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Myopia or near-sightedness is a condition in which near objects appear clear but objects farther away look blurry. It is the commonest refractive error typically affecting the younger population across the globe. With its rising numbers, it is estimated to affect half of the global population by 2050. Genetic and many environmental factors are responsible for developing Myopia. Myopia starts to develop during childhood and adolescent age. The older children may be able to tell the difficulties they are experiencing with their vision. Younger children might not express difficulty seeing but a change in their behaviour or other signs can direct us towards their vision difficulty. Dr Jitendra Jeth- MS, DO, DNB, FNB, PHD scholar Director, Baroda children eye care and Squint clinic, Baroda quoted "Progressive myopia occurs in school going children and the two major causes for progression are near work and indoor sitting.If parents have glasses, the children should be checked at a younger age for glasses. With newer drugs and interventions the progression can be slowed down" The most common sign you can see is, the child goes very close to the screen of the television or laptop. Similar behaviour is observed in school as well, the child goes very close to the board or screen or prefers to sit in the front row of the classroom to see things, clearly. Some children may complain of blurred vision or intermittent headaches. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is the most populous country in the world with a greater number of young people. In this era of digitalization, the screen time of an individual has increased to a great extent. And kids are not exception. The use of smart phones, computers, laptops or TV screens have become a part of their daily routine. In past few years the kids are more home bound, involved in near work and their hours of outside playing has reduced significantly. Dr Lav Kochgaway - Senior Consultant and Executive Director <keyword id="18124710" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="netralayam" source="Orion">Netralayam</keyword>, Kolkata quoted "As we are heading towards a situation in which almost 50 percent of urban children may have minus power - mandatory eye check up at three years and annually thereafter becomes even more important. Awareness about reduced use of digital devices and more outdoor games in children will help". The pandemic of COVID has added to this increased exposure of screen as more time was spent on smart phones for online schooling. Excessive exposure to smartphone screen has posed a severe surge in cases of Myopia across the globe. This environmental risk factor is found to be associated with both development and Progression of Myopia as many studies have determined. The GenNext's inseparable connectivity to the devices is risking their vision multifold. Let's understand how these <keyword id="6354775" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="smartphones" source="Orion">smartphones</keyword> or screens are affecting the vision? It is the 'blue light emitted by these devices to be blamed. Dr Siddarth Kesarwani - Senior Consultant Pediatric Ophthalmologist, JNR Children Eye Care &amp; Squint Clinic, Mumbai quoted "An entire generation of children is at a high risk for getting progressive myopia due to excessive syllabus, early schooling, increased screen time and less time spent playing outdoors. Myopia is a lifestyle disease. Newer interventions like dilute atropine and novel spectacle designs can help slow the progression of myopia". Sunlight has a spectrum of light which contains red, orange, yellow, blue and green lights. But the light emitted by these devices is generally blue one which has high energy and short wavelength. Though blue light is naturally present in the environment, it is something in higher amounts from the screens of smartphones and is harming the vision. It was observed in a study that children's eyes absorb more blue light than the adult's eyes emitted by these devices. A study says, Myopic children use twice as much smartphone data each day as their non-myopic peers. This added blue light exposure from these devices lead to eye strain and more seriously a condition called macular degeneration. It was estimated in an article published in 2020 that, Myopia prevalence globally could reach 52% in the next 3 decades, which is alarming. Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya - FRCS, Network Director <keyword id="18124711" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="l-v" source="Orion">L V</keyword> <keyword id="178632" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="prasad-eye-institute" source="Orion">Prasad Eye Institute</keyword>, Hyderabad quoted "Overviewing / over usage of screens of smartphones and tablets could be a risk factor for the onset of myopia and its progression. Additionally, it can cause issues related to sleeping, eating, and other behavioural issues in children. So I urge parents to use all these gadgets wisely and keep the children away from using them unnecessarily and encourage /engage them in various outdoor activities and games". There has been found a steady growth in cases of Myopia or short-sightedness over last few decades. In Indian many studies had been conducted to assess the Myopia situation in rural and urban set ups. The prevalence of Myopia in kids in urban area was 8.5% while in rural area it was 6.1%, a study published in 2020 says. But the more concern has risen up with the figures of the recent study conducted by AIIMS which says over 13% of the school going children in India have turned myopic, and the number has doubled in the last decade due to excess usage of electronic gadgets. Early detection and timely intervention are effective in controlling development and progression of Myopia. Children's screen time should be restricted and they should be encouraged to play outdoors than playing with smartphones. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/netweb-technologies-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/102068898.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/netweb-technologies-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/102068898.cms" target="_blank">Netweb Technologies IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/the-ola-s1-air-is-the-affordable-offering-from-the-company-and-will-soon-go-on-sale-in-india/slidelist/102074223.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/the-ola-s1-air-is-the-affordable-offering-from-the-company-and-will-soon-go-on-sale-in-india/slidelist/102074223.cms" target="_blank">Ola S1 Air to hit Indian roads soon – price, features and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-5-z-flip-5-galaxy-watch-series-6-and-more-set-to-launch-july-end/articleshow/101538049.cms">Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch Series 6 and more set to launch July-end</a>

