Att: Dear All,,,Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD disease

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

According to WHO, “VOD of the liver is a form of toxic liver damage caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids"

Please click/or find the link http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc080.htm for more information on pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Best Regards

Mohammad Bashaar

From: Vijay <drvijaythawani@...>Subject: Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD diseasenetrum Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:32 AM

Hi,I tried to search on the subject and admit my ignorance. Please see http://www.foodstan dards.gov. au/_srcfiles/ TR2.pdf for details.The weed Heliotropium (Greek = leaves turn to sunlight) has been existing in many parts of the world since long.It is there in USA, Australia, Africa, Asia. Many types are there. Epidemics have occured due to consumption of this. The first such epidemic was reported in 1920 from South Africa.The plant is also nursed indoors and outdoor because of its fragrant flowers. The fragrance is closer to vanilla. It contains pyrolizidine alkaloids which if ingested, are responsible for VOD. It is reported that apart from accidental exposure, intentional adulteration may be there because it imparts the flavour to cereal flour like wheat.Vijay > > >> > > Dear Dr. Bashaar:> > > We all are fortunate and delighted enough to have a learned > > scholar like you as moderator for the ongoing discussion at NETRUM. > > I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you success and a great time > > for your topic of discussion. To set the ball rolling I am > > reproducing here an article on Hepato veno-occlusive disease (VOD) - > > also known as camel belly disease for

information of all members. It > > is self-explanatory in nature.> > > AFGHANISTAN: WHO confirms `charmak’ disease in Herat Province > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > Charmak disease â€" also known as camel belly - is caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in Charmak weed which > > grows in grain fields, WHO says > > > KABUL, 15 May 2008 (IRIN) - Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-> > occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as â€Å"camel belly� or > > `charmak’ disease - in Gulran District of Herat Province, western > > Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so far, > > provincial health officials said. Citing the result of tests at the > > National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, the

UN > > World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in `charmak’, a > > poisonous weed believed to be growing mostly in grain fields in > > Gulran District, and which often finds its way into locally produced > > wheat flour. > > > > > > According to WHO, regular consumption of bread contaminated by > > alkaloids contained in the weed can cause rapidly filling ascites > > (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, > > hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain, > > vomiting and jaundice. â€Å"VOD of the liver is a form of toxic liver > > damage caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids,� WHO said. The outbreak > > of `charmak’ disease was first reported

in November 2007. Of the > > 17 deaths six were men, six were women and five children, according > > to Herat’s public health department. â€Å"Thirty eight other > > patients are currently under medical testing which will determine > > whether or not they have `charmak’ disease,� Aziz Noorzai, the > > head of Gulran hospital, told IRIN on the phone on 14 May. > > > > > > â€Å"No magic pill� > > > > > > Until early May local health officials did not know what > > medication should be given to `charmak’ patients to cure their > > illness. Medical experts now say - based on the Netherlands test > > results - that two grams of sodium in the daily diet, the use of > > vitamin and mineral

supplements, and the extraction of unnecessary > > liquids from a patient’s swollen belly in serious cases, can save > > lives and treat the disease, according to Rana Graber Kakar, a WHO > > expert in Kabul. â€Å"There is no magic pill for it,� said Kakar, > > adding that technical research and studies were under way to > > illuminate characteristics of the disease and help the Ministry of > > Public Health (MoPH) to overcome similar challenges in future. Rest > > is also recommended for long-term recovery, she said. > > > > > > > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > A father and his son are suffering "charmak" disease in the Gulran > > district of Herat > > > Food aid distributed > > > WITH REGARDS> > > > >

> In an effort to curb the outbreak, the MoPH has launched a public > > awareness campaign in Gulran District through which people are > > encouraged to stop consuming locally produced flour. But the drive > > has been received coldly by most of Gulran’s poor populace. > > â€Å"When we tell them not to eat Gulran flour, they ask what they > > should eat instead,� said Noorzai. The UN World Food Programme > > (WFP) said it had distributed 700 tones of mixed food items to about > > 55,000 people in Gulran under food-for-work and education incentive > > schemes, and a further 860 tonnes would be distributed to 24,000 > > people in the near future. An Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team > > has also delivered food and non-food relief items to vulnerable > > families, the

