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FROM
THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
The
heart is the most publicly discussed organ of the human body and arguably
the most researched. Hardly a day goes by without any announcement of
new ways to beat heart disease. These medical advances fall in three broad
categories: prevention, diagnostic and surgery. In all three areas there
has been tremendous progress.
 We
have consistently tracked this phenomenon and its various facets through
path-breaking stories. In 1986, we published "Heart Disease: Hitting
the Young" (November 15), a disturbing story of how and why more
young people were suffering from heart attacks. In 1993, we wrote about
how cardiac disorders were afflicting children in "Heartbreaking
Malady". We have also written extensively about the development of
artificial heart valves in India ("Breakthrough"; May 1995),
hi-tech surgery through catheters ("Painless Revolution"; November
1996) and revolutionary diagnostic tools in cardiography such as advanced
computer imaging to pinpoint fatty deposits in arteries ("Heart Warning";
May 2000). Always, we have kept pace with developments in medicine, technology
and expertise, as India and Indian doctors have increasingly adopted state-of-the-art
detection, medication and surgery techniques that are now recognised worldwide.
In a way, our cover
story this week falls in the area of diagnostic as it delves into the
causes of heart disease through genetic research, in particular, among
Indians. Ironically, the studies began on Indians living abroad, and they
showed a high incidence of heart disease as compared to other ethnic groups
such as the Chinese, Japanese and Caucasians. They discovered that Indians
had low levels of good cholesterol and, to worsen matters, high levels
of a fat protein hybrid called Lipoprotein (A), which causes blood to
thicken. A combination of all these factors is now known as Syndrome X.
Special Correspondent
Neeraj Mishra, Senior Correspondent Supriya Bezbaruah, who holds a PhD
in molecular biology, and Correspondent Natasha Israni first tracked down
the research, and then followed up with its originator, victims and heart
specialists in India and abroad to find out the mystery behind Syndrome
X and its possible prevention. The story they have put together, if you
will pardon the pun, should be close to all our hearts.
(Aroon
Purie)
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