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54th National
Conference of the
Anatomical Society of India |
| 27 - 30 December, 2006 - The Amrita School
of Medicine hosted the 54th
National Conference of the Anatomical Society of India including
a pre-conference CME. The CME on 27-12-06 focused on interesting
aspects of Clinical Anatomy. |
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MEDITEL 2006
- Medical Informatics and
Telemedicine Conference |
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| 24 - 26 November,
2006 - The Centre for Digital Health hosted the
Medical Informatics and Telemedicine Conference
2006 (MEDITEL 2006), in partnership
with the Medical Computer Society of India (MCSI).
The conference theme was: “Healthcare, Education
and Research: Building Bridges through Informatics”.
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Amrita Diafest
2006 - World Diabetes Day Celebration |
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12 - 14 November
2006 - The AIMS Department of Endocrinology staged
an exhibition on diabetes awareness called Amrita
Diafest 2006. The event was organised by the
Amrita Diabetic Welfare Association (ADWA) at
the School of Dentistry campus at AIMS in connection with
World Diabetes Day. |
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Medical
Students Respond to Chikungunya Outbreak |
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16 October, 2006
- The Amrita School of Medicine and AIMS hospital
was involved in the Chikungunya containment activities
from the very beginning of the outbreak by conducting
medical camps, health education campaigns, removal of
breeding places of aedes mosquitoes - the vector of Chikungunya.
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Textbook of Biochemistry
for Dental Students Released |
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The Textbook of Biochemistry
for Medical Students, authored by Dr. D.M. Vasudevan,
is a great success story. It was first published in
1995, and the fifth edition is scheduled in the early
part of 2007. It contains about 500 pages, and 50 chapters.
The medical community has warmly received this textbook.
This has become a standard textbook widely used throughout
India.
The releasing ceremony of this Textbook of Biochemistry
for Dental Students was conducted at the Amrita Institute
of Medical Sciences on the 6th October 2006. The famous
cine artist, Padmasree Kamal Haasan, released the book,
in presence of the Cricketer, Sri. S. Sreesanth and President
of Indian Medical Association, Cochin Branch, Dr. Benny
Thomas. |
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Quit
& Win Anti-Smoking Cash Prize
Winners to be Announced |
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26 September, 2006
- The Anti Tobacco Movement
at Amrita co-organized Quit&Win 2006
with the Finland Institute of Health
and the World Health Organization. When
the international Quit & Win 2006 prizes were drawn
at Helsinki, it was announced that one lucky person amongst
the thousand people registered at AIMS will receive the
international regional prize worth US $2500. |
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17 September,
2006 - Under the aegis of the Kerala
State Ophthalmological Society (KSOS) and COC,
the Department of Ophthalmology conducted a one-day
CME workshop at AIMS on 17 September, 2006 on Ocular
Emergencies.
The whole CME was designed in such a way that a practicing
or training ophthalmologist can take home the ready
management protocols of such cases, which deserves immediate
action.A Comprehensive Handbook of Ocular Emergencies,was
released on the day. |
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| Microbiology CME
on Infection Control |
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13 August, 2006 - The Infection
Control team at AIMS is holding a Microbiology CME on
Infection Control. This CME programme is part of a determined
effort towards minimising hospital acquired infection
at AIMS. |
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Amrita
School of Medicine and Dentistry Students
Score Big at Pegasus '06 - CMC Vellore |
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12 - 15 July , 2006
- A team of 38 students representing the Amrita Institute
of Medical Sciences took part in the prestigious Arts
and Sports Festival of Christian Medical College, Vellore.
'PEGASUS '06' was held from the 12 to the 15th of July
at Vellore.
Over the 3 days that the event was conducted the team
brought glory to Amrita by claiming more than half of
the total prizes at stake in the Competition - a total
of 13 out of the maximum of 24 in the Arts events. |
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2006
MBBS and BDS Batch Inaugurated |
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18 July, 2006 - An
inauguration was held on 12th of July 2006 for the 2006
Batch medical and dental students and presided over by
Swami Abhayamrita Chaitanya, Chief Operating Officer,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ettimadai Campus. In his address,
he made it clear that life in Amrita would be challenging,
with a unique inherent hardships, so that at the end of
the course, this institute would have trained its students
to be a valuable asset as a person towards the cause of
humanity. He illustrated that the extent of freedom of
expression of the students here is, as the playing area
of a football field, but in the manner in which a throw
(read penalized) is given, when the ball leaves the playing
area, the same will be exercised on the students, if they
stray away from the framework of their expected behavior.
