Erode: The police said on Friday they have sought from two infertility cure hospitals in the district a detailed list of ovum (egg) donors with aadhaar numbers and residential addresses, after a minor girl was forced to donate her eggs.Based on a complaint from relatives of the girl who was forced to donate eggs eight times by her mother, the latter's paramour, a woman broker and an auto-driver, police said they arrested the four and registered a case against the two popular infertility cure hospitals.All the four were remanded and lodged in the Central prison.A six-member medical team from Chennai visited Erode, inspected the two hospitals, collected data and also enquired with the 16-year-old girl.Erode District Additional Superintendent of Police Kanageswari is the investigation officer in the case.The police said they have been collecting details and sent memos to the hospitals to provide the name and address of the donors of eggs with Aadhaar number details. The police said after getting the list, they would interrogate donors at their residence.According to the police, the matter came to light after the girl escaped from the trio (mother, her paramour and the broker) and narrated the ordeal to her relatives in Salem. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the police.—PTI

The police said on Friday they have sought from two infertility cure hospitals in the district a detailed list of ovum (egg) donors with aadhaar numbers and residential addresses, after a minor girl was forced to donate her eggs.

Police seek list of ovum donors in Erode

Oklahoma: Every year, over 8,000 individuals die while waiting for a kidney transplant, many of whom have been on donor waitlists for four or more years, hoping for a miracle. Researchers revealed that these deaths occur as a result of a worldwide scarcity of kidneys for transplantation, currently, there are no effective methods for determining the viability of enough donor kidneys donors to fulfill demand.
A team of researchers from the University of Oklahoma and the OU Health Sciences Center, with assistance from LifeShare of Oklahoma, as well as researchers and clinicians from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Worchester Polytechnic Institute and Georgetown Medical Center will collaborate to investigate the use of optical coherence tomography to evaluate donor kidneys and develop new scanning methods and machine learning algorithms to reduce the evaluation time of donor kidneys while substantially increasing the information about the viability of these organs for transplant surgeons and clinicians.
"Our goal is to develop a better, more objective method for evaluating kidney quality than is offered by current methods," Tang said. "We want to get more kidneys in the hands of transplant surgeons and make better use of the donor kidney pool."
The current process for screening donor kidneys uses two methods - pathological scores based on anatomical features from a biopsy and the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) derived from the donor's medical history. However, clinical research indicates that those current methods have limited discriminative power.
"By scanning the whole kidney surface, our device intends to eliminate the uncertainty created by the biopsy/KDPI paradigm," Tang said.
In addition to Tang, the OU research team includes Chongle Pan, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science and microbiology, Kar-Ming A. Fung, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neuropathology and surgical pathology, director of neuropathology and director of electron microscopy at OU HSC; and Zhongxin Yu, M.D., a board-certified pathologist with OUHSC.
When assessing donor organs for transplant, Tang said there are two golden standards, pre-transplant biopsy score results and post-transplant clinical outcomes. Tang and his team believe that optical coherence tomography, or OCT, scanning technology can aid in predicting both. OCT is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of tissue, providing what is effectively an 'optical ultrasound' by imaging reflections from within tissue to provide cross-sectional images. The key benefits of OCT are the acquisition of live, sub-surface images at near-microscopic resolution with instant, direct imaging of tissue morphology without the need for preparation of or contact with a tissue sample.
"What we want to do is to automate the evaluation process," Pan said, "so the data coming from the OCT device can be directly analyzed by machine learning algorithms and output a score that is comparable to the score surgeons are currently using. The surgeon can look at this score and determine if this kidney is right for their patient."
Currently, pathologists often use a biopsy to assess kidney health which only provides information about the specific spot the biopsy is taken from. Since OCT is non-invasive, it is possible to scan the whole kidney and get a more complete view of the organ's overall functional capacity.
"A kidney is a three-dimensional object. (Whereas) a biopsy can only assess one specific spot in that kidney to determine transplant viability, OCT scans can image about 1-2 millimeters below the surface of biological tissue," Tang said. "For transplanting kidneys, this is very good because it is the most representative area of kidney functionality. By scanning the whole organ instead of taking a biopsy from a single area, the transplant surgeon can assess the spatial distribution of the function of the kidney and decide if it is a good match for their patient."
OU researchers will be responsible for acquiring, scanning and obtaining an initial histological analysis of the kidneys, as well as developing OCT scanning and machine learning components. LifeShare of Oklahoma will provide 200 donor kidneys over the next four years. These kidneys will be scanned by Tang's team and OU pathologists will provide the histology results.
Kidneys deemed to be viable for transplant will be added to the United Network for Organ Sharing system, the only organ procurement and transplantation network in the U.S.
The research team will observe the clinical outcomes of patients receiving these kidneys post-transplant, and OCT images of the kidneys will be correlated with post-transplant renal function to establish imaging algorithms and guidelines for OCT imaging of kidneys prior to their transplant.
For kidneys deemed non-viable by current pathological standards, the project will combine the biopsy results with OCT images to build a database and correlate the OCT image with the histology result, with the goal of verifying that the OCT images align with the histology results from the biopsies.
This combined pool of data will allow the team to develop deep-learning-based image processing algorithms to quantitatively assess parameters observed in OCT scans as indicators of the functional status of kidneys. As part of the project, they will also develop a robot-assisted automatic 3D scanning OCT device to image human kidneys prior to their transplantation. Pan explained the diagnostic criteria developed for machine learning during this project will be based on the same scoring sheet clinicians are already using, except the sheet would be reproduced using OCT data rather than pathology slides. "Right now, 40 per cent of donor kidneys are discarded as being unfit for transplant," he said. "By our estimate, of that 40 per cent, there are a substantial amount that are actually usable. We are hoping to decrease the number of discarded kidneys to 25 per cent and save more people's lives." —ANI

