Roflumilast topical foam receives FDA approval for treating seborrheic dermatitis

USA: Roflumilast topical foam, 0.3% has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in those aged 9 years and older. The approval has been granted to Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Seborrheic dermatitis affects more than 10 million individuals in the US.

ZORYVE foam provides rapid disease clearance and significant reduction in itch, with nearly 80% of individuals achieving the primary efficacy endpoint of IGA Success and just over 50% of individuals reaching complete clearance at Week 8 in the STRATUM trial. ZORYVE is a once-daily steroid-free foam and the first drug approved for seborrheic dermatitis with a new mechanism of action in over two decades.

“We know from dermatology clinicians and those living with seborrheic dermatitis that there has been a real struggle with disease clearance and treatment adherence due to lack of efficacy, difficulty treating certain body areas, inconvenient treatment regimens, and concerns about safety with long-term use,” said Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, FAAD, chief medical officer at Arcutis. “ZORYVE foam is a once-daily, steroid-free topical treatment that can be used anywhere on the body, including hair-bearing areas, with no limitation on duration of use. We are proud to deliver meaningful innovation through this approval of ZORYVE foam, and to offer a new topical treatment that effectively clears and controls the disease and can simplify its management for the millions of adults and adolescents living with seborrheic dermatitis.”

Seborrheic dermatitis affects more than 10 million people in the United States, and is a common, chronic, and recurrent inflammatory skin disease that causes red patches covered with large, greasy, flaking yellow-gray scales, and persistent itch. In individuals with darker skin tones, inflamed areas may not appear red, but instead can appear pink, slightly purple, or lighter in color than the surrounding skin. It occurs most often in areas of the body with oil-producing (sebaceous) glands, including the scalp, face (especially on the nose, eyebrows, ears, and eyelids), upper chest, and back. Hair-bearing areas make applying topicals like creams, gels, and ointments difficult.

“In the STRATUM trial, ZORYVE foam provided rapid disease clearance as early as Week 2 and significant itch relief in as little as 48 hours. In addition, almost 80% of patients achieved treatment success at Week 8. While multiple factors contribute to seborrheic dermatitis, inflammation and skin barrier dysfunction play key roles. ZORYVE has been shown to effectively reduce the signs of inflammation, redness, and scaling in patients with seborrheic dermatitis, and with its unique formulation, ZORYVE foam effectively delivers the drug without disrupting the skin barrier and has been shown to be safe and tolerable. ZORYVE foam is thus ideally formulated, having the potential to become the new standard of care for seborrheic dermatitis treatment,” said Andrew Blauvelt, MD, MBA, clinical investigator at Oregon Medical Research Center, and investigator on the STRATUM trial.

Beyond the appearance and irritation of physical symptoms, seborrheic dermatitis is associated with a decrease in quality of life and may negatively affect emotional well-being, self-esteem, and day-to-day life, including sleep and work. People with seborrheic dermatitis, and especially adolescents and school-age children, may suffer from social stigma, negative self-image, and low self-esteem associated with very visible skin diseases like seborrheic dermatitis.

“Approximately 10 million people in the United States have seborrheic dermatitis, but until today, there have been limited treatment options. We are thrilled with this FDA approval and are excited to bring to market a new, highly effective steroid-free topical formulation that can be used anywhere on the body,” said Frank Watanabe, president and CEO of Arcutis. “Our commercial team is ready and poised to launch ZORYVE foam very soon, and we are committed to ensuring affordable access to ZORYVE foam to those who may benefit from this novel treatment.”

Arcutis intends to make ZORYVE foam widely available via key wholesaler and dermatology pharmacy channels as a new treatment option by the end of January 2024. The Company is dedicated to responsible pricing and affordable access to therapy. The ZORYVE® Direct Program helps patients access their prescribed Arcutis medication. For patients with seborrheic dermatitis who have been prescribed ZORYVE, this patient support program helps patients navigate the payer process, assists patients with adherence, and includes the ZORYVE Direct Savings Card Program, which can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible commercially insured patients.† Arcutis will also continue to offer the Arcutis CaresTM patient assistance program (PAP) that provides ZORYVE at no cost for financially eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured.‡

Management will host a conference call on Monday, December 18 at 8:30 a.m. EST. A live webcast of the call and presentation material will be available on the “Events” section of the Company’s Investor website. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the Arcutis website after the call.

