Why medicinal plants are disappearing?

The history of medicine can be traced to prehistoric times. Among the earliest sources of medicines were herbs and various plant parts such as roots, flowers, etc. Across several regions of the world, medicinal plants are in use even today. In fact, research seems to suggest that the demand for these plants could be increasing with people wanting to embrace what are seen as "natural" remedies for ailments. But, how are the populations of medicinal plants faring? Come, let's find out.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), "between 65% and 80% of the populations of developing countries currently use medicinal plants as remedies". Apparently, among the few lakh plant species in the world today, "only 15% have been evaluated to determine their pharmacological potential" So, researchers are at work for "demonstrating the efficacy and importance of medicinal plants”. But the truth is that medicinal plants across the globe are facing extinction. An expert has said that "Earth is losing one potential medicinal plant every two years at an extinction rate that is hundred times faster than the natural process." The situation is no different in our country.

India is among the many countries with known use of medicinal plants. Our country is home to nearly 45,000 plant species, and at least 7,000 of them are medicinal aromatic plants. However, a recent piece of news from experts has become a cause for concern- as much as 10% of 900 major medicinal plant species found in the country fall under the “threatened” category, and "are facing the threat of extinction" What is causing this? The usual suspects - overexploitation, habitat destruction, urbanisation, etc. Another worrisome aspect is that "only 15 per cent of medicinal plants are cultivated while the remaining 85 per cent are collected by the industry from forest ecosystems and other natural habitats"

Conservation strategies such as “field studies, proper documentation, mitigation measures, enactment of special laws..." and recovery programmes are suggested to save the medicinal plants. This is vital because such plants play a crucial role not just in traditional practices but also in treating illnesses such as cancer. It is important to note that "cancer has a long history of depending on natural products for drugs" When medicinal plants disappear, along with them could disappear several chances to better human life.

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What is the difference between acupuncture and acupressure?

Both involve healing by stimulation. When certain parts of the body are stimulated, endorphin hormones are produced. This lessens pain and boosts blood and oxygen circulation. Muscles relax, thereby commencing the healing process. The traditional Chinese medicine believed that life energy, qi or chi, flows through fourteen 'meridians' in our bodies. As blockages in these 'meridians' are cleared, the body's innate healing capacity is triggered and energy flow gets rebalanced.

Acupressure originated in Tibet prior to acupuncture. Acupressure, referred to as needleless acupuncture, employs firm physical pressure to massage acupoints. In this method of treatment, fingers, elbows or toes are used to press key points on the surface of the skin. People go for acupressure to bring down stress levels and brace up the immune system. Acupressure is a combination of acupuncture and pressure. On the other hand, acupuncture brings about a change in the physical functions of the body as thin, long and sterile needles are inserted right through the skin. The needles are then manoeuvred either manually or by electrical stimulation. When done by an expert, acupuncture is not painful.

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Scientists create first 'synthetic embryo'

In a research breakthrough, scientists have created world's first synthetic embryo with a brain and a beating heart. The scientists used only stem cells to create synthetic mouse embryo models. Replete with a beating heart, and a brain, the embryo was created sans sperm, eggs and fertilisation.

The feat was achieved by researchers from the University of Cambridge. The team was led by Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz. The result was the creation of a beating heart and brain. The work is the result of decades-long research.

The new findings will aid in reaching a better understanding about how tissues are formed during the natural course of development, that is in the case of natural embryos.

The breakthrough is key because it opens new frontiers for learning how the stem cells form into organs in the embryo. In the future, this could help grow organs and tissues using synthetic embryo models. They are called synthetic embryos as they are made without fertilised eggs. This will be a game-changer for human organ transplantation as transplantable tissues can be created thus.

"Our mouse embryo model not only develops a brain but also a beating heart, all the components that go on to make up the body," said Zemicka-Goetz, Professor in Mammalian Development and Stem Cell Biology in Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience in a release issued by the university.

