The New Nation - Internet Edition

Cosmetic surgery makes one fit and good-looking

Liposuction:Liposuction means removal of fat by suctioning. In liposuction, the surgeon loosens and removes the fat from an area by using thin metal tubes connected to a suction machine or syringe. The suction tubes are blunt and have holes near the tip. The suction machines used for this purpose create powerful negative pressures, which sucks the fat into the tubings. Liposuction was started in France in late 70's and since 1981 is extensively in practice in the United States, the U.K and other parts of the world.

The Classical Mayo technique is still in use in most of the centres around the world including India. But the new Tulip liposuction, which was introduced in the USA in the late 1980's in being used more frequently now. The Tumescent Tulip liposuction technique is a newer and safer technique. Here, instead of large noisy suction machine a hand operated syringe device is used. The newer technique uses thinner cannulas and is. more accurate. It also causes less tissue injury. We have been using this latest Tulip liposuction in all of our patients- with very good results.

Uses of liposuction: Liposuction is mainly used for cosmetic purpose, improving the shape and appearance of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs by removing fat collections from these areas. The arm, back, face, neck, leg, and knee may also be benefited from liposuction. It may also be used while doing other cosmetic procedures such as abdominoplasty, face-lift of breast reduction surgery. Liposuction may be easily carried out during other non-cosmetic operation e.g. operations on the appendix, gall bladder or uterus.

Can one's weight be reduced by this operation?: It is a procedure for body reshaping rather than weight reduction so a person's appearance improves by flattening of the bulges; but of significant weight reduction, he/she is also advised to take care of the diet, and also to do some sort of exercise daily. 45 minutes walking at any time of the day or night is good enough. But the main trick is to do it regularly.

Does the skill become slack after liposuction? : When large amounts of fat are taken out, the overlying skin initially may feel a bit slack. But since healthy skin is elastic in nature, it gradually shrinks to a tighter state within a few weeks. So, after liposuction the skin does not become slack.

For pendulous abdomen where there is extreme sagging due to laxity of the abdominal wall, liposuction alone will not be beneficial. For these type of patients Abdominoplasty operation is the answer. Here a portion of the skin and fat from the lower abdomen is removed and abdominal muscles are tightened to give the patient a 'flat' abdomen. The umbilicus (belly button) also needs to be reconstructed or relocated in abdominoplasty operation.

Can fat recollect after liposuction? : The fat cells that are suctioned are removed forever and do not come back. Most of the fat cells are situated under the skin. The total number of fat cells present in a person's body does not increase in number. When a person gain weight, the size of fat cells increase as more fat is deposited in it. When one loose weight, the fat is mobilised out of the fat cells and so these become smaller in size. Fat cells cannot regenerate of multiply. And so, the fat cells that are removed are removed forever. The result of liposuction is therefore permanent. Fat does not recollect in the treated areas even if one overeats. But it is advised to stick to healthy dietary habit after liposuction. Daily exercise such as walking for 45 minutes is also advised.

Apart from cosmetic uses, liposuction has other uses also. Lipoma (fatty tumor) can efficiently be extracted through a small hole be this technique. Gynaecomastia (enlargement of male breasts) may also be treated by liposuction. Under both the above circumstances, an open operation and a scar can be avoided.

HDL (the protective fat in the body) level was found to increase in patients undergoing liposuction. This increase in HDL level decreased the risks of cardiovascular diseases. It, therefore, implies that people undergoing liposuction will by at a lower risk of getting heart attack. myocardial infraction and paralysis from strokes. The relationship of liposuction and management of diabetes mellitus is also interesting. Glucose tolerance and insulin requirement in diabetes patient has also been shown to improve in some studies. Of course, in potential diabetes if liposuction is carried out in particular time to his/her life the individual may not develop diabetes at all. Liposuction does not produce any change in sex hormone level. It does not interfere with subsequent pregnancy.