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said > > in a statement on 28 April. > > > > > > Improved wheat cultivation needed > > > > > > `Charmak’ has appeared at least three times in the past 50 > > years - always in Herat Province - and had affected hundreds of > > people each time, according to local officials. Health experts said > > the disease cannot be prevented through medical measures only, but > > that improvements in wheat cultivation, harvesting, threshing and > > milling - and enabling farmers to eliminate poisonous weeds in their > > fields - would help avert future outbreaks. â€Å"In the long-term, the > > government needs to focus on agricultural policies that will reduce > > contamination of grain with Heliotropium

[`charmac’] weeds,� the > > WHO said in a weekly epidemiological monitor on 11 May.> > >  > > > Dr. Geer M. Ishaq> > > Sr. Lecturer> > > Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences> > > University of Kashmir> > > Srinagar-190006 (J & K)> > > Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100> > > E-mail: ishaq@> > > Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com > > > > > > > > > Forgot the famous last words? Access your message archive > > online at http://in.messenger ./ webmessengerprom o.php> > >> >> > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. Go to http://in.promos. / groups/>

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Bashaar:

Attached herewith please find a review article on VOD describing its Pathology in detail besides its Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Classification, Causes, Prognosis, Therapy, Prevention and useful references.

With regards

Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD diseasenetrumgroups (DOT) comDate: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:32 AM

Hi,I tried to search on the subject and admit my ignorance. Please see http://www.foodstan dards.gov. au/_srcfiles/ TR2.pdf for details.The weed Heliotropium (Greek = leaves turn to sunlight) has been existing in many parts of the world since long.It is there in USA, Australia, Africa, Asia. Many types are there. Epidemics have occured due to consumption of this. The first such epidemic was reported in 1920 from South Africa.The plant is also nursed indoors and outdoor because of its fragrant flowers. The fragrance is closer to vanilla. It contains pyrolizidine alkaloids which if ingested, are responsible for VOD. It is reported that apart from accidental exposure, intentional adulteration may be there because it imparts the flavour to cereal flour like wheat.Vijay > > >> > > Dear Dr. Bashaar:> > > We all are fortunate and delighted enough to have a learned > > scholar like you as moderator for the ongoing discussion at NETRUM. > > I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you success and a great time > > for your topic of discussion. To set the ball rolling I am > > reproducing here an article on Hepato

veno-occlusive disease (VOD) - > > also known as camel belly disease for information of all members. It > > is self-explanatory in nature.> > > AFGHANISTAN: WHO confirms `charmak’ disease in Herat Province > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > Charmak disease â€" also known as camel belly - is caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in Charmak weed which > > grows in grain fields, WHO says > > > KABUL, 15 May 2008 (IRIN) - Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-> > occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as â€Å"camel belly� or > > `charmak’ disease - in Gulran District of Herat Province, western > > Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so far, > > provincial health officials said. Citing the result of tests

at the > > National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, the UN > > World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in `charmak’, a > > poisonous weed believed to be growing mostly in grain fields in > > Gulran District, and which often finds its way into locally produced > > wheat flour. > > > > > > According to WHO, regular consumption of bread contaminated by > > alkaloids contained in the weed can cause rapidly filling ascites > > (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, > > hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain, > > vomiting and jaundice. â€Å"VOD of the liver is a form of toxic liver > > damage caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids,� WHO said.

The outbreak > > of `charmak’ disease was first reported in November 2007. Of the > > 17 deaths six were men, six were women and five children, according > > to Herat’s public health department. â€Å"Thirty eight other > > patients are currently under medical testing which will determine > > whether or not they have `charmak’ disease,� Aziz Noorzai, the > > head of Gulran hospital, told IRIN on the phone on 14 May.. > > > > > > â€Å"No magic pill� > > > > > > Until early May local health officials did not know what > > medication should be given to `charmak’ patients to cure their > > illness. Medical experts now say - based on the Netherlands test > > results - that two

