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| Tsunami Disaster
Relief |
As soon word reached
the hospital of the devastation from the tsunami, AIMS
dispatched six ambulances long with medical teams to
coastal areas hardest hit by the killer wave. Each ambulance
was fully-equipped with medicine, a ventilator, and
other life-saving equipment and supplies, and also had
the capability of serving as an emergency surgical unit.
One fully equipped ambulance with doctors and nurses
went out each day for the first few weeks to Vypin Island
where there were many trauma cases needing medical attention.
A 24-hour medical centre was set up on the island with
doctors, resources and medicine. The more seriously
injured people were transferred to AIMS. |
| Two other fully equipped
ambulances and two non-equipped ambulances with doctors
and staff went to Karunagappally. The Community Medicine
faculty went along with the ambulances. Additional doctors,
nurses, and medical supplies going from the hospital tonight
to Nagapattanam in Tamil Nadu where the maximum casualties
occurred. (South of Chennai near Pondicherry). Doctors
Alrica, Sunil, Suchin, Nagaprabhu, Ilavarasu and Gopi
plus paramedical staff were part of the team. Dr. Prem
Nair, Medical Director, and Mr. Ron Gottesgen, Administrative
Director of AIMS were present to see off the team. The
hospital will continue to provide emergency medial care
and attention as long as it is needed. |
 |
 |
Within the first 48 hours,
the emergency medical outreach teams distributed medicine
valued at more than 400,000 Indian Rupees and seen and
treated in excess of 2,000 victims. In the area of Kollam,
the doctors, accompanied by teams of assistants, began
making rounds of all nine relief camps that had been established
on the mainland. They also made trips out to the evacuated
coastal area from Azhikal to Pandarathuruttu.
"All they know is gone," reports Dr. Ashok
Pillai, a neurosurgeon based at AIMS. "Imagine,
you have nothing but a small house on the beach for
30 or 40 years and then in five minutes, that is completely
washed away. They are in shock."
He added, "Some are suffering from small wounds,
cuts, abrasions, pieces of glass lodged in their feet.
But the big problem is depression and anxiety. They
really need people to talk to them. We ask them a few
questions, calm them down, and then they immediately
open up and just start crying. They tell us 'My house
is gone', or 'I lost my child... I lost my wife."
AIMS' dedicated staff is helping all they can, but
for some wounds there are no painkillers. In the first
48 hours of relief work, the doctors heard many sad
stories. "We came to one camp and this woman just
out of nowhere became hysterical. She had just learned
that her 15-year-old daughter had been discovered among
the dead," says Dr. Raghavendra. "Another
man was complaining of chest pain, only upon speaking
with him did we realize it was because he too had lost
a daughter."
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| Dr. Asha Pillai relates that there is
"Much psychosocial trauma from all of the deaths,
and what the victims have experienced and seen. There
are a few bruised or broken bones, but mainly infectious
diseases and psychological difficulties that are completely
understandable given the intense trauma suffered."
A team of three doctors, Dr. Vaidyanathan, Dr. Rajam
and Dr. Unnikrishnan were dispatched to those stricken
in Vellankanni, along with paramedical staff to render
medical services. Accompanying them was a team of volunteers
who provided essential services. In addition to AIMS
medical staff, hundreds of volunteers including students
and workers at Amrita institutions have selflessly devoted
themselves to doing whatever they can.
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Paediatric Epilepsy
Symposium
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| 26 December, 2004 - The Child
Neurology division of the Department of Neurology
is committed to improving the care of children with neurological
disorders. As part of ongoing efforts, the AIMS Neurosciences
Institute had organised a symposium on Paediatric Epilepsy
with active participation by national and international
experts in the field.
Paediatric epilepsy is emerging as a challenging and
highly specialized field. It has made several strides
abroad and is a hot area of research and deliberations.
The symposium had offer participants an excellent opportunity
to meet these experts and share experiences. |
Faculty
 |
Prof. Solomon
Moshe is currently the Vice Chairman of
Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
Bronx, New York. He is a world renowned paediatric
epileptologist who has done pioneering work in febrile
seizures and other childhood epileptic syndromes.
|
 |
Prof. K. Radhakrishnan
is presently the Head of the Department of Neurology,
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences
and Technology, Trivandrum. He had done monumental
work in the field of epilepsy and is a pioneer in
the field of epilepsy surgery in India. |
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Research Coordination
Division
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The Research Coordination
Division came into existence on 27th September 2002.
Prof. A. K. K. Unni was assigned the onerous responsibility
of being its coordinator. The importance of research,
so dear to Satguru Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, was realized
early on by the founding directors of AIMS who had the
vision to constitute an institutional Research & Ethics
Committee immediately after commissioning the hospital.
The division works to streamline the clinical research
efforts put in by the enthusiastic physicians of the institute
and to integrate the efforts put in by the basic medical
researchers with those of the clinicians.
Once Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Deemed University) was
established, the division started working in close collaboration
with the academicians as well. As a result, several doctoral
level programmes were initiated under the faculty of Medical
Sciences and at present there are numerous Ph. D. scholars.
Since the Deemed University regulations do permit recognition
of eligible scientists who are working in institutions
of standing like National Institutes as Ph. D. guides,
there is flexibility to admit researchers as Ph. D. scholars.
