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12/31/13 Mrunal [Science-Tech] TheHindu (March2May) (Part 2 of 3): Healthcare, Medical Research: Gene Patenting, Angelina Jolie, Double Mastectomy, H7N

mrunal.org/2013/06/science-tech-thehindu-march2may-part-2-of-3-healthcare-medicalresearch-gene-patenting-angelina-jolie-double-mastectomy-h7n9-3nethr 1/9

[Science-Tech] TheHindu (March2May) (Part 2 of 3): Healthcare, MedicalResearch: Gene Patenting, Angelina Jolie, Double Mastectomy, H7N9,3Nethra, Eye-PAC & more

1. Viruses1. H7N92. H3N23. SARS like Coronavirus

2. Drug r esearch1. Influenza Vaccine

2. Monoclo nal antibody: curing blood cancer 3. Gold nanopar ticles for drug delivery4. ELQ-300 new Antimalaria l drug5. Induced pl uripotent stem cells (iPSC)6. Zebrafish zyg ote

3. Equipm ent/ devices1. 3Nethra: eye testing devic e2. Eye-PAC computing technology3. Cholangioscop e4. E-ciga rette5. LEDs effect on sl eep

4. Gene p atent ing1. Gene Patenting case2. Angelina Jolie double mastectomy3. Conspiracy/criticism

5. Oily Skin

Viruses

H 7N9avian flu virus.currently in some regions in China.H7N9, H1N1 and H5N1= All three viruses are influenza A viruses

but they are distinct from each other.H7N9 and H5N1 are considered animal influenza viruses that sometimes infect

people.while H1N1 viruses can be divided into those that normally infect people andthose that normally infect animals.
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Influenza viruses are not transmitted through consuming well-cooked food.Because influenza viruses are inactivated by normal temperatures used for cooking.It is safe to eat properly prepared and cooked meat, including from poultry andgame birds.But Diseased animals and animals that have died of diseases should not be eaten.

No vaccine for H7N9 available at the moment.

An animal influenza virus that develops the ability to infect people couldtheoretically carry a risk of causing a pandemic.However, whether H7N9 virus could actually cause a pandemic= still unknown.

H3N2

The H7N9 bird flu virus has been sporadically infecting people in China, Someexperts fear it could gain the ability to spread easily among humans, thus settingoff another influenza pandemic like H1N1 pandemic of 2009.But American researchers have found a possible threat from a different direction

H3N2H3N2 viruses are currently found in birds and pigs.A H3N2 virus caused a pandemic during 1967-68, but now scientist fear thathuman immune system might have lost the ability to recognize that virus andthus H3N2 could easily jump back to humans now that immunity to it hasdropped

SARS like Coronavirus

2002: SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) appeared in China and nextyear exploded across the world. SARS was caused by a coronavirus.2012: Another coronavirus (hCoV-EMC), emerged in Middle East, causingsevere respiratory problems, kidney failure and even death.As with the SARS virus, the new hCoV-EMC coronavirus appears to haveoriginated in bats. However, unlike the former, the latter is still able to infect batcells.

Drug research

Influenza Vaccine

Presently, the scientists are ill-equipped to immediately develop an effectivevaccine when an influenza virus strikes. for e.g. when the H1N1 pandemic struck in 2009.Current strategy for vaccine Development = start from scratch based on thestrain causing the epidemic or pandemic = takes lot of time.

Now American researchers are using a new strategy for vaccine Development.They selected F16 (an antibody to influenza A), and introduced it into an adeno-

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associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver the antibody into the body.To achieve the best results, the researchers introduced the antibody at the site of infection, in this case, the nasal route.This will be equally effective against influenza strains H5N1 and H1N1.

Monoclonal antibody: curing blood cancer

Leukaemia is largely incurable in adults. Why?Because the cancer-associated proteins are safely secured inside cells, and are beyond the reach of currently available drugs.now scientists are developing a new monoclonal antibody (ESK1) that can targetthose cancer-associated proteins.more on monoclonal antibodies covered here click me

Gold nanoparticles for drug delivery

gold nanoparticles can be used as carriers for delivering anti-cancer drugs and

also for diagnosing the disease, particularly lung and breast cancer In Ayurveda. More than 1,000 years ago, gold was used as a nanoparticle(swarnabhasma).At that time, there were no sophisticated instruments and that is why people didnot know that it was a gold nanoparticle.gold nanoparticle was bio-compatible, easy to synthesize and multiple cancer drugs could be loaded. It could reduce the toxicity of the anti-cancer drug,Scientists are now using an eco-friendly green chemistry approach- via leaf extracts of Bhringaraj (a herbal plant) to create the biocompatible nanoparticles.Bhringaraj-extracted bio-compatible gold nanoparticle was used to deliver ananti-cancer drug Doxorubicin into lung and breast cancer cell lines.If you add fluorescent molecule in these gold nanoparticles, it could be used todetect the position of the tumor.

