Vizag doctors perform liver transplant without blood

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated under Jeevandan scheme of AP
A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated under Jeevandan scheme of AP

Visakhapatnam :

The first liver transplant without any blood or blood product transfusion in Andhra Pradesh was held at a corporate hospital in the Healthcity, Arilova recently.

The surgery was performed on a 54-year-old male patient on July 30.The patient has since recovered and is all set to be discharged.

The male patient hailing from Vijayawada was suffering from NASH (Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis) related cirrhosis and decompensated liver failure. He had a very poor quality of life due to accumulation of excessive water in his body, episodes of bleeding in his gut and hepatic encephalopathy (liver failure related mental changes), said Dr Sandeep Chatrath, Central Regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals.

“In addition, his cirrhotic liver also had a cancerous tumour, which necessitated an immediate operation. Unfortunately his family had no matching live donor and therefore had no option but to wait for a cadaveric organ from a brain dead person. A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated to him under Jeevandan scheme of AP,” informed Dr Manish C Verma, chief transplant surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad and Vizag.

This operation, which lasted for about eight hours is also a landmark operation as it is the first liver transplant in the state to be done without any blood or blood product transfusion. Dr Varma said, “Liver transplant has always been an operation which requires high volumes of blood product transfusions and this operation without any transfusion is a clinical benchmark which is rarely achieved.”

The team of specialists who performed the liver transplant included, Dr Manish C Varma, Dr Anand Khakhar, Dr Manjunath B, Dr Kirubakaran, Dr N Muralidhar, Dr Disha, Dr N. Srinivas, Dr Satish, Dr Atchyut, Dr Bhushan and Dr Sasidhar Reddy.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 11th, 2016

British Prison testimony to sacrifices of freedom fighters

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Built in 1750s, it was used to confine freedom fighters from Krishna and Guntur districts till another jail was built in Vijayawada in 1920s

The remains of the British Prison at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district.
The remains of the British Prison at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district.

A British construction here stands as a witness to the bravery and sacrifices of the freedom fighters of Masulipatnam and Krishna district.

The giant building, known as ‘British Prison’, reminds one of the history of freedom struggle in Andhra Pradesh.

“It was built after the Anglo-French war in 1750s. The British required a prison in Machilipatnam to incarcerate the local freedom fighters within the area of Krishna and Guntur districts and Nalgonda in Telangana State during the freedom struggle,” local historian Mohammed Silar toldThe Hindu .

According to available literature on Machilipatnam, it was the only prison to confine the freedom fighters until another prison was built in Vijayawada in early 1920s.

Jaggery unit

‘Masula History’ penned by Chitta Bala Krishna Sastry in 1922 predicts that Machilipatnam would witness rapid industrial activity, by citing the jaggery production unit set up in the British prison by then.

“After the British left the prison by early 1920s, local entrepreneur Jaldu Rama Rao obtained permission from the British to use the prison premises for production of jaggery and sugar,” said Mr. Silar. However, sugar cane production had to be stopped by mid 1940s, owing to various business reasons.

Currently, the British prison is owned by the family of Jaldu Rama Rao.

Now, an old woman resides at the entrance of the site, which is yet to get the heritage status.

Only if it gets the heritage status, any conservatory initiatives by the Archaeological Survey of India could be expected to take place.

Another heritage structure

Ironically, the British prison is located opposite another heritage site which was a hospital during the Nizam’s period.

The efforts made by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for the conservation of the British prison as well as the other sites at Bandarkota have not yielded any results so far.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Andhra Pradesh / Bankarkota(KrishnA) / August 15th, 2016

UK team performs free heart surgeries on 19 children

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Science & Technology, World Opinion

An eleven-member United Kingdom paediatric team performed heart surgeries on 19 children in association with the Heart and Brain Institute of the Andhra Hospital Group.

In a meeting organised to thank the U.K. charity called the Healing Little Hearts, Andhra Hospitals managing director P V Ramana Murthy said that this was the second year that the Healing Little Hearts had performed the surgeries free of cost on underprivileged children who were suffering with congenital heart and other cardiac disorders. Complex cardiac operations were performed on 17 children last year. Heart operations were performed on another 15 children in March this year and within six months operations have been done on 19 children this month, he said.

The kids are doing well

All the 19 children are doing well and they would be discharged in a few days, he said. The team members came from hospitals of international repute like the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, Glenfield Hospitals, Leicester, Royal Liver Pool Children’s Hospital of U.K. and the Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, he said.

