My Powerbook screamed: "You've got Mail!". This was at an unearthly hour in the wee hours of morning.
My teenage daughter had sent me an Email marked "Highest priority". Here is a reproduction of that e-mail:
On 7/2/07, Akanksha Allahbadia <6175189555000972164@mail.orkut.com> wrote:
"IIT Bombay student Anupam Biswas 5th Year Mechanical Engg is suffering from Colukabki (caused due to excessive nabad and depression) a diseasevery rarely found (3 in a billion). His condition is very pathetic and the treatment is very expensive, obviously his parents are not able to afford his treatment. Orkut has agreed to pay 1 paisa after each time this message is forward. So please pass to all ur friends. please i request you to pass it to as many people as u can and lets try to save someone's life. I request please do not ignore this. It will take < 1 min from ur life to help saving someone's life."
I tore my hair out in frustration and searched for one of the nicest and funniest anti chain-letter emails i had received a few years ago. Heres how it goes:
A Mail from a frustrated victim of spams and forwards
• I wanted to thank all my friends and family who have forwarded chain letters to me in 2006 & 2007.
Because of your kindness:
• I stopped drinking Coca Cola after I found out that it's good for removing toilet stains.
• I stopped going to the movies for fear of sitting on a needle infected with AIDS.
• I smell like a wet dog since I stopped using deodorants because they cause cancer.
• I don't leave my car in the parking lot or any other place and sometimes I even have to walk about 7 blocks for fear that
someone will drug me with a perfume sample and try to rob me.
• I also stopped answering the phone for fear that they may ask me to dial a stupid number and the I get a phone bill
from hell with calls to Uganda, Singapore and Tokyo.
• I also stopped drinking anything out of a can for fear that I will get sick from the rat feces and urine.
• When I go to parties, I don't look at any girl no matter how hot she is, for fear that she will take me to a hotel, drug me
then take my kidneys and leave me taking a nap in a bathtub full of ice.
• I also donated all my savings to the Amy Bruce account. A sick girl that was about to die in the hospital about 7,000
times. (Funny that girl, she's been 7 since 1993...)
• I went bankrupt from bounced checks that I made expecting the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL were supposed to
send me when I participated in their special e-mail program would arrive soon.
• My free Nokia phone never arrived and neither did the free passes for a paid vacation to Disneyland.
• Still open to help some from Bulgaria who wants to use my account to transfer his uncle’s property of some hundred
millions $.
• made some Hundred wishes before forwarding those Ganesh Vandanas , Tirupathi Balaji Pics etc.. now most of those
'wishes' are already married:( to someone else)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you do not send this e-mail to at least 1246 people in the next 10 seconds, a bird will crap on your head today at 5:30pm.
I now look forward to my teenage son's "highest priority" e-chain-mail:)
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
The Ten E-commandments
1. Big companies don't do business via chain letters. Bill Gates is not giving you $1000, and Disney is not giving you a free vacation. There is no baby food company issuing class-action checks. You can relax; there is no need to pass it on "just in case it's true". Furthermore, just because someone said in their message, four generations back, that "we checked it out and it's legit", does not actually make it true.
2. There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a bathtub full of ice, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to their cousin. If you are hellbent on believing the kidney-theft ring stories, please see: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa062997.htm And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories. None have." That's "none" as in "zero". Not even your friend's cousin.
3. Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if they do, we all have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at: http://www.bl.net/forwards/cookie.html Then, if you make the recipe, decide the cookies are that awesome, feel free to pass the recipe on.
4. We all know all 500 ways to drive your roommates crazy, irritate co-workers and creep out people on an elevator. We also know exactly how many engineers, college students, Usenet posters and people from each and every world ethnicity it takes to change a lightbulb
5. Even if the latest NASA rocket disaster(s) DID contain plutonium that went to particulate over the eastern seaboard, do you REALLY think this information would reach the public via an AOL chain-letter?
6. There is no "Good Times" virus. In fact, you should never, ever, ever forward any email containing any virus warning unless you first confirm it at an actual site of an actual company that actually deals with virii. Try: http://www.symantec.com . And even then, don't forward it. We don't care.
7. If your CC: list is regularly longer than the actual content of your message, you're probably going to Hell.
8. If you're using Outlook, IE, or Netscape to write email, turn off the "HTML encoding." Those of us on Unix shells can't read it, and don't care enough to save the attachment and then view it with a web browser, since you're probably forwarding us a copy of the Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe anyway.
9. If you still absolutely MUST forward that 10th-generation message from a friend, at least have the decency to trim the eight miles of headers showing everyone else who's received it over the last 6 months. It sure wouldn't hurt to get rid of all the ">" that begin each line. Besides, if it has gone around that many times - I've probably already seen it.
10. Craig Shergold in England is not dying of cancer or anything else at this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards. He apparently is also no longer a "little boy" either. Hes the streaker at Wimbledon last week:)
For those of you who are sick to death of getting emails that tell you to forward to at least 22 friends in the next 15 minutes so that wonderful things and miracles will happen if you do and there will be consequences if you don't, then you will enjoy this.
Cut & paste this into your browser window-
http://info.org.il/irrelevant/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf
It has sound. Open your speakers wide. Have a good laugh:)
2. There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a bathtub full of ice, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to their cousin. If you are hellbent on believing the kidney-theft ring stories, please see: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa062997.htm And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories. None have." That's "none" as in "zero". Not even your friend's cousin.
3. Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if they do, we all have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at: http://www.bl.net/forwards/cookie.html Then, if you make the recipe, decide the cookies are that awesome, feel free to pass the recipe on.
4. We all know all 500 ways to drive your roommates crazy, irritate co-workers and creep out people on an elevator. We also know exactly how many engineers, college students, Usenet posters and people from each and every world ethnicity it takes to change a lightbulb
5. Even if the latest NASA rocket disaster(s) DID contain plutonium that went to particulate over the eastern seaboard, do you REALLY think this information would reach the public via an AOL chain-letter?
6. There is no "Good Times" virus. In fact, you should never, ever, ever forward any email containing any virus warning unless you first confirm it at an actual site of an actual company that actually deals with virii. Try: http://www.symantec.com . And even then, don't forward it. We don't care.
7. If your CC: list is regularly longer than the actual content of your message, you're probably going to Hell.
8. If you're using Outlook, IE, or Netscape to write email, turn off the "HTML encoding." Those of us on Unix shells can't read it, and don't care enough to save the attachment and then view it with a web browser, since you're probably forwarding us a copy of the Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe anyway.
9. If you still absolutely MUST forward that 10th-generation message from a friend, at least have the decency to trim the eight miles of headers showing everyone else who's received it over the last 6 months. It sure wouldn't hurt to get rid of all the ">" that begin each line. Besides, if it has gone around that many times - I've probably already seen it.
10. Craig Shergold in England is not dying of cancer or anything else at this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards. He apparently is also no longer a "little boy" either. Hes the streaker at Wimbledon last week:)
For those of you who are sick to death of getting emails that tell you to forward to at least 22 friends in the next 15 minutes so that wonderful things and miracles will happen if you do and there will be consequences if you don't, then you will enjoy this.
Cut & paste this into your browser window-
http://info.org.il/irrelevant/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf
It has sound. Open your speakers wide. Have a good laugh:)
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Allah-badia: Profiling at American Airports
Let me not write about any scientific pursuits today. I was reminiscing my recent visit to the Big Apple (NY) for the Annual NY Art Expo. As with every visit after 9/11, the immigration at all US airports waits for me with arms wide open. The moment I present my passport-their screens come alive with highlighted color profiling in part of my sur-name "Allah". This to a specialist who has visited the USA over 15 times and trained in Chicago & has been presenting scientific material at their annual meetings for over a decade. Next is a ten minute mindless & pointless Question-Answer session (Mind you I visit Israel annually & their interrogation at their airports and all airports where you board a flight to Tel Aviv is long and sustained but intelligent & thorough!) followed by an SOS body search in a separate area at times after my rights are announced to me.
I wonder, that being a non-Muslim I get the whole strip-show- search at all airports in the USA, what about the Muslims? I fully endorse & agree that the US of A need to be extra vigilant about their internal security matters, more so with repeated fanatic attacks like the Glasgow bombings, but they need to learn a lot from their Israeli brethren. Not a fly can get through their airports. My initial visits to Israel had sustained interrogation lasting for upto 20 minutes, but now they have me on their security systems & I pass through in 60 seconds! The Americans need a better database so that genuine visitors to their wonderful country don't get harassed & dread passing through their airports.
A friend e-mailed me this hilarious take on Muslim Humor in the USA through the eyes of a Middle-Eastern character called Omid. You must watch this video with your speakers wide open & look out for the fantastic Persian Humor in the popular American television series Whoopi!
http://www.omidnoagenda.com/video/clip_4.html
If any of you have some more videos on similar humor, please blog on the links!
I wonder, that being a non-Muslim I get the whole strip-show- search at all airports in the USA, what about the Muslims? I fully endorse & agree that the US of A need to be extra vigilant about their internal security matters, more so with repeated fanatic attacks like the Glasgow bombings, but they need to learn a lot from their Israeli brethren. Not a fly can get through their airports. My initial visits to Israel had sustained interrogation lasting for upto 20 minutes, but now they have me on their security systems & I pass through in 60 seconds! The Americans need a better database so that genuine visitors to their wonderful country don't get harassed & dread passing through their airports.
A friend e-mailed me this hilarious take on Muslim Humor in the USA through the eyes of a Middle-Eastern character called Omid. You must watch this video with your speakers wide open & look out for the fantastic Persian Humor in the popular American television series Whoopi!
http://www.omidnoagenda.com/video/clip_4.html
If any of you have some more videos on similar humor, please blog on the links!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Ayurveda, Eggs, Molars & Joints: The Indian Medical Tourism Story
Medical Tourism is a concept where a patient travels to another country for medical treatment in order to save costs, or get treatment faster or even to avail of better medical facilities. Most patients from countries like USA and UK travel to developing countries such as India for treatment because India offers some of the cheapest pricing options of treatment, offers a good holiday, there are no waiting lists or queues to stand in, the doctors are comparable to anyone in the world and finally, language does not pose a problem as most people speak English. In ancient Greece, pilgrims and patients came from all over the Mediterranean to the sanctuary of the healing god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In Roman Britain, patients took the waters at a shrine at Bath, a practice that continued for 2,000 years. From the 18th century wealthy Europeans traveled to spas from Germany to the Nile. In the 21st century, relatively low-cost jet travel has taken the industry beyond the wealthy and desperate.
