Public Health

Mrunal [Public Health] Current Affairs 2012-13: Diseases, Drugs and Research (Part 2 of 3) Print
24/05/13 11:03 PM
[Public Health] Current Affairs 2012-13: Diseases, Drugs and Research (Part
2 of 3)
1. Universal Immunization program (UIP)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
India Declared Polio-Free

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)
Polio Virologist dead
BIBCOL
Integrated Vaccine Complex
Penta-valent Vaccine
JEEV
Vector control
Blindness control
Leprosy
Iodine
AIDS control
NACO
NACP phases
One
Two
Three
Four
Bridge Population
Mother to Child
AIDS: 12th FYP Goal
Truvada
Truvada: Issues/concerns
OraQuick Home
Red Ribbon Express (RRE)
Anti-retro viral drugs
Two types of HIV
TB control
Risorin
GeneXpert/ CBNAAT?
Crystal TB Confirm
Misc TB tests
Project Axshya/ Mr.Sputum
Swine Flu, Avian Flu
Tamiflu, Relenza
http://mrunal.org/2013/04/public-health-current-affairs-2012-13-diseases-drugs-and-research-part-2-of-3.html/print/
Page 1 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
10. Non Communicable diseases

11. Heart related
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Hydrogel
Statin
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
HDL vs LDL
Lupifio, Klotbuster
Cancer related
No Touch BreastScan (NTBS)
Dermoscope
Magic Shotgun
Glivec, Novartis Patent
Evergreening
Zimmerman / Imatinib
Novartiss side of story
Gardasil and Cervarix
Kinesio tape
VitaVallis
Instruments
Neurostimulator
Emmident Toothbrush
Vomiting Larry
Handheld Dental X-ray
SAR
Virtopsy
Electronic nose
BIONIC EYE
OraQuick Home
Surgeries
Femtosecond Cataract Surgery
Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion
Nobel Prizes
G-proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs)
Blank Slate Cells / Reprograming Cells / Disease in Dish
Misc.
ENCODE project
Telomer
Memory Enhancer/ BESEB
Radioimmunoassay (RIA)
IRMA
Bhabhatron
PACT
ISOMED
Linear No Threshold (LNT) concept
Drugs from Sea
Page 2 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Universal Immunization program (UIP)

Started in mid-80s.
Under UIP, govt. gives children vaccine for seven diseases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Polio
Measels
Childhood TB
Hepatitis B
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Govt. also declared year 2012-13, as Year of Intensification of Routine
Immunization.
India Declared Polio-Free

2010: Government introduced Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV).
In Feb 2012, World Health organization (WHO) removed India the list of
Contries facing active wild polio virus.
They removed us from the list because India had completed two years without
single case of Polio. (last case was reported in Howrah, West Bengal).
Only PAN (Pakistan, Afghan, Nigeria) remain
Diseases eradicated from India

Disease
Smallpox
Guinea worm
Yaws
Polio
Kala Azar
Filariasis
Leprosy
Caused by
Virus
Parasite
Bacteria
Virus
Parasite
Eradication year (India)

70s
2000s
2012
Target:2015
Bacteria
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)

Polio is a disease caused by a virus. But AFP can also arise for other reasons,
including infection by non-polio pathogens.
No child in India has been diagnosed with polio for nearly two years now and all
the indications are that the virus responsible for it is no longer circulating here.
However, the countrys polio surveillance system has indicated a sharp increase
during recent years in the number of non-polio AFP cases.
most of the countrys non-polio AFP cases occur in just two States Bihar and
Page 3 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Uttar Pradesh. cases of children with non-polio AFP were not being monitored
by either the polio eradication programme or the larger state health care system.
As a result, there is no clear picture of what was causing the AFP, the kind of
diseases these children displayed, or how many of them were seriously affected
Polio Virologist dead

Jonas Salk had developed the known as the inactivated polio-virus vaccine (IPV)
in the 50s.
But before that, Hilary Koprowski had invented the live-virus oral vaccine.
Hilary Koprowski is in news, because he died in April 2013.
BIBCOL
Name of public sector undertaking (PSU)
It manufactures Oral polio vaccine for Universal immunization program.
Integrated Vaccine Complex

