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Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org

[PublicHealth]CurrentAffairs201213:Diseases,Drugsand
Research(Part2of3)
PostedBySupportStaffOn18/04/2013@9:52pmInScience|49Comments
1. UniversalImmunizationprogram(UIP)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

8.
9.
10.
11.

IndiaDeclaredPolioFree
Acuteflaccidparalysis(AFP)
PolioVirologistdead
BIBCOL
IntegratedVaccineComplex
PentavalentVaccine
JEEV
Vectorcontrol
Blindnesscontrol
Leprosy
Iodine
AIDScontrol
NACO
NACPphases
One
Two
Three
Four
BridgePopulation
MothertoChild
AIDS:12 thFYPGoal
Truvada
Truvada:Issues/concerns
OraQuickHome
RedRibbonExpress(RRE)
Antiretroviraldrugs
TwotypesofHIV
TBcontrol
Risorin
GeneXpert/CBNAAT?
CrystalTBConfirm
MiscTBtests
ProjectAxshya/Mr.Sputum
SwineFlu,AvianFlu
Tamiflu,Relenza
NonCommunicablediseases
Heartrelated

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12.

13.
14.
15.

16.
17.
18.

MrunalPublicHealthrelatedCurrentAffairsPart3:disease,Drug,Research

Hydrogel
Statin
Omega3FattyAcids
HDLvsLDL
Lupifio,Klotbuster
Cancerrelated
NoTouchBreastScan(NTBS)
Dermoscope
MagicShotgun
Glivec,NovartisPatent
Evergreening
Zimmerman/Imatinib
Novartisssideofstory
GardasilandCervarix
Kinesiotape
VitaVallis
Instruments
Neurostimulator
EmmidentToothbrush
VomitingLarry
HandheldDentalXray
SAR
Virtopsy
Electronicnose
BIONICEYE
OraQuickHome
Surgeries
FemtosecondCataractSurgery
ExVivoLungPerfusion
NobelPrizes
Gproteincoupledreceptors(GPCRs)
BlankSlateCells/ReprogramingCells/DiseaseinDish
Misc.
ENCODEproject
Telomer
MemoryEnhancer/BESEB
Radioimmunoassay(RIA)
IRMA
Bhabhatron
PACT
ISOMED
LinearNoThreshold(LNT)concept
DrugsfromSea

UniversalImmunizationprogram(UIP)
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Startedinmid80s.
UnderUIP,govt.giveschildrenvaccineforsevendiseases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Polio
Measels
ChildhoodTB
HepatitisB
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Pertussis(whoopingcough)
Govt.alsodeclaredyear201213,asYearofIntensificationofRoutineImmunization.

IndiaDeclaredPolioFree
2010:GovernmentintroducedBivalentOralPolioVaccine(bOPV).
InFeb2012,WorldHealthorganization(WHO)removedIndiathelistofContriesfacing
activewildpoliovirus.
TheyremovedusfromthelistbecauseIndiahadcompletedtwoyearswithoutsinglecaseof
Polio.(lastcasewasreportedinHowrah,WestBengal).
OnlyPAN(Pakistan,Afghan,Nigeria)remain

DiseaseseradicatedfromIndia
Disease
Smallpox
Guineaworm
Yaws
Polio
KalaAzar
Filariasis
Leprosy

Causedby
Virus
Parasite
Bacteria
Virus
Parasite

Eradicationyear(India)
70s
2000s
2012
Target:2015

Bacteria

Acuteflaccidparalysis(AFP)
Polioisadiseasecausedbyavirus.ButAFPcanalsoariseforotherreasons,including
infectionbynonpoliopathogens.
NochildinIndiahasbeendiagnosedwithpoliofornearlytwoyearsnowandallthe
indicationsarethatthevirusresponsibleforitisnolongercirculatinghere.
However,thecountryspoliosurveillancesystemhasindicatedasharpincreaseduring
recentyearsinthenumberofnonpolioAFPcases.
mostofthecountrysnonpolioAFPcasesoccurinjusttwoStatesBiharandUttar
Pradesh.casesofchildrenwithnonpolioAFPwerenotbeingmonitoredbyeitherthepolio
eradicationprogrammeorthelargerstatehealthcaresystem.
Asaresult,thereisnoclearpictureofwhatwascausingtheAFP,thekindofdiseasesthese
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childrendisplayed,orhowmanyofthemwereseriouslyaffected

