To help combat the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country, specialty chemicals company LANXESS donated six ventilators worth over INR 1 crore to Kaushalya Medical Foundation Trust Hospital and Bethany Hospital in Thane. Both hospitals have been provided with three ventilators each. The donation was done as part of the company’s CSR initiative for 2020-2021.

The hospitals, located in Thane will use these ventilators for treatment of patients from neighboring areas. LANXESS has been proactively collaborating with authorities and medical institutions in its concerted efforts to help local community in fighting the pandemic.

In the past months, LANXESS India has undertaken various initiatives with regards to minimizing the impact of COVID-19. This includes financial support of INR 2 crore to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) and donation of relief material worth INR 30 lakhs to local authorities in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. This also included collaboration with the Akshaya Patra Foundation, through which the company provided over 30,000 free meals to the needy.

LANXESS helped in reducing cross contamination of coronavirus by donating 1 tonne of its highly effective surface disinfectant, Rely+On™ Virkon™ to the BMC and TMC through the Government of Maharashtra relief co-ordination center.

Dr. Sameep Sohoni, MS Ortho, DNB Ortho, FICS(USA), Consultant Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon, Kaushalya Medical Foundation Trust Hospital said, “We are grateful to LANXESS India for donating these ventilators to us as it is the most important equipment which is required in the management of Covid patients in ICU and who have low oxygen levels. We thank the management of LANXESS India for this support and are sure that this donation would help us save more lives and will also give a moral boost to our team that has been working tirelessly for Covid patients for the past 5 months.”

Thanking LANXESS for its support, Vijay Lakka, COO, Bethany Hospital said, “LANXESS India’s donation of these high-end ventilators at this juncture enables our hospital to try save more lives, especially when there is a huge shortage globally for critical-care equipment. These specific ventilators equipped with High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) therapy can provide respiratory support for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and can also prevent subsequent intubation in this pandemic situation. Thank you for being part of our community and stepping up to do what very few have accomplished in these difficult times.”

Neelanjan Banerjee, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, LANXESS India commented, “In these challenging times, medical institutions and their infrastructure have witnessed tremendous stress. Having identified this as a critical area that needs immediate attention, we have made a humble attempt in easing out the pressure. Our contribution is specially aimed at making critical care available and enhancing life-saving infrastructure in these hospitals. We are hoping to make a significant difference in our society and will continue to help the community at large in fighting the pandemic.”

About Kaushalya Medical Foundation Trust Hospital

Kaushalya Medical Foundation Trust Hospital has been serving people of Thane city and district since 2002 at its 100 bed tertiary care facility in Thane. The hospital’s journey as a dedicated Covid hospital began on 17th April 2020 and till now it has treated more than 1100 Covid-19 patients from Thane city and neighbouring areas.

About Bethany Hospital

Bethany Hospital owned and managed by Bethany Trust was found in the year 1997 with the core belief that every life is a precious Gift of God and deserves our utmost attention. At this 190 bedded tertiary care facility during this COVID-19 Pandemic more than 900 patients were treated for COVID-19 and the Hospital continues to serve the needy at large.

About LANXESS

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.8 billion in 2019. The company currently has about 14,300 employees in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

Doctors occupy a very important position in every community. People go to them whenever they are sick or injured, hoping that they can help them heal with their expertise. It is precisely because of this that medical training is long, meticulous, and expensive. Not just anyone can become a physician. Those who successfully graduate from medical schools have proven to be intelligent, detail oriented, and really hard working.

It’s important to remember that training never really stops for doctors. Medicine is a very dynamic field, and our general understanding of illnesses, how they propagate, and how they are treated changes by the day. To be effective in their roles, doctors must never stop learning.

When the lives of patients are involved, there should be no room for mistakes. However, doctors are only human, and sometimes have lapses in judgment. Of course, being the aggrieved party, patients have all the rights to sue. According to a Jackson Personal Injury Lawyer, you should get the help of a competent attorney in filing a case against an erring medical practitioner so you get properly compensated.

Errors in diagnosing

It’s usually not very easy for us to determine what’s wrong with our bodies when there’s a problem. We only know that some parts feel painful or tired, or feel our temperature rising. In order to make sense of the symptoms, we need the expertise of a licensed physician.