ZORYVE Foam Clinical Data

The approval is supported by positive results from Arcutis’ Phase 2 and pivotal Phase 3 trials in seborrheic dermatitis. The STudy of Roflumilast foam Applied Topically for the redUction of seborrheic derMatitis (STRATUM) and the Phase 2 (Trial 203) were parallel group, double-blind, vehicle-controlled studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of ZORYVE foam 0.3% in seborrheic dermatitis. Together the two studies enrolled 683 adults and adolescents ages 9 years and older.

The STRATUM study met its primary endpoint, with nearly 80% of ZORYVE foam treated individuals reaching Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) Success rate at Week 8 (79.5% ZORYVE foam vs 58.0% vehicle; P<0.0001). In Trial 203, 73% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved IGA Success (73.1% ZORYVE foam vs 40.8% vehicle; P<0.0001.) IGA Success was defined as an IGA score of “Clear” (0) or “Almost Clear” (1), plus a 2-grade IGA score improvement from baseline at Week 8.

Improvement with ZORYVE foam was seen early, with roflumilast demonstrating a statistically significant improvement compared to vehicle on IGA Success at Week 2, the first timepoint assessed in STRATUM. In addition, 50.6% of individuals in the ZORYVE foam treated arm reached complete clearance (IGA=0) at Week 8.

The STRATUM study also demonstrated statistically significant improvement over vehicle on all secondary endpoints, including itch, scaling, and erythema (redness). More than 60% of individuals achieved a ≥4-point reduction in itch at Week 8 as measured by Worst Itch-Numerical Rating Score (62.8% roflumilast foam vs 40.6% vehicle; P=0.0001), and significant improvements in itch were also reported at Week 2 and Week 4. Individuals treated with ZORYVE foam reported a 28% improvement in itch from baseline in 48 hours (compared to 13% on vehicle nominal P=0.0024).

In addition, more than 50% of individuals treated with ZORYVE foam achieved an erythema (redness) score of 0, and more than 50% achieved a scaling score of 0, at Week 8. Treatment with ZORYVE foam demonstrated a significantly larger improvement in patient reported outcomes as early as Week 2 as measured through Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), with improvements maintained through Week 8.

ZORYVE foam was well-tolerated with a favorable safety and tolerability profile during up to 52 weeks of treatment. Incidence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs) was low and similar between active treatment and vehicle, with most TEAEs assessed as mild to moderate severity. There were no treatment-related Serious Adverse Events (SAEs). Overall, the most common adverse reactions occurring in ≥1% of subjects in the combined Phase 2 and Phase 3 study populations were nasopharyngitis (1.5%), nausea (1.3%), and headache (1.1%).

About ZORYVE®

ZORYVE (roflumilast) topical foam, 0.3%, is indicated for treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in adult and pediatric patients 9 years of age and older. Another formulation of ZORYVE, roflumilast cream 0.3%, is approved by the FDA for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in individuals 6 years of age and older. Both ZORYVE foam and cream are topical formulations of roflumilast, a highly potent and selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor. PDE4 is an intracellular enzyme that increases the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and decreases production of anti-inflammatory mediators. It is an established target in dermatology.

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Viral infections linked to reduced survival among women with Ovarian Cancer

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have delved into the intricate relationship between infectious agents and the outcomes of high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer, a crucial but poorly understood aspect of the disease. The study revealed a significant association between the presence of viruses of interest (VOI) and lower overall survival, shedding light on potential implications for the clinical management of ovarian cancer. The study results were published in the journal PLOS One. 

Early 20th-century findings established a link between infectious agents and cancer. Presently, 11 agents are recognized as carcinogenic. About 16% of global cancer cases may be linked to viruses, including HPV in ovarian tumors. The association’s significance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer was explored in a single-institution cohort.  Hence, in a quest to understand and shed light on the link between infectious agents and ovarian cancer, employing a comprehensive analysis of viral DNA in primary ovarian cancer tumors and its correlation with clinical outcomes was carried out through a cohort study. 