grams of sodium in the daily diet, the use of > > vitamin and mineral supplements, and the extraction of unnecessary > > liquids from a patient’s swollen belly in serious cases, can save > > lives and treat the disease, according to Rana Graber Kakar, a WHO > > expert in Kabul. â€Å"There is no magic pill for it,� said Kakar, > > adding that technical research and studies were under way to > > illuminate characteristics of the disease and help the Ministry of > > Public Health (MoPH) to overcome similar challenges in future. Rest > > is also recommended for long-term recovery, she said. > > > > > > > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > A father and his son are suffering "charmak" disease in the Gulran > > district of Herat > > > Food

aid distributed > > > WITH REGARDS> > > > > > In an effort to curb the outbreak, the MoPH has launched a public > > awareness campaign in Gulran District through which people are > > encouraged to stop consuming locally produced flour. But the drive > > has been received coldly by most of Gulran’s poor populace. > > â€Å"When we tell them not to eat Gulran flour, they ask what they > > should eat instead,� said Noorzai. The UN World Food Programme > > (WFP) said it had distributed 700 tones of mixed food items to about > > 55,000 people in Gulran under food-for-work and education incentive > > schemes, and a further 860 tonnes would be distributed to 24,000 > > people in the near future. An Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team > > has also

delivered food and non-food relief items to vulnerable > > families, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said > > in a statement on 28 April. > > > > > > Improved wheat cultivation needed > > > > > > `Charmak’ has appeared at least three times in the past 50 > > years - always in Herat Province - and had affected hundreds of > > people each time, according to local officials. Health experts said > > the disease cannot be prevented through medical measures only, but > > that improvements in wheat cultivation, harvesting, threshing and > > milling - and enabling farmers to eliminate poisonous weeds in their > > fields - would help avert future outbreaks. â€Å"In the long-term, the > > government needs to focus on agricultural policies that will

reduce > > contamination of grain with Heliotropium [`charmac’] weeds,� the > > WHO said in a weekly epidemiological monitor on 11 May.> > >  > > > Dr. Geer M. Ishaq> > > Sr. Lecturer> > > Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences> > > University of Kashmir> > > Srinagar-190006 (J & K)> > > Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100> > > E-mail: ishaq@> > > Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com > > > > > > > > > Forgot the famous last words? Access your message archive > > online at http://in.messenger ./ webmessengerprom o.php> > >> >> > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. Go to http://in.promos. / groups/>

Best Jokes, Best Friends, Best Food.. Get all this and more on Best of ..

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr, Geer M.Ishaq,

Thanks for the valuable document. I have gone through it, it was really informative and comprehenisve.

Pathology of VOD according to the file you have sent: Endothelial injury seems to be the initiating event in the cascade of events leading to the hepatic changes and clinical manifestation of VOD.

Best Regards

Mohammad Bashaar

From: Vijay <drvijaythawani@ .co. in>Subject: Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD diseasenetrumgroups (DOT) comDate: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:32 AM

Hi,I tried to search on the subject and admit my ignorance. Please see http://www.foodstan dards.gov. au/_srcfiles/ TR2.pdf for details.The weed Heliotropium (Greek = leaves turn to sunlight) has been existing in many parts of the world since long.It is there in USA, Australia, Africa, Asia. Many types are there. Epidemics have occured due to consumption of this. The first such epidemic was reported in 1920 from South Africa.The plant is also nursed indoors and outdoor because of its fragrant flowers. The fragrance is closer to vanilla. It contains pyrolizidine alkaloids which if ingested, are responsible for VOD. It is reported that apart from accidental exposure, intentional adulteration may be there because it imparts the flavour to cereal flour like wheat.Vijay > > >> > > Dear Dr. Bashaar:> > > We all are fortunate and delighted enough to have a learned > > scholar like you as moderator for the ongoing discussion at NETRUM. > > I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you success and a great time > > for your topic of discussion. To set the ball rolling I am > > reproducing here an article on Hepato veno-occlusive disease (VOD) - > > also known as camel belly disease for

information of all members. It > > is self-explanatory in nature.> > > AFGHANISTAN: WHO confirms `charmak’ disease in Herat Province > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > Charmak disease â€" also known as camel belly - is caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in Charmak weed which > > grows in grain fields, WHO says > > > KABUL, 15 May 2008 (IRIN) - Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-> > occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as â€Å"camel belly� or > > `charmak’ disease - in Gulran District of Herat Province, western > > Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so far, > > provincial health officials said. Citing the result of tests at the > > National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, the