With the stream of these scholars as the real work-force,
the research efforts of the institution are further strengthened.
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| AIMS is attracting research support
from agencies like the Indian Council of Medical Research,
the Department of Science & Technology, GOI,
the Department of Science and Technology, Government
of Kerala, and the Department of Indian System
of Medicine and Homeopathy, GOI. In addition to participation
of the institute in various clinical studies, AIMS has
also registered with National Institute of Health,
USA and is eligible to receive funding from that agency.
AIMS has entered into an agreement with the Centre
for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad
for collaborative research efforts. The Research Coordination
Division has also envisioned establishing a state-of-the-art
Animal House on the campus to strengthen the facilities.
AIMS has earmarked 30,000 sq. ft. of dedicated area to
house a Central Research Facility to encourage researchers
to involve in committed research in congenial atmosphere.
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What You Should
Know About Influenza
by Dr. G. Ganapathi Rao, Professor
and H.O.D - Dept. of
Internal Medicine
|
 |
December, 2004 -
Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory
tract which occurs in sporadic, epidemic and pandemic
forms. Sporadic means occasional cases; epidemic means
an outbreak confined to one geographic location; pandemic
means a world wide spread. There are mainly three types
of viruses, A, B, and C with most common and virulent
being type A. These viruses contain RNA strands covered
by a membrane inside having two types of proteins called
Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. These proteins help in
identifying the viruses through virological techniques. |
Symptoms
In human beings, influenza causes acute illness with
high fever, severe body pain and involvement of whole
respiratory tract starting from nose, throat, bronchi
and lungs. In many patients, this may lead to the development
of pneumonia - both by the virus and serious, secondary
bacterial infection. In a number of patients the pneumonia
can cause acute respiratory failure and death. In humans,
the disease spreads by close contact through sneezing,
coughing - droplet infection as well as through fomites
- bed sheets, dress materials etc. An increased number
of school children with fever and respiratory illness
are often the first indicators of an influenza epidemic
in a community. Within a week, the disease spreads into
adults leading to increased hospital admission of patients
with influenza related complications. School and employment
absenteeism increases, as does mortality from pneumonia
and influenza especially in older people. In temperate
areas, epidemics occur mainly in winter months. But
in the tropics, they may occur year round. |
Animal Flu
Wild birds and pigs are also affected by influenza viruses
peculiar to them involving different proteins. During
winter and rainy seasons, the viruses shed from the wild
birds in their excreta can contaminate water sources and
thus reach pigs. Pigs also harbour the human type of influenza
virus, thus pigs act as "Mixing Bags" of both
human and avian (bird) flu viruses with the interchange
of protein material. Animal borne viruses cane lead to
an entirely new influenza virus upon entering human beings,
which cannot be recognized by the human immune system
because of the new protein structure. This produces very
serious illness leading to pandemics. |
 |
Outbreaks
The pandemic of 1918 to 1919 was called Spanish Flu, during
which over 200 million people were affected and over 20
million perished. India suffered the most with some 10
million deaths. The next pandemic occurred in 1957 with
a new H2N2 Asian Strain which originated in China and
spread throughout the world. In 1968, the Hong Kong H3N2
strain also caused a pandemic. Another epidemic occurred
in China and Russia in 1977 - Red Flu. Most of the pandemics
originated from China because millions of birds, pigs
and people live together there in close proximity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continuously monitors
the emergence of any new type of viruses. Whenever such
new types emerge, they are bound to affect an entire
population in various countries with high mortality
both in very young and very old people. When the epidemic
of bird flu started in Hong Kong, it was contained by
killing of millions of chickens and other birds. |
Prevention
Prevention can be achieved by the vaccination of inactivated
influenza virus vaccine that provides about 70 to 90 %
protection rate against the organism of the prevailing
epidemic strain. All people above 50 years of age, children
above six months, physicians, nurses and other health
care workers should be vaccinated. Patients with Diabetes,
Chronic Lung Disease, Blood Disease, Kidney Disease and
AIDS must be vaccinated.
The drugs used for treating Influenza are Amantadine
and Rimantadine given by mouth 100 mg 2 times for 5
days.
Where and when a new epidemic or pandemic will occur
is difficult to predict. One can only hope and pray
that such a devastating pandemic does not occur.
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National
Workshop on Tropical Pancreatitis/FCPD
|
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18 - 19 December,
2004 - The departments of Gastroenterology, Endocrinology,
and Gastrointestinal Surgery had hosted a National Workshop
on Tropical Pancreatitis/FCPD at AIMS.
Dr.
V. Balakrishnan of Gastroenterology, Dr.
Harish Kumar of Endocrinology and Dr.
Puneet Dhar of G. I. Surgery had jointly organized
the workshop. The event focussed on both delivering discussions
to unravel questions on the disease of Tropical Pancreatitis/FCPD,
and planning a concerted approach to solve them. |
Participants included eminent gastroenterologists,
diabetologists, surgeons and pathologists from some
of the leading academic institutions in the country,
including All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
New Delhi, Postgraduate Institute of Medical
Education and Research, Chandigarh, Sanjay
Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,
Lucknow, CMC, Vellore, SCB
Medical College, Cuttack and the Centre
for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
Renowned delegates including Dr. D. C. Whitcomb,
pancreatologist from Pittsburgh, USA, and Dr.
