Healthcare/Biotech

A 28-year-old woman is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, suffering from a rare genetic disease, 'Epilepsy, hearing loss and mental retardation syndrome' abbreviated as EHLMRS. This is a morbid disease affecting the developing brain, causing severe intellectual impairment, difficult-to-treat seizures and hearing loss. Individuals with this condition are non-ambulatory, do not have speech development and may lose their vision too. The child has inherited the disease-causing genes in a double dosage from each parent. The parents carry the faulty gene in a single dosage; thus escaping its clinical manifestations. There is a fair chance that the couple's next baby will be affected by this disease too. Can modern genetics prevent this? As clinical geneticists, we traditionally counsel such families to conceive naturally, and then screen the baby's DNA between the 11-16 weeks of pregnancy. If the baby in the womb shares the same 'genetic fingerprint' as the affected child's, then the family can opt to discontinue the pregnancy, based on the severity of the disease. This is known as 'Prenatal Diagnosis' (PND). However, are there options available for families who wish to have a healthy child through an alternative approach? What if a couple does not wish to choose the mental and physical agony of going through nearly half the pregnancy and then aborting the baby? Recently, we have the option of a modern approach known as 'Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis' (PGD). In this technique, the husband's sperm and the wife's egg are allowed to fertilise under controlled conditions outside the body (In-vitro Fertilisation). The resultant embryos are tested for the 'genetic fingerprint' to see if it's carrying the same error as the affected child's. Only the healthy unaffected embryos, not carrying the culprit genetic aberration are transferred into the mother's womb for further implantation and pregnancy. A comprehensive healthcare set-up, like Cloudnine Hospital, Malad, armed with seasoned Obstetricians, Foetal Medicine Experts, Paediatricians, Neonatologists, Embryologists, Infertility Specialists and Clinical Geneticists makes the successful implementation of such newer techniques possible. Why did we choose to write about this case? Aren't genetic diseases rare? As per definition by the European Union (EU), a rare disease is one that affects lesser than 1 in 2000 people. Individually, a lot of genetic disorders may be 'rare'. However, taken together as a group, the incidence of genetic diseases is estimated to be 7 in every 100 people; which is not rare by any stretch of imagination! Recent study in Nature Genetics authored by Nakatsuka N. et al, highlights the untapped burden of genetic diseases in South Asia, including India. The authors argue that the potential of genetic diseases in this belt is probably more than anywhere else in the world. However, lack of sensitisation about these conditions often causes a delay in seeking the right medical opinion by the families; sometimes causing the same disease to recur in multiple generations. With the evolving landscape of genetics, we are better poised today to make more accurate diagnoses, develop treatment modalities and allay the troubles of the families suffering from these conditions. We cannot promise that modern genomics may be able to fix all the faults in our stars (yet), but we can surely hope that it will help us raise a generation healthier in its DNA! For more information and appointments, call 1860 108 9999 or visit www.cloudninecare.com Dr. Shruti Bajaj, MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), Fellow Clinical Genetics Consultant Clinical Geneticist Cloudnine Hospital Siddhachal Arcade, Diagonally opp. Inorbit Mall, New Link Road, Malad West Mumbai | Navi Mumbai | Bengaluru | Chennai | Gurugram | Pune | Chandigarh

Fatherhood comes with the added commitments of making a lifetime partnership work, navigating success, power, position etc. This everyday discipline has left fathers with very little time to groom themselves. Your kids are growing up and you have to mingle socially with other fathers, you have to attend parties, go for international business trips and the circle just goes on and on. Is there room for anything else? A father's appearance of course. So what can you do to become "daddy cool" again and not the "uncle" of the pack? Here are some essential treatments suggested by Dr Amit Karkhanis of Dr Tvacha clinic that can make you look young again. 