UN > > World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was caused by > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in `charmak’, a > > poisonous weed believed to be growing mostly in grain fields in > > Gulran District, and which often finds its way into locally produced > > wheat flour. > > > > > > According to WHO, regular consumption of bread contaminated by > > alkaloids contained in the weed can cause rapidly filling ascites > > (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, > > hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain, > > vomiting and jaundice. â€Å"VOD of the liver is a form of toxic liver > > damage caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids,� WHO said. The outbreak > > of `charmak’ disease was first reported

in November 2007. Of the > > 17 deaths six were men, six were women and five children, according > > to Herat’s public health department. â€Å"Thirty eight other > > patients are currently under medical testing which will determine > > whether or not they have `charmak’ disease,� Aziz Noorzai, the > > head of Gulran hospital, told IRIN on the phone on 14 May.. > > > > > > â€Å"No magic pill� > > > > > > Until early May local health officials did not know what > > medication should be given to `charmak’ patients to cure their > > illness. Medical experts now say - based on the Netherlands test > > results - that two grams of sodium in the daily diet, the use of > > vitamin and mineral

supplements, and the extraction of unnecessary > > liquids from a patient’s swollen belly in serious cases, can save > > lives and treat the disease, according to Rana Graber Kakar, a WHO > > expert in Kabul. â€Å"There is no magic pill for it,� said Kakar, > > adding that technical research and studies were under way to > > illuminate characteristics of the disease and help the Ministry of > > Public Health (MoPH) to overcome similar challenges in future. Rest > > is also recommended for long-term recovery, she said. > > > > > > > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > A father and his son are suffering "charmak" disease in the Gulran > > district of Herat > > > Food aid distributed > > > WITH REGARDS> > > > >

> In an effort to curb the outbreak, the MoPH has launched a public > > awareness campaign in Gulran District through which people are > > encouraged to stop consuming locally produced flour. But the drive > > has been received coldly by most of Gulran’s poor populace. > > â€Å"When we tell them not to eat Gulran flour, they ask what they > > should eat instead,� said Noorzai. The UN World Food Programme > > (WFP) said it had distributed 700 tones of mixed food items to about > > 55,000 people in Gulran under food-for-work and education incentive > > schemes, and a further 860 tonnes would be distributed to 24,000 > > people in the near future. An Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team > > has also delivered food and non-food relief items to vulnerable > > families, the

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said > > in a statement on 28 April. > > > > > > Improved wheat cultivation needed > > > > > > `Charmak’ has appeared at least three times in the past 50 > > years - always in Herat Province - and had affected hundreds of > > people each time, according to local officials. Health experts said > > the disease cannot be prevented through medical measures only, but > > that improvements in wheat cultivation, harvesting, threshing and > > milling - and enabling farmers to eliminate poisonous weeds in their > > fields - would help avert future outbreaks. â€Å"In the long-term, the > > government needs to focus on agricultural policies that will reduce > > contamination of grain with Heliotropium

[`charmac’] weeds,� the > > WHO said in a weekly epidemiological monitor on 11 May.> > >  > > > Dr. Geer M. Ishaq> > > Sr. Lecturer> > > Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences> > > University of Kashmir> > > Srinagar-190006 (J & K)> > > Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100> > > E-mail: ishaq@> > > Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com > > > > > > > > > Forgot the famous last words? Access your message archive > > online at http://in.messenger ./ webmessengerprom o.php> > >> >> > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. Go to http://in.promos. / groups/>

Best Jokes, Best Friends, Best Food.. Get all this and more on Best of ..

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr.Geer,

Thank you for the very informative post which gave the

details of VOD.It was quite informative for a person like me who was

not aware of such a disease .But there is no mention of Gulrans in

it and also of the toxin Pyrrozilidine which is known to be toxic to

liver cells.I think its VOD due to stem cell transplantation.