Smartphones are making Indian kids myopic, numbers double in a decade

In this era of digitalization, there’s a thin line between dependence and addiction to digital devices. And digital addiction is real and growing fast. Developing a compulsive need to use your digital devices, even if it interferes with your life and stops you from doing things is the hallmark of addiction. Digital addiction can be broadly grouped as phone addiction, <keyword id="21708" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-Addiction">Internet addiction</keyword> and social media addiction. Smartphone dependence and addiction is probably the most common and widespread form of digital addiction. It is not uncommon to see just about every child who can hold a phone in their hands glued to their mobile screen. Studies have shown that children as young as three years old are being given their own tablet device and even 10-year-olds their own smartphones. Social media addiction is quite easy to define. If you spend far too much time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to document every aspect of your life on any or all of the platforms, you could be a social media addict. Internet addiction is where some may find it difficult to differentiate between the virtual world and reality. Sufferers tend to spend excessive amounts of time online, causing a higher risk of overspending by getting involved in online gambling and gaming. The hazard The explosion of technology in recent years has impacted both adults and children alike. However, it may be more hazardous for children since they are exposed to these devices at a tender age. Once they figure out that there is an entire world accessible to them through that little device, it becomes their most treasured possession. All forms of digital addiction eventually lead to excessive screen time. Digital addiction not only affects our behaviour and functioning, but it also affects us structurally. Parts of the brain begin to shrink (atrophy) because children are not receiving the human interactions that develop those areas. Most of the damage occurs in the brain’s frontal lobe that controls important functions such as planning, organising, decision-making and prioritising. Excessive screen time leads to eye related problems like eye strain, dry eyes, computer vision syndrome as well. It could lead to rapid progression of refractive errors especially myopia in children. Even in the older age group, chances of retinal and macular degeneration due to the blue light emission is seen more in people who are constantly on their devices. To make things worse, most enterprises, schools and even homes now have WI-FI. As technology continues to tighten its grip on our lives, we are losing human connection - our voices, touch, and facial expressions and we are actually drifting away. These devices lead us into a vicious cycle -- It may not be long from now that digital addiction will be medically recognised as a disease, just like the ‘gaming disorder’- the inability to stop gaming, which is now included in the international classification of diseases (ICD) by the WHO. Possible solution The solution to this problem can be a challenge. These devices have proved their worth and importance in our day to day lives. But wireless technology – like any other technology – must be used judiciously and with caution. We need to make a conscious effort to reduce our addiction to our ‘smart’ devices. This is applicable to both adults and children. Children should be encouraged to play real outdoor games rather than playing simulated ones on phones and tablets. Reading e-books, articles and newspapers from these devices is another commonly encountered phenomenon which can be reduced by simple measures. Online learning apps too could be addictive and have detrimental effects in the ways mentioned above. Moreover, even schools are promoting and encouraging the use of tablets and IPADs as a medium of education. Children should be encouraged to read from books. The time spent on computers and TVs too should be monitored and regulated. The WI- FI routers can be turned off for at least a few hours in the day and at night. Families should make an effort to sit together without our ‘smart’ companions and indulge in real communication. Routine but effective restrains like no cell phones, tablets on dining tables, no use of gadgets in dark before sleeping etc. should be practiced. We need to devote time to ourselves, nourish our brains and engage in exercise as an antidote to digital addiction. Reconnecting with nature, taking time to look at our surroundings, meeting real people, playing real games—instead of burying our heads in our gadgets—is a step in the right direction. Let these devices ease your life but do not let them become your life. We need to understand that we are smarter than our smart phones and watches. And we can survive even without them. (Dr Uppal Gandhi is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad)

