Talwar to receive award
KUWAIT CITY: Lack of exercise and unhealthy diet are the two major causes for commonly found heart problems, says Prof K.K. Talwar, Director of Post Graduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He was talking at a press conference Saturday at Radisson SAS Hotel. He is in Kuwait to receive the KMA-IDF Oration Award due to be conferred upon him Sunday at Crowne Plaza Hotel, organized jointly by Kuwait Medical Association (KMA) and Indian Doctor's Forum (IDF). Prof K.K. Talwar has made many significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of myocardial diseases. He was the first to document myocarditis in Takayasu Arteritis by endomyocardial biopsy and heart failure in patients with rheumatic heart disease. He has worked extensively on clinical histopathological and immunological aspects of dilated cardiomyopathy.
He is also known for his extensive works in electrophysiology, electro anatomical mapping (CARTO), radiofrequency ablation and AICD implantation in patients with arrhythmias. He initiated the autologous stem cell transplant in patients with CAD and LV dysfunction. He is recipient of several prestigious awards including Padma Bhushan in 2006 by President of India, Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize and Dr B.C. Roy National Award for Eminent Teacher in 2003 among others. Among all his contributions, he considers his works in the treatment of arrhythmia, a condition characterized by irregular heartbeat, the most important. Arrhythmia is congenital in most cases, and there was surgical treatment for it "which was very extensive though." However, the latest treatment, oblation through the use of electro-physiology, is very effective. The method involves analyzing electrical activations in the heart using catheters and identifying the aberrational area, "where RF energy is delivered for oblation."
The method was started at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi in 1993, three years after it was tested for the first time in France. Prof K.K. Talwar ranks India on par with the most developed countries in terms of medical software. "But in hardware we are still lagging behind." Most of the biomedical equipments are still imported in India." India is becoming the favorite destination for medical tourism. India's high quality and low cost medical treatment are attractive for patients outside India, especially for the treatment of knee joints, hip joint replacements and bypass surgeries." He is very optimistic about research activities in India, "and there is reverse brain drain happening." He spoke about the development of telemedicine in India, linking reputed institutes like AIIMS and PGI to villages in the interiors of India."
Talking about autologous stem cell transplant for the treatment of heart diseases, the professor said the technique was initiated by AIIMS four years ago. There is lot of research happening in this field at AIIMS, as it can be effective for the treatment of diseases related to the heart, spine and eye, hip joint necrosis and peripheral arterial diseases. The commonly heard debate on the ethical issues of stem cell research will not affect the activities of AIIMS as the stem cells used are autologous bone marrow cells, and not embryonic stem cells. Prof Talwar attributed the increase in cardiac cases in Asia to changed lifestyles. Urbanization led to comforts that have drastically cut physical activities, while the diet has become very unhealthy. "Earlier, people were more disciplined in their eating habits. Today's junk food culture is creating problems." He also referred to "yet unfounded theories" of the thrifty gene, "according to which, Indians have a tendency to obesity due to the way they have evolved." Prof Talwar will be giving a lecture on the topic "Heart Failure: Options and Hopes" during the award ceremony Sunday, May 28, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, at 7.15 pm.
By Valiya S. Sajjad
© Arab Times 2007