Govt. is setting this under Universal immunization program.
Location: Kanchipuram Distrct, TN
Itll provide vaccines at affordable prices.
Itll also manufacture Penta Valent Vaccine.
Penta-valent Vaccine
Penta=five. So penta-valent vaccine=five vaccines in one.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Diphtheria
Pertussis
Tetanus,
Hepatitis-B
Hib. (Hib Haemophilus Influenzae Type B). It is Responsible For Pneumonia,
Meningitis And Epiglottitis)
This is an injection (and not oral drops like polio vaccine.)
In India, pentavalent vaccine was introduced in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in
December 2011, under the Universal immunization program.
Recently Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Puducherry, Goa and Gujarat
also started using it.
Benefits
Pentavalent vaccine helps in reducing the number of shots a child receives from
nine to three.
Page 4 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Convenient in storage space and transport because five vaccines are combined in
a single vial.
JEEV
Indias first vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis.
Company: Biological E Ltd. (BEL)
Vector control
National Vector borne diseases control program (NVBDCP)
This is under National rural health mission.
Directorate @Delhi gives cash and commodity to state Governments for
implementing this.
Government plans to eliminate kala-azar and filariasis by 2015.
-
Comprehensive program against vector borne diseases such as

Disease
By
Notes
Via female Anopheles mosquitoes.
3 stages 1) cold 2) hot 3) sweating.
World Malaria day = 25th April
12th FYP wants Annual Malaria Incidence of
<1/1000.
Synriam
Piperaquine (trade name Synriam): this was
launched on World Malaria day in 2012
Synriam =First Indian anti-malarial drug. Ranbaxy
produced it, with help of Dept. of Science and
Technology + ICMR.
Malaria
Protozoa
(parasite)
ELQ-300
New anti-malarial drug.
Undergoing trials.
Humanized Mice
It is engrafted with human liver cells. Itll help
research liver-to-blood stage infection of Malaria.
Page 5 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Kala Azar
Via female sand fly

Leads to skin darkening, therefore called kala
Azar= black sickness.
Target is to eliminate Kala Azar by 2015
Japanese
Encephalitis
Via Culex mosquitos

Pigs to mosquito to man.
More details given in old article click me
12th FYP wants to reduce JE deaths by 30%
Dengue
Via Mosquito: aedes Aegypti

Real time PCR essay: this will help detect dengue on
first day.
In the recent past Dengue has been reported from
almost all the states and UTs except Lakshadweep.
Virus
Chikungunya
Via Mosquito: aedes Aegypti

ELISA blood test needed for diagnosis
symptoms similar to dengue fever
Swahili word: that which bends up, because it
leads to severe pain in joints.
12th FYP wants to Containment of outbreaks of
Chikungunya.
Filariasis
Via black flies and mosquitoes.

target is to eliminate this by 2015.
Parasitic
worms
Elephantiasis
Via mosquitos
It makes the skin and tissues around leg very thickmakes it look like elephants legs.
Continuing to more programs under NRHM
Blindness
control
National program for control of blindness (NPCB)

100% centrally sponsored
Goal: reduce blindness to 0.3% by year 2020
Free eye checkup and spectacles to school kids
This disease is caused by bacteria
Page 6 of 20
Leprosy
24/05/13 11:03 PM
100% centrally sponsored (the scheme, not the disease

hahaha)
It uses Multi-drug therapy (MDT).
12th FYP wants to reduce new cases to 0 for all
districts.
Iodine Deficiency => goiter, retardation (mental,
physical), cretinism, squint etc.
Iodine
AIDS control
NACO
National AIDS Control Organization

