Health Ministers from 11 South-East Asian countries adopted the Jaipur Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, committing to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics through rational use and regulation.
The Health Ministers met at Jaipur recently to review key health issues in WHO’s South-East Asia Region and provide policy direction for future action. They also focused on the prevention and control of non communicable diseases.
Warning that “The world is on the brink of losing its miracle cures” WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said, “This is the stark reality the world faces. We have taken antibiotics and other antimicrobials for granted. And we have failed to handle these precious, yet fragile medicines with appropriate care.”
Drawing attention to the growing threat from non-communicable disease, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO’s regional director for South-East Asia said, “The burden of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic lung diseases and mental disorders is set to rise steeply in the next decade. The long term medical treatments required for chronic diseases will skyrocket health care costs and cause an additional economic burden to people.”
By adopting the Jaipur Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Health Ministers called for urgent measures to control further development of antimicrobial resistance. They acknowledged that the most important driver of antimicrobial resistance is the irrational use of these agents and national governments must take urgent action to preserve the efficacy of existing antimicrobial agents.
“More needs to be done to control resistance to antibiotics and to ensure the rational use of antibiotics in order not to allow development of ‘superbugs’ in the region,” said Dr Samlee.
The Declaration underscores concern at the spread of antimicrobial resistance which is negating achievements made in protecting human life and health. It recognized that such resistance could become a critical impediment in global efforts towards containing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.
The Ministers committed to develop national antibiotic policies, to regulate the use of antimicrobial agents and to be vigilant about the emergence and spread of further resistance.
Developing countries like ours face a multiplicity of concerns. While not yet having been able to fully control communicable diseases, we are facing the mounting challenge of non-communicable diseases and new and re-emerging infections. In order to work towards the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, we need to institute effective measures to prevent, control and manage non-communicable diseases since they are now the main causes of mortality and disability at global and national levels. In countries like ours, they are the major cause of premature deaths, which strike the poor the hardest, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Source:Pharmabiz
Friday, 9 September 2011
Patients benefit more from healing mix
Dubai’s Ibn Al Nafees Clinic is eyeing to attract more patients with its mix of modern medicine and traditional healing methods, as it aims to consolidate its position as one of the most unique medical providers in Dubai.
The clinic offers a unique combination of Western medicine’s modern scientific innovation with the its innovative Naturopathic healing system, and assures patients of only the best possible solutions for healthcare needs.
Ibn Al Nafees’ professional methodologies are the embodiment of the latest healing concepts, allowing Ibn Al Nafees to give fresh insights and encouragement to those experiencing chronic ailments.
Aside from standard medical procedures, Ibn Al Nafees Clinic offers alternative medicine such as Naturopathy, a form of alternative medicine based on vitalism that hones the body’s ability to heal itself. Other key services being offered are Biomagnetic Energy Field Therapy — a field has witnessed continuous development and viewed as an effective form of alternative treatment; and Hijama, or wet cupping, an Arab traditional medicine that relieves pain.
Courtesy:Khaleej Times
The clinic offers a unique combination of Western medicine’s modern scientific innovation with the its innovative Naturopathic healing system, and assures patients of only the best possible solutions for healthcare needs.
Ibn Al Nafees’ professional methodologies are the embodiment of the latest healing concepts, allowing Ibn Al Nafees to give fresh insights and encouragement to those experiencing chronic ailments.
Aside from standard medical procedures, Ibn Al Nafees Clinic offers alternative medicine such as Naturopathy, a form of alternative medicine based on vitalism that hones the body’s ability to heal itself. Other key services being offered are Biomagnetic Energy Field Therapy — a field has witnessed continuous development and viewed as an effective form of alternative treatment; and Hijama, or wet cupping, an Arab traditional medicine that relieves pain.
Courtesy:Khaleej Times
Treated Mosquito Nets Save Children's Lives
In sub-Saharan Africa use of insecticide treated nets to prevent the bites of malaria parasite-carrying mosquitoes has been accompanied by significant reduction in child deaths.In a multi-country analysis led by Stephen Lim from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation based in Seattle, USA, and published in this week's PLoS Medicine, the authors analyzed and combined data from 7 surveys in 7 sub-Saharan African countries to show that children living in a household that owned an ITN were 20% less likely to have malaria parasites in their blood (parasitemia). Importantly, the authors found a 23% reduction in child deaths (aged between 1 month and 5 years) associated with family ITN ownership based on 29 surveys in 22 sub-Saharan African countries. These findings support the widespread provision of ITNs as a key intervention in controlling malaria.
The authors say: "Our findings across a number of sub-Saharan African countries were highly consistent with results from previous clinical trials."
They continue: "These findings suggest that the recent scale-up in ITN coverage has likely been accompanied by significant reductions in child mortality and that additional health gains could be achieved with further increases in ITN coverage in populations at risk of malaria."
In an accompanying Perspective, Thomas Eisele from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, USA and Richard Steketee from PATH in Seattle, USA say: "As Lim and colleagues suggest, continued scale-up of long-lasting ITNs must be a cornerstone of this effort and there are still lives to be saved with this intervention."
The authors say: "Our findings across a number of sub-Saharan African countries were highly consistent with results from previous clinical trials."
They continue: "These findings suggest that the recent scale-up in ITN coverage has likely been accompanied by significant reductions in child mortality and that additional health gains could be achieved with further increases in ITN coverage in populations at risk of malaria."
In an accompanying Perspective, Thomas Eisele from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, USA and Richard Steketee from PATH in Seattle, USA say: "As Lim and colleagues suggest, continued scale-up of long-lasting ITNs must be a cornerstone of this effort and there are still lives to be saved with this intervention."
Study Finds Natural Anti-Oxidant Deserts Aging Body
A new study has found that when the body fights oxidative damage, it calls up a reservist enzyme that protects cells – but only if those cells are relatively young.Biologists at USC discovered major declines in the availability of an enzyme, known as the Lon protease, as human cells grow older.
The finding may help explain why humans lose energy with age and could point medicine toward new diets or pharmaceuticals to slow the aging process.
The researchers showed that when oxidative agents attack the power centers of young cells, the cells respond by calling up reinforcements of the enzyme, which breaks up and removes damaged proteins.
As the cells age, they lose the ability to mobilize large numbers of Lon, the researchers reported in The Journals of Gerontology.
Senior author Kelvin J. A. Davies, a professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, used a war analogy to explain that no "standing army" of Lon protease can endure an attack by invading oxidants without calling up reserves.
"Once the war has started, what's your capacity to keep producing … to protect your vital resources and keep the fight going?" he asked.
Since aging is the longest war, the USC study suggests a more important role for the reservist enzyme than previously known.
Lon protects the mitochondria – tiny organisms in the cell that convert oxygen into energy. The conversion is never perfect: Some oxygen leaks and combines with other elements to create damaging oxidants.
The finding may help explain why humans lose energy with age and could point medicine toward new diets or pharmaceuticals to slow the aging process.
The researchers showed that when oxidative agents attack the power centers of young cells, the cells respond by calling up reinforcements of the enzyme, which breaks up and removes damaged proteins.
As the cells age, they lose the ability to mobilize large numbers of Lon, the researchers reported in The Journals of Gerontology.
Senior author Kelvin J. A. Davies, a professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, used a war analogy to explain that no "standing army" of Lon protease can endure an attack by invading oxidants without calling up reserves.
"Once the war has started, what's your capacity to keep producing … to protect your vital resources and keep the fight going?" he asked.
Since aging is the longest war, the USC study suggests a more important role for the reservist enzyme than previously known.
Lon protects the mitochondria – tiny organisms in the cell that convert oxygen into energy. The conversion is never perfect: Some oxygen leaks and combines with other elements to create damaging oxidants.
12- Year- Old South African Girl Battles Progeria , a Rare Premature Ageing Disease
Ontlametse Phalatse, from South Africa, is all of 12 years but looks like an old woman. She is suffering from a rare premature aging disease called Progeria.
Infact, she calls herself the first lady as she happens to be the only black female known to be suffering this rare ageing disease.Though she looked normal at birth, Phalatse began to get rashes on her skin when she was just three months. When she turned one year, she began to lose hair, nails and suffered a lot of problems with her skin. She was diagnosed with the disease only when she turned two.
Ontlametse and her mom travel to the United States during her vacation to participate in the research funded by the Progeria Research Foundation at Children's Hospital Boston. This provides her with the latest drugs to battle the disease.
Children with progeria do not survive very long and they usually die between the ages of 8-21.
Source-Medindia
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Active Sex Life Makes Senior Women Smile
From the "duh" department comes research that finds an elevated sense of health and happiness among women over 60 who maintain active sex lives.
The study, which involved more than 1,200 women ages 60 to 89, found that a super-majority of respondents equated a satisfying sex life with a positive sense of well being, according to a story from HealthDay.com.
"What this study tells us is that many older adults retain their ability to enjoy sex well into old age," said study co-author Wesley K. Thompson, an assistant professor of psychiatry with the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.Added Thompson: "Feeling satisfied with your sex life -- whatever your levels of sexual activity is closely related to your perceived quality of life."
I'll be looking for the followup study that broadens that finding to women and men of all ages.
Courtesy:Forbes.com
The study, which involved more than 1,200 women ages 60 to 89, found that a super-majority of respondents equated a satisfying sex life with a positive sense of well being, according to a story from HealthDay.com.
"What this study tells us is that many older adults retain their ability to enjoy sex well into old age," said study co-author Wesley K. Thompson, an assistant professor of psychiatry with the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.Added Thompson: "Feeling satisfied with your sex life -- whatever your levels of sexual activity is closely related to your perceived quality of life."
I'll be looking for the followup study that broadens that finding to women and men of all ages.
Courtesy:Forbes.com
Pre-chewed food may pose HIV threat to infants
A new study from South Africa found that more than two-thirds of mothers and other caregivers pre-chew food for their infants -- possibly putting those babies at risk of HIV if the caregiver is HIV-positive.
Though the researchers didn't ask the caregivers whether or not they had the virus when they discussed infant feeding, about half of them were interviewed at an HIV clinic.
Many caregivers who pre-chewed also had bleeding gums and mouth sores, and some reported giving bloody, chewed food to infants -- which could create a route for disease transmission if infants were teething or had any cuts in their own mouths.
Pre-chewing -- also known as premastication -- has also been reported in the U.S. and Latin America.
The current study is "yet one more setting around the world where someone has said that the practice of premastication is present in their society," said Dr. Aditya Gaur, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, who did not work on the new research.
"The next thing is to see, how much of a risk does this practice pose in terms of transmission of pathogens?" he told Reuters Health.
Dr. Gaur was part of the research team that first tied pre-chewed food to HIV transmission in the U.S. But in general, he said, "the actual proven cases where you can show this link are few."
The new study, led by Dr. Elke Maritz of Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Children's Hospital in Cape Town, also could not prove a link between pre-chewing and new HIV infections in infants. But it did show the need to caution caregivers about those risks, especially in areas with high rates of HIV and hepatitis B -- another infection that could be passed to infants through chewed food, the researchers wrote in Pediatrics.