Every year, over 8,000 individuals die while waiting for a kidney transplant, many of whom have been on donor waitlists for four or more years, hoping for a miracle. 

Researchers Suggest New Scanning Methods To Reduce Evaluation Time Of Donor Kidneys

Chennai: Funds totaling Rs 231 crore were donated by alumni, corporations, and private individuals during 2022-23, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras announced on Monday.
This "historic" figure was raised by IIT Madras and its affiliated organisations, making it the largest sum ever raised by the institute in a fiscal year for the purpose of carrying out socially-relevant projects, the institute claimed.
In comparison to the Rs 131 crore raised in FY 22, the fundraising effort has increased by 76% in the intervening year. The number of donors who gave more than Rs 1 crore to the institute rose by 64% over the previous year, according to a press release.—Inputs from Agencies

Funds totaling Rs 231 crore were donated by alumni, corporations, and private individuals during 2022-23, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras announced on Monday.

IIT Madras raises record Rs 231 crore funds from alumni, donors

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Saturday announced that the state would provide state honours for the funeral of organ donors.
In a social media post on microblogging site X on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said, "In order to honour the sacrifice of those who donate their organs and save many lives, the funeral of those donating their organs before their deaths will be conducted with state honours."
He also said that the state of Tamil Nadu continues to be a pioneer in the country in giving life to the hundreds of patients through organ donation, the Chief Minister said that the achievement has been made possible by the selfless sacrifices of families who come forward to donate the organs of the family members who suffer brain death under tragic circumstances.
Tamil Nadu has recently won the award for the best State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
As per the official data, since the inception of the deceased organ transplantation programme in 2008, the state of Tamil Nadu had 1,706 donors.
A total of 786 hearts, 801 lungs,1566 livers, 3047 kidneys, 37 pancreas, six small bowels, two stomachs and four hands have been transplanted. At present, there are 40 government hospitals in Tamil Nadu that have organ retrieval licenses in the states.
—IANS

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Saturday announced that the state would provide state honours for the funeral of organ donors.

