NEWSCOPE RESEARCH ISSUES WELL-BEING TRENDS THEME PERSONA
EARLY DETECTION OF DENGUE
As per data from the National Vector
Borne Disease Control Programme there has been a 5.5-fold increase in dengue cases from 2010-2017. Deaths due to dengue infection have also more than doubled over the same period. Infact there were 28000 more cases in India in 2017 as compared to 2016 making this a huge public concern. Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe flu-like symptoms with possible complications like haemorrhage and shock. Dengue infection may progress to dengue haemorrhagic fever resulting in severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, bruising, and uncontrolled bleeding. The most severe form of the illness that is dengue haemorrhagic shock may lead to plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, and multiorgan failure. With such complications, fatality is significant. So, missed or even delayed diagnosis is very dangerous. Twothirds of dengue deaths happen due to missed diagnosis making it imperative to have a quick, reliable method for early detection. Taking a step in this direction with its innovative molecular assays, iGenetic Diagnostics, a Mumbaibased facility has come out with a lab test that can detect dengue virus within 24 hours at a very early stage of the infection whereas the existing labs take 3-4 days. iGenetic has also developed a rapid molecular diagnostic test that can identify the serotype of the virus. It is important here because dengue virus has 4 serotypes and once a person has been infected with one serotype, they have lifelong immunity from that serotype. But if a person gets infected again with a different serotype the disease progression is fastened and more severe, thereby proving deadly. So, another advantage is that the test enables detection of dengue from day 1. Thus, the molecular diagnostic approaches to accurately and rapidly diagnose viral infections have been rightfully employed by iGenetic.
LUMENIS M22 OPTIMAL PULSE TECHNOLOGY – AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO TREAT DRY EYES
Dry eyes affect millions of adults and its risk increases with advancing age. Keeping this acute eye problem in mind, Lumenis worked in this direction. Lumenis, world’ s largest energy-based medical device company for surgical, ophthalmology and aesthetic applications is renowned for its technological breakthroughs in ophthalmic lasers and has a long list of industry gold standards. Lumenis’ latest M22 optimal pulse technology is the answer to a majority of eye inflammation treatments with optimal pulse technology( OPT). Mumbai’ s renowned super specialty eye care Ojas Eye Hospital has brought in India Lumenis M22 Optimal Pulse Technology( OPT) for treatment of dry eyes. The latest eye care technology is seen as a great revolutionary value addition to the ophthalmic applications especially for the treatment of dry eyes. The M22 services will be available at two
KARMA HEALTHCARE
Karma Healthcare, a
Rajasthan-based start-up in the technology-led healthcare space has recently raised INR 3 crores from different investors. The start-up aims to provide high quality, affordable, equitable and reliable healthcare to India’ s underserved population via a differentiated business model. The company has combined the human touch of a nurse with the scalability of shared doctor services via real-time online video consultations. It delivers healthcare to consumers via e-Doctor clinics. The effort is to have e-clinics Pan-India. The company thus seeks to make definitive large-scale impact and in-turn take significant branches of Ojas Eye Hospital, one at Bandra and the other at Kandivali. Recent studies have showcased prevalence of dry eyes among patients ranging across age groups. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction( MGD) is one of the leading causes of dry eye disease( DED), affecting millions of people worldwide. Optimal pulse technology from Lumenis has emerged as the most effective alternative for patients, leading to significant improvement in ocular surface quality, gland function and dry eye symptoms. The Lumenis M22 OPT is an excellent technology for treating eyelid inflammation. OPT is selectively absorbed in the haemoglobin of abnormal blood vessels and destroys them by thrombolysis thereby treating the root cause of the problem leading to immediate relief, a safe and comfortable, fast‘ lunch time treatment’ and improves the skin appearance too.
steps towards‘ healthcare for all’. So far, the company has given over 50,000 consultations and currently has 10 e-Doctor clinics in the states of Haryana and Rajasthan. There is a comprehensive ecosystem of clinical treatment, quality medicines and diagnostics at competitive prices. The company has developed an inhouse technology suite that helps it deliver standardised care including a bespoke Clinical Decision Support System and is extending its capabilities to deep learning driven diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. The company has backing from Tata Trusts, UBS Optimus Foundation and WISH Foundation.
36 Volume 3 | Issue 3 | July-September 2018