PolioVirologistdead
JonasSalkhaddevelopedtheknownastheinactivatedpoliovirusvaccine(IPV)inthe50s.
Butbeforethat,HilaryKoprowskihadinventedthelivevirusoralvaccine.
HilaryKoprowskiisinnews,becausehediedinApril2013.

BIBCOL
Nameofpublicsectorundertaking(PSU)
ItmanufacturesOralpoliovaccineforUniversalimmunizationprogram.

IntegratedVaccineComplex
Govt.issettingthisunderUniversalimmunizationprogram.
Location:KanchipuramDistrct,TN
Itllprovidevaccinesataffordableprices.
ItllalsomanufacturePentaValentVaccine.

PentavalentVaccine
Penta=five.Sopentavalentvaccine=fivevaccinesinone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Diphtheria
Pertussis
Tetanus,
HepatitisB
Hib.(HibHaemophilusInfluenzaeTypeB).ItisResponsibleForPneumonia,Meningitis
AndEpiglottitis)
Thisisaninjection(andnotoraldropslikepoliovaccine.)
InIndia,pentavalentvaccinewasintroducedinTamilNaduandKeralainDecember2011,
undertheUniversalimmunizationprogram.
RecentlyDelhiandJammuandKashmir,Haryana,Puducherry,GoaandGujaratalsostarted
usingit.

Benefits
Pentavalentvaccinehelpsinreducingthenumberofshotsachildreceivesfromninetothree.
Convenientinstoragespaceandtransportbecausefivevaccinesarecombinedinasingle
vial.

JEEV
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IndiasfirstvaccineforJapaneseEncephalitis.
Company:BiologicalELtd.(BEL)

Vectorcontrol
NationalVectorbornediseasescontrolprogram(NVBDCP)
ThisisunderNationalruralhealthmission.
Directorate@DelhigivescashandcommoditytostateGovernmentsforimplementingthis.
Governmentplanstoeliminatekalaazarandfilariasisby2015.
Comprehensiveprogramagainstvectorbornediseasessuchas
Disease

By

Notes
ViafemaleAnophelesmosquitoes.
3stages1)cold2)hot3)sweating.
WorldMalariaday=25thApril
12thFYPwantsAnnualMalariaIncidenceof<1/1000.

Synriam
Piperaquine(tradenameSynriam):thiswaslaunchedonWorld
Malariadayin2012
Synriam=FirstIndianantimalarialdrug.Ranbaxyproduced
it,withhelpofDept.ofScienceandTechnology+ICMR.

Malaria
Protozoa
(parasite)

ELQ300
Newantimalarialdrug.
Undergoingtrials.

HumanizedMice
Itisengraftedwithhumanlivercells.Itllhelpresearchliver
tobloodstageinfectionofMalaria.

KalaAzar

Japanese

Viafemalesandfly
Leadstoskindarkening,thereforecalledkalaAzar=black
sickness.
TargetistoeliminateKalaAzarby2015
ViaCulexmosquitos
Pigstomosquitotoman.

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Encephalitis

Dengue

Moredetailsgiveninoldarticleclickme
12thFYPwantstoreduceJEdeathsby30%

Virus

ViaMosquito:aedesAegypti
RealtimePCRessay:thiswillhelpdetectdengueonfirstday.
IntherecentpastDenguehasbeenreportedfromalmostallthe
statesandUTsexceptLakshadweep.

Chikungunya

ViaMosquito:aedesAegypti
ELISAbloodtestneededfordiagnosis
symptomssimilartodenguefever
Swahiliword:thatwhichbendsup,becauseitleadstosevere
paininjoints.
12thFYPwantstoContainmentofoutbreaksofChikungunya.

