Gnipst Bulletin 28.3

7/30/2019 Gnipst Bulletin 28.3

1/14

1

1118-1177-4796-9849-7562-5062mail

GGGNNNIIIPPPSSSTTTBBBUUULLLLLLEEETTTIIINNN 222000111333

30th

August, 2013 Volume No.: 28 Issue No.: 03

ContentsMessage from GNIPS

Letter to the EditorNews Update

Health awareness

Disease Outbreak Ne

Forth Coming Events

Drugs Update

Campus News

Students Section

Editors Note

Archive

Vision

TO GROW AS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD O

PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

EDITOR: Soumya BhattacharyaGURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

GNIPST Photo Gallery

For your comments/contributionORFor Back-Issues,

mailto:[email protected]
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/111714720327580099858/albums/5897323676427099873?sort=7mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/111714720327580099858/albums/5897323676427099873?sort=7


2/14

30-08-2013

Click here to go at the top

MESSAGE FROM GNIPSTGNIPST BULLETIN is the official publication of Guru Nanak

Institute of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology. All the members

of GNIPST are proud to publish the 28th Volume of GNIPST

BULLETIN. Over the last two years this bulletin updating readers

with different scientific, cultural or sports activities of this prestigious

institute and promoting knowledge of recent development in

Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences. Students section is

informing readers about some curious facts of drug discovery, science,

sports and other relevant fields. We look forward to seeing your

submission and welcome comments and ideas you may have.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

NEWS UPDATE

New Drug Target for Untreatable Form of Lung

Cancer (29th August, 2013)

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, haveuncovered a series of chemical signals sent out by collagen that appear

to protect against cancer's growth.Read more

New protein for breast cancer prediction(29th August, 2013)

Researchers have identified a protein that they believe may helppredict breast cancer prognosis. Using bioinformatics techniques, theresearchers showed that the levels of expression of some 1,200 genesthat are directly controlled by the enzyme, EZH2, correlates with the

aggressiveness of breast cancer casesRead more

1
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829214744.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829214744.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829214744.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155848.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155848.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155848.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155848.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829214744.htm


3/14

30-08-2013


Early Diagnostic Tool for Alzheimer's Disease (29thAugust, 2013)On the basis of the brain wave components of individuals with the

disease, Professor Tiago H. Falk of INRS's Centre nergie MatriauxTlcommunications has identified a promising avenue of researchthat may not only help diagnose the disease, but also assess its

severity.Read more

Sleep Apnea may be linked to glaucoma(16th August, 2013)

People with sleep apnea are at increased risk for glaucoma and should

be screened for the eye disease, a new study suggests.Read more

More potent anti-clotting drugs with angiography

may benefit patients with acute chest pain (15thAugust,2013)

In a new report from the TRILOGY ACS trial from Brigham andWomen's Hospital (BWH) and Duke Clinical Research Institute

(DCRI), in patients without artery-clearing procedures, those whohad an angiography (a type of x-ray to view the inside of bloodvessels) followed by prasugrel (Effient) had fewer heart attacks andstrokes compared to those who had an angiography followed byclopidogrel (Plavix). Prasugel is a stronger blocker of blood-clottingcells called platelets compared to clopidogrel. This benefit ofprasugrel was not seen in patients who did not have angiography.

Read more

Obese kids more likely to have asthma, with worse

symptoms (7th August, 2013)

Overweight and obese kids are more likely to struggle with asthmathan kids of normal weight, according to a new review of more than

2
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155852.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155852.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155852.htmhttp://www.drugs.com/news/psoriasis-other-medical-conditions-may-linked-study-says-46548.htmlhttp://www.drugs.com/news/psoriasis-other-medical-conditions-may-linked-study-says-46548.htmlhttp://www.drugs.com/news/psoriasis-other-medical-conditions-may-linked-study-says-46548.htmlhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130815203717.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130815203717.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130815203717.htmhttp://www.drugs.com/news/psoriasis-other-medical-conditions-may-linked-study-says-46548.htmlhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829155852.htm


4/14

30-08-2013


623,000 children. Researchers found that children carrying extraweight are between 1.16 to 1.37 times more likely to develop asthmathan normal-weight kids, with the risk growing as their body-massindexRead more

HEALTH AWARENESS

Botulism

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by a

bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.Clostridium botulinum is abacterium that produces dangerous toxins (botulinum toxins) underlow-oxygen conditions. Botulinum toxins are one of the most lethalsubstances known.