A. K. Azad Khan, distinguished diabetologist
from Bangladesh, leaded the oratory sections of the
workshop.
Tropical Pancreatitis, a peculiar form of chronic Pancreatitis
often complicated by diabetes, when it is known as FCPD
(Fibrocalculous Pancreatic Diabetes) has a very high
incidence in the tropics and was described some forty
years ago. Intense research over the past four decades
has not found the cause of this disease. The disease
has taken a high toll in many of the poor Asian and
African countries, and is highly endemic in some of
the south Indian states, particularly Kerala in the
extreme southwest of India.
The disease is as prevalent today as it was forty years
ago when it was first described. It is predominantly
a disease of the young, and is rapidly progressive.
It causes diabetes in the vast majority of its victims.
Alarmingly, it is a pre-malignant condition. There is
no medical or surgical cure for this disease.
A national multicentric collaborative study on Tropical
Pancreatitis should be the final offshoot of the workshop.
The focus was on reviewing the current knowledge on
the status of this disease in India and on planning
an ongoing multicentre study of the problem. A book
on chronic Pancreatitis and pancreatic diabetes will
be published after the conference for national and international
readership soon.
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Dr. Bhaskaran
K. Pillai Given Medical Physics Award
|
|
17 December, 2004
- The International Conference on Medical Physics,
ICMP-2004, has honoured Dr. Bhaskaran K. Pillai,
with an award for "Excellence
and Lifetime Contribution in the Growth of Medical Physics
in India".
Dr. Bhaskaran K. Pillai is Professor and Head of the Department
of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety, AIMS, and a pioneer
faculty of Medical Physics. The award was presented to
Dr. Pillai by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi at the
inaugural function of the Silver Jubilee conference of
the Association of Medical Physicists of India
(AMPI), held in New Delhi. |
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Workshop on Sensitization
of Women Scientists for
Societal Programme - DST Initatives
|
| 7 - 8 December, 2004
- The AIMS Research Coordination Division,
in collaboration with the Department of Science
and Technology (GOI), New Delhi, hosted a Workshop
on Sensitization of Women Scientists for Societal
Programmes. The objective of the workshop was
to enthuse women scientists to take up projects with societal
relevance in the areas of Basic and Medical Sciences,
Engineering, and Technology. It was envisaged to encourage
women scientists to come forward with viable research
proposals before a select group. The highlight of the
event was presentations by experts aimed at educating
the delegates on, how to plan and implement projects and
to impart technology ideas in their fields of interest.
The second day was planned to provide a platform for enthusiastic
women scientists to come forward with presentations of
their viable projects which maybe considered by the funding
agencies. |
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Amrita Diafest 2004 - World
Diabetes Day Celebration
|
 |
Know Diabetes,
to say "No", to Diabetes...
Did you know that...
1 in every 5 adults in Kerala is diabetic?
India has the highest
number of diabetic patients in the world?
Diabetes can be prevented?
|
| 11 - 13 November 2004
- The AIMS Department of Endocrinology staged an exhibition
on diabetes awareness called Amrita Diafest 2004
at the Town Hall in Ernkulam from 11 November through
13 November, 2004. The event was a Mega Exhibition covering
all aspects of diabetes and featured a number of associated
programmes for diabetic patients and the public such as
essays, painting competitions, interactive discussions,
quiz programmes, etc. A screening of a documentary on
diabetic foot care and diabetes, which was filmed at AIMS
and produced by Amrita Diabetic Welfare Association (ADWA),
was included. Every evening there was cultural programmes
from 5.30 pm to 9.00 pm which included programmes from
the staff and students of AIMS and members of ADWA, in
addition to professional groups. |
Highlights of Amrita Diafest
2004 included:
- Mega Exhibition on diabetes daily 8:30am - 7:30pm
- Documentary on diabetes and diabetic foot care
- Quiz programme for patients and the public
- Competitions for patients and children
- Interactive sessions
Cultural Programmes
- Variety entertainment by Amrita Viswa Vidyapeedam
- Mimics and Ganamela conducted by famous professionals
- Dance performances by Hari and Chethana (Bangalore)
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Indian Society of Toxicology
(IST)
|
| November 2004
- The AIMS Department of Analytical Toxicology has initiated
the creation of the Indian Society of Toxicology,
registered under the Travancore-Kochi Literacy, Scientific
& Charitable Societies. The aim of the society is
to encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate
the standard, and advance the cause of Toxicology.
