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1118-1177-4796-9849-7562-5062mail GNIPST BULLETIN 2012
18thJanuary 2013 Volume No.: 22 Issue No.: 01
Contents • Message from GNIPST • Letter to the Editor • News Update • Disease Outbreak News • Health Awareness • Forth Coming Events • Drugs Update • Campus News • Student’s Section • Editor’s Note • Archive •
Vision
TO GROW AS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
EDITOR:DebabrataGhoshDastidar GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
GNIPST Photo Gallery For your comments/contributionOR
For Back-Issues, mailto:[email protected]
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MESSAGE FROM GNIPST
All the members of GNIPST are proud to publish the 22nd Volume
of “GNIPST BULLETIN”. This bulletin has successfully
completed its twenty months journey. We hope it has kept the
readers updated of recent activities in pharmaceutical & biological
sciences and also introduced them with the different activities of
our esteemed institution. We are thankful to all of you for your
great cooperation & support and are looking forward to the same in
future.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
NEWS UPDATE
∆ How Tadpoles Re-Grow Their Tails: Implications for Human Healing (14 JANUARY 2013) Scientists have made a surprising finding after studying how
tadpoles re-grow their tails which could have big implications for
research into human healing and regeneration. Read more
∆ Cancer Suppressor Gene Links Metabolism With Cellular Aging (13 JANUARY 2013)
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The tumor suppressor protein p53 is an attractive target for drug
developers. But this path has so far proven difficult, as most p53
regulatory proteins operate via protein-protein interactions,
which make for poor drug targets, as opposed to ones based on
enzymes. Now, researchers have identified a class of p53 target
genes and regulatory molecules that represent more promising
therapeutic candidates. Read more
∆ Early Surgical Menopause Linked to Declines in Memory and Thinking Skills (14 JANUARY 2013)
Women who undergo surgical menopause at an earlier age may
have an increased risk of decline in memory and thinking skills,
according to a new study. Early surgical menopause is the removal
of both ovaries before natural menopause and often accompanies a
hysterectomy. Read more
∆ Bacteria's Hidden Skill Could Pave Way for
Stem Cell Treatments (17 JANUARY 2013)
A discovery about the way in which bugs spread throughout the
body could help to develop stem cell treatments. Researchers have
found that bacteria are able to change the make-up of supporting
cells within the nerve system, called Schwann cells, so that they
take on the properties of stem cells. Read more
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∆ Promising New Target for Parkinson's Disease
Therapies (18 JANUARY 2013)
With a new insight into a model of Parkinson's disease,
researchers have identified a novel target for mitigating some of
the disease's toll on the brain. Read more
∆ Protein Folding Via Charge Zippers
(18 JANUARY 2013)
Membrane proteins are the “molecular machines” in biological cell
envelopes. They control diverse processes, such as the transport of
molecules across the lipid membrane, signal transduction, and
photosynthesis. Their shape, i.e. folding of the molecules, plays a
decisive role in the formation of, e.g., pores in the cell membrane.
Scientists are now reporting a novel charge zipper principle used
by proteins to form functional units. Read more
∆ Severity of Emphysema Predicts Mortality
(18 JANUARY 2013)
Severity of emphysema, as measured by computed tomography
(CT), is a strong independent predictor of all-cause,
cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in ever-smokers with or
without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
according to a new study. Read more
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∆ Trapping Malaria Parasites Inside Host Blood
Cell Forms Basis for New Class of Drugs (18
JANUARY 2013)
One of the most insidious ways that parasitic diseases such as
malaria and toxoplasmosis wreak their havoc is by hijacking their
host's natural cellular processes, turning self against self. Read
more
HEALTH AWARENESS
Electromagnetic fields and public health
Technologies using static fields are increasingly being exploited in
selected industries, such as medicine with magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), transportation systems that use direct current
(DC) or static magnetic fields and high-energy physics research
facilities. As the field strength of the static field increases, so does
the potential for a variety of interactions with the body.
The International EMF Project of the World Health Organization
(WHO) has recently reviewed the health implications of high
static field exposure and highlighted the importance of public
health protection for medical staff and patients (particularly
children and pregnant women) and workers in industries
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producing high field magnets (Environmental Health Criteria,
2006).