Filariasis

Viablackfliesandmosquitoes.
targetistoeliminatethisby2015.
Parasitic
worms

Elephantiasis

Viamosquitos
Itmakestheskinandtissuesaroundlegverythickmakesit
looklikeelephantslegs.

ContinuingtomoreprogramsunderNRHM

Blindness
control

Nationalprogramforcontrolofblindness(NPCB)
100%centrallysponsored
Goal:reduceblindnessto0.3%byyear2020
Freeeyecheckupandspectaclestoschoolkids

Leprosy

Thisdiseaseiscausedbybacteria
100%centrallysponsored(thescheme,notthediseasehahaha)
ItusesMultidrugtherapy(MDT).
12thFYPwantstoreducenewcasesto0foralldistricts.

Iodine

IodineDeficiency=>goiter,retardation(mental,physical),
cretinism,squintetc.

AIDScontrol
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NACO
NationalAIDSControlOrganization
ItisadivisionoftheMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare
NACOimplementsthenationalaidscontrolprogram(NACP)

NACPphases
Phase

Year

One

Two

What?
1986:firstAIDScaseinIndiadetected,inChennai,TN.
FirstphasetocontrolthespreadofHIVinfection.
Treatmentofsexuallytransmitteddiseasesindistricthospitals
andmedicalcolleges
EstablishingAIDSsurveillancesystem

1992
1999

condompromotion.
TheSchoolAIDSEducationProgramme
NationalAIDSPreventionandControlPolicy
NationalBloodPolicy
NGOsinvolvement
focusonHighRiskGroups(HRGs)

1999
2006
1.
2.
3.
4.

Three

Four

prostitutes
gays
drugaddicts
bridgepopulations(truckersandsinglemalemigrants)

200712

haltandreversetheepidemicinIndiaoverthenextfiveyears.
promotedistrictlevelnetworkofpeoplelivingwithHIV/AIDS
incomegenerationandotherwelfareactivitiesforHIVpositive
people.

2012
2017

reachzeroinfection,zerostigmaandzerodeaths.
Preventnewinfections
PreventParenttoChildTransmission
ReducestigmaanddiscriminationofAIDS
IncreasepartnershipwithNGOandcivilsociety.
SocialprotectionandinsurancemechanismforHIVpositive
people.
Providecomprehensivecare,supportandtreatmenttoall.

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BridgePopulation
HIVfirstappearsamongmostvulnerable(e.g.prostitutesanddrugaddicts)and.
BridgepopulationmeansthosepeoplewhoactsasBridgefortransferringHIVvirusfrom
1. highriskgroup(prostitutes,drugaddicts,gays)tolowriskgroups/generalpopulation
(housewives,futurekids)
2. Urbantoruralareas.
Exampleofbridgepopulation=singlemalemigrant,truckdrivers,bisexualmen.

MothertoChild
IfapregnantwomanisHIVpositive,therearenowdrugsthatcanreducetheriskofher
passingHIVvirusontoherbabyinthewomboratbirth.
CaesareanDeliveryalsoreducestheriskofababybecominginfected.
ifamotherisHIVpositive,beastfeedingwillincreasetheriskofherbabybecoming
infected.(becausesomeHIVtransmissioncanoccurthroughbreastmilk.)

AIDS:12thFYPGoal
12thFiveYearplanwantsto
1. reducenewinfectionstozeroand
2. providecomprehensivecareandsupporttoallHIVpositive

Truvada
WorldsfirstOralpilltopreventHIV
Developedby:GileadSciences.
Madeoftwoantireteroviraldrugs:1)Tenofovirand2)Emtricitabine
GivenapprovalbyUSFDA.

