30 June, 2012

Jaypee Medical Centre–Pharmacists Required

Jaypee Medical Centre

Redefining Healthcare in India

The Jaypee Group is a leading Indian Infrastructure Conglomerate with a combined turnover in excess of Rs. 18,000 crore. The Group already has presence in Power, Cement, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Hospitality, Sports (F1), Fertilizers, Edible Oil and Education (not-for-profit) and is now planning to set a new benchmark in Healthcare delivery. The Jaypee Medical Centre would be the Group's flagship Multi-specaility tertiary care hospital, with over 500 beds located at Noida (Delhi-NCR) and shall subsequently up-grade to over a 1000 beds.

The Group invites professionals, across the under mentioned positions to be a part of this exciting venture.

Pharmacists

Qualification: M.Pharma/ B.Pharma/ D.Pharma

Experience: With relevant experience

Location: Noida

Please apply in strict confidence by email or write 

Candidates who have applied earlier need not to apply again.

The Human Resources Department
Jaypee Medical Centre
Sector - 128,
Noida Expressway,
Noida - 201 304.
Website: www.jaypeehealthcare.com

Jaypee Group

APPLY

Wanted Medical Representative

Guard Ever Life Sciences

Guard Ever Life Sciences is an innovative pharmaceutical company, which develops and caters innovative drugs for satisfied medical needs with a wide spectrum segments like Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Respiratory &Allergy, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Nervous system & Metabolism in form of Tablets, Capsules, Liquids, Ointments, Injections and Powders are serviced through a marketing network of field guardians to stress our vision

Medical Representative

Job Code: MRKL-01

Job Location:  Kollam (Quilon), Alleppey (Alappuzha), Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur (Trichur)

Job Description:  1.) Carrying out one-on-one discussions and meetings with doctors and pharmacists in order to collect information on healthcare supplies.
2.) Introducing these healthcare professionals to new products that have been launched by the company.
3.) Visiting the offices and chambers of doctors in order to convince them about the products
.
4.) Updating themselves about the different medical products and items that are being launched in the market for they need to communicate all details to the prospective customers.

Functional Area:  Sales

Functional Role:  Area/Territory - Executive

Good understanding of how drugs work in human bodies Interpersonal skills.
2.) Aware of medical terminology and jargon.
3.) Good managerial skills.
4.) Great written and communication skills.
5.) Highly energetic and enthusiastic.

Candidate Requirement

#Bachelors degree in a field related to medicine like physiology, chemistry, biology or any other such subjects.
#Advanced degree would be required to move on to the managerial ranks..

Experience:  0 - 1.6 years

Qualification:  B.PHARMA(Pharmaceutical Science)

Preferred Resume Format:  MS-Word

Compensation Details 

offer good remuneration in the form of fixed salaries, daily & travel allowances, performed
linked incentives and other benefits viz. PF, ESI and Medical claim.

Guard Ever Life Sciences
Sudarsan P
Tc-07/1259, "Prithvi",
Pongummood Medical College Post
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala
India
Phone: 09446394061,
Website: http://www.guardever.com

29 June, 2012

Parents, Protect Babies with Vaccines

This PSA shows various ways parents keep their babies safe and healthy, including through immunization. By vaccinating their children according to CDC's recommended schedule, they can protect their little ones against 14 serious diseases before they turn two years old. Immunization gives parents the power to protect their babies.

Source: CDCStreamingHealth

Pharma -Research Associate / QA ( fresh / exp )

Cincera Pharma Products Limited

Hyderabad / Secunderabad , Delhi / NCR , Chennai , Mumbai , Bengaluru / Bangalore

Experience: 0 to 5 yrs CTC: As per Industry Standards

Job Description

-Excellent interpersonal, site management and relationship building, verbal and written communication skills including excellent presentation skills.-Team player with outstanding negotiation and organizational skills.-Client focused approach to work.-A flexible attitude with respect to work assignments, new learning and travel (overnight, weekend and occasional international travel may be required).-Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks with enthusiasm and prioritize workload with attention to detail.-Willingness to work with multiple supervisors/colleagues in a matrix environment, and to value the importance of team work.-IT literate Experience with Microsoft based applications and general knowledge of PC functions.-Able to take initiative and work independently.-Sense of urgency in completing assigned tasks.-Holds a driving license.Education-Educated to degree level (biological science, pharmacy or other health related discipline preferred) or equivalent nursing qualification/experience.

Desired Candidate Profile:

-Excellent interpersonal, site management and relationship building, verbal and written communication skills including excellent presentation skills.-Team player with outstanding negotiation and organizational skills.-Client focused approach to work.-A flexible attitude with respect to work assignments, new learning and travel (overnight, weekend and occasional international travel may be required).-Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks with enthusiasm and prioritize workload with attention to detail.-Willingness to work with multiple supervisors/colleagues in a matrix environment, and to value the importance of team work.-IT literate Experience with Microsoft based applications and general knowledge of PC functions. -Able to take initiative and work independently.-Sense of urgency in completing assigned tasks.-Holds a driving license.Education-Educated to degree level (biological science, pharmacy or other health related discipline preferred) or equivalent nursing qualification/experience.

Hiring Company Details

Cincera Pharma Products Limited

A global recruiting consultants for pharma and IT industries

Job Posted by

Specify Company Name

A global recruiting consultants for pharma and IT industries

APPLY HERE

World Hepatitis Day, 28 July

image

Source: WHO

FDA approves first glaucoma stent for use with cataract surgery

 

Today, the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System, Model GTS100R/L, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is the first device approved for use in combination with cataract surgery to reduce pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) in adult patients with mild or moderate open-angle glaucoma and a cataract who are currently being treated with medication to reduce intraocular pressure. 

Glaucoma, a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. 

In a healthy eye, clear fluid flows continuously into and out of the anterior chamber of the eye, the fluid filled space between the iris and the cornea. Fluid drains from the anterior chamber through a meshwork of tissue along the outer edge of the iris, where the iris and cornea meet, and into a canal called Schlemm’s canal that drains the fluid out of the eye. 

In open-angle glaucoma, the meshwork may become blocked or drain too slowly. Since fluid cannot leave the eye or leave it quickly enough, pressure builds up inside the eye and can rise to a level that may damage the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss.

The iStent is a small titanium tube placed through the meshwork of tissue. This creates an opening between the eye’s anterior chamber and Schlemm’s canal that allows fluid to drain, potentially decreasing intraocular pressure. 

“The iStent is a new option that may be considered in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma in patients needing cataract extraction,” said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “This option may be considered earlier in the disease process than some other types of surgical glaucoma treatments.”

The FDA reviewed effectiveness data from a study total of 240 eyes for 239 participants (one participant had both eyes evaluated). The FDA also reviewed the safety data for these and an additional 50 participants. At one year following the procedure, 68 percent of participants with the iStent had the study target pressure of 21 millimeters of mercury or lower without the use of eye pressure-lowering medication, compared to 50 percent of participants who underwent cataract surgery alone.

Because the iStent was implanted in combination with cataract surgery during the study, it was not possible to attribute all complications in the iStent-implanted participants to just the cataract procedure or just the iStent device. Among the participants who underwent surgery to implant the iStent, the following complications were directly linked to the device: unsuccessful or difficulty implanting, poor positioning of the stent, the stent touching the iris or cornea during surgery, the device being dropped into the eye prior to implantation, and the stent becoming blocked after surgery.

The iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System is manufactured by Glaukos Corporation of Laguna Hills, Calif.

Source: FDA

FDA approves Belviq to treat some overweight or obese adults

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride), as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for chronic weight management.

The drug is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) and who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).

BMI, which measures body fat based on an individual’s weight and height, is used to define the obesity and overweight categories. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the United States are obese.

“Obesity threatens the overall well being of patients and is a major public health concern,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition.”
Belviq works by activating the serotonin 2C receptor in the brain. Activation of this receptor may help a person eat less and feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.

The safety and efficacy of Belviq were evaluated in three randomized, placebo-controlled trials that included nearly 8,000 obese and overweight patients, with and without type 2 diabetes, treated for 52 to 104 weeks. All participants received lifestyle modification that consisted of a reduced calorie diet and exercise counseling. Compared with placebo, treatment with Belviq for up to one year was associated with average weight loss ranging from 3 percent to 3.7 percent.

