When you are extraordinary and you still do the simplest things with great care.

Sep 27, 2006

Sep 26, 2006

Sep 22, 2006

stem cells are here in india... as expected

By 7:02 AM 1 comment
India to cure killer diseases from siliconindia.com


New Delhi: India will launch its first stem cell transplant center in Chennai, opening next month. Killer diseases like leukaemia, stroke, diabetes and crippling spinal cord injuries could now be treated in India only.

LifeCell, a pioneer in stem cell banking and research in India, in collaboration with the US-based Cryo-Cell Inc would be launching this center. The company has invested $4mn to set up the transplant center at the Sri Ramachandra Medical Center of Excellence, which will be fully operational by the end of this year.

"In India the concept of preserving the stem cell is gradually gaining momentum and the potential for this is huge," said Prasad Mangipudi, vice president of LifeCell.

"Stem Cell therapy is fast emerging as a revolutionary way to treat various diseases and injuries with wide ranging medical benefits," said Anthony Finch, who joined as Advisor to LifeCell, which is launching the country's first stem cell transplant centre.

Stem cell transplantation has been used for more than 30 years to treat a variety of cancers as also some types of solid tumors where other treatments have failed.

"Bone marrow cells are being used for transplants for the past 30 years. Its only in 1988 that the first cord blood transplant was done," informed Mangipudi.

Patients suffering from haematological and oncological ailments would be treated first using stem cells from various sources -- adult bone marrow, umblical cord blood and peripheral blood. The transplant centre would be operational by next month, Mangipudi said adding that he would like to wait for six months before venturing out on an expansion plan.

LifeCell currently offers umblical cord stem cells banking facilities and has about 4,000 subscribers. Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to produce an identical copy of themselves when they divide and differentiate into other cell types. They have the ability to act as a repair system for the body replenishing other cells as long as the host organism is alive.

Stem cells, obtained from cord blood cells during childbirth, have the potential to cure over 75 diseases that humans face today as they can be used to repair specific tissues, according to researchers.

As for the future the company plans to open collection centers in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore. Their Dubai center would have its own collection bank while the Malaysian center would be their Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) hub.

Sep 20, 2006

they know when to change and what to change... Thailand's millatry coup

By 9:41 AM 1 comment
Thailand's military tightens grip from BBC

Martial law has been declared, with large gatherings of people and critical news reporting banned.

Mr Thaksin's deputy and chief aide, Chidchai Vanasathidya, has been taken into army custody.

Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin said in a TV address that the coup was necessary to unite the country.

The military had no intention of holding onto power, he added.

The coup leaders have announced that regional army commanders will take charge of areas outside the capital, Bangkok.

...

In the capital Bangkok, tanks have cordoned off the government district. They have yellow ribbons tied around their barrels to signify loyalty to Thailand's revered king.

On the surface, Bangkok is functioning as normal, says the BBC's Kate McGeown there. The city's monorail system is packed with commuters, and cafes and street vendors are open for business.

Sep 13, 2006

Now that is something...

By 9:50 AM 3 comments
Samsung Develops Tiny 32 Gb Flash Chip

Samsung Electronics says it has developed the world’s first 40-nanometer 32-Gb Flash memory, which is just about the size of a thumbnail but able to store 1,000 MP3 music files. The president of Samsung Electronics' semiconductor business Hwang Chang-gyu announced the next-generation of memory at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.

Have the politician succeeded in dividing the Indian youth???

By 9:35 AM No comments
Caste-based bias rampant in AIIMS from NDTV

On Tuesday, elections to the Resident doctors association saw all pro-reservation candidates withdraw just a day before polling leaving only one contestant per post.

"The elections polarised, a meeting was held by director where it was decided to hold elections, what was the hurry to hold elections, the atmosphere is quite charged up right now," said Dr Sunil Chumber, Vice Dean, AIIMS.

Fight to continue

Nevertheless, the administration declared the elections valid. And the doctors who have won say they will continue to fight caste-based quotas.

Pro-reservation students say the caste-based discrimination at AIIMS has become even uglier after the anti-quota agitation.

Reserved category students have vacated their rooms and are now restricted to just one block of the hostel.

For the first time about a week ago, 40 students complained to the Director. But so far, there's been no action.

What's worrying is that what happens at this premier medical college seems to set a precedent for the rest of the country.

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