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Free gracilis tendon graft in neglected tears of the Achilles Neglected/chronic 2005 tendon Achilles tear patients Roberts generic verapamil 80mg hypertension case study, et al cheap verapamil 120mg with visa blood pressure medication ptsd. Surgical treatment of Achilles tendon Not best available 1989 rupture evidence Schedl verapamil 240mg with visa heart attack prognosis, et al order verapamil 120mg overnight delivery arterial neck pain. Achilles tendon repair with the plantaris tendon compared Not best available 1979 with repair using polyglycol threads evidence Stein, et al. Comparison of Retrospective case 1998 surgical with conservative treatment series Wong, et al. Modified flexor hallucis longus transfer for Achilles Less than 10 patients 2005 insertional rupture in elderly patients per group Table 94. Excluded Studies - Synthetic Tissue Author Title Exclusion Reason Fernandez-Fairen, et Retrospective case al. Long-term results after operatively treated Achilles tendon Suture Technique 2008 rupture: fibrin glue versus suture Combines acute and Parsons, et al. Achilles tendon repair with an absorbable polymer-carbon neglected/chronic 1984 fiber composite Achilles tendon tear patients Patients had prior Parsons, et al. Long-term follow-up of Achilles tendon repair with an surgical or 1989 absorbable polymer carbon fiber composite conservative treatment Table 95- Biologic Adjuncts Author Title Exclusion Reason Aspenberg, et al. Comparison of surgically repaired Achilles tendon tears Less than 10 patients 2007 using platelet-rich fibrin matrices per group 81 v1. Study Quality - Autograft Comparative Studies ● = Yes ○ = No × = Not Reported Level of Author Outcome N Treatment(s) Evidence Taglialavoro, Open vs. Two re-ruptures occurred at twelve weeks with minimum trauma; these patients were in the Open repair group and recalled having sustained a slight injury during the first three weeks. Rationale: A systematic review was conducted to determine if prophylaxis for thromboembolic events is warranted for patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. Antithrombotic Treatment - Excluded Studies Author Title Exclusion Reason Not Relevant; Does Nilsson-Helander, High Incidence of deep venous thrombosis after Achilles tendon not answer the et al. Prolonged thromboprophylaxis with dalteparin after surgical treatment Less than 50% 2007 of Achilles tendon rupture: a randomized, placebo-controlled study follow up Less than 80% Lassen, et al. Use of the low-molecular-weight heparin reviparin to prevent deep- Achilles tendon tear 2002 vein thrombosis after leg injury requiring immobilization patients 90 v1. All studies compared patients with either six weeks of non-weight 40, 42 bearing in a cast to early weight bearing. Two studies permitted immediate weight bearing starting the day of surgery in a cast, defined as toe-touch weight bearing in one 40 5 study. The second study allowed the weight bearing group to begin immediate rehabilitation on the first post-operative day in a modified splint. By two weeks, three 40, 5, 41 investigators used a splint device that limited dorsiflexion to prevent compromise 40, 42 of the repair. Both patients had documented non-compliance with the use of their postoperative splint and fell during the first four weeks after surgery. By 12 months, all four studies found that there was no significant difference between the two groups in outcomes such as pain and function. Although the ultimate level of function achieved after operative repair of an Achilles rupture is similar regardless of the post-operative weight bearing protocol, early post- operative weight bearing allows the patient to achieve a quicker return to activities during the first six months than those patients treated with traditional postoperative casting. Treatment decisions should be made in light of all circumstances presented by the patient. For results of early weight bearing versus non-weight bearing see Table 109 through Table 115. Of forty-nine outcome measures comparing early weight bearing to non-weight bearing, seventeen were statistically significant in favor of early weight bearing, while one was in favor of non-weight bearing. Eleven of the seventeen results in favor of early weight bearing measured time until returning to activity (return to sports, return to normal walking, return to stair climbing, return to work, return to full weight bearing, number of physical therapy visits, and time until release from physical therapy) (see Table 109). A 5 third study that measured time until return to work did not find a statistically significant difference between groups. At one and a half months, the early weight bearing group had no limitation and scored statistically significantly higher on the physical function, social function, vitality, and emotion components of the Rand-36 scale. One study reported that statistically significantly more patients returned to sports at 12 months (see Table 109). However, two other studies reported no statistically significant difference in return to sports at six or twelve months. There was no statistically significant difference in pain, satisfaction, return to work, or footwear restrictions at twelve months (see Table 110 through Table 113). Of the two patients with re-ruptures, one patient did not follow the written rehabilitation protocol and the second patient suffered a fall on ice and forcibly dorsiflexed his ankle. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in complications. Table 108: Description of treatment groups Author Post operative Instructions Early weight bearing group: Bear weight on the tiptoes of the operated leg as tolerated but keep leg elevated for the first two weeks. Non-weight bearing group: No weight bearing and keep leg elevated for first two weeks. Early weight bearing group: Bear weight on the operated leg as tolerated but keep leg elevated for the first two weeks. Early weight bearing group: Two weeks of non-weight bearing followed by weight bearing. The authors state both 56 and 53 as the number of patients enrolled Table 110 Pain Result (months) Author Outcome LoE N 1. Immediate full-weight bearing mobilisation for Less than 10 patients per 2003 repaired Achilles tendon ruptures: a pilot study group Wagnon, et The Webb-Bannister percutaneous technique for No patient-oriented al. Early active motion and weight bearing after cross- evidence - not 1998 stitch Achilles tendon repair comparative Not best available Speck, et al. Early full weight bearing and functional treatment evidence - not 1998 after surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture comparative Solveborn, Not best available Immediate free ankle motion after surgical repair of et al. Non-Weight Bearing Weight Non-Weight Author Outcome LoE Duration N Result Bearing Bearing Suchak, et al Rand-36 Physical 61. Implications: Practitioners should generally follow a Moderate recommendation but remain alert to new information and be sensitive to patient preferences. All five studies randomized the patients into two groups with either six weeks in a cast or early motion with a modified splint device. For all studies, patients in the mobilization group had a splint or modified cast device that limited dorsiflexion to protect the repair. One of three studies found a significantly higher rate in return to sport activities at twelve months, 40, 39 while two found no difference. One study 5 found a significantly higher re-rupture rate in the postoperative mobilization group (2 of 23 patients) compared to the immobilization group (0 of 25 patients). Both patients had documented non-compliance with the use of their postoperative splint and fell during the first 4 weeks after surgery.

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If the court fails to issue a ruling within this time period purchase verapamil 120mg without a prescription arteria pharyngea ascendens, the petition is deemed to have been granted and the consent requirement is waived safe 240 mg verapamil blood pressure medication to treat acne. An expedited confidential appeal is available to a pregnant minor for whom the court denies an order authorizing an abortion without parental consent cheap 120 mg verapamil amex blood pressure medication edema. The appellate court shall hold the hearing and issue a ruling within forty-eight hours verapamil 240mg with mastercard arteria brachialis, excluding weekends and holidays, after the petition for appellate review is filed. Filing fees are not required of the pregnant minor at either the trial or the appellate level. Parental consent or judicial authorization is not required under this section if either: 1. The physician performing the abortion shall report the sexual conduct with a minor to the proper law enforcement officials pursuant to § 13-3620 and shall preserve and forward a sample of the fetal tissue to these officials for use in a criminal investigation. A person who performs an abortion in violation of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. A person is not subject to any liability under this section if the person establishes by written evidence that the person relied on evidence sufficient to convince a careful and prudent person that the representations of the pregnant minor regarding information necessary to comply with this section are true. The civil action may be based on a claim that failure to obtain consent was a result of simple negligence, gross negligence, wantonness, wilfulness, intention or any other legal standard of care. The civil action may be brought against the person who performs the abortion in violation of this section and any person who causes, aids or assists a minor to obtain an abortion without meeting the requirements of this section. Money damages for all psychological, emotional and physical injuries that result from the violation of this section. Statutory damages in an amount equal to five thousand dollars or three times the cost of the abortion, whichever is greater. A civil action brought pursuant to this section must be initiated within six years after the violation occurred. The consent required by this section must be obtained on a form prescribed by the department of health services. List the possible medical risks that may occur with any surgical, medical or diagnostic procedure, including the potential for infection, blood clots, hemorrhage, allergic reactions and death. List the possible medical risks that may occur with a surgical abortion, including hemorrhage, uterine perforation, sterility, injury to the bowel or bladder, a possible hysterectomy as a result of a complication or injury during the procedure and failure to remove all products of conception that may result in an additional procedure. List the possible medical risks that may occur with a medication abortion, including hemorrhage, infection, failure to remove all products of conception that may result in an additional procedure, sterility and the possible continuation of the pregnancy. The information may be given to or withheld from the spouse, parent, or guardian without the consent and over the express objection of the minor. This section shall not apply to custodial property given or held under the terms of the “Colorado Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”, article 50 of title 11, C. Such consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority, and, when such consent is given, said minor shall have the same rights, powers, and obligations as if he or she had obtained majority. Consent to organ or tissue donation may be revoked pursuant to section 12-34-106, C. The consent of a minor parent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority, and, when such consent is given, said minor parent has the same rights, powers, and obligations as if he or she were of legal age. Equally important is the duty of those performing such service or providing such materials to exercise due care under the attending circumstances to the end that those receiving health care will benefit and adverse results therefrom will be minimized by the use of available and proven scientific safeguards. The imposition of legal liability without fault upon the persons and organizations engaged in such scientific procedures may inhibit the exercise of sound medical judgment and restrict the availability of important scientific knowledge, skills, and materials. It is, therefore, the public policy