Wine keeps your heart healthy

Research shows drinking small amounts of wine everyday is beneficial

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Friday, December 12, 2008
Consuming small amounts of red and white wine everyday can benefit one's health. According to research conducted by a US-based doctor, the daily consumption of red and white wine with food can prevent obesity, cardiac arrest, hypertension and ageing.Dr Nilanjana Maulik, of the department of surgery at the University of Connecticut's school of medicine in Farmington, was in Vadodara on Thursday to participate in a symposium on translational research in cardiovascular medicine. Dr Maulik, who has authored 140 papers on different subjects, has been studying the effects of wine for the past 10 years. Research conducted by her suggests that white and red wine ward off cardiovascular diseases. “White wine contains tyrosol, which is acts as a cardioprotective, while red wine contains only 6% of alcohol and is made from good quality grapes. So, a combination of white and red wine gives good results. It also controls glucose, and is thus helpful for those with diabetes.” As an anti-oxidant, Tyrosol can protect cells against injury due to oxidation. Its presence in white wine could be responsible for the protective effect, said Dr Maulik, whose team led the research at the University of Connecticut's Health Center in Farmington.She also commented on Gujarat's status as a dry state. “Limited consumption of alcohol can help fight many diseases, and so the state should have a liberal policy regarding wine. Good quality wines cost more and so are less available in India, compared to some countries, such as France,” she said.

Layoff victims take to blogs for help

Having lost their jobs, professionals log on to the net for advice on how to overcome trauma

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Tuesday, December 08,2008

In current global recession, process of cost cutting has axed jobs of thousands of employees, especially in the US. Many of these jobless people are getting on with blogs to find the ways to survive post-layoff. Blog posts on different blog sites are flooding with the tips on how to survive a layoff and how to restart a work life again.Through personal, professional and group blogs, many employees who have recently lost their jobs, share their experiences of layoff and also discuss on the ways to overcome the situation by interacting with the co-sufferers and experts. Ritesh Shah, a US-based IT professional from Vadodara, has recently lost his job. Now he has turned to his personal blog to come out of the troubled waters. He says, "Getting information on current situation from the blogs of the financial experts and counsellors gives moral support to survive. After loosing the job, I have no work on hand to do; so I started getting on with my personal blog and shared my nightmarish experience there. Many people responded and shared the similar experience. In such a state, when you have lost the job, knowing views of the people who are also facing the similar situation, gives a feeling that you are not all alone. Besides, the tips given by experts give strength to restart."Shraddha Jha, an IT professional, returned to her hometown Vadodara, after her layoff from a job in a Bangalore based MNC. Like Ritesh, she is also now trying to overcome the situation and for that she has turned to blogs. "I find useful tips that help me survive a layoff and overcome this troubling situation; financially as well as mentally. Reading such blogs and discussing about the situation gives satisfaction of sharing. There are also chances of getting job through the interactions. Loosing the job makes a person down economically as well as socially. For me sharing my layoff situation on blog is a way to find solace and get on again with my professional life," Shraddha told DNA.'Our department is closing down shortly'; 'the jobs are moving to Asia', 'how can I get a local job?' 'my company is opting for cost cutting and I might loose my job what to do to save my job?' 'how to survive a layoff'?'; these are some of the questions which people ask on different blogs which also show ways to survive lay off situation. So, don't be scared and panic while facing a layoff, because now you are not all alone, and of course, blogs are always there to your rescue! Blogs written by bloggers who are career experts, psychologists, professionals and others offer tips on how to face layoff or a near future layoff. These blogs give advice to face the layoff financially, mentally and socially, help search new jobs and also offer tips on cost cutting in personal expenses and financial management. So, don't let the layoff panic affect you, spare some time for yourself and look for some of the useful tips available on blogs to survive a layoff.

Government should be empathetic in its approach towards us

Victims of muscular dystrophy out on wheelchairs to create awareness

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Monday, December 08, 2008


Sanjana and Atul Goel, the sister and brother duo, have been suffering from muscular dystrophy - a genetic disease characterised by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles which control movement. Though the illness has made the two physically unfit, their spirits are still touching the skies. Nothing could prevent their nationwide mission that they have undertaken on wheelchairs for spreading awareness about muscular dystrophy.As part of their nationwide tour, undertaken at the behest of Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy, Sanjana and Atul were in Vadodara recently. As a part of their awareness campaign, the wheelchair travellers visited Disha, a city based NGO that runs a school for such patients and Autism Centre.Muscular dystrophy is a critical illness that occurs generally among children. With the passage of time, the victims of the disease lose various functions. First, walking is affected, later they find difficulty in rising from sitting posture. Soon they are forced to take to wheelchairs. Though their brain functions normally, the muscles slowly keep deteriorating, and soon their independent existence turns into a nightmare. “There are about four lakh patients of this disability. Unfortunately, most of them do not confess and undergo treatment because of the fear of not getting a suitable match. In fact, with DNA tests and pre-natal tests, muscular dystrophy can be detected and treated. I know a quite a few disabled mothers who have given births to normal children,” Sanjna told DNA.There are various types of dystrophies and the inheritance pattern varies with each type. “The genetically inherent disease of muscular dystrophy affects children, and women are carriers of the disease. All the voluntary muscles of the body are more or less affected in the dystrophic process. The muscles involved in chewing food are the least affected while respiratory muscles are involved late in the disease. Tow to three cases of this disease come to me every month. The experiments on stem cell and other researches are still in test tube,” says Dr Bhavin Upadhyay, a city-based neuron physician.These two enthusiasts have been travelling on their wheelchairs all over the country to create awareness about the silent killer. “If the developed countries make life so easy for people on wheelchairs, why cant the Indian government do the same?” Atul asked. The duo appealed the government and the citizens to be empathetic; and not sympathetic, towards the people suffering from the disease.

MSU to put CCTV cameras in place

About 15 cameras will be set up at the main office in phase I

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The terror attacks in Mumbai have made MSU authorities wake up to the potential security threat that the university may receive. The authorities have now planned to set up CCTV cameras to keep an eye on the activities taking place on the campus.MSU's security has become a matter of concern since its name appeared in the threat mail received soon after the Ahmedabad serial blasts. Checking of ID card and restricted entries were some of the measures the university had taken after the blasts. However, with passage of time, all these steps went into relaxed mode.According to the latest plan, the whole MSU campus will be monitored through CCTV cameras installed on the campus. Cameras will be set up in different phases. In the first phase, 10 to 15 cameras will be set up in the main office within 15 days. The security of MSU campus has always been a question as the security guards at various gates of the campus rarely check the I-cards of people entering the campus. University vice chancellor Ramesh Goyal finds installation of CCTV camera as a useful measure for adequate security on the campus. "To protect the university from any kind of violence, the authorities have decided to set up CCTV cameras at different places on the campus. Gradually, the whole campus will be covered with the cameras. We were planning to install camera for long but the work got delayed due to certain reasons."On their part, the students are supporting the MSU decision of setting up cameras on the campus. They say it is a good measure to keep an eye on the activities happening in the university. Kaushal Shah, a TY BCom student, said: "CCTV cameras will strengthen the security in the university and keep a check on the activities on the campus. Now with the terrorist attacks, safety has become an important issue and university like MSU needs to take action."Harikiron Rao, general secretary of MSU, said: "Installing CCTV cameras will be helpful for the internal security of the university. The cameras will help officials keep a watch on the activities happening on campus. This would also maintain discipline in the university."