SYDNEY: Pregnant women may be far more at risk from swine flu than thought, according to a survey published on Friday that was carried out in Australia and New Zealand.

An investigation carried out among American women between April and May last year, in the first month of the H1N1 virus’ outbreak, suggested pregnant women were four times likelier to develop severe illness requiring hospitalisation compared with non-pregnant counterparts.

But the new paper, published online by the British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com), found in a small sample that the risk of critical illness was between seven and 13 times as much.

From June 1 to August 31 last year, 209 women of child-bearing age were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Australia and New Zealand with confirmed swine flu, 64 of whom were either pregnant or had recently birth.

The fact that almost one in three of the admissions were women who were pregnant or post-partum was significant, says the paper.

When extrapolated to the child-bearing population of both countries, a pregnant or post-partum woman with H1N1 was more than seven times likelier to be admitted to an ICU compared to a non-pregnant counterpart who also had flu.

In the case of flu-infected women who were more than 20 weeks’ pregnant, ICU admission was 13 times higher than a non-pregnant, infected counterpart.

The study also showed high rates of ventilator and oxygen use to help the pregnant women breathe.

Seven of the women died, four babies were stillborn and three died in infancy.

Of the surviving births, 22 were pre-term and 32 needed treatment at a neonatal intensive care unit.

None of the women had been vaccinated against seasonal flu, despite recommendations that pregnant women be immunised.

In an editorial, Stephen Lapinsky, a professor of critical-care medicine at the University of Toronto in Canada, said mortality from H1N1 during pregnancy seemed high, although not as bad as in previous flu pandemics.

In the 1918-9 outbreak of so-called Spanish flu, which slew tens of millions of people, maternal mortality was reported in one study to be as high as 27 percent, while in the 1957-8 “Asian” flu pandemic, which may have killed two million, half of the women of child-bearing age who died were pregnant.

“Despite evidence of an increase in maternal mortality after infection with H1N1, in the later phases of the pandemic its effect on pregnant women has been less than was initially anticipated,” said Lapinsky.

This could be explained by vaccination advice and early use of antiviral drugs to women with flu symptoms of flu, he suggested.

H1N1 caused at least 16,713 deaths as of March 7, according to a March 12 posting on the World Health Organisation website (www.who.int).

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PAKISTAN KARACHI : People with diabetes should get regularly checked for kidney disease as they are more at risk of damaged kidneys.

Being diabetic does not mean that a person will get chronic kidney disease (CKD) but they need to control their sugar levels and follow a proper treatment plan.

Doctors shared this information while speaking at the World Kidney Day symposium at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) centred on this year’s global theme, Protect Your Kidneys, Control Diabetes.

CKD is a slow, often silent disease in which kidneys gradually lose the ability to remove waste products from the blood. One in three people with diabetes may get CKD, but, as Dr Asma Ahmed, Consultant Endocrinologist, AKUH, pointed out that controlling diabetes reduces the risk of developing kidney disease by 21 per cent.

But in Pakistan, half of all people with diabetes are unaware of kidney disease and the risks of their developing the condition.

The World Health Organization, according to Dr Ather Hussain, Consultant Nephrologist, AKUH has estimated that 175 million people worldwide had diabetes in 2003, and the figure will almost double by 2030, with developing nations at greatest risk.

Early detection of kidney disease among diabetics, strict control of blood sugar and the use of high blood pressure medication can slow the progression towards CKD. But if the disease is left undetected or untreated, people may develop end stage renal failure and be treated through dialysis or in severe case undergo a kidney transplant.

Dr Waqar Kashif, Consultant Nephrologist, AKUH, discussed the relationship between high blood pressure and kidney disease.

In 1994, the National Health Survey of Pakistan revealed that 18 per cent of adults above 15, and 33 per cent above 45, had high blood pressure, and less than 3 per cent were able to maintain normal blood pressure.

“Currently, in Pakistan, approximately one third of patients on dialysis have kidney disease as a result of long standing uncontrolled high blood pressure. Patients who have diabetes, in addition to high blood pressure, have higher chances of developing diabetic kidney disease.”

Dr Kashif suggested that the ideal blood pressure for people wishing to stay healthy should be less than 140/90, but in someone who has kidney disease or diabetes, the BP should be much lower. Also, lifestyle changes such as reducing weight, quitting smoking and maintaining a balanced, healthy, low salt diet, can benefit those with CDK.