of this state to promote the health and welfare of the people by emphasizing the importance of exercising due care, and by limiting the legal liability arising out of such scientific procedures to instances of negligence or willful misconduct. No physician, surgeon, hospital, blood bank, tissue bank, or other person or entity who donates, obtains, prepares, transplants, injects, transfuses, or otherwise transfers, or who assists or participates in donating, obtaining, preparing, transplanting, injecting, transfusing, or transferring any tissue, organ, blood, or 32 component thereof from one or more human beings, living or dead, to another living human being for the purpose of therapy or transplantation needed by him for his health or welfare shall be liable for any damages of any kind or description directly or indirectly caused by or resulting from any such activity; except that each such person or entity remains liable for his or its own negligence or willful misconduct. The consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of such a minor shall not be necessary in order to authorize such donation of blood, organs, or tissue and penetration of tissue. Medical treatment also means the examination and treatment of any laceration, fracture or other traumatic injury, or any symptom, disease or pathology which may, in the judgment of the treating health care professional, if left untreated, reasonably be expected to threaten health or life. A minor giving such consent shall be deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and the same legal obligations with regard to giving such consent as if such minor were 18 years of age or over. Consent so given shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of such minority and the consent of no other person or court shall be necessary for performance of the lawful procedures required to be performed in order to receive such donation. A minor giving the consent shall be deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and the same legal obligations with regard to giving consent as if the minor were of full legal age. Consent so given shall not be subject to later disaffirmance by reason of such minority; and the consent of no other person or court shall be necessary for the performance of the diagnostic and lawful therapeutic procedures, medical or surgical care and treatment rendered such minor. Constructive service of process may be used, provided the petitioning parent makes an actual, diligent search to discover the location of, and provide notice to, the nonpetitioning parent. An order removing the disabilities of nonage shall have the effect of giving the minor the status of an adult for purposes of all criminal and civil laws of the state, and shall authorize the minor thereafter to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities of persons who are 18 years of age or older. Such consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority, unless the parent or parents of such minor specifically object, in writing, to the donation or penetration of the skin. Each hospital or other health care facility, health care provider, and any other person or entity who acts in good faith reliance on any such direction or decision shall be protected and released to the same extent as though such person had interacted directly with the patient as a fully competent person. The consent of no other person or persons, including but not limited to a spouse, parent, custodian, or guardian, shall be necessary in order to authorize the provision to such minor of such medical or surgical care or services as are described in this subsection. Such information may be given to or withheld from the spouse, parent, custodian, or guardian without the consent of the minor patient and even over the express refusal of the minor patient to the providing of such information. If the minor patient is not diagnosed as being pregnant or afflicted with venereal disease, such information as well as the application for diagnosis may be disclosed, at the discretion of the treating physician after consulting with the minor patient. A minor who consents to the provision of medical care and services under this section shall assume financial responsibility for the costs of such medical care and services. As used in this chapter, “primary medical care and services” does not include invasive care, such as surgery, that goes beyond standard injections, laceration care, or treatment of simple abscesses. A minor without support who consents to the provision of primary medical care and services under this chapter shall assume financial responsibility for the costs of the primary medical care and services. The plan may require that the request for confidential communication be made in writing and that it contain a statement that disclosure of all or part of the information to which the request pertains could endanger 45 the minor. The plan shall have fourteen days to make any changes necessary to comply with the request for confidentiality. The plan may accommodate requests by the minor or the licensed health care practitioner to receive communications related to the primary medical care and services by alternative means or at alternative locations. The court shall provide her with counsel unless she appears through private counsel. All records contained in court files of judicial proceedings arising under the provisions of this section shall be confidential and exempt from disclosure pursuant to section 9-340G, Idaho Code. Dockets and other court records shall be maintained and court proceedings undertaken so that the names and identities of the parties to actions brought pursuant to this section will not be disclosed to the public. If the court fails to issue its ruling at the conclusion of the hearing, the petition is deemed to have been granted and the consent requirement is waived. A minor shall file her notice of appeal within five (5) days, excluding weekends and holidays, after her petition was denied by the district court. The appellate court shall hold the hearing within forty- eight (48) hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the notice of appeal is filed and shall issue its ruling at the conclusion of the hearing.