An eye doctor breaks down how digital addiction can hurt you

<ul><li><keyword id="11453762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="numi-paris">NUMI Paris</keyword>, the French luxury eyewear brand, newly launched in India today announced actor <keyword id="928985" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Athiya-Shetty">Athiya Shetty</keyword> and cricketer <keyword id="6355454" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="kl-rahul">KL Rahul</keyword> as its brand ambassadors.</li><li>Shetty and Rahul have been roped in by NUMI Paris to promote their stylishly handcrafted eyewear collection.</li><li>Further, NUMI Paris has pledged to support the L V Prasad Eye Institute with every purchase of a pair of NUMI’s.</li></ul> NUMI Paris, the French luxury eyewear brand, newly launched in India today announced actor Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul as their brand ambassadors. Shetty and Rahul have been roped in by NUMI Paris to promote their stylishly handcrafted eyewear collection. Further, NUMI Paris has pledged to support the L V Prasad Eye Institute with every purchase of a pair of NUMI’s. Commenting on the association Athiya Shetty said, “ I am delighted to collaborate with a brand like NUMI Paris. Their ethos celebrates precision and class, something that has been an inherent part of my outlook, be it in films or outside of it. I can’t wait to see the magic we create together.” KL Rahul added, “I am super excited to be welcomed into the NUMI Paris family. NUMI has all the attributes that I always look forward to when I indulge in a brand. And I am happy to share that NUMI is the perfect extension of my personality.” <keyword id="11453763" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="jean-phillipe-chilet">Jean-Phillipe Chilet</keyword>, the Directeur du Development Commerciale for NUMI Paris adds his thoughts, “NUMI Paris is extremely lucky to have youth icons like Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul on board. They both are talented artists in their own right and people look up to them because of their style and their sense of relatability. We are looking forward to a long journey with them. The campaign featuring Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul is set to launch today will feature across various digital &amp; social media platforms and on their dedicated website. In addition, Numi has partnered with Hotstar for the broadcast of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final to be played between India and New Zealand, and as part of this association, the campaign shall be aired across the medium through the duration of the big-ticket event.

French luxury eyewear brand NUMI Paris ropes in Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul as its brand ambassadors

<ul><li><keyword id="919" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Prime-Minister">Indian Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> endorsed a camera developed by students of the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras (IIT-M). </li><li>The camera can detect when people are not paying attention. </li><li>Modi wants to employ these cameras in Parliament to catch napping MPs. </li></ul>It’s not uncommon to see members of parliament (MPs) zone out during parliamentary sessions — some even take short naps. A new camera developed by students at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) could be a solution to this problem, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I especially like the solution for the camera to detect who is paying attention. Now what will happen you know, I will talk to my Speaker in Parliament and I am sure it will be very useful to Parliament," Modi said during the prize distribution ceremony at the Singapore-India Hackathon Event. The famous dozing MPs Napping in parliament has become a fairly common occurrence with at least one politician grabbing the limelight every season. HD Deve Gowda became infamous in his short stint as Prime Minister for regularly dozing off during Parliamentary sessions. But he was not the only one. Since then, everyone from the former President Pranab Mukherjee to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have been caught on camera sleeping in the background as other MPs go about their unending speeches. Smriti Irani, India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Santosh Gangwar are among the many others have also been spotted catching a quick nap in the Lok Sabha. Back in 2011, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s catnaps became common enough for the Lok Sabha speaker to issue an order to wake him up, as he snoozed off in the very first row. Others may not necessarily nod off, but they are seen zoned out of the conversation as they rub eyes, and fight off fatigue. Not just India India isn’t the only country fighting against his phenomenon. Many MPs in the British House of Commons has been seen dozing off too. So much so that more than one petition has been endorsed by the public to bring in consequences for MPs found to be asleep — like cutting off their salaries, which are funded by taxpayer money. The <a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/255879">UK Parliament</a> always rejected these petitions saying that MPs are not employed by the Parliament, and do not fall under the responsibility of the UK government.

