1. What is GeneXpert/ CBNAAT?
  2. Project Axshya/ Mr.Sputum
  3. Bariatric surgery
  4. Neurostimulator
  5. MALDI
  6. Dermoscope
  7. Cataract
  8. Femtosecond Cataract Surgery
  9. Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion
  10. Mock questions

What is GeneXpert/ CBNAAT?

  • Problem with MDR-TB= it takes almost 8 weeks, for doctor to diagnose this disease.
  • You already know about multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) , if not click ME
  • Basically the MDR-TB bacteria donot die with the conventional TB-drug.
  • GeneXpert/ CBNAAT is the latest device that can diagnose this MDR-TB in just two hours.
GeneXpert

GeneXpert TB-Detection Device

Advantages of GeneXpert

  • Fastest detection of TB.
  • can be installed at any place and can be used by paramedical staff.
  • A health worker just needs to collect sputum of the suspected TB patient and mix it with a chemical and put it under the Device and get the result.
  • World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved this device and its testing accuracy.
  • Government  has decided to install these GeneXpert devices under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)
  • This device costs Rs.10 lakh, but Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), an international NGO has donated funds to India to install it in various cities.

Project Axshya/ Mr.Sputum

  • Xshya= Sanskrit word for TB. Axshya=TB free.
  • Project Axshya is a civil society initiative to make India TB-free.
  • Bulgum Bhai (Mr.Sputum) is their mascot. He appears on TV, Radio ads, street plays, to spread the message, “If you have been coughing for more than two weeks, better get your sputum tested”
  • India has the highest TB burden in the world, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the global incidence.
  • Union World Conference on Lung Health was held in Kuala Lumpur. This Mr.Sputum project was featured there.

Now, Following terms/current affairs topics based on Cleveland Top 10 Clinical awards.

Bariatric surgery

  • Bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery)= of procedures performed on people who are obese.
  • Basically it involves surgically reducing the size of the stomach or removal of a portion of the stomach.
  • also helps lowering blood pressure and cholesterol of the patient.
  • Experts believe it can greatly help with Type 2 diabetes.

Neurostimulator

Neurostimulator

  • New therapy for Migraine (type of Headache).
  • Migraine is a chronic disease (long-term disease, unlike Common fever.)
  • Neurostimulator is a device size of an almond. see above image.
  • It is placed in the upper gum of patients mouth, through a small surgical incision.
  • When a patient feels a headache or Migraine coming, the device delivers stimulation to block the headache pain.

MALDI

  • It is a new Mass-Spectroscopy technique to detect Bacterial infection in blood, sputum, tissue etc.
  • MALDI=Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization.
  • MALDI can accurately identify bacteria in minutes, which allows doctors to more quickly and appropriately treat infections.

Dermoscope

Dermoscope

  • Melanoma=Skin cancer.
  • To Detect Melanoma, earlier dermatologists had to put incision (cut) on the skin, take sample, and observe It under microscope.
  • Dermoscope is a new handheld device for skin-cancer (Melanoma) detection.
  • The device uses imaging technology that, in less than one minute, visualizes the micro-vessel structure of just below the skin’s surface. So Cancer can be detected without incision.

Cataract

Cataract

Lens clouded by Cataract

  • eye disease in which natural lens of eye gets clouded.(observe above image)
  • Cataract is painless.  But It causes blindness by obstructing passage of light, although the patient can distinguish light from darkness.
  • Cataract is a common disease for people over 50 years of age. However, it can happen at young age also, if a person is suffering from Diabetes.
  • Cataract can be successfully cured using surgery.
  • The present Cataract surgery involves using surgical blade or laser, to cut the the clouded parts of lens (or removing the lens and planting a new artificial lens)

Femtosecond Cataract Surgery

  • Femtosecond=one quadrillionth of a second.
  • This is the latest surgical for Cataract, using a computer Laser system, now the the surgeon can soften and break up the cataract within Femtoseconds.
  • This surgery is more precise and causes less inflammation after surgery.

Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion

  • Lung transplant surgery is required in patients with diseases such as Chronic pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis etc. (usually associated with heavy smokers.)
  • Problem: 80 percent of donated lungs, can’t be used, either because they’re too full of fluid, infected with bacteria, or otherwise damaged.
  • Ex-Vivo lung perfusion =A new way of treating these lungs and make them donor friendly.
  • In this technique, a special chemical solution is injected into dead-person’s lungs and then he is kept on a ventilator for 4-6 hours. This can reverse lung injury and dry out excess fluid. Then lungs can be removed and transplanted to the patient.

Mock questions

Q1 Consider these statements:

  1. Cataract is an extremely painful inflammation of eye.
  2. A diabetes patient is more likely to develop Cataract at young age.
  3. Bariatric Surgery is required for Melanoma.
  4. Dermoscope is a new device to treat dandruff, hairfall and baldness.

Which of above statements are correct?

  1. Only 1 and 4
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 2
  4. Only 1, 2 and 4.

Q2. Consider these statements

  1. Mass Spectroscopy can detect viral infection but not bacterial or fungal infection.
  2. Migraine is an acute disease.
  3. Gene Expert is the latest AIDS detection test, 2 times faster than ELSA test.

Which of above statements are correct?

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3.
  4. None

Descriptive/ Mains GS

  1. Project Akshaya (2m)
  2. Enumerate the benefits of GeneXpert test. (5 marks)
  3. Government initiatives against the menace of Cataract and TB. (10 marks)