1. Hair regrowth: It is natural to lose out on hair as you grow older and older. Hair loss is noticeable when excess hair is shed as well as when the hair cycle is disrupted. There are available unique solutions that help in controlling hair fall and boosting new hair growth. Once these solutions penetrate the scalp, lasers pass on energy into the dermis and enhances blood circulation. It creates multiple channels on the scalp and thus opens pores which prepare channels for the solution to penetrate deep inside the stems. This helps in controlling hair loss and boosts new hair growth. 2. Yellow laser: If you want to look the "Young Daddy" again, you can opt for the yellow laser treatment for skin rejuvenation which is designed to diminish signs of ageing, treats skin damage and gives you a healthier looking glowing skin. 3. Vitamin C infused fluids: This extraordinary treatment will make your skin healthy and supple with added properties such as targeting wrinkles, uneven skin colour and sun damage. For fathers who want to get a complete make over, this is the best treatment option. 4. Botox: Managing work and kids at the same time can truly be stressful. This can be the reason for the development of lines or creases on your forehead, making you look wrinkled and old. Botox treatment is known for relaxing facial muscles that cause these lines to develop. It is a natural, purified protein that relaxes wrinkle causing muscles. 5. Fillers: With all the late nights you've had over these years, it's natural for dark circles to develop. But it's time to do something about them. Under eye fillers are great choices to treat the dark circles or orbital hollowing. This Father's Day, make a commitment to look healthy and youthful all over again. Dr. Tvacha is India's no. 1 laser technology clinic for skin and hair treatments. For further details call on 022-7123 7000 or send an e-mail to info@drtvacha.com

A negative pregnancy test can be extremely disheartening for a woman who is looking forward to becoming a mother. Especially in a country like India, where motherhood and the celebrations around it are a family affair. Naturally, 21 years after marriage, Madhavi and Amogh Kulkarni are over the moon, holding a baby in their hands. Madhavi now wants to reach out and help more couples, "We have had a very difficult journey that was extremely stressful at times. While many families may choose to lay the blame on the woman, many are not aware that male infertility is almost 50% of the problem. Yet, for most, it is too personal an issue to seek help. What couples need to know is that reliable help is available to help you conceive - at Cocoon Fertility we found this help". Infertility by definition implies that a couple has not been able to conceive a child even though they've had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. The good news is that for the very first time in Mumbai, Cocoon Fertility has launched ' Welcome your baby home ' initiative that offers hope to such couples and makes IVF affordable. Dr Anagha Karkhanis, Director at Cocoon Fertility says, "About 85% of couples who try, get pregnant in 1 year. So the thumb-rule for a couple to approach a fertility specialist could be: <35 years after 1 year of trying 35-40 after 6 months of trying >40 after 3 months of trying" Cocoon Fertility has come up with a limited period value offer with an IVF cycle at 25000/- which is less than 50% of the industry norm. Adding the cost of embryo transfer and IVF injections, the total cost could range from 95000 to 1,20,000. That's a massive reduction in the price. The centre also provides support to freeze extra embryos to improve the probability of success. EMI options for eligible patients are also available at Cocoon Fertility. Dr Rajalaxmi Walavalkar, Consultant, IVF and Reproductive surgery, Cocoon Fertility adds, "A couple can opt for IVF- depending on factors like age, testing of the ovarian reserve (capacity of the ovary to produce fertilisable eggs) and history of prior treatments. Amongst other things we also look at the husband's sperm test, because patients may require IVF for male-related problems". Sonali Advani, another mother who gave birth to a daughter in September 2017, 10 years after her marriage says, "Cocoon offered us a safe, truthful, and empathetic experience. We knew all along, what could go wrong and what could go right. Just the open communication channels helped us a lot." Cocoon fertility is helmed by the highly skilled sibling duo of Dr. Rajalaxmi Walavalkar and Dr Anagha Karkhanis. Together, the two are a formidable, complementary team- known for a success rate that exceeds the industry average. The centre offers a supportive environment and the promise to help you bring home your own baby. Cocoon Fertility - 022 25334848 Email - info@cocoonfertility.com Website - http://www.cocoonfertility.com/ Cocoon Fertility Branches- Thane, Versova, Dadar, Santacruz, Pune.