Indian PM endorses IIT camera to catch inattentive MPs in Parliament

List of 165 politicians, journalists, military officials and other prominent personalities that China Revival was tracking

<ul><li><keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> President <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-shah">Amit Shah</keyword> is admitted in <keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword> for <keyword id="43489" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swine-flu">swine flu</keyword> treatment. </li><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> has flown to the US for medical reasons. </li><li>Few months before election, BJP’s top leaders are missing in action. </li></ul>India is just a few days away from the interim budget, and Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> has already started campaigning for the general <keyword id="6355644" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="elections">elections</keyword> due in May, but both his Finance Minister and the party president are out of action due to bad health. The Bharatiya Janata Party President <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/amit-shah-hospitalized-bjp-president-admitted-to-aiims-after-contracting-swine-flu-leaders-wish-speedy-recovery/1446170/">Amit Shah</a> has been admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as he is down with swine flu. Shah took to Twitter to post about his health and wrote, “I have been affected by swine flu disease and the treatment for the same is going on. With the blessings of God and love and good wishes of all of you, I shall be healthy soon.” Meanwhile, Finance Minister <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/arun-jaitley-travels-to-us-for-medical-check-up/articleshow/67536475.cms">Arun Jaitley</a> has flown to the US for medical treatment. All eyes were on Jaitley as he was supposed to present the <keyword id="7190005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="interim-budget-2019">Interim Budget 2019</keyword> on February 1 and now reports say that he might even miss the presentation of the budget. Jaitley, who has been <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/1085776969738919936">tweeting</a> rigorously even while undergoing treatment, is suffering from a rare form of <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/arun-jaitley-diagnosed-with-soft-tissue-sarcoma-rare-a-type-of-cancer-symptoms-causes-treatment/348940">cancer</a> according to reports. Jaitley has been suffering from health issues for a while now. In 2018, Jaitley had taken off from his duties as Finance Minister when he underwent dialysis followed by a renal transplant in May. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal had taken additional charge of the finance ministry then. Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi too sent his best wishes for the Finance Minister. He tweeted, “I'm upset to hear Arun Jaitley Ji is not well. We fight him on a daily basis for his ideas. However, I and the Congress party send him our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery. We are with you and your family 100% during this difficult period Mr Jaitley.” Another senior BJP leader <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/india/senior-bjp-leader-ram-lal-admitted-to-noidas-kailash-hospital-2171489.html">Ram Lal</a>, the National General Secretary, has been admitted to Kailash Hospital in Noida due to high fever. IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too was admitted in the ICU at AIIMS complaining of nasal congestion. He was discharged on Thursday afternoon. With a wobbly economy, and the disappointment in recent state elections, the ruling BJP government has an uphill task before the country goes to vote in less than five months. Any flux in the top leadership will be a setback for the party. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/poll-bound-narendra-modi-returns-to-core-voter-base-seeks-10-quota-for-upper-castes-but-will-it-fly/articleshow/67420469.cms">Poll-bound Narendra Modi returns to core voter base, seeks 10% quota for upper castes — but will it fly?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-modi-government-is-looking-to-boost-rural-consumption-with-record-outlay-for-employment-scheme/articleshow/67555665.cms">The Modi government is looking to boost rural consumption with record outlay for employment scheme</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/interest-free-loans-and-income-support-the-upcoming-budget-may-be-a-song-for-indias-farmers/articleshow/67538156.cms">Interest-free loans and income support— the upcoming Budget may be a song for India’s farmers</a>

