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New Delhi: In the latest update in NEET paper leak case, the CBI recently arrested an alleged co-conspirator in the paper leak, Aman Singh, from Dhanbad in Jharkhand.
Speaking to PTI, the officials informed that the CBI has developed intelligence about Jharkhand-based module allegedly involved in the paper leak that resulted in the arrest of Aman Singh.
The agency had earlier arrested principal and vice principal of Hazaribagh-based Oasis school in the case and two persons who allegedly provided safe premises to NEET candidates where burnt question papers were recovered by Bihar Police, the officials said.
The CBI has registered six FIRs in the case. The FIR from Bihar pertains to leakage of paper while remaining from Gujarat and Rajasthan pertains to impersonation of candidates and cheating.
The agency’s own FIR on a reference from the Union Education Ministry pertains to a “comprehensive investigation” into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination.
This year’s NEET UG 2024 exam was mired in controversies after a paper leak scam came to light. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that around 13 people, including four examinees and their family members, were arrested in Bihar for their alleged involvement in the paper leak of the NEET-UG exam. Patna police sources had previously claimed that the NEET-UG question papers along with their answers were provided to around 20 aspirants a day before the date of the exam i.e. May 5, 2024.
Then, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, which took over the investigation, revealed that the brokers involved in the NEET paper leak scam took between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh from each of the medical aspirants in exchange for giving them the question paper of the NEET UG 2024 question paper ahead of the examination.
Multiple pleas have been filed before the High Courts and the Supreme Court seeking an investigation into the alleged paper leak scam. Some of the pleas demanded the scrapping of the NEET UG 2024 exam and holding a retest.
Meanwhile, during the case proceedings, NTA earlier decided to withdraw the grace marks awarded to 1563 candidates and hold an optional retest for those candidates. Those who did not opt for the retest were allowed to retain their original marks, without the grace marks.
The matter is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Central Government on June 22, 2024, handed over the charge of investigating in the alleged irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 examination to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“Certain cases of alleged irregularities / cheating / impersonation / malpractices have been reported. For transparency on the conduct of the examination process, the Ministry of Education, Government of India after a review has decided to entrust the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive investigation,” the Ministry of Education stated in a release.
Earlier, while considering the NEET-related pleas, the Supreme Court had refused to defer the counselling/seat allotment process scheduled to commence on July 6. However, the bench had orally observed that the admissions would be subject to the final outcome of the petitions and if the exams were set aside, the counselling would get invalidated consequentially.
The Top Court had also expressed its concern over the alleged discrepancies in the NEET UG 2024 exam. The Court had noted that even ‘0.001& negligence’ in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 exams would be looked into with all seriousness considering the immense labor put in by the candidates for the prestigious examination.
Recently two candidates Kritika Garg and Priyanjali Garg approached the Apex Court opposing the proposal to cancel the NEET exam and hold a retest. Hailing from Meerut, these candidates secured Rs 705 and 690 marks respectively.
Approaching the Apex Court bench, they argued that students who have prepared for years should not be put to the trouble of appearing in the exam again. These applicants further contended that holding a retest for the NEET UG 2024 exam would not only be “unfair” to most students but would also cause hardship to their families.
NEET-UG retest result
The Centre and the NTA had, on June 13, told the court that they had cancelled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates. They were given the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded for loss of time.
The NTA announced the revised rank list on Monday after issuing the results of the re-test held on June 23.
A total of 67 students had scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a Haryana centre figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities in the examination held on May 5. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The number of candidates sharing the top rank in the NEET-UG reduced to 61 from 67 as the NTA announced the revised results on Monday.
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Maharashtra: Public Health Minister Tanaji Sawant announced on Monday that dental treatment will now be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya and Mahatma Phule Jan Aarogya schemes. This significant expansion of coverage aims to provide comprehensive medical services, including dental care, free of cost at government-recognized hospitals.
The state public health minister made the announcement while responding to a question from legislator Satyajeet Tambe in the state legislative council.