It is a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NACO implements the national aids control program (NACP)
NACP phases
Phase
Year
One
Two
What?
1986: first AIDS case in India detected, in Chennai,
TN.
First phase to control the spread of HIV infection.
Treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in district
hospitals and medical colleges
Establishing AIDS surveillance system
19921999
condom promotion.
The School AIDS Education Programme
National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy
National Blood Policy
NGOs involvement
focus on High Risk Groups (HRGs)
19992006
1.
2.
3.
4.
prostitutes
gays
drug addicts
bridge populations (truckers and single male
migrants)
halt and reverse the epidemic in India over the next
Page 7 of 20
Three
Four
200712
20122017
24/05/13 11:03 PM
five years.
promote district-level network of people living with
HIV/AIDS
income generation and other welfare activities for
HIV positive people.
reach zero infection, zero stigma and zero deaths.
Prevent new infections
Prevent Parent-to-Child Transmission
Reduce stigma and discrimination of AIDS
Increase partnership with NGO and civil society.
Social protection and insurance mechanism for HIV
positive people.
Provide comprehensive care, support and treatment to
all.
Bridge Population
HIV first appears among most vulnerable (e.g. prostitutes and drug addicts) and.
Bridge population means those people who acts as Bridge for transferring HIV
virus from
1. high risk group (prostitutes, drug addicts, gays) to low risk groups/general
population (housewives, future kids)
2. Urban to rural areas.
Example of bridge population = single male migrant, truck drivers, bisexual
men.
Mother to Child
If a pregnant woman is HIV positive, there are now drugs that can reduce the
risk of her passing HIV virus on to her baby in the womb or at birth.
Caesarean Delivery also reduces the risk of a baby becoming infected.
if a mother is HIV positive, beast-feeding will increase the risk of her baby
becoming infected. (because some HIV transmission can occur through breast
milk.)
AIDS: 12th FYP Goal

12th Five Year plan wants to
1. reduce new infections to zero and
2. provide comprehensive care and support to all HIV positive
Page 8 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
2. provide comprehensive care and support to all HIV positive
Truvada
Worlds first Oral pill to prevent HIV
Developed by: Gilead Sciences.
Made of two anti-reteroviral drugs: 1) Tenofovir and 2) Emtricitabine
Given approval by US FDA.
Truvada: Issues/concerns
This drug only lowers the amount of HIV virus in blood. It doesnt make a
person totally immune to HIV virus.
But Some idiots will think they have become totally immune against HIV, and
then indulge in unprotected sex- further spreading AIDS.
Experts also believe that same idiots (described above), will not take the
medicine regularly, and HIV virus will become resistant to Truvada.
Then another billion dollars and 10-12 years will be required to design a new
drug.
In one clinical study, some prostitutes were given Truvada, yet it did not prevent
the spread of HIV. Hence critiques are not entirely convinced about the
efficiency of this drug.
OraQuick Home
Its the first Do It Yourself testkit for detecting HIVthe same one that health
professionals use but without the trip to a doctors office or the need to wait days
for results.
Oral kit for HIV Test can detect antibodies developed within 1-3 months after
getting infected.
It cannot pick up acute or recent infection.
Red Ribbon Express (RRE)

A special train to spread awareness about HIV AIDS.
Started in 2007.
1st December = AIDS day.
Anti-retro viral drugs

e.g. AZT, DDL and DDC,
but their effect last only for a limited duration.
These drugs are very expensive and have severe adverse reactions
HIV quickly develop resistance with single-drug therapy.
The emphasis is now on giving a combination of drugs including newer drugs
called protease inhibitors; but this makes treatment even more expensive.
WHOs present policy does not recommend antiviral drugs but instead advocates
Page 9 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
WHOs present policy does not recommend antiviral drugs but instead advocates
strengthening of clinical management for HIV- associated infections such as TB,
pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Two types of HIV

Both are transmitted through blood/sex/mother to child.
Both cause AIDS.
But there is difference:
HIV-1
HIV-2
Quickly transmitted Less easily transmitted
Less
period between initial infection and illness is longer.
TB control
TB shortens the survival of patients with HIV infection.
Revised TB control program, Under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
Provide DOTS therapy.
DOTS= directly observed treatment short course. It could drastically reduce the
TB treatment duration.
More on details, given in earlier article click me
12th FYP wants to reduce annual TB cases and deaths by 50%
Lets look at the current affairs associated with TB
Risorin
CSIR is developing this new Anti-TB drug.
GeneXpert/ CBNAAT?
Problem with MDR-TB= it takes almost 8 weeks, for doctor to diagnose this
disease.
GeneXpert/ CBNAAT is the latest device that can diagnose this MDR-TB in just
two hours.
Fastest detection of TB. can be installed at any place and can be used by
paramedical staff.
In India, itll be provided at subsidized rate (less than Rs.2000)
Crystal TB Confirm
Another TB detection test. Based on chromatography.
Designed by Scientists @Delhi university.
Provides result within twenty minutes.
Page 10 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
(given in Indian yearbook, hence listed.)
Misc TB tests
1. MGIT Liquid Culture
2. Hain Genotype
(there may be five dozen more TB tests in the world, but these two were given in
Hindus S&T edition hence listed hahaha)
Project Axshya/ Mr.Sputum