Proper diagnosis is necessary if we are to heal properly. If the doctor fails to see that the symptoms are a result of a more serious illness, we may be in big trouble. Oftentimes, this leads to an unabated worsening of the underlying condition, making life more difficult for us patients.

There are also times when doctors accurately see that there is an underlying illness, but they fail to diagnose it properly, leading to additional complications.

Prescription errors

When we see a doctor, we often leave with a prescription from them, detailing the medication we should take, along with when and how to take them. With no knowledge in medicine, most of us trust that the doctor knows what they’re giving us. Because of this, any error in the prescription can easily lead to ugly consequences.

Surgical mistakes

Having surgery sounds like a major and rare thing, but they are actually common in Mississippi and the rest of the U.S. People go under the knife for various reasons, from cyst removals to bodily enhancements.

Surgical errors usually come in the form of lacerations on the wrong part of the body. There are also a lot of documented cases where medical objects are left inside the patient’s body, causing complications that can endanger a patient’s life.

Medical malpractice sounds like an impossibility, but it is actually more common than many of us are willing to admit. Hence, it pays to never let our guards when we consult with doctors.

Almost everyone who is lined up for surgery tends to get a bit nervous about how their operation will turn out. However, contrary to popular belief, the success of your operation doesn’t solely rely on the knowledge and expertise of your surgeon. What you do with your body before the surgery will also help contribute to a seamless and successful procedure. In line with this, if you are bound to have spine surgery soon, below are some things that you can do to prepare.

Pre-surgical Instructions

It is most likely that your doctor will provide pre-surgical instructions a couple of days before your surgery. It is of utmost importance that you follow all that your doctor will tell you to do. Before you arrive at this point, it is a wise move to raise any questions that you have about your condition to your doctor during your pre-surgical consultation. The medical experts behind Endoscopic Spine Academy suggest that you try and become an open book because your doctor is not there to judge you, rather, they are there to help you. After all, if you receive the answers to your questions, there is a great chance that you become more confident in pushing through with the surgery.

Diet

The choices you make when it comes to the food that you take in play a significant role in terms of how you will be able to handle the surgical procedure, as well as its aftermath. In line with this, exert the extra effort to reach your ideal weight weeks before your surgery. Lose or put on some weight if necessary. Maximize nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin D, iron, and fiber in your diet to boost your immunity and guard yourself against potential infection following the surgical procedure.

Exercise

Engaging in the physical activities that you can do before your spine surgery can strengthen your muscles, particularly those that support your spine. It can also push oxygenated blood to your spine, keeping it healthy. In this case, your body will be able to respond better to the trauma of the surgery. Just keep in mind that you need to consult with your surgeon regarding the exercises that you can perform to improve your physical condition rather than otherwise.

Psychological Preparations

Aside from preparing physically, you also need to prepare mentally before your surgery. True enough, getting on the operating table may prove to be nerve-wracking, but you need to combat your fears if you want to feel better. When you are mentally prepared, you will experience less anxiety and stress before, during, and after your operation. This will also pave the way for you to recover faster.

To wrap things up, there are several things that you can do to ensure that you will have successful spine surgery. One is by preparing for it by following pre-surgical instructions, diet, and exercise, as well as bracing yourself mentally. Rest assured that your surgeon will also do everything in their power to ensure that your medical condition is addressed and your normal body functions are restored after the procedure.

Women are undeniably the cornerstones of society. Their influence can be seen everywhere, including previously male-dominated fields. Unfortunately, many of them still get exposed to continuous discrimination and inequality. Consequently, their mental and physical health sees a decline, primarily because of the governments’ neglect of their care. Thankfully, people are starting to stand up for women’s rights and bodily autonomy. Society has finally come to realize that denying women access to healthcare can ruin society. We should work towards improving women’s health for multiple reasons.