About 47 percent of patients without type 2 diabetes lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with about 23 percent of patients treated with placebo. In people with type 2 diabetes, about 38 percent of patients treated with Belviq and 16 percent treated with placebo lost at least 5 percent of their body weight. Belviq treatment was associated with favorable changes in glycemic control in those with type 2 diabetes. The approved labeling for Belviq recommends that the drug be discontinued in patients who fail to lose 5 percent of their body weight after 12 weeks of treatment, as these patients are unlikely to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.

Belviq should not be used during pregnancy. Treatment with Belviq may cause serious side effects, including serotonin syndrome, particularly when taken with certain medicines that increase serotonin levels or activate serotonin receptors. These include, but are not limited to, drugs commonly used to treat depression and migraine. Belviq may also cause disturbances in attention or memory.

In 1997, the weight-loss drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were withdrawn from the market after evidence emerged that they caused heart valve damage. This effect is assumed to be related to activation of the serotonin 2B receptor on heart tissue. When used at the approved dose of 10 milligrams twice a day, Belviq does not appear to activate the serotonin 2B receptor.

Heart valve function was assessed by echocardiography in nearly 8,000 patients in the Belviq development program. There was no statistically significant difference in the development of FDA-defined valve abnormalities between Belviq and placebo-treated patients. Because preliminary data suggest that the number of serotonin 2B receptors may be increased in patients with congestive heart failure, Belviq should be used with caution in patients with this condition. Belviq has not been studied in patients with serious valvular heart disease.

The drug’s manufacturer will be required to conduct six postmarketing studies, including a long-term cardiovascular outcomes trial to assess the effect of Belviq on the risk for major adverse cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke.

The most common side effects of Belviq in non-diabetic patients are headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, and constipation, and in diabetic patients are low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, back pain, cough, and fatigue.

Belviq is manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH of Zofingen, Switzerland, and distributed by Eisai Inc. of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Source: FDA

FDA approves Myrbetriq for overactive bladder

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Myrbetriq (mirabegron) to treat adults with overactive bladder, a condition in which the bladder muscle cannot be controlled, squeezes too often or squeezes without warning.

An extended-release tablet taken once daily, Myrbetriq improves the storage capacity of the bladder by relaxing the bladder muscle during filling. Symptoms of overactive bladder include the need to urinate too often (urinary frequency), the need to urinate immediately (urinary urgency), and the involuntary leakage of urine as a result of the need to urinate immediately (urge urinary incontinence).

“An estimated 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder, which is uncomfortable, disrupting and potentially serious,” said Victoria Kusiak, M.D., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval provides a new treatment option for patients with this debilitating condition.”

Myrbetriq’s safety and efficacy were demonstrated in three double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trials. A total of 4,116 patients with overactive bladder were randomly assigned to take Myrbetriq at doses of 25 milligrams, 50 mg, 100 mg, or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks.

Results showed that Myrbetriq 25 mg and 50 mg effectively reduced the number of times a patient urinated and the number of times a patient had wetting accidents during a 24-hour period. Patients taking Myrbetriq 50 mg also expelled a greater amount of urine, demonstrating the drug’s effectiveness in improving the storage capacity of the bladder.

The most common side effects observed in the trials were increased blood pressure, common cold-like symptoms (nasopharyngitis), urinary tract infection, constipation, fatigue, elevated heart rate (tachycardia), and abdominal pain. Myrbetriq is not recommended for use in those with severe uncontrolled high blood pressure, end stage kidney disease or severe liver impairment.

Myrbetriq is marketed by Astellas Pharma US, Inc. of Northbrook, Ill.

Source: FDA

28 June, 2012

2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs

23rd November - 24th November 2012 | India

Image

Category: Regulatory

Address: HICC Hyderabad, India

Organiser: OMICS Group Inc.

Website: CLICK HERE to open.

The OMICS Group 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs will schedule and coordinate all meetings with our Editorial Board Members and other experts in the Pharmaceutical field across the World. The Scientific Program paves a way to gather visionaries through the research talks and presentations and put forward many thought provoking strategies in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs.

Source:

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ILA - Indian Lab Automation 2012

30th October - 31st October 2012 | India

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Category: R&D

Address: Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, #2 & 3B, Near Chinmayanand Ashram, Powai, Mumbai, 400 087, India

Organiser: Select Biosciences Ltd

Website: CLICK HERE to open.

This conference will amalgamate the cutting-edge techniques used by leading research institutes. With access to all three tracks, Drug Discovery & Development, Advances in Genomics & Informatics and Advances in Bioanalysis, this conference aims to provide delegates with a comprehensive overview of the essential techniques required to investigate current scientific advancements.

Drug Discovery & Development

In the ever-expanding field of drug development it is vital for scientists to remain at the forefront of drug discovery and refinement in order to keep up with consumerist demand. With a need for improved specificity and fewer side-effects in patients, our speakers will be discussing the sophisticated details of the fundamental techniques required to develop the most successful drugs.

Bioanalysis

This branch of analytical chemistry is essential in obtaining accurate quantitative measurements of drug metabolites and macromolecules. Keynote presentations will talk about innovative analytical methods, explain their movement towards a more reliable, rational approach of analysis, and describe the considerable impact these techniques can have on the overall success of pharmaceutical research.

Advances in Genomics and Informatics

Despite the remarkable feat of sequencing the human genome nearly ten years ago, the sheer volume of information that DNA provides us with requires continual advancements in the way we unravel and analyse the data. Our speakers will address numerous methods of analysis, particularly focusing on the exciting areas of epigenetics, miRNA and Next-Gen Sequencing.

For more information on the stimulating research involved in epigenetics, miRNA and Next-Gen Sequencing, please view the information on the Genomics Research Asia conference being held later this year.

Source:       Print

Flow Chemistry India 2012

29th October - 29th October 2012 | India

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Category: R&D

Address: Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, #2 & 3B, Near Chinmayanand Ashram, Powai, Mumbai, 400 087, India

Organiser: Select Biosciences Ltd

Website: CLICK HERE to open.

This one-day workshop will be held immediately prior to the Indian Lab Automation conference. Hosted under the auspices of the Flow Chemistry Society, this event integrates the presentation of the latest advances in flow chemistry with suppliers introducing their latest high-tech equipment.

Agenda Topics

• Lab to Pilot Scale

• Meso Flow Chemistry

• Microfluidic Flow Chemistry

• New Directions in Flow Chemistry

Oliver Kappe, Professor, Karl Franzens University of Graz

and

Paul Watts, Senior Lecturer, The University of Hull

Source:

Print

27 June, 2012

Vacancy for post of Laboratory Associate-0001296

Job Description

Laboratory Associate-0001296

Description

Catalent Pharma Solutions (a Blackstone Group company) is a leading Drug Development, Advanced Delivery Technology and Supply partner to the global pharmaceutical industry. A Fortune 1000 company, with over 20 locations on 5 continents, we partner with 90 out of the top 100 pharmaceutical companies and 44 of the top 50 biotech firms, as well as thousands of small innovator companies.
I. Department Overview
The laboratory groups at Catalent RTP are responsible for the support of pharmaceutical product development in a range of dosage forms both directly with customers and in collaboration with other Catalent facilities. This includes formulation development, structural chemistry, analytical support, and clinical trials material manufacturing.
Job Summary
Under close supervision and guidance, performs tasks from detailed instructions and established procedures. After conducting basic analysis, interpretation and evaluation of results, work is reviewed for soundness of judgment and adherence to procedure.
Specific Duties, Activities, and Responsibilities
1. Execute plan/schedule developed by supervisor.
2. Complete specified activities aligned with individual goals.
3. Inform supervisor and interacts with peers in a clear, timely and professional manner.
4. Focus is on meeting needs of internal customers only, in the context of outputs to the next stage of workflow, and external customer expectations.
5. Write clear, concise technical conclusions in laboratory notebooks.
6. Understand extra effort sometimes required to meet group deadlines.
7. Focus is on personal learning and skill development. Identifies improvement opportunities in lab operations in which they have demonstrated proficiency.
8. Follow established procedures to complete routine testing; may develop solutions for basic technical problems.
9. Take personal responsibility to be honest and direct.
10. Take ownership to promptly report errors, deviations, OOS or other unusual occurrences in the lab to supervisor.
11. Comply with Health, Safety & Environmental responsibilities.
12. Participate in local team or cross-functional teams of limited scope.
13. Assure compliance and integrity of laboratory work, and meets personal commitments.
14. All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree, or associate’s degree in chemistry or closely related physical science from a four-year college/university or equivalent education and training
• BS and 0 years related experience or Associates degree and >2 years related experience, or equivalent education, experience and training
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Proactive to address work issues at the individual level
• Understands personal role in job performance metrics
• Independent on a daily basis
• Recognizes unmet needs within local team
• Strategy is focused on personal and team time management and efficiency
• Proficient in at least one core technique
• Executes routine laboratory procedures and methods with minimal errors
• Mathematical and reasoning ability
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Ability to work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines
• Good negotiation and reasoning skills
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to easily learn and retain technical information
• Well organized with ability to handle multiple activities simultaneously
Physical Requirements:
• On an average day this position requires the ability to stand up to five hours; walk up to three hours; sit up to eight hours; use hands to finger, handle or feel up to eight hours; reach with hands and arms up to 6 hours; climb or balance up to one hour; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl up to one hour; talk or hear up to eight hours; taste or smell up to eight hours; lift up to 25 pounds frequently; and have the ability to clearly see and focus on objects and color at close and far distances with good depth perception
• Must have the ability to wear a respirator for a period of time

