OHERALDO
Pg 9
GOA, SUNDAY, 18 JULY, 2010
oPinionateD Kidney: Silent work horse By Dr Ronald K May The sudden death resulting from stopping of the Brain or Heart function has been known to all and also about the diseases afflicting these organs and measures for its prevention and treatment but seldom do people know about Kidney disease and prevention. The kidneys are paired organs located at the rear of the abdominal cavity each weighing about 150 grams. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired renal veins. Little do we realize that kidneys together weighing less than 1% of the body, receives the largest amount of blood for any organ, precisely 20% of that pumped by the heart every minute .Each kidney excretes urine into a ureter, itself a paired structure that empties into the urinary bladder. The basic functioning unit of the kidney is called a Nephron, a million of which is present in either kidney. What does the Kidney Do? We can group the Kidney functions in three broad categories. First is the excretion of Water and Waste products, second the maintenance of the internal balance of the body and third, the production and activation of a number of hormones. The human body burns carbohydrates for energy and utilizes protein for growth and repair. The waste product generated are Water, Carbon dioxide, Urea, Ammonia, and innumerable other compounds. The lung excretes CO2 and part of the water as vapor while liver detoxifies some wastes. The majority however are being excreted by the kidney in the form of urine. The kidneys serve as a natural filter of the blood and generate almost 180L of filtrate per day. Of this a whopping 99% is reabsorbed to conserve essential elements and 2-4 liters of urine containing waste products is excreted. The internal environment of the body has to be strictly maintained for the optimum function of all organ systems. The kidneys have a major role to play in this as the levels of critical ions like Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium among others are primarily determined by the kidney. By altering the chemical compositions of Blood the Kidneys also regulates the pH and thereby affect all reactions taking place in the body. The Kidney is the source for the hormone Erythropoietin which directs the bone marrow to produce Red Blood Cells (RBC). The activation of Vitamin D takes place in the kidney and then regulates the mineralization of Bones and Calcium metabolism. Although the Blood Pressure (BP) is a function of the pumping ability of the heart and resistance in blood vessels, the exact level of BP is determined by the kidney by secreting a hormone Renin. What happens when these functions are lost? The failure of Kidney results in: 1. Retention of water (reduced urine, swelling and breathlessness) 2. Retention of nitrogenous waste products (nausea, vomiting and varying grades of mental derangement) 3. Abnormal internal environment 4. Less RBC (anemia), reduced Vitamin D (weaker bones and calcification of blood vessels) and abnormal Blood Pressure. Stopping of the kidney function will thus result in slow- not so dramatic but certain death. How many people suffer from Kidney disease? Due to the immense Public Health implication it is imperative that we understand the challenges placed before us by Kidney disease. The first step would be to define how large is the problem. Incidence is the number of new patients every year of a particular disease while Prevalence is the total number of patients afflicted by a condition in a point in time. People having structural or functional disease of kidney for more than three months are said to suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) while those requiring some form of renal replacement therapy for sustenance of life; Dialysis or Transplantation are said to have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). A Delhi based study showed that the prevalence of CKD is 7852 per million populations or 0.79 % while another study from Bhopal revealed that the incidence of ESRD ranged from 151 to 232 per million populations. Assuming a uniform incidence all over the country, approximately 152,000 new patients would require renal replacement therapy (RRT) every year in India and the number of people living with various stages of CKD is a staggering 7852000. When we extrapolate these numbers to Goa population of 1.5 million we can be rest assured that there will be at least 11778 patients with CKD and every year 228 patients requiring Dialysis are being added. Clearly with the rising prevalence of Diabetes which is the major cause for Kidney disease today we can only expect further growth in these numbers. It is established beyond doubt that Kidney Transplantation is the best form of rehabilitation. We also need to strengthen facilities for Dialysis in the state. We can take a lot of solace from the fact that Government of Goa is already subsidizing Dialysis for those afflicted by ESRD and is keenly pursuing the matter of starting Kidney Transplantation in Goa Medical College. Above all we need a strong program for early detection and prevention of Kidney disease. (The author is a consultant Nephrologist at Manipal Hospital Goa.)