Also Read: Letrozole may increase gestational diabetes risk during Frozen Embryo Transfer in Women With PCOS

Unveiling the Viral Landscape, Researchers meticulously examined archived tumors from 98 patients diagnosed with high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer, spanning from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2010. Leveraging advanced Luminex technology, they identified polymerase chain reaction-amplified viral DNA for a diverse set of 113 specific viruses. Statistical methods, including logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, were applied to assess the associations between tumor viral status, disease outcome, and overall survival (OS).

Results:

Viruses of Interest: The findings revealed that almost half of the cases (45.9%) contained at least one virus. Six highly prevalent viruses, designated as viruses of interest (VOI), emerged as key players linked to clinical outcomes. These included Epstein-Barr virus 1, Merkel cell polyomavirus, human herpes virus 6b, and human papillomaviruses 4, 16, and 23.

Overall Survival rates: Significantly, the presence of VOI and platinum sensitivity were independently associated with OS. The median OS was notably reduced in tumors exhibiting VOI compared to those without (22 vs. 44 months). Distinctly, women below 70 years old with VOI in tumors displayed significantly lower median OS compared to age-matched counterparts without VOI (20 vs. 57 months). However, among women aged 70 or older, there was no discernible difference in OS based on tumor virus status.

Also Read: Long Covid linked to Cardiac Complications among covid survivors

Thus, the study’s groundbreaking findings underscore a significant association between the presence of viruses of interest and lower overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. This revelation holds promise for potential implications in the clinical management of ovarian cancer. However, researchers emphasize the need for additional studies to comprehensively validate and understand the broader implications of these findings in the realm of ovarian cancer treatment. As the scientific community unravels the viral connection, these insights may pave the way for novel approaches to enhance outcomes and refine strategies for managing this complex disease.

Further reading: Prevalence of viral DNA in high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer and correlation with clinical outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294448

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AstraZeneca gets CDSCO panel nod to study anti-cancer drug Capivasertib

New Delhi: The drug major AstraZeneca has got approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the phase 1b/III clinical study of the anti-cancer drug Capivasertib film-coated tablet 160mg or 200mg.

However, this approval is subject to a condition that the Phase-Ib part of the study will not be applicable in India.

This came after the drug major AstraZeneca presented Phase1b/III Clinical Study Protocol no. D361DC00001.

This Phase Ib/III study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and degree of the added benefit of capivasertib combined with CDK4/6i and fulvestrant in participants with locally advanced (inoperable) or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Capivasertib is a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor used to treat hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced, or metastatic breast cancer.

Capivasertib is an inhibitor of all 3 isoforms of serine/threonine kinase AKT (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3) and inhibits phosphorylation of downstream AKT substrates. AKT activation in tumors is a result of activation of upstream signaling pathways, mutations in AKT1, loss of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) function, and mutations in the catalytic subunit alpha of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3CA).

At the recent SEC meeting for Oncology and Hematology held on 29th and 30th November 2023, the expert panel reviewed the Phase 1b/III clinical study protocol of the anti-cancer drug Capivasertib (AZD5363) film-coated tablet presented by AstraZeneca.
After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for grant of permission to conduct the trial as presented by the firm subject to the condition that Phase-Ib part of the study will not be applicable in India.

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Modify phase III clinical trial protocol: CDSCO panel tells Akum Pharma on antidiabetic FDC 

New Delhi: Approving to conduct the bioequivalence (BE) study of the antidiabetic drug combination Repaglinide plus Voglibose plus Metformin Hydrochloride (SR) uncoated bilayered tablet, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has opined the drug major Akum Pharmaceutical that the Phase III clinical trial protocol should be adequately modified concerning inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, withdrawal criteria, provision of rescue therapy, sample size calculation etc.

This came after Akum Pharmaceutical presented its proposal along with a BE study and Phase III clinical trial protocol.

Repaglinide is an antihyperglycemic used to improve glycemic control in diabetes. Repaglinide is an insulin secretagogue, meaning it binds to receptors on pancreatic beta cells and stimulates insulin release. Repaglinide binds to an ATP-dependent potassium channel on beta cells, known as SUR1, bringing about its closure.

Voglibose belongs to a class of competitive α glucosidase inhibitors (α-GIs). Voglibose is used to reduce high post-meal glucose levels in diabetes mellitus in patients who have been using other diabetic medications. It is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Voglibose is an anti-diabetic medicine.