Job

Manufacturing

Primary Location

United States-NC-Morrisville

Organization

Development & Clinical Services

Schedule

Full-time

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

More voluntary blood donations essential

On World Blood Donor Day, WHO calls for more people to be heroes – donating blood regularly

Every year, millions of people rely on the generosity of another person to donate blood. Yet, blood donation rates vary considerably and the demands for blood and blood products are increasing worldwide. To meet these needs, more people must come forward to give blood voluntarily, and regularly, says the WHO on World Blood Donor Day.

“With increasing life expectancy and the subsequent increase in the number of age-related, chronic diseases, including cancers, that require blood and blood products for treatment, demand outstrips supply,” says Dr Neelam Dhingra, Coordinator for Blood Transfusion Safety at WHO. “In addition, some blood products used to treat cancer patients, like platelets, have a shelf-life of only five days. This means we increasingly need more blood donors to meet these demands.”

Need for blood and blood products is rising

The need for blood and blood products is rising in all parts of the world. In high- and middle-income countries, with advancements in health-care systems and improved health coverage, this need is being driven by increasingly sophisticated medical and surgical procedures such as cardiovascular and transplant surgery, trauma care and therapy for cancer and blood disorders. All major surgeries need blood to be available on standby.

In addition, severe bleeding during delivery or after childbirth is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. When severe bleeding occurs, urgent and timely treatment is required for management of these patients, including transfusion of blood and blood products, as women may die within one hour.

Every year, road traffic accidents cause 1.3 million deaths globally and, in addition, injure or disable between 20 million and 50 million people; 90% of deaths from road traffic accidents occur in developing countries. Uncontrolled bleeding accounts for more than 468 000 deaths per year.

In low-income countries where diagnostic facilities and treatment options are limited, the majority of transfusions are prescribed for the treatment of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, the management of severe childhood anaemia, trauma and congenital blood disorders. In many situations, current systems are unable to meet the needs, while expansion of health coverage and improved access to health services further increases these demands.

More repeat donors are essential

There are 92 million blood donations per year globally, most of these by voluntary, unpaid donors. But of these voluntary donors, 30 million give blood once, and then do not return.

“We need to encourage these donors to come back and become repeat, regular donors,” says Dr Dhingra. “Each blood donation is only 450 millilitres and by having more repeat voluntary donors, we can better assure the reliability of blood supply and safety of blood and blood products.”

Country successes

Yet, there are some noteworthy examples of countries who are able to meet the transfusion needs of their health-care systems, and WHO is highlighting these successes on this World Blood Donor Day.

Today, 62 countries meet their transfusion needs and many more are making rapid progress. For example, Viet Nam has increased voluntary blood donation from just one third of total supplies to almost 90% in just 10 years. It has also increased total annual blood collection from 268 394 units to 776 420 units in the same period.

In the Cook Islands, education campaigns targeting health workers and the community have resulted in a complete change in the source of blood donations: from 2002 to 2007, the proportion of blood collected from voluntary, unpaid donors increased from 30% to 100%. It also increased the number of regular donors from just 70 to more than 400 donors from its population of around 20 000.

Source:WHO

People with drug dependence need better access to health care

WHO maps treatment and prevention resources in 147 countries

Most people with drug use disorders do not receive effective treatment and care, according to a new WHO information system that, for the first time, provides details on the resources allocated to the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug-related problems in 147 countries. Until now, drug dependence has not been recognized as a health problem in many countries and stigma and discrimination associated with drug dependence have been major barriers to appropriate treatment.

Lack of access to treatment

“Drug dependence is a disorder that can be treated effectively but, unfortunately, the large majority of persons who need it do not have access to treatment,” says Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “The data presented in the new system illustrate the huge gaps that still exist in the area of drug dependence treatment. But more and more countries realize the benefits of treatment for drug and alcohol dependence, not only for the individuals themselves, but also for the society and the economy.”

According to new UN estimates, worldwide about 230 million adults (aged 15-64), or 5% of the adult population, used an illicit drug at least once in 2010, including about 27 million people with severe drug problems.

Data on funding, staff and services

The WHO Global Health Observatory Database – Resources for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders now provides such data for each country as funding, staff and services and thereby complements the already available information on scope and associated harms of substance use disorders. The country profiles included in the new system cover 88% of the world’s population.

“The availability of drug dependence treatment lags well behind treatment and care offered for other diseases according to our data,” explains Dr Vladimir Poznyak, Coordinator of the Management of Substance Use team at WHO. “For example, only 45% of the assessed countries are able to provide essential medicines to treat the dependence on heroin and other opiates and in almost half of the countries where treatment is available not more than one in 5 persons with drug use disorders benefits from the services. A quarter of the countries which identify opiates as the main drug problem do not offer the range of medications recommended by WHO.”

Low-cost treatment

Drug dependence is a disorder that can be treated effectively with low-cost medicines and standardized psychological therapies. In particular, the treatment of heroin dependence has been very successful in reducing HIV infection due to unsafe injection, crime and the risk of death through overdose.

WHO has been working closely with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) since 2009 to increase the access to treatment for people with drug use disorders. The understanding that drug abuse, at its core, is a public health issue has increased in recent years. However, only 82 countries offer special health services to people with drug use disorders.

With the launch of the new global information system WHO commemorates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking celebrated by the UN every year on 26 June.

Source:WHO

How will a pulp result?

How will a pulp result?

A vegetarian leaks.

Pharmacist jobs in Delhi/NCR

Summary

Experience:
0 - 5 Years

Compensation:
Not Mentioned

Industry Type:
Pharma/ Biotech/Clinical Research

Role:
Pharmacist/Chemist/Bio Chemist

Openings:
100

Location:
Delhi/NCR

Education:
UG - B.Pharma - Pharmacy,Diploma PG - Post Graduation Not Required

Functional Area:
Pharma / Biotech / Healthcare / Medical / R&D

Posted On:
27th Jun 2012

APPLY

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Company Profile

One of the largest chain in Retail Pharmacy

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Desired Candidate Profile

Dispensing prescription medicine to the Customer, Checking dosage and ensuring that medicines are correctly and safely supplied and labeled( are legally responsible for any dispensing errors); Liasioning with doctors about prescriptions

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Job Description

Dispensing prescription medicine to the Customer, Checking dosage and ensuring that medicines are correctly and safely supplied and labeled( are legally responsible for any dispensing errors); Liasioning with doctors about prescriptions

Walk-In Interview on 19th Nov, 2011 for PSR - Thiruvananthapuram HQjobs inThiruvananthapuram-DKT India-1to2Years of Experience

<a href="http://www.wisdomjobs.com/view_job.php?jobid=355935&amp;flag=t&amp;utm_source=jooble&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=jooble#.T-pjam0yR28.blogger">Walk-In Interview on 19th Nov, 2011 for PSR - Thiruvananthapuram HQjobs inThiruvananthapuram-DKT India-1to2Years of Experience</a>

http://www.wisdomjobs.com/view_job.php?jobid=355935&flag=t&utm_source=jooble&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=jooble#.T-pjam0yR28.blogger

26 June, 2012

Novel Chemotherapy Agent Appears to be a Promising Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

A novel chemotherapeutic agent, the highly selective MEK1/2 inhibitor BAY 86-9766, may be a promising future treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), according to preclinical results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held here June 18-21.