Maritz and colleagues interviewed 154 infant caretakers, mostly mothers, in the waiting areas of HIV, pediatric and maternal clinics and caregivers' homes.
Just over two-thirds of them, or 106, said they pre-chewed food for their infants. Fifty-five of those had an oral condition, such as bleeding gums or mouth sores, and 41 reported seeing blood in the chewed food they gave to infants.
It was also common for babies who received pre-chewed food to be teething or to have their own sores or gum bleeding.
"The frequency of reporting blood mixed with the food is of concern, especially as the infants often had oral lesions as well," Maritz told Reuters Health in an email.
Caregivers who pre-chewed said they did it to test the food's taste or temperature or to make it into a consistency that was easier for the baby to eat. Many of them said their own mothers had advised them to pre-chew food. Most probably didn't know the possible risks involved, researchers said.
"Due to its long history and cultural acceptance, premastication seems to be considered so harmless and natural by caregivers that they tend not to mention it during health interviews, or suspect that there could be something wrong with this feeding method," Maritz said.
Pre-chewing is not always a bad thing, researchers added. For example, pre-chewed food might be a good source of nutrition for infants whose families don't have access to processed baby food and in areas where malnutrition is common.
But it's important to balance the risk of malnutrition with the potential to pass HIV through chewed food, Gaur said.
Once researchers have a clearer picture of how common it is for HIV and other viruses to be transmitted that way, doctors can better counsel patients about their risks, and international infant feeding guidelines can reflect them, he added. But that will take further research.
"Once you become aware of the potential risk you have to share it with your patients, you have to make the community aware of the potential risk," Gaur concluded. "These studies should translate in terms of counseling and day-to-day practice."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/ntMiJQ Pediatrics, online August 29, 2011.
Courtesy:Reuters Health
Though the researchers didn't ask the caregivers whether or not they had the virus when they discussed infant feeding, about half of them were interviewed at an HIV clinic.
Many caregivers who pre-chewed also had bleeding gums and mouth sores, and some reported giving bloody, chewed food to infants -- which could create a route for disease transmission if infants were teething or had any cuts in their own mouths.
Pre-chewing -- also known as premastication -- has also been reported in the U.S. and Latin America.
The current study is "yet one more setting around the world where someone has said that the practice of premastication is present in their society," said Dr. Aditya Gaur, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, who did not work on the new research.
"The next thing is to see, how much of a risk does this practice pose in terms of transmission of pathogens?" he told Reuters Health.
Dr. Gaur was part of the research team that first tied pre-chewed food to HIV transmission in the U.S. But in general, he said, "the actual proven cases where you can show this link are few."
The new study, led by Dr. Elke Maritz of Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Children's Hospital in Cape Town, also could not prove a link between pre-chewing and new HIV infections in infants. But it did show the need to caution caregivers about those risks, especially in areas with high rates of HIV and hepatitis B -- another infection that could be passed to infants through chewed food, the researchers wrote in Pediatrics.
Maritz and colleagues interviewed 154 infant caretakers, mostly mothers, in the waiting areas of HIV, pediatric and maternal clinics and caregivers' homes.
Just over two-thirds of them, or 106, said they pre-chewed food for their infants. Fifty-five of those had an oral condition, such as bleeding gums or mouth sores, and 41 reported seeing blood in the chewed food they gave to infants.
It was also common for babies who received pre-chewed food to be teething or to have their own sores or gum bleeding.
"The frequency of reporting blood mixed with the food is of concern, especially as the infants often had oral lesions as well," Maritz told Reuters Health in an email.
Caregivers who pre-chewed said they did it to test the food's taste or temperature or to make it into a consistency that was easier for the baby to eat. Many of them said their own mothers had advised them to pre-chew food. Most probably didn't know the possible risks involved, researchers said.
"Due to its long history and cultural acceptance, premastication seems to be considered so harmless and natural by caregivers that they tend not to mention it during health interviews, or suspect that there could be something wrong with this feeding method," Maritz said.
Pre-chewing is not always a bad thing, researchers added. For example, pre-chewed food might be a good source of nutrition for infants whose families don't have access to processed baby food and in areas where malnutrition is common.
But it's important to balance the risk of malnutrition with the potential to pass HIV through chewed food, Gaur said.
Once researchers have a clearer picture of how common it is for HIV and other viruses to be transmitted that way, doctors can better counsel patients about their risks, and international infant feeding guidelines can reflect them, he added. But that will take further research.
"Once you become aware of the potential risk you have to share it with your patients, you have to make the community aware of the potential risk," Gaur concluded. "These studies should translate in terms of counseling and day-to-day practice."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/ntMiJQ Pediatrics, online August 29, 2011.
Courtesy:Reuters Health
Qiagen inks pact with Eli Lilly to develop new companion diagnostic for compound in clinical trials for blood cancers
Qiagen, the leading global provider of sample and assay technologies announced that it has entered into a partnership with Eli Lilly and Company for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of a molecular companion diagnostic for an early stage investigational compound currently being developed by Lilly. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Lilly's proprietary compound, called a JAK2 inhibitor, targets the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene, which has been shown to play a role in myeloproliferative neoplasms, a variety of blood cancers that cause blood cells to grow abnormally.
Under the terms of the agreement, Qiagen will develop a new companion diagnostic test that will provide both qualitative and quantitative results for JAK2 V617F. The assay is intended to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment with inhibitors of the pathway. The scope of the partnership includes development and use of the Qiagen JAK2 assay during clinical trials and also covers manufacturing and joint commercialization of the diagnostic product in parallel with the Lilly compound.
Qiagen gained exclusive access to the JAK2 biomarker through an agreement with Ipsogen, a French company that is a pioneer in profiling and biomarkers for leukaemia and other blood cancers. In June, Qiagen announced a proposal to fully acquire Ipsogen through a process that is under way. The JAK2 pathway is considered to bring high value to drug development in terms of defining and directing the right therapies for patients, and therefore represents a very important target of R&D initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The collaboration with Lilly is a strong testament to Qiagen's capabilities in companion diagnostics, biomarkers and personalized healthcare,” commented Dr Stephen Little, vice president Personalized Healthcare at Qiagen. “We look forward to developing the potential for this innovative diagnostic-therapeutic combination to improve the standard of care for patients suffering from these blood cancers.”
Qiagen currently offers about 20 tests for use in Personalized Healthcare and has partnerships under way with more than 15 pharma companies to co-develop companion diagnostics.
JAK2 V617F testing is currently being offered by clinical labs in the form of lab-developed tests (LDTs). The new PCR-based companion diagnostic will be exclusively marketed by Qiagen and will run on Qiagen's Rotor-Gene Q instrument. Qiagen also intends to seek regulatory approval for full automation of the workflow on the QIAsymphony RGQ, a novel modular sample-to-result automation platform launched by Qiagen last year.
Source:Pharmabiz
Lilly's proprietary compound, called a JAK2 inhibitor, targets the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene, which has been shown to play a role in myeloproliferative neoplasms, a variety of blood cancers that cause blood cells to grow abnormally.
Under the terms of the agreement, Qiagen will develop a new companion diagnostic test that will provide both qualitative and quantitative results for JAK2 V617F. The assay is intended to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment with inhibitors of the pathway. The scope of the partnership includes development and use of the Qiagen JAK2 assay during clinical trials and also covers manufacturing and joint commercialization of the diagnostic product in parallel with the Lilly compound.
Qiagen gained exclusive access to the JAK2 biomarker through an agreement with Ipsogen, a French company that is a pioneer in profiling and biomarkers for leukaemia and other blood cancers. In June, Qiagen announced a proposal to fully acquire Ipsogen through a process that is under way. The JAK2 pathway is considered to bring high value to drug development in terms of defining and directing the right therapies for patients, and therefore represents a very important target of R&D initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The collaboration with Lilly is a strong testament to Qiagen's capabilities in companion diagnostics, biomarkers and personalized healthcare,” commented Dr Stephen Little, vice president Personalized Healthcare at Qiagen. “We look forward to developing the potential for this innovative diagnostic-therapeutic combination to improve the standard of care for patients suffering from these blood cancers.”
Qiagen currently offers about 20 tests for use in Personalized Healthcare and has partnerships under way with more than 15 pharma companies to co-develop companion diagnostics.
JAK2 V617F testing is currently being offered by clinical labs in the form of lab-developed tests (LDTs). The new PCR-based companion diagnostic will be exclusively marketed by Qiagen and will run on Qiagen's Rotor-Gene Q instrument. Qiagen also intends to seek regulatory approval for full automation of the workflow on the QIAsymphony RGQ, a novel modular sample-to-result automation platform launched by Qiagen last year.
Source:Pharmabiz
It takes a sticky egg to catch sperm
Researchers have finally discovered how a human egg binds to sperm to create new life. University of Missouri, the University of Hong Kong, Academia Sinica in Taiwan and Imperial College London scientists have identified a sugary substance that coats human eggs, which is essential for catching sperm for reproduction.
SLeX coats human eggs
With the help of technology known as mass spectrometry, the scientists found a sugar chain known as the sialyl-lewis-x sequence (SLeX) is present on the coating of eggs.
Professor Anne Dell CBE FRS FMedSci from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London led the research and made the discovery that has taken researchers thirty years to uncover.
Dell explained, “This endeavour was an enormously difficult task because human eggs are very tiny - about the size of a full stop - so we didn't have much material to work with." She adds, “The details we've discovered here fill in a huge gap in our knowledge of fertility and we hope they will ultimately help many of those people who currently cannot conceive."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 15 percent of couples are unable to conceive.
Side effects of fertility treatment for women include risk of multiple pregnancy, bleeding and infection with assisted fertility treatments and low birth weight, according to Mayoclinic.com.
How SLeX works
In the study, researchers discovered the sugars on the outside of the egg are recognized by proteins on the head of sperm.
The scientists tested how SLeX in-vitro.
In the lab, the scientists bisected the tiny eggs, and then coated one half with a chemical to disguise SLeX. The untreated half attracted sperm, but the half of the egg that was coated was ignored.
William Yeung from the Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology and the Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth at the University of Hong Kong, said there is still more to be learned about exactly how sperm recognizes the sticky egg coating to penetrate and deposit DNA.
Now that scientists have discovered the sugary coating SLeX is what catches sperm to create life, they want to know how proteins on sperm recognize human eggs. The authors say the discovery won’t lead to fertility treatments anytime soon, but the finding opens doors for new options that might help couples conceive.
Reference:Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1207438
"Human Sperm Binding Is Mediated by the Sialyl-Lewisx Oligosaccharide on the Zona Pellucida"
Poh Choo Pang, et al., August 18, 2011
SLeX coats human eggs
With the help of technology known as mass spectrometry, the scientists found a sugar chain known as the sialyl-lewis-x sequence (SLeX) is present on the coating of eggs.
Professor Anne Dell CBE FRS FMedSci from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London led the research and made the discovery that has taken researchers thirty years to uncover.