1. Reducing Risk of STDs

Women are at a huge risk of getting serious illnesses because of unprotected sexual activities. Many lack the right education that can protect them from infection.HIV and Hepatitis C are two of the most common transmissible diseases through blood and other body fluids. Some forms of protection can lower the risk of infection; however, the most efficient way of being safe is for women to only have intercourse with people who have recently been tested. Moreover, domestic violence cases should be taken more seriously, while trafficking is another threat that many women face. While prevention is better than cure, it is hard to keep up with the spread of highly infectious diseases or to put an end to all trafficking crimes. This is why we should work on normalizing getting treated for STDs to ensure that the patients and people that come in contact with them are safe, while also paying attention to the ways we can educate women and girls on how to recognize potentially dangerous situations that endanger their lives, such as underage sex work and trafficking.

2. Economic Growth

Women are a valuable asset to any country, and as such women’s health is directly proportional to economic growth. Now more than ever, they are dominating different work fields and are proving to be even greater than their male counterparts in some jobs. If women’s health deteriorates, this will result in a decreased number of working women, which in turn affects the economy. Countries that provide equal medical care have a better standard of living.

3. Confidence Boosts Productivity

Aside from medical care, plastic surgery, and aesthetic procedures, in general, have been on the rise. Interestingly, this is also accompanied by a significant boost in productivity. Studies suggest that because aesthetic procedures boost a woman’s confidence, this in turn affects the average woman’s productivity levels. That’s why doctors at MyVivaa.com stress on the importance of normalizing cosmetic procedures such as body sculpting and varicose veins removal.

4. Decreases Numbers of Orphans

The lack of medical attention for women has resulted in an abnormal increase in death rates, especially among pregnant women who die of post-mortem fever. That happens due to the inhumane environment that those ladies give birth in, and the absence of postoperative care. When a mother dies, it impacts the lives of her orphaned children. Without a mother’s nurturing care, children may not have a chance of becoming the best version of themselves. As a result, many children end up in foster homes, and not all of them are lucky enough to find a loving family to care for them. Working towards bettering women’s health care can save women as well as children’s lives.

5. Application of Demographic Dividend

Modern science stresses on birth control. It states that by planning pregnancies, the economy will flourish. This phenomenon is called the demographic dividend. Unfortunately, in some regions, there is not enough health awareness about contraceptives. Women either consume inadequate doses or avoid taking the medication altogether. If birth gets organized in addition to providing citizens with labor opportunities, the country will witness increased productivity and fewer unemployment cases.

6. Raising Better Youth

Let’s be honest, a mother’s influence on her children is too huge to be neglected. That’s why a woman’s mental health is of utmost necessity. Unfortunately, females are more susceptible to depression, anxiety, and other disorders. The instability of hormones due to difficult pregnancies and their compromised position in society can make them more prone to developing serious mental health issues. Thankfully, mental illnesses are now getting more acknowledged. This will pave the way for

7. The World Becomes Connected

Nowadays, the world is witnessing a women’s revolution. They are fighting to take back their rights and reach equality. The countries that are concerned with this issue are connecting more with each other. They have a common cause uniting them in the face of the patriarchy and the ancient customs and traditions. Developing countries are trying to improve women’s health to cope with the world as well. Treating women as the lesser gender will lead to nothing but failure. There are countless benefits of providing high-quality healthcare to women, not least of which is paving the way for a better future for society as a whole. Thankfully, society has been paying more medical attention to women and educating them on everything from safe sex to looking after their mental wellbeing, and this is precisely why today’s women have successfully held their own in previously male-dominated fields.

Health2Sync, a digital health startup based in Taiwan, specializing in diabetes management, has entered into a partnership with Sanofi, a biopharmaceutical company focused on providing different healthcare solutions including diabetes.

Through this partnership, Health2Sync becomes one of the Sanofi Diabetes Digital Healthcare Ecosystem partners, the two companies aim to apply the digital solution provided by Health2Sync in 300 clinics and hospitals nationwide certified by Taiwan Diabetes Shared Care Network over the next 3 years to improve diabetes care and management locally, as well as to accelerate digital adoption and transformation for clinics and hospitals.

As part of the partnership, Health2Sync will provide patient management software for healthcare professionals and a mobile app for patients in 300 Sanofi-contracted clinics and hospitals, to realize an integrated and digitized diabetes management. The ultimate goal is to improve patients’ understanding of insulin, increase glucose control and raise the insulinization rate in Taiwan. Health2Sync’s analytics platform will assist doctors in real-time with decision making, treatment planning, and generating insights based on the health data collected with patient consent. The solution will help identify patients suited for insulin initiation and facilitate insulin titration for healthcare providers.