Truvada:Issues/concerns
ThisdrugonlylowerstheamountofHIVvirusinblood.Itdoesntmakeapersontotally
immunetoHIVvirus.
ButSomeidiotswillthinktheyhavebecometotallyimmuneagainstHIV,andthenindulge
inunprotectedsexfurtherspreadingAIDS.
Expertsalsobelievethatsameidiots(describedabove),willnottakethemedicineregularly,
andHIVviruswillbecomeresistanttoTruvada.
Thenanotherbilliondollarsand1012yearswillberequiredtodesignanewdrug.
Inoneclinicalstudy,someprostitutesweregivenTruvada,yetitdidnotpreventthespread
ofHIV.Hencecritiquesarenotentirelyconvincedabouttheefficiencyofthisdrug.
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OraQuickHome
ItsthefirstDoItYourselftestkitfordetectingHIVthesameonethathealthprofessionals
usebutwithoutthetriptoadoctorsofficeortheneedtowaitdaysforresults.
OralkitforHIVTestcandetectantibodiesdevelopedwithin13monthsaftergetting
infected.
Itcannotpickupacuteorrecentinfection.

RedRibbonExpress(RRE)
AspecialtraintospreadawarenessaboutHIVAIDS.
Startedin2007.
1stDecember=AIDSday.

Antiretroviraldrugs
e.g.AZT,DDLandDDC,
buttheireffectlastonlyforalimitedduration.
Thesedrugsareveryexpensiveandhavesevereadversereactions
HIVquicklydevelopresistancewithsingledrugtherapy.
Theemphasisisnowongivingacombinationofdrugsincludingnewerdrugscalled
proteaseinhibitorsbutthismakestreatmentevenmoreexpensive.
WHOspresentpolicydoesnotrecommendantiviraldrugsbutinsteadadvocates
strengtheningofclinicalmanagementforHIVassociatedinfectionssuchasTB,pneumonia
anddiarrhoea.

TwotypesofHIV
Botharetransmittedthroughblood/sex/mothertochild.
BothcauseAIDS.
Butthereisdifference:
HIV1
HIV2
Quicklytransmitted Lesseasilytransmitted
Less
periodbetweeninitialinfectionandillnessislonger.

TBcontrol
TBshortensthesurvivalofpatientswithHIVinfection.
RevisedTBcontrolprogram,UnderNationalRuralHealthMission(NRHM)
ProvideDOTStherapy.
DOTS=directlyobservedtreatmentshortcourse.ItcoulddrasticallyreducetheTBtreatment
duration.
Moreondetails,giveninearlierarticleclickme
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12thFYPwantstoreduceannualTBcasesanddeathsby50%
LetslookatthecurrentaffairsassociatedwithTB

Risorin
CSIRisdevelopingthisnewAntiTBdrug.

GeneXpert/CBNAAT?
ProblemwithMDRTB=ittakesalmost8weeks,fordoctortodiagnosethisdisease.
GeneXpert/CBNAATisthelatestdevicethatcandiagnosethisMDRTBinjusttwohours.
FastestdetectionofTB.canbeinstalledatanyplaceandcanbeusedbyparamedicalstaff.
InIndia,itllbeprovidedatsubsidizedrate(lessthanRs.2000)

CrystalTBConfirm
AnotherTBdetectiontest.Basedonchromatography.
DesignedbyScientists@Delhiuniversity.
Providesresultwithintwentyminutes.
(giveninIndianyearbook,hencelisted.)

MiscTBtests
1. MGITLiquidCulture
2. HainGenotype
(theremaybefivedozenmoreTBtestsintheworld,butthesetwoweregiveninHindusS&T
editionhencelistedhahaha)

ProjectAxshya/Mr.Sputum
Xshya=SanskritwordforTB.Axshya=TBfree.
ProjectAxshyaisacivilsocietyinitiativetomakeIndiaTBfree.BulgumBhai(Mr.Sputum)
istheirmascot.
HeappearsonTV,Radioads,streetplays,tospreadthemessage,Ifyouhavebeen
coughingformorethantwoweeks,bettergetyoursputumtested
UnionWorldConferenceonLungHealthwasheldinKualaLumpur.ThisMr.Sputum
projectwasfeaturedinthatconference.