Parenthood is the dream of every couple and infertility makes it difficult to achieve it. Infertility is often thought of as a female concern, but in about 50% of the cases, there is a concern with the male which must be addressed early. Infertility in Men A complete lack of sperms (Azoospermia) occur in about 10-15% of men who are infertile. Cloudnine Hospital offers the revolutionary optimal technique, Micro-TESE (Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction) which helps in finding sperms. What is Micro-TESE? Micro-TESE is a microsurgical procedure to retrieve sperms directly from the testes in men having Azoospermia due to the defective process of sperm production. It is an advanced procedure that requires the skill and understanding of micro-surgery and testicular anatomy. Below is the case of a couple who had a successful pregnancy with the help of Micro-TESE in the first attempt: A 31-year-old man and his 29-year-old spouse with 6 years of primary infertility were seeking a treatment at Cloudnine Hospital, Chennai. The man was diagnosed with severe Oligozoospermia with high DNA fragmentation. The man underwent a Micro-TESE treatment as suggested. As the next step, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) was performed with obtained sperms. The embryo was transferred and the woman conceived in her first attempt. She delivered a healthy female baby at 37 weeks of gestation. Who can benefit from Micro-TESE? Couples planning for parenthood but facing the following male infertility issues: Non-obstructive Azoospermia: No sperms in the semen due to reduced production in the testes. Severe Oligoasthenozoospermia with high sperm DNA fragmentation: Very few and weak sperms in the semen with a high no. of them with damaged DNA. Severe Oligo Teratozoospermia: Very few sperms in the semen with very few appearing normal. Why Micro-TESE? It is a painless, minimally invasive micro-surgical day-care procedure done through a small incision under anaesthesia. With Micro-TESE, the probability of finding sperms is more than 60% which is twice as compared to a non-microsurgical procedure. It is an advanced sperm retrieval technique with high sperm retrieval rate as compared to traditional biopsy techniques. It has minimal post-operative complications and is relatively safe for the testes. The operating microscope helps to avoid damage to the testicular tissues and blood supply. It helps the Embryologist choose the best fresh sperms through a powerful microscope. It can be performed and timed with IVF or ICSI. The higher chances of obtaining quality sperms enhance the possibilities of a successful pregnancy. Understanding the Procedure The procedure is done under spinal anaesthesia. With minimal invasion, testes are examined through a micro-dissecting microscope to locate active sperm-producing tubules. A very tiny volume of testicular tissue is removed from these vital areas and immediately examined under the microscope to identify individual sperms. Once sufficient sperms are obtained, the testes are closed with very fine sutures. The incision is then closed with dissolvable sutures. As it is a day-care procedure, the patient is usually allowed to go home on the same day itself. The patient is generally advised to use an ice pack for the first 24 hours. Any vigorous exercise, intercourse and masturbation should be avoided for few days after the procedure. If your partner is suffering from very low sperm count or no sperms present, a Micro-TESE treatment can increase the probability of finding them by more than 60%. The treatment along with fertility technologies like IVF or ICSI helps you start a family. For more information and appointments, call 1860 500 9999 or visit www.cloudninecare.com Dr. Sathya Balasubramanyam, MBBS, MD (OBG) Consultant Infertility Specialist Cloudnine Hospital 54, Vijaya Raghava Road, T. Nagar, Chennai Chennai | Bengaluru | Gurugram | Pune | Mumbai | Navi Mumbai | Chandigarh