In January 2005, the society will be releasing the
inaugural issue of its journal, The Journal
of the Indian Society of Toxicology. It will
be a high caliber peer reviewed journal dedicated to
toxicology. |
| Aims and Objectives
To encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate
the standards and promote the process of Toxicology
To highlight the importance and raise the standards
of treatment in relation to poisoning
To co-operate with other scientific associations
To encourage and publish important research in all branches
of toxicology
To represent internationally the research work carried
out in toxicology in India
To advise the Central Govt/State Govt/Union Territory
Administration and other governmental bodies on matters
pertaining to toxicology
To organize and arrange meetings and symposia on toxicology
and allied subjects
To serve and administer funds, grants, endowments, etc.,
for the furtherance of research in toxicology
To own and acquire, administer, and dispose of properties
movable and immovable of the Society
To generally do all such things as may widen, improve
and develop the education and knowledge of those actively
concerned in the pursuit of the subject of toxicology
Membership
The membership of the Society is open to:
Medical staff of departments of Toxicology, Forensic
Medicine & Toxicology, General Medicine, Paediatrics,
Pharmacology at all undergraduate and postgraduate medical
Institutes
Casualty Medical Officers, Intensive Care Specialists,
and Emergency Physicians of all hospitals
All professionals engaged in practice of toxicology
All toxicologists working in laboratories
All qualified pharmacists
Members of the medical profession interested in any
branch of toxicology, although not directly engaged
in the practice of the subject
Qualifications
The minimum academic qualifications required for members
is an undergraduate degree in Medicine, Toxicology,
Pharmacy, or allied subjects. The candidate should also
be at least 21 years of age. |
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|
Training Scheme for Fresh
Graduates in the
Library and Information Sciences
|
| 9 November, 2004
- AIMS announces an innovative new programme for new graduates
in the discipline of Library Science, Information Sciences
or allied subjects.
Purpose:
To develop skills of the fresh graduates by exposure
to hands-on work experience and to create Library professionals
acceptable to professional Institutions like Medical
Colleges, Hospitals, Nursing Colleges, etc.
Duration:
One year |
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|
|
2nd Symposium on Perioperative
Care of
Congenital Heart Disease
|
| 6 - 7 November, 2004
- The AIMS Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgery Department
is hosting the Second Symposium on Perioperative
Care of Congenital Heart Disease at Amriteshwari
Hall on the AIMS campus. The CVTS staff was most encouraged
by the feedback and support received from participants
at the last meeting held at AIMS exactly two years ago
on the same theme. In keeping with the pattern of inclusive
participation, this year's meeting was conducted along
similar lines with emphasis on case scenarios and problem
oriented discussions and interactions.
Attendees were encouraged to actively participate in
terms of presentation of problematic cases, achievements
and failures in managing them, plus those cases that
are the most challenging in terms of management. This
year's symposium featured one of the world's outstanding
Paediatric Cardiac Intensivists, Dr. Stephen Roth, from
Stanford University Hospital, USA. As always, he will
be most happy to interact and share his wisdom for the
benefit of patients. |
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Amrita Hospital Opened at
Sabarimala
|
 |
1 November, 2004
- Sabarimala. The Amrita Hospital Pampa, managed by AIMS,
was opened by Mata Amritanandamayi Math general secretary
Swami Poornamritanandapuri on Sunday
evening.
The hospital offers 24-hour medical service and will have
all the modern facilities including Telemedicine and ventilator
systems. The fifteen member medical team includes four
specialist doctors in Cardiology, General Medicine, Anasthesia
and Emergency Medicine, plus paramedical staff. The 25
bed hospital housing six coronary care units will have
two mobile emergency care ambulances.
|
Pampa Police
Special Officer Rajagopal,
Bodhamrita
Chaitanya, Dr. Ramdas Nayak,
Dr. Sivaram and
Br. Dr.
Jeggu were present at the inaugural function.
Pampa Devaswom Special Officer Sankaranarayana
Pillai, Laison Officer M. R. Jegmohandas,
Administrative Officer Muralikrishnan Thampan
and N. R. Premkumar also attended
the event.
The hospital replaces the clinic which was originally
established to serve the emergency medical needs of
spiritual pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage to the
Sabarimala temple, where in 2003, the AIMS telemedicine
facitlties helped save a pilgrim's life. |
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|
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FOGSI National Conference
|
| 30 - 31 October, 2004
- The AIMS Department of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in conjunction
with the Cochin Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society, hosted
the First All-India Satellite Conference
of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological
Societies of India (FOGSI) which was held at
AIMS. In the Presidential Inaugural address of the FOGSI
meeting at Agra, a unique event was planned. A proposal
was made to organise, for the first time, a FOGSI National
Conference linking "All our member societies under
one satellite roof!" AIMS had downlinked the programme
for a unique, live, interactive session.
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Report - International Endoscopic
Sinus Surgery Course
(IESS 2004) |
 |
28 - 30 October,
2004 - The Department of
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), on behalf of the IESS
Conference Committee, hosted the 1st International
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Advanced Course.
The inception of the workshop happened in 2002, when
Dr. George Manjaly, Consultant ENT
Surgeon, Eastbourne District General Hospital, UK, visited
AIMS. He was very pleased with the hospitality and amazed
at the excellent medical institutional. On his return
he consulted with Dr. Indudharan of
the ENT Department and
various experts in UK regarding the feasibility of holding
an Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Workshop at AIMS. Subsequently
the groundwork was laid by an external agency by name
Passage 2 India, Kochi. |
| One and half years of planning and hard
work culminated in the finalization of IESS 2004.
The faculty was finalized to include Mr. Derek
W. Skinner, FRCS (Ed), FRCS (Eng) Consultant
Otorhinolaryngologist at Shrewsbury Royal Infirmary Hospital,
UK, Mr. Robin Youngs, FRCS, Consultant
and Clinical Director, Gloucestershare Royal Hospital,
UK, Mr. Elgan Davis, FRCS, Consultant,
Leighton Hospital, Crew, UK and Dr. George Manjaly
of Eastbourne District General Hospital, UK. The Organizing
Chairman of the workshop was Dr. Prathapan Nair
and Organizing Secretary Dr. Indudharan R. Menon.