SwineFlu,AvianFlu
Avianflu SwineFlu
Bird
Pigs
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H5N1

H1N1

Tamiflu,Relenza
Antiviraldrug.
Tamiflu=tradenameforthedrug
Oseltamivir=genericnameforthedrug.
Usedforswineandbirdflu.
Anotherdrugis:Relenza(Zanamivir)
Concern:reportsuggestthattheswinefluvirus(H1N1)isbecomingresistanttothisdrug.
Antiflu=thisisthecheaperversionofTamiflu,producedbyCipla.
VaxifluS=Indiasfirstindigenouslymanufacturedvaccinetocombatswineflu(Cadila).

NonCommunicablediseases
arenotpassedfrompersontoperson.
longdurationandgenerallyslowprogression.
examples
1.
2.
3.
4.

cardiovasculardiseases(likeheartattacksandstroke),
cancers,
Asthama
Diabetes.
Thesediseasesreduceproductiveyearsofhumanlives=economiclosstocountry.
GovernmentlaunchedNationalprogramforpreventionandcontrolofcancer,diabetes,
Cardiovasculardiseasesandstroke(NPCDCS).Itinvolves
AwarenessviaMassmedia,ads,promotinghealthylifestyle.
Settingsupclinics,trainingpersonneletc.
INDIABstudy=IndiaDiabetesstudy.ICMR(Indiancouncilformedicalresearch)conducted
it.

Heartrelated
Hydrogel
myocardialinfarction=whenhearttissueisdestroyed,itblockstheoxygensupplytoheart
muscles.
Whencellsofheartdonotreceiveoxygen=theygetpermanentlydamaged.
Suchdamagedheartcellscannotregenerate,thusathickscardevelopsinheart.Thisiswhere
Hydrogelcanhelp.
Hydrogelisderivedfromapigsheart.Thebasicfunctionofthegelistoprovideascaffold
(platform)fornewheartcellstoform.
Thushydrogelcanthedamagedheartrecoverandfunctionlikeahealthyone.
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Statin
Theyredrugsusedforcholesterolcontrol.
ButnewresearchindicatestheseStatinsposeheathrisks.

Omega3FattyAcids
Decreasetheriskofheartdisease,arthritisetc.
improvebonestrength
Humanbodycannotsynthesizethem.
Foundinsomefishes

HDLvsLDL
HDL
HighDensity
Goodcholesterol
Decreasesheartrisk

LDL
lowdensitylipoprotein
Bad
Increases

Lupifio,Klotbuster
CSIRdevelopedit
Itcandissolvethebloodclotsandsaveheartattackpatient.

Cancerrelated
NoTouchBreastScan(NTBS)
Imagingdevice,basedonthermography,todetectbrastcancer.
Increasedmetabolismincancercellsleadstoincreaseintemperature.
TheNTBSdevicelooksfortemperaturehotspotsatthesurfaceofbreastanddetectsbreast
cancer.
However,USFoodandDrugAdministration(USFDA)hasfoundnoevidencetosupportthe
claimthatthermographyisareplacementformammography.

Dermoscope
Melanoma=Skincancer.ToDetectMelanoma,earlierdermatologistshadtoputincision
(cut)ontheskin,takesample,andobserveItundermicroscope.
Dermoscopeisanewhandhelddeviceforskincancer(Melanoma)detection.
Thedeviceusesimagingtechnologythat,inlessthanoneminute,visualizesthemicrovessel
structureofjustbelowtheskinssurface.
SoCancercanbedetectedwithoutincision.

MagicShotgun
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USresearchersareusingthisapproachfordevelopingmoreeffectiveanticancerdrugs.

Glivec,NovartisPatent
Novartis=swisspharmacompany.
Glivec/Gleevec=theirblockbusterdrugforbloodcancerandgastrointestinalcancers.

