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1118-1177-4796-9849-7562-5062mail GNIPST BULLETIN 2012
4th January 2013 Volume No.: 21 Issue No.: 03
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: Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
GNIPST Photo Gallery For your comments/contribution OR
For Back-Issues, mailto:[email protected]
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MESSAGE FROM GNIPST
All the members of GNIPST are proud to publish the 21st 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
∆ Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Enhances Hospital Disinfection of Superbugs (31 DECEMBER 2012) Infection control experts have found that a combination of robot-
like devices that disperse a bleaching agent into the air and then
detoxify the disinfecting chemical are highly effective at killing
and preventing the spread of multiple-drug-resistant bacteria, or
so-called hospital superbugs. Read more
∆ Use of Anti-Depressants During Pregnancy Not Linked With Increased Risk of Stillbirth, Infant Death, Study Suggests (01 JANUARY 2013)
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In a study that included nearly 30,000 women from Nordic
countries who had filled a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
prescription during pregnancy, researchers found no significant
association between use of these medications during pregnancy
and risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, or postneonatal death, after
accounting for factors including maternal psychiatric disease. Read
more
∆ Medal-Awarded Isotopes for Production of New Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Treatment (02 JANUARY 2013)
Scientists in Poland have developed innovative technological
solutions to produce yttrium-90 and lutetium-177 radionuclides.
The technology is soon going to be implemented on an industrial
scale, giving more hope to ever increasing number of oncological
patients all over the world. Read more
∆ New Method for Uncovering Side Effects Before
a Drug Hits the Market (03 JANUARY 2013)
Side effects are a major reason that drugs are taken off the market
and a major reason why patients stop taking their medications,
but scientists are now reporting the development of a new way to
predict those adverse reactions ahead of time. Read more
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∆ Molecule That Polices TB Lung Infection
Discovered: Could Lead to Vaccine
(03 JANUARY 2013)
The presence of a certain molecule allows the immune system to
effectively police tuberculosis of the lungs and prevent it from
turning into an active and deadly infection, according to a new
study. Read more
∆ Editing Genome With High Precision: New
Method to Insert Multiple Genes in Specific
Locations, Delete Defective Genes
(03 JANUARY 2013)
Researchers have developed a new technique for precisely altering
the genomes of living cells by adding or deleting genes. Read more
∆ Rethinking Bacterial Persistence: Optofluidics
Allow for New Understanding of Resistance to
Antibiotics (03 JANUARY 2013)
Scientists have used microfluidics to observe the behavior of
individual tuberculosis-like bacteria in the presence of antibiotics.
Their observations call into question the prevailing theory of
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bacterial resistance, and they have proposed a new explanation for
why some bacteria become resistant. Read more
∆ Stem Cell Technology Could Help Harness
Patients' Own Immune Cells to Fight Disease
(03 JANUARY 2013)
Researchers reporting in two separate recent articles used stem
cell technology to successfully regenerate patients' immune cells,
creating large numbers that were long-lived and could recognize
their specified targets: HIV-infected cells in one case and cancer
cells in the other. The findings could help in the development of
strategies to rejuvenate patients' exhausted immune responses.
Read more
HEALTH AWARENESS
Diarrhoeal disease
Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children
under five years old, and is responsible for killing 1.5 million
children every year. Diarrhoea can last several days, and can leave
the body without the water and salts that are necessary for
survival. Most people who die from diarrhoea actually die from
severe dehydration and fluid loss. Children who are malnourished
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or have impaired immunity are most at risk of life-threatening
diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid
stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the
individual). Frequent passing of formed stools is not diarrhoea, nor
is the passing of loose, "pasty" stools by breastfed babies. Diarrhoea
is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which
can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic
organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or
drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor
hygiene. Diarrhoeal disease is treatable with a solution of clean
water, sugar and salt, and with zinc tablets.
There are three clinical types of diarrhoea:
• acute watery diarrhoea – lasts several hours or days, and includes
cholera;
• acute bloody diarrhoea – also called dysentery; and
• persistent diarrhoea – lasts 14 days or longer.
Scope of diarrhoeal disease
Every year there are about two billion cases of diarrhoeal disease
worldwide.
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Diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of child mortality and
morbidity in the world, and mostly results from contaminated
food and water sources. Worldwide, around 1 billion people lack
access to improved water and 2.5 billion have no access to basic
sanitation. Diarrhoea due to infection is widespread throughout
developing countries.
In 2004, diarrhoeal disease was the third leading cause of death in
low-income countries, causing 6.9% of deaths overall. In children
under five years old, diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause
of death – second only to pneumonia. Out of the 1.5 million
children killed by diarrhoeal disease in 2004, 80% were under two
years old.
In developing countries, children under three years old experience
on average three episodes of diarrhoea every year. Each episode
deprives the child of the nutrition necessary for growth. As a
result, diarrhoea is a major cause of malnutrition, and
malnourished children are more likely to fall ill from diarrhoea.