Surgical procedure: Saline containing special medicine is injected into the fat minutes before liposuction is carried out. This medicated saline loosens the fat and facilitates the procedure. A small incision less than 5 mm is made, and the suction cannula inserted. The cuts are so small that stitches are usually not required and there is no visible scar. 3000 to 3500 grams of the fat can be removed in one sitting. This procedure can be done under general, local or spinal anesthesia.

After the surgery: After the surgery, tight dressing is applied few days to few weeks. It promotes shrinkage of the skin and minimises the swelling. Localised areas of firmness can be felt in the suctioned areas for 3 to 6 weeks after the procedure. Pain medication and antibiotic is given by mouth for a few days. Discoloration of the treated area may occur but it disappears completely with time.

Patients undergoing the procedure do not need overnight hospitalisation.

Even after multiple area liposuction, one should be able to be up and around in 1 to 2 days.

International day against drug abuse and Bangladesh

Samsuda Akter

Bangladesh celebrates International day against drug abuse its illicit trafficking on 26th June nationwide each year through a variety of programs. Bangladesh entered into a bilateral agreement on technical assistance with the U.S.A. in 1993 for drug abuse prevention and control, and received communication equipment. But with the change of time drug has been changed in different name to use medical treatment & recreation. By the passing of this region drug dependency is increasing day by day. For this reason a great part of the nation fell down underneath of the development. Drug dependency is the process where you just call or run for one time then drug will be run to you for lifetime. The desire of the body and the mind are in the early stages of evolutionary development. Our growth depends upon the work that we do to gain control of these important vehicles. The use of any substance, which weakens our control of these bodies, prevents us from exercising the needed discipline to learn the lessons for which we incarnated at this time - lessons which must be learned if we are to continue our upward progress. This means that we must put forth every effort to gain control of the desire body and the mind. Available drugs in Bangladesh are (Heroin, Phensidyl, Ganja, Alcohol, Beer, Sleeping Pills, Yaba etc.) Sleeping Pill Available in Bangladesh are Tranquilizer, Seduxene, Diazapam, Enoctine, Phenergan, Stemetil, Laxatine. Others Drugs Available in Bangladesh: Inhalant, Cigarettes (Sometimes called drugs), Hukka, Jorda

Effect on Future Incarnations: A weak body cannot maintain the higher vibration, which accompanies any spiritual growth, and it is only through spiritual growth that the present generation can prepare itself for the coming Aquarian Age. Since our next embodiments may take place during this Age, it is necessary that we make this preparation or we will be unable to compete with beings incarnating on the new higher level, since they will have prepared themselves for this coming event. Failure, in this life, could mean that we will incarnate in the next as members of a lower race group.

Many factors are involved in spiritual development. This discourse will be limited to the discussion of those whose continued use is detrimental to the upward progress of the individual, namely: alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Their importance lies in the fact that they may impede or even reverse the evolution of the individual. Volumes have been written about the effects these substances have upon the physical body, and articles appear daily in newspapers and periodicals warning of the problems, which may result from their continued use. It is the purpose of this writing; however, to point out the spiritual implications that must be considered after all aspects of the physical have been studied.

Long Term Effects of Drugs: Drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and LSD, used especially by the younger generation to produce a so-called “high” or “trip,” are by far the most dangerous. To understand why the young person is susceptible to the use of these mind-boggling drugs, it is necessary to understand that he recently may have acquired the desire body (at about age 14) or the mind body (at about the age 21). This is a time for him to determine the limits of his ability and to see how far he can challenge the status quo. Many young people are wilting to test the limits of their adaptability. Others desire spiritual revelation, which they believe can be induced by the use of drugs. At this critical period in the life of the individual, he often lacks the confidence and warmth of an elder companion, one who can guide him through this trying time. For too many of today’s youth it is a time of trial and error, a period of blind growth.

Drugs offer a way out, but as time wilt reveal, it wilt be the wrong way. Being hallucinatory, they do not bring about the desired results; instead, they put the aspirant in danger of being controlled by undesirable spirits, of undermining the physical body, and of exposing himself to extremely harmful effects on his spiritual bodies. Any damage to these vehicles may require many lifetimes to restore them to the adaptability they originally had. This means a decided setback in evolution. A person, therefore, who made much progress in former embodiments, could lose the value of previous hard work by seriously affecting the present life instruments.

