Do not inform others, it’s a secret?

Do not inform others, it’s a secret?

Most Asians are known for two habits, firstly crab nature and secondly the habit of telling others that “I am telling you a secret and please do not tell others”

Crab nature mean pulling each other leg and not allowing any one to rise. Most people especially the woman will gossip and tell all secrets they know of. For clearing their own consciousness they will add the sentence that” I am telling you the secret and do not tell others. The very fact you are telling it to someone it is no more a secret.

The recent case of Rajat Gupta in US is an extension of the same. In India we do not respect confidentiality laws and do not sign nod disclosure agreements. In hospitals you will seeing attendants shouting outside ICU the name of the person admitted an the list of operation theatre being displayed at every corner of the hospital

Hepatitis A, E and Typhoid are the hygiene markers of a city

Hepatitis A, E and Typhoid are the hygiene markers of a city

It is diseases such as jaundice with hepatitis A in children and E in adults, typhoid, cholera and gastroenteritis that reflect the hygiene status of a city and not the occurrence of dengue and malaria, said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and National Vice President-Elect IMA.

Dr. Aggarwal said that food and water–borne diseases can be eradicated by the following public awareness formula: When in doubt follow the principle, “heat it, boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it”. Explaining this, Dr, Aggarwal said that in an unhygienic environment, one can eat an orange or a banana but not tomato or apple. Other steps are:

• Do not take salad that has been left open for more than 2 hours even if it is washed properly.
• Do not take cooked food that has been left on the table for more than two hours.
• Vegetables grown under the ground or over the surface of the ground should be washed properly before eating them raw. They may be the biggest source of worm infection in the brain, a condition called neurocysticercosis.
• Boiled water is the safest water to drink.
• Ice made from unhygienic water can be the source of most water–borne diseases.
• It is our duty to keep our home and city as clean as possible. We must regard our city as our extended home, a garden as our farmhouse and roads as are our personal walking tracks.

Most food and water-borne diseases are self–inflicted and can be managed by a simple step of washing the hands before and after using the toilet and before and after consuming any food.

Multivitamins and cancer

Multivitamins and cancer

Observational studies have not shown a consistent decrease in cancer risk with multivitamin use.

• A large randomized trial of multivitamins, involving over 14,000 men has demonstrated a small, statistically-significant reduction in total cancer risk in the multivitamin group (1). The study included male physicians 50 years and older at recruitment. At a mean follow-up of 11.2 years, there was a reduction in total cancer from 18.3 to 17.0 events per 1000 person-years but there was no impact on cancer mortality.

• In the past a systematic review of 38 studies found that neither vitamin C nor vitamin E supplementation was beneficial for prevention of cancers (2).

• A 2006 NIH consensus concluded that “present evidence is insufficient to recommend either for or against the use of multivitamin supplements by the American public to prevent chronic disease” (3).
• A long-term randomized trial in women found no evidence that supplementation with vitamin C, E, or beta-carotene decreased cancer incidence or mortality (4).

• Two long term observational studies found no association between multivitamin use and risk of cancer. (5,6)

Currently it has not been established that multivitamin and mineral supplements provide added benefit to a balanced, healthful diet for most individuals.

References

1. Gaziano JM, Sesso HD, Christen WG, et al. Multivitamins in the prevention of cancer in men: the Physicians’ Health Study II randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2012;308:1871.
2. Coulter ID, Hardy ML, Morton SC, et al. Antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin e for the prevention and treatment of cancer. J Gen Intern Med 2006;21:735.
3. NIH State-of-the-Science Panel. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-science conference statement: multivitamin/mineral supplements and chronic disease prevention. Ann Intern Med 2006; 145:364.
4. Lin J, Cook NR, Albert C, et al. Vitamins C and E and beta carotene supplementation and cancer risk: a randomized controlled trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2009;101:14.
5. Neuhouser ML, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Thomson C, et al. Multivitamin use and risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease in the Women’s Health Initiative cohorts. Arch Intern Med 2009;169:294.
6. Park SY, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, et al. Multivitamin use and the risk of mortality and cancer incidence: the multiethnic cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 2011;173:906.