Two out of the top three leaders in BJP are out of action

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">MicrosoftMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella looks at bionic arms in Florida</div></div></div>If you want to get a sense of how Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks he's doing at his job, now nearly two years in, he gave the world a hint on Thursday. That's when <a href="http://news.microsoft.com/empowerment/">he published</a> his "favorite stories of 2015 - people &amp; organizations harnessing tech to empower others &amp; make a difference," as he described <a href="https://twitter.com/satyanadella/status/682573430210867200">it in a tweet. </a>Under Nadella, <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/enable/microsoft/mission.aspx">Microsoft's mission</a> is "to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential."So to make a case for how the company is doing with this broad and hard-to-measure objective, he shared these 10 stories from his travels in the year.1. Cancer research in the cloud.Cancer researchers <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2Bg0op-Kc">at Virginia Tech are using</a> Microsoft's cloud Azure to conduct their research faster. "The result? Faster, more targeted solutions to conquer one of the major healthcare challenges of our time," Nadella writes.2. Bionic arms for kids. Albert Manero founded Limbitless Solutions, based at the University of Central Florida, to build affordable "bionic" 3D-printed arms for children. He's publishing his designs for free, too, and sharing information via Microsoft's online <a href="https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=6AE21945BF49227A!332&amp;ithint=onenote%2c&amp;app=OneNote&amp;authkey=!AA4WgUPZVClMjec">note taking app, OneNote.</a>3. Preserving ancient customs and language in Columbia.For the past few years, the the Colombian government has been working with the <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/b/msr_er/archive/2013/06/28/technology-helps-preserve-biodiversity-and-traditional-cultures.aspx">Arhuacos</a> people to store cultural information in a cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics CRM system.Nadella met with "leaders of the Arhuacos, an indigenous community living deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains. They're an incredible example of how technology can protect sacred cultures while still providing a window for understanding with the rest of the world," he writes. 4. Using libraries in Chile to teach computer science to kids. 17-year-old Belén Guede runs a program that offers free coding and robotics training at local libraries and she won a global contest from Microsoft called YouthSpark's Challenge for Change, which <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/en-us/youthspark/youthsparkhub/programs/challengeforchange/">awarded winners with tech</a> like a Surface PC, a Windows Phone, free Office 365, and a cash prize. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">MicrosoftSatya Nadella and Chile Youthspark winner Belen Guede</div></div></div>"One of the things I appreciate most about YouthSpark Challenge for Change winner Belén Guede is that her passion for computer science and robotics is second only to her desire to foster the potential and creativity of Chilean youth," he explains.5. Inspiring charitable giving in the UK.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCC44qnwLF0">JustGiving is using Microsoft's cloud</a> and cloud analytics to help people find causes they want to support."JustGiving is able to deliver a unique giving experience for donors, while connecting organizations with people who feel passionate about the cause they're supporting," Nadella praises.6. Bringing <a href="http://qz.com/473062/by-satya-nadella-kenyas-inspiring-technological-transformation/">solar-powered WiFi to </a><a href="http://qz.com/473062/by-satya-nadella-kenyas-inspiring-technological-transformation/">Kenya</a>.Microsoft has been one of <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/spectrum/">the developers and champions</a> of White Spaces, a method that uses television broadcasting spectrum to access the internet at very fast speeds."A local startup, Mawingu ('cloud' in Swahili), uses solar cells to power Wi-Fi hot spots linked with existing '<a href="https://www.whitespacealliance.org/">TV white spaces.</a>' Now, rural areas of Kenya that didn't have Internet access are online, empowering everyone from farmers to healthcare workers to students to entrepreneurs," he writes.7. Eye care for the poor in India."Globally, there are 285 million people with visual impairment, 54 million in India alone. We engaged with some of the country's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3_t9T50EA">leading eye care specialists at L V Prasad Eye Institute </a>to understand how advanced analytics and machine learning can help unlock insights from clinical data. Now, doctors can use our cloud-based analytics to further enhance the quality of eye care for the poor," Nadella explains.8. Teaching English in Thailand.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">MicrosoftKhadiyah Amanakun's technology classroom</div></div></div>"I am so impressed by <a href="http://www.educatornetwork.com/Resources/Tutorials/Details/73db4057-4616-4d01-be0d-83563a1a8ceb">Khadiyah Amanakun, an English teacher in Betong, Yala</a> who designed an English-language program that seeks to create a positive and technologically centered learning experience for every student," he writes.9. Improving China's pig farming."<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJoFBfYkah4">Dr. Pig is an app, powered by Azure Machine Learning</a>, that helps small-scale pig farmers in China predict market conditions in advance to maximize profits and efficiencies and minimize risk," he writes.10. Using Minecraft to teach kids to code in Seattle.Earlier this year, Microsoft and Code.org created the Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial. Nadella says that more than 10 million students in more than 50 countries worldwide completed it."One of my favorite things about Minecraft is the platform it offers kids to imagine and create their own worlds. Recently I visited a fourth-grade class in Seattle and it was incredible to see the power of combining a game students love with learning to code in an exciting new way," Nadella writes. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/japan-hotel-run-by-robots-2015-12">A hotel in Japan is staffed by robots</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="FvbnF3eTrryMr-97QHHnQbkLpTyoXQ2g" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

The 10 best things that Satya Nadella experienced this year

The very word “stem cell” connotes an elixir cure. It has been part of science fiction tales, but today it is a reality. 
 As per a report by Forbes, surprisingly, India is considered to be in the forefront in <keyword id="6529759" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Stem-cell">stem cell</keyword> research and its use. Considerable work has been done not only by private organisations, but also by the Government of India. The government has, through the Department of Biotechnology, granted over Rs 300 crore over the previous five years to be used in basic and applied research in stem cell technology. 
 