SOURCES
Electric and magnetic fields are generated by phenomena such as
the Earth’s magnetic field, thunderstorms, and the use of
electricity. When such fields do not vary with time they are
referred to as static and have a frequency of 0 Hz.
In the atmosphere, static electric fields (also referred to as
electrostatic fields) occur naturally, in fair weather, and especially
under thunderclouds. Friction can also separate positive and
negative charges and generate strong static electric fields. Their
strength is measured in units of volt per metre, (V/m), or kilovolt
per metre (kV/m). In daily life we may experience spark
discharges with grounded objects or hair rising as a result of
friction, for example from walking on a carpet. The use of DC
electricity is another source of static electric fields, e.g. rail
systems using DC, and televisions and computer screens with
cathode ray tubes.
A static magnetic field is measured in units of ampere per metre,
(A/m) but is usually expressed in terms of the corresponding
magnetic induction measured in units of tesla, (T) or millitesla
(mT).The natural geomagnetic field varies over the Earth’s surface
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between about 0.035 - 0.07 mT and is perceived by certain animals
that use it for orientation. Man-made static magnetic fields are
generated wherever DC currents are used, such as in electric trains
or industrial processes such as aluminium production and in gas
welding. These can be more than 1000 times stronger than the
Earth’s natural magnetic field.
Recent technological innovations have led to the use of magnetic
fields up to 100 000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field.
They are used in research and in medical applications such as MRI
that provides three-dimensional images of the brain and other soft
tissues. In routine clinical systems, scanned patients and machine
operators can be exposed to strong magnetic fields in the range of
0.2 - 3 T. In medical research applications, higher magnetic fields,
up to about 10 T, are used for whole body patient scanning.
For static electric fields, few studies have been carried out. The
results to date suggest that the only acute effects are associated
with body hair movement and discomfort from spark discharges.
Chronic or delayed effects of static electric fields have not been
properly investigated.
HEALTH EFFECTS
For static magnetic fields, acute effects are only likely to occur
when there is movement in the field, such as motion of a person or
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internal body movement, such as blood flow or heartbeat. A
person moving within a field above 2 T can experience sensations
of vertigo and nausea, and sometimes a metallic taste in the mouth
and perceptions of light flashes. Although only temporary, such
effects may have a safety impact for workers executing delicate
procedures (such as surgeons performing operations within MRI
units).
Static magnetic fields exert forces on moving charges in the blood,
such as ions, generating electrical fields and currents around the
heart and major blood vessels that can slightly impede the flow of
blood. Possible effects range from minor changes in heartbeat to an
increase in the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) that
might be life-threatening (such as ventricular fibrillation).
However, these types of acute effects are only likely within fields
in excess of 8 T.
It is not possible to determine whether there are any long-term
health consequences even from exposure in the millitesla range
because, to date, there are no well-conducted epidemiological or
long-term animal studies. Thus the carcinogenicity of static
magnetic fields to humans is not at present classifiable (IARC,
2002).
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
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Exposure to static magnetic fields has been addressed by the
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(see: www.icnirp.org). For occupational exposure, present limits
are based on avoiding the sensations of vertigo and nausea induced
by movement in a static magnetic field. The recommended limits
are time-weighted average of 200 mT during the working day for
occupational exposure, with a ceiling value of 2 T. A continuous
exposure limit of 40 mT is given for the general public.
Static magnetic fields affect implanted metallic devices such as
pacemakers present inside the body, and this could have direct
adverse health consequences. It is suggested that wearers of
cardiac pacemakers, ferromagnetic implants and implanted
electronic devices should avoid locations where the field exceeds
0.5 mT. Also, care should be taken to prevent hazards from metal
objects being suddenly attracted to magnets in field exceeds 3 mT.
DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
International Conference and Exhibition on Traditional & Alternative
Medicine. 9th to 11th December 2013, Hyderabad, India. Details.