Meditation can change the genes

Meditation can change the genes

Amarnath cave was chosen by Lord Shiva to narrate the secrets of meditation, immortality and creation of Universe to Parvati.

A spiritual journey requires a spiritual frame of mind and a commitment of 7-10 days for self purification. Most spiritual destinations are located at up into mountains to provide a pollution free environment and involve a difficult travel so that nobody can reach the destination before 7-10 days.

This duration helps in controlling the mind, intellect, ego and getting rid of the desires, attachments and greed.

On the path of spiritual journey as one is travelling alone without carrying the worldly attachments one invariably reaches the destination in a positive state of mind and in a meditative phase to experience the truth of life and answers to unanswered questions.

The Amarnath Story

Once Parvati asked Shiva to let her know why and when he started wearing the beads of heads (Mund Mala). Shiva said whenever you are born I add one more head in my beads. Parvati said,” My Lord, my body is destroyed every time and I die again and again, but you are Immortal. Please let me know the secret of this.” Shiva replied that it is due to Amar Katha.”

Spiritual Significance

The spiritual significance of the above is, that here Shiva represents the Soul and Parvati the Body. The soul never dies and is immortal. The soul is the energized filed of information and in computer language is like the web of energized information. Every time any work is done (sanskara) a copy of the same is kept in the memory in both the soul and the spirit.

The further part of the story is the katha or the process of doing meditation and its benefits

The story

 “Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. For long Shiva continued postponing.  Finally on consistent demand He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret. He started for lonely place where no living being could listen it. He choseAmarnathCave.”

Spiritual Significance

For learning to meditate the first principle is dedication and persistence. Second is silence or a place with no internal and external disturbance. In asthanga yoga it is called Pratyahara (the withdraw of senses).

The story

“Shiva left His Nandi (The Bull) at Pahalgam or Bail Gaon; his moon from his hairs (jatha) at Chandanwari; his snake at the banks ofLakeSheshnag; his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill) and his five elements at Panjtarni.

As a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world Shiva and Parvati had Tandav Dance. After leaving behind all these, Shiva enters theHolyAmarnathCavealong with Parvati. Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the Deer Skin and concentrate.

 Spiritual Significance

In process of meditation one first gets rid of desires (Bull Nandi or the mind), discriminating, expectations and power of analyzing thoughts power (moon or the intellect) and ego (snake). Once that is done one is away from the worldly desires totally (Ganesh and finally the five elements). Now the body is in symphony with the soul (Tandava dance).

The story

To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale, Shiva created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire to eliminate every living thing in and around theHolyCave. After this He started narrating the secret of immortality to Parvati. But as a matter of chance one egg which was lying beneath the Deer skin remained protected. It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati Asan (Bed). The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar Katha).

Spiritual Significance

It again signifies the importance of undisturbed state of mind at the time of meditation. Fire indicates the internally meditation generated spiritual fire or agni which burns all the negative thoughts and negative energies. The egg of the pigeon indicates that spiritual knowledge can transform at the level DNA. It also tells us that those who are sitting near the meditating persons also get benefitted.

About the author: Dr Aggarwal is Padmashri, Dr C Roy National Awardee and National Vice president Elect IMA.

Why is age verification of an assaulted child important?

Why is age verification of an assaulted child important?