Botulism is mainly of following 3 types:

Foodborne botulism occurs when a person ingests pre-formed toxinthat leads to illness within a few hours to days. Foodborne botulism isa public health emergency because the contaminated food may still beavailable to other persons besides the patient.

Infant botulism occurs in a small number of susceptible infants each

year who harbor C. botulinum in their intestinal tract.

Wound botulism occurs when wounds are infected with C. botulinumthat secretes the toxin.

Human botulism is a serious, potentially fatal disease. However, itis relatively rare. It is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of

3
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130801233032.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130801233032.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130801233032.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130801233032.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News%29


5/14

30-08-2013


potent neurotoxins in contaminated foods. Person to person

transmission of botulism does not occur. Clostridium botulinumproduces spores that are heat-resistant and exist widely in the

environment, and in the absence of oxygen they germinate, grow andthen excrete toxins. There are seven distinct forms of botulinumtoxin, types AG. Four of these (types A, B, E and rarely F) causehuman botulism. Types C, D and E cause illness in other mammals,birds and fish.

Botulinum toxins are ingested through improperly processed food inwhich the bacteria or the spores survive and produce the toxins.

Though mainly a foodborne intoxication, botulism can also be causedby intestinal infection in infants, wound infections, and by inhalation.

Symptoms:

With foodborne botulism, symptoms begin within 6 hours to 10 days(most commonly between 12 and 36 hours) after eating food thatcontains the toxin. Symptoms of botulism include double vision,

blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing,dry mouth, and muscle weakness that moves down the body, usuallyaffecting the shoulders first, then the upper arms, lower arms, thighs,calves, etc. Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause a person to stopbreathing and die, unless assistance with breathing (mechanicalventilation) is provided.

Botulism is not spread from one person to another. Foodbornebotulism can occur in all age groups.Incidence of botulism is low, butthe mortality rate is high if prompt diagnosis and appropriate,immediate treatment (early administration of antitoxin and intensiverespiratory care) are not given. The disease can be fatal in 5 to 10% ofcases.

4


6/14

30-08-2013


Different forms of botulism:

Foodborne botulism

Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacterium, meaning it can onlygrow in the absence of oxygen. Foodborne botulism occurs when

Clostridium botulinum grows and produces toxins in food prior to

consumption. Clostridium botulinum produces spores and they existwidely in the environment including soil, river and sea water.

The growth of the bacteria and the formation of toxin occur inproducts with low oxygen content and certain combinations ofstorage temperature and preservative parameters. This happens mostoften in lightly preserved foods and in inadequately processed,

home-canned or home-bottled foods. Clostridium botulinum will notgrow in acidic conditions (pH less than 4.6), and therefore the toxinwill not be formed in acidic foods (however, a low pH will notdegrade any pre-formed toxin). Combinations of low storagetemperature and salt contents and/or pH are also used to prevent the

growth of the bacteria or the formation of the toxin.

The botulinum toxin has been found in a variety of foods,including low-acid preserved vegetables, such as green beans,spinach, mushrooms, and beets; fish, including canned tuna,fermented, salted and smoked fish; and meat products, such as hamand sausage. The food implicated differs between countries and

reflects local eating habits and food preservation procedures.Occasionally, commercially prepared foods are involved.

Though spores of Clostridium botulinum are heat-resistant, the toxinproduced by bacteria growing out of the spores under anaerobicconditions is destroyed by boiling (for example, at internal

5


7/14

30-08-2013


temperature >85C for five minutes or longer). Therefore, ready-to-eatfoods in low oxygen-packaging are more frequently involved inbotulism.

Infant botulism

Infant botulism occurs mostly in infants under six months of age. It

occurs when infants ingest Clostridium botulinum spores, whichgerminate into bacteria that colonize in the gut and release toxins. Inmost adults and children older than about six months, this would nothappen because natural defences that develop over time prevent

germination and growth of the bacterium. Although there are severalpossible sources of infection for infant botulism, spore-contaminatedhoney has been associated with a number of cases.

Wound botulism

Wound botulism is rare and occurs when the spores get into an openwound and are able to reproduce in an anaerobic environment.

Inhalation botulism

Inhalation botulism is rare and does not occur naturally, i.e. it isassociated with accidental or intentional (e.g. bioterrorism) eventswhich result in release of the toxins in aerosols. Inhalation botulismexhibits a similar clinical footprint to foodborne botulism. Themedian lethal dose for humans has been estimated at two nanograms

of botulinum toxin per kilogram of bodyweight, which isapproximately three times greater than in foodborne cases.

