Tag: Biomaterials

Politics and Policies:

• U.S. Court rules controversial stem cell research as legal.
• U.S. Court ruled that cigarette companies do not need to show graphic warning images.
• The Food and Drug Administration U.S. (FDA) Department of Health is enforcing stricter inspection of food imported from Japan since March 14 last year in response to the radiation leak incident at Fukushima nuclear power plant.
• UK government wants hospitals to expand overseas.
• UK government will spend £2m to tackle cholera epidemic in Sierra Leone.

Programs:

• Nigeria receives U.S. $225million from Global Fund to prevent and treat malaria.
• Bill Gates has launched a search of a new toilet suited for developing countries- to avoid deaths and diseases due to poor living conditions.
• Vietnam puts locally-made medical waste incinerator into operation. It has a capacity of 30-50 kilos of medical waste per hour.
• Planned Parenthood launches new initiative in U.S. to fight breast cancer. It will use $3 million donations for its breast health initiative- screenings and education.

 Research:

• Researchers at National Institutes of Health have identified rare immune disease in Asian people like HIV. This disease has been named as adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome.
• Scientists have created a drug using eggs of a pig parasite to treat chronic debilitating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
• Researchers from the Stanford University have collaborated to synthesize and study grid-like array of short pieces of a disease-associated protein on silicon chips to identify patients with a particularly severe form of autoimmune disease lupus.
• According to a study blood type of a person can determine his/ chances of getting a disease.
• Scientists say that the children born to older men are at a greater risk of genetic disorders.
• According to a study thiabendazole a common antifungal drug decreases tumor growth and also a potential medicine in cancer therapy.
• In a new study scientists said that a three year old can easily find whether you are whining or upset.
• In a recent research scientists did some laboratory tests which showed that within five hours of application of extracts from a plant known as virgin’s mantle (medicinal tea) growth of cancer cells was arrested and they died within 24 hours.
• According to some scientists chemicals in lipsticks, toothpastes and face washes might cause heart and muscle problems.
• Researchers at University of Pennsylvania are using nanofibers to develop biomaterials.
• Scientists have learned to harness power from bacteria eating virus.
• According to a research aging heart cells can be rejuvenated by modified stem cell therapy.
• According to a team of Israeli scientists smoking can prevent progress of degenerative disease (- Parkinson’s).
• A national study done in Australia is attempting new ways for the treatment of melanoma. It will map all common gene mutations.
• Researchers in Melbourne find key to rare diseases which cause birth defects like DiGeorge syndrome.
• According to the scientists ovarian cancer patients should improve their lifestyle to improve their survival rates and quality of life.
• Researchers have found that stones in gall bladder in teens are due their overweight problem.
• In a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), the villagers of Amazon have antibodies to rabies which suggests that disease may not be 100% fatal.

Diseases & Disasters:

•  Cholera epidemic spreads through coastal slums of West Africa. Contagious disease has killed hundreds of people.
• Refinery explosion in Venezuela on Saturday killed 24 people and injured many.
• Tropical Storm Isaac hits Haiti, killing 3 people. South Florida on alert.
• Ebola outbreak in Congo related to contact with infected individuals and consumption of bushmeat.
• Record spike in West Nile virus cases in U.S.
• Rs. 1 billion uncertified medicine scam unearthed in Sindh. These uncertified medicines were not certified by the central or potential drug laboratories they were potential danger to lives of people.
• Uncollected garbage on the streets of Metro Manila has concerned agencies as a potential source of outbreak of diseases.
• Swine flu cases have been confirmed in Lucknow, India.
• Floods in India and Pakistan have killed dozens of people.
• Japan nuclear plant leakage caused mutation in butterflies though no such reports for humans.