The Indian medical tourism is a developing concept whereby people from the world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs. Most common treatments are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery, Donor Egg IVF/Surrogacy and dental care. The reason India is a favorable destination is because of it's infrastructure and technology in which it is at par with those in USA, UK and Europe. India has some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world with the best facilities. Since it is also one of the most favorable tourist destinations in the world, medication combined with tourism has come into effect, from which the concept of Medical Tourism is derived. As health care costs skyrocket, patients in the developed world are looking overseas for medical treatment. India is capitalizing on its low costs and highly trained doctors to appeal to these "medical tourists." Even with airfare, the cost of going to India for surgery can be markedly cheaper, and the quality of services is often better than that found in the United States and UK. Indeed, many patients are pleased at the prospect of combining their tummy tucks with a trip to the Taj Mahal. Price advantage is, of course, a major selling point. The slogan, thus is, “First World treatment’ at Third World prices”. The cost differential across the board is huge: only a tenth and sometimes even a sixteenth of the cost in the West. Open-heart surgery could cost up to $70,000 in Britain and up to $150,000 in the US; in India’s best hospitals it could cost between $3,000 and $10,000. Knee surgery (on both knees) costs 350,000 rupees ($7,700) in India; in Britain this costs £10,000 ($16,950), more than twice as much. IVF treatments in Western countries cost three to four times as much as in India.
Some estimates say that foreigners account for 10 to 12 per cent of all patients in top Mumbai hospitals despite roadblocks like poor aviation connectivity, poor road infrastructure and absence of uniform quality standards. Analysts say that as many as 150,000 medical tourists came to India last year. The reasons patients travel for treatment vary. Many medical tourists from the United States are seeking treatment at a quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the cost at home. From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting times. From Great Britain, the patient can't wait for treatment by the National Health Service but also can't afford to see a physician in private practice. For others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical vacation with elective or plastic surgery. And more patients are coming from poorer countries such as Bangladesh where treatment may not be available. Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants.
India is considered the leading country promoting medical tourism-and now it is moving into a new area of "medical outsourcing," where subcontractors provide services to the overburdened medical care systems in western countries. India's National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally an "export" and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export earnings." Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by 2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per cent a year. And I believe that gynecologists will just watch this opportunity rush past unless we intervene & interact with the government.
The Indian medical tourism is a developing concept whereby people from the world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs. Most common treatments are heart surgery, knee transplant, cosmetic surgery, Donor Egg IVF/Surrogacy and dental care. The reason India is a favorable destination is because of it's infrastructure and technology in which it is at par with those in USA, UK and Europe. India has some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world with the best facilities. Since it is also one of the most favorable tourist destinations in the world, medication combined with tourism has come into effect, from which the concept of Medical Tourism is derived. As health care costs skyrocket, patients in the developed world are looking overseas for medical treatment. India is capitalizing on its low costs and highly trained doctors to appeal to these "medical tourists." Even with airfare, the cost of going to India for surgery can be markedly cheaper, and the quality of services is often better than that found in the United States and UK. Indeed, many patients are pleased at the prospect of combining their tummy tucks with a trip to the Taj Mahal. Price advantage is, of course, a major selling point. The slogan, thus is, “First World treatment’ at Third World prices”. The cost differential across the board is huge: only a tenth and sometimes even a sixteenth of the cost in the West. Open-heart surgery could cost up to $70,000 in Britain and up to $150,000 in the US; in India’s best hospitals it could cost between $3,000 and $10,000. Knee surgery (on both knees) costs 350,000 rupees ($7,700) in India; in Britain this costs £10,000 ($16,950), more than twice as much. IVF treatments in Western countries cost three to four times as much as in India.
Some estimates say that foreigners account for 10 to 12 per cent of all patients in top Mumbai hospitals despite roadblocks like poor aviation connectivity, poor road infrastructure and absence of uniform quality standards. Analysts say that as many as 150,000 medical tourists came to India last year. The reasons patients travel for treatment vary. Many medical tourists from the United States are seeking treatment at a quarter or sometimes even a 10th of the cost at home. From Canada, it is often people who are frustrated by long waiting times. From Great Britain, the patient can't wait for treatment by the National Health Service but also can't afford to see a physician in private practice. For others, becoming a medical tourist is a chance to combine a tropical vacation with elective or plastic surgery. And more patients are coming from poorer countries such as Bangladesh where treatment may not be available. Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants.
India is considered the leading country promoting medical tourism-and now it is moving into a new area of "medical outsourcing," where subcontractors provide services to the overburdened medical care systems in western countries. India's National Health Policy declares that treatment of foreign patients is legally an "export" and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives extended to export earnings." Government and private sector studies in India estimate that medical tourism could bring between $1 billion and $2 billion US into the country by 2012. The reports estimate that medical tourism to India is growing by 30 per cent a year. And I believe that gynecologists will just watch this opportunity rush past unless we intervene & interact with the government.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The Elixir of Life?
Pregnant women in UK were warned in June 2006 not to use companies that offer to store stem cells from their babies' umbilical cords as the companies' claims of providing the ultimate insurance against future disease are "extremely speculative". The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) has issued an updated version of its Scientific Opinion Paper on Umbilical Cord Blood Banking. The report finds that there is little evidence to recommend the practice whereby private companies collect and store umbilical cord blood for up to twenty years - at a charge of up to £1500 - for possible future use. The National Health Service (NHS) currently collects cord blood from selected centers in the UK, where women are approached during the maternity period and offered the opportunity to donate. Essentially, their stance remains unchanged from the one taken in their previous opinion paper published in 2001. The RCOG stands firm in its decision not to support commercial storage where no history of medical illness exists, but continues to back both public donation to banks such as the NHS Cord Blood Bank for non-directed use and directed donations for at-risk families.
