શુક્રવાર, 22 જુલાઈ, 2011

Re: WHO calls for banning blood tests to diagnose TB

WHO calls for banning blood tests to diagnose TB  Thursday, July 21, 2011
  The use of currently available commercial blood (serological) tests to diagnose active tuberculosis often leads to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and potential harm to public health, says World Health Organisation (WHO) in apolicy recommendation issued in Geneva on Wednesday. The organisation is urging countries to ban the inaccurate and unapproved blood tests and instead rely on accurate microbiological or molecular tests, as recommended by WHO.

WHO is calling for countries to ban the use of blood tests to diagnose active TB after evidence shows the results are inaccurate. Pictured is a patient at a TB ward in Jordan undergoing a blood test. Image: WHO/H Darwish
Testing for active TB disease through antibodies or antigens found in the blood is extremely difficult. Patients can have different antibody responses suggesting that they have active TB even when they do not. Antibodies may also develop against other organisms, which again could wrongly indicate they have active TB. In addition, different organisms share the same antigens, making tests results unreliable. These factors can result in TB disease not being identified or wrongly diagnosed.
"In the best interests of patients and caregivers in the private and public health sectors, WHO is calling for an end to the use of these serological tests to diagnose tuberculosis," says Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO Stop TB Department. "A blood test for diagnosing active TB disease is bad practice. Test results are inconsistent, imprecise and put patients' lives in danger."

Dr Mario Raviglione
The policy recommendation applies to blood tests for active TB. Blood tests for inactive TB infection (also known as dormant or latent TB) are currently under review by WHO.
The new recommendation comes after 12 months of rigorous analysis of evidence by WHO and global experts. Ninety-four studies were evaluated – 67 for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB in the lungs) and 27 for extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB elsewhere in other organs). Overwhelming evidence showed that the blood tests produced an unacceptable level of wrong results — false-positives or false-negatives — relative to tests endorsed by WHO.
The research revealed "low sensitivity" in commercial blood tests which leads to an unacceptably high number of patients wrongly being given the 'all clear' (i.e. a false-negative when in reality they have active TB). This can result in the transmission of the disease to others or even death from untreated tuberculosis. It also revealed "low specificity", which leads to an unacceptably high number of patients being wrongly diagnosed with TB (i.e. a false-positive when in reality they do not have active TB). Those patients may then undergo unnecessary treatment, while the real cause of their illness remains undiagnosed, which may then also result in premature death.

Dr Karin Weyer
More than a million of these inaccurate blood tests are carried out annually to diagnose active TB, often at great financial cost to patients. Many patients pay upto $30 per test. There are at least 18 of these blood tests available on the market. Most of these tests are manufactured in Europe and North America, even though the blood tests are not approved by any recognised regulatory body.
"Blood tests for TB are often targeted at countries with weak regulatory mechanisms for diagnostics, where questionable marketing incentives can override the welfare of patients," says Dr Karin Weyer, coordinator of TB diagnostics and laboratory strengthening for the WHO Stop TB Department. "It's a multi-million dollar business centred on selling substandard tests with unreliable results."
This is the first time WHO has issued an explicit "negative" policy recommendation against a practice that is widely used in tuberculosis care. It underscores the organisation's determination to translate strong evidence into clear policy advice to governments.
Tuberculosis kills 1.7 million people every year, and is the major killer of people living with HIV. Improving the early and effective diagnosis of TB to ensure more lives are saved is a priority action for WHO and the international TB community. TB research is currently underway to bring better and more rapid tests that are easy to administer, effective and accurate.
Categories: NEWS




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"We do not guarantee cure, but what we guarantee is an honest and transparent effort".