• Age estimation of trafficked victim is mandatory under Section 15(5A) of the ITPA.
• Under the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) if a trafficked victim is a child (below 18 years of age), then the child would be treated as a victim in need of care and protection and sent to a protective home. Thus, the future of the victim greatly depends upon a correct age determination test.
• According to the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act (ITPA): Trafficking of minors is a more heinous offence warranting more stringent punishment against the trafficker as per Sections 4(1), 5(1), 6(2), 6(2-A), 7(1-A) of ITPA.
• Victim <18 years- JJA would automatically apply.
• Victims between the ages of 16 and 21 years- exercise utmost caution and thoroughness.
• Sometimes at the time of medical examination, the medical officer is further pressurized by the traffickers or their agents to certify that she is more than 18 years of age.
• To avoid malpractice, a panel of doctors should conduct the medical examination, especially the Age Determination Test.
• No single method alone should be adopted for Age Determination. A combination of examination of physical and secondary sexual characteristics, dentition, and bone ossification should be taken into consideration before recording the final opinion.
• The medicolegal report should be submitted to the Investigating Officer within 48-72 hours of conducting the examination.

Understanding the concept of Shiva and Shakti

Understanding the concept of Shiva and Shakti

After the life force leaves the body even the wife does not likes to come near the body (Bhaja Govindam). This life force has no weight, water cannot wet it, air cannot dry it, and weapons cannot cut it (Bhagwat Gita Chapter 2).

The scientific description of this life force comes from the first Maha Vakya, from Aitareya Upanishad in Rig Veda, which describes that “Consciousness or Intelligence is the Brahman (Pragnanam Brahma).

This life force or the intelligence represents the conscious energy, energized consciousness or energized information.

In computer language this intelligence is both the fed in data and the software to operate this data. The software is driven by the power of intention and by the process of attention.

In Vedic language the data is the “Purusha or Shiva” and the software the “Shakti” (Sakti). While the data or the Shiva is inactive and idle, without Shakti or energy, the data has no value and it makes” Shiva” a “SAVA”. When Shakti moves toward Shiva it becomes awareness or consciousness. In Vedanta language it is called as soul or Brahman.

For comparison, what relationship Matter and Energy have in Physics; Purusha and Prakruti in Samkya Philosophy; Infinite and Zero in Mathematics; Potential and Kinetic Energy in Energetics; Meaning and Word in Linguistics; Father and Mother in sociology; the same is with Shiva and Sakti in understanding the mystery of Vedanta.

Shiva and Sakti are thus two inseparable entities in Indian mysticism. Just as moonlight cannot be separated from the moon, Shakti cannot be separated from Shiva. Kashmir Shaivism says that “Shiva without Shakti is lifeless (Sava) because wisdom cannot move without power”.

Shiva and Shakti are different from the masculine and feminine aspects of the human body. In tantric spiritual path, one seeks to develop a perfect harmony and balance between masculine aspects (example mental focus, will, intellect) and feminine aspects (example sensitivity, emotion).

Shiva or the data is classified in the body in three subgroups: creation, protection and destruction. These in Hindu mythology are called the “Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh”. Some add another two more dimensions in them making them five and these are “revelation and concealment”. One can find these qualities in anything that’s alive.

The Shakti or the forces (power) are also sub classified in five sub types.

1. Chitta Shakti: Pure consciousness or the awareness of God.

2. Ananda Shakti or pure bliss.

3. Gnana Shakti or the knowledge of God. It is the pure knowledge which organizes and orchestrates the infinite correlative activity of the universe.

4. Kriya Shakti or ‘pure action’ which is the actions directed toward God (action which doesn’t have the bondage of karma. Action which has the bondage of karma comes from the ego. It’s based on beliefs and expectations and interpretations and fears and judgments and past memories, whereas non-binding action, which is non-Karmic, is called Kriya—action rooted in pure awareness and creativity)

5. Desire (Icha Sakti: the desire or intention to unite with God)

Deepak Chopra in his Book, Path of Love Describes Shakti as under:

If the voice of God spoke to you, Her powers would be conveyed in simple, universal phrases:

a. Chitta Shakti: “I am.”

b. Ananda Shakti: “I am blissful.”

c. Gnana (Gyana) Shakti: “I know.”

d. Kriya Shakti: “I act.”

e. Icha Shakti: “I will” or “I intend.”

