Latest news with #D.NageshwarReddy
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
AI tool developed by Hyderabad hospital brings down fatty liver screening cost from ₹5,000 to ₹500
Researchers at AIG Hospital have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tool that can detect fatty liver disease with 95-96% accuracy using basic blood tests and body measurements, at a 10% cost of existing technologies. The innovation, developed in collaboration with the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, uses four widely available blood parameters, complete blood count, liver function test, HbA1c, and lipid profile combined with BMI and waist circumference data. The tool is designed to predict both steatosis (fat accumulation) and fibrosis (hardening of the liver), traditionally detected using expensive machines like FibroScan, which costs over ₹1.2 crore. 'This model brings down the cost of screening from ₹4,000 to 5,000 per scan to just ₹500. We have validated it on over 10,000 patients internally, and it is now being rolled out in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at community level,' said Dr. Rakesh Kalapala, Director of Endoscopy at the Centre for Obesity and Metabolic Therapy. This was announced during an awareness session held at the hospital on Wednesday, ahead of Global Fatty Liver Day, which is observed annually on the second Thursday of June. 'Earlier, it was seen as a benign condition. Now we know it is the epicentre of all cardiometabolic disorders. It worsens diabetes, increases heart disease risk, and even leads to liver cancer. What we are seeing is a silent epidemic,' said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG. 'Fatty liver is like a red flag for what is going on in the rest of the body. Many patients with fatty liver actually die of heart attacks, not liver failure,' said Dr. Anuj Kapadia, a cardiologist. Dr. Merugu Chandhana, an endocrinologist, said nearly 70% of her diabetic patients have fatty liver, with many having Grade 2 or 3 disease detected on ultrasound. 'Earlier we thought of them as separate diseases. Now we know they are deeply connected,' she said. Despite ongoing research, no drug has yet been approved in India specifically for fatty liver disease, the doctors cautioned. The only proven treatment is lifestyle modification. '5% weight loss reduces liver fat, 7% reduces liver inflammation and 10% can reverse liver fibrosis,' the doctors said.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Beauty meets medicine, Miss World 2025 contestants visit AIG Hospital in Hyderabad
AIG Hospitals in Gachibowli saw an unusual gathering on Friday (May 16, 2025) morning, as over 40 contestants of the Miss World 2025 visited the medical facility as part of their cultural and thematic tours across Telangana. Breaking away from its usual schedule of clinical conferences and academic sessions, the hospital welcomed the international guests around 11 a.m. The programme marked a moment in Telangana's efforts to highlight its growing reputation in medical tourism, ahead of the Miss World grand finale later this month. The visit, unlike earlier tours that focused on the State's heritage and rural tourism, aimed to showcase the healthcare ecosystem of Hyderabad, the nerve centre of Telangana's medical tourism initiatives. The contestants were received by Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals, who led them on a tour of the facility. The group explored several departments, including the hospital's advanced endoscopy suites, chemotherapy ward, research centre, paediatric unit, and skill labs, offering them a glimpse into the infrastructure and innovation powering healthcare in Hyderabad. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Reddy delivered a talk on gut health, highlighting that the human microbiome, the vast community of bacteria in the digestive system, is emerging as the new frontier in medicine. 'The gut is the new heart,' he said, explaining how the trillions of microbes in our bodies influence everything from metabolism and immunity to mental well-being. Dr. Reddy underlined the importance of natural childbirth, extended breastfeeding, and a fiber-rich diet in shaping a healthy microbiome. Using almonds as an example, he explained, 'It's not the almond that boosts brain function — it's the gut bacteria that convert its tyrosine into dopamine and epinephrine. The food matters, but the bacteria that process it matter more.' The interactive session resonated deeply with many of the visiting contestants. Faith Bwalya, Miss World Zambia 2025, was impressed with the hospital's preventive approach. 'What struck me most is how this institution focuses on prevention. That's the mindset we need to take back home: medicine is not just about treating illness but preventing it,' she said.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Vibhushan on Nageshwar Reddy
Hyderabad-based gastroenterologist and entrepreneur D. Nageshwar Reddy was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. The award recognises his contributions in the field of medicine. Also Read | Ex-Suzuki Motor chief Osamu Suzuki, singer Pankaj Udhas, Sushil Modi among Padma awardees Dr. Reddy, who serves as the chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) in Hyderabad, is among seven persons to receive the Padma Vibhushan this year. The list of awardees was announced earlier in January. He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. 'Dr. Nageshwar Reddy is a globally renowned gastroenterologist, who revolutionised the field of therapeutic endoscopy, transforming thousands of lives across the globe. He played a huge role in making India a hub for world-class Gl Endoscopy services. He has helped in bridging rural-urban healthcare divide, deploying India's first mobile endoscopy units and screening programs that bring life-saving diagnostics to underserved communities,' said the official handle of the President of India on Monday evening.