Naveen gives clean chit to ministers PTI BHUBANESWAR, JULY 17
Terming opposition attempt to implicate two ministers in the multi-crore coal scam as "unjustified", Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said stringent action would be taken against persons found guilty in corruption even as Congress and BJP ML As walked out of the assembly in protest. "It is unjustified to try and implicate either school and mass education minister Pratap Jena or urban and housing minister Badri Narayan Patra in the vigilance case," Patnaik said in a suo moto statement in the assebly on distribution of coal through Orissa Coperative Consumer Federation (OCCF) and the state owned Orissa Small Industries Corporation (OSIC). Both Jena and Patra, whose resignations were being demanded by opposition MLAs since four days, had been accused of being part of coal scam. Jena and Patra headed the state owned OSIC before becoming ministers. The assembly witnessed up-
roar over the issue for the fourth day in a row and the chief minister read out his statement amidst anti-government slogans by opposition MLAs. "We walked out of the assembly opposing chief minister's statement under section 214 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Orissa Legislative Assembly," opposition chief whip Prasad Harichandan said. Section 214 of the rule book prohibited any further discussion on the statement made by the chief minister or any minister. "Making statement under section 214 of the Rule by chief minister ensured that no discussion on coal scam could be made in the house. Therefore, the opposition had no option but to walk out of the house," he said. Angry over the chief minister's clean chit and the state government's bid to prevent debate on coal scam, Congress MLAs led by leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh sat on a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the assembly premises.
Yeddyurappa virtually rules out removal of Reddy brothers PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 17
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today virtually ruled out the removal of Reddy brothers from his ministry for the present, saying such a step could be considered if charges are proved. "There are no charges against any minister. But if there are charges, I am going to remove them within 24 hours," he told reporters after a meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram here. He was asked if he would follow the example of senior BJP leader L K Advani, who quit Parliament in the early 90s when allegations were made against him in the hawala scandal, and ask his ministers to quit. He said the opposition Congress-JD(S) campaign against the Reddy brothers -- Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakaran Reddy -- was born out of political enmity. To a question why his government was fighting shy of instituting a CBI inquiry into the illegal mining issue, Yeddyurappa said the institution of Lokayukta has been given "all the powers" and it can take the help of Central government and
‘Governor ‘hijacked’ legislature’ UNI BANGALORE, JULY 17
Former Karnataka Minister and Member of Parliament D B Chandregowda today alleged that Governor H R Bharadwaj had 'hijacked' the duly elected government by complaining to the Centre on illegal mining issue. Talking to newspersons here, Mr Chandregowda said, “By complaining about functioning of BJP government to the President, Prime Minister and Congress Supremo, the Governor has gone against the constitutionally formed government and has hijacked it.”
any state government and even Central agencies. "He is investigating the mining issue. As early as possible, we are going to refer all cases starting from 2002. Soon truth will come out and whoever is culprit, we will punish them," he said. On his meeting with Chidambaram, he said he discussed the issues of illegal mining, resignation of Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and its subsequent withdrawal, law and order situation and the current Belgaum row. The chief minister said the only way to stop illegal mining would be to stop iron ore exports and allow only valueadded industry. There was no other way, he said, adding he has conveyed this to the Central government. Yeddyurappa said he has also told the Home Minister that the Karnataka government has appointed a 'upa-Lokayaukta' and invited Chidamabaram to inaugurate the building of the office of the Lokayaukta. Sources said the Chief Minister is understood to have said that there was no need for a CBI probe into the issue since Lokayukta was inquiring into it.
TDP to move NHrC against Naidu’s arrest PTI HYDERABAD, JULY 17
TDP will move the National Human Rights Commission against the alleged `inhuman’ treatment being meted out to its president N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 lawmakers by the Maharashtra government during their detention in the neighbouring Nanded district. The issue is also being taken to the notice of the state Assembly Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy, according to TDP politburo member Nagam Janardhana Reddy. Talking to newsmen at the party headquarters here this afternoon, Nagam alleged that the Maharashtra government behaved in a `most inhuman’ manner in dealing with a former Chief Minister and other legislators and parliamentarians. "We are complaining against this to the NHRC as well as the Assembly Speaker," he added. Another senior leader Kadiyam Srihari found fault with the Andhra Pradesh government for remaining indifferent on the entire issue. "It is unfortunate that Chief Minister K Rosaiah did not condemn the arrest of Chandrababu or prevail upon the Maharashtra government to
Students of PG Degree College Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir waiting on Saturday for teachers who have been on strike for the past four days to protest against the Tehsildar who raided the college on the direction of DDC Doda for checking the attendence of the college staff.
