Global numbers indicate that there are around 7,000 rare diseases affecting 300 million people. By extrapolation, India should have 70 million cases. Yet, hospitals in India have so far reported less than 500 of these diseases.
Orphan diseases (rare diseases):
- This term has been used to denote neglected diseases
- Eg. Cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, lysosomal storage disorders, sickle-cell anemia, Fabry’s disease, alveolar echinococcosis etc.
- Even some common conditions such as endometrial cancer and diabetes in preschool children.
- Often used as a synonym for rare diseases
- Prevalence rate of one case in a population of 10,000 people
- leprosy is now considered a rare disease in India
- Global numbers indicate that there are around 7,000 rare diseases
Countries with the lowest historical emissions experienced three to four times higher than seasonal temperatures this June-August days than G20 countries, according to an analysis conducted by an independent U.S.-based group of scientists using a metric called the Climate Shift Index (CSI).
Climate Shift Index (CSI):
- The Climate Shift Index reveals how much climate change influences the temperature on a particular day.
- The index ranges from -5 to +5
- positive levels indicates temperatures that are becoming more likely due to climate change
- Eg. a Climate Shift Index of level 5 means that that a temperature is occurring 5 times more frequently.
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures fell due to stronger dollar.
Brent Crude –
- International benchmark used by the OPEC.
- Used for the light oil market in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
- Originates from oil fields in the North Sea.
WTI –
- Benchmark used for the US oil market.
- Originates from US oil fields.
- This crude is lighter and sweeter than Brent due to lower amount of sulfur.
Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, began erupting Sunday after a two-month.
Kilauea Volcano –
- Location – Hawaii’s Big Island (near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
- Hawaii’s 2nd largest volcano after Mauna Loa.
- It is an elongated low dome built up by countless layers of lava erupted from the central crater.
- Its summit has collapsed to form a caldera.
Caldera –
- A depression created after a volcano partially collapses after releasing the majority of its magma chamber in an explosive eruption.
According to FFPI, the World Food Price Index fell at two years’ low.
FPI –
- Released by – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- A measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
- 5 commodity group price indices – Cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar
- It is weighted with the average export shares of each of the groups.
FAO –
- A specialized agency of United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
21st edition of Varuna (Varuna-23) bilateral exercise was conducted in the Arabian Sea recently.
Varuna Exercise –
- Between Indian and French Navy.
North Korea has launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine”.
Tactical Nuclear Weapon (TNW) –
- Refers to short-range weapons that have not been classified as “strategic” under Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
- Types – Land-based missiles (range less than 500 km); Air- and sea-launched weapons (range of less than 600 km)
- Constitute a large percentage of the arsenals of the nuclear weapon states.
- They are the least-regulated category of nuclear weapons
ZEISS MediTec to adopt the robotic laser-guided vision correction (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction – SMILE treatment) technology in India.
SMILE treatment –
- A new type of laser refractive surgery.
- Applications – Treatment of myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea).
The presence of a leucistic (white) sambar has been documented in the Sangama range of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Leucism –
- A condition in which the pigmentation of an animal’s skin is missing, causing white or pale skin.
- Example – The white fur of tiger is caused by a lack of the pigment pheomelanin (found in Bengal tigers with orange colour fur)
Different from “albinism” –
- A condition that arises due to a lack of melatonin in the animal’s skin, but the animal has pink or reddish eyes.
- Example – Albhino Dhole