"The stem cell embryo model is important because it gives us accessibility to the developing structure at a stage that is normally hidden from us due to the implantation of the tiny embryo into the mother’s womb. This accessibility allows us to manipulate genes to understand their developmental roles in a model experimental system." Zernicka-Goetz added in the release.

For the development of the synthetic embryo, cultured stem cells representing the types of tissues were put together in a suitable environment that aided in their growth. One of the major achievements of the study is the growth of the entire brain, especially the anterior part of the brain.

The present research was being carried out in mouse models and the researchers plan to develop human models. This will aid in studying those aspects of the organs that would not be possible in real embryos.

The researchers are also developing an analogous model of the human embryo to further their studies. This is crucial as all these findings can help understand why some human pregnancies fail.  The understanding at the embryo level is crucial as the majority of human pregnancies fail at the developmental stage.

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?

Our body is home to hundreds of types of cells. A majority of them begin as stem cells. They carry within them instructions to develop into specialised cells such as muscle, blood or brain cell. In short, stem cells are human cells that grow into different cell types ranging from brain cells to nerve cells. They can be used to treat damaged tissues. Stem cell-based therapies are being carried out for serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinsons' and other genetic disorders.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS IN STEM CELL RESEARCH

1981:  Embryonic stem cells identified in mice for the first time by Martin Evans of Cardiff University, UK.

1997:  The first artificial animal clone, Dolly the sheep, created. It was a turning point in stem cell research.

1998:  Human embryonic stem cells were isolated and grown in the lab. 2007 The Nobel Prize in Medicine, 2007, was given to Mario R. Capecchi, Sir Martin J. Evans and Oliver Smithies "for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells."

2012:  Human embryonic stem cells used in two patients. It helped improve their vision.

2022:  The Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize was awarded to Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte for his work on cellular rejuvenation programming aimed at improving age-associated diseases.

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Who is the father of blood banking?

An eminent pioneer in the field was Charles Richard Drew, whose work on the banking of blood products and the logistics of collecting and distributing blood saved countless lives in the trenches of World War II and the wards of military and civilian hospitals. American researcher, Charles Richard Drew, pioneered the concept of a ‘blood bank. While researching for his doctorate in the medical field, he took up the job of a supervisor at the blood plasma division of the Blood Transfusion Association in New York City. There he found by separating the liquid red blood cells from the near solid plasma and freezing the two separately, blood could be preserved and reconstituted at a later date. He published his findings in an article called 'Banked Blood', where he referred to the process of collecting and storing blood as 'banking' it.

Drew's method for storing of blood plasma revolutionised the medical profession by helping save countless lives all over the world.

The newest concept in blood banks is the storing of umbilical cord blood, which contains stem cells that can be used to cure diseases.

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THE CURIOUS CASE OF EMM NEGATIVE

India has reported its first case of EMM negative blood. What is unique about the type? Why does it not find a place in the existing blood groups?

IN SCHOOL DESK

One of the first things that schools ask when students enroll is their blood group. This crucial information is added to the identity card and student files so that, in case of a medical emergency, the information is available at hand. But can you imagine a scenario when a lab is unable to identify your blood group because it is extremely rare? That's what happened when a 65-year-old man in Gujarat who had gone for cardiac treatment, tried to find out his blood group.

Even specialists were left puzzled as his blood sample did not seem to match others. The patient needed to know his blood group in order to have a compatible donor who could give him blood for a heart surgery. Only after a long ordeal ending with his blood sample being sent to the United States for testing, did the man find out that he had EMM negative blood. He is the first recorded case in India to have such a blood type and the tenth in the world. The blood group has been assigned with the symbol ISBT042.

What are blood types?

Blood is characterised into types to prevent adverse reactions during blood transfusions. In general, we know of the blood types A, B, O or AB. Further, these groups take on a negative or positive factor.

However, there are 42 different types of blood systems, including A, B, O, Rh, and Duffy. The names come from the ABO antigens, which are basically protein molecules that are found on our red blood cells. In most blood groups, EMM is present. But there are rare cases where EMM is negative.