Anjolie Menon turns 70
PTI NEW DELHI, JULT 17
To mark the 70th birthday of contemporary Indian artist Anjolie Ela Menon a biography spanning over half a decade of her career has been launched along with an exhibition featuring works highlighting significant phases of the artist's life. Filmmaker Shyam Benegal released the book in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur here late yesterday. The over 370-page tome "Anjolie Ela Menon: Through the Patina," by noted art critic Isana Murty, the pen name for defence analyst C Uday Bhaskar and published by Vadhera Art Gallery is filled with pictures and essays on her life and work spanning 55 years. The exhibition which will be continue for one month features 70 artworks - both retrospective and recent- by Menon from different phases in her life.
US dept files suit over racial discrimination against Indians PTI WASHINGTON, JULY 17
The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the owner and management of an apartment complex at Renton in Washington State for racial discrimination against Indians who were treated less favourably than other tenants and even told to "go back" to India. The lawsuit seeking monetary damages and an order barring further discrimination was filed yesterday in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington and named as defendants Summerhill Place LLC -- the owner of Summerhill Place Apartments; GRAN Inc. -the management company; and Rita Lovejoy -- the former on site manager. The suit alleges, among other things, that the defendants steered Indian tenants away from one of the five buildings at Summerhill, treated tenants from India less favourably than other tenants and discouraged African-Americans, Hispanics and families with children from living at Summerhill. The names of Indians have not been revealed. "Equal access to housing in the United States is a fundamental right, and this nation will not tolerate discrimination in housing," said Assistant Attorney Gen-
eral for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E Perez. The Justice Department alleged that the owner and management of apartment complex instructed its staff not to show new or renovated apartments to people from India, Hispanics and African Americans. The company and its staff engaged in discriminating against Indian tenants by not replacing their carpets or their broken appliances, while providing such services to other similarly situated tenants, the law suit alleges. It also alleges that one or more Indian tenants were told that their children cannot play outside and that they should take them to park to play. They were also allegedly told to "go back to India" if they could not learn how to work their appliances and faced other derogatory comments about their national origin. "Few things are more fundamental to success and happiness than having a safe place to live. Fair and equal access to housing is a cornerstone of our society," said US Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny A Durkan. "Apartment owners must ensure that their managers treat all tenants and potential tenants, in a fair and equitable manner without regard to race, national origin or whether they have chil-
dren. The US Attorney's Office will actively pursue these cases with the goal of fairness and equity for all," Durkan said. As alleged in the complaint, two Summerhill employees contacted the King County Office of Civil Rights (KCOCR) in 2007 and complained of discriminatory housing practices at Summerhill. KCOCR then contracted the Fair Housing Council of Washington to conduct testing at Summerhill. After testing was conducted, KCOCR referred the matter to HUD (Housing and Urban Development Department). After an investigation, the Secretary of HUD determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that discriminatory housing practices had occurred and issued a charge of discrimination. The defendants elected to have the matters asserted in the HUD charge heard in federal court. "Housing discrimination is illegal and unacceptable," said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña. "HUD and the Justice Department work to eliminate it," he said. The suit seeks monetary damages for those harmed by the defendants' actions, civil penalties and a court order barring future discrimination.
researchers developing tool for wildlife, forest management PTI PUNE, JULY 17
A decision making tool being evolved by the researchers at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) here to help in forest management, is expected to go a long way in arresting poaching and illegal tree felling in the country. Working on the project named "Aranya" is the Geomatics Solutions Development Group
(GSDG) of C-DAC which is a scientific society of the Central Ministry of Communication and Information Technology entrusted with providing IT based solutions in various spheres. "Aranya"--- a Comprehensive Spatial Decision Support System---- is being developed in collaboration with the Forest department of 'Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) with the aim of enabling forest man-
agers to take will informed decisions covering various aspects including Wildlife Elaborating on the ongoing research, Mahesh Kale, project leader (R&D) of GSDG told PTI that the system could highlight the sites of crime related to poaching, tree felling, illegal entry into forest etc in a particular division with associate attributes such as date of crime, animal poached, material seized and number of person
involved. "The tool also provides information about the intensity of crimes along roads and locations of different crimes happening in the specified area," he added. It would also show at the click of the mouse the areas suitable for a particular animal, analysing the land areas based on different criteria, availability of water and food.
secure release of the arrested leaders," Srihari said in Warangal, where he led a rasta-roko in protest against the arrest of the TDP chief. Interestingly, All India Congress Committee secretary and MLC P Sudhakar Reddy too condemned Maharashtra government's handling of the whole episode.
appointments