Dr Raziuddin Biyabani, Consultant Urologist, AKUH, spoke about kidney stones.

He said a peculiar problem in Pakistan is silent stones or neglected stones.

Stones are more likely to form when people don’t drink enough water, particularly in hot climates like in Pakistan, eat a diet rich in protein and have a family history of kidney stones.

Dr Biyabani pointed out that kidney stones are often only detected when a person has severe back pain, accompanied by fever, bloody urine, or even vomiting. Blood or imaging tests can then be used to determine the size, location and type of stone and the treatment options currently, open surgery is rarely required to treat stones.

A person with kidney stones has an up to 50 per cent chance of it recurring within 5 to 10 years, and a 75 per cent chance in 20 years. To reduce the possibility of stones recurring, Dr Biyabani suggested increasing fluids, changing diet, decreasing protein and salt intake and in some cases, medication.

Information about kidney disease in children was shared by Dr Arshalooz Rahman, Consultant Pediatrician, AKUH. Dr Rahman pointed out that paediatric kidney diseases can usually be detected by routine tests and, if treated on time, promise a full recovery.

However, to catch problems early on, community-based screening programmes that monitor high blood pressure, body mass by comparing weight and height, and urine should be made available to detect kidney disease in children, especially those that are overweight. Lifestyle changes at this stage can often lead to a full recovery.

The experts agreed that attention needs to be drawn to the early detection and prevention of CKD and its complications.

Ohio State University says a worker suspected in a deadly campus shooting has died.

A new Ohio State University custodial employee who received a bad job evaluation shot two co-workers in a campus-maintenance building, killing one of them, and then fatally shot himself, officials said Tuesday.

No students were hurt and classes went on as scheduled.

The shooting was first reported at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Mr. Brown, 51 years old, was pronounced dead at Ohio State University Medical Center several hours later, Mr. Denton said.

One of the victims, building-services manager Larry Wallington, 48, died at the scene. The other victim, operations-shift leader Henry Butler, 60, was in stable condition at Ohio University Medical Center, officials said.

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West Bengal University Of Technology : In the state of West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) was the result have been published. The University published in the chapter the 2008-2009 academic examination results are available on the official site of the university. To see the state of West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) the results of 2009-2010.

In the state of West Bengal University of Technology, known as the WBUT or UTech is a public State University is located in Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal state. The University offers courses on science and technology, and management. University was founded on August 5, 2000. State Government of West Bengal initially provided funds to set up the university. That the government wants in contrast to the “Center of Excellence”. West Bengal University of Technology offers various courses at advanced level through its own subsidiaries. Was awarded the University of inflicting recipe with jurisdiction includes the entire state of West Bengal.

Currently, India has a huge demand of skilled people. Despite the economic recession and declining growth in some times, and now has become stronger. Because of its huge population, India has become an attractive market for many companies all over the world. Each year, a wide range of companies come and start their business in India. In addition, India outsourcing industry, and increase the size of the middle class people.

The foreign secretary level talks between Pakistan and India are underway at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Pakistani delegation is led by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir while Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao leads the Indian delegation.
Talking to media at Dehli Airport, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir in a statement expressed his hope that the talks will be productive and serve as a precursor to resumption of a meaningful dialogue process between the two countries.
The talks between the foreign secretaries of two countries would be held to improve relation between the two countries and Pakistan would focus on the restoration of Composite Dialogue Process.
During the talks, India would raise the issue of terrorism while Pakistan will stress on the resolution of all outstanding issues including that of core issue of Kashmir.
Both foreign secretaries would address a joint press conference in case of success of talks between the two countries.
A delegation of All Parties Hurriyat Conference would also meet Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and the delegation demanded of Pakistan to keep the issue of Kashmir on top in talks with India.
The diplomatic and political circles of both the countries are giving immense importance to Thursday’s meeting. The international community that of the United States, the European Union have already welcomed the restoration of talks and assured of their full support in this context.

BEIJING CHINA: China’s military warned the United States on Thursday to “speak and act cautiously” to avoid reigniting tensions between the two powers, denying the People’s Liberation Army played a part in Internet hacking.