Stem cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) have been used since the first successful transplant in 1988 on Matthew Farrow, a five-year-old boy who suffered from Fanconi's Anemia. Medical experts carried out the procedure at a hospital in Paris using the stem cells harvested from the cord blood of his newborn sister, Alison. This was to become the first of over 6,000 UCB transplants worldwide, treating disorders such as thalassemia, immunodeficiency, inherited metabolic diseases, aplastic anemia and acute leukemia. Today, Matthew remains durably grafted and living proof that UCB has enormous future potential.
Cord blood advocates are keen to point out the benefits of using UCB for transplant purposes as an alternative to the traditional method of bone marrow. Unlike its bone marrow counterpart, UCB stem cells need not be an exact match and are less likely to be rejected by the recipient. Cord blood is a readily available resource, collected at the moment of delivery without pain or relative risk to mother and baby. Furthermore, stem cells collected from this routinely discarded waste product fail to raise the same moral, social and religious objections associated with the procurement of stem cells from aborted fetuses and embryos created via assisted reproductive technology. So, what reasons are being given for ignoring a resource with such great potential?
Within the public sector, the logistics of collection from multiple hospitals and subsequent cost implications involved in collection and storage are obvious reasons given against routine collection, which would inevitably draw heavily on an already cash-starved public health services model. With regard to the private sector, many legal and ethical issues are raised. In spite of its potential, the RCOG purport that there remains insufficient evidence to recommend UCB collection in low-risk families. Expectant families are targeted by the use of emotive advertising literature in maternity clinics and the Internet. Critics of commercial banking argue that the costs of this service, which fall in the region of £1,200 for a 15-20 year storage term, are out of proportion in terms of the odds associated with their potential future use, currently estimated at between 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 2,700 for personal use.
Furthermore, personal banking may not be deemed necessary for certain conditions as alternative resources may be available from UK and international public cord blood banks and bone marrow registries. Critics also argue that personally banked UCB may contain disorders already present in the patient at birth, but as yet undetected, and the low number of cells within a unit means they may only be used at present for transplants in children and young adults. Concerns over storage conditions and longevity of the cells are also raised.
Although opinion remains divided over the need for parents to privately bank their baby's cord blood, those on either side of the debate agree on one thing - stem cells are the future - and, in particular, UCB stem cells show great promise.
Cord blood stem cells have been useful in the treatment of cancers such as leukemia. The NHS public bank collects 1700 to 2000 samples each year, which may be accessed by those in need. Cord blood storage is also offered to families affected by specific genetic disorders that may be treatable with a transplant, for example Fanconi anemia. Critics say that private companies play on parent’s fears, with the offer of future speculative treatments for many conditions not currently treatable with cord blood. Some promote their service to parents through leaflets provided in GP clinics and antenatal clinics.
Professor Peter Braude, head of the Department of Women's Health at King's College London and chair of the RCOG expert group commented, 'The likelihood of use is extremely small and some of the uses are extremely speculative'. Professor Braude went on to say that, 'Most people are unaware there is an NHS cord blood bank and most transplants are done with bone marrow'.
The major use for cord blood stem cells has been in the treatment of cancers such as leukemia in children. But some companies claim the stem cells may also be used in the future to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
MARKETING PHRASES
'Unimaginable possibilities'
'A once in a lifetime opportunity'
'Like freezing a spare immune system'
Slogans used in promotional material by companies offering cord blood storage
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said there was "insufficient evidence" to recommend the practice for families at low risk of passing on blood diseases such as leukemia or genetic disorders. Those who believed they were obtaining "the elixir of life" for their child should realize that claims that stem cells can produce future cures for Alzheimer's, diabetes, and ovarian cancer are "in the realm of speculation".
"The ability to use it for diabetes or Parkinson's is like insuring against aircraft crashes," said Peter Braude, chairman of the college's scientific advisory committee. The warning came as the college issued fresh guidelines for obstetricians and midwives concerned about how to deal with an escalating interest in the storage of umbilical cord stem cells. The demand for private cord blood banks - such as the UK Cord Blood Bank, Smart Cells and Future Health - has grown in the past year with about 11,000 British couples reported to have paid around £1,500 to store the blood for 20 years. The footballer Thierry Henry and the dancer Darcey Bussell are among the celebrities who have paid for the service. The college said collecting stem cells for families at risk of genetic disorders, or from women donating altruistically, was acceptable but that this should be done through the NHS.
We have a similar advertising avalanche in India promising “The Elixir Of Life” that seems to have targeted family physicians and obstetricians. How about the Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists or the Media taking a stand with an Indian Opinion Paper?
Stem cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) have been used since the first successful transplant in 1988 on Matthew Farrow, a five-year-old boy who suffered from Fanconi's Anemia. Medical experts carried out the procedure at a hospital in Paris using the stem cells harvested from the cord blood of his newborn sister, Alison. This was to become the first of over 6,000 UCB transplants worldwide, treating disorders such as thalassemia, immunodeficiency, inherited metabolic diseases, aplastic anemia and acute leukemia. Today, Matthew remains durably grafted and living proof that UCB has enormous future potential.