Paediatric interventional cardiologist from Leicester Vikram Kudumula, Paediatric intensive care specialists Marijuana, Julia and Nayan Setty from Liverpool led the team.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 14th, 2016

Artists unveil story of Krishna at Bapu Museum

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Art buffs admiring the works at the expo organised at the Bapu Museum as part of Krishna Pushkarams in Vijayawada.—Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar
Art buffs admiring the works at the expo organised at the Bapu Museum as part of Krishna Pushkarams in Vijayawada.—Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar

Vintage photos, paintings bring to life State heritage

The Bapu Museum looked colourful with various hues on Saturday as dozens of paintings and photographs highlighting the heritage of Andhra Pradesh and the history of river Krishna were showcased both by the Department of Archaeology and Museums and Artist Associations’ Guild as part of Krishna Pushkarams.

Vintage photographs, collected and preserved by the department, brought to the fore century-old temples, forts, wells, inscriptions and places of historical importance in various districts. These works are displayed at the coastal museum.

“This expo is sponsored by the Department of Culture and Language. Around 60 painters representing the guild are also taking part with their works. The works are made of acrylic, oil, water and other multi-mixed paints projecting the sthala purana of the river which flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before hitting the at Humsaladeevi,” said guild president B.A. Reddy from Pamarru.

He said the theme of the painting was Krishna Pushkarams and the works dealt with temples, idols, rituals, nature and the splendour of river Krishna and leaders who shaped the future of Andhra Pradesh.

Guild formed in 1992

Mr. Reddy said that the guild was formed in 1992 when the State was united. “After bifurcation, the guild was shifted to Guntur. We, as desired by the Department of Culture and Language, took part in the Godavari Pushkars and also in the Ugadi celebrations at Government Music College in Vijayawada. This is the third big event we are taking part,” said secretary Mruthunjaya Rao.

He said that each painting displayed will get Rs.6,000 from the department and on the final day, the guild, in memory of several late painters such as Damerla Rama Rao, Bhagirathi, A.S. Ram and M. S. Murthy will honour the participants with awards and mementoes.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 14th, 2016

Almost 5 lakh perform ablution in Andhra as 12-day-long river fete begins

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Devotees take the holy dip in the river Krishna during the first day of Krishna Pushkarams at the Krishnaveni ghat in Vijayawada on Friday | P Ravindra Babu
Devotees take the holy dip in the river Krishna during the first day of Krishna Pushkarams at the Krishnaveni ghat in Vijayawada on Friday | P Ravindra Babu

Vijayawada :

An estimated five lakh pilgrims took the holy dip in Krishna, as the much-awaited 12-day Krishna Pushkaram began Friday. It was quite a small crowd contrary to the official expectations of more than 15 lakh on the first day of the river fete. The thin turnout is attributed to overzealous policemen and Varalakshmi Vratam.

As the day wore on, the police went into an overdrive, restricting the movement of vehicles. Only pedestrians could reach the ghats as 18 drones hovered above, recording pilgrim movement.

As the day dissolved into night peacefully, the officials heaved a sigh of relief. All through the day, they had been on the edge, fearing a repeat of last year’s stampede at Godavari Pushkaram which claimed 29 lives. The district administration expects that 3.5 crore people could take the holy dip in Krishna during the next 11 days. The ghats in Krishna, Guntur and Kurnool witnessed a steady flow of pilgrims since morning. There was no jostling anywhere. But tragically, a six-year-old boy, A Kiran Kumar, drowned in the river at the Padmavathi Ghat in Vijayawada.

A 51-year-old constable on Pushkaram duty, U Venkata Rao, also died when he was hit by a speeding car at Gudavalli near Vijayawada. The boy was a  native of Vijayawada. He was playing with his friends, when he drowned.  The constable, a native of Kadapa, was on his way to Vijayawada when he met with the accident.

Earlier, CM N Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by his wife, took the holy dip at the Durga ghat. Later, he reiterated his intention to interlink all rivers in the state. “Water sustains life and keeps the economic activity going. I want to ensure that the people have access to water for all their needs,” Naidu said.

Despite publicity, the crowds were thin not only in Vijayawada but also in Guntur and Kurnool.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by S Guru Srikanth / August 13th, 2016

Senior journalist Kasipathi passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

He had been ailing for a few years. A native of Anantapur district, he spent most of his life there.

Eminent journalist and orator, Yadhati Kasipathi, who was a sympathiser of the then People’s War Group, passed away here on Thursday. He was 75 and is survived by wife Pushpa and two daughters – Pragathi and Vennela.

He had been ailing for a few years. A native of Anantapur district, he spent most of his life there.

For long he worked for the Telugu daily ‘Andhra Prabha’ and given his flair for writing in English, his news items were also published in The Indian Express .