In the case of the Gujarat man, even his children's blood samples were not a perfect match and he could have had a reaction if their blood was given to him.

Why is the ISBT042 blood type so rare?

Understanding the Emm antigen has been a struggle even for scientists. But by studying those with the blood type and comparing their samples with those of relatives, scientists have found that a deletion in a gene could be responsible for the blood type. People with EMM negative blood group can't donate blood to anyone or accept blood from anyone.

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WHAT IS ZOONOTIC?

Also known as zoonotic disease, zoonosis refers to the disease that humans contract from animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Both wild and domestic animals can transmit a disease to humans, and the transmission can happen in different ways. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi are all agents of zoonotic diseases. Climate change and changing landscapes are expanding the range of infectious and zoonotic diseases, which were once confined to warmer regions.

Animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness – these are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacterial, parasites, and fungi. These germs can cause many different types of illnesses in people and animals, ranging from mild to serious illness and even death. Animals can sometimes appear healthy even when they are carrying germs that can make people sick, depending on the zoonotic disease.

Zoonotic diseases are very common, both in the United States and around the world. Scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. Because of this, CDC works 24/7 to protect people from zoonotic diseases in the United States and around the world.

How do germs spread between animals and people?

Because of the close connection between people and animals, it’s important to be aware of the common ways people can get infected with germs that can cause zoonotic diseases. These can include:

Direct contact: Coming into contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucous, feces, or other body fluids of an infected animal. Examples include petting or touching animals, and bites or scratches.

Indirect contact: Coming into contact with areas where animals live and roam, or objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with germs. Examples include aquarium tank water, pet habitats, chicken coops, barns, plants, and soil, as well as pet food and water dishes.

Vector-borne: Being bitten by a tick, or an insect like a mosquito or a flea.

Foodborne: Each year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food. Eating or drinking something unsafe, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, undercooked meat or eggs, or raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with feces from an infected animal. Contaminated food can cause illness in people and animals, including pets.

Waterborne: Drinking or coming in contact with water that has been contaminated with feces from an infected animal.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family from zoonotic diseases?

People can come in contact with animals in many places. This includes at home and away from home, in places like petting zoos, fairs, schools, stores, and parks. Insects, like mosquitoes and fleas, and ticks bite people and animals day and night. Thankfully, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family from zoonotic diseases.

Keep hands clean. Washing your hands right after being around animals, even if you didn’t touch any animals, is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

  • Always wash your hands after being around animals, even if you didn’t touch the animals.
  • Many germs are spread by not washing hands properly with soap and clean, running water.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Because hand sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs, it is important to wash your hands with soap and water if they are available.
  • Know the simple things you can do to stay safe around your pets.
  • Prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
  • Learn more about ways to handle food safely—whether it’s for yourself or your family, your pet, or other animals.
  • Be aware of zoonotic diseases both at home, away from home (such as at petting zoos or other animal exhibits), in childcare settings or schools and when you travel.
  • Avoid bites and scratches from animals.

Credit : Centers for diseases control and preventions

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WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?

Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus, which transmits disease from animals to humans, with symptoms very similar to smallpox but less severe. Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which is usually mild and from which most people recover in a few weeks. It is related to smallpox, which killed millions around the world every year before its eradication in 1980, but has far less severe symptoms. The virus does not spread easily between people and the risk to the wider public is said to be very low.  Outbreaks of the virus have been found in Europe, Australia and America. * The symptoms often include a fever and rash - but the infection is usually mild and clears up on its own, lasting between 2 and 4 weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus can be contained with the right response in countries outside of Africa where it is not usually detected.

MONKEYPOX ORIGINS

  • Discovered in 1958  in colonies of research monkeys. First human case identified in 1970 in Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Occurs mostly in remote parts of Central and West Africa
  • Virus has two main types - West African strain thought to be milder than Central African variant

HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION

  • Via respiratory droplets - requires prolonged face-to-face contact
  • Close contact with body fluids or lesions, or by touching contaminated clothing or bedding

GENERAL SYMPTOMS

Incubation: Time from infection to symptoms can range from 5-21 days.