Dell explained, “This endeavour was an enormously difficult task because human eggs are very tiny - about the size of a full stop - so we didn't have much material to work with." She adds, “The details we've discovered here fill in a huge gap in our knowledge of fertility and we hope they will ultimately help many of those people who currently cannot conceive."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 15 percent of couples are unable to conceive.
Side effects of fertility treatment for women include risk of multiple pregnancy, bleeding and infection with assisted fertility treatments and low birth weight, according to Mayoclinic.com.
How SLeX works
In the study, researchers discovered the sugars on the outside of the egg are recognized by proteins on the head of sperm.
The scientists tested how SLeX in-vitro.
In the lab, the scientists bisected the tiny eggs, and then coated one half with a chemical to disguise SLeX. The untreated half attracted sperm, but the half of the egg that was coated was ignored.
William Yeung from the Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology and the Centre for Reproduction, Development and Growth at the University of Hong Kong, said there is still more to be learned about exactly how sperm recognizes the sticky egg coating to penetrate and deposit DNA.
Now that scientists have discovered the sugary coating SLeX is what catches sperm to create life, they want to know how proteins on sperm recognize human eggs. The authors say the discovery won’t lead to fertility treatments anytime soon, but the finding opens doors for new options that might help couples conceive.
Reference:Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1207438
"Human Sperm Binding Is Mediated by the Sialyl-Lewisx Oligosaccharide on the Zona Pellucida"
Poh Choo Pang, et al., August 18, 2011
Nanotechnology-enhanced curcumin: Symbiosis of ancient wisdom of the East with modern medical science
We are experiencing an unprecedented resurgence of interest in herbal healing, and 'herbal renaissance' is happening all over the globe. The Western world has begun to acknowledge the importance of traditional medicines as they symbolize safety in contrast to the allopathic medicines, which tend to produce undesirable side effects and are lacking in curative value.
In the realm of medicine, nanotechnology holds enormous promise for benefit of the society by potentially reducing the miseries of people suffering from grave illnesses and save a great number of lives. Traditional Oriental medicine would greatly benefit by integrating with the scientific advancements in medical science and diagnostics in concert with nanotechnology. This trinity may usher in a new era of affordable, safe and effective medicinal system The significance of tumeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is the shining star among the cornucopia of traditional medicinal plants. It has a long history of usage in traditional medicine in India and China. Ancient Indians have known the medicinal properties of turmeric, thus curcumin, for several millennia.
The cultivation of turmeric plants began in Harappan civilization in 3000 BC1) and Susruta Samhita, dating back to 250 BC, highly recommends use of an ointment based on turmeric for relieving food poisoning effect2). Turmeric was introduced to China from India by 700 A.D.3) and has been said to be long used as a medicinal herb. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicines internally as a stomach tonic and blood purifier, and topically in the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.
Recently, turmeric came into the global limelight when the controversial patent "Use of Turmeric in Wound Healing" was awarded4), in 1995, to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA. Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) aggressively contested this award of the patent. It was argued by them that turmeric has been an integral part of the traditional Indian medicinal system over several centuries, and therefore, is deemed to be 'prior art', hence is in the public domain. Subsequently, after protracted technical/legal battle USPTO decreed that turmeric is an Indian discovery and revoked the patent.
The significance of turmeric in medicine has changed considerably since the very recent discovery of the anti-oxidant properties of naturally occurring phenolic compounds. The same ground dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, which has been used for centuries as a spice, food preservative and a coloring agent, has been found to be a rich source of phenolic compounds.
The bio-active polyphenol component of turmeric is curcumin, also known as diferuloylmethane (C21H20O6), with an ability to prevent and cure diseases. Turmeric contains about 2-5% curcumin alone. Commercial curcumin contains three main types of curcuminoids, i.e., curcumin (diferuloylmethane or"Curcumin I" about 77%), demethoxy curcumin ("Curcumin II" ∼17%) and bis demethoxy curcumin ("Curcumin III" ∼3%)5). Curcumin (diferuloylmethane renders its bright yellow color to turmeric. In addition to natural curcumin, several analogues of curcumin have been synthesized and studied7). These include tetrahydrocurcumin (antioxidative), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (HMBME), aromatic enone and dienone analogues, metal chelates of synthetic curcuminoids etc.
In the scientific literature there is a large body of evidence (8-14) showing that curcuminoids exhibit a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-mutagen, anti-cancer and detox properties. Curcumin's unique ability to work through so many different pathways with its extraordinary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory attributes can have a positive influence in combating almost every known disease.
Extensive studies carried out by researchers around the globe have clearly demonstrated curcumin's great potential as a thercurcuminapeutic agent, and have paved the way towards conducting clinical trials for a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, multiple sclerosis, diabetes type II, skin diseases, cystic fibrosis, cataract etc Anticancer Attributes of Curcumin
Cancer, probably the most dreaded disease afflicting humans ever since time immemorial, but most of us know little about it other than the fact that it originates from uncontrolled growth of a single cell. Siddhartha Mukherjee, in his Pulitzer Prize winning monumental piece of work15) "The Emperor of all maladies: A biography of cancer", meticulously outlines the trajectory of cancer. He describes cancer as being "unleashed by mutations-changes in DNA that specifically affect genes that incite unlimited cell growth." Their unrestrained growth if unchecked and untreated eventually kills the patient. In order to win the battle against this dreadful scourge, we shall require new tools and out-of-the-box approaches. Nano-enabled traditional medicines based on herbs (e,g,. curcumin, coptis chinensis (Huang Lian), coriolis versicolor, ashwagandha, resveratrol, pomegranate, green tea etc.) integrated with the clinical and evidence-based approach of modern medical science may provide a long lasting solution to this age-old problem.
Curcumin offers significant potential as a cancer chemopreventive agent. There is a wealth of evidence in the literature suggesting that the incidence and mortality rates of common types of cancer such as breast, colon, prostate and lung are considerably lower in India than those in western nations such as the USA16). The lower incidence of cancer in India has been attributed to high consumption of curcumin (in the form of turmeric) by the Indian population. Of course, other ingredients of their diet such as garlic, ginger, onion, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, chillies, green tea etc. also might be playing an important role in their ability to resist the onslaught of these cancers.
In addition to the remarkable ability of curcumin to prevent cancer, it also shows the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer throughout the body by metastasis (i.e. the process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body via lymph or blood). Curcumin has also been found to enhance cancer cells' sensitivity to some of the anti-cancer drugs making chemotherapy more effective in combating this deadly disease. Curcumin's cancer-fighting capabilities against breast cancer, lung cancer, brain tumours, leukemia, liver, intestine, esophagus, and bowel cancers, melanoma, gynecological cancers etc. have been demonstrated based on numerous well established scientific studies (17-24) and preclinical and clinical trials being carried out by researchers in the US, India, Japan, Israel, Australia, China and Holland.
Protective Abilities of Curcumin Against Cancer
The various mechanisms involved in anti-cancer activities have been summarized and presented in a simplified form in the following paragraphs. The interested readers may like to look at more comprehensive publications (Ref: 17-24) for further details.
Curcumin has the ability to work at a cellular level. At the embryonic stage itself, it regulates the cellular replication cycle and helps in blocking an uncontrolled multiplication of new tissue cells into tumours. Curcumin being a potent anti-oxidant is able to inhibit the activity of enzymes (e.g., cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)) responsible for cancer causing inflammation. Inflammation is one of the major causes for the development of cancer as it releases powerful free radicals which both induce cell division and mutation, thus the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin plays a key role in the treatment of cancer.
Curcumin induces apoptosis (genetically directed programmed cell death) in unhealthy, abnormal and rapidly reproducing cancerous cells, without affecting healthy cells. Curcumin has the unique ability to identify the cancerous cells by their abnormal chemistry and to transmit "self-destruct" signals, thereby inducing apoptosis of the diseased cells.
Curcumin strengthens the immune system and can help the body to fight off cancer should certain cells escape apoptosis. Ingestion of curcumin boosts the killing power of immune system cells, such as T cells, NK cells, and macrophages. Strengthening of the immune system also helps in lessening the side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
Angiogenesis is a process of growth of new capillary blood vessels, which plays a crucial role in promoting the growth of tumours and metastases. Curcumin inhibits blood cell formation, and thereby, restricts the blood supply to cancer cells resulting in their death due to starvation.
Cancer patients suffer from various treatment-induced symptoms like neuropathic pain, severe depression, lack of sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. Curcumin has the potential to act against a wide variety of these symptoms by suppressing the activation of NF-kB and NF-kB regulated TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 expression, and in turn, provide some relief from misery to the patients.
Nanotechnology Approaches to Enhance the Bioavailability of Curcumin
Today curcumin has been widely acknowledged globally as a "wonder drug of the future" because of its great potential abilities to prevent and treat a wide spectrum of incurable and chronic diseases. In addition, it has been proved to be remarkably safe in animal studies and in phase I clinical trials even at high doses (up to 12g/day). However, the major problem limiting the exploitation of its potentially valuable therapeutic effects is its low bioavailability25).
In practice, only very low or undetectable levels of curcumin can be achieved in blood by oral administration of curcumin. The low bioavailability of curcumin has been attributed to its very low aqueous solubility, tendency to degrade in the gastroinenstinal tract in the physiological environment, high rate of metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination. The low bioavailability of curcumin has so far limited its medical use. It has been suggested that a person is required to consume large doses (about 12-20g/day) of curcumin in order to achieve its therapeutic effects on the human body26). That means one has to swallow 24 to 40 curcumin capsules of 500mg each. These doses are considered to be too high, and therefore, not feasible to be incorporated in clinical trials due to unbearable after-taste to the palate, possibility of giving rise to nauseatic feeling and perceived toxicity issues.
Therefore, to achieve the maximum response of this potentially useful chemopreventive agent, a number of approaches such as the use of adjuvants like piperine, synthetic analogues, chelating of curcumin with metals, combination with other dietary agents etc. have been investigated. Nanotechnology-based novel strategies are being aggressively explored worldwide to enhance curcumin's bioavailability and reduce perceived toxicity as they offer several other additional benefits such as improved cellular uptake, enhanced dissolution rates, excellent blood stability, controlled release functions, multifunctional design, enhancement in its pharmacological activities (e.g. antioxidant and antihepatoma activities) etc.
A 2010 article on polymer nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin27) has been ranked as one of the top ten most accessed articles (48029 accesses) for all time by the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. This clearly demonstrates the emerging importance of this field (nanotechnology-based drug delivery of curcumin based systems).
In this pioneering work, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Delhi have jointly developed a polymer nanoparticle-encapsulated form of curcumin, "nanocurcumin", which can be readily dispersed in aqueous media. In this process, they have coated ordinary hydrophobic curcumin particles with hydrophilic polymer (N-isopropylacrylamide with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidonne and poly(ethylene glycol) monoacryalate) nanoparticles. This nanocurcumin is soluble in water and can be readily absorbed into the bloodstream. It has already been tested in vitro on pancreatic cancer cells and it was shown to have equal or better effects than free curcumin on the human cancer cells, such as inhibition of NF-kB and downregulation of IL-6. Nanocurcumin was also given to mice, and did not show any evidence of undesirable effects.