Xshya= Sanskrit word for TB. Axshya=TB free.
Project Axshya is a civil society initiative to make India TB-free. Bulgum Bhai
(Mr.Sputum) is their mascot.
He appears on TV, Radio ads, street plays, to spread the message, If you have
been coughing for more than two weeks, better get your sputum tested
Union World Conference on Lung Health was held in Kuala Lumpur. This
Mr.Sputum project was featured in that conference.
Swine Flu, Avian Flu

Avian flu Swine Flu
Bird
Pigs
H5N1
H1N1
Tamiflu, Relenza
Antiviral drug.
Tamiflu=trade name for the drug
Oseltamivir=generic name for the drug.
Used for swine and bird flu.
Another drug is: Relenza (Zanamivir)
Concern: report suggest that the swine flu virus (H1N1) is becoming resistant to
this drug.
Antiflu= this is the cheaper version of Tamiflu, produced by Cipla.
Vaxiflu-S= Indias first indigenously manufactured vaccine to combat swine flu
(Cadila).
Non Communicable diseases

are not passed from person to person.
long duration and generally slow progression.
examples
1. cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke),
Page 11 of 20
1.
2.
3.
4.
24/05/13 11:03 PM
cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke),

cancers,
Asthama
Diabetes.
These diseases reduce productive years of human lives= economic loss to
country.
Government launched National program for prevention and control of cancer,
diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and stroke (NPCDCS). It involves
Awareness via Mass-media, ads, promoting healthy life style.
Settings up clinics, training personnel etc.
INDIAB study=India Diabetes study. ICMR (Indian council for medical
research) conducted it.
Heart related
Hydrogel
myocardial infarction= when heart tissue is destroyed, it blocks the oxygen
supply to heart muscles.
When cells of heart do not receive oxygen= they get permanently damaged.
Such damaged heart cells cannot regenerate, thus a thick scar develops in heart.
This is where Hydrogel can help.
Hydrogel is derived from a pigs heart. The basic function of the gel is to
provide a scaffold (platform) for new heart cells to form.
Thus hydrogel can the damaged heart recover and function like a healthy one.
Statin
Theyre drugs used for cholesterol control.
But new research indicates these Statins pose heath risks.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Decrease the risk of heart disease, arthritis etc.
improve bone strength
Human body cannot synthesize them.
Found in some fishes
HDL vs LDL
HDL
High Density
Good cholesterol
Decreases heart risk
LDL
low-density lipoprotein
Bad
Increases
Page 12 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Lupifio, Klotbuster
CSIR developed it
It can dissolve the blood clots and save heart attack patient.
Cancer related
No Touch BreastScan (NTBS)
Imaging device, based on thermography, to detect brast cancer.
Increased metabolism in cancer cells leads to increase in temperature.
The NTBS device looks for temperature hot spots at the surface of breast and
detects breast cancer.
However, US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has found no evidence to
support the claim that thermography is a replacement for mammography.
Dermoscope
Melanoma=Skin cancer. To Detect Melanoma, earlier dermatologists had to put
incision (cut) on the skin, take sample, and observe It under microscope.
Dermoscope is a new handheld device for skin-cancer (Melanoma) detection.
The device uses imaging technology that, in less than one minute, visualizes the
micro-vessel structure of just below the skins surface.
So Cancer can be detected without incision.
Magic Shotgun
US researchers are using this approach for developing more effective anti-cancer
drugs.
Glivec, Novartis Patent

