Pharmabiz
 

New intelligent gel directly attacks cancer

Prof. O. S. Reddi & Dr. V Ramachandra RaoTuesday, June 7, 2016, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

In a new break-through in cancer treatment, the researchers in the University of Montreal Centre (CRCHUM) have developed an injectable “Biogel” that can effectively deliver anti-cancer agents directly into the tumors and kill them. The new biogel is in the form of liquid at the room temperature and become gel at human body temperature. The technology has already been successfully tested in the laboratory. If it works in cancer patients, the therapy could one day revolutionize the treatment of many forms of cancer.

The study co-author Dr Reijean Lapointe explained that the strength of this biogel is that it is compatible with anti-cancer immune cells. It is used to encapsulate these cells and eventually administer them using a syringe or catheter into the tumor or directly beside it.

New treatment for diabetes under way
Australian researchers have discovered a link between protein intake and improvement in the control of blood glucose in mice. It has led to potential new treatment of diabetes in human beings.

The lead research scientist Dr. Stefan Broer of the Australian National University has stated that their findings showed that the mice with reduced capacity to digest and absorb protein are highly efficient in removing glucose from blood after meal. This is precisely what the individuals with diabetes fail to do. This research has significant potential for the design of new drugs to treat Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Prof. Broer has stated that the mice lacked the so-called transporter in the intestine that moves the amino acids, the breakdown products of protein digestion from the lumen of intestines into blood. This reduces the intake of protein and indirectly improves their efficiency at removing glucose from the blood.

Acceleration of antibiotic resistance
According to a scientific report from the United Kingdom (UK) it has been estimated that the accelerating antibiotic resistance leads to the mortality of 300 million people by the year 2050 with an annual global death rate of 10 million people. About 55 per cent of MRSA infections are acquired at the hospitals and clinics.

Tuberculosis (TB) is estimated to kill 2.15 to 3.0 lakhs of people per year in India. India consumed 13 billion units of antibiotics for various microbial infections and ranks highest in the world. During the period 2005 – 2009, the consumption of antibiotics has increased by 40 per cent. The consequence of increased consumption of antibiotics led to microbial resistance. The growing drug resistance can be dealt by the use of nano-silver.

Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) has developed a decade ago the production of nano silver economically by using a fungus. USA and some European countries have been using nano silver in drinking water supply since more than a decade to safe guard the health of the public from infections. The antibiotic resistance can be controlled by the supply of drinking water with nano silver.

But so far the Indian government did not show interest in implementing the technology even though it is available in the country. The present central government has to take steps immediately to implement the technology in India to safe guard the health of the people from microbial infections and to decrease the mortality rate due to antibiotic resistance.

Enhancing antioxidant activity of turmeric
The least expensive antioxidant in Indian foods is turmeric. Turmeric has been used in Asia for thousands of years in food and Siddha medicines. In India it is extensively used in the cooking of food items. It was first used as a dye, then used in food, and later used as a medicine. Most of the turmeric is used as rhizome powder. In some regions like Maharashtra and Goa, it is used to wrap and cook food. The turmeric is used to treat stomach and liver ailments, and to heal sores. The trials are going for the use of turmeric to treat cancer.

The inhibition of the proliferation of the tumor cells by turmeric has come to light. Turmeric inhibits the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells. It inhibits the supply of necessary factors for the growth of the tumor besides enhancing liver function and decreases inflammation. Hence turmeric is a powerful cancer fighter.

Turmeric is also used in arthritis, heart burn, diarrhea, intestinal gas, bloating disorders, headaches, bronchitis, cold, lung infections, fibromyalgia, fevers, menstrual problems, depression, water retention, worms and even in leprosy.

The antioxidant activity of turmeric can be accelerated to a very great extent by adding a pinch of black pepper which is used as a medicine and spice. Pepper contains manganese, potassium, iron, Vitamins-C and K and it has anti-bacterial properties. It is also good for stomach. Consumption of pepper gives relief from cold, cough, indigestion etc. Thus Indian foods are known to be healthy.

Control of pollution
Every country today in the world is facing the acceleration of different types of pollution originating from industrialization and intensive agricultural practices using artificial fertilizers. And also high density of population has led to the increase of pollution. Occasionally during the transport of oil tanks from the oil industry through sea route accidents occur and the oil enters the sea water forming a huge film covering many square kilometers on the surface of sea water. The film so formed prevents oxygen to get into the water leading to large scale death of aquatic life including fish, snails and other marine organisms.

Dr. Anand Chakraborthi has detected a micro-organism called Pseudomonas that digests the mineral oil. Hence mass production of this micro-organism is essential. But the patent office in USA turned down for the reason that the biological organism is the universal property. The Supreme Court in USA recognized that it is possible to create new varieties of organisms by human intervention and that such creations were the results of man’s ingenuity and efforts therefore are entitled to be patented.

The pollution control can be achieved by the use of microbes besides various means. It is most fortunate that Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Mumbai has developed technologies to use the municipal solid waste to generate Methane that can be used to generate electricity. But it is the most unfortunate that Government of India has not utilized the technologies developed by BARC to treat municipal solid waste and liquid waste. BARC has established the industry to treat the solid municipal waste including human waste materials by exposing them to gamma rays that kill all the microbes. The so formed biofertilizer is very useful in agriculture. However the government officials have so far not utilized this technology.

 
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