ELQ-300 new Antimalarial drug

nearly 200 million people in the world suffer from malaria every year, and themortality is as high as 1.2 million. To make matters worse, resistance tocurrently available drugs is emerging.

ELQ-300 is a new anti-malarial drug, undergoing trials.capable of treating and preventing malaria infection, target both the liver and blood stages.works against both drug-resistant species (Plasmodium falciparum andPlasmodium vivax).Schizont is a matured malaria parasite that contains many merozoites, which isthe parasite stage that infects red blood cells. ELQ-300 was effective againstthis Schizont.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)
http://mrunal.org/2012/05/monoclonal-antibody.html

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Stem cell controversy?

Stem cells can be used in treating variety of diseases.But they were sourced from human embryos in the beginning.Religious organizations consider this as murdering a child and hence opposestem cell research.

Nobel 2012: solution for stem cell harvesting?

2012: Nobel prize for medicine given to John B. Gurdon and ShinaYamanakafor their discovery that discovery that differentiation of cells is a reversibleprocess.In other words, normal cells can be reconverted into stem cells. and thenthose stem cells could be used for treatment of various diseases.thus, Gurdon and Yamanakas research could settle the stem cell controversy

(because we dont need human embryos for harvesting stem cells anymore. Wecan do it by converting normal cells into stem cells.)

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)?

iPSCs are body (somatic) cells which have been reprogrammed to function likeembryonic stem cellsThis is done by introducing four regulatory factors (pieces of DNA) into thecells.However, the efficiency of iPSC production is traditionally quite low. Onlyabout 0.01 per cent of the cells successfully become iPSC.Chinese researchers are now working to improve this performance.

Zebrafish zygote

Zygote is the initial cell formed when two gamete cells (from male and female)are joinedzygote is special because this single cell is capable of developing into an embryoand ultimately an entire organism, unlike an already-differentiated cell like a

skin cell which can only develop into skin tissue. This property of the zygote iscalled totipotency.embryo cell=undifferentiated cell the embryo cellegg cell and the sperm cell= differentiated cellsDiseases like cancer cause cells that get arrested at an early stage of differentiation, or cells that go backwards and become undifferentiated likeembryo cells.Scientists carried out research on Zebrafish eggs to understand this mechanismof totipotency.

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Equipment/ devices

3Nethra: eye testing device

The World Health Organization estimates that 39 million people in the world are blind. Of those, over 15 million are in India.Most of that blindness can actually be prevented.But people do not realise they have an eye disease and that they are losing their vision because their better eye compensates for the loss in one eye.solution = conduct regular eye tests.Problem= only 15,000 eyedoctors in India and only ~30 per cent of them

practice in the rural areas.

+ conducting mass eye tests in remote locations is difficult because thetraditional equipment for eye tests are bulky and expensive.here 3Nethra comes to help

What is 3Nethra?

a portable and less expensive pre-screening device for eyes3nethra can fit into a suitcase and weighs about 15 kg= lighter than traditionalequipment.costs ~ five lakh rupees = cheaper than traditional equipment.

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it takes a picture of the eye and can detect the five major ailments that lead to 90% of blindness.

1. diabetic retinopathy,2. cataract,3. glaucoma,4. cornea problems

5. refractive errors.The machine is also non-mydriatic (does not need dilation of the pupil) and cantake images in a matter of minutes.doesnt require highly trained ophthalmologist, even a semi-skilled person with aworking knowledge of the anatomy of the eye can operate this machine.

Eye-PAC computing technology

by IIT Madras

It is based on the principle of capturing the image of the eye, digitising it beforetransferring the information to a computing system.The technology teases out specific information from the images and provides acomputer-assisted screening decisiontechnology can process the image obtained without dilating the eye, thus savingtime both for the operator and patient.When used as a diagnostic solution, the computer-assisted decision saves theophthalmologists timeThis technology has been used in the 3Nethra device we saw earlier.

Cholangioscope

pancreatic cancer is the third most prevalent gastro-intestinal cancer in Indiawhile liver cancer is the most common.All these years, most patients used to consult a physician when the disease wasin an advanced stage.cholangioscope is an equipment with a video camera for detection of cancers of

bile duct, liver and pancreas. jointly developed by by Indian and Japanese healthcare researchers.

another latest device, called spycam, was now enabling doctors to look into theliver, which was not possible earlier.the two technologies would help in diagnosis and treatment of gall bladder stones, jaundice, pancreatitis and pancreatic pain. Very huge stones could beidentified and crushed using laser.