Novartis=swiss pharma company.
Glivec/ Gleevec=their blockbuster drug for blood cancer and gastrointestinal
cancers.
Evergreening
As long as a company has patent for xyz drug, others cannot manufacture it. (for
20 years).
But when the patent is about to expire, the company just slightly modifies the
original drug formula to create a new drug and seeks patent for that new drug.
This practice is known as everygreening
Indian patent act prohibits Evergreening. (under Section 3(d)).
In case of Norvatis, when their Glivec patent was about to expire, they had
Page 13 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
In case of Norvatis, when their Glivec patent was about to expire, they had
sought patent for similar new anti-cancer drug (Imatinib Mesylate), but lost
patent case. They approached Supreme
Now Indian companies can produce generic version of this anti cancer drug, and
patient will get it at cheaper price.
one-month dose of Glivec costs around Rs 1.2 lakh, while generic Indian drugs
can do it at Rs 8,000.
Zimmerman / Imatinib
Imatinib Mesylate= a drug molecule to fight cancer.
It was patented under Zimmarman patent.
Now, this Glivec contains a beta crystalline form of a drug molecule imatinib
mesylate. (therefore, Glivec is not really a new drug but a typical case of
Evergreening, where company merely made some chances in the old drug
molecule to file new patent.)
Glivec case timeline

1970 Indian Patents Act
Patent Office rejected Novartiss Glivec application, saying Imatinib
2006
Mesylate not a new anti-cancer drug molecule.
2007 Patent Appellate board rejected Norvartis claim
2013 Supreme court also rejected Novartis claim
Novartiss side of story

1. Glivec already patented in more than 30 countries. So this is not a case of
evergreening.
2. We provide free medicine to needy patients.
3. If drug inventions are not protected, then pharma companies will lose the
incentive to invest more time and money in research and Development of new
drug molecules = in long term itll have negative consequences when the
virus/bacteria will become resistant to existing drugs.
4. After the defeat in supreme court, Novartis said they will not invest in drug
research in India anymore.
Gardasil and Cervarix

names of the new HPV vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline.
The Health activists say it is not properly tested, theyve filled PIL in supreme
court.
their arguments
1) Though both vaccines are claimed to prevent cervical cancer, the truth is
cervical cancer takes twenty or more years to develop.
2) The vaccines have just not been around that long to prove their efficacy!
Page 14 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
neither of these vaccines had been studied to determine their potential to cause
cancer
Dressing
Kinesio
tape
a strong elasticated tape, was developed more than 30

years ago by a Japanese chiropractor. Popular among
atheltes.
Kinesio tape can stretch and contract, inhibiting
damaging movements but allowing the right kind.
Runners can continue to train even when they have a
problem.
VitaVallis
It is a nano-dressing for applying on wounds.

Created by Russian scientists It helps clean up wounds of
all known types of toxic bacteria.
It does not get stuck to the wound and heals burns, cuts
and any septic and infected wounds two to three times
faster than traditional methods do.
The dressing stops bleeding, ends inflammation,
eliminates swellings and stimulates skin regeneration. It
also helps kill pain and remove foul wound odour.
it contains no antibiotics and is therefore effective
against drug-resistant bacteria
Instruments
Neurostimulator
New therapy for Migraine (type of Headache). Migraine is a chronic disease
(long-term disease, unlike Common fever.)
It is placed in the upper gum of patients mouth, through a small surgical incision.
When a patient feels a headache or Migraine coming, the device delivers
stimulation to block the headache pain.
MALDI
It is a new Mass-Spectroscopy technique to detect Bacterial infection in blood,
sputum, tissue etc. MALDI=Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization.
MALDI can accurately identify bacteria in minutes, which allows doctors to
more quickly and appropriately treat infections.
Emmident Toothbrush
Page 15 of 20
Emmident Toothbrush
24/05/13 11:03 PM
Worlds first no-brushing toothbrush.