In addition to polymer-encapsulated curcumin, other nanobased drug delivery systems being employed for curcumin include curcumin nanocrystals, curcumin nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanoliposome-encapsulated curcumin, curcumin-loaded polymeric micelles, cyclodextrin/curcumin selfassembly, curcumin nanosuspension, solid-lipid nanoparticles etc. These systems along with their expected benefits are briefly presented in the table below.Anticancer Attributes of Curcumin
Cancer, probably the most dreaded disease afflicting humans ever since time immemorial, but most of us know little about it other than the fact that it originates from uncontrolled growth of a single cell. Siddhartha Mukherjee, in his Pulitzer Prize winning monumental piece of work15) "The Emperor of all maladies: A biography of cancer", meticulously outlines the trajectory of cancer. He describes cancer as being "unleashed by mutations-changes in DNA that specifically affect genes that incite unlimited cell growth." Their unrestrained growth if unchecked and untreated eventually kills the patient. In order to win the battle against this dreadful scourge, we shall require new tools and out-of-the-box approaches. Nano-enabled traditional medicines based on herbs (e,g,. curcumin, coptis chinensis (Huang Lian), coriolis versicolor, ashwagandha, resveratrol, pomegranate, green tea etc.) integrated with the clinical and evidence-based approach of modern medical science may provide a long lasting solution to this age-old problem.
Curcumin offers significant potential as a cancer chemopreventive agent. There is a wealth of evidence in the literature suggesting that the incidence and mortality rates of common types of cancer such as breast, colon, prostate and lung are considerably lower in India than those in western nations such as the USA16). The lower incidence of cancer in India has been attributed to high consumption of curcumin (in the form of turmeric) by the Indian population. Of course, other ingredients of their diet such as garlic, ginger, onion, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, chillies, green tea etc. also might be playing an important role in their ability to resist the onslaught of these cancers.
In addition to the remarkable ability of curcumin to prevent cancer, it also shows the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer throughout the body by metastasis (i.e. the process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body via lymph or blood). Curcumin has also been found to enhance cancer cells' sensitivity to some of the anti-cancer drugs making chemotherapy more effective in combating this deadly disease. Curcumin's cancer-fighting capabilities against breast cancer, lung cancer, brain tumours, leukemia, liver, intestine, esophagus, and bowel cancers, melanoma, gynecological cancers etc. have been demonstrated based on numerous well established scientific studies (17-24) and preclinical and clinical trials being carried out by researchers in the US, India, Japan, Israel, Australia, China and Holland.
Protective Abilities of Curcumin Against Cancer
The various mechanisms involved in anti-cancer activities have been summarized and presented in a simplified form in the following paragraphs. The interested readers may like to look at more comprehensive publications (Ref: 17-24) for further details.
Curcumin has the ability to work at a cellular level. At the embryonic stage itself, it regulates the cellular replication cycle and helps in blocking an uncontrolled multiplication of new tissue cells into tumours. Curcumin being a potent anti-oxidant is able to inhibit the activity of enzymes (e.g., cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)) responsible for cancer causing inflammation. Inflammation is one of the major causes for the development of cancer as it releases powerful free radicals which both induce cell division and mutation, thus the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin plays a key role in the treatment of cancer.
Curcumin induces apoptosis (genetically directed programmed cell death) in unhealthy, abnormal and rapidly reproducing cancerous cells, without affecting healthy cells. Curcumin has the unique ability to identify the cancerous cells by their abnormal chemistry and to transmit "self-destruct" signals, thereby inducing apoptosis of the diseased cells.
Curcumin strengthens the immune system and can help the body to fight off cancer should certain cells escape apoptosis. Ingestion of curcumin boosts the killing power of immune system cells, such as T cells, NK cells, and macrophages. Strengthening of the immune system also helps in lessening the side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
Angiogenesis is a process of growth of new capillary blood vessels, which plays a crucial role in promoting the growth of tumours and metastases. Curcumin inhibits blood cell formation, and thereby, restricts the blood supply to cancer cells resulting in their death due to starvation.
Cancer patients suffer from various treatment-induced symptoms like neuropathic pain, severe depression, lack of sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. Curcumin has the potential to act against a wide variety of these symptoms by suppressing the activation of NF-kB and NF-kB regulated TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 expression, and in turn, provide some relief from misery to the patients.
Nanotechnology Approaches to Enhance the Bioavailability of Curcumin
Today curcumin has been widely acknowledged globally as a "wonder drug of the future" because of its great potential abilities to prevent and treat a wide spectrum of incurable and chronic diseases. In addition, it has been proved to be remarkably safe in animal studies and in phase I clinical trials even at high doses (up to 12g/day). However, the major problem limiting the exploitation of its potentially valuable therapeutic effects is its low bioavailability25).
In practice, only very low or undetectable levels of curcumin can be achieved in blood by oral administration of curcumin. The low bioavailability of curcumin has been attributed to its very low aqueous solubility, tendency to degrade in the gastroinenstinal tract in the physiological environment, high rate of metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination. The low bioavailability of curcumin has so far limited its medical use. It has been suggested that a person is required to consume large doses (about 12-20g/day) of curcumin in order to achieve its therapeutic effects on the human body26). That means one has to swallow 24 to 40 curcumin capsules of 500mg each. These doses are considered to be too high, and therefore, not feasible to be incorporated in clinical trials due to unbearable after-taste to the palate, possibility of giving rise to nauseatic feeling and perceived toxicity issues.
Therefore, to achieve the maximum response of this potentially useful chemopreventive agent, a number of approaches such as the use of adjuvants like piperine, synthetic analogues, chelating of curcumin with metals, combination with other dietary agents etc. have been investigated. Nanotechnology-based novel strategies are being aggressively explored worldwide to enhance curcumin's bioavailability and reduce perceived toxicity as they offer several other additional benefits such as improved cellular uptake, enhanced dissolution rates, excellent blood stability, controlled release functions, multifunctional design, enhancement in its pharmacological activities (e.g. antioxidant and antihepatoma activities) etc.
A 2010 article on polymer nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin27) has been ranked as one of the top ten most accessed articles (48029 accesses) for all time by the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. This clearly demonstrates the emerging importance of this field (nanotechnology-based drug delivery of curcumin based systems).
In this pioneering work, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Delhi have jointly developed a polymer nanoparticle-encapsulated form of curcumin, "nanocurcumin", which can be readily dispersed in aqueous media. In this process, they have coated ordinary hydrophobic curcumin particles with hydrophilic polymer (N-isopropylacrylamide with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidonne and poly(ethylene glycol) monoacryalate) nanoparticles. This nanocurcumin is soluble in water and can be readily absorbed into the bloodstream. It has already been tested in vitro on pancreatic cancer cells and it was shown to have equal or better effects than free curcumin on the human cancer cells, such as inhibition of NF-kB and downregulation of IL-6. Nanocurcumin was also given to mice, and did not show any evidence of undesirable effects.
In addition to polymer-encapsulated curcumin, other nanobased drug delivery systems being employed for curcumin include curcumin nanocrystals, curcumin nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanoliposome-encapsulated curcumin, curcumin-loaded polymeric micelles, cyclodextrin/curcumin selfassembly, curcumin nanosuspension, solid-lipid nanoparticles etc. These systems along with their expected benefits are briefly presented in the table below.
Recent R&D Activities and Breakthroughs in Nano Curcumin
In view of the enormous potential of curcumin in the prevention and therapy of a wide spectrum of diseases, in recent years, intense R&D activities have been undertaken throughout the world in various establishments.
The selected examples below highlight some of the ongoing R&D activities on nanotechnology-based curcumin across the globe.
Theracurcumin – A new curcumin formulation with markedly improved absorptivity38)
Japanese researchers have recently developed a new form of nanoparticle curcumin (Theracurcumin) containing 10% curcumin, 2% other curcuminoids and balance glycerin, gum ghatti and water. Its oral intake in rat model as well as humans shows 30 fold improvement in bioavailability as compared to conventional curcumin. It shows excellent safety profile even at high dose levels. Theracurcumin can be used as a promising tool to evaluate the anti-cancer potential of curcumin in clinical trials.
Curcumin nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant and antihepatoma activities39)
Curcumin-based nanoscale particle system (CURN) was developed by following a nanoprecipitation route with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a hydrophilic carrier. The physiochemical properties including water solubility and drug release were improved by the reduction of particle size and formation of an amorphous phase with hydrogen bonding. In vitro studies clearly demonstrated that nanosized curcumin shows superior antioxidant and antihepatoma activities as compared to conventional curcumin.
Curcumin nanoparticles with highly potent antimicrobial properties40)
Water-soluble curcumin nanoparticles (2-40 nm) were prepared by wet milling method. These nanocurcumin showed marked improvement in their antibacterial and antifungal activities as compared to that of curcumin in DMSO. The antibacterial activity of nanocurcumin particles was attributed to their ability to penetrate inside the bacterial cell by breaking the cell wall, resulting to cell death.
Chitosan-PVA-Curcumin-Silver nanocomposite antimicrobial films for wound dressing41)
Chitosan-PVA-Silver nanocomposite antimicrobial films were fabricated by a chemical method in view of their potential applications in antimicrobial packaging and wound/burn dressing. Incorporation of curcumin into chitosan-PVA-silver nanocomposite films improve their therapeutic efficacy as anti-microbial agent. Curcumin-encapsulated chitosan-PVA-silver nanocomposite films show enormous growth inhibition of E-coli in comparison with curcumin or chitosan-PVA-silver nanoparticles film alone.
Curcumin/MPEG-PCL micelles for colon cancer therapy42)
Curcumin encapsulated into monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly( -caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) biodegradable micelles were prepared by a nano-precipitation technique. These curcumin-loaded micelles are an intravenously injectable formulation of curcumin. They were shown to supress the growth of colon carcinoma by inhibiting angiogenesis and killing the cancer cells.
Curcumin loaded PBCN nanoparticles for enhanced transport of curcumin to brain43)
Polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (PBCN) loaded with curcumin were synthesized by modified anionic polymerization technique. Curcumin loaded PBCN shows enhanced transport of curcumin to the brain and has excellent potential to cross the blood-brain barrier. This novel delivery system will find applications for blocking brain tumor formation and curing Alzheimer's disease.
Curcumin loaded Lipo-PEG-PEI complex with enhanced antitumor effects on curcumin-sensitive/curcumin resistant cells44)
A cationic liposome containing PEI and PEG as a carrier complex (LPPC) was developed to encapsulate curcumin for the treatment of cancer. It was found that curcumin/LPPC exhibits enhanced cytotoxicity and is able to rapidly penetrate curcumin-sensitive and resistant cells. It was observed that curcumin/LPPC is able to inhibit the colon/melanoma tumor growth in mice.