Initial illness: Fever, headache, muscle aches, swellings, exhaustion.

Itchy rash: May develop on face, then spread to hands and feet.

Lesions: Go through various stages until scabs form and fall off. Lesions can cause scarring.

Outcome: Illness typically lasts for 2-4 weeks. In Africa, monkeypox has been shown to be fatal in up to 1 in 10 people who contract disease.

Treatment: Smallpox vaccine proven to be 85% effective against monkeypox. Antiviral drugs could help relieve symptoms.

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WHO WAS KARL LANDSTEINER?

Austrian biologist Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943) is mostly known for his pioneering work in the classification of blood groups. However, he was also responsible for many other discoveries in the field of medicine that have helped improve immunity and health.

Born in Vienna, Karl lost his father at an early age and was brought up by his mother. After his schooling, he studied medicine at the University of Vienna and later took up research in the field of organic chemistry. He worked under many renowned chemists of the time. During his research at the Institute of

Hygiene in Vienna, Karl became interested in the   mechanisms of immunity and the nature of antibodies. He soon published his first article on serology- the study of blood.

At the time, blood transfusion was considered risky as it led to fatal blood clotting in the recipient's body. Landsteiner was the first to suggest that blood transfusion may be unsuccessful because an individual's blood might not be compatible with that of another. In 1901, he classified blood types into three groups-A, B and C (later called O). This enabled donors and recipients to match their blood types before transfusions.

A few years later, guided by his work, the first successful blood transfusion was carried out by a doctor in New York. During World War I, the lives of many soldiers were saved due to transfusion of compatible blood.

Landsteiner was also instrumental in the discovery of the polio virus. It was earlier believed that polio was caused by a bacterium. With the help of bacteriologist Erwin Popper, Landsteiner not only proved that polio was caused by a virus but also traced the manner of its transmission. Their discovery made possible the development of a vaccine for polio.

Later, when he moved to New York, Karl teamed up with noted biologist Alexander Wiener to identify the Rh (rhesus) factor that relates human blood to that of the rhesus monkey. The Rh factor, which occurs when the mothers  blood is incompatible with that of the foetus, was believed to be responsible for a fatal infant disease.

Landsteiners discovery of blood groups and studies on the subject earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.

Though he was much sought-after as a world authority on the mechanisms of immunity, Landsteiner shunned publicity and preferred a quiet life away from the public gaze. On June 26, 1943, he died following a coronary seizure, while still at work in his laboratory.

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HOW DOCTORS STARTED USING STETHOSCOPES TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHEST?

The practice of using stethoscopes started in a hospital in Paris, in the early 19th Century.

The Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris provided specialised medical care. Rene Laennec, one of the doctors there, was trained to use sound to diagnose diseases of the chest.

One day in 1816, a young woman who had a heart problem came to consult Dr. Laennec. Ordinarily, the physician would have put his ear to the woman's chest and listened to her heartbeats to detect if there was any aberration. But the woman who came to see Dr. Laennec was rather plump. Uncomfortable with the idea of putting his ear to her chest, the doctor's eyes fell on a newspaper lying there...and he got a brainwave!

He rolled the newspaper into a cylinder and applied one end of it to the region of the woman's heart and the other to his ear. And then his own heart thumped in joy and excitement! He could hear her heartbeats more clearly than if he had put his ear directly to her chest. It was a landmark moment in medical science.

Laennec fashioned a hollow, wooden cylinder and catalogued the various sounds he could hear through it when applied to a patient's chest, and what the sounds indicated about the health of the patient. He sent his findings to the Academy of Science, in Paris.

It was not long before his invention began to be used by physicians all over Europe.

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REGULAR BLOOD DONATION ELIMINATES TOXIC ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS’ FROM BODY.