Dr.H.K.Takvani, MD Pediatrics, FIAP
IPP, NNF, Gujarat State Chapter 2009-2010
National Executive Board Member. IAP 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008
President Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Gujarat State Branch, 2001
President Indian Medical Association Jamnagar City Branch 2008-09
 
Children Hospital and Neonatal Care Centre
Valkeshwari Nagari
Indira Marg
JAMNAGAR-361008, Gujarat, India
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મંગળવાર, 12 જુલાઈ, 2011

Fwd: Fw: Summary of all scams in India since 1947






--
"We do not guarantee cure, but what we guarantee is an honest and transparent effort".

Dr.H.K.Takvani, MD Pediatrics, FIAP
IPP, NNF, Gujarat State Chapter 2009-2010
National Executive Board Member. IAP 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008
President Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Gujarat State Branch, 2001
President Indian Medical Association Jamnagar City Branch 2008-09
 
Children Hospital and Neonatal Care Centre
Valkeshwari Nagari
Indira Marg
JAMNAGAR-361008, Gujarat, India
Tel: +91 288 2557100, 2676450, 9714433283

drtakvani@gmail.com
drtakvani@rediffmail.com
www.takvanidr.multiply.com



Fitness Update (Contributed by Rajat Bhatnagar...

Good one


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DR.SHIRISH PARIKH (Google+) <noreply-987cb8b5@plus.google.com>
Date: 11 July 2011 10:30
Subject: Fitness Update (Contributed by Rajat Bhatnagar...
To: drtakvani@gmail.com


Fitness Update
(Contributed by Rajat Bhatnagar, International Sports & Fitness Distribution, LLC, http://www.isfdistribution.com)
Fit into your Fifties
The average 50–something is fitter and healthier now than they were in their mid-20s, a report revealed yesterday (Sun).

Mature adults are reaping the benefits of better diets, more exercise and increased free time to focus on their health. It also emerged they spend more time outdoors and exercise more frequently than they did when they were younger. The lifestyle study was carried out among 1,500 adults aged 50 and upwards by Engage Mutual.

Current predictions for life expectancy state that men age 65 could expect to live another 17 years and women at 65 could expect to live another 20 years. These kinds of predictions make taking action on health and fitness in our later years just as important as when we are younger. The report found around one in five over 50s feel more energetic and enjoy more of a zest for life than they did in their 20s. And more than 70 per cent of the 'fit at 50s' do more exercise than they did when they were young. A similar number now pay more attention to their diet, with a dramatic decrease occurring in the number of take–aways and ready meals being consumed.

Almost seven out of ten of those who felt healthier put their new–found motivation down to a better awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The research also showed the fit over 50s eats far more fruit and veg now than they did in their early years. Only a fifth of them said they would have consumed the recommended amount of fruit and veg a day while in their 20s, compared to an impressive 75 per cent today. Eight out of ten people also claim to pay more attention to what they are buying in the supermarket now, taking into account all the ingredients. Of the people who feel fitter than in their twenties, the average exercise frequency was four times a week with walking, swimming, cycling or attending a fitness classes the mostly common practices.

One in four said exercise now made up an integral part of their social life. When questioned about why they exercise now, 29 per cent said it was because they want to be fit and energetic for the sake of the grandchildren. For more than half, it was gaining weight that prompted their lifestyle change, while 17 per cent suffered a worrying health scare. Four out of ten people said they were looking forward to an active and enjoyable retirement. Incredibly, more than half said they felt they looked younger than their age.
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--
"We do not guarantee cure, but what we guarantee is an honest and transparent effort".

Dr.H.K.Takvani, MD Pediatrics, FIAP
IPP, NNF, Gujarat State Chapter 2009-2010
National Executive Board Member. IAP 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008
President Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Gujarat State Branch, 2001
President Indian Medical Association Jamnagar City Branch 2008-09
 
Children Hospital and Neonatal Care Centre
Valkeshwari Nagari
Indira Marg
JAMNAGAR-361008, Gujarat, India
Tel: +91 288 2557100, 2676450, 9714433283

drtakvani@gmail.com
drtakvani@rediffmail.com
www.takvanidr.multiply.com