“We showed in our endogenous mouse model that our novel chemotherapeutic agent leads to dramatic tumor shrinkage after only one week of treatment,” said Nicole Teichmann, Ph.D., of the Klinikum rechts der Isar at the Technische Universität München in Munich, Germany. “Moreover, the therapy was as effective in animals with advanced tumors and ascites, which is often the case if patients come to the clinic.”

In this preclinical therapeutic study, BAY 86-9766 was evaluated in one of the most aggressive mouse models for PDAC, according to Teichmann. The researchers induced endogenous genetic alterations in these mice, and within eight weeks, the mice developed invasive, lethal PDAC. These genetic alterations closely mimic what is found in most human cases of the disease, she said.

“The mutations trigger the onset of a signaling cascade that is necessary for the survival and proliferation of the cancer cells,” Teichmann said. “Our novel chemotherapeutic drug inhibits one essential protein of this cascade and therefore leads to the cascade’s shutdown.”

A daily treatment of 25 mg/kg with BAY 86-9766 prolonged the survival of the mice in the study compared to their ‘placebo’-treated counterparts; median survival advantage was 20 days. The treatment caused dramatic tumor regression after only one week and was effective in animals with advanced tumors and ascites, which is often how patients present to the clinic.

“We were really surprised that the tumor load dramatically decreases after one week of therapy and also that the treatment conferred such a strong overall survival benefit,” Teichmann said. “Previous studies with gemcitabine, the standard-of-care agent for PDAC since 1997, or other novel inhibitors tested in our lab with the same mouse model showed no or only very modest effects. In our hands, this is the first targeted drug to have shown such strong tumor effects in an endogenous mouse model of PDAC.”

In most animals, the tumor relapsed after three weeks of treatment, which modeled the situation in humans. “Often patients respond to a therapy and after a while, the tumor relapses,” she added. “We can exploit this same tumor relapse in the mouse to investigate the resistance mechanism to improve the therapeutic strategy.”

These findings encourage testing in mouse models rather than xenograft models. “Our results support testing novel agents for pancreatic cancer in endogenous mouse models, rather than conventional xenograft models because they take into account the genetic and morphological heterogeneity of the disease and may be more predictive with regard to efficacy,” Teichmann said.

Source: AACR

Antitoxin Strategy May Help Target Other Pathogens

Researchers have unveiled a novel strategy for neutralizing unwanted molecules and clearing them from the body.

The strategy employs chains of binding agents, like “beads on a string”, which target two sites on one or more pathogenic moleculesto neutralize their activity and promote their clearance by the body’s immune system. The low-cost, easy-to-replicate tool has demonstrated applications against several different toxins, from those found in contaminated food to those used in bioterrorism, and may also prove effective in targeting other types of pathogens.

The research team, based at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, demonstrated the method’s efficacy in preventing the symptoms of botulism, a rare but deadly disease caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), considered one of the most dangerous bioterror threat agents. The findings were presented earlier this year in PLoS ONE.

“Currently, antitoxins are difficult to produce and have a short shelf life, making them very expensive. This new approach provides a low-cost way to develop highly effective antitoxins,” said senior author Charles B. Shoemaker, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

“This method has the potential to target a number of pathogens – not only toxins such as BoNT, but viruses or inflammatory cytokines. It is an important platform through which to address other significant diseases,” says co-author Saul Tzipori, BVSc., DSc, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Cummings School.

Shoemaker and team had earlier found that pools of small ‘tagged’ binding agents were highly effective in targeting toxins, neutralizing their function, and flagging them for removal via the body’s immune system in the presence of an anti-tag monoclonal antibody.

In the newly published in vivo study, the researchers have advanced this approach by linking two BoNT-binding agents together and including two copies of the tag. The binding agents are small, stable proteins derived genetically from unusual antibodies produced by toxin-immune alpacas. The resulting molecule, called a ‘double-tagged heterodimer,’ binds to two separate sites on the toxin. Binding of this single heterodimeric agent much more effectively neutralizes the toxin than the unlinked monomer binding agents used in the prior research. In addition, attaching two tags to each of the two linked agents leads to toxin decoration by up to four anti-tag monoclonal antibodies, which promotes rapid toxin clearance from the blood, the researchers found (see figure).

The double-tagged heterodimer antitoxin agent strategy was shown to be efficacious against two types of BoNT in the PLoS ONE report. The antitoxin agents were administered at the time of exposure, or shortly after. Treated mice did not show any symptoms of botulism – including the lethal paralysis which characterizes the disease, even when exposed to high toxin doses. Thus, the benefits of complex antitoxins were equaled or bettered by administration of two easy-to-produce agents; a heterodimer binding agent and an anti-tag monoclonal antibody.

According to Shoemaker, a major advantage of this approach is that, unlike treatments that only neutralize toxins, this treatment both neutralizes toxins and ensures their rapid clearance from the body. “Agents that only neutralize their pathogenic target will eventually dissociate which will allow the pathogen to continue doing damage if it is not eliminated,” he said.

The group has now successfully taken the research further by building longer strings of binding agents that target multiple toxins with a single molecule—for example, the two types of Shiga toxins that are produced by some E. coli found in contaminated foods or the two toxins produced by hospital-acquired C. difficile infections.

Source: Tufts University

23 June, 2012

Sun Exposure and Sun-sensitive Skin Type Decreased Risk for Pancreatic Cancer

High levels of ultraviolet radiation at an individual’s birth location, sun-sensitive skin type and a history of skin cancer each decreased risk for pancreatic cancer, according to study results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held here June 18-21.

Rachel Neale, Ph.D., principal investigator at Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Queensland, Australia, presented the results of a population-based, case-control study that adds to the already conflicting data about sun exposure, vitamin D gained from sun exposure and cancer risk.

“Several ecological studies, including one conducted in Australia, have suggested that people living in areas with high sun exposure have lower risk for pancreatic cancer,” Neale said. “However, some studies of circulating vitamin D indicate that people with high vitamin D are at increased risk, and one study of vitamin D intake supports this increased risk.”

The results of this study support the existing ecological data which indicate that sun exposure has a protective effect against pancreatic cancer.

Neale and colleagues recruited 714 people in Queensland, Australia, between 2007 and 2011. They were matched by age and sex to 709 control participants. All participants were interviewed about socio-demographic information and medical history. In addition, they were asked about the location of their birth, skin cancer history and skin type, defined by skin color, tanning ability and propensity to sunburn.

Using NASA’s Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer, the researchers assigned a level of ultraviolet radiation to each birth location and then split them into thirds based on how much radiation was present.

Participants born in areas with the highest levels of ultraviolet radiation had a 24 percent lower risk for pancreatic cancer compared with those born in areas of low ultraviolet radiation.

In addition, although all skin types had some significant association with pancreatic cancer risk, those classified as having the most sun-sensitive skin had a 49 percent decreased risk for pancreatic cancer compared with those classified as having the least sun-sensitive skin. Finally, participants with a history of skin cancer or other sun-related skin lesions had a 40 percent lower risk for pancreatic cancer than those who had not reported skin lesions.

“There is increasing interest in the role of sun exposure, which has been largely attributed to the effect of vitamin D, on cancer incidence and mortality,” Neale explained. “It is important that we understand the risks and benefits of sun exposure because it has implications for public health messages about sun exposure, and possibly about policy related to vitamin D supplementation or food fortification.”

Moving forward, Neale recommended that researchers conduct large cohort studies that measure sun exposure comprehensively, and serum vitamin D.

“There are several trials of vitamin D that are either under way or planned, and pooling data from these might give some clue about vitamin D and pancreatic cancer,” Neale said.

Source: American Association for Cancer Research

Abnormal Gene Product Associated With Prostate Cancer Generated by Unusual Mechanism

Researchers have identified a potential new pathway in prostate cancer cells by which cancer-driving gene products can be generated, according to a study published inCancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

“Our work shows that cancers have many more tricks than we thought to generate potential cancer-driving genes or gene products,” said Hui Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and a recipient of an Innovative Research Grant from Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). The AACR is the scientific partner of SU2C.

Gene fusion is a common characteristic of human cancers. In many cases, the protein products of these gene fusions, which are generated via an RNA intermediate, have a key role in the genesis of the cancer. A well-characterized example of this is the protein that drives chronic myeloid leukemia, BCR-ABL, which is generated via RNA intermediates from a fusion gene formed by chromosomal translocation — an event involving exchange of genomic DNA between two distinct chromosomes.   