The members of faculty from Amrita Institute of Medical
Sciences included Dr. Subramania Iyer
(MS, MCH, FRCS) of the Department
of Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. Dilip Panicker
(MS MCH) Department of Neurosurgery
and Dr. Meenakshi Dhar (MS, DO) Department
of Ophthalmology.
The Organizing Secretary decided to include the science
of Ayurveda and Music Therapy in the management of Sinusitis
as part of the program. Accordingly Dr. Rajkumar,
Lecturer, Amrita Ayurvedic Medical College, Kollam,
Dr. Suvarna Nalappatt, Department
of Pathology and Dr. Bhuvaneswari, Professor
of Music, RLV Music College, Kochi was also included
among the faculty.
The workshop consisted of scientific sessions by these
experts on the first day, live surgical demonstrations
on the second day and dead body dissection and demonstration
on the third day.
The sophisticated instruments for the workshop were
imported from US, UK and West Germany apart from support
from New Delhi and Chennai. Xomed Medtronics, US, provided
Micro Debrider - Shaver System. Brainlab, Germany provided
ENT Image Guided Surgery System for use in the live
surgery sessions. Various endoscopes and camera systems
for cadaver dissection were provided mainly by the Delhi
office of Karl Storz, Germany and Vansaari Surgicals,
Chennai. The AIMS Audio-Visual unit, Electrical Department,
Medical Administration and various other departments
of AIMS provided the entire backup. |
 |
Previously nasal and sinus
surgery required an incision on the face for approach.
These surgeries were modernized by the advent of rigid
endoscopes, making keyhole surgery of the nose and sinuses
possible. Endoscopes also carried the advantage of magnification
and better illumination. This made previously difficult
to access areas amenable to surgery. In the course of
time, with the advent of newer designs and angled telescopes,
newer areas were subjected to endoscopic surgery. These
included the base of the skull, the pituitary gland in
the brain and the eye. With these advances difficult surgeries
in these areas were made easier and safer for the surgeon
and reduced recovery time and complications for the patient.
The conference was designed to highlight these advances
and to train surgeons in these techniques. |
| The very latest in endoscopic nasal
surgery includes the use of microdebriders. These are
powered instruments which are used for fast and accurate
removal of nasal tissue. They carry the advantage of giving
the surgeon a bloodless operating field and reducing operating
time. Greater safety for the patient is ensured as removal
of tissues is more precise compared to conventional instruments.
The equipment is available only in select centers. The
participants of this conference had the double advantage
of watching the debrider used in live surgery on the second
day and to use the same during the cadaver dissection
on the third day. It is the first time in India that powered
instruments were made available for the participants who
were trained in its use. |
 |
The inaugural function was
on 28th October 2004, 9am. Sampoojya Swami Poornamrithanandapuri
lighted the lamp and blessed the workshop a good start.
Dr. Prem Nair, Medical Director,
Mr. Ron Gotsegen, Administrative Director,
Dr. Vasudevan, DM, Principal of Amrita
Medical College, were also present at the inaugural
function.
Dr. Prathapan Nair welcomed
the faculty and delegates and Dr. Indudharan
introduced the faculty and highlighted the program. The
scientific sessions followed.
On 29th October 2004 the live surgical demonstrations
started at 8am and concluded at 6.30pm. Twelve patients
with various advanced sinus and para-sinus diseases
were operated and demonstrated in front of the delegates
from various parts of the world. |
| On 30th October 2004 there was an elaboration
by Dr. Suvarna Nalappatt, on how Music
Therapy will help in the management of advanced sinus
disease. Dr. Bhuvaneswari sang several
ragas that would influence various levels of body function
in her melodious voice.
This was followed by cadaver dissection at the Anatomy
Dissection Hall of Amrita Medical College where 11 dead
bodies were endoscopically dissected by twenty hands-on
delegates under the guidance of the faculty.
Such an event is organized for the first time in the
history of Kerala. The foreign faculty commended that
cadaver dissection with simultaneous use of endoscopes,
camera systems, monitors, micro debrider-shaver systems
and sophisticated FESS instruments is for the first
time in the history of medicine. The workshop came to
an end at 6pm with the recital of the national anthem
followed by a banquet dinner in the city of Kochi. |
|
|
Institute for Medical Informatics
& Multimedia Education (IMIME)
|
8 October 2004 - AIMS
desires to be a leader in imparting state of the art education
and has established the Institute for Medical Informatics
& Multimedia Education (IMIME) as a centre of excellence
in India for applied clinical informatics and medical
education of an international standard. Its activities
will include:
- Running advanced procedural and clinical skills
labs
- Teaching of undergraduate and post-graduate medical
students
- Faculty development programs - multidisciplinary
CME programs
- Direct outpatient and inpatient clinical care
- Applied clinical and educational informatics
- Research
- Innovative programs in non-traditional aspects of
medical education like arts, humanities and the history
of medicine
|
|
|
Report - Southern Regional
Conference of Pharmacologists - 2004
|
| 5 - 6 October, 2004
- The AIMS Department of Pharmacology hosted the Southern
Regional Conference of Pharmacologists - 2004.