Dr.Santosh

- In netrum , " Geer M. Ishaq " <ishaqgeer@...> wrote:

>

> Dear Dr. Bashaar:

> Attached herewith please find a review article on VOD describing

its Pathology in detail besides its Clinical Features, Diagnosis,

Classification, Causes, Prognosis, Therapy, Prevention and useful

references.

> With regards

> Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

>

>

> Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD disease

> netrumgroups (DOT) com

> Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:32 AM

>

>

> Hi,

>

> I tried to search on the subject and admit my ignorance. Please

see

> http://www.foodstan dards.gov. au/_srcfiles/ TR2.pdf for details.

> The weed Heliotropium (Greek = leaves turn to sunlight) has been

> existing in many parts of the world since long.It is there in USA,

> Australia, Africa, Asia. Many types are there. Epidemics have

> occured due to consumption of this. The first such epidemic was

> reported in 1920 from South Africa.

>

> The plant is also nursed indoors and outdoor because of its

fragrant

> flowers. The fragrance is closer to vanilla. It contains

> pyrolizidine alkaloids which if ingested, are responsible for VOD.

>

> It is reported that apart from accidental exposure, intentional

> adulteration may be there because it imparts the flavour to cereal

> flour like wheat.

>

> Vijay

>

> > > >

> > > > Dear Dr. Bashaar:

> > > > We all are fortunate and delighted enough to have a learned

> > > scholar like you as moderator for the ongoing discussion at

> NETRUM.

> > > I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you success and a great

> time

> > > for your topic of discussion. To set the ball rolling I am

> > > reproducing here an article on Hepato veno-occlusive disease

> (VOD) -

> > > also known as camel belly disease for information of all

> members. It

> > > is self-explanatory in nature.

> > > > AFGHANISTAN: WHO confirms `charmak’ disease

in Herat

> Province

> > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN

> > > > Charmak disease †" also known as camel belly - is

caused

> by

> > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in Charmak weed

which

> > > grows in grain fields, WHO says

> > > > KABUL, 15 May 2008 (IRIN) - Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-

> > > occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as  " camel

bellyâ

> €� or

> > > `charmak’ disease - in Gulran District of

Herat Province,

> western

> > > Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so

far,

> > > provincial health officials said. Citing the result of tests

at

> the

> > > National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, the

UN

> > > World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was caused by

> > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in `charmakââ

‚¬â„¢, a

> > > poisonous weed believed to be growing mostly in grain fields

in

> > > Gulran District, and which often finds its way into locally

> produced

> > > wheat flour.

> > > >

> > > > According to WHO, regular consumption of bread contaminated

by

> > > alkaloids contained in the weed can cause rapidly filling

> ascites

> > > (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid

excess,

> > > hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain,

> > > vomiting and jaundice.  " VOD of the liver is a

form of

> toxic liver

> > > damage caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids,� WHO

said. The

> outbreak

> > > of `charmak’ disease was first reported in

November 2007.

> Of the

> > > 17 deaths six were men, six were women and five children,

> according

> > > to Herat’s public health department. ââ

‚¬Å " Thirty eight

> other

> > > patients are currently under medical testing which will

> determine

> > > whether or not they have `charmak’

disease,� Aziz

> Noorzai, the

> > > head of Gulran hospital, told IRIN on the phone on 14 May.

> > > >

> > > >  " No magic pill�

> > > >

> > > > Until early May local health officials did not know what

> > > medication should be given to `charmak’

patients to cure

> their

> > > illness. Medical experts now say - based on the Netherlands

test

> > > results - that two grams of sodium in the daily diet, the use

of

> > > vitamin and mineral supplements, and the extraction of

> unnecessary

> > > liquids from a patient’s swollen belly in

serious cases,

> can save

> > > lives and treat the disease, according to Rana Graber Kakar, a

> WHO

> > > expert in Kabul.  " There is no magic pill for

it,�

> said Kakar,

> > > adding that technical research and studies were under way to

> > > illuminate characteristics of the disease and help the

Ministry

> of

> > > Public Health (MoPH) to overcome similar challenges in future.