“For many years, chromosomal translocation was considered the sole way in which single RNAs consisting of copies of parts of two genes, so-called fusion RNAs, could be generated,” said Li. “We have shown that fusion RNAs can be generated without changes to DNA by a new mechanism that we are calling cis-SAGe [cis-splicing of adjacent genes].” Recently, a fusion RNA formed from parts of the SLC45A3 and ELK4 genes was identified in prostate cancer cells in the absence of any DNA alterations. Li and his colleagues confirmed in two prostate cancer cells lines that the SLC45A3-ELK4 fusion RNA could be detected even though there was no evidence of genomic DNA rearrangement.

Detailed molecular analysis of the prostate cancer cell lines indicated that the SLC45A3-ELK4 fusion RNA was generated by cis-SAGe. SLC45A3 and ELK4 are neighboring genes, and cis-SAGe occurred when an RNA that crossed the boundary between the two genes was formed.

The protein CCCTC-binding factor normally acts to insulate SLC45A3 and ELK4 from each other. Li and his colleagues found that levels of this protein at the gene boundary inversely correlated with the amount of SLC45A3-ELK4 fusion RNA generated, providing molecular insight into how the quantity of this fusion RNA could be regulated.

A functional role for the SLC45A3-ELK4 fusion RNA in prostate cancer was suggested by two observations. First, it promoted the growth of the two prostate cancer cell lines in culture. Second, its levels in human prostate samples correlated with prostate cancer disease progression — normal prostate tissue expressed the lowest levels and prostate cancer specimens from men with metastatic disease expressed the highest levels.       

“These data are not sufficient to say that the SLC45A3-ELK4 fusion RNA has a causal role in prostate cancer,” said Li. “But they are highly suggestive, and I am very excited that this high-risk project, which I would not have been able to pursue without the grant from Stand Up To Cancer, has uncovered what seems to be a new way in which cancer can be driven.”   

Source: www.AACR.org.

22 June, 2012

Urgent Vacancy For The Post Of Pharmacist!!!

LOTUS EYE CARE HOSPITAL AND iNSTITUTE

About the Organization:
We are Lotus Eye Care Hospital and Institute - speciality eye Care Hospitals in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The services that we offer are:
Diabetic Eye Diseases: Diabetic blindness is on the increase with an increase in diabetics among the middle- aged population. Lotus performs Indirect Ophthalmoscopic examination, Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram and Laser treatment for diabetic eye diseases. Early detection & treatment can help to retain good eyesight. In advanced cases, with severe bleed into the eye, Pars-plana vitrectomy and endo-laser is performed.
Vitreo- Retinal Diseases: Lotus has a fully equipped Vitreo Retinal Unit, with Ultra Sound Scans, Laser treatment and hi-tech Vitrectomy equipment to perform Vitreo Retinal Surgeries.
Glaucoma: The speciality department deals with the diagnosis and long-term follow-up and management of this common and often overlooked, but sight-threatening disease. The expertise available is on par with the best centers the world over.
Pediatric Ophthalmology: Lotus has the facility to diagnose & treat Congenital Cataract, Congenital Glaucoma, Refractive Errors & Squint. Oculoplasty & Orbital Diseases Problems of the eyelid and surrounding bony cavity (orbit) like Ptosis, Lachrymal Passage Diseases, Orbital Fractures, Tumors & Prosthetic Implants, are also managed here. Research Activities Clinical research for Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy is being carried out at Lotus.
Teaching & Training: Lotus trains young ophthalmologists in General Ophthalmology & Phacoemulsification with I.O.L, Lasik, and Vitreo-retinal disorders.
Lotus Eye Care Hospital and Institute,
Avinashi Road,
Civil Aerodrome Post,
Coimbatore – 641014

Pharmacist

Job Code: LECH/HR/PHR/ SLM /2012-13

Job Location:  Salem

Job Description:  Job Responsibilities:
1. Doctors should be informed about new medicines on arrival, non moving stocks and short expiry medicines on regular basis.
2. Attending the Patients :-
a) While attending to patient’s prescription see that drugs are given as per the Doctor’s advice and if any substitution doctor’s consent has to be procured.
b) A computer bill has to be generated and attached with the prescription .The Dosage pattern has to be explained to the patient. Cash to be collected with proper change.
c) Any doubts raised by the patient have to be cleared politely.
3. Purchase indent has to be submitted to the purchase department on the 1st and 15th of every month without fail. All wanted items have to be thoroughly checked while placing indent and pending items on receipt has to be immediately informed so that there isn’t any shortage at the counter.
4. Cash collection has to be submitted every evening to the cash counter.
5. Maintain all registers up to date
6. Inform Centre head on any difficulties faced.
7. Pharmacy should be clean and well arranged on daily basis, ready for any time inspection.
8. Look into expiry date on each drug before billing it to the patient.
9. Maintain timings given by the management in opening and closing of Pharmacy.
10. Co-operate with co-members in smooth functioning of the hospital.
11. Don’t make patients wait at the counter too long to procure medicines act fast.
12. Carry out additional responsibilities given by the management.
13. Emergency indent to be placed to the purchase department with approval of Pharmacy Manager/Doctor/Centre Head/Vice President.

must have completed D. PHARMA OR B. PHARMA.

Candidate Requirement

Experience: Atleast 4 years of pharmacy experience of which 2 years as hospital pharmacist.

Experience:  2 - 6 years

Qualification:  B.Pharma - M.Pharma(null), B.PHARMA(Ayurveda)

Preferred Resume Format:  MS-Word

LOTUS EYE CARE HOSPITAL AND iNSTITUTE
SHRADDHA RAJA
Avinashi Road,,
Civil Aerodrome Post, Coimbatore – 641014
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
India 641014
Phone: 914224229916
Website: http://www.lotuseye.org

20 June, 2012

NIH study finds HIV-positive young men at risk of low bone mass

 

Researchers recommend monitoring, exercise, vitamin D to prevent future fracture risk

Young men being treated for HIV are more likely to experience low bone mass than are other men their age, according to results from a research network supported by the National Institutes of Health. The findings indicate that physicians who care for these patients should monitor them regularly for signs of bone thinning, which could foretell a risk for fractures. The young men in the study did not have HIV at birth and had been diagnosed with HIV an average of two years earlier.

Earlier studies have shown that adults with HIV also have bone loss and increased risk for bone fractures, associated in part with the use of certain anti-HIV medications.

“The young men in the study had been taking anti-HIV medications for a comparatively short time, yet they still had lower bone mineral density than other men their age,” said co-author Bill G. Kapogiannis, M.D., of the Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). “These findings suggest a short-term impact of HIV therapy on bone at ages when people are still growing and building bone mass. This raises concern about the risk of fracture as they age.”

For the HIV-infected young men, on average, bone density in the hip was 5-8 percent lower, and in the spine 2-4 percent lower, than for study participants without HIV.

The study was not designed to determine the cause of the bone loss and cannot rule out the possibility that low bone mass preceded the young men's HIV infection. The researchers noted that all the young men had several risk factors for bone loss, such as tobacco and alcohol use, and low intake of calcium and vitamin D (needed to absorb calcium.)

The study was conducted by lead authors Kathleen Mulligan, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco; Grace Aldrovandi, M.D., of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California; Dr. Kapogiannis, and seven other researchers affiliated with the NICHD-supported Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN).

Their findings appear in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Additional funding was provided by the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Some 250 teens and young men (14 to 25 years old) participated in the study. About 88 percent of the study participants identified themselves as African-American or Hispanic and all lived in urban areas. The participants underwent whole body scans to measure their bone density as well as the distribution of fat and lean muscle mass in certain regions of their bodies. Participants also answered questions about their medical history, and diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits.

The researchers calculated the density of bones in the body as a whole, as well as the spine and hipbones. These bones are more susceptible than other bones to bone loss, Dr. Mulligan explained. The researchers also assessed total body fat and amounts of fat in the arms, legs and trunk.

The researchers found that the HIV-positive participants who had not yet begun treatment tended to have less body fat than either their counterparts on medication or the study's HIV-negative participants.