This expansion broadens the coverage of the two schemes that provide a wide range of medical treatments free of cost at government-recognised hospitals.
Also Read:Dental Home Services not allowed: DCI cracks whip
According to a PTI report, “Currently, 1,000 private and state-run hospitals are recognised under the schemes. With the latest decision, 900 more hospitals will be included. The expansion is expected to be completed by July 31,” Sawant said.
The state government is also working on developing an anti-fraud application to prevent hospitals from submitting bogus bills, he said.
Lauding Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the state government, Tambe said the scheme cover was extended up to Rs 5 lakh without any restrictions on the person availing its benefits. “As a result, from poor to rich, everyone has reaped the benefits,” he said.
As per a media report in The Indian Express, While responding to Tambe’s questions, health minister Tanaji Sawant said, “The Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana initially covered 1,000 hospitals. The health cover under the scheme has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The conditions for availing scheme benefits have also been removed. Earlier, 1,356 treatments were included in this scheme. Hereon, dental treatments will also be included. Additionally, hospitals will be set up in the 137 talukas immediately where there are no hospitals.”
The scheme extends coverage to the entire population of Maharashtra, offering health insurance up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. This coverage specifically includes secondary and tertiary healthcare services that necessitate hospitalization.
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USA: The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a significant scientific statement emphasizing the role of CYP2C19 genetic testing in guiding oral P2Y12 inhibitor therapy for cardiovascular patients. This guidance aims to optimize treatment efficacy and minimize risks associated with antiplatelet medications commonly prescribed after coronary interventions.
Published in Circulation journal, the statement underscores the importance of personalized medicine in managing cardiovascular diseases, particularly in the context of antiplatelet therapy. The CYP2C19 gene plays a crucial role in metabolizing clopidogrel and other P2Y12 inhibitors, influencing their effectiveness in preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.
Clopidogrel, a primary oral P2Y12 inhibitor, undergoes activation through metabolism by the enzyme CYP2C19 from its prodrug form. However, a significant portion of the population, with varying prevalence across different racial and ethnic groups, carries a genetic variation in the CYP2C19 gene that reduces its enzyme function. This genetic variant has long been associated with increased platelet aggregation and higher rates of ischemic events among patients undergoing clopidogrel therapy.
Despite these findings, current guidelines in the US and Europe concerning antiplatelet therapy for coronary artery disease (CAD) have not universally recommended routine genetic testing. However, selective use of genetic testing has been acknowledged in specific scenarios such as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) adjustment following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Dr. Naveen L. Pereira, chair of the writing group from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, highlighted that the motivation behind the new American Heart Association (AHA) statement stems from the need to incorporate findings from recent clinical trials (POPular Genetics, TAILOR-PCI, PHARMCLO, and IAC-PCI), observational studies, and meta-analyses into guideline updates. These studies have provided crucial insights into the clinical implications of CYP2C19 genetic testing on treatment outcomes in CAD patients.
Loss-of-function genetic variants in CYP2C19 are prevalent and can lead to reduced levels of active metabolites, resulting in increased platelet aggregation during treatment with clopidogrel and higher rates of ischemic events. Genetic testing for CYP2C19 allows the identification of patients with these variants who may benefit from alternative therapies.
Conversely, guidelines suggest considering potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors like ticagrelor or prasugrel universally, as they do not rely on CYP2C19 for activation. However, these alternatives have been associated with a higher risk of bleeding. Recent clinical trials and meta-analyses indicate that a personalized medicine approach, where individuals with loss-of-function variants receive ticagrelor or prasugrel and noncarriers receive clopidogrel, can reduce ischemic events without increasing bleeding complications.
The evidence strongly supports the integration of CYP2C19 genetic testing into clinical practice before initiating oral P2Y12 inhibitor therapy in patients undergoing acute coronary syndromes or percutaneous coronary intervention.