Huang Xueping, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defence, said his government would not reverse its decision to suspend “bilateral military plans” with Washington after it said in late January that it would sell $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own.

In January, the giant Internet search company Google Inc threatened to pull back from China after complaining of censorship and hacking attacks on it and other companies.

Analysts said those attacks were sophisticated operations, possibly overseen or abetted by the Chinese military.

The hacking dispute has added to tensions with Washington over quarrels ranging from trade and the Chinese currency to a meeting last week between U.S. President Barack Obama and exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, who China reviles as a “separatist” for demanding self-rule for his homeland.

Huang’s remarks, reported by the official Xinhua news agency, shed no new light on how China plans to act on its threats to punish U.S. companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan.

But his comments indicated China has not entirely put aside public ire with Washington, despite allowing a U.S. aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong last week.

“China demands that the U.S. speak and act cautiously, to avoid causing further damage to relations between the two countries and their militaries,” said Huang.

“Linking Internet hacking activities to the Chinese government and military is totally unfounded and utterly irresponsible,” he said. “This is stirring up a fuss for ulterior motives.”

The Internet hacking dispute made fresh headlines recently after reports that the attacks had been traced to two schools in China, and that the writer of the spyware used had been identified as a Chinese cyber-security consultant.

The prestigious Shanghai Jiaotong University and the previously little-known Lanxiang vocational college, a high-school level institution, have both denied any role.

Latest news update Earthquake Delhi Megacities: Earthquake Delhi are something new on the planet. Earthquakes are something very old. The two are a lethal combination, as seen in the recent tragedy in Port-au-Prince, where more than 200,000 people perished — a catastrophe that scientists say is certain to be repeated somewhere, and probably soon, with death tolls that once again stagger the mind.

In 1800, there was just one city with more than a million people — Beijing. Now there are 381 urban areas with at least 1 million inhabitants. Urbanization crossed a threshold last year when, for the first time, more people lived in city settings than rural ones. About 403 million people live in cities that face significant seismic hazard, according to a recent study by seismologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado.

The next Big One could strike Tokyo, Istanbul, Tehran, Mexico City, New Delhi, Kathmandu or the two metropolises near California’s San Andreas Fault, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Or it could devastate Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Manila, Cairo, Osaka, Lima or Bogota. The list goes on and on.

“You can name about 25 cities that are like Port-au-Prince. They’re not going to shake but every 250 years [on average]. But if you can name 25 of them, you’re going to have an event like this every 10 years,” said David Wald, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.

In many vulnerable cities, people are effectively stacked on top of one another in buildings designed as if earthquakes don’t happen. It is not the tremor that kills people in an earthquake but the buildings, routinely constructed on the cheap, using faulty designs and, in some cities, overseen by corrupt inspectors. The difference between life and death is often a matter of how much sand went into the cement or how much steel into a supporting column. Earthquakes might be viewed as acts of God, but their lethality is often a function of masonry.

“In recent earthquakes, buildings have acted as weapons of mass destruction,” Bilham writes in the journal Nature.

WASHINGTON DC: Former vice president Dick Cheney was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains on Monday, an aide said.

Cheney’s assistant Peter Long issued a statement that the 69-year-old was resting comfortably and his doctors were evaluating the situation.

The former vice president has a history of heart problems and has a pacemaker.

In 2008, doctors restored a normal rhythm to his heart with an electric shock.

It was the second time in less than a year that Cheney had experienced and been treated for an atrial fibrillation, an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart.

Cheney has had four heart attacks, the first when he was 37.

He has had quadruple bypass surgery and two artery-clearing angioplasties.

In 2001, he had a special pacemaker implanted in his chest. The pacemaker’s battery was replaced last year, and then the entire device was replaced.

The former vice president has kept a high profile since leaving the White House.

He has sparred with the Obama administration over plans to close the US detention facility for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and hold the trials of several high-profile detainees in civilian courts rather than military tribunals.

Among his extensive government service, Cheney served as defence secretary under President George H W Bush.

NBC reported that two doctors at George Washington University Hospital said Cheney was stable but may have additional treatment on Tuesday.

The former vice president apparently had an angiogram so doctors could look at his coronary arteries and direct a course of treatment. AGENCIES