> Rest

> > > is also recommended for long-term recovery, she said.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN

> > > > A father and his son are suffering " charmak " disease in the

> Gulran

> > > district of Herat

> > > > Food aid distributed

> > > > WITH REGARDS

> > > >

> > > > In an effort to curb the outbreak, the MoPH has launched a

> public

> > > awareness campaign in Gulran District through which people are

> > > encouraged to stop consuming locally produced flour. But the

> drive

> > > has been received coldly by most of Gulran’s

poor

> populace.

> > >  " When we tell them not to eat Gulran flour, they

ask what

> they

> > > should eat instead,� said Noorzai. The UN

World Food

> Programme

> > > (WFP) said it had distributed 700 tones of mixed food items to

> about

> > > 55,000 people in Gulran under food-for-work and education

> incentive

> > > schemes, and a further 860 tonnes would be distributed to

24,000

> > > people in the near future. An Italian Provincial

Reconstruction

> Team

> > > has also delivered food and non-food relief items to

vulnerable

> > > families, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force

> said

> > > in a statement on 28 April.

> > > >

> > > > Improved wheat cultivation needed

> > > >

> > > > `Charmak’ has appeared at least three times

in the past

> 50

> > > years - always in Herat Province - and had affected hundreds

of

> > > people each time, according to local officials. Health experts

> said

> > > the disease cannot be prevented through medical measures only,

> but

> > > that improvements in wheat cultivation, harvesting, threshing

> and

> > > milling - and enabling farmers to eliminate poisonous weeds in

> their

> > > fields - would help avert future outbreaks.  " In

the long-

> term, the

> > > government needs to focus on agricultural policies that will

> reduce

> > > contamination of grain with Heliotropium [`charmacâ€â

„¢]

> weeds,� the

> > > WHO said in a weekly epidemiological monitor on 11 May.

> > > >  

> > > > Dr. Geer M. Ishaq

> > > > Sr. Lecturer

> > > > Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences

> > > > University of Kashmir

> > > > Srinagar-190006 (J & K)

> > > > Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100

> > > > E-mail: ishaq@

> > > > Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Forgot the famous last words? Access your message archive

> > > online at http://in.messenger ./ webmessengerprom

o.php

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under

> one roof. Go to http://in.promos. / groups/

> >

>

>

>

>

>

> Meet people who discuss and share your passions. Go to

http://in.promos./groups/bestof/

>

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Attached to this email please find article about VOD.

Dr.Santosh, very right you are, it is because of SCT not becasue PAs, but it can give us more info on VOD.

Best Regards

Mohammad Bashaar

P.S. Dr. Shazia Jamshid, I need your inputs too, since you had very interesting posts on NETRUM.> > From: Vijay <drvijaythawani@ .co. in>> Subject: Gulran / camel belly/ charmak /VOD disease> netrumgroups (DOT) com> Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 4:32 AM> > >

Hi,> > I tried to search on the subject and admit my ignorance. Please see > http://www.foodstan dards.gov. au/_srcfiles/ TR2.pdf for details.> The weed Heliotropium (Greek = leaves turn to sunlight) has been > existing in many parts of the world since long.It is there in USA, > Australia, Africa, Asia. Many types are there. Epidemics have > occured due to consumption of this. The first such epidemic was > reported in 1920 from South Africa.> > The plant is also nursed indoors and outdoor because of its fragrant > flowers. The fragrance is closer to vanilla. It contains > pyrolizidine alkaloids which if ingested, are responsible for VOD. > > It is reported that apart from accidental exposure, intentional > adulteration may be there because it imparts the flavour to cereal >

flour like wheat.> > Vijay > > > > >> > > > Dear Dr. Bashaar:> > > > We all are fortunate and delighted enough to have a learned > > > scholar like you as moderator for the ongoing discussion at > NETRUM. > > > I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you success and a great > time > > > for your topic of discussion. To set the ball rolling I am > > > reproducing here an article on Hepato veno-occlusive disease > (VOD) - > > > also known as camel belly disease for information of all > members. It > > > is self-explanatory in nature.> > > > AFGHANISTAN: WHO confirms `charmak’ disease in Herat