Dr. Pereira emphasized that adopting genetic testing will hinge on several factors, including the timely availability of results, acceptance of preemptive genetic testing strategies, clear and actionable result reporting with treatment recommendations, and seamless integration into electronic health records. These considerations are crucial for the successful implementation of precision medicine in cardiovascular care.
Reference:
Pereira NL, Cresci S, Angiolillo DJ, Batchelor W, Capers Q 4th, Cavallari LH, Leifer D, Luzum JA, Roden DM, Stellos K, Turrise SL, Tuteja S; American Heart Association Professional/Public Education and Publications Committee of the Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; and Stroke Council. CYP2C19 Genetic Testing for Oral P2Y12 Inhibitor Therapy: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024 Jun 20. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001257. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38899464.
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Israel: A recent study published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews has revealed a concerning connection between stuttering during adolescence and an increased likelihood of developing dysglycemia in early adulthood. The findings underscore the potential long-term health implications for individuals experiencing speech fluency challenges during their teenage years.
The study found an association between stuttering in adolescence and a higher risk of dysglycemia in early adulthood for women and men. Screening and targeted prevention may be beneficial in this population, especially women. Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech,
Analyzing data from over 866,000 individuals, the researchers found that women and men with a history of stuttering faced significantly increased risks of developing dysglycemia compared to those without, with aHRs of 1.18 & 1.61, respectively.
Dysglycemia encompasses a range of conditions involving abnormal blood glucose levels, including prediabetes and diabetes. Gilad Twig, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel, and colleagues aimed to investigate the association between stuttering during adolescence and dysglycemia onset (type 2 diabetes or prediabetes) in early adulthood among men and women.
For the cohort study, the research team included Maccabi Health Services members evaluated for mandatory military service at ages 16–19 during 1990–2019 and followed until 31 December 2020. Stuttering status was recorded in the baseline medical evaluation. Using prediabetes and diabetes registries, they systematically identified incident cases of dysglycemia. Cox proportional hazard models were applied for women and men separately, adjusting for medical status and sociodemographics.
The researchers reported the following findings:
In conclusion, adolescents of both sexes with stuttering had a higher risk for dysglycemia development (prediabetes or type 2 diabetes) in young adulthood.
“This population should be encouraged to maintain a metabolically favorable lifestyle, including physical activity and a healthy diet, and be medically followed to reduce type 2 diabetes risk in young adulthood,” the researchers wrote.
Reference:
Rabotin, A., Schwarz, Y., Pinhas-Hamiel, O., Amir, O., Derazne, E., Tzur, D., Chodick, G., Afek, A., Tsur, A. M., & Twig, G. (2024). Stuttering in adolescence and the risk for dysglycemia in early adulthood. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 40(5), e3828. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.3828
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New Delhi- The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has recently released the seat matrix of Internal Quota (DU/BHU) for NEET MDS Counselling 2024. As per the Internal Quota (DU/BHU) seat matrix, there are 25 seats vacant for Round 1 NEET MDS Counselling 2024.
According to the MCC schedule, registrations for NEET MDS 2024 have begun July 1 and continue till September 14, 2024. After the completion of counselling, the academic session for PG courses will begin on August 1, 2024.
As per the Internal Quota (DU/BHU) seat matrix, the maximum number of seats are vacant in 3 specialities i.e. Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with 4 seats each, followed by Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry and Periodontology with 3 seats each. Oral and Maxillofacial pathology and Oral Microbiology and Public Health Dentistry have 1 seat each.