Bangladesh as a corridor of drug trafficking: Bangladesh is situated in the central point between the 'golden triangle’ (Mayanmar, Thailand and Laos) and the 'golden crescent’ (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) in terms of geographical location. And it is also surrounded by the major drug producing countries of Asia, many of which are strengthening their narcotics legislation and stepping up enforcement measures. Bangladesh with its easy land, sea and air access is becoming a major transit point. Traffickers who supply drugs in the markets of Northern America, Africa, and Europe are routing their shipments through Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Khulna, and other routes in Bangladesh. It is believed that with the increasing quantity of the wares more and more people are likely to get involved in drug business. In this way it ultimately contributes to the number of drug abusers as well.

Our country is a land surrounded by India from three corners. The northern and eastern sides are surrounded with hills and mountains. And the western corner is mainly plain land. The hilly regions are suitable for illicit drug trafficking. The traffickers can easily hide themselves in these hilly forests and transfer the drugs safely. In our country there are many border-crossing points from where every day millions of money is being exchanged for drugs. The border crossing points with neighboring countries are shown in Table.

Indigenous medicinal plants and knowledge in hill districts

Niaz Ahmed Khan and A.Z.M. Manzoor Rashid

It has lately been unequivocally established that medicinal plants and associated knowledge, which represent a part of rich local heritage, play a significant role in the general welfare of the upland communities of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Notwithstanding the recognition and emphasis, however, organised research and information on indigenous medicinal plants and knowledge have been strikingly limited. In the recent years, a general concern has been that this local wisdom is fast eroding for such reasons as biotic interference, shrinking land resource base, deforestation, insufficient support from the government and public policies, and lack of appropriate management and institutional structure. This article, drawing on an empirical fieldwork, sheds some lights on the indigenous medicinal plants and associated knowledge and practices in six locations in CHT, namely Lama, Sualok, Balaghata, Chemidolupara, Majherpara, Madhapara, and Sadar, under the district of Bandarban.

The following table proffers a list of important plants, which have been observed in the study areas. These plants are preferred by the Baidyas mainly for such reasons as (a) their adaptability to the edaphic and climatic conditions of the locality (b) their market potential and (c) the diverse use of many of them in different medicine preparation as the 'base' ingredient

Medicinal plants are often found along hedge and boundary lines. The shrubby species are usually cultivated as undergrowth in homestead plantation areas and also in the fallow lands. Organised commercial plantations (as distinct from irregular homestead plantations) are virtually absent. Scientific silvicultural practices (e.g. weeding, pruning) are not usually followed. Women play a major role in maintaining the (limited number of) homestead medicinal plantations in the locality. A number of Baidyas from the Marma community possess written manual (Burmese scripts) on the practice and they deal more in mainstream herbal treatment, as compared to the tantra-montro or spiritual and sacred ceremonies. The Baidyas representing the Tanchangya community are more into the practice of tantra-montro.

The knowledge and wisdom, which underpin the practice of Baidya, are mostly passed on from one generation to the other. Baidyas provide two broad categories of services: (a) plant-based (curative and preventive) treatment and healing (kabiraji); and (b) spiritual and sacred ceremonies (tontra-montro).

9 (out of 30) Baidyas maintain a reasonable stock of the major medicinal plants and herbs in and around their homestead premises. The family members especially the women typically look after these plantations. Only 3 respondents have specialised chamber for attending to the patients. Other does not have any special provision or formal arrangement, except for small wooden boxes to store the basic equipments and raw materials for the practice. Most Baidyas collect raw materials from local bazaars namely Balaghata bazar, Sualok, Bandarban sadar. For more widely used materials, Baidyas occasionally approach intermediate agents or middlemen or city-based whole-sellers. There are a few medicine shops in the City of Chittagong, which deal in herbal and medicinal plants.

It is difficult to determine Baidyas' income. Their income varies substantially and shows seasonal fluctuations (e.g. winter is often a busy time for the Baidyas in handling cases of mental disorder; high monsoon for water-borne diseases).