6


8/14

30-08-2013


Other types of intoxication

Waterborne botulism could theoretically result from the ingestion ofthe pre-formed toxin. However, as common water treatment

processes (e.g. boiling, disinfection with 0.1% hypochlorite bleachsolution) destroy the toxin, the risk is considered low.

Botulism of undetermined origin usually involves adult cases whereno food or wound source can be identified. These cases arecomparable to infant botulism and may occur when the normal gutflora has been altered as a result of surgical procedures or antibiotic

therapy.Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is usually based on clinical history and clinical examinationfollowed by laboratory confirmation including demonstrating thepresence of botulinum toxin in serum, stool or food, or a culture of

Clostridium botulinum from stool, wound or food. Misdiagnosis of

botulism sometimes occurs as it is often confused with stroke,Guillain-Barr syndrome or myasthenia gravis.

Antitoxin should be administered as soon as possible after a clinicaldiagnosis. Early administration is effective in reducing mortality rates.Severe botulism cases require supportive treatment, especiallymechanical ventilation, which may be required for weeks or evenmonths. Antibiotics are not required (except in the case of wound

botulism).

Prevention:

Prevention of foodborne botulism is based on good practice in foodpreparation particularly preservation and hygiene.

7


9/14

30-08-2013


Botulism may be prevented by the inactivation of the bacterial sporesin heat-sterilized (e.g. retorted) or canned products or by inhibitingbacterial growth in other products. Commercial heat pasteurization

(vacuum packed pasteurized products, hot smoked products) maynot be sufficient to kill all spores and therefore the safety of theseproducts must be based on preventing bacterial growth and toxinproduction.

Refrigeration temperatures combined with salt content and/or acidicconditions will prevent the growth of the bacteria and formation oftoxin.

According to WHO, the important keys for food safety are:

keep clean separate raw and cooked cook thoroughly keep food at safe temperatures use safe water and raw materials.

'Botox'

The bacterium Clostridium botulinum is the same bacterium that is usedto produce Botox, a pharmaceutical product predominantly injectedfor clinical and cosmetic use. Botox treatments employ the purifiedand heavily diluted botulinum neurotoxin type A. Treatment isadministered in the medical setting, tailored according to the needs ofthe patient and is usually well tolerated although occasional sideeffects are observed.

Information sources:

World Health Organization, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

8


10/14

30-08-2013


DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

(MERS-CoV) (30th August,2013)WHO has been informed of an additional four laboratory-confirmedcases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

infection in Saudi Arabia.Read more

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

The 2nd Pharm. Tech IAPST International Conference on "New insights into

diseases and recent therapeutic approaches" from 17th to 19th January 2014 in

Kolkata, India.Read more

DRUGS UPDATES

FDA approves new drug to treat HIV infection(12thAugust, 2013)The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Tivicay

(dolutegravir), a new drug to treat HIV-1 infection. Tivicay is anintegrase strand transfer inhibitor that interferes with one of theenzymes necessary for HIV to multiply. It is a pill taken daily in

combination with other antiretroviral drugs.Read more

9
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_08_30/en/index.htmlhttp://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_08_30/en/index.htmlhttp://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_08_30/en/index.htmlhttp://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.iapst.com/http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_08_30/en/index.html


11/14

30-08-2013


CAMPUS NEWS

Azalea (exotic flower ) , the fresher welcome programme fornewcomers of GNIPST in the session 2013-14 was held on 8

th

August in GNIPST Auditorium

One day seminar cum teachers development programme forschool teachers on the theme ofRecent Trends of Life Sciencesin Higher Education organized by GNIPST held on 29th June,2013 at GNIPST auditorium. The programme was inaugurated byProf . Asit Guha, Director of JIS Group, Mr. U.S. Mukherjee, DyDirector of JIS Group and Dr. Abhijit Sengupta, Director cumPrincipal of GNIPST with lamp lighting. The programme startedwith an opening song performed by the B.Pharm students of thisinstitute. The seminar consists of a series of lectures, videopresentations and poster session. On the pre lunch session 4lectures were given by Dr. Lopamudra Dutta, Mr. DebabrataGhosh Dastidar, Ms. Swati Nandy and Ms. Tamalika Chakrabortyrespectively. On their presentation the speakers enlighten the

recent development of Pharmacy, Genetics and Microbiology andtheir correlation with Life Sciences. On the post lunch session, Ms.Saini Setua and Ms. Sanchari Bhattacharjee explained the recentdevelopment and career opportunities in Biotechnology andHospital Management. The programme was concluded withvaledictory session and certificate distribution.