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Amrita
DIabetes and Endocrine Update - ADIEU 2006 |
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26 - 27 August, 2006
- The Department of Endocrinology hosted the ADIEU
'2006, an endocinology workshop in Amriteshwari
Hall on the AIMS campus. This meeting focused on the metabolic
syndrome, which is not only expressed by Indians in an
exaggerated manner, but is also largely responsible for
the epidemic occurrence of type 2 diabetes and coronary
artery disease in our midst. |
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Helicobacter
pylori Harnessing - A Herculean Task
A Pharmacology/Gastroenterology
CME |
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15 July, 2006
- The Department of Phamacology and the Department of
Gastroenterology jointly sponsored a CME titled "Helicobacter
Pylori Harnessing - A Herculean Task" on 15 July,
2006 in Amriteshwari Hall on the AIMS campus.
Till recently, no one believed that any bacterium could
survive in the acidic pH of the stomach. No wonder Robin
Warren and Barry Marshall were awarded the most coveted
Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine 2005 for the
discovery of Helicobacter pylori.
“Gastric bacteria [were] known for 100 years
and ignored, [but] seen by me and linked to gastritis.
With Dr. Barry Marshall, we cultured Helicobacter pylori,
linked it to duodenal ulcer, [and] fulfilled Koch’s
postulates for clinical disease and eradication. [This
approach] cures gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.”
- Dr. J. Robin Warren 2005 (Nobel Laureate)
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ATMA
- Observing World Blood Donor's Day 2006
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14 June, 2006 - ATMA
observed World Blood Donors day with the Amrita Blood
Collector's and Donor's forum (ABCD forum). The forum
was been launched on the World Blood Donor's Day
(WBDD), observed on June 14th. |
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Report
- TOXOCON-2 - National Snakebite Conference |
| 24 -25 July 2006
- The AIMS Department of Analytical Toxicology and Poison
Control Centre, in collaboration with the World Health
Organization Snakebite Research Group, organized TOXOCON-2
National Snakebite Conference. |
| Programme Outcome An Indian
Protocol on the management of snakebite has been evolved
through intensive discussions among 40 invited experts
over the two-day period of the conference (list of experts
enclosed). This will be made in a final form and submitted
to the WHO and the Union Government of India for approval,
after which it will be published and distributed to
all major hospitals in the country. The invited experts
comprised a selected group of professionals drawn from
the fields of clinical medicine, forensic medicine,
toxicology, & pharmacology. Invited lectures were
delivered by some of these experts, as also an international
expert, Professor Robert Norris of Stanford School of
Medicine, USA, who is renowned for his work on snakebite.
The lectures and discussions covered a wide range of
current trends in the diagnosis, first aid, and hospital
management of snakebite.
A brief overview of what will be incorporated in the
final protocol is as follows:
1. First Aid Measures:
a. Focus on reassurance, immobilization, and transport
to nearest hospital.
b. No tourniquet, incision & suction, cryotherapy,
herbal remedies
2. Hospital Measures:
a. Admit every snakebite case to hospital for 24 hours
b. Monitor for signs of envenomation
c. Give antisnake venom at the earliest on signs of
envenomation
d. No need of test dose. Keep life saving drugs ready
for anaphylactic reactions
e. Do not neglect supportive measures
f. Refer complicated cases to tertiary hospital
By adopting these guidelines, a major step forward
could be taken in reducing Indian snakebite mortality
to levels experienced in those countries recognised
as leaders in the field.
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Mobile
Telemedicine Unit Put Into Service |
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15 May, 2006 - AIMS
has a new "mobile medical unit" which was blessed
today by Mata Amritanandamayi. The unit will bring
the state-of-the-art medical care of AIMS to rural areas
via its satellite. Dr. Prem Nair, Medical Director,
and
Dr. Kumar Menon, a doctor working out
of the unit, gave Amma a quick tour of the unit’s
facilities. Amma then requested that all the ashramites
chant "Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu" as
she performed the arati. |
The unit, which is as
large as a city bus, contains facilities for Echocardiography,
Ultrasonography,
X-ray , ECG, as well as a Pathology Lab. Direct Relief
International, a U.S.-based NGO that provides aid to
strengthen in-country health efforts around the world,
sponsored the manufacturing of the unit. The satellite-technology
is provided by the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO).
AIMS doctors have already used the vehicle for a three-week-long
medical camp in Karaikudy, Tamil Nadu. It will soon
be used to tend to residents of the tsunami-affected
areas of Kerala and the tribal areas of Palakkad, Wayanad
and Idukki on a weekly basis.