Evergreening
Aslongasacompanyhaspatentforxyzdrug,otherscannotmanufactureit.(for20years).
Butwhenthepatentisabouttoexpire,thecompanyjustslightlymodifiestheoriginaldrug
formulatocreateanewdrugandseekspatentforthatnewdrug.
Thispracticeisknownaseverygreening
IndianpatentactprohibitsEvergreening.(underSection3(d)).
IncaseofNorvatis,whentheirGlivecpatentwasabouttoexpire,theyhadsoughtpatentfor
similarnewanticancerdrug(ImatinibMesylate),butlostpatentcase.Theyapproached
Supreme
NowIndiancompaniescanproducegenericversionofthisanticancerdrug,andpatientwill
getitatcheaperprice.
onemonthdoseofGliveccostsaroundRs1.2lakh,whilegenericIndiandrugscandoitat
Rs8,000.

Zimmerman/Imatinib
ImatinibMesylate=adrugmoleculetofightcancer.
ItwaspatentedunderZimmarmanpatent.
Now,thisGliveccontainsabetacrystallineformofadrugmoleculeimatinibmesylate.
(therefore,GlivecisnotreallyanewdrugbutatypicalcaseofEvergreening,where
companymerelymadesomechancesintheolddrugmoleculetofilenewpatent.)

Gliveccasetimeline
1970 IndianPatentsAct
PatentOfficerejectedNovartissGlivecapplication,sayingImatinibMesylatenota
2006
newanticancerdrugmolecule.
2007 PatentAppellateboardrejectedNorvartisclaim
2013 SupremecourtalsorejectedNovartisclaim

Novartisssideofstory
1. Glivecalreadypatentedinmorethan30countries.Sothisisnotacaseofevergreening.
2. Weprovidefreemedicinetoneedypatients.
3. Ifdruginventionsarenotprotected,thenpharmacompanieswilllosetheincentivetoinvest
moretimeandmoneyinresearchandDevelopmentofnewdrugmolecules=inlongterm
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itllhavenegativeconsequenceswhenthevirus/bacteriawillbecomeresistanttoexisting
drugs.
4. Afterthedefeatinsupremecourt,NovartissaidtheywillnotinvestindrugresearchinIndia
anymore.

GardasilandCervarix
namesofthenewHPVvaccinesmadebyGlaxoSmithKline.
TheHealthactivistssayitisnotproperlytested,theyvefilledPILinsupremecourt.
theirarguments
1)Thoughbothvaccinesareclaimedtopreventcervicalcancer,thetruthiscervicalcancer
takestwentyormoreyearstodevelop.
2)Thevaccineshavejustnotbeenaroundthatlongtoprovetheirefficacy!neitherofthese
vaccineshadbeenstudiedtodeterminetheirpotentialtocausecancer
Dressing

Kinesio
tape

astrongelasticatedtape,wasdevelopedmorethan30yearsagobya
Japanesechiropractor.Popularamongatheltes.
Kinesiotapecanstretchandcontract,inhibitingdamaging
movementsbutallowingtherightkind.
Runnerscancontinuetotrainevenwhentheyhaveaproblem.

VitaVallis

Itisananodressingforapplyingonwounds.
CreatedbyRussianscientistsIthelpscleanupwoundsofallknown
typesoftoxicbacteria.
Itdoesnotgetstucktothewoundandhealsburns,cutsandany
septicandinfectedwoundstwotothreetimesfasterthantraditional
methodsdo.
Thedressingstopsbleeding,endsinflammation,eliminatesswellings
andstimulatesskinregeneration.Italsohelpskillpainandremove
foulwoundodour.
itcontainsnoantibioticsandisthereforeeffectiveagainstdrug
resistantbacteria

Instruments
Neurostimulator
NewtherapyforMigraine(typeofHeadache).Migraineisachronicdisease(longterm
disease,unlikeCommonfever.)
Itisplacedintheuppergumofpatientsmouth,throughasmallsurgicalincision.Whena
patientfeelsaheadacheorMigrainecoming,thedevicedeliversstimulationtoblockthe
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headachepain.
MALDI
ItisanewMassSpectroscopytechniquetodetectBacterialinfectioninblood,sputum,tissue
etc.MALDI=Matrixassistedlaserdesorption/ionization.
MALDIcanaccuratelyidentifybacteriainminutes,whichallowsdoctorstomorequickly
andappropriatelytreatinfections.