Both bone density and the calcium and other mineral content of bones tended to be lowest in participants taking medication for HIV. Youth with HIV who had not begun treatment had higher bone mass levels than HIV positive youth who were on anti-HIV regimens, but lower bone mass levels than youth who did not have HIV. Participants' responses to questions about diet indicated that at least half of them did not consume sufficient calcium or vitamin D. The researchers also found that more than 30 percent of all the participants smoked. Half said they did not get regular exercise. Smoking and lack of exercise can contribute to weaker bones. The study authors noted that additional studies are needed to follow HIV-positive young men long term to determine whether bone loss during adolescence increases the risk of fractures later in life.

“None of the young men we saw is in immediate risk of fracture,” said Dr. Mulligan. “However, our results indicated that it would be a good idea for young men newly diagnosed with HIV to make sure they exercise, get enough calcium and vitamin D, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption.”

Researchers in the ATN Network previously found that vitamin D supplements might help protect the bones of people taking the anti-HIV drug tenofovir.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute's website at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.

June 20 Webinar: Using Digital Tools to Present Tobacco Information

 

In this webinar, you will learn how FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) uses a variety of digital tools to engage and inform about tobacco laws and the dangers of tobacco use—tools that you can also use to share information and encourage change.A person getting tobacco information at www.fda.gov

From Twitter to texting, digital technology offers countless opportunities to motivate action and present information in new and interesting ways.

The featured speaker is Michael Murray, a senior social media strategist at CTP, who will highlight several innovative tools that FDA can provide consumers. Murray will be joined by Anait Saakyan, a marketing specialist, who will present a number of ways to connect with FDA through social media.

When: Wednesday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. ET

Length: 30 minutes

Where: To join the webinar, see the instructions at

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm308056.htm

Host: FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products

Featured speaker: Michael Murray, FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)

This webinar is part of a series of online sessions hosted by different FDA centers and offices. The series is part of FDA Basics, a Web-based resource aimed at helping the public better understand what the agency does.

Source: FDA's Consumer Updates

16 June, 2012

Ophthalmologists Warn that Serious, Blinding Eye Diseases May Show No Early Symptoms

 

During Healthy Vision Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare America urge early detection through dilated eye exams

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare America, a public-service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, urge all Americans to make regular dilated eye exams a part of their health routine during Healthy Vision Month. Observed each year during the month of May, Healthy Vision Month is an annual campaign to educate the public about ways to make their healthy vision last a lifetime. In addition to routine eye exams, healthy habits – such as a nutritious diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and wearing sunglasses – can help prevent eye disease and vision loss.

There are seldom any warning signs or symptoms during the early stages of serious eye diseases like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. However, it is in the early stages of disease that treatments can most effectively prevent blindness. The only way to catch many eye diseases early is through routine screening.

"Most Americans understand the importance of regular dental visits or cancer screenings, but often forget about their eye health until they notice a problem," said Stephanie Marioneaux, M.D., clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Too often, this costs patients their vision. A dilated eye exam is the only way to catch eye disease early so that preventive measures can be taken to save sight."

Eye Exam 101
A comprehensive eye exam is a painless procedure that can detect potentially sight-robbing conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, even before a patient experiences any symptoms. A comprehensive eye exam should cover the following: 

  • Medical history, assessed through questions about vision and family history.
  • Visual acuity, tested by reading a standardized eye chart.
  • Pupils, evaluated to determine how well they respond to light.
  • Eye movement, tested to ensure proper eye alignment and ocular muscle function.
  • Prescription for corrective lenses, evaluated to ensure proper vision correction.
  • Side vision, tested for possible vision loss and glaucoma risk.
  • Eye pressure, tested as a possible glaucoma symptom.
  • Front part of the eye, examined to reveal any cataracts, scars or scratches on your cornea.
  • Retina and optic nerve, assessed through a dilated eye exam using special eyedrops, which allows your Eye M.D. to thoroughly examine the back of the eye for signs of damage from disease.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all Americans have a baseline eye exam with an ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor or surgeon with the skill and experience to diagnose and treat the full range of eye diseases and disorders – no later than age 40. At that time, the ophthalmologist will determine how frequently a patient needs follow-up exams, based on the individual patient's eye health needs.

By age 65, the Academy recommends eye exams every one to two years, or as directed by an ophthalmologist. Many within this population may actually qualify for free or no out-of-pocket cost eye exams and treatment throughEyeCare America, which ensures that qualifying Americans age 65 and older have access to the eye care they need. It is the largest public-service program in American medicine, having served more than 1.7 million patients since its inception in 1985.

EyeCare America is made possible through the generous support of the Knights Templar Foundation, Genentech and Alcon.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and EyeCare America recognize Healthy Vision Month in May each year in partnership with the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. As part of this national effort, the Academy will be celebrating EyeSmart Week (May 14-20) to further promote the importance of dilated eye exams. To learn more about EyeSmart Week and how to keep eyes healthy, visit www.geteyesmart.org

Source: www.aao.org.

Low levels of lipid antibodies increase complications following heart attack

Coronary patients with low levels of an immune system antibody called anti-PC, which neutralises parts of the 'bad' cholesterol, run a greater risk of suffering complications following an acute cardiac episode and thus of premature death. This according to new research from Karolinska Institutet published in the scientific periodical The International Journal of Cardiology.

Johan Frostegård Photo: Sabina Bossi

"We're hoping that injections of anti-PC can form part of the treatment received by coronary patients," says principal investigator Professor Johan Frostegård from the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet.

The main cause of myocardial infarction is atherosclerosis, in which plaque forms along the vascular walls and that has proved to be an inflammatory disease. The plaque contains large amounts of modified and oxidised bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), which could also be described as a kind of rancid fat. There are also a great many dead cells. Problems arise when the body is unable to cleanse away these harmful plaque substances, and if the plaque then ruptures it can cause a stroke or heart attack.

Antibodies are formed to defend the body from what it treats as dangerous substances and foreign bodies. Apart from germs, this also includes dead cells. The team behind the present study have previously shown that there are natural antibodies (anti-PC) to the lipid phosphorylcholine (PC), which is found in, amongst other substances, LDL cholesterol and dead cells. Their hypothesis is that excessively low levels of anti-PC can be a contributor to atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases.

The present study in The International Journal of Cardiology shows that patients with low levels of anti-PC in connection with acute coronary syndromes and refractory, unstable angina run a greater risk of complications and premature death. The risk of death was more than double in coronary patients with low levels of anti-PC, who also had a significantly higher risk of additional heart attacks or other complications.

The study included 1,185 patients who had been admitted to Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg for acute coronary disease between September 1995 and March 2001. The blood samples on which the analyses were based were taken within 24 hours of their arrival.

According to Professor Frostegård, the results suggest that anti-PC can have a protective effect on cardiovascular disease by inhibiting inflammation and cell death. His team has spent many years developing immunological treatments for atherosclerotic plaque based on exploiting anti-PC to target phosphorylcholine. The work is done in part through a company set up within Karolinska Institutet's innovation system, and the model they have developed has been patented.

"The immunological treatment of cardiovascular diseases is clearly a Swedish speciality," says Professor Frostegård. "Other Swedish researchers maintain that it's apolipoprotein B, an important constituent of LDL, that we should be vaccinating against, but the two aren't mutually exclusive and a combination is conceivable and something that we're now also testing."

Professors Kenneth Caidahl and Ulf de Faire at Karolinska Institutet have also been involved in the study, along with researchers from the Sahlgren Academy. The project is part of the EU consortium CVDIMMUNE, which is being led by Professor Frostegård.

Source: Karolinska Institutet

A New World of Chemistry

Enhancing the chemistry of zinc

By tinkering with a zinc molecule, Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered it can exist in a higher oxidation state, opening the door for a new form of chemistry and new composition of matter.

The oxidation state of an element is key to understanding processes in chemistry and biology including redox reactions, catalysis and reaction mechanisms. For decades, chemists have been fascinated with the possibility that the group 12 elements of the periodic table, which includes zinc, cadmium and mercury, could exist at a higher oxidation state. Previously, scientists had found mercury to exist in the +IV oxidation state, but have never shown that zinc, being much lighter in weight compared to mercury, could exist beyond the +II oxidation state.

Optimized structure of Zn(AuF6)3, a molecule where zinc is in the +III oxidation state. Image courtesy of Devleena Samanta.

A new series of theoretical work by Puru Jena, Ph.D., distinguished professor of physics at VCU, and his graduate student Devleena Samanta, shows that ‘higher and unusual oxidation states of metals can be achieved using ligands with large electron affinities such as superhalogens.’