Metformin is an oral anti-diabetic drug in the biguanide class for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, in particular, in overweight and obese people and those with normal kidney function.

Metformin is used to treat high blood sugar levels that are caused by a type of diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes called type 2 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, insulin produced by the pancreas is not able to get sugar into the cells of the body where it can work properly.

At the recent SEC meeting for Endocrinology and Metabolism held on 23 November 2023, the expert panel reviewed the proposal along with the BE study and Phase III clinical trial protocol of the FDC Repaglinide plus Voglibose plus Metformin Hydrochloride (SR) uncoated bilayered tablet.

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended a grant of permission to conduct the proposed BE study.

In addition to the above, the expert panel opined that the Phase III clinical trial protocol should be adequately modified with respect to inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, withdrawal criteria, provision of rescue therapy, sample size calculation, etc.

Accordingly, the committee suggested that the BE study reports should be presented before the SEC along with the revised Phase III clinical trial protocol.

Also Read: Dr. Reddy’s Gets CDSCO Panel Nod to Study FDC Etoricoxib plus Thiocolchicoside for Export purpose

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Anaesthetist Alleges Wrongful Removal of Kidney, Consumer Court junks plea

Surat: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC), Bharuch recently turned down the plea for compensation by a doctor, who alleged that his kidney was wrongfully removed based on a Vadodara-based pathology laboratory’s report.

It was mentioned in the said report that the tumour in the kidney “could be cancerous”. Later a CT scan was done at SRL Diagnostics stating the possibility of cancer and two days after this, the complainant doctor, who is an anesthetist, was operated at Nadiad-based Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital back in April 2020. 

However, the doctor alleged that his kidney was wrongfully removed, and approaching the District Consumer Court, Bharuch, he demanded Rs 49 lakh compensation.

Also Read: No Medical Negligence: Kerala HC Denies Granting Compensation to patient who Delivered 5th Child Despite Post-Partum Sterilization

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the matter goes back to March 2020 when the complainant Dr. Jadav was suffering from a high fever. Following this, he approached the treating doctor Dr. Anand. 

Based on the advice of the treating doctor, the complainant underwent several tests including sonography, blood tests, and a CT scan. After the report expressed the possibility that the tumour could be malignant, he was referred to the Nadiad-based hospital for further treatment.

Consequently, on the basis of the report, the hospital performed the surgery on May 1, 2020, and removed the right kidney of the complainant doctor. For the operation, the hospital charged him Rs 1.71 lakh.

After the operation, the samples were sent for biopsy. However, the biopsy report revealed that the tumour was non-cancerous. Thereafter, the complainant, who is a doctor himself, filed a complaint alleging medical negligence against Muljibhai Hospital and SRL Diagnostics.

In the complaint, Dr Jadav mentioned, “The hospital had wrongly removed the kidney and also relied on the lab’s report. The hospital did not ask for any report independently.” He contended that as per the medical jurisprudence, the doctor should have gone for the patient’s reports before operating on him.

Also Read: No medical negligence or mistake in diagnosis: SC dismisses plea against Indraprastha Apollo hospital, neurosurgeon

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Can’t reject Medical Reimbursement Claim only because patient was treated in a non-network hospital: Madras HC

Madurai: The Madurai bench of Madras High Court recently reiterated that a claim for medical reimbursement cannot be rejected merely because the treatment was undertaken in a non-networking hospital.

“The issues regarding the settlement of the medical claim are no more res-integra in respect of the treatment undertaken in a non-network hospital. Several orders have been passed by the Courts to settle the medical reimbursement claim and not to reject the same merely on the ground that the hospital is not falling under the list of network hospitals,” noted the HC bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and V Lakshminarayanan.

Such observations were made by the HC bench while considering a plea challenging the order of rejection to settle the medical reimbursement claim of the petitioner issued by the Director of Health and Rural Services.

The petitioner, a State pensioner, is a member of the Medical Health Scheme. He held the post of Chief Administrative Officer in the Principal District Court, Pudukkottai and consequently retired from the post in 2010. He regularly pays the subscription fees under the Medical Health Scheme.

While undergoing surgery for a left renal tumour (Cancer), the petitioner was admitted as an in-patient at BRS Hospital, Chennai. During his stay at the hospital, he spent a sum of Rs 1,24,576 towards medical expenses.