'Forever chemicals' or PFAS are widely present in non-stick kitchenware, plastics, water-resistant materials, paints, carpets and clothes. On entering the body they accumulate in the bloodstream, and impact gut flora or lungs, causing asthma and other diseases.

As PFAS bind to serum proteins in the blood, regular blood or plasma donations result in a significant reduction in blood PFAS levels; plasma donations were more effective, corresponding to a 30 per cent decrease.

Although results suggest that this is a viable tool for removing PFAS from the bloodstream, what does it mean for recipients of the blood? Potential recipients are very likely to already have PFAS in their bloodstream, and there is no data to suggest that receiving blood contaminated with the compounds exposes them to additional risks.

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WHAT AND WHEN WAS THE FIRST HUMAN ORGAN TO BE TRANSPLANTED SUCCESSFULLY?

In 1954, the kidney was the first human organ to be transplanted successfully. Until the early 1980s, the potential of organ rejection limited the number of transplants performed.

 The first ever successful transplant of any organ was done at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, Ma. The surgery was done by Dr. Joseph Murray, who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work. The reason for his success was due to Richard and Ronald Herrick of Maine. Richard Herrick was a in the Navy and became severely ill with acute renal failure. His brother Ronald donated his kidney to Richard, and Richard lived another 8 years before his death. Before this, transplant recipients didn't survive more than 30 days. The key to the successful transplant was the fact that Richard and Ronald were identical twin brothers and there was no need for anti-rejection medications, which was not known about at this point. This was the most pivotal moment in transplant surgery because now transplant teams knew that it could be successful and the role of rejection/anti-rejection medicine.

Credit : Wikipedia 

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WHAT IS AN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION?

Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ. The donor and recipient may be at the same location, or organs may be transported from a donor site to another location. Organs and/or tissues that are transplanted within the same person's body are called autografts. Transplants that are recently performed between two subjects of the same species are called allografts. Allografts can either be from a living or cadaveric source.

Organs that have been successfully transplanted include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, thymus and uterus. Tissues include bones, tendons (both referred to as musculoskeletal grafts), corneae, skin, heart valves, nerves and veins. Worldwide, the kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organs, followed by the liver and then the heart. Corneae and musculoskeletal grafts are the most commonly transplanted tissues; these outnumber organ transplants by more than tenfold.

Organ donors may be living, brain dead, or dead via circulatory death. Tissue may be recovered from donors who die of circulatory death, as well as of brain death – up to 24 hours past the cessation of heartbeat. Unlike organs, most tissues (with the exception of corneas) can be preserved and stored for up to five years, meaning they can be "banked". Transplantation raises a number of bioethical issues, including the definition of death, when and how consent should be given for an organ to be transplanted, and payment for organs for transplantation. Other ethical issues include transplantation tourism (medical tourism) and more broadly the socio-economic context in which organ procurement or transplantation may occur. A particular problem is organ trafficking.[5] There is also the ethical issue of not holding out false hope to patients.

Transplantation medicine is one of the most challenging and complex areas of modern medicine. Some of the key areas for medical management are the problems of transplant rejection, during which the body has an immune response to the transplanted organ, possibly leading to transplant failure and the need to immediately remove the organ from the recipient. When possible, transplant rejection can be reduced through serotyping to determine the most appropriate donor-recipient match and through the use of immunosuppressant drugs.

Credit : Wikipedia 

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WHAT TYPE OF VACCINE IS R21?

Scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus shot have produced the vaccine. "This was by far a much more difficult vaccine to make work." Adrian Hill, the Jenner Institute's director, said in northern Tanzania on a visit to field trials of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine.

