Category: Science & Technology

** IISc. vaccine, DRDO drug and OxyCare system are game changers: Sudhakar

Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar reviewed ongoing efforts at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), which is developing a vaccine for COVID-19, and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that has developed a drug that prevents viral growth and a better oxygen management system. He hailed them as “game changers in the fight against COVID-19”.

Dr. Sudhakar visited DRDO facilities in the city on Friday where scientists appraised him of progress on 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) drug they are developing in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad. “Clinical trial results have shown that this molecule helps in faster recovery of hospitalised patients and reduces supplemental oxygen dependence,” DRDO scientists said.

He was also apprised of the OxyCare system, an intelligent oxygen management system that reduces exposure of healthcare providers by eliminating manual adjustments to oxygen flow. The PM-CARES Fund will procure 1.5 lakh units of Oxycare System at a cost of ₹322.5 crore. It will be deployed across the country, DRDO scientists said.

* * Udupi: Basavaraj Bommai sets up Covid Care Centre on premises of his residence

Minister of state for home, law and parliamentary affairs, Basavaraj Bommai handed over 25 oxygen concentrators to Shiggaon public hospital that can help save the lives of Covid patients. A 50-bed hospital has been also inaugurated on the premises of his residence at Shiggaon.

** Mysuru-based firm develops drugs to fight Covid

At a time when the Covid second wave is raging, a Mysuru-based company has developed a new set of drugs to combat the Coronavirus, and the advantage is that these drugs can be administered orally. DRM Innovations, has used artificial intelligence to develop the drug. A team of specialists, led by Dr Manjunath B H, MD of DRM,

Dr Basappa, Chairman, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, University of Mysore, and Prof Mahesh PA, Department of Respiratory Medicine, JSS Medical College and Hospital, has developed the drugs.

** Mandya gets 40 mobile oxygen concentrators

Mobile oxygen concentrators have come as a relief in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Mandya, particularly in taluks and rural pockets where the cases have seen a spike.

Mandya is among the districts in the State that are reporting over four-digit cases since many days with sharp rise in positivity rate and the case fatality rate.

On an appeal to the State COVID-19 Task Force, Mandya got 40 mobile oxygen concentrators, which are now being used across the district for treating patients based on their case status.

** COVID-19: 150 oxygen concentrators gifted by NRI

Philanthropists and corporates have been stepping in to help the city fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Martha’s Hospital received 150 sets of oxygen concentrators that were sent by Dubai-based NRI Eugene Mayne, founder and chief executive of the Tristar Group.

Mr. Mayne, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Bangalore and Bangalore University, sourced the oxygen concentrators from Europe.

** Second Navy vessel with oxygen cylinders arrives at NMPT

The second Indian Navy vessel carrying oxygen and other medical aid from Kuwait arrived at the New Mangaluru Port on Monday.

According to a press release by the New Mangaluru Port Trust, the Indian Navy vessel INS Kolkata brought two containers with 20 tonnes of oxygen, 200 oxygen cylinders packed in 10 pallets of 10 ton and four 10-litre high flow oxygen concentrators. This was sent by Government of Kuwait to the Indian Red Cross Society for use in treatment of COVID-19 patients.

** Karnataka private hospitals body launches Search My Bed portal

The Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes’ Association (PHANA) on Sunday launched a portal — Search My Bed — which will provide real-time information on the availability of beds in private hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

This has been a long-standing demand from citizens who were otherwise forced to call up private hospitals or knock on their doors to see if there were any beds available for patients.

** Indian biotech startup claims breakthrough in early-stage cancer detection

Tzar Labs, a molecular diagnostic company in coordination with the Mumbai-based Epigeneres Biotechnology, has claimed to have developed a breakthrough blood test for early prognosis/diagnosis of cancer.