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Similarly generic verapamil 80mg amex hypertension headache, whilst the prospect of reversing the international brain drain is very positive order 240 mg verapamil overnight delivery arrhythmia cause, there are concerns that medical tourism will cause an internal brain drain purchase verapamil 80mg without a prescription heart attack toni braxton, with health professionals leaving the public health system to work for the hospitals that attract medical tourists trusted 240 mg verapamil arteria cerebri media. Research is needed on the economic impact for source and destination countries, particularly those low- and middle-income countries where there is speculation but little evidence about the impact of medical tourism treatments on local citizens, either in a health sense or indeed an economic sense. Country case studies of such state-driven support for medical tourism would be a useful starting point to better understand the positive and negative impacts on country finances and populations of involvement with medical tourism. In terms of management of services and treatments, there are continuing questions about the range of information and its quality. Given the role of the internet, how (if at all) the quality of medical tourism information is best addressed is unclear: ranging from codes of conduct, through quality labels, user guidance tool, third-party quality and accreditation labels, to educating users and assisting those wishing to search (Lunt et al. Frontier medicine and the marketing of biotechnologies present a particular issue (Murdoch and Scott, 2010) given that such treatments may not be based on proven clinical trials. These should be better documented and understood, including their strengths and drawbacks, as well as the implications for managing quality, safety and risk. The roles and responsibilities of clinicians and healthcare providers within both provider countries and countries of origin, and organisations responsible for credentialing and continuing professional development of clinicians in provider countries, require clarification regarding their duties in relation to patients who seek help and advice in advance of engaging in medical tourism. What is the role of informing, persuading and advocating for individuals that intend to travel abroad, and the role on return? What about the public health dimensions, such as pre-travel vaccination, anti-malarial prophylaxis etc.? Full medical documentation, both pre and post-treatment, is crucial in order to minimise risk. Patient-clinician dialogue may be problematic given language and distance, and treatment decisions may be unduly influenced by patients having already arrived in the destination country for pre-treatment consultation. Relatively little is known about readmission, morbidity and mortality following self-funded medical treatment abroad. Within treatment speciality there is a need to link together reports of adverse infection control or sub-optimal outcomes. Any legal cases that are pursued should also be documented so that it is possible to build national and international understanding of the implications of trade in health services. The central conclusion from this review is that there is a grave lack of systematic data concerning health services trade, both overall and at a disaggregated level in terms of individual modes of delivery, and of specific countries. For instance, there is little robust evidence that medical tourism adds especially to the economies of destination countries, as figures tend to be quoted in aggregate, but not at the marginal level of the additional tourist- related income specifically resulting from medical tourism. This review has also touched upon overarching legal and ethical considerations surrounding medical tourism. Prior to considering any regulation we need more information and understanding (cf. Research and evaluation has not kept pace with the development of medical tourism and there is a need for national governments and potentially international bodies (e. The lack of data is significant if countries are to keep fully informed about the significance (potential or actual) of medical tourism for their health systems. The evidence base is scant to enable us to assess who benefits and who loses out at the level of system, programme, organisation and treatment. On balance there is a pressing need to explore further as to whether medical tourism is virus, symptom, or cure. Medical Anthropology: Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness, 29, 403 - 423. A socio-cultural approach to risk and trust in private health insurance decisions. Global Public Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 3, 271-290. This Clinical Practice Guideline is not intended to be a fixed protocol, as some patients may require more or less treatment or different means of diagnosis. Clinical patients may not necessarily be the same as those found in a clinical trial. Patient care and treatment should always be based on a clinician’s independent medical judgment, given the individual patient’s clinical circumstances. All panel members provided full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest prior to voting on the recommendations contained within this Clinical Practice Guidelines. Funding Source This Clinical Practice Guideline was funded exclusively by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons who received no funding from outside commercial sources to support the development of this document. The scope of this guideline is specifically limited to acute Achilles tendon rupture. This summary does not contain rationales that explain how and why these recommendations were