The SRCP-2004 was attended by 268 delegates from all over
India. Dr. Shafiqa Aslaam from Kashmir
was an active member in the conference.
Two pre conference workshops were conducted with members
in full strength.
The Role of Laboratory in the Management of
Drug Overdose
Basics in Research Methodology
The outcome of the workshop feedback was "Excellent".
Health Minister of Kerala Sri. Ramachandran
Master inaugurated the conference. The key
note address was given by Dr. Haridas,
Professor and Chairman of the AIMS Heart Institute.
His talk about the newer antithrombotic drugs was graded
as one of the best topics during evaluation.
Dr. Mira Pai, Professor from KMC, Manipal
had contributed her experience abroad in the undergraduate
teaching.
|
There was a panel discussion of the
same topic chaired by Dr. Alice Kuruvilla,
Professor and HOD PSG, Coimbatore. Other panel members
included Dr. Rema Menon, Professor and
HOD, Amala Institute; Dr. M. U. R, Naidu,
Professor and HOD of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Nizam's Institute, Hyderabad; Dr. Gitanjali,
Professot JIPMER, Pondichery and
Dr. Chakrapani,
Professor and HOD, Dept of Medicine. KMC, Manipal.
The panelists suggested improvements in the existing
graduate and post graduate curriculum in Pharmacology.
The interactive session about the "MCI Requirements
of Instruments - A Need to Review", by
Dr. Raveendran was very lively and
fruitful. The conference decided to recommend deletion
of the unwanted instruments and add required ones to
the existing list of the MCI.
The panel discussion on "Substance Abuse"
was chaired by Dr. V. V. Pillay, Professor
and HOD, Toxicology - AIMS.
Dr. Amit Chakrabarthy from Tadong,
a Clinical Pharmacologist, Dr. K. K. Kumar,
Psychiatrist, Professor and HOD Dept. of Psychiatry
- AIMS, and Sri. Shanker Jiwal, South
Zonal Director of Narcotic Control Bureau took part
in the two hour long active and interesting discussion.
Dr. Diwan, Director Dept of Pharmacology
Divn. IICT, Hyderabad gave a detailed review about Good
Clinical Practice.
The Southern Regional Indian Pharmacological
Society (SRIPS) had not conducted the general
body meeting for a long time, however, AIMS provided
a platform to conduct the elections.
Dr. Adithan, Professor from JIPMER
was elected as the Chairman and Dr. Mira Pai
as the Secretary. A member from each state is elected
as an executive member.
Dr. (Mrs) P. G. Nayar, Professor and
the Organizing Secretary of the SRCP-2004 was elected
from Kerala.
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XIVth IASG National Conference
- Cochin 2004
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16
- 19 September, 2004 - The Department of Gastro
Intestinal Surgery at AIMS hosted the 14th Annual National
conference of the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology
(IASG) held in Cochin. The conference was scheduled to
include scientific symposia, papers, Poster Presentations,
invited lectures and Pro/Con Debates. The faculty included
well known national and international speakers like Sir
Roy Calne, KC Tan, RK Praseedom, Ravintharan, BJ Ammori,
Tsuruta etc.
AIMS had also hosted the pre-conference Operative Surgery
Workshop. In addition, a workshop on scientific writing
was held at the International Convention center which
was extremely useful to the young surgeon launching
in to his/her academic career.
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The Uncemented THR - Pre-Conference
Workshop (OASISCON 2004)
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| 19 August, 2004 - The AIMS Orthopaedics
and Trauma Surgery Institute hosted a pre-conference workshop
titled "The Uncemented THR", for the OASISCON
2004 Conference of the Orthopaedic Association of South
Indian States on the 19th of August, 2004. |
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Comprehensive Postgraduate
Teaching Course in Clinical
Cardiology
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16 - 18 July, 2004
-A Postgraduate Teaching course in Clinical Cardiology
was organized at AIMS from 16-18th July 2004. The teaching
programme was unique in several ways, with over 100 trainees
from all over India attending including cardiology trainees
from Sri Lanka. The purpose of this conference was to
bring back focus onto clinical cardiology, to address
the concerns of the candidates who appear for the practical
DNB or DM examinations and to provide career guidelines
after completion of training. |
Some of the best teachers in cardiology
from all of India were showcased in this three-day conference.
To name a few, the faculty included Dr. Raj Tandon
former professor and head of AIIMS, New Delhi,
Prof. B Somaraju, chairman of Care Hospitals,
Hyderabad, Prof. Vijayaraghavan, chairman
KIMSI Thiruvanathapuram, Prof. Satyavan Sharma
from Bombay Hospital, Mumbai and Prof.
Manjuran who is the president of the Cardiological
Society of India. The cardiologists from AIMS
who participated included, Dr. Prakash Kamath,
Dr. Krishna Kumar, Dr. BRJ Kannan,
Dr. KU Natarajan, Dr. T. Rajesh,
and Dr. KK Haridas.
The conference was simultaneously transmitted using the
Telemedicine facility at
AIMS to Sanjay Gandhi Post-graduate Institute, Lucknow,
the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi
and Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai.
All the delegates evaluated the conference. The overall
rating was marked as either good or excellent by everyone.