Nanoemulsion formulation and coadministration of Paclitaxel and curcumin to overcome multidrug resistance in tumour cells45
Intracellular co-administration of Paclitaxel (mitotic inhibitor) and curcumin (NF-kB activity inhibitor) in the form of nanoemulsion exhibits remarkable enhancement in cytotoxicity in wild type (SKV3) and drug resistant (SKOV-3TR ) human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells by promoting apoptotic response. This dual strategy shows great promise in the clinical management of refractory diseases (diseases that resist treatment) such as ovarian cancer.
Chemo/radio-sensitization in ovarian cancer cells using nano-curcumin46)
Ovarian cancer cells are resistant both to radiation therapy and cisplatin-based drugs used in chemotherapy. Nano-enabled curcumin pretreatment strategy with enhanced efficacy and specificity was employed to induce chemo/radio sensitization in ovarian cancer cells. It was shown that this pretreatment with nano-curcumin improves in vivo therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, and thereby, inhibits the ovarian cancer cell growth.
Coformulation of Doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin in the clinical management of leukemia47)
The coadministration of DOX and curcumin in PLGA nanoparticle formulation can help in enhancing efficacy of DOX, thereby leading to cytotoxicity in erythroleukamia type K562 cells. The synergistic growth inhibition is clinically important and may provide combinatorial strategies in a variety of cancers, especially leukemia.
In addition to the above approaches, a number of other unique nanotech-based techniques including a class of novel multifunctional hybrid nanogels amenable to photothermal therapy48), "nanodiscs" with phospholipids bilayers49), biocompatible thermoresponsive polymeric nanoparticles loaded with curcumin50), yeast cell-encapsulated-curcumin with high stability against heat, light and humidity etc. are being developed51) to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin combined with multifunctional attributes.
A number of commercial nanotechnology based curcumin products with enhanced bioavailability have been developed by companies from the USA, India, Japan, and Canada. (These products and their manufacturers are listed in the original article in the July issue of the Nanotech Insights newsletter.)
It is pertinent to note that the above mentioned products based on curcumin are treated as herbal/dietary supplements only52) and are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but not as pharmaceutical drugs. They fall under a category called dietary supplements. Manufacturers must follow good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure that supplements are processed consistently and meet quality standards. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA is responsible for monitoring its safety.
It is interesting to note that Johnson & Johnson has been marketing turmeric band-aids in India53), which are being used as a traditional cure for cuts. It would be worthwhile to consider use of curcumin nanoparticles in place of turmeric for band-aids/dressings for cuts, wounds and other infections as they exhibit enhanced antibacterial/anti-infection properties.
Challenges and Future Directions
Curcumin has only recently captured the attention of the scientific community as providing potential health benefits on account of its antitumor, antioxidant, antiarthritic, antiamyloid, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. One of the greatest challenges in developing curcumin for clinical efficacy is its low oral bioavailability.
Curcumin's poor bioavailability within the body can be attributed to its poor absorption and high rate of metabolism in the intenstines and rapid elimination from the body. This has been a major obstacle in preventing its progress from the lab to clinic; therefore, not much progress could be made in conducting clinical trials beyond Phase I. In view of this, curcumin's chemoprevention and therapeutic potential has not been fully exploited for the prevention and treatment of diseases. As has been discussed earlier, nano-enabled drug delivery systems have been developed, which show good promise in overcoming the problem of low bioavailability of curcumin27).
In the United States, turmeric (curcumin) is generally recognized as a safe (GRAS) food additive by the FDA. Doctors often prescribe curcumin as a natural, non-toxic remedy that has very few side effects. No serious adverse effects have been reported in humans taking even high doses of curcumin. In a recently conducted Phase I clinical trial54) on 24 adults, it was found that single oral dosages up to 12 g could be well tolerated.
However, contrary to the general perception that curcumin is quite safe there is some evidence suggesting that curcumin may cause toxic effects under specific conditions and these have been discussed in a recent review by Burgos-Mor'on et al55).These include commonly reported side effects like stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea, an allergic skin reaction and anti-thrombosis activity interfering with blood clot formation. There is some evidence suggesting that high dose administration of curcumin in rodents for long-term duration can be tumourigenic.
Although side effects have been limited in animal and Phase I short-term clinical studies, long-term, large scale and randomized clinical trials on humans are needed to establish the safety of curcumin at antioxidant and antiinflammatory doses. These clinical studies are also necessary to determine the optimal dosage, bioavailability and bioefficacy of curcumin-based drugs.
The major challenge is to develop drugs based on curcumin with scientific evidence acceptable to the global community. An effective drug should exhibit adequate absorption, low toxicity, acceptable distribution, metabolism and excretion, and should be capable of treating the targeted disease with specificity and efficacy. The traditional medicinal system may need to adopt novel strategies such as combinatorial chemistry route combined with nanotechnology to develop curcumin-based drugs having enhanced bioavailability and efficacy. The challenges and technological prospects in realizing nano-curcumin based drugs for the future of medicine and healthcare56) will be covered in a forthcoming issue of this newsletter. In the same issue, global scenario based on literature and patent analysis57) will also be presented.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Ratnesh Kumar of CKMNT for providing valuable inputs on nano-enabled curcumin products.
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48) W. Wu, J. Shen, P. Banerjee, S. Zhou, "Water-dispersible Multifunctional Hybrid Nanogels for Combined Curcumin and Photothermal Therapy", Biomaterials, 32, ( 2011) p. 598-609
49) R. O. Ryan, M. Ghosh, A. T. K. Singh, et al., "Curcumin Nanodisks: Formulation and Characterization", Nanomedicine-Nanotechnology Biology and Medicine, 7(2), (2011) p.162-167
50) N. S. Rejinold, M. Muthunarayanan, V.V. Divyarani, P. R. Sreerekha, K.P. Chennazhi, S.V.Nair , H. Tamura, R. Jayakumar , " Curcumin-loaded Biocompatible Thermoresponsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cancer Drug Delivery", Colloid Interface Sci., 360(1), (2011) p.39-51
51) T. E. Paramera, S. J. Konteles, and V. T. Karathanos, " Stability and Release Properties of Curcumin Encapsulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ß-cyclodextrin and Modified Starch", Food Chemistry, 125(3), (2011) p.913-922
52. http://www.fda.gov/food/dietarysupplements/consumerinformation/ucm110567.htm.
53. H. MacGregor, "Out of the Spice Box, into the Lab: Turmeric, an Indian staple, has long had Medicinal Uses. Now the West is Taking Notice" Los Angeles Times (2006)
54. C.D. Lao et al., "Dose Escalation of a Curcuminoid Formulation", BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 6 (2006) p. 10
55. E. Burgos-Mor'on et al., "The Dark Side of Curcumin", Int. J. Cancer, 126 (2010) p. 1771-1775)
56. Y. R. Mahajan and I. Sophia Rani, "The Challenges and Technological Prospects in Realizing Nano-Curcumin based Drugs for the Future of Medicine and Healthcare", to be published in Nanotech Insights, Vol. 2 (4) (2011)
57. R. K. Gaur and Y. R. Mahajan, "Global Scenario on Nano-enabled Curcumin- Literature and Patent Analysis", to be published in Nanotech Insights, Vol. 2 (4) (2011)
Courtesy:
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Mushrooms With Extra Vitamin D Ready for Commercial Production
The scientists set out to answer several questions about commercial-scale UV light processing of mushrooms. Among them: Does it produce consistently high levels of vitamin D and does it adversely affect other nutrients in mushrooms? They compared button mushrooms exposed to UVB light, those exposed to natural sunlight and those kept in the dark. The UVB-exposed mushrooms got a dramatic boost in vitamin D (700 percent more of the vitamin than those mushrooms exposed to no light) and the UVB processing had no effect on levels of vitamin C, folate, riboflavin, niacin and a host of other essential nutrients.
Source-Eurekalert
One Good Reason to Lead a Busy Life With Many Friends
A new research has pointed out that leading a busy life with plenty of friends can help people stay fit by improving the levels of brown fat in the body.According to scientists, when we lead a busy social life, it stimulates a brain chemical which converts white fat into brown. Essentially, white fat is a storehouse of calories, while brown fat burns calories to generate heat.
A study conducted on mice pointed out the benefits of staying in a community as such mice were able to shed 50% of the weight on their abdomen in just 4 weeks despite eating more than the mice that lived in seclusion.
US study author Dr Matthew During, said: “I’m still amazed. The amount that comes off is far more than you would get with a treadmill. It’s usually hard to induce the switch from white to brown fat.”
Source-Medindia
Johns Hopkins researchers develop new way to predict heart transplant survival
Johns Hopkins researchers say they have developed a formula to predict which heart transplant patients are at greatest risk of death in the year following their surgeries, information that could help medical teams figure out who would benefit most from the small number of available organs.
“Donor hearts are a limited resource,” says John V Conte, M.D., a professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the senior author of the study. “Now, we have a simple-to-use tool that is highly predictive of survival after a heart transplant, and can help guide organ allocation decisions.”
Conte and his colleagues, writing in the September issue of Annals of Thoracic Surgery, pulled together a series of risk factors already associated with poor outcomes, such as age, race, gender, the cause of a patient’s heart failure and whether he or she was on dialysis, and then assigned a number of points to each factor. The sum of those points created a score. The higher the score, the higher the risk of death one year after transplant.
Some factors were weighted more heavily than others, such as female gender (three points); African-American race (three points), and the need for dialysis in the time between being put on the transplant waiting list and getting a transplant (five points).
Patients with the lowest scores — between zero and two — had a 92.5 per cent chance of being alive 12 months after surgery.
Patients with so-called IMPACT scores — the acronym the researchers came up with for the Index for Mortality Prediction After Cardiac Transplantation — above 20 points had a less than 50 percent chance of survival one year after surgery. Every point on the scale increased the chance of death within one year by 14 per cent.
To develop and test the validity of IMPACT, Conte and his team analyzed data provided by the United Network of Organ Sharing comprising information from all heart transplants — 21,378 of them — conducted in the United States between 1987 and 2010.
More research is needed to learn what role is played by factors other than the recipient’s risks, Conte says. Resuslts of their study suggest, for example, that an organ coming from a donor over the age of 50 or one that has been outside the body for more than four hours also increases the risk of death in the recipient, he says.
More than 3,000 people are on the waiting list for a heart transplant in the United States, and many will die before they can get a new heart. Only about 2,000 heart transplants are performed in the US annually. Currently, determining who gets an available heart takes into account how long a patient has been on the list and how sick they are. There is no standardized consideration of other factors that may predict patients’ outcomes, as is the case in determining which patients receive available lungs for transplant. Incorporating the IMPACT score would add another dimension to the conversation about who gets a heart transplant, says Conte, surgical director of heart transplantation at Johns Hopkins.
“As clinicians, we make an educated risk of what the risk is going to be,” he says. “This tool provides a quantitative way to assess the risk.”
The other researchers involved in the study — all from Johns Hopkins — are Jeremiah G. Allen, M.D.; George Arnaoutakis, M.D.; Timothy J. George, M.D.; Stuart D. Russell, M.D.; and Ashish S. Shah, M.D. Eric S. Weiss, M.D., M.P.H., a former general surgery resident at Hopkins, was also involved.