TN announces funeral with state honours for brain dead organ donors

New Delhi [India]: A day after the Election Commission published the electoral bonds data shared by the State Bank of India, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday said that the court should constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Rajya Sabha MP asserted that the issue of electoral bonds would not be investigated by any probe agencies.
"ED and CBI are sleeping right now. If this thing happens against the Opposition they would have taken action. They have taken an overdose of sleeping pills. You must remember because I don't, that someone (referring to PM Modi) said 'na khaoga na khane dunga'. What happened to that? Someone (PM Modi) said that they would bring black money from the Swiss bank and transfer Rs 15 lakh each to people's accounts, but it seems like they have transferred that money to their accounts. In my opinion, this will not be investigated by any probe agencies. Now the responsibility is on the Court to determine what will they do and what action they will take," Sibal said. He further said that the two major scams that have taken place in the country, are demonetization and another scam is of electoral bonds.
"Like the court done in the 2G case, where an SIT was made, in this case also an SIT should be constituted to probe the matter. We have to see how the law will see it now...It should also be found out who donated to the PM-CARES. It's a matter of investigation which party got how many funds," he added. He further asserted that there are a lot of gaps in the investigation. "There are a lot of gaps in investigation. It should also be investigated who all donated to the PM Cares fund. That's too a big issue," he added. Meanwhile, data uploaded by the Election Commission of India on its website on Thursday showed that Future Gaming and Hotel Services, whose director is the lottery magnate Santiago Martin, is the top purchaser of electoral bonds having purchased bonds worth Rs 1368 crore. The data relates to a period from 2019-2024. Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited purchased bonds worth Rs 966 crores. As per the company website Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) is a major infrastructure company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The company was established in 1989 and has made a name for itself in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Most prominent political parties have been beneficiaries of the scheme. They include the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Shiv Sena, YSR Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Aam Aadmi Party and Jana Sena Party.   Earlier on Thursday, the Election Commission uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI with Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd among the top donors to political parties. According to the data, some of the donors include Finolex Cables Ltd, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd, GHCL Ltd, Jindal Poly Films Limited, ITC Limited and Vedanta Limited, Grasim Industries Limited PR, Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited, Piramal Enterprises Ltd, Muthoot Finance Limited, Pegasus Properties Private Limited, Bajaj Finance Ltd, Bharti Airtel Limited, Apollo Tyres Limited and SpiceJet Limited. JK Cement Ltd, DLF Commercial Developers Limited, Avon Cycles Ltd, Zydus Healthcare Limited, Cipla Limited, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Mankind Pharma Limited, Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited, Haldia Energy Limited, Essel Mining and Industry Limited, Western UP Power Transmission Company Limited. Keventer Food Parks Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, BG Shirke Construction Technology Pvt Ltd, Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd and Torrent Power Limited are also among donors, according to the data. The poll panel issued a press note providing the link on which the data provided by the SBI can be accessed. The poll panel uploaded details of electoral bonds submitted by the State Bank of India in two parts. The first part includes the name of the purchaser of the electoral bond, date, and denomination. The second list has the date of encashment, name of the political party and denomination. The Election Commission issued a press note and referred to the directions of the Supreme Court while putting out the electoral bond data. "In compliance of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directions, contained in its order dated Feb 15 and March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), the State Bank of India (SBI) had provided the data pertaining to the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 12, 2024," the press note said.  The poll panel said that it has "consistently and categorically weighed in favour of disclosure and transparency", a position reflected in the proceedings of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and noted in the order also. An electoral bond was an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond that can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds were issued specifically for the purpose of contributing of funds to political parties. These bonds were issued/purchased for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1,00,000, Rs 10,00,000 and Rs 1,00,00,000 from the specified branches of the State Bank of India (SBI).
—ANI

Kapil Sibal demands SIT probe into electoral bonds scandal, questions agency inaction, and stresses the need for transparency in political funding.

"SIT should be constituted to probe the matter," Kapil Sibal on electoral bonds

Shhhh...Hush...Be Pin Drop Silent...Down Below The Water, Watch Out...ThereUnder Could Be Dragon / Shark / Dolphin adroitly trained to jump out of the water to grab from you your stealthily packed names of your "all types of shady, surreptitious, stealthy" electoral bonds donors, if exposed in any wax will "zero" your, the party's all round credibility, credulousness for all times to come...What then, Huh?!? Ever thought about that? Apparently, no, I presume, You being omnipotent, thus, omniscient...But that doesn't in any way help you escape the wrath of the top powers that are the moment they come to know of the names of the "shady" donors of electoral bonds given to you, gotcha? Your credibility then vis-a-vis your "honesty-posing" will not crumble but shatter like nine pins in the quickest ever jiffy, getcha? Thus, be cautious, forewarned, tactful now itself leaving no trace of racketeering electoral bonds that any way if all are "ultra damaging, booby trap for you, for your destruction, annihilation...Don't fall in that trap". Thus, Shhh...Hush.&nbsp;

Dive into the covert world of electoral bond donors and the peril it poses to political transparency and trust. Will secrecy shatter credibility?

The Hawk

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Police seek list of ovum donors in Erode

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The Hawk

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Police seek list of ovum donors in Erode

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