developed nor does it contain the evidence supporting these recommendations. All readers of this summary are strongly urged to consult the full guideline and evidence report for this information. We are confident that those who read the full guideline and evidence report will also see that the recommendations were developed using systematic evidence-based processes designed to combat bias, enhance transparency, and promote reproducibility. Treatments and procedures applicable to the individual patient rely on mutual communication between patient, physician and other healthcare practitioners. In the absence of reliable evidence, it is the opinion of this work group that a detailed history and physical exam be performed. The physical examination should include two or more of the following tests to establish the diagnosis of acute Achilles tendon rupture: o Clinical Thompson test (Simmonds squeeze test) o Decreased ankle plantar flexion strength o Presence of a palpable gap (defect, loss of contour) o Increased passive ankle dorsiflexion with gentle manipulation Strength of Recommendation – Consensus* Description: The supporting evidence is lacking and requires the work group to make a recommendation based on expert opinion by considering the known potential harm and benefits associated with the treatment. Strength of Recommendation – Inconclusive Description: Evidence from a single low quality study or conflicting findings that do not allow a recommendation for or against the intervention. Non-operative treatment is an option for all patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. For patients treated non-operatively, we are unable to recommend for or against the use of immediate functional bracing for patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. Strength of Recommendation: Inconclusive Description: Evidence from a single low quality study or conflicting findings that do not allow a recommendation for or against the intervention. Strength of Recommendation: Limited Description: Evidence from two or more “Low” strength studies with consistent findings, or evidence from a single “Moderate” quality study recommending for or against the intervention or diagnostic. Strength of Recommendation: Consensus Description: The supporting evidence is lacking and requires the work group to make a recommendation based on expert opinion by considering the known potential harm and benefits associated with the treatment. Implications: Practitioners should be flexible in deciding whether to follow a recommendation classified as Consensus, although they may set boundaries on alternatives. For patients who will be treated operatively for an acute Achilles tendon rupture, we are unable to recommend for or against preoperative immobilization or restricted weight bearing. Open, limited open and percutaneous techniques are options for treating patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. We cannot recommend for or against the use of allograft, autograft, xenograft, synthetic tissue, or biologic adjuncts in all acute Achilles tendon ruptures that are treated operatively. We cannot recommend for or against the use of antithrombotic treatment for patients with acute Achilles tendon ruptures. We suggest early (≤ 2 weeks) post-operative protected weight bearing for patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who have been treated operatively Strength of Recommendation: Moderate Description: Evidence from two or more “Moderate” strength studies with consistent findings, or evidence from a single “High” quality study for recommending for or against the intervention.

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Trastuzumab was developed and patented by Genentech and is currently 60 marketed by Roche as Herceptin verapamil 80 mg lowest price hypertension genetic. This patent was not granted in India because the product was developed before 1995 when India did not grant patents for pharmaceutical products cheap 80 mg verapamil fast delivery blood pressure too low. In 2007 buy verapamil 240mg without prescription blood pressure chart height and weight, a secondary patent was granted in India to Genentech (the original developer generic verapamil 240 mg line arteria etmoidal anterior, later acquired by Roche) on a composition of the drug. Roche did this after the Kolkata patent office had revoked patents related to 61,62 trastuzumab. Roche has entered into an agreement with the Indian generic manufacturer Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Technically Emcure’s product is not a biosimilar because it simply repackages the product produced by Roche. Roche has attempted to challenge the marketing of biosimilar trastuzumab quoting misrepresentation as ‘biosimilar Trastuzumab’ and ‘biosimilar version of Herceptin’ without following the ‘due process in accordance with the 66 guidelines for similar biologics’ for getting approvals in India. On 26 November Biocon and Mylan received marketing authorization in India for their biosimilar trastuzumab products which they each market under 67 separate brand names. In their application they point out that one possible supplier of trastuzumab suggested the drug could be manufactured for $31 per gram, or $242 per year, roughly 1 percent of the lowest Roche price. The current Roche prices range from $3,000 to 68 $9,000 per gram (1 gram of gold costs $42 – 4 November 2013). The Expert Committee considered the applications in detail and noted the high quality evidence showing relevant clinical benefits in support of both imatinib and trastuzumab but deferred the final specifications of the medicines and their inclusion until 69 the review of the section of cytotoxics is completed. In 2013, an estimated 