Source;Pharmabiz
“Donor hearts are a limited resource,” says John V Conte, M.D., a professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the senior author of the study. “Now, we have a simple-to-use tool that is highly predictive of survival after a heart transplant, and can help guide organ allocation decisions.”
Conte and his colleagues, writing in the September issue of Annals of Thoracic Surgery, pulled together a series of risk factors already associated with poor outcomes, such as age, race, gender, the cause of a patient’s heart failure and whether he or she was on dialysis, and then assigned a number of points to each factor. The sum of those points created a score. The higher the score, the higher the risk of death one year after transplant.
Some factors were weighted more heavily than others, such as female gender (three points); African-American race (three points), and the need for dialysis in the time between being put on the transplant waiting list and getting a transplant (five points).
Patients with the lowest scores — between zero and two — had a 92.5 per cent chance of being alive 12 months after surgery.
Patients with so-called IMPACT scores — the acronym the researchers came up with for the Index for Mortality Prediction After Cardiac Transplantation — above 20 points had a less than 50 percent chance of survival one year after surgery. Every point on the scale increased the chance of death within one year by 14 per cent.
To develop and test the validity of IMPACT, Conte and his team analyzed data provided by the United Network of Organ Sharing comprising information from all heart transplants — 21,378 of them — conducted in the United States between 1987 and 2010.
More research is needed to learn what role is played by factors other than the recipient’s risks, Conte says. Resuslts of their study suggest, for example, that an organ coming from a donor over the age of 50 or one that has been outside the body for more than four hours also increases the risk of death in the recipient, he says.
More than 3,000 people are on the waiting list for a heart transplant in the United States, and many will die before they can get a new heart. Only about 2,000 heart transplants are performed in the US annually. Currently, determining who gets an available heart takes into account how long a patient has been on the list and how sick they are. There is no standardized consideration of other factors that may predict patients’ outcomes, as is the case in determining which patients receive available lungs for transplant. Incorporating the IMPACT score would add another dimension to the conversation about who gets a heart transplant, says Conte, surgical director of heart transplantation at Johns Hopkins.
“As clinicians, we make an educated risk of what the risk is going to be,” he says. “This tool provides a quantitative way to assess the risk.”
The other researchers involved in the study — all from Johns Hopkins — are Jeremiah G. Allen, M.D.; George Arnaoutakis, M.D.; Timothy J. George, M.D.; Stuart D. Russell, M.D.; and Ashish S. Shah, M.D. Eric S. Weiss, M.D., M.P.H., a former general surgery resident at Hopkins, was also involved.
Source;Pharmabiz
Survey finds more hospitals offering complementary, alternative medicine
Responding to patient demand, growing numbers of U.S. hospitals are integrating acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative services into their conventional medical care, according to a national survey.
Forty-two percent of hospitals in the survey said they offer one or more of alternative “therapies,” including meditation, relaxation training, homeopathy and chiropractic care.
That’s up from 37% of hospitals that said they offered such medical services in 2007.
The alternative options are provided mostly in outpatient settings and come primarily in response to patient requests.
“Hospitals have long known that what they do to treat and heal involves more than just medications and procedures,” said Nancy Foster, vice president for quality and patient safety at the American Hospital Assn. “It is about using all of the art and science of medicine to restore the patient as fully as possible.”
The report is based on responses from 714 hospitals nationwide, or about 12% of nearly 6,000 facilities that were mailed surveys last year. It was produced by the Health Forum, a subsidiary of the national hospital association, and the Samueli Institute, a nonprofit research organization that investigates the role of “healing” practices in medical care.
Among the findings: 65% of hospitals said they offer alternative therapies for pain management. Massage therapy in particular is given to cancer patients to help alleviate pain and stress.
“Today’s patients have better access to health information and are demanding more personalized care,” said Sita Ananth, one of the study’s authors and director of knowledge services for Samueli Institute. “The survey results reinforce the fact that patients want the best that both conventional and alternative medicine can offer.”
Source:LA Times
Scientists Discover Protein Signals That Help Our Body Remember Viral Infection
The protein signals responsible for keeping the memory of viral infections alive have been discovered by scientists at the Wistar Institute.
Their result may help scientists in creating better, more effective vaccines."We are particularly interested in how our bodies generate antibodies against viruses and how we maintain anti-viral antibody secreting cells as a hedge against future infection from the same virus," said Jan Erikson, Ph.D., senior author of the study, professor in Wistar's Immunology Program.
"Our study highlights how protein signals sustain the cells that make antibodies against viruses in perpetuity, which we believe is crucial knowledge for the development of vaccines for lasting protection against the flu, for example," he stated.
Our immune system produces a broad array of antibodies, but during an infection with a virus, for example, the immune system allows the predominant production of antibodies that are directed against the virus. The cells making these particular antibodies are then selected for preservation.
According to Erikson and her colleagues, this act of preservation requires signals, provided by proteins called BLyS and APRIL.
The researchers found that neutralizing BLyS and APRIL reduced the numbers of anti-viral ASCs found in the lungs and bone marrow.
BLyS and APRIL bind to another protein called TACI, a receptor found on the surface of ASCs, which the researchers see as an important translator for marking the ASCs that will become long-lived.
The study was presented in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Source-ANI
Their result may help scientists in creating better, more effective vaccines."We are particularly interested in how our bodies generate antibodies against viruses and how we maintain anti-viral antibody secreting cells as a hedge against future infection from the same virus," said Jan Erikson, Ph.D., senior author of the study, professor in Wistar's Immunology Program.
"Our study highlights how protein signals sustain the cells that make antibodies against viruses in perpetuity, which we believe is crucial knowledge for the development of vaccines for lasting protection against the flu, for example," he stated.
Our immune system produces a broad array of antibodies, but during an infection with a virus, for example, the immune system allows the predominant production of antibodies that are directed against the virus. The cells making these particular antibodies are then selected for preservation.
According to Erikson and her colleagues, this act of preservation requires signals, provided by proteins called BLyS and APRIL.
The researchers found that neutralizing BLyS and APRIL reduced the numbers of anti-viral ASCs found in the lungs and bone marrow.
BLyS and APRIL bind to another protein called TACI, a receptor found on the surface of ASCs, which the researchers see as an important translator for marking the ASCs that will become long-lived.
The study was presented in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Source-ANI
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Nearly 40 percent of Europeans suffer mental illness
Europeans are plagued by mental and neurological illnesses, with almost 165 million people or 38 percent of the population suffering each year from a brain disorder such as depression, anxiety, insomnia or dementia, according to a large new study.
With only about a third of cases receiving the therapy or medication needed, mental illnesses cause a huge economic and social burden -- measured in the hundreds of billions of euros -- as sufferers become too unwell to work and personal relationships break down.
"Mental disorders have become Europe's largest health challenge of the 21st century," the study's authors said.
At the same time, some big drug companies are backing away from investment in research on how the brain works and affects behavior, putting the onus on governments and health charities to stump up funding for neuroscience.
"The immense treatment gap ... for mental disorders has to be closed," said Hans Ulrich Wittchen, director of the institute of clinical psychology and psychotherapy at Germany's Dresden University and the lead investigator on the European study.
"Those few receiving treatment do so with considerable delays of an average of several years and rarely with the appropriate, state-of-the-art therapies."
Wittchen led a three-year study covering 30 European countries -- the 27 European Union member states plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway -- and a population of 514 million people.
A direct comparison of the prevalence of mental illnesses in other parts of the world was not available because different studies adopt varying parameters.
Wittchen's team looked at about 100 illnesses covering all major brain disorders from anxiety and depression to addiction to schizophrenia, as well as major neurological disorders including epilepsy, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
The results, published by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ENCP) on Monday, show an "exceedingly high burden" of mental health disorders and brain illnesses, he told reporters at a briefing in London.
Mental illnesses are a major cause of death, disability, and economic burden worldwide and the World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease across all ages.
Wittchen said that in Europe, that grim future had arrived early, with diseases of the brain already the single largest contributor to the EU's burden of ill health.
The four most disabling conditions -- measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years or DALYs, a standard measure used to compare the impact of various diseases -- are depression, dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, alcohol dependence and stroke.
The last major European study of brain disorders, which was published in 2005 and covered a smaller population of about 301 million people, found 27 percent of the EU adult population was suffering from mental illnesses.
Although the 2005 study cannot be compared directly with the latest finding -- the scope and population was different -- it found the cost burden of these and neurological disorders amounted to about 386 billion euros ($555 billion) a year at that time. Wittchen's team has yet to finalize the economic impact data from this latest work, but he said the costs would be "considerably more" than estimated in 2005.
The researchers said it was crucial for health policy makers to recognize the enormous burden and devise ways to identify potential patients early -- possibly through screening -- and make treating them quickly a high priority.
"Because mental disorders frequently start early in life, they have a strong malignant impact on later life," Wittchen said. "Only early targeted treatment in the young will effectively prevent the risk of increasingly largely proportions of severely ill...patients in the future."
David Nutt, a neuropsychopharmacology expert at Imperial College London who was not involved in this study, agreed.
"If you can get in early you may be able to change the trajectory of the illness so that it isn't inevitable that people go into disability," he said. "If we really want not to be left with this huge reservoir of mental and brain illness for the next few centuries, then we ought to be investing more now."
Source:Reuters
With only about a third of cases receiving the therapy or medication needed, mental illnesses cause a huge economic and social burden -- measured in the hundreds of billions of euros -- as sufferers become too unwell to work and personal relationships break down.
"Mental disorders have become Europe's largest health challenge of the 21st century," the study's authors said.
At the same time, some big drug companies are backing away from investment in research on how the brain works and affects behavior, putting the onus on governments and health charities to stump up funding for neuroscience.
"The immense treatment gap ... for mental disorders has to be closed," said Hans Ulrich Wittchen, director of the institute of clinical psychology and psychotherapy at Germany's Dresden University and the lead investigator on the European study.
"Those few receiving treatment do so with considerable delays of an average of several years and rarely with the appropriate, state-of-the-art therapies."
Wittchen led a three-year study covering 30 European countries -- the 27 European Union member states plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway -- and a population of 514 million people.
A direct comparison of the prevalence of mental illnesses in other parts of the world was not available because different studies adopt varying parameters.
Wittchen's team looked at about 100 illnesses covering all major brain disorders from anxiety and depression to addiction to schizophrenia, as well as major neurological disorders including epilepsy, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
The results, published by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ENCP) on Monday, show an "exceedingly high burden" of mental health disorders and brain illnesses, he told reporters at a briefing in London.
Mental illnesses are a major cause of death, disability, and economic burden worldwide and the World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease across all ages.
Wittchen said that in Europe, that grim future had arrived early, with diseases of the brain already the single largest contributor to the EU's burden of ill health.
The four most disabling conditions -- measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years or DALYs, a standard measure used to compare the impact of various diseases -- are depression, dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, alcohol dependence and stroke.
The last major European study of brain disorders, which was published in 2005 and covered a smaller population of about 301 million people, found 27 percent of the EU adult population was suffering from mental illnesses.