Cord blood advocates are keen to point out the benefits of using UCB for transplant purposes as an alternative to the traditional method of bone marrow. Unlike its bone marrow counterpart, UCB stem cells need not be an exact match and are less likely to be rejected by the recipient. Cord blood is a readily available resource, collected at the moment of delivery without pain or relative risk to mother and baby. Furthermore, stem cells collected from this routinely discarded waste product fail to raise the same moral, social and religious objections associated with the procurement of stem cells from aborted fetuses and embryos created via assisted reproductive technology. So, what reasons are being given for ignoring a resource with such great potential?
Within the public sector, the logistics of collection from multiple hospitals and subsequent cost implications involved in collection and storage are obvious reasons given against routine collection, which would inevitably draw heavily on an already cash-starved public health services model. With regard to the private sector, many legal and ethical issues are raised. In spite of its potential, the RCOG purport that there remains insufficient evidence to recommend UCB collection in low-risk families. Expectant families are targeted by the use of emotive advertising literature in maternity clinics and the Internet. Critics of commercial banking argue that the costs of this service, which fall in the region of £1,200 for a 15-20 year storage term, are out of proportion in terms of the odds associated with their potential future use, currently estimated at between 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 2,700 for personal use.
Furthermore, personal banking may not be deemed necessary for certain conditions as alternative resources may be available from UK and international public cord blood banks and bone marrow registries. Critics also argue that personally banked UCB may contain disorders already present in the patient at birth, but as yet undetected, and the low number of cells within a unit means they may only be used at present for transplants in children and young adults. Concerns over storage conditions and longevity of the cells are also raised.
Although opinion remains divided over the need for parents to privately bank their baby's cord blood, those on either side of the debate agree on one thing - stem cells are the future - and, in particular, UCB stem cells show great promise.
Cord blood stem cells have been useful in the treatment of cancers such as leukemia. The NHS public bank collects 1700 to 2000 samples each year, which may be accessed by those in need. Cord blood storage is also offered to families affected by specific genetic disorders that may be treatable with a transplant, for example Fanconi anemia. Critics say that private companies play on parent’s fears, with the offer of future speculative treatments for many conditions not currently treatable with cord blood. Some promote their service to parents through leaflets provided in GP clinics and antenatal clinics.
Professor Peter Braude, head of the Department of Women's Health at King's College London and chair of the RCOG expert group commented, 'The likelihood of use is extremely small and some of the uses are extremely speculative'. Professor Braude went on to say that, 'Most people are unaware there is an NHS cord blood bank and most transplants are done with bone marrow'.
The major use for cord blood stem cells has been in the treatment of cancers such as leukemia in children. But some companies claim the stem cells may also be used in the future to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
MARKETING PHRASES
'Unimaginable possibilities'
'A once in a lifetime opportunity'
'Like freezing a spare immune system'
Slogans used in promotional material by companies offering cord blood storage
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said there was "insufficient evidence" to recommend the practice for families at low risk of passing on blood diseases such as leukemia or genetic disorders. Those who believed they were obtaining "the elixir of life" for their child should realize that claims that stem cells can produce future cures for Alzheimer's, diabetes, and ovarian cancer are "in the realm of speculation".
"The ability to use it for diabetes or Parkinson's is like insuring against aircraft crashes," said Peter Braude, chairman of the college's scientific advisory committee. The warning came as the college issued fresh guidelines for obstetricians and midwives concerned about how to deal with an escalating interest in the storage of umbilical cord stem cells. The demand for private cord blood banks - such as the UK Cord Blood Bank, Smart Cells and Future Health - has grown in the past year with about 11,000 British couples reported to have paid around £1,500 to store the blood for 20 years. The footballer Thierry Henry and the dancer Darcey Bussell are among the celebrities who have paid for the service. The college said collecting stem cells for families at risk of genetic disorders, or from women donating altruistically, was acceptable but that this should be done through the NHS.
We have a similar advertising avalanche in India promising “The Elixir Of Life” that seems to have targeted family physicians and obstetricians. How about the Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists or the Media taking a stand with an Indian Opinion Paper?
Saturday, June 30, 2007
From The Ganges To The Thames
Today my blogging attempt will be to touch your heart with facts that should make you proud of your race & the
country. Let me begin by asking you a few questions:
Who is the General Manager of Hewlett Packard (HP) ?
A. Rajiv Gupta
Q. Who is the creator of the Pentium chip (needs no introduction as 90% of the today's computers run on it)?
A. Vinod Dham
Q. Who is the third richest man on the world?
A. According to the latest report in Fortune Magazine, it is Azim Premji, who is the CEO of Wipro Industries. (the Sultan of Brunei is at the 6th position now!)
Q. Who is the founder and creator of Hotmail (Hotmail is the world's No.1 web based email program)?
A. Sabeer Bhatia
Q. Who is the president of AT & T-Bell Labs (AT & T-Bell Labs is the creator of program languages such as C, C++, Unix to name a few)?
A. Arun Netravalli
Q. Who is the new MTD (Microsoft Testing Director) of Windows Vista, responsible to iron out all initial problems?
A. Sanjay Tejawrika
Q. Who are the Chief Executives of CitiBank, Mckinsey & Stanchart?
A. Victor Menezes, Rajat Gupta, and Rana Talwar.
We Indians are the wealthiest among all ethnic groups in America, even faring better than the whites and the natives:
There are only 3.22 million Indians in the USA (15% of population) .. Yet,
38% of doctors in USA are Indians, 12% scientists in USA are Indians, 36% of NASA scientists are Indians, 34% of Microsoft employees are Indians, 28% of IBM employees are Indians, 17% of INTEL scientists are Indians, 13% of XEROX employees are Indians.