A voracious reader, he used to be found in his stuffy office surrounded by papers. An accused in the Parvathipuram conspiracy case, he was also jailed for a while.

Interestingly, as a youth, he initially worked for the Youth Congress as a National Council member and also with the Red Cross Society of India.

He also did a Bachelor’s programme in Journalism and was helped financially in the endeavour by former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kalluru Subba Rao.

He was then attracted by the Leftist ideology primarily due to top Communist leader Tarimela Nagi Reddy.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – August 12th, 2016

Tributes paid to Sankarambadi

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Writers led by Sahasravadhani Medasani Mohan paying tributes at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, in Tirupati on Wednesday.— Photo: K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR
Writers led by Sahasravadhani Medasani Mohan paying tributes at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, in Tirupati on Wednesday.— Photo: K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

Writers turned up in large numbers at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, composer of the State anthem Maa Telugu Thalliki , to pay tributes to him on the occasion of his 102nd birth anniversary on Wednesday.

There is only one bronze statue for Sundarachari in the State installed by literary enthusiasts a decade back in his native place of Tirupati. A son of the soil, the poor man lived for literature and died an ‘unsung hero’.

Members of Sankarambadi Sahiti Peetham, a literary body formed in his name by academician Garlapati Damodaram Naidu to perpetuate his ideals, celebrated the day by garlanding Sundarachari’s statue and paying tributes, even as the organisation’s vice-president G. Suhasini rendered the anthem.

Noted ‘Sahasravadhani’ Medasani Mohan led the team of writers and poets in paying tributes. Peetham’s president D. Masthanamma announced that the body aimed at bringing the glory of the litterateurs of yesteryear to the present generation and popularising them. General secretary M. Devarajulu, writer Sakam Nagaraja and others participated.

At Sri Padmavathi Degree and PG College, TTD Special Officer (Projects) N. Muktheswara Rao explained the nuances in his compositions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Tirupati – August 11th, 2016

Rajiv Gandhi award presented to educationist

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All
V. Koteswaramma
V. Koteswaramma

The International Business Council (IBC), New Delhi, has presented the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award to Montessori Educational Institutions founder and correspondent V. Koteswaramma.

The award was presented recently for her outstanding achievements in the field of education. “I got many awards and the new award has added one more feather in the cap of Montessori Institutions. I thank the college and school principals, headmasters and teaching and non-teaching staff for their commitment and hard work, which helped me in achieving the awards,” said Koteswaramma, who expressed satisfaction at bagging the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award.

Montessori Colleges Joint Secretary Avirneni Rajiv, Degree College Principal R. Padmavathi, Junior College Principal Y. Mangatayaru, B.Ed College Principal G. Padma Tulasi, High School headmistress K. Suhasini and other staff felicitated the institutions’ founder for her achievement, at a programme held on the college premises on Friday.

Montessori Educational Institutions, which started with a meagre staff and students about six decades ago, is now running many schools and colleges for girls, said Ms. Koteswaramma.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – August 06th, 2016

Mridanga Vidushi honoured

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan being honoured.
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan being honoured.

The Palani Subramanyam memorial award was given to vidushi Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohan Rao.

The prestigious Percussive Arts Centre of Bangalore (Palghat Mani Iyer Memorial Arts Centre) conducts Talavadyotsav every year in a big way. Talavadyotsav-2016, a festival of percussive arts and music conference was conducted for four days. Life time achievement awards were instituted by the Centre in memory of legendary percussive artistes like Palghat Mani Iyer, Palani Subramanyam Pillai, Bengaluru K. Venkataraman, H. Puttachar and G.S. Sriram.

Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan Rao.
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan Rao.

This year mridanga vidushi Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohan Rao of Vijayawada received the coveted Palani Subramanyam Memorial Award for her eminence in mridanga vadyam.

The wife and disciple of famed mridanga vidwan Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao, Sumathi is an A-grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan and belongs to Palani Subramanyam bani. She learnt the preliminaries from father Nidumolu Raghavaiah and Mahadevu Radhakrishna Raju and received her advanced training from her husband Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao.

She travelled widely and in a mridangam playing career spanning 25 years, she accompanied many eminent vocal and instrumental vidwans for concerts in the country and abroad.

A few years ago she also received the Central Sangeet Natak Akademy award. She worked for more than 20 years as a mridangam lecturer in the G.V.R. Government College of music and trained a large number of disciples in mridanga vadyam.

Sumathi Ramamohan Rao established a sabha named Laya Vedika which provides stage for only percussive instrumentalists.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by P. Surya Rao / Hyderabad – August 04th, 2016