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Transplantation
and Organ Donation Day - Live Life,
Then Give Life |
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1 June, 2006 - The
Solid Organ Transplant Programme, in partnership with
the Society for Organ Retrieval and Transplantation
(SORT), coordinated Transplantation
and Organ Donation Day on 25 June, 2006
at the Renaissance Hotel, Cochin. The programme included
lectures, panel discussions and question and answer sessions.
Unofficial statistics from India indicate that over 1,50,000
adults and children die every year waiting for an organ
transplant. Lack of organ donors is a national medical
crisis.
At the same time, on average, about 9 fatal road traffic
accidents occur every day in Kerala alone (state crime
records bureau statistics). Despite the sorrow associated
with accidental deaths, we, the public must realise that
some of our loved one’s organs may help to save
others’ lives. Do we want our loved one’s
organs to live on in others' bodies or do we just burn
or bury them? This issue is beyond colour, creed, religion,
money or law. It is really up to us. Let’s SORT
this matter once and for all. |
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Anti Tobacco Movement
at Amrita (ATMA) Observes
World No Tobacco Day
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| May 31st is the World
No Tobacco Day. The WHO slogan for the day is “Tobacco
- Deadly in any form or disguise”. ATMA had planned
a programme in active collaboration with Indian Medical
Association (IMA), Kochi, Rotary Club, Cochin
and Rotary Club, Cochin Harbour, including scientific
sessions, public awareness sessions and comprehensive
medical exhibitions. |
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Amrita Microsvascular
Training Programme - A
Practical Laboratory Course in Microvascular
Surgery
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The AIMS Head and Neck Institute
offered two new sessions of the Microvasular Training
Programme - a practical laboratory course in microvascular
surgery.
The course was designed for higher surgical trainees
in Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Maxillofacial Surgery
and Surgical Oncologists to attain practical skills
in microvascular surgery.
The course had been structured to gain maximum hands-on
experience in the microvascular laboratory under the
supervision of experienced faculty. Delegates also had
opportunity to participate in live surgery sessions.
Course Details
Days 1 - 4 Laboratory Training in
Microvascular Procedures
This part of the course was conducted in the surgical
skills laboratory. Each participant had a separate table
equipped with operating microscope, micro instruments
and sutures. During these four days the participants
was able to do hands-on anastomosis of different kinds
in animal vessels and nerves under the guidance of experienced
microvascular surgeons. Various anastamosis techniques
like artery and vein end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis,
use of vein grafts and nerve repair was demonstrated
initially and the participants was able to practice
it themselves during the course.
Day 5 Participation in Operative Procedures
The delegates had chance to attend the operation theatre
suite. Two major free flap reconstructions was demonstrated
and practical aspects of free flap transfer including
the post operative management was discussed through didactic
lectures on this day. |
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Osteoporosis
and Bone Disease Symposium |
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26 March, 2006 -
The Department of Endocrinology, hosted a one day symposium
for doctors on Osteoporosis and related bone disorders
on the 26th of March, 2006. The meeting was conducted
by the Indian Society of Bone and Mineral Research
(ISBMR) in partnership with the International Osteoporosis
Foundation (IOF). This event featured several luminaries
from the field of Orthopaedics and Endocrinology. Dr.
Ambrish Mithal from New Delhi, who is the President of
the ISBMR and Dr. Nikhil Tandon from the All India Institute
of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, were among the eminent
doctors who took part in the deliberations at this meeting,
in addition to a number of other distinguished faculty
from Kerala.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease leading to progressive
bone loss and fractures. The disease is common in the
elderly, especially postmenopausal women. Fractures,
often affecting the hip (usually following a minor injury)
and the spine (leading to bowing of the spine), make
these elderly people bed bound. The disease is preventable
and treatable, provided that the diagnosis is made early.
The best tool to diagnose thinning of the bones (Osteoporosis)
is the Whole body DXA scanner, and a state-of-the-art
scanner for predicting fracture risk is available in
the Endocrinology Department.
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Detect
Heart Attack Potential with
64 Slice Multi-Detector Cardiac
CT Scan |
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In most cases, a Heart
Attack is the first and last sign of a fatal cardiac disease...
Who is at risk?
If you are 30 years or older and answer "YES"
to one or more of the following questions:
Do you Smoke?
Are you a Diabetic?
Do you have High Blood Pressure?
Any family history of Heart Attack?