Some of the following facts may be known to you. These facts were recently published in a German magazine, which deals with world history facts about India:
1. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.
2. India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
3. The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects there. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education. Our present President wants to take up a teaching post in this University after he finishes his post.
4. According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.
5. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
6. Although Western media portrays modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.
7. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago.. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word Navgatih.
8. The value of Pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean
Theorem. British scholars have accepted officially in 1999 and published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century which is long before the European mathematicians.
9. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus came from India . Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053
10.According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.
11. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.
12. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
13. Chess was invented in India
14. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India .
15. When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley ( Indus Valley India in 100 BC).
In the recent history, very rarely India has come across a situation, all at a time, an ascending economic trajectory, continuously rising foreign exchange reserve, reduced rate of inflation, global recognition of the technological competence, energy of 540 million youth, umbilical connectivities of 20 million people of Indian origin in various parts of the planet, and the interest shown by many developed countries to invest in our engineers and scientists including setting up of new R&D centers. Above all India as the largest democracy in the world, has a reputation for its democracy and for providing leadership for the one billion people with multi- cultural, multi-language and multi-religious backgrounds. Our
technological competence and value systems with civilizational heritage are highly respected. Foreign Institutional Investors find investing in India attractive. Indians are also investing in companies abroad and are opening new business ventures. Tata's Corus & Kumaramangalam Birlas take-overs are just a preview of what is going to follow. As per the report titled "From the Ganges to the Thames" which states that the Indian Foreign Direct Investment in British capital is second only to that of the US and Indian FDI project in Europe has increased from just 5 to 119 during the period 1997 to 2004. The Government is also committed to economic development by ensuring growth rate of 7% to 8% annually, enhancing the welfare of the farmers and workers and unleashing the creativity of the entrepreneurs, business persons, scientists, engineers and
other productive forces of the society. We must use this opportunity for transforming India to a globally competitive developed nation before 2020. This calls for the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors becoming globally competitive leading to an economically competitive environment. What then would be the profile of the globally competitive developed India?
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony, absorbing technology thereby resulting in sustained wealth generation leading to greater high value employment opportunities.
4. A Nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors from all over the world.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all the billion population and the communicable diseases like AIDS/TB, water and vector borne diseases and other stress diseases, cardiac diseases, cancer and diabetes are brought down.
7. A Nation where the governance uses the best of the technologies to be responsive, transparent, fully connected in a high bandwidth e-governance grid, easily accessible and simple in rules, thereby corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women are absent and the society feels unalienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in, on the earth and brings smiles on a billion plus faces.
It is indeed a big challenge of high magnitude. For achieving such a competitive profile for India, we have a vision of realizing this goal in a time bound manner. Only a heathy nation will transform into a developed nation. Unless the maternal & child health statistics compare with the developed world, we will never achieve that status. Here is where we obstetricians and gynecologists come in. We are indeed the pillars upon which the the health of the nation rests on. Let us work with the government in transforming our BIMARU states across timelines and bring them at par with healthcare in the metros. This is achievable. The administration is committed and irrespective of the party in power, the reforms will go on. The type
of mission in front of us is very complex and challenging. Let us share a great thought propounded by Saint Maharishi Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra in 500 BC:
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary
project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends
limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you
find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces,
faculties and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a
greater person by far than you ever dreamt yourself to be."
But we need to do a RDB (Rang De Basanti) to go ahead - Today I wish Sanjay Gandhi was alive.
country. Let me begin by asking you a few questions:
Who is the General Manager of Hewlett Packard (HP) ?
A. Rajiv Gupta
Q. Who is the creator of the Pentium chip (needs no introduction as 90% of the today's computers run on it)?
A. Vinod Dham
Q. Who is the third richest man on the world?
A. According to the latest report in Fortune Magazine, it is Azim Premji, who is the CEO of Wipro Industries. (the Sultan of Brunei is at the 6th position now!)
Q. Who is the founder and creator of Hotmail (Hotmail is the world's No.1 web based email program)?
A. Sabeer Bhatia
Q. Who is the president of AT & T-Bell Labs (AT & T-Bell Labs is the creator of program languages such as C, C++, Unix to name a few)?
A. Arun Netravalli
Q. Who is the new MTD (Microsoft Testing Director) of Windows Vista, responsible to iron out all initial problems?
A. Sanjay Tejawrika
Q. Who are the Chief Executives of CitiBank, Mckinsey & Stanchart?
A. Victor Menezes, Rajat Gupta, and Rana Talwar.
We Indians are the wealthiest among all ethnic groups in America, even faring better than the whites and the natives:
There are only 3.22 million Indians in the USA (15% of population) .. Yet,
38% of doctors in USA are Indians, 12% scientists in USA are Indians, 36% of NASA scientists are Indians, 34% of Microsoft employees are Indians, 28% of IBM employees are Indians, 17% of INTEL scientists are Indians, 13% of XEROX employees are Indians.
Some of the following facts may be known to you. These facts were recently published in a German magazine, which deals with world history facts about India:
1. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.
2. India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
3. The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects there. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education. Our present President wants to take up a teaching post in this University after he finishes his post.
4. According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.
5. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
6. Although Western media portrays modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.
7. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago.. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word Navgatih.
8. The value of Pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean
Theorem. British scholars have accepted officially in 1999 and published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century which is long before the European mathematicians.
9. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus came from India . Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053
10.According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.
11. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.
12. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
13. Chess was invented in India
14. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India .