Dehydration
The most severe threat posed by diarrhoea is dehydration. During
a diarrhoeal episode, water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride,
potassium and bicarbonate) are lost through liquid stools, vomit,
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sweat, urine and breathing. Dehydration occurs when these losses
are not replaced.
The degree of dehydration is rated on a scale of three.
• Early dehydration – no signs or symptoms.
• Moderate dehydration:
Thirst, restless or irritable behavior, decreased skin elasticity
sunken eyes
• Severe dehydration:
symptoms become more severe
shock, with diminished consciousness, lack of urine output,
cool, moist extremities, a rapid and feeble pulse, low or
undetectable blood pressure, and pale skin.
Death can follow severe dehydration if body fluids and
electrolytes are not replenished, either through the use of oral
rehydration salts (ORS) solution, or through an intravenous drip.
Causes
• Infection: Diarrhoea is a symptom of infections caused by a host of
bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which are spread
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by faeces-contaminated water. Infection is more common when
there is a shortage of clean water for drinking, cooking and
cleaning. Rotavirus and Escherichia coli are the two most common
causes of diarrhoea in developing countries.
• Malnutrition: Children who die from diarrhoea often suffer from
underlying malnutrition, which makes them more vulnerable to
diarrhoea. Each diarrhoeal episode, in turn, makes their
malnutrition even worse. Diarrhoea is a leading cause of
malnutrition in children under five years old.
• Source: Water contaminated with human faeces, for example,
from sewage, septic tanks and latrines, is of particular concern.
Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause
diarrhoea.
Other causes: Diarrhoeal disease can also spread from person-to-
person, aggravated by poor personal hygiene. Food is another
major cause of diarrhoea when it is prepared or stored in
unhygienic conditions. Water can contaminate food during
irrigation. Fish and seafood from polluted water may also
contribute to the disease.
Prevention and treatment
Key measures to prevent diarrhoea include:
• access to safe drinking-water
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• improved sanitation
• exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
• good personal and food hygiene
• health education about how infections spread
• rotavirus vaccination.
Key measures to treat diarrhoea include the following.
• Rehydration: with intravenous fluids in case of severe dehydration
or shock and/or oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution for moderate
or no dehydration. ORS is a mixture of clean water, salt and sugar,
which can be prepared safely at home. It costs a few cents per
treatment. ORS is absorbed in the small intestine and replaces the
water and electrolytes lost in the faeces.
• Zinc supplements: zinc supplements reduce the duration of a
diarrhoea episode by 25% and are associated with a 30% reduction
in stool volume.
• Nutrient-rich foods: the vicious circle of malnutrition and
diarrhoea can be broken by continuing to give nutrient-rich foods
– including breast milk – during an episode, and by giving a
nutritious diet – including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six
months of life – to children when they are well.
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DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
IPSCON-2012 — 45th Annual Conference of Indian Pharmacological
Society and International Conference on 'Navigating Pharmacology
towards Safe and Effective Therapy'
Dates 04 Jan 2013 → 07 Jan 2013
Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Details.
DRUGS UPDATES
∆ FDA approves first drug to treat multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis (31 DECEMBER 2012)
The U.S. FDA approved Sirturo (bedaquiline) as part of combination
therapy to treat adults with multi-drug resistant pulmonary
tuberculosis (TB) when other alternatives are not available. Read
more
∆ FDA approves first anti-diarrheal drug for
HIV/AIDS patients. (31 DECEMBER 2012)
The U.S. FDA approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of
diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy, a
combination of medicines used to treat HIV infection. Read more
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CAMPUS NEWS
Two of our faculties Dr. Prerona Saha and Dr. Sriporna Kundu Sen
were awarded Ph.D (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) in the Department
of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kol-32 in the
annual convocation organized on 24th December, 2012.
STUDENTS’ SECTION
WHO CAN ANSWER FIRST???
(Α) Which cricketer was the first overseas player
to play for Yorkshire Country Cricket Club?
(Β) Invented by Dr. James Naismith, which sport
was played for the first time at Springfield
YMCA, Massachusetts, in 1891?
Answer of Previous Issue Question:
A) Wuchereria bancrofti B) 20th August
Send your thoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/write-
ups or any other contributions for Students’ Section
& answers of this Section at [email protected]
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Wish you all a very happy new year 2013. I am very happy to
publish the first issue of this new year 2013, the 3rd issue of 21st
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.
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
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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.
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.
7thto 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.
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64thIndian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) will be held from
December 6th to 9th, 2012, at Chennai. The four-day event will be
organized by the Association of Pharmacy Teachers of India (APTI).
AICTE has sanctioned a release of grant under Research
Promotion Scheme (RPS) during the financial year 2012-
13 to GNIPST as per the details below:
a. Beneficiary Institution: Guru Nanak Institution of
Pharmaceutical Science & Technology.
b. Principal Investigator: Dr. Lopamudra Dutta.
c. Grant-in-aid sanctioned: Rs. 16,25000/- only
d. Approved duration: 3 years
e. Title of the project: Screening and identification of
potential medicinal plant of Purulia & Bankura districts 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. Lopamudra Datta E-mail: [email protected]
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