GNIPST BULLETIN 2012

1118-1177-4796-9849-7562-5062

TO GROW AS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

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18thJanuary 2013

Volume No.: 22

Issue No.: 01

Vision

Contents

Message from GNIPST Letter to the Editor News Update Disease Outbreak News Health Awareness Forth Coming Events Drugs Update GNIPST Photo Gallery
For your comments/contributionOR

Campus News Students Section Editors Note Archive

For Back-Issues,
mailto:gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

1 EDITOR:DebabrataGhoshDastidar

GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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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

JANUARY 2013)

Stem Cell Treatments (17

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), without is a strong independent predictor of all-cause, (COPD), cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in ever-smokers with or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 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 Earths 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 Earths 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 Earths natural magnetic field. Recent technological innovations have led to the use of magnetic fields up to 100 000 times stronger than the Earths 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 ANS WER FIRS T???

() Which alkaloid was discovered by M.E. Wall and M.C. Wani? () Which tree is also known as happy tree?
Answer of Previous Issue Question:

A) Raj Bhavan B)Chandigarh

Send yourthoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/writeups or any other contributions for Students Section & answers of this Section atgnipstbulletin@gmail.com

EDITORS 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 201213to 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: info.gnipst@jisgroup.org gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

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