Although the 2005 study cannot be compared directly with the latest finding -- the scope and population was different -- it found the cost burden of these and neurological disorders amounted to about 386 billion euros ($555 billion) a year at that time. Wittchen's team has yet to finalize the economic impact data from this latest work, but he said the costs would be "considerably more" than estimated in 2005.
The researchers said it was crucial for health policy makers to recognize the enormous burden and devise ways to identify potential patients early -- possibly through screening -- and make treating them quickly a high priority.
"Because mental disorders frequently start early in life, they have a strong malignant impact on later life," Wittchen said. "Only early targeted treatment in the young will effectively prevent the risk of increasingly largely proportions of severely ill...patients in the future."
David Nutt, a neuropsychopharmacology expert at Imperial College London who was not involved in this study, agreed.
"If you can get in early you may be able to change the trajectory of the illness so that it isn't inevitable that people go into disability," he said. "If we really want not to be left with this huge reservoir of mental and brain illness for the next few centuries, then we ought to be investing more now."
Source:Reuters
Health ministry finalising legislation to regulate fertility clinics
Based on the guidelines and norms set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Union health ministry is finalising a legislation to regulate the growing number of fertility clinics in the country, in view of the rising popularity of the same.
The government has accepted the national guidelines for accreditation, supervision and regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics in the country, developed and announced by the ICMR. To effectively implement the guidelines, the ministry is finalising the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, sources informed.
The draft of the bill has been published for the comments from the stakeholders. The bill details procedures for accreditation and supervision of infertility clinics (and related organizations such as semen banks) handling spermatozoa or oocytes outside of the body, or dealing with gamete donors and surrogacy, ensuring that the legitimate rights of all concerned are protected, with maximum benefit to the infertile couples/individuals within a recognized framework of ethics and good medical practice.
“It is estimated that 15 per cent of couples around the world are infertile. This implies that infertility is one of the most highly prevalent medical problems. The magnitude of the infertility problem also has enormous social implications. Besides the fact that every couple has the right to have a child, in India infertility widely carries with it a social stigma. In the Indian social context specially, children are also a kind of old age insurance. With the enormous advances in medicine and medical technologies, today 85 per cent of the cases of infertility can be taken care of through medicines, surgery and/or the new medical technologies such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI),” according to the draft bill.
Most of the new technologies aimed at taking care of infertility, involve handling of the gamete – spermatozoa or the ooctye – outside the body; they also often involve the donation of spermatozoa or oocyte, or the use of a surrogate mother who would be carrying a child with whom she has no biological relationship. These technologies not only require expertise but also open up many avenues for unethical practices which can affect adversely the recipient of the treatment, medically, socially and legally, it said.
The last nearly 20 years have seen an exponential growth of infertility clinics that use techniques requiring handling of spermatozoa or the oocyte outside the body, or the use of a surrogate mother. As of today, anyone can open infertility or ART clinic; no permission is required to do so. There has been, consequently a mushrooming of such clinics around the country.
“In view of the above, in public interest, it has become important to regulate the functioning of such clinics to ensure that the services provided are ethical and that the medical, social and legal rights of all those concerned are protected,” according to the bill.
Source:Pharmabiz
The government has accepted the national guidelines for accreditation, supervision and regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics in the country, developed and announced by the ICMR. To effectively implement the guidelines, the ministry is finalising the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, sources informed.
The draft of the bill has been published for the comments from the stakeholders. The bill details procedures for accreditation and supervision of infertility clinics (and related organizations such as semen banks) handling spermatozoa or oocytes outside of the body, or dealing with gamete donors and surrogacy, ensuring that the legitimate rights of all concerned are protected, with maximum benefit to the infertile couples/individuals within a recognized framework of ethics and good medical practice.
“It is estimated that 15 per cent of couples around the world are infertile. This implies that infertility is one of the most highly prevalent medical problems. The magnitude of the infertility problem also has enormous social implications. Besides the fact that every couple has the right to have a child, in India infertility widely carries with it a social stigma. In the Indian social context specially, children are also a kind of old age insurance. With the enormous advances in medicine and medical technologies, today 85 per cent of the cases of infertility can be taken care of through medicines, surgery and/or the new medical technologies such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI),” according to the draft bill.
Most of the new technologies aimed at taking care of infertility, involve handling of the gamete – spermatozoa or the ooctye – outside the body; they also often involve the donation of spermatozoa or oocyte, or the use of a surrogate mother who would be carrying a child with whom she has no biological relationship. These technologies not only require expertise but also open up many avenues for unethical practices which can affect adversely the recipient of the treatment, medically, socially and legally, it said.
The last nearly 20 years have seen an exponential growth of infertility clinics that use techniques requiring handling of spermatozoa or the oocyte outside the body, or the use of a surrogate mother. As of today, anyone can open infertility or ART clinic; no permission is required to do so. There has been, consequently a mushrooming of such clinics around the country.
“In view of the above, in public interest, it has become important to regulate the functioning of such clinics to ensure that the services provided are ethical and that the medical, social and legal rights of all those concerned are protected,” according to the bill.
Source:Pharmabiz
World Watching Closely on India Patent Case That Threatens Cheap Drug Supply For Developing World
Supply of cheap, copycat drugs for the developing world could be badly threatened if Swiss firm Novartis wins a challenge to India's patent law, medical charity MSF said on Monday.
The warning came as the Supreme Court was due to hear more arguments Tuesday in an appeal by Novartis seeking patent protection for a newer version of its leukaemia drug Glivec -- a case watched closely by global pharmaceutical firms."If the patent law challenge is successful, it would have a devastating impact on access to affordable medicines across the developing world," Leena Menghaney, India representative of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told a news conference.
Novartis is contesting the Indian patent office's rejection of a patent application for the updated version of Glivec that is better absorbed by the body. MSF calls the improvement a "minor modification".
The drugmaker's challenge goes to the heart of India's patent act, which says a patent cannot be granted for an old drug unless changes make it significantly more therapeutically effective.
The Supreme Court case is the final act in a lengthy legal battle between Novartis and patient rights groups in India, where local firms produce generic drugs at a fraction of the cost of brand-name originals.
Indian generic versions of Glivec sell for 8,000 rupees ($174) for a month's treatment compared with 120,000 rupees for the brand-name version, MSF said.
Pharmaceutical multinationals argue that protecting patents is crucial to stimulating the research and development of new drugs.
The warning came as the Supreme Court was due to hear more arguments Tuesday in an appeal by Novartis seeking patent protection for a newer version of its leukaemia drug Glivec -- a case watched closely by global pharmaceutical firms."If the patent law challenge is successful, it would have a devastating impact on access to affordable medicines across the developing world," Leena Menghaney, India representative of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told a news conference.
Novartis is contesting the Indian patent office's rejection of a patent application for the updated version of Glivec that is better absorbed by the body. MSF calls the improvement a "minor modification".
The drugmaker's challenge goes to the heart of India's patent act, which says a patent cannot be granted for an old drug unless changes make it significantly more therapeutically effective.
The Supreme Court case is the final act in a lengthy legal battle between Novartis and patient rights groups in India, where local firms produce generic drugs at a fraction of the cost of brand-name originals.
Indian generic versions of Glivec sell for 8,000 rupees ($174) for a month's treatment compared with 120,000 rupees for the brand-name version, MSF said.
Pharmaceutical multinationals argue that protecting patents is crucial to stimulating the research and development of new drugs.
Indian medicine students get a fillip
Students of Indian medicine will be allowed to study modern medicine and surgery, health minister V S Vijay has said. The minister, who is also the pro-chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, said that the university's decision to scrap allopathic contents from ayurveda, siddha and unani courses would be withdrawn.
The decision was made after the minister held a meeting with senior health department and university officials, practitioners of Indian systems of medicine and students at the secretariat on Monday. In July, the university had passed a resolution in the governing council revising the syllabus for Indian medicine. Vice-chancellor Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan said the university would remove surgery from the nomenclature of the degrees awarded to Indian medicine students. So, students would be only Bachelor of siddha/ unani/ ayurveda/ homeopathy medicine and not bachelor of siddha unani/ ayurveda/ homeopathy medicine and surgery. On August 17, the Central Council of Indian Medicine, a regulatory body, threatened to withdraw recognition to the state medical university.Students of Indian medicine have been boycotting classes for a week as they feared their courses would be invalid. On Saturday, students approached commissioner for Indian medicine A Mohammed Aslam and argued that the council had allowed students of Indian medicine to study parts of modern medicine to enable them to become better doctors. But the university deleted surgery, pharmacology and large sections of orthopedics and ophthalmology. If the university is not recognized, students will not be registered as doctors, they said.
Council member (siddha) Dr B Muthukumar said the university did not consider the views of the standing academic board. Six Indian medicine doctors, members of the board, advised the university not to delete allopathic contents from siddha, unani and ayurveda. "They chose to go with the views of six allopathic doctors," he said.
To end the stalemate between the university and the Indian medicine doctors the minister called the university officials for talks on Monday. "The syllabus and nomenclature are fixed by the Central Council of Indian Medicine. We told the university officials that they can't tamper with it," said Vijay.
"We have also told the Indian medicine students and doctors that they were being taught some parts of modern medicine only for the sake of acquiring knowledge and they can't prescribe allopathic medicines," he said. The University has asked the state government to list out the surgeries Indian medicine practitioners are permitted to do. "They shall not use allopathic anesthetic drugs," said university vice-chancellor Dr Natarajan.
Students of Indian medicine said they were happy with the health department's decision. "We will be back in classes from Tuesday," said R Thyagarajan, a student .
Source:TNN
The decision was made after the minister held a meeting with senior health department and university officials, practitioners of Indian systems of medicine and students at the secretariat on Monday. In July, the university had passed a resolution in the governing council revising the syllabus for Indian medicine. Vice-chancellor Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan said the university would remove surgery from the nomenclature of the degrees awarded to Indian medicine students. So, students would be only Bachelor of siddha/ unani/ ayurveda/ homeopathy medicine and not bachelor of siddha unani/ ayurveda/ homeopathy medicine and surgery. On August 17, the Central Council of Indian Medicine, a regulatory body, threatened to withdraw recognition to the state medical university.Students of Indian medicine have been boycotting classes for a week as they feared their courses would be invalid. On Saturday, students approached commissioner for Indian medicine A Mohammed Aslam and argued that the council had allowed students of Indian medicine to study parts of modern medicine to enable them to become better doctors. But the university deleted surgery, pharmacology and large sections of orthopedics and ophthalmology. If the university is not recognized, students will not be registered as doctors, they said.
Council member (siddha) Dr B Muthukumar said the university did not consider the views of the standing academic board. Six Indian medicine doctors, members of the board, advised the university not to delete allopathic contents from siddha, unani and ayurveda. "They chose to go with the views of six allopathic doctors," he said.
To end the stalemate between the university and the Indian medicine doctors the minister called the university officials for talks on Monday. "The syllabus and nomenclature are fixed by the Central Council of Indian Medicine. We told the university officials that they can't tamper with it," said Vijay.