There is no need to actually brush your teeth abrasively, because It uses
ultrasound waves to clean the teeth.
Launched in UK.
Vomiting Larry
Larry is a humanoid simulated vomiting system designed by British scientists.
It is being use to how norovirus spreads.
Handheld Dental X-ray

Genuine Handheld X-ray sets are very expensive.
Now Chinamade Cheaper products are in the market. But they do not have
adequate shielding in the X-ray tube. And leads to accidental leakage radiation.
In India, use of such medical X-ray instruments need approval from Atomic
Energy Regulatory Board. (AERB)
Use of radiation generating equipment not approved by AERB is a violation of
the legal provisions and will attract action under the appropriate provisions of
the Atomic Energy Act 1962
SAR
specific and absorption rate it is a measure of the amount of radio frequency
energy absorbed by the human body while using a mobile phone) so that
radiation does not affect human health.
Presently, Indias SAR limit is 2 watt per kg The Inter-ministerial Committee
wants SAR to be 1.6 watts per kg.
Virtopsy
Autopsy=examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death.
Previously, doctors would use scalpel, cut the chest open and examine tissues.
Often, relatives of the dead donot agree for autopsies because of the
disfigurement caused by such cutting and incisions.
Now scientists have come up with a non-invasive technique for conducting
autopsy. This is called Virtopsy(=virtual autopsy). Here, doctor examines the
corpse in 3-D via computer screens.
Virtopsy combine the images from high-powered magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), computed tomography (CT) and surface scans of dead bodies. Combined,
the devices are referred to as a virtobot.
The technique allows the detection of injuries such as lesions and blows often
undetectable during a traditional autopsy, as well as air pockets, heart attacks
and even cancer. The method has already allowed the discovery of haemorrhages
and fractures that were not picked up during conventional autopsies.
Page 16 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
and fractures that were not picked up during conventional autopsies.
Electronic nose
Prototype electronic instrument. It can detect small quantities of harmful
airborne substances. can be used for Batch to batch consistency during
production. (perfumes, food)
Detection of contamination, spoilage, adulteration
BIONIC EYE
The implants are said to be capable of completely restoring sight to blind
patients, but only if their blindness was caused by a faulty retina
OraQuick Home
Its the first Do It Yourself testkit for detecting HIVthe same one that health
professionals use but without the trip to a doctors office or the need to wait days
for results.
Oral kit for HIV Test can detect antibodies developed within 1-3 months after
getting infected.
It cannot pick up acute or recent infection.
Surgeries
Femtosecond Cataract Surgery
Femtosecond=one quadrillionth of a second.
This is the latest surgical for Cataract, using a computer Laser system, now the
the surgeon can soften and break up the cataract within Femtoseconds.
This surgery is more precise and causes less inflammation after surgery.
Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion

Lung transplant surgery is required in patients with diseases such as Chronic
pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis etc. (usually associated with heavy smokers.)
Problem: 80 percent of donated lungs, cant be used, either because theyre too
full of fluid, infected with bacteria, or otherwise damaged.
Ex-Vivo lung perfusion =A new way of treating these lungs and make them
donor friendly. In this technique, a special chemical solution is injected into
dead-persons lungs and then he is kept on a ventilator for 4-6 hours.
This can reverse lung injury and dry out excess fluid. Then lungs can be
removed and transplanted to the patient.
Nobel Prizes
Page 17 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
G-proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs)

Human cells have these receptors It enables them to sense chemical substances
hormones, poisons and drugs in their environment.
2012 Noble Prize in Chemistry is given for this topic.
Winners: Lefkowitz, Kobilka
Blank Slate Cells / Reprograming Cells / Disease in Dish

Terms associated with stem cell research done by Gurdon and Yamanaka (they
got Noble-2012 for it).
Once created, these blank slate cells can be used for developing into other cell
types.
For example, Skin cells can ultimately be transformed into brain cells. This
Reprogramming allows scientists to create particular kinds of tissue they want to
study, like lung tissue for studying cystic fibrosis, or brain tissue for
Huntingtons disease.
By reprogramming cells from patients with a particular disease, they can create
new tissue with the same genetic background, and study it in the lab.
That can give new insights into the roots of the problem. In addition, that
approach allows them to screen drugs in the lab for possible new medicines.
Misc.
ENCODE project
ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements, which was started in 2003. The goal is to find
all functional elements in the human genome.
Until recently, the majority view has been that much of the DNA is junk
DNA that is never transcribed and has no biological function and only 1% of the
DNA is actually responsible for everything.
But ENCODE project has found that not one per cent but more than 80 per cent
of the genome has an active role or function.
Telomer
They are situated at the ends of chromosomes and protect the DNA from
damage.
Longer the size of telomer, means person will have longer life expectancy.
Memory Enhancer/ BESEB