Following this, he submitted an application seeking medical reimbursement. However, his petition for medical claim reimbursement was rejected by the Director of Health and Rural Services on the ground that he undertook treatment in a non-network hospital. Referring to this, the authorities held him ineligible for medical reimbursement claim.

Also Read: AYUSH treatment on par with Allopathic treatment for Reimbursements: HC

Challenging this order, the petitioner approached the High Court bench and demanded reimbursement for the money he spent on his treatment. On the other hand, the counsel for the Government submitted that the medical claim will be settled only in the event of taking treatment in a network hospital. The counsel further pointed out that the hospital, in which the petitioner was treated, is not a network hospital, and therefore, the rejection was in order.

However, the court referred to several orders passed by the Courts and pointed out,

“Several orders have been passed by the Courts to settle the medical reimbursement claim and not to reject the same merely on the ground that the hospital is not falling under the list of network hospitals.”

In respect of the petitioner’s case, the bench noted that there was no dispute in the genunity of the treatment taken by the petitioner. The bench further observed,

“In the present case, the genunity of the treatment taken by the petitioner has not been disputed. Once the treatment is found to be genuine, there is no reason to reject the medical claim of the petitioner.”

With this observation, the bench issued direction to the government authorities to settle the claim for medical reimbursement. The order stated, “In view of the facts and circumstances, the impugned order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 02.04.2018 is set aside. The 7th respondent is directed to settle the eligible medical reimbursement claim of the petitioner under the scheme within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and the respondents 1 to 6 shall ensure that the payment is made by the 7th respondent within the time stipulated by us in this order.”

To view the order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/madras-hc-medical-reimbursement-227700.pdf

Also Read: Hospital charging amounts exceeding approved rates, state can’t deny medical reimbursement

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KNRUHS issues notice for MBBS Students 2020-21 Batch who seek to Avail Additional Attempt Of First professional MBBS Exams, details

Telangana: Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has issued a notice for all the students of the 2020-21 batch who have completed four attempts of the First professional MBBS Examinations seeking to avail additional attempt (5th attempt) of First professional MBBS Examinations.

The university has asked all the students of the 2020-21 batch who have completed four attempts of the First professional MBBS Examinations and the parents concerned to contact the Principal of the college to avail additional attempt (5th attempt) of First professional MBBS Examinations.

As per the notice, an additional attempt (5th attempt) of First Professional MBBS Examinations will tentatively be scheduled for the month of February 2024. The students need to keep track of the official website of KNRUHS for further updates.

The notice states that “all the students of 2020-21 batch who have completed four attempts of First professional MBBS Examinations and the parents concerned are informed to contact the Principal of the college to avail additional attempt (5th attempt) of First professional MBBS Examinations tentatively scheduled in the month of February 2024.”

Also Read:NMC Allows Additional Attempts To MBBS Students Of 2020-2021 Academic Year

The National Medical Commission, Under Graduate Medical Education Board, vide Public Notice No. U.13021/01/2023/UGMEB/, Dated:11.12.2023 decided to allow one additional attempt (5th attempt) to the MBBS Students who were admitted to medical colleges during the academic year 2020-21 and could not pass their First professional MBBS examination, as the said batch was also affected by COVID-19 Pandemic.

This is a one-time measure and may not be treated as a precedence for the future.

Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) is a public university in the city of Warangal, Telangana. The university is named after its poet and political activist, Telangana Kaloji Narayana Rao. It was established after the formation of the State of Telangana by adopting the Dr NTR University of Health Sciences Act vide G.O.M s No. 20 HM&FW (Cl) Department Dated 26.09.2014 with headquarters at Warangal.

To view the notice, click on the link below –

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20231213104120knruhs-examinations-circular-permission-by-nmc-for-additional-attempt-5th-attempt-to-mbbs-2020-21-batch-in-first-professional-examinations-227869.pdf

Also Read:KEA Releases Schedule For PG AYUSH Special Stray Vacancy Round, details

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Arterial blood gas analysis must for detecting severe resting hypoxemia in COPD in addition to pulse oximetry

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is globally the third leading cause of death, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019.

Most feasible way to measure oxygen saturation is by pulse oximetry (SpO2). The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines recommend evaluation with arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis if SpO2 is ⩽92%.