15. When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley ( Indus Valley India in 100 BC).
In the recent history, very rarely India has come across a situation, all at a time, an ascending economic trajectory, continuously rising foreign exchange reserve, reduced rate of inflation, global recognition of the technological competence, energy of 540 million youth, umbilical connectivities of 20 million people of Indian origin in various parts of the planet, and the interest shown by many developed countries to invest in our engineers and scientists including setting up of new R&D centers. Above all India as the largest democracy in the world, has a reputation for its democracy and for providing leadership for the one billion people with multi- cultural, multi-language and multi-religious backgrounds. Our
technological competence and value systems with civilizational heritage are highly respected. Foreign Institutional Investors find investing in India attractive. Indians are also investing in companies abroad and are opening new business ventures. Tata's Corus & Kumaramangalam Birlas take-overs are just a preview of what is going to follow. As per the report titled "From the Ganges to the Thames" which states that the Indian Foreign Direct Investment in British capital is second only to that of the US and Indian FDI project in Europe has increased from just 5 to 119 during the period 1997 to 2004. The Government is also committed to economic development by ensuring growth rate of 7% to 8% annually, enhancing the welfare of the farmers and workers and unleashing the creativity of the entrepreneurs, business persons, scientists, engineers and
other productive forces of the society. We must use this opportunity for transforming India to a globally competitive developed nation before 2020. This calls for the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors becoming globally competitive leading to an economically competitive environment. What then would be the profile of the globally competitive developed India?
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony, absorbing technology thereby resulting in sustained wealth generation leading to greater high value employment opportunities.
4. A Nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors from all over the world.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all the billion population and the communicable diseases like AIDS/TB, water and vector borne diseases and other stress diseases, cardiac diseases, cancer and diabetes are brought down.
7. A Nation where the governance uses the best of the technologies to be responsive, transparent, fully connected in a high bandwidth e-governance grid, easily accessible and simple in rules, thereby corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women are absent and the society feels unalienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in, on the earth and brings smiles on a billion plus faces.
It is indeed a big challenge of high magnitude. For achieving such a competitive profile for India, we have a vision of realizing this goal in a time bound manner. Only a heathy nation will transform into a developed nation. Unless the maternal & child health statistics compare with the developed world, we will never achieve that status. Here is where we obstetricians and gynecologists come in. We are indeed the pillars upon which the the health of the nation rests on. Let us work with the government in transforming our BIMARU states across timelines and bring them at par with healthcare in the metros. This is achievable. The administration is committed and irrespective of the party in power, the reforms will go on. The type
of mission in front of us is very complex and challenging. Let us share a great thought propounded by Saint Maharishi Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra in 500 BC:
"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary
project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends
limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you
find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces,
faculties and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a
greater person by far than you ever dreamt yourself to be."
But we need to do a RDB (Rang De Basanti) to go ahead - Today I wish Sanjay Gandhi was alive.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Testicles Forever?
A recent report on possible therapeutic uses of testicular stem cells helps to highlight the level of confusion and lack of focus
in stem cell biology today. Sources of stem cells such as embryos, testicles and ovaries are technically difficult to manipulate and have worrying, potentially malignant properties should they ever be transplanted to a human being. These stem cells also carry significant moral, ethical, legal and religious objections to their creation and use. UK researchers have been given the go-ahead to investigate the potential of human testicle stem cells to develop into other types of body tissue. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has licensed the team, based at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, to
study the cells in order to find out if they are as versatile as stem cells isolated from early embryos. The scientists hope that the work may eventually lead to new therapies for conditions such as heart disease, Parkinson's disease and spinal injury.
Last year, German researchers isolated cells from adult mouse testicles that share some of the characteristics of embryonic stem (ES) cells. The team isolated stem cells that normally grow into sperm, and coaxed them into producing many different types of body cell. The researchers, based at the Georg-August-University of Goettingen, published their findings in the journal Nature. However, at the time, other scientists cautioned that stem cells from human testes might not behave in the same way as their mouse counterparts. The Gottingen team used genetically altered mice in which the sperm stem cells were permanently 'tagged' with a fluorescent protein, to enable them to isolate the elusive cells from mouse testes. They then grew the cells in the laboratory, and found that some of them resembled ES cells. These cells, which they dubbed multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs), were able to grow into several different types of body cell - including heart, brain, liver and skin. The scientists also found that the maGSCs were able to form different tissues and organs when injected into mouse embryos. The ongoing controversy surrounding research into human ES cells in Germany, where such work is banned, and many other countries, has lead several groups to seek alternative sources of cells that can potentially develop into a wide range of different tissues. Even in countries where ES cell research is permitted, it hinges on the availability of donated human eggs.
There is another source of stem cells which is hardly ever mentioned in the news and is currently being discarded on a daily
basis. It has no moral, ethical, legal or religious objections to use and it has been transplanted safely over 6,000 times to date to treat 45 different diseases. This source of stem cells is human umbilical cord blood. Cord blood can be collected at every birth with no risk or pain to the mother or baby. Once collected cord blood is processed using tried and tested technology and can be frozen in liquid nitrogen for many years. Current applications of these stem cells are in the treatment
of leukemia, related blood disorders and the repair of the bone marrow following high dose chemotherapy for cancer. Perhaps the most important aspect of cord blood is that it contains mesenchymal stem cells capable of producing many cell types including neuronal and muscle tissue. These cells have an availability and potential far greater than embryonic or testicular stem cells and we must focus our time, energy, resources and expertise on the full utilization of these priceless stem cells. Cord blood stem cells are currently being assessed in a clinical trial in Canada in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The umbilical cord itself also contains stem cells capable of producing a range of tissue types, most
notably bone tissue. If stem cell biology is to advance we must begin to collect, store and carry out research on as much cord blood as possible. According to advocates of umbilical cord blood banking, we have a readily available source of stem cells with massive potential which is currently, for whatever reason, being ignored by researchers, media and politicians alike. “We must stop talking about esoteric sources of stem cells and focus on cord blood stem cells as the source of stem cells for current therapeutic applications and ground breaking therapies of the future.”
