Unveiling the Vision Revolution: Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage in Combating Diabetic Retinopathy, A Global Health Imperative

. AI is revolutionizing disease detection through image-based screening for conditions like diabetic

retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and more

. 27.0% of diabetic patients suffer from diabetic retinopathy, resulting in around 0.4 million cases

of blindness worldwide

Mumbai, 18 November 2023: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) continues to be a pervasive health challenge worldwide, with countries grappling to address its staggering impact. Among the many complications arising from diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) stands as a significant concern. This condition affects the blood vessels in the retina, often leading to vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness.

Recent statistics reveal the severity of this issue: globally, an estimated 27.0% of diabetic patients suffer from diabetic retinopathy, resulting in around 0.4 million cases of blindness worldwide. Alarmingly, diabetes is the primary cause of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74. Key risk factors contributing to DR include the duration of diabetes, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, hypertension, dyslipidemia, nephropathy, obesity, age, and gender.

“The awareness regarding diabetic retinopathy and associated visual complications varies significantly across different regions. Studies in India report a wide range of awareness levels, varying from 16.1% to 71.3%. This disparity emphasizes the critical need for standardized education and awareness programs targeting diverse communities.” Said Dr. T S Sujatha, General Ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon, at Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital.

Early detection remains pivotal in managing diabetes-related complications. Timely identification of blood sugar irregularities allows for proactive steps to prevent irreversible damage to vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and eyes.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) underscores the importance of regular eye examinations for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. For type 1 diabetes, an eye exam within five years of diagnosis is recommended, while individuals with type 2 diabetes should undergo their first eye exam at the time of diagnosis.

 She further added, “Advancements in detecting diabetic retinopathy have been promising, including automated screening, optical coherence tomography, laser treatment, and pharmaceutical interventions like vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Notably, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new frontiers in medicine. AI-based technologies show promise in mass screening, early diagnosis, and accurate prognosis prediction. AI, a simulation of human intelligence by machines, involves the exposure of systems to databases for learning and subsequent improvement. Neural networks and complex algorithms enable AI systems to analyze vast amounts of data, resembling the cognitive abilities of humans.”

In ophthalmology, AI is revolutionizing disease detection through image-based screening for conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and more. Technologies like

Scikit-learn in Python programming and various commercially available software are being employed for diabetic retinopathy detection.

Furthermore, adopting a proactive approach to managing diabetes and preventing diabetic retinopathy is crucial. Strict glycemic control, hypertension management, lipid level regulation, regular exercise, and lifestyle modifications are recommended preventive measures. Regular eye exams and compliance with healthcare provider recommendations remain pivotal in averting vision loss.

Combating diabetic retinopathy requires a comprehensive approach, blending advanced technologies like AI with widespread awareness and proactive healthcare strategies. Through collective efforts, early detection and intervention can significantly reduce the burden of sight-threatening retinopathy, offering hope to millions affected by this global health crisis.

Dr. Tushar Palve’s Mission Possible! Best healthcare for women

Mumbai: Covid; post-abuse trauma; breast cancer; complicated pregnancy & risky childbirth; a woman faces serious life-threatening health issues all the time. A good doctor can always help manage these peculiar health problems in women. Dr. Tushar Tatyaba Palve, superintendent of the Cama and Albless Hospital, is on a mission to provide that much-needed expert help to innumerable women patients in and around the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. He’s relentlessly pursuing his mission to ensure good health for women even before the pandemic struck us.

Dr. Tushar Palve was appointed as the Superintendent of the Cama & Albless Hospital in March 2020 during the first wave of the Corona pandemic. As a head of the hospital and nodal officer for COVID-19, Dr. Tushar Palve went beyond the call of duty to ensure the successful treatment of about 1600 Covid patients and 60 COVID-19-infected babies with a mortality rate of a mere 0.06 percent. So much was his dedication that he was personally collecting the samples on swabs for RTPCR at Cama Hospital’s Smart OPD! Some of Dr Tushar’s commendable contributions include setting up the first HDU at the hospital, a separate oxygen plant for COVID patients, a dedicated centralized oxygen supply to every bed, and a bio-medical waste converter.