E-cigarette

Cigarette lighting up and burning leads to smoke. And the smoke is a healthhazard. It produces carbon monoxide (CO), a blood poison, nitrogen oxides

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(which can destroy molecules in the body), and the tar produced duringincomplete burning (it is the tar which is the major cancer-culprit).Smoke is not only bad for the user, but also for the bystander- through what iscalled secondary smokingIn an electronic cigarette, you do not light up and produce smoke.You do not even use tobacco. You take nicotine (the addictive), dissolve it inglycols (which are acceptable to the human body) and using an electronic

method, produce an aerosol mist and inhale the vapour.There is no smoke, no Carbon Monoxide, no nitrous mix, no tar, no yellow teeth.They are better than the nicotine patch or gum; and they can help smokers quit.(atleast that what the companies claim)

LEDs effect on sleep

Modern light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used in energy-efficient lighting as well astelevision and computer screens, laptops, tablets and various handheld devices.electric light has had a powerful impact on the bodys clock, known as thecircadian rhythm.light affects our circadian rhythms more powerfully than any drug.eyes retina also contains light-sensitive cells help synchronise the bodyscircadian rhythm to the natural day and night cycle.When artificial light strikes those cells, the body gets misled and responds by

promoting wakefulness and inhibiting sleep.many people are still checking e-mail, doing homework or watching TV atmidnight, with hardly a clue that it is the middle of the solar night, driving us togo to bed later.

Children become hyperactive rather than sleepy when they dont get enoughsleep, and have difficulty focusing attention, so sleep deficiency may bemistaken for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an increasinglycommon condition now diagnosed in American teenagers.

Gene patenting, BRCA, Angelina Jolie

Gene Patenting case

BRCA1 and BRCA2 human genes used for diagnosing breast and ovariancancers. (BRCA= BR east CAncer). If a woman has mutation (fault) in BRCA 1or 2= higher risk of breast/ovarian cancer.U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has been awarding patents on genes for about30 years.In the mid-90s, Myriad Genetics ltd. got patents for the BRCA genes.Thanks to this patent, Myriad genetics company got monopoly for selling BRCAgene testing. Each test costs >3000$.2009-10: The American Civil Liberties Union (an NGO) challenged this patentin court. Their point= Nobody can patent human genes because genes are

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products of nature.2013: Matter going in US Supreme Court.

Angelina Jolie double mastectomy

Angelina Jolie had a faulty gene, BRCA1=> had higher risk of getting breastcancer.

Doctors advised her to undergo a surgery known as preventive doublemastectomy, to remove her breasts and hence reduce the risk of getting Brestcancer in future.she got that surgery in 2013, and also wrote an article about her experience in

New York Times (click me)

Conspiracy/criticism

A gene patent holder has the right to prevent anyone from studying, testing or even looking at a gene. As a result, scientific research and genetic testing has

been delayed, limited or even shut down due to concerns about gene patents.Only Myriad can sell BRCA gene test, which gives them a monopoly on a highly

profitable business.Angelina Jolies move was a mere PR/marketing campaign for Myriad genetics,with inflated statistics.

Now Many women will now take that expensive BRCA testing (for >3000$)undergo the surgery just out of fear and panic, because Jolie opted for it. Andthus Myriad Company will make truckload of cash for holding patents to BRCAgenes.Presidents Obamas Affordable Care Act mandates taxpayers to pay for BRCA1 genetic testing- thus increasing Myriads profit even further.BRCA is not the only gene patented, some other companies and universities alsohave patented genes for Tay-Sachs disease, Cystic fibrosis, Colorectal cancer,Hearing loss etc. at this rate, future medical treatments will become

prohibitively expensive. Therefore, the whole idea of Gene Patenting is againstthe interest of patients.

Oily Skin

Why is skin oiliness restricted only to the face?skin of the face is oily because of the presence of sebumSebum is an oily secretion produced by the sebaceous gland.These glands are present throughout the body except the palms of hand and solesof feet.Sebaceous glands are more commonly found in hair-covered areas, where theyare connected to hair follicles.Hence the maximum concentration of this sebaceous gland is in the face andscalp.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=0

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mrunal org/2013/06/science tech thehindu march2maypart 2 of 3 healthcare medical research gene patenting angelina jolie double mastectomyh7n9 3nethr 9/9

Acne and black heads are conditions associated with these sebaceous glands andthey are common in face.

factors

secretion of the gland is influenced by the sex hormones, temperature, stress andgenetic factors.

Sebum production increased during adolescence, pregnancy and menopause dueto hormonal changes.

Function of Sebum?

provides anti- bacterial lipids, anti- oxidants,hydrates the superficial layers of skin, supply of vitamin Ealso has temperature regulation properties.

Mock Questions at the end of third part. For more on science-tech, visit

Mrunal.org/snt

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/06/science-tech-thehindu-march2may-part-2-of-3-healthcare-medical-research-gene-patenting-angelina-jolie-double-mastectomy-h7n9-3nethra-eye-pac-more.html

Posted By Mrunal On 12/06/2013 @ 18:34 In the category Science
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