Do you have High Blood Cholesterol?
then you carry the potential risk for a heart attack.
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The Amrita
64 Slice Cardiac CT Scan, will pinpoint a latent heart
problem in a matter of seconds!
Amrita’s state-of-the-art, 64 slice multi-detector
CT scanner provides high-resolution three-dimensional
images of the heart and major blood vessels. In just
a few seconds the scanner can detect existing blockages
in the blood vessels and potential blocks even before
it is manifest. For patients who have undergone Coronary
Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) the Cardiac CT is an excellent
tool for verification of the graft patency.
An overwhelming experience of over 1,80,000 procedures
at the Heart Institute in just 7 years, a truly world-class
infrastructure and the best professional expertise,
YOU CAN TRUST YOUR HEART WITH
AMRITA. |
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Conference
on Commerce and
Economic Development |
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30 - 31 March, 2006 - The Amrita
Technology and Management Association (ATMA) organised
a two day conference on Commerce and Economic Development
at the Amrita School of Applied Arts and Sciences, Brahmasthanam,
Edapally, Kochi. Budget, being an annual fiscal exercise
that reflects certain planned economic strategies based
on resources and taxation policies, invites a large amount
of interest. A panel discussion on Budget Analysis 2006
was held as part of this conference. The faculty consisted
of eminent professional and academic experts in Commerce,
Economics and Applied Psychology. |
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OPHIDION
- Interactive Programme on Snakebite |
 |
21 February 2006
- The Indian Society of Toxicology invited all physicians
and toxicologists to a talk on "Controversies
in Snakebite Management" by Prof. David Warrell,
Head, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Professor
of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases and Founding
Director of The Centre for Tropical Medicine (Emeritus),
Hon. Consultant Physician (Acute General Medicine and
Infectious Diseases) Oxford. |
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Amrita
Head and Neck Oncology Post Graduate
Teaching Programme - Ahead 2006 |
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23 - 25 February, 2006
- The AIMS Head and Neck Institute, in association with
the Foundation for Head and Neck Oncology, hosted "Ahead
2006 - Amrita Head and Neck Oncology Post Graduate Training
Programme".
The three day course was designed to cover all the
topics in head and neck surgery through didactical short
lectures and interactive discussions. The faculty is
selected from experienced teachers, university examiners
and noted head and neck surgeons from across the country.
The discussions were designed to focus on issues pertinent
to postgraduate examination. There was a session for
OSCE / Mock examination.
| "Where
there is love, there is no effort. Other people's
happiness is my rest. Amma's only wish is that her
hands should always be on someone's shoulder, consoling
and caressing them, even while breathing her last."
- Amma |
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Amrita
Advanced Temporal Bone Dissection Course
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25 - 26 February, 2006 - The AIMS
Head and Neck Institute and Department of ENT organised
a two day, hands-on workshop on advanced dissection techniques
on the temporal bone. The course was intended for ENT
surgeons, Neurotologists and Skull base surgeons. The
course was structured in such a way that video demonstration
of surgical techniques was followed by hands-on training
on the temporal bone. |
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Research
Methodology Workshop Offered |
| 22 January, 2006 - In partnership
with Association of Kerala Medical Graduates, USA,
AIMS offered a one-day workshop on Research Methodology.
This is the third of such series conducted at Amrita.
The main objective of the workshop was to expose participants
on the basic concepts in clinical research and to familiarize
the young faculty and research fellows to the steps in
development of research protocols. Protocol development
is the first and essential component of conduct of research.
This enables the investigators to convince their colleagues
and scientific community of the need and implications
of the research. Moreover approval for funding from any
funding agency requires submission of a protocol of a
competitive quality. |
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International
Symposium/Workshop
on Paediatric Urology |
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14 - 15 January,
2006 - The AIMS Paediatric Surgery Department
hosted the fifth joint meeting of the Asian Society
for Paediatric Urology and the Indian Society for
Paediatric Urology on 14th and 15th of January 2006.
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| The event was a Symposia cum Operative
Live Workshop featuring interesting cases in the areas
of Bladder Exstrophy, Hypospadias, Hydronephrosis, Intersex
Anomalies, Undescended Testes, Incontinence Surgeries,
Vesicoureteric Reflux, Bladder Augmentation, etc. Both
laparoscopic and open surgeries had been performed. The
facilities included excellent video projection and two
way communication capabilities. Attendees had the opportunity
to not only observe and learn, but also to meet with the
faculty and other colleagues and share ideas. |
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