SEAT MATRIX
|
S.NO |
SPECIALITY |
VACANT SEATS |
|
1 |
CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY AND ENDODONTICS. |
4 |
|
2 |
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGY AND ORAL MICROBIOLOGY. |
1 |
|
3 |
ORAL MEDICINE AND RADIOLOGY. |
2 |
|
4 |
ORTHODONTICS AND DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS. |
3 |
|
5 |
PEDIATRIC AND PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY. |
3 |
|
6 |
PERIODONTOLOGY. |
3 |
|
7 |
PROSTHODONTICS AND CROWN AND BRIDGE. |
4 |
|
8 |
PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY. |
1 |
|
9 |
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY. |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
25 |
To view the seat matrix, click the link below
Below is the detailed schedule-
|
S.NO |
SCHEDULE FOR ADMISSION |
ALL INDIA QUOTA/DEEMED & CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES |
SHARING OF JOINED CANDIDATE’S DATA BY MCC |
STATE COUNSELLING |
SHARING OF JOINED CANDIDATE’S DATA BY STATES |
|
1 |
Ist Round of Counselling. |
1st July, 2024 to 10th July, 2024. |
19th July, 2024. |
10th July to 20th July, 2024. |
26th July to 27th July, 2024. |
|
2 |
Last date of Joining. |
The last date of Joining is 17th July 2024. |
– |
25th July, 2024. |
– |
|
3 |
2nd round of Counselling. |
7 th Aug, 2024 |
– |
12th Aug, 2024. |
– |
|
4 |
Round-3. |
12th Aug to 21st Aug, 2024. |
29th Aug., 2024. |
21st Aug 2024 to 26th Aug, 2024. |
31st Aug.,2024. |
|
5 |
Last date of joining. |
28th Aug., 2024. |
– |
30th Aug., 2024. |
– |
|
6 |
Stray Vacancy. |
2nd Sept., 2024 to 7th Sept., 2024. |
– |
5th Sept., 2024 to 10th Sept., 2024. |
– |
|
7 |
Last date of joining. |
14th Sept., 2024. |
– |
14th Sept., 2024. |
– |
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New Delhi: After observing that the construction cost of an additional block at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital reportedly exceeded by Rs 670 crore, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena has asked the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Tuesday to start a probe into the alleged financial irregularities.
As per an ANI report, Saxena has alleged that a tender worth Rs 465 crore for the construction of an additional block in Delhi Govt’s Lok Nayak Hospital has increased surreptitiously to Rs 1135 crore, creating a liability of approximately Rs 670 Crores on the Delhi Government.
In a letter, VK Saxena said, “I have perused the matter, which relates to blatant violation of procedures and creating an unauthorized liability of approximately Rs 670 Crores for the GNCTD while constructing a new building block for Lok Nayak Hospital. A hospital originally tendered out on contract for Rs. 465 Crores (approx.), ran into re-estimates and expansion of the scope of work amounting to a whopping Rs. 1135 Crores (approx.).”
Also read- Supply Of Sub-Standard Items: 26 Delhi Hospitals Under Scanner Of Anti Corruption Branch
He alleged that this huge cost escalation happened with a clear conspiracy of the Delhi Government’s Health Department under Saurabh Bhardwaj and the Public Works Department headed by Atishi Marlena.
LG VK Saxena has asked the Vigilance Department to request the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to constitute a special team of Chief Technical Examiners to conduct a detailed technical examination in this matter.
LG has also constituted a committee to examine the procedural violations that led to cost escalation to the tune of Rs 670 crore. The committee will also examine ongoing projects in different Delhi Government hospitals.
The case pertains to the construction of a new building block in LNH Hospital. The scheduled start date was November 4, 2020, with a completion period of 30 months. However, even after three and a half years, the current progress of work is only 64 per cent, even as costs have risen by 243 per cent.
The Health & Family Welfare Department of GNCTD had assigned the project to the Public Works Department (PWD).
However, the work originally tendered out for Rs 465 Crores, ran into re-estimates and expansion of scope of work amounting to a whopping Rs 1135 Crores.
The PWD attributed the cost overruns to an increase in the scope of work. But while the scope of work increased by 8.61 per cent only, the cost increased by a whopping 143 per cent.
Interestingly, such huge cost overruns were done at the level of the Engineers of the Department itself, even though it should have gone to the Finance Department and the Cabinet, the press note stated.
However, after LG flagged the matter to CM Arvind Kejriwal on June 22, 2023, the AAP Government brought a Cabinet Note in March 2024, for approval of the cost overruns, which is yet pending.