There were several requests to do this on a semi-annual
basis. The faculty also felt that this was one of the
best courses that they have participated in and congratulated
the Cardiology Departments
at AIMS for organizing such an excellent programme.
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Paediatric Urology Workshop
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| 1 - 2 May, 2004 - The
AIMS Urology Department hosted the the annual Urology
Association of Kerala (UAK) Live Surgical Workshop.
This year's theme was Paediatric Urology.
A wide variety of Paediatric Urologic cases was presented
with direct video transmission of all surgeries to the
excellent, air-conditioned Amritheswari Hall. Free time
between the cases was filled with video clippings of various
urological surgeries, the discussion of problem cases
which participants were encouraged to bring along, and
with lectures by the eminent faculty of AIMS. |
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Indian Thyroid Society Conference
2004
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24 - 25 April, 2004
- The AIMS Endocrinology Department is hosted the inaugural
meeting of the Indian Thyroid Society which was held at
Amriteshwari Hall at AIMS. In addition to a Consensus
Meeting on Graves' Disease, elections for the various
office bearers of the society was also conducted. The
conference also featured a Free Paper session and a variety
of 'Hot Topics' sessions covering current issues in the
field. |
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| Paediatric
Neuro Developmental Treatment Seminar |
| 23 - 25 April, 2004
- The AIMS Neonatology and
Neurology departments hosted
a seminar on Paediatric Neuro Developmental Treatment
(NDT) conducted by Rajkumar Rajan,
Advanced Neuro Developmental Therapy Baby Course certified,
Sensory-Integration certified, and a candidate to become
the sole NDT trainer in all of India. NDT is an advanced
therapeutic approach practiced by experienced Occupational
Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech - Language
Pathologists, and is used with people who have central
nervous system damage that create difficulties in controlling
movement. This seminar was an introduction to the therapy
with a focus on the unique challenges of paediatric patients.
The seminar also included current worldwide, state-of-the-art
therapeutic modalities such as Sensory Integration,
Myofascial Release and Cranial
Sacral. The programme included lecture, hands-on
Lab, and live treatment demonstrations with children who
have central nervous system disorders or delays. |
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Polio Eradication Seminar
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1 April, 2004
- AIMS hosted a seminar on the "Polio Eradication
Initiative", addressing the effort to completely
eliminate polio from India by the year 2005. Dr.
Paul T. Francis, Surveillance Officer - Central
Kerala office of the National Polio Surveillance Project
of the World Health Organization, outlined
the problem by pointing out that while the majority of
the world has already eliminated the polio virus from
the population, of the remaining 7 countries where polio
is still active, India is the only country where the problem
remains endemic. In 1988, there were over 350,000 reported
cases of polio in 125 countries. By 2002, cases numbered
only 1900 and were limited to 7 countries. India reported
225 cases in 2003. After smallpox, polio is on track to
be the second major human illness to be eradicated, in
one of the largest endeavors of the worldwide Public Health
movement. |
| India as a nation is making a concerted
effort to immunize 100% of the population through a programme
called "Pulse Polio". Its motto
is "Vaccination: An Act of Love - "Love
them, Protect them, Vaccinate Them". The
seminar at AIMS served to draw public awareness to the
effort in India and Kerala in particular. The conference
was inaugurated by the honorable mayor of the Cochin Corporation,
Mr. Dinesh Mani. Sree Gyanesh
Kumar, IAS, the District Collector of Ernakulam
gave an inspiring presidential address, followed by numerous
presentations ranging from how Rotary International has
supported the worldwide polio eradication effort, to the
role of Homeopathy and Ayurveda in fighting the problem.
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Medical College Students
Win Laurels in Dhwani
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| 19 - 21 March , 2004 -
The students of the College of Medicine participated in
the Inter Collegiate Youth Festival ' Dhwani '04',
conducted by College of Engineering, Trivandrum. Dhwani
is a very prestigious festival which has gained wide popularity
in the students community during the last 5 years.
This year the AIMS Medical College was represented for
the very first time. With all the enthusiasm and skill,
plus a large dose of Amma's Grace, the AIMS' students
captured Second Place amongst the 37 participating distinct
colleges, just missing the First Place by 5 points.
The Group Dance team came second among the 24 different
colleges who competed. AIMS placed first for Ad Zap
and Debate. Besides all this Miss Hanfa Karim
did the school proud by stealing the Miss Persona
title. |
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Dr. P. Shanmuga Sundaram
Awarded Travel Fellowship Award
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1 March, 2004
- Dr. P. Shanmuga Sundaram, Head of the Department of
Nuclear Medicine, was awarded a Travel Fellowship Award
for his paper, titled "Ischemia and Myocardial
Hibernation is More Frequently Associated with Non Transmural
Myocardial Infarction than Transmural - Utility of Myocardial
Perfusion SPECT" at the 50th annual meeting
of the Society of Nuclear Medicine in New Orleans, LA,
USA. The $1500 US prize was awarded to the author of the
best Indian abstract presented in this conference. |
| The paper, presented as a combined effort
of Nuclear Medicine and Adult
Cardiology Depts. of AIMS, addresses Non Transmural
Myocardial Infarction. Non Q Wave MI was previously dealt
as a mild coronary event as it is associated with modest
cardiac enzyme level elevations. Substantial evidence
now calls for modifying this approach. Non Transmural
MI, if diagnosed early and with intervention, results
in a favourable prognosis. Risk stratification of NTMI
with Myocardial Perfusion Imaging is essential to avoid
late complications like recurrent angina, Transmural Myocardial
Infarction and sudden death.