232,340 women were diagnosed as having breast cancer in the United States, and an estimated 39,620 women died from breast cancer. A number of factors have been found to be associated with breast cancer, including family history, nulliparity (no pregnancies), early menarche (menstruation), advanced age, and personal history. Breast cancer can be suspected when a lump is found in the breast, when the breast has changed sizes, when there is discoloration of the skin of the 17 Access to Cancer Treatment: A study of medicine pricing issues with recommendations for improving access to cancer medication. Diagnosis begins with a professional medical history and physical examination, including breast examination. If breast cancer is suspected from these examinations, breast biopsy is carried out. Simply speaking, breast cancer is classified into 4 groups, beginning with very small cancers in group 1, larger cancers in groups 2 and 3, and cancers with local extension of the cancer or spread through the body (or inflammatory cancers) in group 4. In stage 4, that is, with cancer that has spread beyond the breast, surgery is of limited benefit. The product is not patented in India, because it dates back to pre-1995, a period in which India did not grant product patents. The price difference between 18 Access to Cancer Treatment: A study of medicine pricing issues with recommendations for improving access to cancer medication. The invention of the original Gleevec compound dates back to 1993, the pre-1995 period when India did 76 not have a product patent system. In 1998, Novartis did submit a mailbox patent application for the new form of imatinib mesylate. It was this patent application for Imatinib that became subject to fierce battles over its patentability in India. In 2006 the Indian Patent Office rejected a patent application by Novartis for the beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate. After a seven-year battle in the Indian courts, the Supreme Court of India on 1 April 2013 confirmed that the patent application failed to meet the requirements for patentability under Indian law. Public health advocates the world over closely monitored the court case because of its potential effect on the supply of affordable generic medicines originating in India. The patent application for the beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate was rejected because it was not considered innovative. Indian patent law (section 3(d)) explicitly requires that patents only be granted for compounds that are 19 Access to Cancer Treatment: A study of medicine pricing issues with recommendations for improving access to cancer medication. For new forms of known compounds, Indian law requires patent applicants to prove significantly improved efficacy to achieve eligibility for a patent. India introduced this requirement to prevent the practice of continually extending or ‘evergreening’ of medicines’ patents by seeking patents for minor alterations to the original molecule or known compounds. The Supreme Court clarified that this requirement of improved efficacy refers to therapeutic efficacy. Thus, the Supreme Court ruled that the Novartis application for a patent for imatinib mesylate did not meet the requirement of section 3(d). Box 3 – Section 3(d) Indian Patents Act The text of Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act reads as follows: ‘the mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance or the mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant. Section 3(d) was designed to prevent the so-called ‘evergreening’ of patents, which refers to a business strategy to extend market exclusivity of a product by seeking patent protection for changes to that product. Evergreening strategies aim to delay the entry of generic versions of the product. This also explains why certain patents are granted in one country while they are rejected in another. Throughout the seven-year court battle the public health community around the world paid close attention for at least two reasons:  the expanded supply of low-cost generic imatinib mesylate was at stake – with the Indian generic price at $170 versus $2,200 per month from Novartis; and  the effectiveness of section 3(d) was at stake. Section 3(d) has been the basis of successful patent grant oppositions by patient groups and other civil society organizations. Graph 1 below gives the price of imatinib per patient per month in various countries showing the steep discounts that can be obtained when there are no patent barriers to generic drug makers entering the market. In 2008, Thailand issued a compulsory license for imatinib, price being the 77 main reason. Leukaemia is named for the type of affected cell, either the lymphoid cell or the myeloid cell. The estimated number of new cases of leukaemia in the United States in 2013 was 48,510. Some symptoms that may be seen include weakness and tiredness, fever, easy bruising, shortness of breath, weight loss, pain in the bones and joints, swollen lymph nodes, and frequent infection. Diagnosis is done by medical examination and lab testing, including blood count and differential, blood chemistry, tests of blood coagulation, and active screen for infection. Approximately 80 percent of children from age 1-18 will have a prolonged remission without symptoms. This treatment is difficult and must be carried out in a specialized medical centre where supportive care, including transfusions, is possible. It is important to treat or prevent ‘sanctuary-site disease’, especially in the central nervous system. Younger patients have a better prognosis, and signs of central nervous system involvement indicate a poor prognosis.

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