The girl born with a cleft lip, Pinky (9), once teased as 'hothkati' (torn lip) in her neighbourhood, left for Los Angeles on Monday sporting a big smile for the Oscar ceremony, where the film she is the main character of, 'Smile Pinki', has been nominated as 'Best Documentary'.

MARK A. SINGLETON, M.D. comments on a recent article ("Anesthesia: A Medical Mainstay Re-examined") published by the LA Times.

(The article he is commenting on can be accessed a few entries down)

Recently some scientists and clinicians have raised concerns about the possible long-term effects of anesthesia. Based on studies in animals, lab dishes and some preliminary human data they suspect that anesthesia might have longer-term consequences on the very young, old or sick.