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DRUGS UPDATES
∆ FDA approves new seasonal influenza vaccine
made using novel technology (16 JANUARY 2013)
FDA announced that it has approved Flublok, the first trivalent
influenza vaccine made using an insect virus (baculovirus)
expression system and recombinant DNA technology. Flublok is
approved for the prevention of seasonal influenza in people 18
through 49 years of age. Read more
∆ FDA approves Octaplas to treat patients with
blood clotting disorders (17 JANUARY 2013)
FDA approved Octaplas, a pooled plasma (human) blood product
for the replacement of clotting proteins (coagulation factors) in
certain medical conditions where patients have insufficient levels.
Clotting protein deficiencies can cause excessive bleeding or
excessive clotting. Read more
∆ FDA approves Botox to treat overactive
bladder. (18 JANUARY 2013)
FDA expanded the approved use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
to treat adults with overactive bladder who cannot use or do not
adequately respond to a class of medications known as
anticholinergics. Read more
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CAMPUS NEWS
The academic activities had commenced on 16th January, 2013.
STUDENTS’ SECTION
WHO CAN ANSWER FIRST???
(Α) Which alkaloid was discovered by M.E. Wall
and M.C. Wani?
(Β) Which tree is also known as happy tree?
Answer of Previous Issue Question:
A) Raj Bhavan B)Chandigarh
Send yourthoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/write-
ups or any other contributions for Students’ Section
& answers of this Section [email protected]
EDITOR’S NOTE
I am very happy to publish the first issue of 22nd Volume of
GNIPST BULLETIN. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the
newly launched facebook account ‘GNIPST bulletin’. You are
cordially invited to add this account to your friend list. The current
issues will also be directly available on facebook.
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I would like to convey my thanks to all the GNIPST members and
the readers for their valuable comments, encouragement& supports.
Special thanks to Dr. Prerona Saha for her advice; Mr. Soumya
Bhattacharya, for his contribution in students section.
It would be my great pleasure to receive the contributions,
suggestions & feedback from your desk for further upliftment of this
deliberation “GNIPST BULLETIN”.
ARCHIVE
The general body meeting of APTI, Bengal Branch has been
conducted at GNIPST on 15th June, 2012. The programme started
with a nice presentation by Dr. Pulok Kr. Mukherjee, School of
Natural Products, JU on the skill to write a good manuscript for
publication in impact journals. It was followed by nearly two hour
long discussion among more than thirty participants on different
aspects of pharmacy education. Five nonmember participants
applied for membership on that very day.
GNIPST is now approved by AICTE and affiliated to WBUT for
conducting the two years post graduate course (M.Pharm) in
PHARMACOLOGY. The approved number of seat is 18.
The number of seats in B.Pharm. has been increased from 60 to
120.
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2nd World Congress on Ga-68 (Generators and Novel Radiopharmaceuticals),
Molecular Imaging (PET/CT), Targeted Radionuclide Therapy, and
Dosimetry (SWC-2013) : On the Way to Personalized Medicine
Dates 28 Feb 2013 → 02 Mar 2013
Location: Chandigarh, India. Details.
5-Days Hands-on Workshop on Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.
7th to 11th January 2013, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Details.
IAMLE- 2013 — 4th International Conference on Medical Negligence and
litigation in Medical Practice, and 4th International Conference on Recent
Advances in Forensic Sciences, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
Date: 25 Jan 2013 → 27 Jan 2013, Location: Kovalam, Thiruvanthapuram,
India. Details.
AICTE has sanctioned a release of grant under Research
Promotion Scheme (RPS) during the financial year 2012-
13to GNIPST as per the details below:
a. Beneficiary Institution: Guru Nanak Institution of
Pharmaceutical Science & Technology.
b. Principal Investigator: Dr. LopamudraDutta.
c. Grant-in-aid sanctioned:Rs. 16,25000/- only
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d. Approved duration: 3 years
e. Title of the project: Screening and identification of
potential medicinal plant of Purulia&Bankuradistricts of West
Bengal with respect to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism,
Jaundice, hypertension and developing biotechnological tools for
enhancing bioactive molecules in these plant.
Special classes on Communication Skills, G.D. and
Interview will commence from 3rd week of January 2013
for the students of this Institute. Interested students are
required to contact the undersigned for enrolment either
personally or by e-mail.
Dr. LopamudraDatta E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
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