CSIR developed this drug
From Brahmi plants
To improve brain memory.
Page 18 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
To improve brain memory.
Radioimmunoassay
(RIA)
technique to measure hormones, vitamins,

drugs etc. in vitro (outside body).
IRMA
Immuno radiometry Assay. same

application like RIA.
Bhabhatron
Bhabhatron, the indigenous telecobalt

machine
for cancer treatment.
developed by Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre, Mumbai
PACT
Program of action for cancer therapy.

Launched by IAEA.
Under this PACT program, we donated
one Bhabhatron machine to Vietnam
ISOMED
These plant located in Trombay, Delhi,

Banglore etc.
provides radiation sterilization for medical
and surgical instruments.
In rural areas, midwifery kits and delivery
packs are given after doing radiation
sterilization here. It reduces chances of
infection during delivery.
Linear No
Threshold (LNT)
concept
means that harmful effects of radiation

increase with radiation dose and even
small radiation doses can cause some finite
harm. Some scientists challenge the
validity of LNT concept.
They say, in low dose radiation we would
be fine, and would not have any cellular
damage.
Drugs from Sea
Program to harness the bioactive

compounds from marine organisms for
therapeutic uses e.g. anti HIV, cancer,
malaria etc.
Page 19 of 20
24/05/13 11:03 PM
In the third and last part, well see the mock questions from part 1 and 2. click me to
see the third part
For more science-tech, public health, space tech and defense related current affairs,
visit Mrunal.org/snt
URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/04/public-health-current-affairs-2012-13diseases-drugs-and-research-part-2-of-3.html

Posted By Mrunal On 18/04/2013 @ 21:52 In the category Science
Page 20 of 20

Public Health

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Public Health

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mrunal [Public Health] Current Affairs 2012-13: Diseases, Drugs and Research (Part 2 of 3) Print

India Declared Polio-Free

10. Non Communicable diseases

Universal Immunization program (UIP)

India Declared Polio-Free

Diseases eradicated from India

Eradication year (India)

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)

Polio Virologist dead

Integrated Vaccine Complex

Comprehensive program against vector borne diseases such as

Via female sand fly

Via Culex mosquitos

Via Mosquito: aedes Aegypti

Via Mosquito: aedes Aegypti

Via black flies and mosquitoes.

Continuing to more programs under NRHM

National program for control of blindness (NPCB)

100% centrally sponsored (the scheme, not the disease

National AIDS Control Organization

AIDS: 12th FYP Goal

2. provide comprehensive care and support to all HIV positive

Red Ribbon Express (RRE)

Anti-retro viral drugs

Two types of HIV

(given in Indian yearbook, hence listed.)

Project Axshya/ Mr.Sputum

Swine Flu, Avian Flu

Non Communicable diseases

cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke),

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Glivec, Novartis Patent

Glivec case timeline

Novartiss side of story

Gardasil and Cervarix

a strong elasticated tape, was developed more than 30

It is a nano-dressing for applying on wounds.

Worlds first no-brushing toothbrush.

Handheld Dental X-ray

and fractures that were not picked up during conventional autopsies.

Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion

G-proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs)

Blank Slate Cells / Reprograming Cells / Disease in Dish

Memory Enhancer/ BESEB

To improve brain memory.

technique to measure hormones, vitamins,

Immuno radiometry Assay. same

Bhabhatron, the indigenous telecobalt

Program of action for cancer therapy.

These plant located in Trombay, Delhi,

means that harmful effects of radiation

Drugs from Sea

Program to harness the bioactive

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/04/public-health-current-affairs-2012-13diseases-drugs-and-research-part-2-of-3.html

You might also like