WHO to include 'gaming disorder' in its list of mental health conditions

 1.       Healthy fats and healthy carbs:  Just as there are "good carbs" and "bad carbs," there are good fats and bad fats. Saturated fat, trans fats, and cholesterol are the bad guys. Good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.

2.       Do you know? In pleural effusion, 75 mL of fluid is needed to obliterate the posterior costophrenic sulcus; 175 mL to obscure the lateral costophrenic sulcus; 500 mL to obscure the diaphragmatic contour on an upright chest radiograph but on decubitus radiographs, less than 10 mL (as little as 2 mL) can be identified.  If pleural effusion reaches the level of the fourth anterior rib, 1000 mL of fluid is present.

3.       Useful tip in diabetes management: Dividing 1500 with the total daily insulin dose will give one the change in blood sugar levels with one unit of insulin and if you divide 500 with total daily dose of insulin and it will give one the grams of carbohydrates required to neutralize none unit of insulin.

4.       MRI scan safe for most people with older pacemakers, defibrillators: A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine “confirms that pretty much anybody who has a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator can, with very few restrictions, safely get an MRI scan if they need it,” as long as the devices are properly adjusted before the scan and safeguards are in place. To prevent problems, the researchers reprogrammed the devices to adopt a standard heart rhythm for people whose hearts won’t beat on their own and disabled functions that might cause the pacemaker to fire improperly if the MRI produced erratic signals in the heart. After the MRI, the devices were returned to their original settings (Source: bit.ly/2pGopkv The New England Journal of Medicine, online December 27, 2017).

5.       NMC Update: It has been said that NMC Bill need not go to the standing committee because it was brought on the recommendation of standing committee. But, this argument is not correct as Niti Aayog has been working on this document since 2014 and the standing committee only recommended it in 2016. The Bill should be referred to the standing committee.

6.       In 2018, playing video games obsessively might lead to a diagnosis of a mental health disorder. In the beta draft of its forthcoming 11th International Classification of Diseases, the WHO includes "gaming disorder" in its list of mental health conditions. The WHO defines the disorder as a "persistent or recurrent" behavior pattern of "sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning." The disorder is characterized by "impaired control" with increasing priority given to gaming and "escalation," despite "negative consequences." Video game playing, either online or offline, must be "normally evident over a period of at least 12 months" for this diagnosis to be made, according to the beta draft guidance. However, if symptoms are severe and all requirements are met, health care professionals may include people who have been playing for shorter periods of time, the draft reads.

7.       The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), taking suo moto cognizance of the sheer negligence, wherein, over 30 persons were operated for cataract in torchlight at a Unnao community health centre, has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh government. The Commission has observed that it was a case of medical negligence and sheer carelessness on the part of the doctors and district health authorities.

8.       For patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), regular exercise is likely to improve cognitive functioning, an updated guideline from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) concludes. The new AAN guideline on MCI, which is endorsed by the Alzheimer's Association, was published online December 27 in Neurology.

9.       To develop a mechanism for eradicating cuts and commissions in medical practice: Payment made to all doctors for services provided should be transparent and reflected in the bill. Any charges paid to doctors without the knowledge of the patient and not reflecting in the patient’s bill should be considered a professional misconduct.

10.    Dear Dr KK Aggarwal: I deem it my pleasure to record my heartfelt compliments to you on the 1st Dr Ketan Desai Medical Statesman of the Highest Order Oration delivered by your good self, which was not only inspiring but also a humble depiction of committed creativity and indicative of futuristic direction as well. It is indeed worth of a publication by the IMA. With warm regards, Yours sincerely, Dr Ved Prakash Mishra, Chancellor, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Karad.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Vice President CMAAO
Immediate Past National President IMA
President HCFI and Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Group