These powers, if used towards acquiring spiritual wellbeing, any action (pure kriya) directed by the desire (pure ischa) leads to pure knowledge (pure gnana) and ends with internal bliss (ananda).

On the other hand, in routine life if these powers are governed by the ego, then the Action (Kriya) leads to Memory (Gnana) and the memory leads to desire (Icha) and then action again.

According to Tantra, Satchidananda is called Shiva-Sakti, the hyphenated word suggesting that Shiva or the Absolute and Sakti or its creative power, are eternally conjoined like a word and its meaning; the one cannot be thought of without the other.

Defining Acute MI

Defining Acute MI

Definition

• In 1979: The diagnosis of acute MI was based on WHO criteria based on epidemiology
• In 2000: Joint European Society of Cardiology (ESC) andAmerican College of Cardiology (ACC) committee proposed a clinically based definition of an acute, evolving, or recent MI.
• In 2007: Joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the World Health Federation  (ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF) refined the 2000 criteria and defined acute MI as a clinical event consequent to the death of cardiac myocytes (myocardial necrosis) that is caused by ischemia (as opposed to other etiologies such as myocarditis or trauma)
• 2012: This definition was not fundamentally changed in the third universal definition of MI released in 2012 by the ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF.

Third universal definition
Any one of the following criteria meets the diagnosis of MI:
1.    Detection of a rise and/or fall of cardiac biomarker values (cTn with at least one value above the 99^th percentile upper reference limit [URL]) and with at least one of the following:
a.     Symptoms of ischemia
b.    Development of pathologic Q waves in the ECG
c. New or presumed new significant ST-segment-T wave (ST-T) changes
d. New LBBB
e. Identification of an intracoronary thrombus by angiography or autopsy
f. Imaging evidence of new loss of viable myocardium or a new regional wall motion abnormality.
2.    Cardiac death with symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia and presumed new ischemia ECG changes or new LBBB, but death occurred before cardiac biomarkers were obtained, or before cardiac biomarker values would be increased.

3. PCI related MI: elevation of cTn >5 x 99^th percentile upper reference limit in patients with normal baseline values or a rise of values >20 percent if the baseline values are elevated and are stable or falling. In addition, either (i) symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia, or (ii) new ischemic ECG changes or new LBBB, or (iii) angiographic loss of patency of a major coronary artery or a side branch or persistent slow- or no-flow or embolization, or (iv) imaging demonstration of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality are required.
4. Stent thrombosis associated with MI: Detected by coronary angiography or autopsy in the setting of myocardial ischemia and with a rise and/or fall of cardiac biomarkers with at least one value above the 99^th percentile
5. CABG associated MI: Elevation of cardiac biomarker values >10 x 99^th percentile URL in patients with normal baseline cTn values. In addition, either (i) new pathologic Q waves or new LBBB, or (ii) angiographic documented new graft of native coronary artery occlusion, or (iii) imaging evidence of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality.

The joint task force further refined the definition of MI

• Type 1 (spontaneous MI): MI consequent to a pathologic process in the wall of the coronary artery (e.g., plaque erosion/rupture, fissuring, or dissection), resulting in intra luminal thrombus
• Type 2 (MI secondary to an ischemic imbalance): MI consequent to increased oxygen demand or decreased supply (e.g., coronary endothelial dysfunction, coronary artery spasm, coronary artery embolus, anemia, tachy-/bradyarrhythmias, anemia, respiratory failure, hypertension or hypotension)
• Type 3 (MI resulting in death when biomarker values are unavailable): Sudden unexpected cardiac death before blood samples for biomarkers could be drawn or before their appearance in the blood
• Type 4a (MI related to PCI)
• Type 4b (MI related to stent thrombosis)
• Type 5 (MI related to CABG)

Thygesen K, Alpert JS, Jaffe AS, et al. Third universal definition of myocardial infarction. Circulation 2012;126(16):2020-35.