World’s First Transcatheter Mitral Valve Approved in Europe
Context :
The Abbott Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation (TMVI) system received the European CE mark. It is the first transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) technology in the world.
Aim :
The main aim is to make critical need to eliminate mitral regurgitation when surgery or mitral repair is not an option in high-risk surgical patients. This therapy treats significant mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients requiring a heart valve replacement.
Tendyne device builds upon our history of developing groundbreaking therapies that offer new treatment options for people with structural severe heart conditions who have limited treatment options. The Tendyne as a treatment option in Europe provides physicians with an additional tool that has been shown to correct MR in acutely ill patients completely, and it adds to Abbott’s portfolio of life-changing and life-saving treatments.
Abbott :
Abbott is developing a transcatheter mitral valve to open-heart surgery. Building upon its success with the MitraClip device and many years of mitral valve experience and clinical evidence. Abbott is leading the way in the novel, transcatheter devices, by investing in the development and clinical study of minimally invasive technologies.
Brexit Deal
Context :
Britain has officially left the European Union (EU) and has become the first country to leave the 28-member bloc.
The UK stopped being a member of the European Union (EU) after 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020.
What is the European Union :
The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade, which means goods can move between member countries without any checks or extra charges. The EU also allows free movement of people, to live and work in whichever country they choose.
The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community) and it will be the first member state to withdraw.
What happens after Brexit day :
After the UK formally leaves the EU, there is still a lot to talk about and months of negotiation will follow.
While the UK has agreed the terms of its EU departure, both sides still need to decide what their future relationship will look like.
During the 11-month transition period, the UK will continue to follow all of the EU’s rules and its trading relationship will remain the same.
What needs to be agreed :
- The transition period is meant to give both sides some breathing space while a new free trade agreement is negotiated.
- This is needed because the UK will leave the single market and customs union at the end of the transition. A free trade agreement allow goods to move around the EU without checks or extra charges.
- If a new one cannot be agreed in time, then the UK faces the prospect of having to trade with no deal in place. That would mean tariffs (taxes) on UK goods travelling to the EU and other trade barriers.
Aside from trade, many other aspects of the future UK-EU relationship will also need to be decided. For example:
- Law enforcement, data sharing and security.
- Aviation standards and safety.
- Access to fishing waters.
- Supplies of electricity and gas.
- Licensing and regulation of medicines.
What caused Brexit to happen?
So far, there seem to be three theories for what drove so many people to vote Brexit:
- Immigrants: Faced with rising immigration locals worried about their jobs and the erosion of the English way of life wanted their government to clamp down on immigration. This was a revolt against unrestricted immigration from poorer Eastern European states, Syrian refugees residing in the EU and millions of Turks about to join the EU.
- Elites: Faced with decades of economic malaise, stagnant real wages and economic destitution in former industrial heartlands ever since the rise of “Thaterchism” and the embrace of Neoliberal policies by Tony Blair’s New Labour the non-Londoners have decided to revolt against the elite. This isn’t just about being against the EU as it stands, and its free market and free movement of peoples.
- Bureaucracy: Faced with Brussel’s asphyxiating amount of red tape the English people decide to “take back control” of their country’s bureaucracy.
The three theories are obviously intertwined at times and contradictory at others, that’s why it matters who is going to be negotiating the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU.
What is the Brexit deal?
- The transition period and other aspects of the UK’s departure were agreed in a separate deal called the withdrawal agreement.
- Most of that was negotiated by Theresa May’s government. But after Mr Johnson replaced her in July 2019, he removed the most controversial part – the backstop.
- The backstop was designed to ensure there would be no border posts or barriers between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit. If needed, it would have kept the UK in a close trading relationship with the EU.
- Under Mr Johnson’s deal, a customs border will effectively be created between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to checks and will have to pay EU import taxes (known as tariffs).
- These would be refunded if goods remain in Northern Ireland (ie are not moved to the Republic of Ireland).
Sources: the Hindu.
Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia
Context :
World’s first conference on Childhood Pneumonia was held in Barcelona (Spain) to make it part of the global health agenda.
- Despite being the biggest infectious killer of children, pneumonia remains a neglected disease both nationally and globally.
- Every 39 seconds, a child under-5 dies from it.
- Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia is an initiative of 9 leading health and children’s organisations including UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi among others.
- The theme of the conference is ‘Fighting for Breath’.
Pneumonia
- Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs.
- Cause: It doesn’t have one single cause – it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air.
- Vaccine: Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. 3 doses of the primary vaccine (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to prevent it are recommended.
- A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of pneumonia is under development.
- India is planning for the nationwide rollout of PCV under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
- A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of pneumonia is under development.
- Vulnerability:
- Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. newborns) or weakened – such as by undernourishment, or diseases like HIV – are more vulnerable to pneumonia.
- Spread:
- Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through coughing or sneezing. It can also be spread through fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces.
ISRO launches a low-cost satellite launch vehicles
Context :
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) declares that it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles costing around 30-35 crores rupees, each which can put into orbit satellites weighing 500 kgs.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) :
declares that it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles costing around 30-35 crores rupees, each which can put into orbit satellites weighing 500 kgs. The first launch is expected to take place in the next four months from the country. The ISRO has a significant commercial boost as it will be able to cater to micro, mini, and medium segments of the market. ISRO earmarked 1,600 million Dollars for launch vehicles, of which 870 million Dollars will be for PSLV and the remaining for GSLV.
Indian Space Research Organisation :
It is a space agency of the government of India, and vision is to harness space technology for national development.
Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
Founded: 15 August 1969
Headquarters: Bengaluru