CWRU School of Medicine researchers discover gene that permanently stops cancer cell proliferation |  |
- CWRU School of Medicine researchers discover gene that permanently stops cancer cell proliferation
- Strategy needed to tackle zoonotic diseases, say experts
- Conjoined twins' family undecided on surgery
- Bring conjoined sisters from Bihar to Delhi: SC
- 45,000 Amarnath pilgrims treated at medical camps
- Humpback whales staying in Antarctic bays later into autumn
- Hepatitis awareness programme launched for Mumbai slums
- Tripura to launch 24X7 ambulance service
| CWRU School of Medicine researchers discover gene that permanently stops cancer cell proliferation Posted: 01 Aug 2012 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have discovered a mutant form of the gene, Chk1, that when expressed in cancer cells, permanently stopped their proliferation and caused cell death without the addition of any chemotherapeutic drugs. This study illustrates an unprecedented finding, that artificially activating Chk1 alone is sufficient to kill cancer cells. We have identified a new direction for cancer therapy and the new direction is leading us to a reduction in toxicity in cancer therapy, compared with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, said Dr. Zhang, assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, and member of the university's Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. With this discovery, scientists could stop the proliferation of cancer cells, allowing physicians time to fix cells and genetic errors. While studying the basic mechanisms for genome integrity, Dr. Zhang's team unexpectedly discovered an active mutant form of human Chk1, which is also a non-natural form of this gene. This mutation changed the protein conformation of Chk1 from the inactive form into an active form. Remarkably, the research team discovered that when expressed in cancer cells, this active mutant form of Chk1 permanently stopped cancer cell proliferation and caused cell death in petri dishes even without the addition of any chemotherapeutic drugs. The biggest advantage of this potential strategy is that no toxic chemotherapeutic drug is needed to achieve the same cancer killing effect used with a combination of Chk1 inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs. Cells respond to DNA damage by activating networks of signaling pathways, termed cell cycle checkpoints. Central to these genome pathways is the protein kinase, called Chk1. Chk1 facilitates cell survival, including cancer cells, under stressful conditions, such as those induced by chemotherapeutic agents, by placing a temporary stop on... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Strategy needed to tackle zoonotic diseases, say experts Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:57 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, July 31 - Zoonotic diseases, or diseases that transmit from animals to humans, like rabies, chikunguniya and Japanese Encephalitis, comprise a majority of the diseases afflicting humans today around the world, especially in South Asia, and a concerted strategy is needed to tackle such infections, experts said here Tuesday. At the fourth 'South Asia Regional Alliance to Fight Zoonoses: The Road Ahead', experts said over half of all known human pathogens originating in animals, and nearly 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. The two-day seminar, which began Tuesday, has been organized by Public Health Foundation of India and One Health Alliance of South Asia -, an advisory network of scientists and policy-makers from South Asia focused on the control and prevention of trans-boundary zoonotic diseases. OHASA was formed in 2009 by EcoHealth Alliance. Manish Kakkar, a senior public health specialist at Public Health Foundation of India, said the veterinary sector, human sector and wildlife sector need to be on board to effectively tackle the spread of zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases have no international boundaries, and do not carry a passport, said Jonathan H. Epstein, EcoHealth Alliance's Asia director. The Nipah virus is transmitted from bats to pigs and then to humans. The outbreaks of the virus have occurred in Malaysia, India and Bangladesh, said Epstein. Since humans do not exist in isolation, but are part of a larger whole, the high-risk interfaces between humans and animals need to identified, as well as behaviour that increases contact with wildlife needs to be altered to be able to tackle zoonotic disease outbreaks, he added. In India, there is very little awareness about zoonoses, even among health professionals, which prevents prompt identification of the disease, said Kakkar. In the aftermath of the H5N1 and SARS outbreaks of 2008, a need was felt to promote dialogue between... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Conjoined twins' family undecided on surgery Posted: 31 Jul 2012 03:39 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Patna, July 31 - The family of 16-year-old conjoined twins in Bihar will take the final decision on surgically separating them after the girls are examined at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences - in New Delhi. We'll take the final decision to separate Saba and Farah only after knowing what the doctors say about their chances of survival, Mohammad Tamanna, the father, said here Tuesday. Tamanna told IANS that if the doctors at AIIMS said that one of the girls would not survive after the operation, they would not go for the surgery. Our stand is clear. We're not ready to lose one of them to save another, he said. The Supreme Court had Monday asked the Bihar government to make arrangements to bring the teenaged twins by air ambulance from Patna to Delhi for treatment at AIIMS. Earlier, on the directions of the apex court, the central government formed a three-member team of doctors to examine the possibility of surgically separating the sisters. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Bring conjoined sisters from Bihar to Delhi: SC Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:51 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, July 30 - The Supreme Court Monday asked the Bihar government to make arrangements for bringing teenage conjoined twins Saba and Farah to Delhi by an air ambulance for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The court also asked the central government to make arrangements for sending an air ambulance from Delhi to bring back the sisters to explore the possibility of separating them surgically. On the direction of the apex court, the central government formed a three-member team of doctors to examine the possibility of surgically separating the sisters. The apex court July 20 asked the panel of doctors to go to Patna to examine Saba and Farah and give their opinion on the possibility of separating them. The apex court direction came on a petition by Aarushi Dhasmana - a law student of Pune-based Symbiosis Law School - which said that she wanted to help Saba and Farah by exploring the possibility of separating them surgically. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| 45,000 Amarnath pilgrims treated at medical camps Posted: 30 Jul 2012 04:39 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Jammu, July 30 - About 45,000 pilgrims were treated at the medical camps set up along the Amarnath pilgrimage trek route this year, according to an official. These medical aid camps serve pilgrims round-the-clock to provide medical aid for common ailments, said a state government spokesman. The Department of Indian System of Medicines and Homoeopathy - has established 10 medical-aid camps on both Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the Amarnath cave shrine this year. According to the spokesman, the pilgrims preferred the Ayurvedic system. It is clear by the number of patients treated in ISM Camps for the last two years. In 2010, 33,165 patients were treated and in 2011, 39,518 patients. This year, since the start of the Yatra June 25, a record number of 45,000 patients have already been provided free consultation and treatment in these medical-aid camps, said the spokesman. Various disorders like joint pain, respiratory tract disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, and skin disease are readily and effectively treated by this system, the official added. Last year, 107 pilgrims died due to natural causes during the Yatra. In 2010, 78 and in 2009, 42 pilgrims died due to natural causes. About 750,000 pilgrims visited the cave shrine last year. The figure was 600,000 in 2010 and 450,000 in 2009. This year, 580,000 pilgrims have so far performed the Yatra. Statistics reveal that the overall mortality rate of pilgrims seems to have gradually increased over the years as the number of pilgrims has also increased. Whether it is lack of proper acclimatization or bogus fitness certificates that are the culprit, the fact remains that pilgrims across all age groups are among the 98 who have died due to natural causes during this year's Yatra, which is definitely a reason for concern. Lakhs of pilgrims perform the annual Amarnath pilgrimage at the Himalayan cave shrine, situated at a height of 12,760 feet, which has a natural... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Humpback whales staying in Antarctic bays later into autumn Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) DURHAM, N.C. -- Large numbers of humpback whales are remaining in bays along the Western Antarctic Peninsula to feast on krill late into the austral autumn, long after scientists thought their annual migrations to distant breeding grounds would begin, according to a new Duke University study. The study, published July 30 in the journal Endangered Species Research, provides the first density estimates for these whales in both open and enclosed habitats along the peninsula in late autumn. It suggests that the little-studied bays are late-season feeding grounds for humpback whales and much more important than scientists previously thought. It also highlights changes that might be occurring in the region in response to the later arrival and reduced extent of winter ice cover associated with rapid climate change. The old dogma is that by late autumn, the ice is heading in and the whales have headed out. But 70 percent of our surveying took place in waters with no ice, and we detected 371 groups of humpback whales over a 654-kilometer survey area, with density estimates of up to 1.75 whales per square kilometer, said David W. Johnston, a research scientist at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment and lead author of the paper. At that density, if you were to walk to the bridge of a ship and look around, you'd spot two whales within 500 meters of the boat. That's higher than anyone expected, Johnston said. The highest densities of whales were found in narrow, enclosed sections of Wilhelmina Bay, Andvord Bay and the Errera Channel. The lowest densities -- as low as 0.02 whales per square kilometer -- occurred in the open water of the adjacent Gerlache Strait, which separates the Palmer Archipelago from the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers conducted the study aboard the National Science Foundation (NSF) research vessel Laurence M. Gould in late April through early June of 2009. NSF funded the study. Establishing the... http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Hepatitis awareness programme launched for Mumbai slums Posted: 28 Jul 2012 07:43 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Mumbai, July 28 - Marking World Hepatitis Day, National Liver Foundation Saturday launched an awareness and medical care programme on hepatitis-B in the city's slums. The voluntary organisation's pilot project named 'Pahal' will aim at disease eradication through screening, immunisation, medical care and interventions targeting pregnant women. With lessons learnt from our project in the slums of Mumbai, we hope to take this movement across the nation. This is a three-pronged information, education and communication mission towards eradicating Hepatitis-B from India, said Samir R. Shah, general secretary, National Liver Foundation. The project has been launched in collaboration with United Way of Mumbai and AmeriCares India and has the support of union health ministry and Rotary. Meanwhile, All India Institute of Medical Sciences organised a public lecture on hepatitis in New Delhi Saturday. Hepatitis-B, a liver ailment, spreads mainly through blood or sexual contact, and affects 30 million people in the country. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
| Tripura to launch 24X7 ambulance service Posted: 28 Jul 2012 06:49 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Agartala, July 28 - Tripura, under a central government scheme, will launch an emergency ambulance service to provide 24 hours facility to the patients, officials said Saturday. The authorities will start the Emergency Medical Transport Service - under the National Rural Health Mission - by the end of this year, officials said here. To launch the EMTS, 75 ambulances would be purchased at a cost of Rs.7 crore. Tripura would be the second state in northeast...after Assam to start this scheme, Tripura NRHM director Samarjeet Bhowmik told reporters. Bhowmik said: There would be a control room in each district, sub-divisional and state headquarters to operate the scheme. Ambulance would reach out to the patients or any ailing people's doorstep at any time if any one calls to these control room through a toll free telephone number. According to the scheme, the ambulances, fitted with basic life support system, will be run by a private operator. The coordination will be done through a call centre. It will arrange for a doctor, paramedical staff as well as the driver for running the vehicle. The treatment will start once the patient boards the ambulance and it will continue till the patient reaches the nearby hospital, the official added. The official, said that the state government has asked the central health ministry to allow the Tripura government to run the scheme instead of a private operator. The union government's response in this regards was yet to come, the official said. http://www.rxpgnews.com |
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