A good number of respondents expressed their unwillingness to discuss about their earnings. Besides, for nearly two third of the respondents, the practice of Baidya is not the only source of livelihood. They typically rely on such supplementary sources of income as small business (e.g. grocery shops), collection of non-timber forest products (bamboo, fuelwood, sungrass, honey etc.), livestock (especially pigs) rearing, sharecropping, and waged labour. The highest and lowest incomes from the practice of Baidya, as reported by the respondents (who agreed to share the information), are Tk. 1400 and Tk. 6000.

Drawing the respondents' comments and responses, the following major problems and challenges concerning the practice of Baidya may be identified:

· The most widely used species in the preparation and practice of medicine are becoming increasingly rare and difficult to procure for such reasons as rapid destruction of the neighbouring natural forests (mainly prompted by organised illicit commercial logging), bureaucratic complications and harassment (e.g. by the Forest Department), and inaccessibility and difficulties in communication and transportation.

· There is no formal arrangement or institution to train and nurture this knowledge in the locality. The institutional mechanisms for dissemination or extension of the knowledge and practice are also absent.

· The time of collection and harvesting of medicinal plants is a vital factor in ensuring efficacy of the medicines prepared thereof. The time factor is often ignored or by-passed by the Baidyas due to acute shortage and great demand of these plants.

· Competition Local people nowadays prefer 'modern' mainstream medication. The reduced number of patients, coupled with the difficulty in obtaining raw materials, makes the practice of Baidya almost unsustainable.

· The young generation does not show much interest in learning the traditional practice. They feel that Baidya as a profession is not promising for the above reasons.

· Majority of the existing Baidyas buy the raw material (spices, plants, stamp, seeds, roots etc.) of their practice from the local markets. Many respondents reported that these materials are generally of low quality and poor stock.

· The Baidyas, who want to ensure a sustained source of quality seed and seedling, badly feel the absence of a central propagation nursery.

· Institutional and external support and patronisation, especially from the government, for the development and promotion of indigenous medicinal plants and knowledge are nearly absent in the study areas.

Drawing on the respondents' comments and our observation during the fieldwork, the following ideas and clues on possible improvement may be considered:

· With the active participation of the local people, the existing medicinal plants should be systematically documented and recorded.

· Organised motivational and awareness raising campaign regarding medicinal plants and their benefits (e.g. free from negative side effects, low cost) may be carried out at the community level, especially amongst the younger population, by involving the community leaders and local community based organisations (e.g. schools and religious institutions) and NGOs.

· Experimental propagation nurseries may be established under government and non-government initiatives to ensure sustained supply of seedlings.

· The mainstream research institutions in the country, especially the forest and agricultural research institutes and universities may be encouraged to provide the much-needed research support for proper documentation and dissemination of the knowledge on medicinal plants and associated folk and herbal treatment methods.

· The local press, media and folk cultural practices (e.g. folk theatres) may be utilised as community-based extension and dissemination media to highlight the importance of conserving this traditional practice and heritage.

· Local base and community relations-two of the major benefits of some of the local NGOs and community based organisations may also be exploited for initiating a network or platform to bring the Baidyas together.

The age-old indigenous practice of Baidya is currently threatened by a host of problems including limited availability of the required plants and herbs; rapid destruction of natural forests; lack of formal arrangement or institution to train and nurture this knowledge; lack of organised propagation nurseries; inadequate Institutional and external support and patronisation (especially from the government); low quality and poor stock of raw materials in the open market; and unwillingness among the youngsters to learn and adopt the practice. Despite the rather dismal present state of affairs, this deeply rooted social practice, which has significant value as a community service, still holds great potential, remains too important to be ignored, and therefore, deserves the attention and support of all concerned.

[ Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan is Professor of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Development Studies, University of Wales, UK. Contact: niaz.khan@yahoo.com; and A.Z.M.Manzoor Rashid is Assistant Professor of Forestry and Environmental Science at the Shahjalal University of Science &Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh.]