The Indian Healthcare sector presents a plethora of opportunities for first-generation entrepreneurs. However, even with the right start and ever-growing traction, it is always good to get guidance or even validation from the right people, who can help to better navigate choppy startup waters. Brand Capital curated a mentoring session in Bangalore to help Healthcare entrepreneurs meet experienced mentors who talked them through these challenges. Brand Capital is the strategic investment arm of The Times Group, with a portfolio worth a few billion dollars. As part of its vision of providing value beyond capital, Brand Capital invites young entrepreneurs for exclusive mentoring sessions with industry stalwarts. These experts help entrepreneurs envision growth plans in areas such as business strategy, branding, distribution, finance, and funding. ` The start-up wave has caught the fancy of first time Healthcare entrepreneurs. From online marketplaces and aggregators to medical devices and applications of deep tech like AI, IOT, and genomics for analytics, many companies are disrupting the traditional healthcare sector which was dominated by large foreign players with significant capital efficiency. Brand Capital believes that the Indian healthcare market, which is booming and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15% to USD 280 bn by 2020, holds a huge potential. With a burgeoning population and varied consumer preferences, each niche is big enough offer for branded play. While more than 70% of India's population lives in rural areas with no or limited access to hospitals and clinics, start-ups will be the key to providing healthcare to underserved rural Indians. Entrepreneurs in healthcare space have to focus on multiple aspects like accreditations from international bodies, long lead times, barriers to usage, product differentiation, brand building, and distribution network. Often there are many options and need for agile decisions that make a significant impact on the very survival of businesses. Founders need guidance from industry experts to help make decisions. Mentors On 30th of May 2018, Brand Capital organised a session for mentoring select group of entrepreneurs in the Healthcare space. While these entrepreneurs had the right product idea, they needed mentors to guide them on how to establish a brand presence and scale up operations. Brand Capital curated an esteemed panel comprising industry stalwarts and domain experts to mentor these entrepreneurs. The panel of mentors included Dr. BS Ajai Kumar, Chairman and CEO of HCG; Faizan Aziz, Co-founder and CEO of Myra Medicines; Prashant Jhaveri, Chief Business Officer of MediAssist; Vinay Subramanian, Investment Director at Stakboat; Jaishiv Natrajan, Angel Investor & founder of Herbologica Limited; Mr. Ramoji Tejomurtula, Managing Director of MEMG CDC; Dr. Mudit Saxena, CEO and Managing Director of Ovum Hospitals; Archana Priyadarshini, Partner at Unicorn India Ventures; Venkatesh Kempalingaiah, Director of Aarin Capital. Mentee Companies The mentee companies were predominantly from the wellness and data analytics sector with focus on lifestyle diseases namely - Wellbeeing - an integrated medical centre integrating conventional complementary and alternative medicine; Trident - an innovative platform where labs can communicate and generate report anywhere anytime through cloud computing; Vitacloud - a digital therapeutic solution to empower people to prevent manage and overcome their chronic condition; 5th Vital - provides on-door phlebotomist service to identify any ailments in time; Inito - a breakthrough technology to help conceive faster and Wellth - building technologies to make quantified wellness accessible, habitual and rewarding. Excerpts from the mentoring session The mentors touched upon various key aspects of the scale-up journey for these businesses and also on the future of the healthcare sector in India. While development of personalised medicine provides a lot of opportunities, there needs to be processes to empower people to get involved in their own healthcare management in a consistent manner. Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic increase in data and the technology to manage it has also emerged. Although it has given way to many new possibilities like speedy diagnosis, real-time tracking, positive lifestyle, convenience of treatment, the challenge lies in integrating these technologies into daily lives so that results are measurable. Patient engagement, optimising the entire 'patient journey' with orientation towards outcome will also be crucial to achieving these ends. Many mentees felt that the healthcare industry continues to face barriers in terms of transparency and trust. Segments like sports wellness and lifestyle devices which are gradually becoming mainstream play a major role in awareness creation. This has also open doors for new relations between healthcare systems and users. All mentee companies expressed gratitude to the mentors for sharing their wisdom and insights at the Brand Capital mentoring program. To know more about Brand Capital, visit www.brandcapital.co.in / Follow on LinkedIn and Twitter