Court allows woman to get kidney from relative |  |
- Court allows woman to get kidney from relative
- Palpitations predictive of future atrial fibrillation
- DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Secret soil cracks linger, despite surface sealing
- Panel to look into irregularities in drug trials
- A*STAR scientists discover 'switch' to boost anti-viral response to fight infectious diseases
- Most senior citizens in Delhi NCR have bone ailments: Study
- Soni Sori admitted to AIIMS
- Health ministry probing irregularities in drug trials
- Hyderabad foundation gets $100,000 grant for polio vaccine
| Court allows woman to get kidney from relative Posted: 15 May 2012 07:15 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, May 15 - The Delhi High Court Tuesday allowed a 58-year-old woman, waiting for kidney transplant from June last year, to go ahead with the surgery with the organ donated by her niece. Justice Vipin Sanghvi quashed the order of the Authorisation Committee for Human Organ Transplant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital - and the appellate authority, the Director General of Health Services, which had rejected Parveen Begum's plea to get kidney from her niece Israt. They had contended that the organ donation could involve monetary favours as there is difference between the financial status of the two. The driving force behind the decision of petitioner No.2 - to donate one of her kidneys to petitioner No.1 - clearly is her sense of love, affection, and gratitude for petitioner No.1, and is not commercial gain, the court held. The court opined that mere existence of disparity in the income of the donor and the recipient by itself could not have been a reason to reject the plea. Observing that Parveen Begum has been in need of kidney replacement from June 2011, and as the joint application seeking the Authorisation Committee's approval was submitted in August 2011, the court noted that over this period of time, Parveen Begum's condition has only deteriorated. Considering the urgency of the matter, I am inclined to require the Authorisation Committee to forthwith grant its approval to the petitioners for donation of one kidney by petitioner No.2 - to petitioner No.1 in terms of their application. The formal approval should be granted within two days, failing which it shall be deemed that the said formal approval stands granted, the court ordered. The petitioners had moved the court after the two committees rejected their plea for the organ transplant. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Palpitations predictive of future atrial fibrillation Posted: 15 May 2012 08:36 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) A large cohort study has found that the strongest risk factors for atrial fibrillation in both men and women were a history of palpitations and hypertension. While hypertension is a well known risk factor for AF, the investigators note that "the impact of self-reported palpitations on later occurrence of AF has not been documented earlier". Atrial fibrillation is currently the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a major risk factor for heart failure (risk tripled), stroke (risk increased up to five times) and overall mortality (risk doubled). A recent consensus statement described AF as "one of the major common and chronic disorders in modern cardiology", adding that mortality and morbidity associated with AF "remain unacceptably high". The emergence of palpitations as a risk factor for AF is reported today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, with results from the Troms Study, a large prospective follow-up of the general population of this region of Norway. Participants in this study were recruited in 1994-95 and included all inhabitants in the region over the age of 25. After exclusions, 22,815 people aged between 25 and 96 were included and followed up for a mean time of 11.1 years. Mean age at baseline was 46 years. Information on palpitations was included at baseline along with measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. All subjects were cross-linked to the local diagnostic registry and to the national death register for information on AF documented by electrocardiogram (ECG). Hospital records were searched for subjects with diagnoses of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events but without a recorded registry diagnosis of arrhythmia. Results showed that AF was recorded in 361 women (3.0%) and 461 men (4.2%) during the 11.1 years of follow-up, an incidence rate of 2.71 per thousand per year for women and 3.87 for men. Age,... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes to treat rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 15 May 2012 08:23 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) A DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes or drugs directly into cells to treat disease appears to have therapeutic value just by showing up, researchers report. Within a few hours of injecting empty-handed DNA nanoparticles, Georgia Health Sciences University researchers were surprised to see increased expression of an enzyme that calms the immune response. In an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, the enhanced expression of indoleomine 2,3 dioxygenase, or IDO, significantly reduced the hallmark limb joint swelling and inflammation of this debilitating autoimmune disease, researchers report in the study featured on the cover of The Journal of Immunology. "It's like pouring water on a fire," said Dr. Andrew L. Mellor, Director of the GHSU's Medical College of Georgia Immunotherapy Center and the study's corresponding author. "The fire is burning down the house, which in this case is the tissue normally required for your joints to work smoothly," Mellor said of the immune system's inexplicable attack on bone-cushioning cartilage. "When IDO levels are high, there is more water to control the fire." Several delivery systems are used for gene therapy, which is used to treat conditions including cancer, HIV infection and Parkinson's disease. The new findings suggest the DNA nanoparticle technique has value as well for autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, type 1 diabetes and lupus. "We want to induce IDO because it protects healthy tissue from destruction by the immune system," Mellor said. The researchers were exploring IDO's autoimmune treatment potential by inserting the human IDO gene into DNA nanoparticles. They hoped to enhance IDO expression in their arthritis model when Dr. Lei Huang, Assistant Research Scientist and the paper's first author, serendipitously found that the DNA nanoparticle itself produced the desired result. Exactly how and why is still being pursued. Early evidence suggests that... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Secret soil cracks linger, despite surface sealing Posted: 14 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Sydney, Australia - Deep cracks in soil can remain open underground even after they have visibly sealed on the surface, a new study has found. The results could have important implications for agricultural management around the timing and intensity of water and pesticide applications. These soils are very fertile and provide the most productive agricultural land in Australia, said lead author Dr Anna-Katrin Greve, a postdoctoral fellow with UNSW's Connected Waters Initiative. Lower water application intensity will give soil cracks time to close and more frequent irrigations could prevent the soil cracks from reforming. These cracks provide preferential pathways allowing water to flow much faster than it would through non-cracked soil, rapidly transporting nutrients and pesticides beyond the crops' root-zone. If the plants can't access the water it has effectively been wasted. By sending an electrical current through the ground at different angles, the UNSW researchers can measure directional differences in current conduction, which offers clues about how water is moving through the soil. This innovative technique means they can, for the first time, detect the exact time when preferential sub-surface pathways close. This is important for irrigators, as water flow through non-cracked soil is far more predictable. Their findings, which have been accepted for publication in the journal Geoderma, reveal that surface appearances can be deceiving. We showed that soil cracks that developed in dry periods remain open as preferential flow paths, even after the cracks are visually closed, said Greve. Researchers measured the flow of electrical current through a soil profile that was set-up over several years. The soil was contained in a fiberglass barrel, which had a small drain at the base. Two irrigation events were carried out approximately 14 days apart. Each event used water from different sources, meaning the two... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Panel to look into irregularities in drug trials Posted: 11 May 2012 04:09 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, May 11 - After a report from a parliamentary standing committee pointed out huge irregularities in the functioning of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation -, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday announced that a three-member committee would examine the issue. The committee would comprise of Indian Council of Medical Research director-general V.M. Katoch, National Brain Research Centre president P.N. Tandon, and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, former director S.S. Aggarwal. It will submit its report in two months. The committee will examine the validity of the scientific and statutory basis adopted for approval of new drugs without clinical trials, outline appropriate measures to bring about systemic improvements in the processing and grant of statutory approvals, and suggest steps to institutionalise improvements in other procedural aspects of functioning of the CDSCO, a statement issued here said. According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, huge irregularities were found in the functioning of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation -. The parliamentary panel pointed out that at least 33 drugs have been allowed to be sold in India without proper trials. The report says at least 33 drugs were approved for sale in India during 2008-10 without conducting trials on Indian patients, and there was no scientific evidence to show that these drugs were really effective and safe for use. The panel also pointed out that there was an apparent nexus between drug manufacturers and experts, whose opinion matters so much in the decision making process at the CDSCO. On an average, the DCGI - is approving one drug every month without trials. This cannot be in public interest by any stretch of imagination, the panel observed. It also gave examples where the opinions of experts were based simply on personal perception. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| A*STAR scientists discover 'switch' to boost anti-viral response to fight infectious diseases Posted: 11 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Singapore scientists from Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) under the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have for the first time, identified the molecular 'switch' that directly triggers the body's first line of defence against pathogens, more accurately known as the body's innate immunity. The scientists found that this 'switch' called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) when turned on, activates the production of interferons - a potent class of virus killers that enables the body to fight harmful pathogens such as dengue and influenza viruses. While there are anti-viral drugs to treat influenza, the high rates of mutation that are characteristic of the influenza [1] virus have made it difficult to treat with one universal drug or vaccine. As for dengue [2], there are currently no clinically approved vaccines or cures either. This discovery of BTK's role as a critical 'switch' that boosts the body's anti-viral response, paves the way for developing anti-viral drugs that target the BTK 'switch' to fight infectious diseases. To investigate the role of BTK in innate immunity, the research team from BTI extracted a class of innate immune cells known as macrophages [3] from both normal mice and from mice deficient in BTK and challenged them with the dengue virus. They found that the BTK-deficient immune cells were unable to produce interferons, and hence had much higher viral counts compared to the healthy immune cells that had high-levels of interferons to fight the virus effectively. To further demonstrate the critical role of BTK in anti-viral response, the team focussed on BTK's role in Toll-like Receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling. TLR3 is needed for cells to activate the interferon response when cells are infected by viruses. The team examined the effect of having a perpetually-on or -off BTK 'switch' in TLR3 signaling. They uncovered that a constitutively active or on BTK 'switch' enhanced the production of... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Most senior citizens in Delhi NCR have bone ailments: Study Posted: 10 May 2012 11:08 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, May 10 - As many as 85 percent of senior citizens in the national capital region - have bone and joint ailments, restricting their mobility, a study released here Thursday said demanding a national programme to deal with the issue. The epidemiological study by the Arthritis Federation of India -, conducted among 1,300 senior citizens living in residences on the second floor and above, revealed that 10 percent of the elderly in the age group of 60-65 and 17 percent of those above 66 were not able to walk down to the ground floor. Just 56 percent of the people between 60-65 and 37 among the above 66 age group could manage to walk down to the ground floor thrice a day. Further, almost 60 percent were not able to manage personal cleanliness while 84 percent are not fit enough to travel alone. However, the good news is that 81 percent of the senior citizens have consulted specialised orthopaedic doctors and physician specialists, which indicates a high level of awareness, said AFI chairman Sushil Sharma. We reiterate the demand for a national programme on bone and joint diseases as the economic burden is estimated to be about Rs.8,000-10,000 crore per year which makes it very difficult for a developing country like India, he added. Sharma further said that the programme should be on the lines of the national programme for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but should not be an appendage to any other programme. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Posted: 10 May 2012 08:47 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, May 10 - Suspected Maoist conduit Soni Sori was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences - here Thursday for an independent medical examination on whether she was tortured in Chattisgarh Police custody. She was admitted to AIIMS around 12 noon. As per the Supreme Court's directive, the AIIMS director has constituted a three-member board for the medical examination, sources from the premier health institute told IANS. The 35-year-old tribal teacher from conflict-ridden Dantewada district was admitted to AIIMS after the Supreme Court directed the premier health institute for the medical examination to ascertain charges of torture. The board of doctors has to submit its report to the apex court before July 10. The board includes the head of the department of gynaecology, a cardiac specialist and an endocrinologist to examine and provide her adequate treatment. The report will be submitted within the stipulated time. She has been admitted to an undisclosed isolation ward in the emergency department, the source added. Accused of receiving 'protection money' from the Essar group on behalf of the rebels, Sori was brought to Delhi early Wednesday. However, she was could not be admitted to AIIMS due to unavailability of beds, the AIIMS management said. We never refused treatment to her. There was some logistics problem as the beds were not available when she was brought here, a senior official told IANS on condition of anonymity. While the hospital management stated its own reasons, Sori's counsel said it was wrong to keep her in a police lockup as her health was deteriorating. Soni has complained of blisters in her vaginal area and burning sensation. There is some swelling in legs and her deteriorating health is worrying, counsel Colin Gonsalves told IANS. She was kept at a police lock-up near AIIMS which is wrong. She wants the examination to happen soonest, Gonsalves added. Sori was arrested Oct 4 in... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Health ministry probing irregularities in drug trials Posted: 10 May 2012 08:24 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, May 10 - The health ministry Thursday said it has already taken several steps to plug loopholes in the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation, which has been pulled up by a parliamentary panel for allowing at least 33 drugs to be sold in India without proper trials. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, in its latest report, said at least 33 drugs were approved for sale in India during 2008-10 without conducting trials on Indian patients, and there was no scientific evidence to show that they are really effective and safe for them. Reacting to this, the ministry said it was examining the report and would take appropriate action after the scrutiny. After receipt of inputs from CDSCO - on the report and thorough its scrutiny, appropriate action will be taken by the ministry wherever required, the ministry said in a statement Thursday. It also said the ministry had already initiated several steps to strengthen the CDSCO and streamline its functioning, but gave no details about the steps. The panel in its report pointed out that there was an apparent nexus between drug manufacturers and experts, whose opinion matters so much in the decision making process at the CDSCO. On an average, the DCGI - is approving one drug every month without trials. This cannot be in public interest by any stretch of imagination, the panel observed. It also gave examples where the opinions of experts were based simply on personal perception. In case of clevusine -, three experts - located at different places thousands of miles apart from each other, sent word to word identical letters of recommendation, it said pointing out one of many such cases. Is the committee mistaken in coming to the conclusion that all these letters were collected by the interested party, it said, adding that the cases pointed to an apparent nexus. The panel has also asked the ministry to conduct an enquiry and take appropriate action against the... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Hyderabad foundation gets $100,000 grant for polio vaccine Posted: 10 May 2012 01:40 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Hyderabad, May 10 - Ella Foundation has won a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations - grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a virus against polio after the phasing out of the oral poliovirus - vaccine, the Hyderabad-based scientific research group said Thursday. Such a vaccine could carry the beneficial effects of an oral polio vaccine - namely safety, efficacy, ease of manufacture, distribution and administration along with the safety profile of an injectable polio vaccine by eliminating vaccine derived polio virus -, said a statement from Ella Foundation. Vaccines play a crucial role in the eradication of diseases that affect millions of lives worldwide. The grant will help us accelerate the pace of research programmes and explore new solutions in global health priority areas, said Krishna Ella, co-founder of the Ella Foundation. GCE funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that help solve persistent global health and development challenges. It is a $100 million initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2008, over 600 people in 45 countries have received GCE grants. Located in Genome Valley in Hyderabad, Ella Foundation - founded by Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella - is an independent scientific and industrial research organisation. Set up in 2002, its research activities focus on infectious diseases. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
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