This recommendation has not been evaluated in stable outpatients with COPD undergoing testing for Long-Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) to evaluate whether the performance of SpO2 compared with ABG analysis of PaO2 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) to detect severe resting hypoxemia in patients with COPD a team of researchers conducted a study.

The study published in Annals of American Thoracic Society, reports that SpO2 alone may have a high false-negative (FN) rate for detecting severe resting hypoxemia in COPD patients being assessed for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). The GOLD recommends reflex measurement of PaO2 through ABG analysis. This is crucial, particularly for active smokers, and it is advisable to use a cutoff higher than SpO2 ⩽92%.

Researchers conducted a Retrospective analysis of paired SpO2 and ABG values from stable outpatients with COPD who underwent LTOT assessment in a single center. They calculated false negatives (FNs) as an SpO2 >88% or >89% in the presence of pulmonary hypertension with a PaO2 ⩽55 mm Hg or ⩽59 mm Hg in the presence of pulmonary hypertension. Test performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), test bias, precision, and accuracy root-mean-square (Arms). An adjusted multivariate analysis was used to evaluate factors affecting SpO2 bias.

The key findings of the study are

• A total of 518 patients were included, the prevalence of severe resting hypoxemia was 74 (14.3%), with 52 missed by SpO2 (FN, 10%), including 13 (2.5%) with an SpO2 > 92% (occult hypoxemia).

• FNs and occult hypoxemia in Black patients were 9% and 1.5%, respectively, and were 13% and 5%, respectively, among active smokers.

• The correlation between SpO2 and SaO2 was acceptable (ICC = 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.81); and the bias of SpO2 was 0.45%, with a precision of 2.6 (−4.65 to +5.55%) and Arms of 2.59.

• These measurements were similar in Black patients, but in active smokers, correlation was lower and bias showed greater overestimation of SpO2.

• ROC analysis suggests that the optimal SpO2 cutoff to warrant LTOT evaluation by ABG analysis is ⩽94%.

In conclusion, “SpO2 as the only measure of oxygenation carries a high FN rate in detecting severe resting hypoxemia in patients with COPD undergoing evaluation for LTOT. Reflex measurement of PaO2 by ABG analysis should be used as recommended by GOLD, ideally at a cutoff higher than an SpO2 ⩽92%, especially in active smokers.”

Reference: Brian Garnet , Rodrigo Diaz-Lankenau , Elie Jean et al ; Accuracy of Pulse Oximetry for Long-Term Oxygen Therapy Assessment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Ann. Of Am. Thor. Soc. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202209-837OC

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Construction of AIIMS Rewari set to commence soon: Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij

Chandigarh: Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij  said the work for construction of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rewari is expected to start shortly.

Responding to a question raised during the Question Hour in the state Assembly by Congress’ Rewari MLA Chiranjeev Rao, Vij emphasised that the Haryana government, in its commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, has acquired over 203 acres of land at the rate of Rs 40 lakh per acre.

The land has been leased to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to construct AIIMS in Rewari, he said.

Also Read:PM Modi to soon lay foundation stone of AIIMS Rewari: Haryana Minister

He said the state government is committed to advancing healthcare facilities in the region.

Congress member B B Batra raised a question seeking to know the number of unauthorised colonies which existed in 2014, the number of unauthorised colonies regularised from 2005 to 2014 and the number of such colonies which came into existence from 2014 to 2023.

He also sought to know the number of FIRs registered in respect of unauthorised colonies and the number of unauthorised colonies demolished from 2014 to 2023.

In reply, Chief Minister M L Khattar informed the House that a total of 11,665 unauthorised colonies existed on record as of December 31, 2014.

He said 887 unauthorised colonies were regularised from the year 2005 to 2014 by the Department of Urban Local Bodies.

As many as 5,352 unauthorised colonies were detected from January 1, 2015, to November 30, 2023.

From 2015 to 2023, unauthorised colonies regularised include 1,089 by the Department of Urban Local Bodies and 448 by the Department of Town and Country Planning.

As many as 1,789 FIRs were registered against unauthorised colonies during January 1, 2015 to November 30, 2023, the House was informed. As many as 3,500 unauthorised colonies were demolished during this period.