“Health2Sync’s solution brings a new definition to the chronic disease care loop, thanks to seamless data collection, real-time analytics, and ultimately, timely medical intervention. With our focus on digital therapeutics, there couldn’t have been a better market than Taiwan as a start, thanks to the local initiatives and robust medical practice. Our commitment to both empower patients and lessen the burden of the cost of complications arising from diabetes will be further exemplified in this partnership,” said Ed Deng, Co-founder & CEO of Health2Sync.

Moving forward, Sanofi and Health2Sync plan to further collaborate in bringing innovative digital therapeutics solutions to patients and healthcare professionals in Taiwan and other markets.

Baxter International Inc., a global leader in acute care, announced a distribution agreement with bioMérieux, a global leader in in vitro diagnostics, for the NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 diagnostic test. The NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 test is currently in development for use in assessing the risk of developing persistent severe acute kidney injury (AKI). The agreement is part of a previously announced collaboration between Baxter and bioMérieux to improve identification and treatment of AKI. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As part of the agreement, Baxter will be bioMérieux’s exclusive distributor of the NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 test in Europe and the U.S. following regulatory approval and launch in both markets. Baxter and bioMérieux will share in-country commercialization, while bioMérieux will retain control over the regulatory approval process. Incorporating new diagnostic products into Baxter’s Acute Therapies portfolio advances the company’s efforts to support overall patient management by providing solutions that enable efficiencies in critical care.

“Baxter’s agreement with bioMérieux will allow us to introduce a new diagnostic offering to our Acute Therapies portfolio and offer clinicians a meaningful tool as they manage the complexities of AKI in their patients,” said Reaz Rasul, general manager of Baxter’s Acute Therapies business.

AKI is a potentially life-threatening condition where the kidneys suddenly stop working, often as the result of illness, trauma or infection. The sudden loss of kidney function leads to the accumulation of toxins and fluid in the blood that, if left untreated, may lead to death. AKI is an increasingly common complication of acute illnesses in intensive care units and hospitals.1,2,3 The ability to predict persistent severe AKI could help physicians determine which patients are likely to recover on their own and which patients may require more intensive management, including evaluation of renal replacement therapy (“dialysis”) to replace the function of the kidneys.4 Currently, physicians are evaluating the likelihood of renal recovery and making decisions on when to initiate renal replacement therapy with conventional markers such as creatinine and urine output, which have well-known limitations.

“bioMérieux continues to focus on high-medical-value diagnostics which directly benefit patients and improve their healthcare. The development of the NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 test is consistent with our mission to aid in the care of individuals with acute medical and critical conditions like AKI and complements our existing pioneering assays for these types of patients such as procalcitonin (PCT) and NEPHROCHECK®,” said Mark Miller, executive vice president and chief medical officer at bioMérieux.

Role of CCL14 Biomarker in Predicting Persistent AKI

A recent study published in Intensive Care Medicine found that urinary CCL14 (C–C motif chemokine ligand 14), the novel biomarker measured by the NEPHROCLEARTM CCL14 test, is the most predictive of persistent stage 3 AKI, the most severe form of AKI,5 when compared with other AKI biomarkers (NGAL, CHI3L1, L-FABP, Cystatin C, Proenkephalin, KIM-1 and IL-18).6 The multi-center international prospective observational study, titled “Identification and validation of biomarkers of persistent acute kidney injury: the RUBY study,” enrolled 364 patients in the intensive care unit with moderate or severe AKI (KDIGO stage 2 or 3), of whom 331 were available for the primary analysis. In the analysis cohort, 110 patients (33%) met the criteria for persistent stage 3 AKI.

The study considered a broad set of potential biomarkers that were measured in urine and/or plasma by technicians blinded to clinical data. The study authors used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), which summarizes the overall accuracy of a diagnostic test, to assess the predictive ability of the biomarkers. They found that the CCL14 biomarker had an AUC (95% CI) of 0.83 (0.78–0.87),6 which can be considered excellent7 and was significantly (p<0.05) greater than values for the other biomarkers tested.6