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Expert sees hope on the horizon for multiple sclerosis cure
- Modern medicine stands somewhere half way in its race for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, and the next couple of years could see a larger choice of drugs and advances in personalised medicine
- Neurology which had gone past the stage of “ABCR” drugs (Avonex, Betaseron and Copaxone and Rebif), had now entered an era of personalised medicine where an array of about ten drugs could be optimised to completely block multiple sclerosis disease (MS) activity.
- There was also promising work with stem cells and molecules on remyelination or regenerating lost tissue.
- Also, while it is now recognised that there is a genetic basis for MS susceptibility, neurologists were still on a learning curve on the impact of genetics on diagnosis and treatment and in fully understanding variability.
- While the lack of diagnostic test and the non-specific nature of early-stage symptoms made MS a conundrum, neurologists were on much firmer ground when it came to identifying environmental triggers for MS such as low vitamin D levels, a history of Epstein-Barr virus ( EBV ) infection and smoking while the important unknowns included lifestyle, diet and stress
- Pointing out that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the U.S. was 100 per lakh of population, Dr. Rudick said prevalence of the disease in India remained unclear and possibly underestimated but would only go up as neurology grows and awareness about the condition improved.
Valentine's Day brings smiles to rose growers in northeast
- Soaring prices of roses resulting from shortfall in production across the country due to extreme cold have brought smiles to rose cultivators in the northeast, particularly those from Mizoram, as traders vie with one another to cater to the huge demand for Valentine's Day celebration in the region.
- About one lakh Dutch roses are expected to be sold in the northeast. About 50,000 roses are likely to be sold on Valentine's Day alone. Demand for about 40,000 flowers is expected to be met by production in the region while the rest would be flown in from Bangalore and Pune
- Apart from rose cultivators in Mizoram, strawberry growers in Meghalaya are also going to get a good return this time.
- Rose production in Nagaland and Meghalaya was hit because of extreme cold weather this winter. In Mizoram the weather was a little warmer due to which the production was on the expected lines.
- Rose is primarily grown in Mizoram, Nagaland and some areas of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
