Syndrome X
Studies show that Indians are genetically predisposed to physiological symptoms collectively called Syndrome X. This makes them highly susceptible to heart disease. Fortunately, technology can help detect coronary artery disease at an early stage.

Peace By Piece
Having failed to make headway with the cease-fire, the Centre is now trying to talk peace on Kashmir, internally through its negotiator K.C. Pant and externally with Pakistan's Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf. But will anything come out of this?

Good Monsoon
So What?
The traditional link between the monsoon and the economy weakens.

Slippery Deal
The ONGC subsidiary's whopping Rs 8,136 crore investment was signed in indecent haste.

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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