In the study, Jena and Samanta demonstrated that by using specific ligands that satisfy two important criteria – high electron affinity and no tendency to coalesce – unusually high oxidation states of elements can be stabilized. The discovery was published online last month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

“Our new findings open the door for a new kind of chemical reaction, and therefore new chemistry,” said Jena.

“We believe that our work provides a new perspective on how to manipulate oxidation states and therefore one can imagine tremendous applications of this in all sphere of chemistry and material science,” said Samanta.

The work was supported in part by the Department of Energy, grant number: DE-FG0296ER45579.

Source: Virginia Commonwealth University

13 June, 2012

Every blood donor is a hero

One donation of blood can save up to three lives. As the need for blood continues to grow around the world, WHO and partners recognize all those who volunteer to give blood, and invite more people to be heroes by donating blood voluntarily and regularly. On World Blood Donor Day, 14 June, help spread the message, "Every blood donor is a hero," and join the conversation on Twitter @WHO - #GiveBlood. (http://twitter.com/#!/who)
For more information: http://www.who.int/worldblooddonorday/en/

12 June, 2012

ICD-10-PCS – Looking at the Final Draft Code Set

Date & Time

June 20th, 2012 1:20 PM

Information

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 1:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (1 hour)

Register Now

Join us in reviewing the final draft of the ICD-10-PCS code set while reviewing the structure of the coding system. We will thoroughly review the updated guidelines for the use of the procedure coding system and begin a review of the 31 root operations.
Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the overall contents and organization of the 2012 draft version of the ICD-10-PCS procedure coding system.
  • Review the structure of the ICD-10-PCS code, index and tables.
  • Discuss the 2012 draft guidelines for the ICD-10-PCS system.
  • Classify the 31 Root Operations into groups.

Presenters:
Therese (Teri) Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA
Product Specialist / Subject Matter Expert
Elsevier MC Strategies
Assistant Professor, Health Information Management
University of Illinois at Chicago
Therese (Teri) Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA is a Product Specialist and Subject Matter Expert with Elsevier MC Strategies and an Assistant Professor in Health Information Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has presented numerous workshops and developed educational material for in-class and online courses in ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM/PCS and HCPCS/CPT coding for universities, hospitals, physicians and other health care providers and associations.
Teri has been active in the health information management field and served as the co-chairman of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Council, and is a member of the ICD-10 Academic Transition Workgroup and ICD-10 Academy external faculty. She served as the first Chairman of the AHIMA Society for Clinical Coding and is a recipient of the AHIMA’s Pioneer and Literary Awards. Teri is a past chairman and member of the Construction Committee for the Certified Coding Associate Examination. She also is the past president and recipient of the Distinguished Member award for both the Chicago Area and Illinois Health Information Management Associations and received the Amoco Silver Circle, Excalibur and Educator of Year awards for teaching excellence at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Teri is the author of several publications, including the ICD-9-CM for Physician Practices text and educational materials for a variety of organizations, including AHIMA. She is a monthly columnist for the Medical Office Manager newsletter and a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of the American Health Information Management Association.
Sara Clark, MLS, RHIA
Consultant
Provider Consulting Solutions
Manager
Sara Clark has extensive experience developed over 20 years of hands-on experience in all facets of Health Information Management (HIM). She has her own consulting firm and is also a Manager at Provider Consulting Solutions (PCS), Inc. Her areas of expertise include inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems, MS-DRGs, AP/APR DRGs, APCs, APGs, CRGs; ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS), compliance, clinical documentation improvement, operational assessments, case mix analysis and the use of InterQual criteria for appropriateness of admission reviews.
Sara is an AHIMA certified ICD-10 trainer, who earned a Bachelors of Professional Services degree from the State University of New York, College of Technology in Utica, New York. In addition, she holds a Masters in Library Science from SUNY Albany, New York and a Bachelors of Science Degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. A Registered Health Information Administrator, Sara is a past president of the New York Health Information Management Association.

More Info: ICD-10-PCS – Looking at the Final Draft Code Set

09 June, 2012

New Discovery Provides Insight on Long-Standing Pregnancy Mystery

 

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have made an important discovery that partially answers the long-standing question of why a mother’s immune system does not reject a developing fetus as foreign tissue.

“Our manuscript addresses a fundamental question in the fields of transplantation immunology and reproductive biology, namely, how do the fetus and placenta, which express antigens that are disparate from the mother, avoid being rejected by the maternal immune system during pregnancy?” explained lead investigator Adrian Erlebacher, MD, PhD, associate professor of pathology and a member of the NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. “What we found was completely unexpected at every level.” 

The researchers discovered that embryo implantation sets off a process that ultimately turns off a key pathway required for the immune system to attack foreign bodies. As a result, immune cells are never recruited to the site of implantation and therefore cannot harm the developing fetus. 

The study, funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society, appears in the June 8 issue of Science. 

A central feature of the body’s natural immune defense against transplanted foreign tissues and pathogens is the production of chemokines as a result of the local inflammatory response. The chemokines recruit various kinds of immune cells, including activated T cells, which accumulate and attack the tissue or pathogen. The chemokine-mediated recruitment of activated T cells to sites of inflammation is an integral part of the immune response. 

During pregnancy however, the foreign antigens of the developing fetus and the placenta come into direct contact with cells of the maternal immune system, but fail to evoke the typical tissue rejection response seen with organ transplants.

Several years ago, Erlebacher and his research team found that T cells, poised to attack the fetus as a foreign body, were somehow unable to perform their intended role. The finding prompted the researchers to wonder if perhaps there was some sort of barrier preventing the T cells from reaching the fetus.  They turned their attention to studying the properties of the decidua, the specialized structure that encases the fetus and placenta, and there, in a mouse model, they found new answers.

The research team has discovered that the onset of pregnancy causes the genes that are responsible for recruiting immune cells to sites of inflammation to be turned off within the decidua. As a result of these changes, T cells are not able to accumulate inside the decidua and therefore do not attack the fetus and placenta. 

Specifically, they revealed that the implantation of an embryo changes the packaging of certain chemokine genes in the nuclei of the developing decidua’s stromal cells. The change in the DNA packaging permanently deactivates, or “silences,” the chemokine genes. Consequently, the chemokines are not expressed and T cells are not recruited to the site of embryo implantation. 

Also of note, the observed change in the DNA packaging was a so-called ‘epigenetic’ modification, meaning a modification that changes gene expression without the presence of a hereditable gene mutation. 

“These findings give insight into mechanisms of fetal-maternal immune tolerance, as well as reveal the epigenetic modification of chemokine genes within tissue stromal cells as a modality for limiting the trafficking of activated T cells,” Dr. Erlebacher said. “It turns out that the cells that typically secrete the chemoattractants to bring the T cells to sites of inflammation are inhibited from doing so in the context of the pregnant uterus. The decidua appears instead as a zone of relative immunological inactivity.”

Inappropriate regulation of this process, Dr. Erlebacher explained, could cause inflammation and the accumulation of immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface, which could lead to complications of human pregnancy, including preterm labor, spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia. 

Erlebacher and his team will next look to see if these epigenetic modifications are also present within the human decidua, and whether the failure to generate them appropriately is associated with complications of human pregnancy. He explained that the study’s findings also raise the possibility that the same kind of mechanism could enhance a tumor’s ability to survive inside its host. The findings could have implications for autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation and cancer, as well as pregnancy.

“This is a very exciting finding for us because it gives a satisfying explanation for why the fetus isn’t rejected during pregnancy, which is a fundamental question for the medical community with clear implications for human pregnancy,” Dr. Erlebacher said. “It also reveals a new modality for controlling T cell trafficking in peripheral tissues that could provide insight into a myriad of other conditions and diseases.” 

Source: NYU Langone Medical Center

Premature birth linked to increased risk of mental health problems

 

One of the largest studies to investigate birth complications and later mental health has found that premature birth constitutes a single, independent risk factor for a range of severe psychiatric disorders. Researchers at King's College London in the UK and Karolinska Institutet suggest that neurodevelopmental differences in those born prematurely may be important in understanding the link.

Christina Hultman Photo: Gunilla Sonnebring

Researchers identified all individuals registered in the Swedish birth register between 1973 and 1985 who were alive and living in Sweden at the age of 16, a total of nearly 1.5 million individuals. By analyzing national hospital discharge registers, they identified all individuals admitted to hospital with their first episode of a psychiatric disorder.