Commenting on the planned research at Hammersmith Hospital, stem cell expert Professor Harry Moore, of Sheffield University, said: 'In this country, the ethical issues of obtaining stem cells from cloned embryos are really covered by the
HFEA, but there is still the major problem of where do you get eggs that are high enough quality and in sufficient quantity. The advantage of this work on human testicular cells is that it avoids both of these issues'. If testicular stem cells prove to be as versatile as their embryonic counterparts, it may be possible for men to bank testicular tissue early in life, and later use it to repair damaged or diseased areas of the body. Such tissue could also potentially be used to provide cell-based therapies for any men who share the same tissue type. Professor Chris Barratt, of the Birmingham Women's Hospital told the Guardian newspaper: “There are a lot of testicles around and you don't need a staggering number to have enough variety to match nearly all of the population”. In India, we have much larger numbers.
in stem cell biology today. Sources of stem cells such as embryos, testicles and ovaries are technically difficult to manipulate and have worrying, potentially malignant properties should they ever be transplanted to a human being. These stem cells also carry significant moral, ethical, legal and religious objections to their creation and use. UK researchers have been given the go-ahead to investigate the potential of human testicle stem cells to develop into other types of body tissue. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has licensed the team, based at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, to
study the cells in order to find out if they are as versatile as stem cells isolated from early embryos. The scientists hope that the work may eventually lead to new therapies for conditions such as heart disease, Parkinson's disease and spinal injury.
Last year, German researchers isolated cells from adult mouse testicles that share some of the characteristics of embryonic stem (ES) cells. The team isolated stem cells that normally grow into sperm, and coaxed them into producing many different types of body cell. The researchers, based at the Georg-August-University of Goettingen, published their findings in the journal Nature. However, at the time, other scientists cautioned that stem cells from human testes might not behave in the same way as their mouse counterparts. The Gottingen team used genetically altered mice in which the sperm stem cells were permanently 'tagged' with a fluorescent protein, to enable them to isolate the elusive cells from mouse testes. They then grew the cells in the laboratory, and found that some of them resembled ES cells. These cells, which they dubbed multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs), were able to grow into several different types of body cell - including heart, brain, liver and skin. The scientists also found that the maGSCs were able to form different tissues and organs when injected into mouse embryos. The ongoing controversy surrounding research into human ES cells in Germany, where such work is banned, and many other countries, has lead several groups to seek alternative sources of cells that can potentially develop into a wide range of different tissues. Even in countries where ES cell research is permitted, it hinges on the availability of donated human eggs.
There is another source of stem cells which is hardly ever mentioned in the news and is currently being discarded on a daily
basis. It has no moral, ethical, legal or religious objections to use and it has been transplanted safely over 6,000 times to date to treat 45 different diseases. This source of stem cells is human umbilical cord blood. Cord blood can be collected at every birth with no risk or pain to the mother or baby. Once collected cord blood is processed using tried and tested technology and can be frozen in liquid nitrogen for many years. Current applications of these stem cells are in the treatment
of leukemia, related blood disorders and the repair of the bone marrow following high dose chemotherapy for cancer. Perhaps the most important aspect of cord blood is that it contains mesenchymal stem cells capable of producing many cell types including neuronal and muscle tissue. These cells have an availability and potential far greater than embryonic or testicular stem cells and we must focus our time, energy, resources and expertise on the full utilization of these priceless stem cells. Cord blood stem cells are currently being assessed in a clinical trial in Canada in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The umbilical cord itself also contains stem cells capable of producing a range of tissue types, most
notably bone tissue. If stem cell biology is to advance we must begin to collect, store and carry out research on as much cord blood as possible. According to advocates of umbilical cord blood banking, we have a readily available source of stem cells with massive potential which is currently, for whatever reason, being ignored by researchers, media and politicians alike. “We must stop talking about esoteric sources of stem cells and focus on cord blood stem cells as the source of stem cells for current therapeutic applications and ground breaking therapies of the future.”
Commenting on the planned research at Hammersmith Hospital, stem cell expert Professor Harry Moore, of Sheffield University, said: 'In this country, the ethical issues of obtaining stem cells from cloned embryos are really covered by the
HFEA, but there is still the major problem of where do you get eggs that are high enough quality and in sufficient quantity. The advantage of this work on human testicular cells is that it avoids both of these issues'. If testicular stem cells prove to be as versatile as their embryonic counterparts, it may be possible for men to bank testicular tissue early in life, and later use it to repair damaged or diseased areas of the body. Such tissue could also potentially be used to provide cell-based therapies for any men who share the same tissue type. Professor Chris Barratt, of the Birmingham Women's Hospital told the Guardian newspaper: “There are a lot of testicles around and you don't need a staggering number to have enough variety to match nearly all of the population”. In India, we have much larger numbers.
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