In comparison to other countries, including the United States, where even today no Federal funding is available for new cell lines, India has more liberal rules and regulations governing stem cell research. 
 
Why all the hype on stem cell research? Stem cells are immature cells that can be induced to transform into tissue- or organ-specific cells. Scientists have been researching on both animal and human stem cells. 
 Stem cells are classified as per their source. They are <keyword id="401293" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Embryonic-stem-cells">Embryonic Stem Cells</keyword> (ES) from early human embryos, for example, fetal stem cells from aborted foetus; adult stem cells from tissues, skin and bone marrow; cord blood cells from umbilical cord and even adipose (fatty) tissue. 
 
The idea behind stem cell application is to grow new skin, tissue and organs. Of particular interest is the potential in treatment of irreversible and degenerative diseases such as heart problems, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson. 
 
Research on applications is on regeneration of damaged muscles due to heart attack, stroke or cornea damage. In India, where the incidence of blindness is high (over 12 million people), stem cell applications for regeneration of corneas is particularly important. Dental stem cell research hopes to be able to regenerate teeth and dentin. 
 
However, the brouhaha is on the research using human embryo stem cells. Social, ethical and cultural values and issues at times work against stem cell research. Fears of cloning and misuse had led to governments in almost all countries including India (in 2004) banning reproductive cloning, but permitting therapeutic cloning. 
 The Indian Council for Medical Research (<keyword id="6364396" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="ICMR">ICMR</keyword>) and Department of Biotechnology have laid down the new ICMR-DBT draft guidelines on stem cell research, updating the 2007 guidelines. They have also sought to regulate the compensation towards injury due to participation in clinical research through the CDSCO draft. It also emphasises on the production of stem cells as per the current GMP (good manufacturing practice) conditions. 
 
The Health Ministry, after the first 2007 guidelines on stem cell research, set up two regulatory bodies, NAC-SCRT (National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research) and IC-SCRT (Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research). 
 
Under the new guidelines, all research and clinical trials have to be registered with and obtain prior permission and approval of the NAC-SCRT. The new guidelines also specify that only stem cell research, basic and translational, is permitted but not therapy. It permits therapy usage in patients only through approved and fully-monitored clinical trials. Stem cells cannot be used as therapy. 
 
Under ICMR and DBT, the government has set up several stem cell research institutions all over the country and they have been doing valuable research. 
 
The National Centre for Cell Research, Pune, has worked on stem cell transdifferentiation into pancreatic islets. Research at AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, is on retinal degeneration and stroke, CLRI, Chennai, on tissue engineering and nano technologies. 
 
NIIH has been able to differentiate umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes or cardiac muscles. 
 
The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore, part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, also works closely with the government. 
 
The Government of India also set up CSCR in 2008 in collaboration with Christian Medical College, Vellore, with the intention of using stem cell science for understanding human diseases and development of stem cell-based therapies. Interestingly, it also runs a training programme for scientists and students of stem cell research. 
 
CSCR will also carry out clinical trials with stem cells produced under current good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. 
 
The private sector consisting of hospitals and private research foundations have not lagged behind. The pioneering work by Reliance Life Sciences in the development of hES cell lines has made it a major player. It has been given permission to use on a large scale stem cells sourced from the patient’s body for therapy. The LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, has developed corneal limbal stem cells. Sankara Nethralaya Stem Cell Research Center, Chennai, is working on retinal and corneal stem cell application and immunoregulatory properties of stem cells. 
 
Hospitals such as Dr KM Cherian’s research facility in Medville have used stem cells from bone marrow to help regenerate the heart. 
Rules permit the usage of one’s own banked stem cells and several storage facilities such as Life Cell, Reliance Life Sciences, Cryobanks International and Stemade for dental stem cell storage have come up.

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