Responding to another question raised in the House, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala informed that a proposal to establish an Industrial Model Township near the intersection of NH-152D and the Delhi-Katra Expressway in Jind district is under consideration.

Chautala further said that two potential sites in Jind have been identified, and the land acquisition process has been initiated.

During the Zero Hour, Congress members staged a brief walkout from the House after Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his party’s adjournment motion on recent deaths due to spurious liquor in Yamunanagar and Ambala districts was not allowed.

However, the Congress members were informed by the Chair that the matter would be taken up as ‘Calling Attention’ as some members had given notice in this regard.

Meanwhile, replying to a calling attention motion in the Vidhan Sabha, Chautala said since its launch in March 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been meticulously aligned with the Government of India’s guidelines.

It provides crucial insurance coverage for key crops like paddy, bajra, maize, cotton, and moong in the Kharif season, and wheat, mustard, gram, barley, and sunflower in the Rabi season.

On the issue of crop loss due to floods and heavy rains earlier this year, he said that claims worth Rs 65.18 crore have already been disbursed to 35,365 farmers.

Also Read:Union Health Minister issues clarification on status of NCI Jhajjar and AIIMS New Delhi

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Karnataka directs 2017 Batch medicos to Join compulsory Rural Service

Bengaluru: The State Government authorities of Karnataka have asked the medical graduates from the 2017 batch, who completed their MBBS course from government-quota seats, to join the one-year compulsory rural service. 

Many of these students are either busy with work or pursuing higher studies. However, as per the rules, if any student does not fulfill the rural service requirements will be slapped with a Rs 10-lakh penalty.

Around 4,170 students are eligible to attend the counselling for rural services this year. TOI adds that for the first time, the State has allowed merit-based exemptions for students based on their MBBS scores.

A notification in this regard has been issued on December 11. The concerned notification is applicable for the MBBS students who were admitted in Government medical colleges and under the government quota seats in private medical institutes during the academic year 2017-2018. Consequently, they graduated after completing their internship in the year 2023.

Also Read: Karnataka Govt proposes restricting compulsory service only for GMC graduates

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, several students are upset over the delayed posting for compulsory rural service. However, the officials in the Health and Family Welfare Department have claimed that the delay was caused because of an amendment that was brought in recently. 

Earlier this year, in October, the State Government announced that rural service rules would be relaxed to the extent of staff availability in the hospitals. Referring to this, an official from the State Health Department informed TOI, “Initially, we did not have enough posts for all students. Then, the amendment to the compulsory service law had to be brought in to restrict the number of students depending upon the posts. The notification was issued as soon as the amendment was made.”

The Daily adds that the notification that was issued under the Karnataka Compulsory Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Education Institutions Rules 2006 mentioned that to fill up the available vacancies, online counselling will be held. For the first time, merit-based exemptions will be made applicable for rural service.

Therefore, this year, the candidates who will appear in the counselling for the rural service will have the flexibility to either select a preferred location for one year of service or apply for a merit-based exemption from the same.

Following this, the online counselling system will allocate either the exemption or the location, based on the merit of the candidate. This shall be done based on the MBBS scores provided by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences to the department. Therefore, students who have high ranks will get the first chance of getting an exemption.

The MBBS students will have 198 options regarding the preferred service location. Those candidates, who will not register for the online counselling process or who will fail to report to duty will have to pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh. 

Generally, the exemptions are for students admitted to NMC/RGUHS-approved higher courses and who must undergo one-year compulsory service in a government hospital after completing their PG/DNB/fellowships. Apart from them, women on maternity leave will get a late-commencement exemption for up to one year.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that earlier this month, the Karnataka Government introduced a bill specifically aiming to replace an ordinance that eliminates the mandatory one-year rural service requirement for medical college graduates in the state.

The bill, tabled by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, proposes amendments to sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Karnataka Compulsory Services by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012.

According to the statement of objects and reasons provided in the bill, the amendment seeks to exempt candidates chosen for central or state government services from the obligation to serve in rural areas.

Previously, under the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, all MBBS, postgraduate, and super-speciality graduates were required to spend one year working in government healthcare institutions in rural areas as junior residents.

Also Read: Proposal to eliminate compulsory rural service for medical graduates moved in Karnataka Assembly

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