EmmidentToothbrush
Worldsfirstnobrushingtoothbrush.
Thereisnoneedtoactuallybrushyourteethabrasively,becauseItusesultrasoundwaves
tocleantheteeth.
LaunchedinUK.

VomitingLarry
LarryisahumanoidsimulatedvomitingsystemdesignedbyBritishscientists.Itisbeing
usetohownorovirusspreads.

HandheldDentalXray
GenuineHandheldXraysetsareveryexpensive.
NowChinamadeCheaperproductsareinthemarket.Buttheydonothaveadequate
shieldingintheXraytube.Andleadstoaccidentalleakageradiation.
InIndia,useofsuchmedicalXrayinstrumentsneedapprovalfromAtomicEnergy
RegulatoryBoard.(AERB)
UseofradiationgeneratingequipmentnotapprovedbyAERBisaviolationofthelegal
provisionsandwillattractactionundertheappropriateprovisionsoftheAtomicEnergyAct
1962

SAR
specificandabsorptionrateitisameasureoftheamountofradiofrequencyenergyabsorbed
bythehumanbodywhileusingamobilephone)sothatradiationdoesnotaffecthuman
health.
Presently,IndiasSARlimitis2wattperkgTheInterministerialCommitteewantsSARto
be1.6wattsperkg.

Virtopsy
Autopsy=examinationanddissectionofadeadbodytodeterminecauseofdeath.Previously,
doctorswouldusescalpel,cutthechestopenandexaminetissues.Often,relativesofthe
deaddonotagreeforautopsiesbecauseofthedisfigurementcausedbysuchcuttingand
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incisions.
Nowscientistshavecomeupwithanoninvasivetechniqueforconductingautopsy.Thisis
calledVirtopsy(=virtualautopsy).Here,doctorexaminesthecorpsein3Dviacomputer
screens.
Virtopsycombinetheimagesfromhighpoweredmagneticresonanceimaging(MRI),
computedtomography(CT)andsurfacescansofdeadbodies.Combined,thedevicesare
referredtoasavirtobot.
Thetechniqueallowsthedetectionofinjuriessuchaslesionsandblowsoftenundetectable
duringatraditionalautopsy,aswellasairpockets,heartattacksandevencancer.The
methodhasalreadyallowedthediscoveryofhaemorrhagesandfracturesthatwerenot
pickedupduringconventionalautopsies.

Electronicnose
Prototypeelectronicinstrument.Itcandetectsmallquantitiesofharmfulairbornesubstances.
canbeusedforBatchtobatchconsistencyduringproduction.(perfumes,food)
Detectionofcontamination,spoilage,adulteration

BIONICEYE
Theimplantsaresaidtobecapableofcompletelyrestoringsighttoblindpatients,butonlyif
theirblindnesswascausedbyafaultyretina

OraQuickHome
ItsthefirstDoItYourselftestkitfordetectingHIVthesameonethathealthprofessionals
usebutwithoutthetriptoadoctorsofficeortheneedtowaitdaysforresults.
OralkitforHIVTestcandetectantibodiesdevelopedwithin13monthsaftergetting
infected.
Itcannotpickupacuteorrecentinfection.

Surgeries
FemtosecondCataractSurgery
Femtosecond=onequadrillionthofasecond.
ThisisthelatestsurgicalforCataract,usingacomputerLasersystem,nowthethesurgeon
cansoftenandbreakupthecataractwithinFemtoseconds.
Thissurgeryismorepreciseandcauseslessinflammationaftersurgery.

ExVivoLungPerfusion
LungtransplantsurgeryisrequiredinpatientswithdiseasessuchasChronicpulmonary
disease,cysticfibrosisetc.(usuallyassociatedwithheavysmokers.)
Problem:80percentofdonatedlungs,cantbeused,eitherbecausetheyretoofulloffluid,
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infectedwithbacteria,orotherwisedamaged.
ExVivolungperfusion=Anewwayoftreatingtheselungsandmakethemdonorfriendly.
Inthistechnique,aspecialchemicalsolutionisinjectedintodeadpersonslungsandthenhe
iskeptonaventilatorfor46hours.
Thiscanreverselunginjuryanddryoutexcessfluid.Thenlungscanberemovedand
transplantedtothepatient.