The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that individuals born extremely prematurely (less than 32 weeks gestation) were 2.5 times more likely to have psychosis as young adults, nearly 3 times more likely to have depression, and 7.4 times more likely to have bipolar disorder than those born at term (37-41 weeks gestation). The findings also revealed a smaller, yet still significant, increased risk of developing bipolar disorder, psychosis and depression for those born moderately prematurely (32-36 weeks).

The study also investigated the link between premature birth, eating disorders and alcohol and drug dependency, but association with these disorders was much weaker. Other adverse perinatal factors including newborn health, maternal socio-demographic characteristics and maternal psychiatric history were taken into account and were found to have no significant effect on the findings.

"We believe that the increased risk of mental disorders in those born very prematurely can be explained by alterations of brain development", says Professor Christina Hultman at Karolinska Institutet, who led the Swedish part of the study. "The immature nervous system in these children is particularly vulnerable to brain injury resulting from birth complications."

Approximately 6 percent of babies in Sweden are born prematurely every year. Thanks to research and new technology, today many of prematurely born can be saved. Most of these babies go on to lead healthy lifestyles, although as a group they are more likely to require extra school support and be hospitalized with a variety of physical problems. Therefore the authors point to the importance of raising awareness of the increased risk of mental health disorders in people born prematurely, and suggest gestational age should be considered when investigating risk factors for psychiatric disorders in young adults.

Study leader was Chiara Nosarti at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. The study was funded by a National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

Publication:

Chiara Nosarti, Robin M. Murray, Abraham Reichenberg, Sven Cnattingius, Mats P. Lambe, Li Yin, Larry Rifkin, James MacCabe & Christina M. Hultman

Preterm birth and psychopathology in young adult life

Archives of General Psychiatry, online 4 June 2012

Source:Karolinska Institutet

Alzheimer's vaccine trial a success

 

[NEWS 6 June] A study led by Karolinska Institutet reports for the first time the positive effects of an active vaccine against Alzheimer's disease. The new vaccine, CAD106, can prove a breakthrough in the search for a cure for this seriously debilitating dementia disease. The study is published in the distinguished scientific journal Lancet Neurology.

Bengt Winblad Photo: Johan Bergmark

Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurological dementia disease that is the cause of much human suffering and a great cost to society. According to the World Health Organisation, dementia is the fastest growing global health epidemic of our age. The prevailing hypothesis about its cause involves APP (amyloid precursor protein), a protein that resides in the outer membrane of nerve cells and that, instead of being broken down, form a harmful substance called beta-amyloid, which accumulates as plaques and kills brain cells.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, and the medicines in use can only mitigate the symptoms. In the hunt for a cure, scientists are following several avenues of attack, of which vaccination is currently the most popular. The first human vaccination study, which was done almost a decade ago, revealed too many adverse reactions and was discontinued. The vaccine used in that study activated certain white blood cells (T cells), which started to attack the body's own brain tissue.

The new treatment, which is presented in Lancet Neurology, involves active immunisation, using a type of vaccine designed to trigger the body's immune defence against beta-amyloid. In this second clinical trial on humans, the vaccine was modified to affect only the harmful beta-amyloid. The researchers found that 80 per cent of the patients involved in the trials developed their own protective antibodies against beta-amyloid without suffering any side-effects over the three years of the study. The researchers believe that this suggests that the CAD106 vaccine is a tolerable treatment for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Larger trials must now be conducted to confirm the CAD106 vaccine's efficacy.

The study was carried out by Professor Bengt Winblad at Karolinska Institutet's Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre in Huddinge and leading neurologists in the Swedish Brain Power network: consultant Niels Andreasen from Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge; Professor Lennart Minthon from the MAS University Hospital, Malmö; and Professor Kaj Blennow from the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg. The study was financed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Publication:

Bengt Winblad, Niels Andreasen, Lennart Minthon, Annette Floesser, Georges Imbert, Thomas Dumortier, R Paul Maguire, Kaj Blennow, Joens Lundmark, Matthias Staufenbiel, Jean-Marc Orgogozo & Ana Graf

Safety, tolerability, and antibody response of active A²immunotherapy with CAD106 in patients with Alzheimers disease: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study

Lancet Neurology, online first 6 June 2012, doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70140-0

Source: Karolinska Institutet

08 June, 2012

NIH study finds childhood CT scans linked to leukemia and brain cancer later in life

 

Children and young adults scanned multiple times by computed tomography (CT), a commonly used diagnostic tool, have a small increased risk of leukemia and brain tumors in the decade following their first scan. These findings are from a study of more than 175,000 children and young adults that was led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and at the Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, England.

The researchers emphasize that when a child suffers a major head injury or develops a life-threatening illness, the benefits of clinically appropriate CT scans should outweigh future cancer risks. The results of the study were published online in The Lancet on June 7, 2012.

"This cohort study provides the first direct evidence of a link between exposure to radiation from CT and cancer risk in children," said senior investigator Amy Berrington de González, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI. "Ours is the first population-based study to capture data on every CT scan to an individual during childhood or young adulthood and then measure the subsequent cancer risk."

Nurse practitioner views CT scan.

Nurse practitioner reviews films from a CT scan of the brain.

Despite the elevation in cancer risk, these two malignancies are relatively rare and the actual number of additional cases caused by radiation exposure from CT scans is small. The most recent (2009) U.S. annual cancer incidence rates for children from birth through age 21 for leukemia and brain and other nervous system cancers are 4.3 per 100,000 and 2.9 per 100,000, respectively. The investigators estimate that for every 10,000 head CT scans performed on children 10 years of age or younger, one case of leukemia and one brain tumor would occur in the decade following the first CT beyond what would have been expected had no CT scans been performed.

CT scans deliver a dose of ionizing radiation to the body part being scanned and to nearby tissues. Even at relatively low doses, ionizing radiation can break the chemical bonds in DNA, causing damage to genes that may increase a person’s risk of developing cancer. Children typically face a higher risk of cancer from ionizing radiation exposure than do adults exposed to similar doses.

The investigators obtained CT examination records from radiology departments in hospitals across Britain and linked them to data on cancer diagnoses and deaths. The study included people who underwent CT scans at British National Health Service hospitals from birth to 22 years of age between 1985 and 2002. Information on cancer incidence and mortality from 1985 through 2008 was obtained from the National Health Service Central Registry, a national database of cancer registrations, deaths and emigrations.

Approximately sixty percent of the CT scans were of the head, with similar proportions in males and females. The investigators estimated cumulative doses from the CT scans received by each patient, and assessed the subsequent cancer risk for an average of 10 years after the first CT. The researchers found a clear relationship between the increase in cancer risk and increasing cumulative dose of radiation. A three-fold increase in the risk of brain tumors appeared following a cumulative absorbed dose to the head of 50 to 60 milligray (abbreviated mGy, which is a unit of estimated absorbed dose of ionizing radiation). Similarly, a three-fold increase in the risk of leukemia appeared after the same dose to bone marrow (the part of the body responsible for generating blood cells). The comparison group consisted of individuals who had cumulative doses of less than 5 mGy to the relevant regions of the body.

The absorbed dose from a CT scan depends on factors including age at exposure, sex, examination type, and year of scan. Broadly speaking, two or three CT scans of the head using current scanner settings would be required to yield a dose of 50 to 60 mGy to the brain. The same dose to bone marrow would be produced by five to 10 head CT scans, using current scanner settings for children under age 15.

In countries like the United States and Britain, the use of CT scans in children and adults has increased rapidly since their introduction 30 years ago. Due to efforts by medical societies, government regulators, and CT manufacturers, scans performed on young children in 2012 can have 50 percent lower radiation doses, compared to scans carried out in the 1980s and 1990s, say the investigators. However, the amount of radiation delivered during a single CT scan can still vary greatly and is often up to 10 times higher than that delivered in a conventional X-ray procedure.

The lead author of the study was Mark S. Pearce, Ph.D., Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University. “CT can be highly beneficial for early diagnosis, for clinical decision-making, and for saving lives. However, greater efforts should be made to ensure clinical justification and to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable,” said Pearce.

For more information about pediatric CT use read NCI’s Radiation Risks and Pediatric Computed Tomography (CT): A Guide for Health Care Providers.

Source: NIH

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