after a male elephant in the front of the procession ran amok. The elephant, part of the ceremonial march, was reportedly startled by loud DJ music and excessive whistling, according to R.K. Sahu, officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Zoo Department. As the agitated elephant charged towards the crowd, two to three other elephants behind it started running, disrupting the disciplined formation. The situation escalated as the male elephant sprinted towards a barricaded road leading to the Pol area. Despite warnings from four to five policemen, the elephant rammed through the barricades. Two to three people in the crowd were mildly injured. Acting swiftly, the zoo team deployed two female elephants to calm the agitated male elephant. The male elephant was brought under control and was tied safely near the Khadia junction, where zoo staff continue to monitor him. "Only another elephant can control an elephant,' Sahu explained. Following the incident, authorities have withdrawn all three elephants involved -- the agitated male and the two females -- from the Yatra. With their removal, 14 out of the 17 elephants will now continue in the Rath Yatra.
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being ‘LOST' for decades
The tunnel was difficult to find as it was 'very well hidden from view' IN THE DARK Inside 200-year-old abandoned tunnel network discovered under UK village after being 'LOST' for decades A 'LOST' tunnel from nearly 200 years ago has been discovered under a UK village. The tunnel has been out of use since the 1960s, but it was recently uncovered in a "fantastic" discovery. 3 The discovery was made by Disused Railway Tunnels UK Credit: R.K. Walton/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales 3 The tunnel was used to carry slate from the local quarry Credit: Disused Railway Tunnels UK 3 It was built in 1843 and has been disused since 1861 Credit: Alamy Port Dinorwic Tunnel in North Wales was uncovered by Disused Railway Tunnels UK after a failed attempt last year. The tunnel, built in 1824, was once an integral part of the slate trade. Part of the wider Padarn Railway, the almost 100 yard tunnel connected the quarries at Llanberis to Port Dinowic. Further developments were made in 1843 when a rope-worked incline and a 92 yard tunnel between Port Dinorwic and Penscoins were built. This addition served to transport slate from the quarries to the waterside before it was carried around the UK via boats and trains. It also served as a kind of commuter route for workers before a more formalised service was introduced. The tunnel ceased use in 1861 and was blocked off before being infilled and becoming overgrown. In a trip to the area last year, Vince from Disused Railway Tunnels UK was unable to locate the tunnel. He told North Wales Live: "I couldn't see any evidence of the portal, even the shaft wasn't visible so possibly the tunnel may well be totally lost." The difficulty in finding the tunnel was caused by it having been bricked up until recently which left it "very well hidden from view." Inside 'gateway to underworld' underneath 1,800-year-old city which holds 'toxic' secret that scientists 'can't explain' Vince later returned to the village after the owners of a commercial property at the tunnel's entrance at Port Dinorwic contacted him. Speaking about the successful find, he said: "A massive thank you to Robert for the invitation to visit Port Dinorwic Tunnel and also to Iwan for showing us the way on the day and displaying patience while we mooched about in the tunnel. "What a fantastic day. Vince was shown around by Iwan Rees-Jones who said: "It's a privilege to work in what used to be the vital link for Welsh slate. Vince took photographs of the discovery which was appreciated by locals whose family history is intertwined with the tunnel. Locals either have direct or ancestral links to the tunnel and its trains including the Amalthaea, a steam locomotive that ran on the railway. One resident said: "My husband's great grandfather was one of Amalthaea's drivers. "We have his grandfather's old train tokens also, which he used to get to and from work as a slate splitter and dresser in Dinorwig. "What a stunning set of photographs, a real treat." Another local reminisced on earlier memories with friends when they would follow the disused narrow gauge lines in the 1960s. He said: "There were many tunnels leading into the mines but we never ventued into them.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
No casualties reported, says official after fire breaks out at Delhi's BM Gupta Hospital
ANI 14 May 2025, 05:29 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): After a fire broke out at the dental wing of BM Gupta Hospital in Delhi's Uttam Nagar on Tuesday, ADO Janakpuri R.K. Yadav said that no casualties were reported in the incident. The fire was brought under control shortly after it broke out in the hospital. After receiving the information, fire tenders rushed to the spot. 'On receiving the information, our vehicles reached here from different stations. The fire has been brought under control. There is no report of any casualties,' ADO Janakpuri R.K. Yadav said. According to Delhi Fire Services, the blaze, which started around 8:00 PM, was brought under control after nearly one and a half hours with the deployment of 11 fire tenders. The fire originated in the nurses' hostel on the second floor, which housed accommodations for six nurses, and spread to a portion of the third floor containing medical records. The building comprises a ground floor with a chemist shop, a first floor with offices and an OPD, and the affected upper floors. Approximately 15-20 patients and 20 staff members present at the time were safely evacuated. (ANI)
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Delhi records second-highest May rainfall since 1901
New Delhi experienced its second-highest single-day rainfall in May since 1901, with 77 mm recorded at Safdarjung between 2:30 am and 8:30 am on Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The record remains 119.3 mm on May 20, 2021. The torrential downpour, driven by converging moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, resulted in widespread disruptions, including four deaths in Najafgarh, traffic chaos, and major flight delays. 'Moisture and wind convergence over the region – fed by both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal – along with persistently favourable synoptic conditions in the lower and middle tropospheric levels, triggered the heavy rain,' the IMD said. The rainfall was accompanied by strong southeasterly winds and storm conditions that peaked at 80 kmph at Safdarjung. Other weather stations in the city also saw high wind speeds: Pragati Maidan recorded 78 kmph, and Palam 74 kmph. Temperatures across Delhi plummeted sharply following the storm. 'At Lodhi Road, the temperature dropped from 28.2°C at 5:15 am to 20.7°C at 5:30 am. Similarly, at Jaffarpur, it fell from 28.4°C to 19°C,' said IMD scientist R.K. Jenamani. The city had seen only 10.2 mm rainfall since January 1, making Friday's weather an extreme event. The monthly average for May stands at just 30.7 mm. Rainfall totals from other parts of Delhi included 78 mm at Lodhi Road, 71.5 mm each at Pragati Maidan and Pitampura, and 67.5 mm at Jaffarpur. The severe weather turned fatal in Najafgarh's Kharkhari village, where four members of a family — Jyoti and her three children — died after a tree collapsed on a tubewell structure during the storm. Despite rescue efforts, all four were declared dead at Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital. The chief minister's Office announced Rs 25 lakh in ex-gratia relief to the family. 'The relief would be given to victim's family head Ajay,' it said in a post on X. Over 100 flights were delayed and at least 40 diverted as a result of the storm, while traffic in several parts of Delhi was disrupted due to waterlogging. Affected areas included Dwarka, Khanpur, South Extension, Minto Road, and Lajpat Nagar. In South Delhi, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Tughlaqabad and Sangam Vihar's Neem Chowk Road were submerged, adding to traffic snarls. Waterlogging at ITO, one of Delhi's busiest intersections, led to major traffic congestion. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited Majnu ka Tilla to inspect the situation and expressed dissatisfaction with the response. 'Things won't work like this,' she told officials, urging immediate action to address waterlogged spots. PWD Minister Parvesh Verma also visited Minto Bridge to assess the conditions. According to Skymet Weather's Mahesh Palawat, the rainstorm was a result of pre-monsoon thundercloud formation triggered by recent high temperatures above 40°C and rising moisture levels. 'These phenomena generally occur during the early morning or late evening hours,' he said. Similar weather is expected to continue for about a week, with no heatwave forecast and maximum temperatures likely to stay below 40°C.