NobelPrizes
Gproteincoupledreceptors(GPCRs)
HumancellshavethesereceptorsItenablesthemtosensechemicalsubstanceshormones,
poisonsanddrugsintheirenvironment.
2012NoblePrizeinChemistryisgivenforthistopic.
Winners:Lefkowitz,Kobilka

BlankSlateCells/ReprogramingCells/DiseaseinDish
TermsassociatedwithstemcellresearchdonebyGurdonandYamanaka(theygotNoble
2012forit).
Oncecreated,theseblankslatecellscanbeusedfordevelopingintoothercelltypes.
Forexample,Skincellscanultimatelybetransformedintobraincells.ThisReprogramming
allowsscientiststocreateparticularkindsoftissuetheywanttostudy,likelungtissuefor
studyingcysticfibrosis,orbraintissueforHuntingtonsdisease.
Byreprogrammingcellsfrompatientswithaparticulardisease,theycancreatenewtissue
withthesamegeneticbackground,andstudyitinthelab.
Thatcangivenewinsightsintotherootsoftheproblem.Inaddition,thatapproachallows
themtoscreendrugsinthelabforpossiblenewmedicines.

Misc.
ENCODEproject
ENCyclopediaOfDNAElements,whichwasstartedin2003.Thegoalistofindall
functionalelementsinthehumangenome.
Untilrecently,themajorityviewhasbeenthatmuchoftheDNAisjunkDNAthatis
nevertranscribedandhasnobiologicalfunctionandonly1%oftheDNAisactually
responsibleforeverything.
ButENCODEprojecthasfoundthatnotonepercentbutmorethan80percentofthe
genomehasanactiveroleorfunction.

Telomer
TheyaresituatedattheendsofchromosomesandprotecttheDNAfromdamage.
Longerthesizeoftelomer,meanspersonwillhavelongerlifeexpectancy.
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MemoryEnhancer/BESEB
CSIRdevelopedthisdrug
FromBrahmiplants
Toimprovebrainmemory.

Radioimmunoassay
(RIA)

techniquetomeasurehormones,vitamins,drugsetc.in
vitro(outsidebody).

IRMA

ImmunoradiometryAssay.sameapplicationlikeRIA.

Bhabhatron

Bhabhatron,theindigenoustelecobaltmachine
forcancertreatment.
developedbyBhabhaAtomicResearchCentre,
Mumbai

PACT

Programofactionforcancertherapy.
LaunchedbyIAEA.
UnderthisPACTprogram,wedonatedone
BhabhatronmachinetoVietnam

ISOMED

TheseplantlocatedinTrombay,Delhi,Bangloreetc.
providesradiationsterilizationformedicalandsurgical
instruments.
Inruralareas,midwiferykitsanddeliverypacksare
givenafterdoingradiationsterilizationhere.Itreduces
chancesofinfectionduringdelivery.

LinearNo
Threshold(LNT)
concept

DrugsfromSea

meansthatharmfuleffectsofradiationincreasewith
radiationdoseandevensmallradiationdosescan
causesomefiniteharm.Somescientistschallengethe
validityofLNTconcept.
Theysay,inlowdoseradiationwewouldbefine,and
wouldnothaveanycellulardamage.

Programtoharnessthebioactivecompoundsfrom
marineorganismsfortherapeuticusese.g.antiHIV,
cancer,malariaetc.

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Inthethirdandlastpart,wellseethemockquestionsfrompart1and2.clickmetoseethethird
part
Formoresciencetech,publichealth,spacetechanddefenserelatedcurrentaffairs,visit
Mrunal.org/snt
ArticleprintedfromMrunal:http://mrunal.org
URLtoarticle:http://mrunal.org/2013/04/publichealthcurrentaffairs201213diseases
drugsandresearchpart2of3.html
Copyright2014Mrunal.Allrightsreserved.

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