Dr. Sundaram and colleagues analysed the Myocardial
perfusion SPECT data and found that extent and incidence
of reversible ischemia and myocardial hibernation is
significantly more with Non -Transmural than Transmural
infarcts. They concluded that it is important to risk
stratify NTMI patients with Myocardial perfusion SPECT
enabling aggressive approach to salvage myocardium at
risk.
Since 2002, the IASNM (Indo American Society of Nuclear
Medicine) has been encouraging young Indian Nuclear
medicine researchers (under 35 years) to come and present
their research work at the Annual Conference of the
Society of Nuclear Medicine conducted in US every year,
by way of providing Travel Fellowship awards to authors
of the two best clinical abstracts, accepted for presentation.
A review committee composed of 2-3 IASNM members and
the current IASNM president reviews all applications
and selects these abstracts. This is the most prestigious
conference where the basic sciences & clinical research
work in nuclear medicine is presented and discussed.
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Proteomics.www.h
- What,
Why, Where & How ?
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February 2004
- The Biochemistry Department of the
AIMS College of Medicine is proud that
we presented a symposium titled, Proteomics.www.h
on 28 February 2004. The topics
for the symposium have been chosen to showcase the diversity
of proteins and proteomics in medicine and were presented
by scientists who are experts in their respective disciplines.
A unique feature of the symposium was the Bioinformatics
Workshop, which was aimed at familiarising young
researchers with the enormous potential of IT integration.
With the completion of the Human Genome Project, the
emphasis is shifting to the protein complement of the
human organism. This has given rise to the science of
proteomics, the study of all the proteins produced by
cell type and organism. As sequencing of the entire
genomes of many prokaryotes and eucaryotes has been
completed, the world is now seeing a revival of interest
in proteomics. The term "proteome" refers
to all the proteins expressed by a genome, and thus
proteomics involves the identification of proteins in
the body and the determination of their role in physiological
and pathophysiological functions. While a genome remains
unchanged to a large extent, the proteins in any particular
cell change dramatically as genes are turned on and
off in response to its environment. Ultimately it is
believed that through proteomics new disease markers
and drug targets can be identified that will help design
products to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Proteomics
has much promise in novel drug discovery via the analysis
of clinically relevant molecular events.
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Cancer
Institute Inaugurated
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31 January, 2004
- The Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri
A.K. Antony formally inaugurated the AIMS
Cancer Institute. Presiding over the event was
Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Secretary to the Government
of India in the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman
of the Atomic Energy Commission. Congratulatory addresses
were given by the Honourable Mayor of Kochi, Shri
Dinesh Mani and the Honourable Member of the
Kerala Legislative Assembly, Shri. K. Babu.
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| A stirring speech was delivered
by Sampoojya Swami Amritasvaroopananda Puri,
who presided over the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
Felicitations were delivered by the Honourable Health
Secretary, Government of Kerala, Shri K. Ramamurthy,
the Honourable Shri Gyanesh Kumar, IAS,
District Collector, Ernakulam, the Honourable Director
of Health Services, Government of Kerala, Dr.
V.K. Rajan, the Honourable Managing Director
of Cochin International Airport, Shri
V.J. Kurian, the Honourable Chairman,
Greater Cochin Development Authority, Prof. Antony
Issac, and the Vice Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, Deemed University, Dr. P. Venkat
Rangan. Shri Ron Gottsegen,
Administrative Director, AIMS welcomed the dignitaries
and Dr. Prem Nair, Medical Director,
AIMS, delivered a Vote of Thanks. |
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The Cancer Institute is
the result of 2 1/2 years of research, planning and construction.
The Institute will take a multidisciplinary approach with
the major departments of Radiation,
Clinical and Surgical
Oncology being supported by Pain
and Palliative Care to effectively control pain
and the symptoms induced by treatment. Preventative measures
will include Community Outreach
Programmes in health awareness and education.
The department will feature the most advanced, state of
the art equipment including two linear accelerators, high
dose rate Brachytherapy and CT simulator. |
The Institute is organized under the
following services:
- Head and Neck Oncology
- Women's Cancer Programme
- Urologic Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Paediatric Oncology
- Soft tissue and Sarcoma services
- Thoracic Oncology
- Lymphomas and Hematologic Malignancies
- Gastrointestinal Oncology
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Second National
Biennial Conference
Indian Society
of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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| 24 - 26 January, 2004
- The Indian Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery (ISFPRS) is the association of Plastic,
Maxillofacial and ENT surgeons and other allied specialists
who have a special interest in facio-esthetic and reconstructive
surgeries. ISFPRS aims to bring a collective approach
to promote a sharing mentality and have a better understanding
among these different specialties. The 2nd biennial conference
of ISFPRS was held in Kochi at Amrita Institute
of Medical Sciences (AIMS) an international center
for medical excellence. The conference was spanned over
three days and the faculty from India and abroad belonging
to Plastic, Maxillofacial and ENT specialties, gave lectures
and live demonstration of surgeries related to facial
plastic surgery. |
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