> Province > > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > > Charmak disease â€" also known as camel belly - is caused > by > > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in Charmak weed which > > > grows in grain fields, WHO says > > > > KABUL, 15 May 2008 (IRIN) - Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-> > > occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as â€Å"camel bellyâ> €� or > > > `charmak’ disease - in Gulran District of Herat Province, > western > > > Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so far, > > > provincial health officials said. Citing the result of tests at > the > > > National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, the

UN > > > World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was caused by > > > exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in `charmak’, a > > > poisonous weed believed to be growing mostly in grain fields in > > > Gulran District, and which often finds its way into locally > produced > > > wheat flour. > > > > > > > > According to WHO, regular consumption of bread contaminated by > > > alkaloids contained in the weed can cause rapidly filling > ascites > > > (also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, > > > hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy), severe abdominal pain, > > > vomiting and jaundice. â€Å"VOD of the liver is a form of > toxic liver > > > damage caused by

pyrrolizidine alkaloids,� WHO said. The > outbreak > > > of `charmak’ disease was first reported in November 2007. > Of the > > > 17 deaths six were men, six were women and five children, > according > > > to Herat’s public health department. â€Å"Thirty eight > other > > > patients are currently under medical testing which will > determine > > > whether or not they have `charmak’ disease,� Aziz > Noorzai, the > > > head of Gulran hospital, told IRIN on the phone on 14 May. > > > > > > > > â€Å"No magic pill� > > > >

> > > > Until early May local health officials did not know what > > > medication should be given to `charmak’ patients to cure > their > > > illness. Medical experts now say - based on the Netherlands test > > > results - that two grams of sodium in the daily diet, the use of > > > vitamin and mineral supplements, and the extraction of > unnecessary > > > liquids from a patient’s swollen belly in serious cases, > can save > > > lives and treat the disease, according to Rana Graber Kakar, a > WHO > > > expert in Kabul. â€Å"There is no magic pill for it,� > said Kakar, > > > adding that technical research and studies were under way to > >

> illuminate characteristics of the disease and help the Ministry > of > > > Public Health (MoPH) to overcome similar challenges in future. > Rest > > > is also recommended for long-term recovery, she said. > > > > > > > > > > > > Photo: Khalid Nahez/IRIN > > > > A father and his son are suffering "charmak" disease in the > Gulran > > > district of Herat > > > > Food aid distributed > > > > WITH REGARDS> > > > > > > > In an effort to curb the outbreak, the MoPH has launched a > public > > > awareness campaign in Gulran District through which people are > > > encouraged to stop consuming locally produced flour. But the > drive > > > has been received coldly by most of

Gulran’s poor > populace. > > > â€Å"When we tell them not to eat Gulran flour, they ask what > they > > > should eat instead,� said Noorzai. The UN World Food > Programme > > > (WFP) said it had distributed 700 tones of mixed food items to > about > > > 55,000 people in Gulran under food-for-work and education > incentive > > > schemes, and a further 860 tonnes would be distributed to 24,000 > > > people in the near future. An Italian Provincial Reconstruction > Team > > > has also delivered food and non-food relief items to vulnerable > > > families, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force > said > > > in a statement on 28 April. > > > >

> > > > Improved wheat cultivation needed > > > > > > > > `Charmak’ has appeared at least three times in the past > 50 > > > years - always in Herat Province - and had affected hundreds of > > > people each time, according to local officials. Health experts > said > > > the disease cannot be prevented through medical measures only, > but > > > that improvements in wheat cultivation, harvesting, threshing > and > > > milling - and enabling farmers to eliminate poisonous weeds in > their > > > fields - would help avert future outbreaks. â€Å"In the long-> term, the > > > government needs to focus on agricultural policies that will > reduce > > > contamination of grain with Heliotropium

[`charmac’] > weeds,� the > > > WHO said in a weekly epidemiological monitor on 11 May.> > > >  > > > > Dr. Geer M. Ishaq> > > > Sr. Lecturer> > > > Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences> > > > University of Kashmir> > > > Srinagar-190006 (J & K)> > > > Ph: 9419970971, 9906673100> > > > E-mail: ishaq@> > > > Website: http://ishaqgeer. googlepages. com > > > > > > > > > > > > Forgot the famous last words? Access your message archive > > > online at http://in.messenger ./ webmessengerprom

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