Vaccination was a critical element in winning the war against Covid. Dr Tushar Palve led from the front here as well and conducted a whopping 75 vaccination camps. The Covid Vaccination Center (CVC) vaccinated close to 1.40 lakh citizens over a period of time, thus ensuring safety for all.

In the next important step, Dr. Tushar Palve targeted the rising breast cancer issue in MMR. Breast cancer can be treated successfully if detected at an early stage. Dr Tushar Palve conducted breast cancer awareness sessions and screening camps at remote areas of Thane, Palghar, Shahapur, and underprivileged areas of Mumbai. About 430 women were screened and a whopping 20% of them had breast cancer! Thankfully they could start the treatment immediately. The screening and awareness camps are also being held at various Government offices, banks, court premises, and rural areas. These are important and helpful for women who cannot access or afford mammography and other related tests.

One of the most important and modern aspects of women’s healthcare is trauma care. Recently, Dr. Tushar Palve started a One Stop Crisis (OSC) center at Cama Hospital. The OSC focuses on providing a safer and more comfortable environment for survivors of gender-based violence. It is the first such center in a women’s hospital in Mumbai. The OSC has been set up under the Central Government’s Nirbhaya Fund. The OSC will have five beds apart from access to counselors and lawyers to assist the victims of domestic abuse. Apart from this Dr Tushar Palve led the renovation and modernization of all wards at the Cama Hospital over a period. This directly benefits the patients who get access to the latest healthcare infrastructure at the Cama hospital.

Dr. Tushar Palve also has a green thumb – he has created a Miyawaki forest within the limited space of the Cama hospital with the help of Keshav Srushti, an NGO. This Miyawaki forest is now home to a whopping 125 species of flora and fauna. The total number of trees planted and happily growing in this forest is over 8500! More importantly, this forest is maintained with great love by the authorities involved.

Dr Tushar Palve has also published several research papers on COVID-19 patient management at national and international conferences. Dr Tushar Tatyaba Palve has received awards from the Government of Maharashtra as well as Kerala for his great work.

With the focus on customer health, Simpli Namdhari’s launches ‘Choose Goodness’ to create awareness about safe-to-consume fruits & veggies

Bengaluru, India, November 18, 2023: Simpli Namdhari’s, India’s only 100% vegetarian omnichannel retailer launched the ‘Choose Goodness’ campaign across social media and in-stores, to raise awareness of foods that are safe to consume and educate customers on what goes into cultivating fruits and vegetables. Simpli Namdhari launched the campaign amidst growing concerns among consumers regarding the presence of toxic heavy metals in fruits and vegetables shelved at major retail outlets in Bengaluru.

The Choose Goodness campaign aims to bust myths surrounding the cultivation methods of most produce found in local stores and supermarkets. Given India’s low consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables compared to other plant-based products, Simpli Namdhari aims to also create awareness about the role of superfoods like exotic produce in bridging the nutrition gap and improving customer health. Additionally, Simpli Namdhari will introduce customers to its seed-to-plate model, emphasizing its commitment to quality control across the supply chain.

“Most customers have no idea how the fruits and vegetables available at their neighborhood kirana or supermarket are cultivated — Whether it is safe to consume or harmful. It’s largely because retailers procure their produce through a scattered supply chain. Now more than ever, there’s a need to create more awareness among customers about where the food really comes from, the potential impact on their health and the role retailers play in educating customers about it,” said Gurmukh Roopra, CEO, of Namdhari’s Group.

With a focus on customer health and well-being, Simpli Namdhari has taken steps to ensure all fruits and vegetables including exotic produce, served at its stores, are safe to consume. The company gets its fruits and vegetables tested every quarter by an NABL-certified third-party lab, where checks are conducted under 40 different categories. Fruits and vegetables shelved at Simpli Namdhari’s have been certified with an A+ Grade and follow the BRCGS food standards and GAP Protocol for field operations to test produce.

Namdhari’s Group cultivates crops at its farm in Bidadi or contracts the cultivation to farmers who use Namdhari’s Seeds and prescribed cultivation methods to produce the best-quality fruits and vegetables. Maintaining quality is a top priority, as the produce is not only shelved at Simpli Namdhari’s stores but also exported. In 2023 alone, Namdhari exported over 1,000 MT of fresh fruits and vegetables to the UK, Europe & Australia where every single shipment passed clearance of the highest quality.