While the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 has 12 genes, Plasmodium-the parasite that causes malaria - has more than 5,000 genes. It's an organism that infects the liver and bloodstream, infecting red blood cells.  Hill explains that R21/Matrix-M combines the R21 vaccine with a vaccine booster or adjuvant Matrix-M, which stimulates the human immune system to attack the parasite.  When an infectious mosquito feeds on a human being, it injects parasites in a form called sporozoites into the bloodstream, where they travel directly to the liver. The sporozoites divide rapidly, producing around 20,000 merozoites that rupture the liver cells and invade red blood cells.  R21 targets a circumsporozoite protein (CSP) present on the parasite's surface during the sporozoite stage. CSP rarely mutates among the four strains of malaria parasites that infect humans. The human body does not readily react with a complete immune response to foreign proteins. The R21 focus on CSP boosted by the proprietary Novavax adjuvant- produces a more robust, better-targeted antibody response.  Clinical trials are now moving to the third phase in four countries across Africa - Mali, Tanzania, Kenya, and Burkina Faso.

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Tuberculosis (TB) : General Information

World TB Day is observed every year on March 24 to raise awareness about the infectious disease and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. On this day in 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. "The theme of World TB Day 2022 - 'Invest to End TB.

 Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.

What causes tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

How does TB spread?

TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

Which are the symptom of TB?

Signs and symptoms of active TB include:

  • Coughing for three or more weeks.
  • Coughing up blood or mucus.
  • Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing.
  • Unintentional weight loss.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Night sweats.
  • Chills.

What is latent TB?

TB bacteria can live in the body without making you sick. This is called latent TB infection. In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. People with latent TB infection: Have no symptoms.

How is TB Disease Treated?

TB disease can be treated by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. It is very important that people who have TB disease finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as prescribed. If they stop taking the drugs too soon, they can become sick again; if they do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat. In some situations, staff of the local health department meet regularly with patients who have TB to watch them take their medications. This is called directly observed therapy (DOT). DOT helps the patient complete treatment in the least amount of time.

Credit : CDC

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What is medical oxygen?

With COVID-19 cases surging in several parts of the country, there have been reports of some States facing acute shortage of medical oxygen. But what is medical oxygen?

Used in healthcare

You may think there is enough oxygen in the air around us. But the natural air around us has only 21% of oxygen and the rest is a mixture of other gases such as nitrogen (78%), argon and carbon dioxide. Medical oxygen is pure oxygen used for treatment of patients in hospitals. The oxygen from the ambient air is separated using a special technique, inspected and packaged into cylinders for use in hospitals. There are different grades of oxygen such as industrial oxygen, aviator breathing oxygen, and medical oxygen.

Life-saving gas

The oxygen we breathe gets into our bloodstream, providing our body with energy. Every cell in our body needs oxygen for proper functioning if there is not enough oxygen in our bloodstream to supply our tissues and cells, then we need supplemental oxygen to keep our organs healthy. Medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Illnesses such as this cause the oxygen level in the body to dip, which affects the functioning of the cells, if left untreated. If the cells don’t function properly, it affects the organs and the functioning of all systems in the body, causing even death in extreme cases. So giving medical oxygen becomes essential as it restores the oxygen level in the cells and tissues, saving life. COVID-19 is said to primarily affect the lungs in patients. As it causes oxygen deficiency in the body because of its impact on the lungs, patients are put on oxygen therapy to maintain the function of the vital organs. Again, too much oxygen can be dangerous. That’s why doctors and caregivers keep a close eye on patients to ensure that they get only the required amount of medical oxygen, and not more. Did you know a pulse oximeter, a small, clip-like device into which a finger is inserted, tracks blood oxygen levels, and can diagnose oxygen deficiency?

States with a high demand

Amid the spike in cases, the Centre has decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen plants at 100 new hospitals in far-flung areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for synergy between various ministers and State governments to ensure smooth supply of medical oxygen and for ramping up its production.

According to the Union health ministry, the Centre-appointed Empowered Group (EG2), constituted last year to ensure availability of essential medical equipment during the pandemic, is monitoring the situation of demand and supply of medical oxygen. The country has the capacity to produce over 7,000 metric tonnes of oxygen per day. It is said that the maximum consumption of medical oxygen is by States with high COVID-19 cases such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

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