"We have also told the Indian medicine students and doctors that they were being taught some parts of modern medicine only for the sake of acquiring knowledge and they can't prescribe allopathic medicines," he said. The University has asked the state government to list out the surgeries Indian medicine practitioners are permitted to do. "They shall not use allopathic anesthetic drugs," said university vice-chancellor Dr Natarajan.
Students of Indian medicine said they were happy with the health department's decision. "We will be back in classes from Tuesday," said R Thyagarajan, a student .
Source:TNN
Dr. Gopinathan Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Santhigram Group of Companies Receives "Dharma Award" from AAPNA
Dr. Gopinathan Nair, Founding Chairman and Managing Director of Santhigram Group of Companies and President of Santhigram USA was presented “Dharma Award” by Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA) during its 3rd international conference held at Hilton Hotel, Boston, MA on August 14, 2011. The award was conferred by the guest of honor, Yogi Shri Amritji , of Amrit Yoga Institute in the presence of over 350 Ayurvedic professionals from 35 countries. The prestigious international award was given to Dr. Gopinathan Nair, in recognition for his excellence in promoting awareness of Ayurveda across the globe.
Japanese patient cured of decade long pain through Ayurvedic treatment
It is heartening to know that in foreign countries the popularity of Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine is becoming quite popular. In this respect the Ayurvedic Department of the Kasturba Medical College of Manipal has become very famous. As a result, the number of foreign patients being admitted for Ayurvedic treatment in Manipal has been gradually increasing. Patients have been coming from England, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Russia and other foreign countries. In 2008, the number of such foreign patients was 69, which went to 99 in 2009 and in 2010, there were 92 patients.
A Japanese lady, named Hiroko Tsumara who had been suffering due to acute pain since the last ten years was treated at Manipal and is said to have been freed from this decade long pain, informed Dr. Kamat of the Ayurveda Department of KMC speaking to the media persons.Hiroko Tsumara hails from a place known as Shimokitazava near the Japanese capital-Tokyo. When she did not succeed in getting her headache, neck-pain and back-pain by getting treatment through modern medicine for some years, Dr. Shiho of Japan who had received training in the Ayurveda system of medicine at Manipal, advised Tsumara to go to Manipal and get treated there. On his advice, Tsumara came to Manipal on August 23, 2011. After the ‘Panchakarma’ Ayurvedic treatment, Tsumara has been cured of all her ailments, said Dr. Basavaraj, the doctor who had treated Hiroko Tsumara.
In the Press Conference, the Superintendent of KMC-Dr. R R Pulgaonkart, Hiroko Tsumara and Dr. Shiho were present.
Smartphone App to Rate Food With High Fat and Salt Content
A recent Smartphone application labeled the ‘traffic light food tracker’ developed by the Obesity Policy Association will alert users with a traffic light rating for packaged foods that contain fat and salt.
A traffic light rating of ‘red’ signifies ‘high’, ‘yellow’, signifies ‘medium’ and ‘green’ signifies ‘low’ for the amount of salt, sugars and fat in packaged foods. This is a good solution to misleading claims about fat free products.
This application helps consumers make quick and correct purchase decisions about a food product so that they can avoid products laden with fat, salt and sugar.
Source-Medindia
A traffic light rating of ‘red’ signifies ‘high’, ‘yellow’, signifies ‘medium’ and ‘green’ signifies ‘low’ for the amount of salt, sugars and fat in packaged foods. This is a good solution to misleading claims about fat free products.
This application helps consumers make quick and correct purchase decisions about a food product so that they can avoid products laden with fat, salt and sugar.
Source-Medindia
Five Important Lifestyle Habits can Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health led by Dr Jared Reis analyzed data from more than 200,000 men and women from eight different states in the United States and identified five lifestyle habits that could reduce the risk of diabetes by as much as 80 percent.According to the researchers, the five major lifestyle habits that affect positively affect diabetes are non smoking, maintaining a normal weight, healthy diet, being physically active and not drinking too much alcohol.
The researchers added that each lifestyle habit had a benefit of its own so even an overweight person can reduce his risk of diabetes by following other healthy habits. “The question we were trying to raise is whether there are added benefits to each individual lifestyle improvement you make, and it looks like that answer is definitely yes. The strength of the association was really very dramatic and quite surprising”, Reis said.
Source-Medindia
The researchers added that each lifestyle habit had a benefit of its own so even an overweight person can reduce his risk of diabetes by following other healthy habits. “The question we were trying to raise is whether there are added benefits to each individual lifestyle improvement you make, and it looks like that answer is definitely yes. The strength of the association was really very dramatic and quite surprising”, Reis said.
Source-Medindia
Monday, 5 September 2011
Undetected Blocked Brain Blood Vessels Associated With Signs of Aging
Research indicates that many common signs of aging, such as shaking hands, stooped posture and walking slower, may be due to tiny blocked vessels in the brain that can't be detected by current technology.In a study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, examined brain autopsies of older people and found:Microscopic lesions or infarcts — too small to be detected using brain imaging — were in 30 percent of the brains of people who had no diagnosed brain disease or stroke.
Those who had the most trouble walking had multiple brain lesions. Two-thirds of the people had at least one blood vessel abnormality, suggesting a possible link between the blocked vessels and the familiar signs of aging.
"This is very surprising," said Dr. Aron S. Buchman, lead author of the study and associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush. "The public health implications are significant because we are not identifying the 30 percent who have undiagnosed small vessel disease that is not picked up by current technology. We need additional tools in order to identify this population."
In 1994, the researchers began conducting annual exams of 1,100 older nuns and priests for signs of aging. The participants also donated their brains for examination after death. This study provides results on the first 418 brain autopsies (61 percent women, average 88 years old at death).
Those who had the most trouble walking had multiple brain lesions. Two-thirds of the people had at least one blood vessel abnormality, suggesting a possible link between the blocked vessels and the familiar signs of aging.
"This is very surprising," said Dr. Aron S. Buchman, lead author of the study and associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush. "The public health implications are significant because we are not identifying the 30 percent who have undiagnosed small vessel disease that is not picked up by current technology. We need additional tools in order to identify this population."
In 1994, the researchers began conducting annual exams of 1,100 older nuns and priests for signs of aging. The participants also donated their brains for examination after death. This study provides results on the first 418 brain autopsies (61 percent women, average 88 years old at death).
A Cup of Blueberries a Day May Keep Cancer Away
Why are blueberries considered healthful? They're full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other vitamins that help prevent cell damage. "Antioxidants protect cells by stabilizing free radicals and can prevent some of the damage they cause," says Laura Newton M.A.Ed., R.D., an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Free radicals, atoms that contain an odd number of electrons and are highly reactive, can cause cellular damage, one of the factors in the development of cancer; many believe a diet filled with fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk. "Studies suggest that antioxidants may help prevent the free-radical damage associated with cancer," says Newton, a licensed dietician who often works with cancer patients.
Blueberries also are rich in vitamin C, which helps the immune system and can help the body to absorb iron. “Vitamin C also helps to keep blood vessels firm, offering protection from bruising,” Newton says.
Blueberry juice and other products may be nutritious but often contain less fiber than the whole fruit, and added sugar or corn syrup may decrease their nutritional value. Consuming fresh, raw blueberries provides the most benefits; the average serving size of raw blueberries is one cup, which contains about 80 calories.
Blueberry season is in full swing, and now is the perfect time to stock up on this delicious, nutritious fruit from farms located here in Alabama. “They can be frozen, so store some in the freezer to enjoy year round,” says Newton. “To freeze blueberries, put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze them and then transfer to an airtight bag or container and store. Rinse them with water prior to using.”
Source-Newswise
Study: How Tumor Cells Withstand Chemotherapy
The mechanism by which tumor cells change their appearance to adapt to new environmental circumstances has been identified by researchers. Tumor cells protect themselves against chemotherapy and radiotherapy and invade neighbouring organs, eventually causing metastasis.
Tumours "shed their skin" because some molecular switches called microRNAs -responsible for maintaining epithelial appearance of cells- turn off, they found."We have discovered that some microRNAs, a group called microRNA-200S, undergoes a chemical inactivation and inhibit their expression. When these cellular appearance drivers are not present, tumour cells change, stretch, stop their inhibition and thus the tumour progresses", explains Dr. Esteller, adding that "the results from research show that this is a very dynamic process."
Change involves from the appearance of the tumour to the onset of metastasis, but if we change the environmental circumstances that influence these cells, the process reverses.
Dr Esteller compares the process "with a small planet in Darwinian evolution but in an expedited manner."
Besides serving to better understand the disease, the results are important because they predict that external intervention is possible in the process.
The study has been published in the online version of the international scientific journal Oncogene, Nature group.
Source-ANI
Tumours "shed their skin" because some molecular switches called microRNAs -responsible for maintaining epithelial appearance of cells- turn off, they found."We have discovered that some microRNAs, a group called microRNA-200S, undergoes a chemical inactivation and inhibit their expression. When these cellular appearance drivers are not present, tumour cells change, stretch, stop their inhibition and thus the tumour progresses", explains Dr. Esteller, adding that "the results from research show that this is a very dynamic process."
Change involves from the appearance of the tumour to the onset of metastasis, but if we change the environmental circumstances that influence these cells, the process reverses.
Dr Esteller compares the process "with a small planet in Darwinian evolution but in an expedited manner."
Besides serving to better understand the disease, the results are important because they predict that external intervention is possible in the process.
The study has been published in the online version of the international scientific journal Oncogene, Nature group.
Source-ANI
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Uttarakhand Governers Greet on TEACHERS DAY
Uttarakhand Governor, Smt Margaret Alva, has conveyed her greetings to teachers of the state on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.
Specially congratulating the teachers of the state who have been honoured with the President’s award, the governor said that teachers played a crucial role in moulding the character of the younger generation.
“Today is the birthday of the great scholar, the second president of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was a phenomenal teacher, philosopher, writer and orator,” said the governor.
She said the work of a teacher was specially challenging today as with technological advancement, information is readily available to the students. “The teacher’s role must be that of a person who ignites young minds and hearts with the light of true knowledge. The students in turn should treat their teachers with respect. Teacher’s day gives students an opportunity to show love and gratitude to their teachers. Let us all remember, on this day, the teachers who made a difference to our lives, who showed us the way when we needed guidance” she added.
She conveyed her best wishes and warm greetings to all teachers on this occasion.
Specially congratulating the teachers of the state who have been honoured with the President’s award, the governor said that teachers played a crucial role in moulding the character of the younger generation.
“Today is the birthday of the great scholar, the second president of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was a phenomenal teacher, philosopher, writer and orator,” said the governor.
She said the work of a teacher was specially challenging today as with technological advancement, information is readily available to the students. “The teacher’s role must be that of a person who ignites young minds and hearts with the light of true knowledge. The students in turn should treat their teachers with respect. Teacher’s day gives students an opportunity to show love and gratitude to their teachers. Let us all remember, on this day, the teachers who made a difference to our lives, who showed us the way when we needed guidance” she added.
She conveyed her best wishes and warm greetings to all teachers on this occasion.
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