About 50 Higher secondary school teachers from different

schools of Kolkata and North& South 24 Parganas district ofWest Bengal participated in this programme. A good interactivesession between participants and speakers was observed in theseminar. The seminar was a great success with the effort offaculties, staffs and students of our Institute. It was a unique

10


12/14

30-08-2013


discussion platform for school teachers and professional of theemerging and newer branches of Life Science.

STUDENTS SECTION

WHO CAN ANSWER FIRST????

Name of which disease is derived from latinword for sausage?

Which disease is also known as Landrysparalysis?

Answer of Previous Issues Questions:A) Dengue B)Dengue virus

Send your thoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/write-ups or any other contributions for StudentsSection& answers of this Section [email protected]

EDITORS NOTE

I am proud to publish the 3rd

issue of 28th

Volume of GNIPST

BULLETIN. GNIPST BULLETIN now connected globally through

facebook account GNIPST bulletin

I want to convey my thanks to all the GNIPST members and thereaders for their valuable comments, encouragement and supports.

I am thankful to Dr. Abhijit Sengupta, Director of GNIPST for his

valuable advice and encouragement. Special thanks to Dr. Prerona

Saha andMr. Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar for their kind co-operation

and technical supports.

11


13/14

30-08-2013


An important part of the improvement of the bulletin is the

contribution of the readers. You are invited to send in your write ups,

notes, critiques or any kind of contribution for the forthcoming special

and regular issue.

ARCHIVE

The following B.Pharm. final year students have qualified,

GPAT-2013. We congratulate them all.

AAAmmmaaannnppprrreeeeeettt KKKaaauuurrr,,, MMMooohhhuuuaaa DDDaaasss,,,

SSSooouuurrraaavvvBBBaaagggccchhhiii,,, UUUddddddiiippptttaaa GGGhhhooossshhh DDDaaassstttiiidddaaarrr,,,

SSSiiiddddddaaarrrttthhhSSShhhaaahhh,,, PPPrrraaappptttiiiCCChhhaaakkkrrraaabbbooorrrtttyyy,,,

SSSuuubbbhhhrrraaadddiiipppRRRoooyyyccchhhooouuudddhhhuuurrryyy,,,SSSooouuummmyyyaaajjjiiittt DDDaaasss,,,

MMMooouuunnnooommmuuukkkhhhaaarrrBBBhhhaaattttttaaaccchhhaaarrrjjjeeeeee...

GGGNNNIIIPPPSSSTTT iiisss nnnooowww aaapppppprrrooovvveeeddd bbbyyy AAAIIICCCTTTEEE aaannnddd aaaffffffiiillliiiaaattteeeddd tttooo

WWWBBBUUUTTTfffooorrr cccooonnnddduuuccctttiiinnnggg ttthhheee tttwwwooo yyyeeeaaarrrsss pppooosssttt gggrrraaaddduuuaaattteee cccooouuurrrssseee

(((MMM...PPPhhhaaarrrmmm))) iiinnn PPPHHHAAARRRMMMAAACCCEEEUUUTTTIIICCCSSS... TTThhheeeaaapppppprrrooovvveeeddd nnnuuummmbbbeeerrr

ooofffssseeeaaattt iiisss111888...

The general body meeting of APTI, Bengal Branch has been conductedat GNIPST on 15th June, 2012. The program started with a nicepresentation by Dr. Pulok Kr. Mukherjee, School of Natural Products,JU on the skill to write a good manuscript for publication in impact

12


14/14

30-08-2013


journals. It was followed by nearly two hour long discussion amongmore than thirty participants on different aspects of pharmacyeducation. Five nonmember participants applied for membership onthat very day.

GNIPST is now approved by AICTE and affiliated to WBUT forconducting the two years post graduate course (M.Pharm) inP H A R M A C O L O G Y . The approved number of seat is 18.

The number of seats in B.Pharm. has been increased from 60 to 120.

AICTE has sanctioned a release of grant under Research Promotion

Scheme (RPS) during the financial year 2012-13to GNIPST as per thedetails below:

a. Beneficiary Institution: Guru Nanak Institution of PharmaceuticalScience & Technology.

b. Principal Investigator: Dr. LopamudraDutta.

c. Grant-in-aid sanctioned:Rs. 16,25000/- only

d. Approved duration: 3 years

e. Title of the project: Screening and identification of potentialmedicinal plant ofPurulia & Bankura districts of West Bengal withrespect to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism, Jaundice,hypertension and developing biotechnological tools for enhancingbioactive molecules in these plants.

13

Documents

Gnipst Bulletin 28.3