Also read- Patient Denied Admission: Two Govt Hospitals Submit Reports To Delhi Health Department
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Semaglutide, a medication initially developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, significantly improves symptoms in men and women with a common type of heart failure that has had few therapeutic options. Women experienced greater weight loss and the same symptom benefits compared with men, according to research presented today by Dr. Subodh Verma (St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto) at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
This secondary analysis of the STEP-HFpEF (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity and HFpEF) program reveals that semaglutide provides benefits for men and women that do not track directly with weight loss, suggesting the drug may also have weight-loss independent effects on the cardiovascular system. The study (which included two trials) compared semaglutide with a placebo over 52 weeks in 1,145 participants, highlighting intriguing sex differences.
The analysis sought to determine whether phenotypic features and treatment effects of semaglutide vary by sex in obesity-related heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). It evaluated the influence of sex on the disease’s baseline characteristics and compared the effects of semaglutide versus placebo on key trial endpoints in the STEP-HFpEF program (comprised of STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM Trials).
“Understanding the sex differences in obesity-related HFpEF is of great importance. Obesity and visceral adiposity are key drivers of HFpEF development and progression, and this may be even more amplified in women, who represent the majority of people with the disease, and bear a heavier burden of symptoms and physical limitations due to HFpEF” said Mikhail Kosiborod, MD, FACC, senior author of the study and a cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. “Our study sheds light on these differences and the consistent benefits of semaglutide for women and men.”
Lead author, Dr. Subodh Verma commented that “women living with obesity and heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction were also found to have higher BMI’s compared to men, and were much more symptomatic at baseline.”
“Females had more systemic inflammation and compared to previous HfpEF studies, females with obesity-related HfpEF were also younger,” Verma said.
The study analyzed the effects of semaglutide 2.4 mg administered to participants once weekly vs placebo on the STEP-HFpEF program’s dual primary and confirmatory secondary, and exploratory outcomes by sex. A total of 1,145 participants with obesity-related HFpEF were evaluated over 52 weeks, of which 570 were females.
Semaglutide, compared with placebo, similarly improved HF-related symptoms, physical limitations, exercise function, and reduced inflammation and natriuretic peptides regardless of sex.
Semaglutide-mediated improvements in HF-related symptoms and physical limitations were consistent in both male and female participants across key subgroups including age and BMI. It also lowered their systolic blood pressure and waist circumference.
However, there were sex differences in the treatment effects in terms of the reduction in body weight with semaglutide. Female participants experienced greater weight loss than males, with a mean difference of -9.6% vs -7.2%. Even though there was a significant reduction in body weight in both sexes, it was greater in females (a statistically significant interaction).
At baseline, females had higher left ventricular ejection fraction, presented with worse symptoms and physical limitations, and had higher levels of inflammation at baseline, but similar rates of hypertension and diuretic use and less atrial fibrillation compared with males, despite their higher BMI. Researchers note that this may indicate that more female participants had a typical obesity phenotype of HFpEF compared with males who may also have left atrial myopathy HFpEF complicated by an increase in BMI.
In an accompanying editorial, Anuradha Lala, MD, a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Director of Heart Failure Research for the NHLBI Cardiothoracic Surgery Network, said there is a need for further studies to illuminate the mechanism by which this drug provides benefits and continued attention to sex-specific differences in treatment responses.
Reference:
Subodh Verma, Javed Butler, Barry A. Borlaug, Melanie Davies, Dalane W. Kitzman, Sanjiv J. Shah, Mark C. Petrie, Eric Barros, Cecilia Rönnbäck, Lene Sommer Vestergaard, Morten Schou, Justin A. Ezekowitz, Kavita Sharma, Shachi Patel, Khaja M. Chinnakondepalli, Mikhail N. Kosiborod, Efficacy of Semaglutide by Sex in Obesity-Related Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: STEP-HFpEF Trials, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.06.001.
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