GNIPST BULLETIN 2012

1118-1177-4796-9849-7562-5062

TO GROW AS A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

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11thJanuary 2013

Volume No.: 21

Issue No.: 04

Vision

Contents

Message from GNIPST Letter to the Editor News Update Disease Outbreak News Health Awareness Forth Coming Events Drugs Update GNIPST Photo Gallery
For your comments/contributionOR For Back-Issues, mailto:gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

Campus News Students Section Editors Note Archive

1 EDITOR:DebabrataGhoshDastidar

GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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MESSAGE FROM GNIPST

All the members of GNIPST are proud to publish the 21stVolume of GNIPST BULLETIN. This bulletin has successfully completed its twenty months journey. We hope it has kept the readers updated of recent activities in pharmaceutical & biological sciences and also introduced them with the different activities of our esteemed institution. We are thankful to all of you for your great cooperation & support and are looking forward to the samein future.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

NEWS UPDATE

Consumers Judge Their Risk of Catching an Illness by the Cost of the Cure (04 JANUARY 2013)
Consumers make irrational inferences about their health risks based on the price of their medicine. Read more

Structural Studies of a Toxin from Bacillus Cereus That Causes Diarrhea (04
JANUARY 2013)

Food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus can lead to diarrhea which is probably caused by a 3-component toxin which is
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produced by this bacteria strain and which perforates and kills cells. New research has revealed one of the protein structures of this toxin and has led to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind multi-component, pore-forming toxins. These findings can enhance food safety. Read more

Most-Used Diabetes Drug Works in Different Way Than Previously Thought (06
JANUARY 2013)

Researchers found that the diabetes drug metformin works in a different way than previously understood. Their research in mice found that metformin suppresses the liver hormone glucagon's ability to generate an important signaling molecule, pointing to new drug targets. Read more The

Pain

Puzzle:

Uncovering

How

Morphine

Increases Pain in Some People (06JANUARY 2013)

For individuals with agonizing pain, it is a cruel blow when the gold-standard medication actually causes more pain. Adults and children whose pain gets worse when treated with morphine may be closer to a solution, based on new research. Read more Cheap and Easy Technique to Snip DNA Could

Revolutionize Gene Therapy (07

JANUARY 2013)

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A simple, precise and inexpensive method for cutting DNA to insert genes into human cells could transform genetic medicine, making routine what now are expensive, complicated and rare procedures for replacing defective genes in order to fix genetic disease or even cure AIDS. Read more New Stem Cell Approach for Blindness Successful

in Mice

(07

JANUARY 2013)

Blind mice can see again, after Oxford University researchers transplanted developing cells into their eyes and found they could re-form the entire light-sensitive layer of the retina. Read more Modified Antibodies Trigger Immune Response,

Point to Novel Vaccine Design Strategies

JANUARY 2013)

(07

In an approach with the potential to aid therapeutic vaccine development, Whitehead Institute scientists have shown that enzymatically modified antibodies can be used to generate highly targeted, potent responses from cells of the immune system. Read
more

Nobel Laureate James Watson Puts Forth Novel

Hypothesis On Curing Late-Stage Cancers

JANUARY 2013)

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In a new paper he regards "among my most important work since the double helix," Nobelist James Watson sets forth a novel hypothesis regarding the role of oxidants and antioxidants in cancers that are currently incurable, notably in late-stage metastatic cancers. Read more Post-Operative Intravenous Acetaminophen May

Help Reduce Use of Morphine in Infants

JANUARY 2013)

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Among infants undergoing major surgery, postoperative use of intermittent intravenous paracetamol (acetaminophen) for the management of pain resulted in a lower cumulative morphine dose over 48 hours. Read more High

Fiber

Diet

Prevents

Prostate (09

Cancer

Progression, Study Shows

JANUARY 2013)

The rate of prostate cancer occurrence in Asian cultures is similar to the rate in Western cultures, but in the West, prostate cancer tends to progress, whereas in Asian cultures it does not. Why? A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the January 2013 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research shows that the answer may be a high-fiber diet. Read more

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HEALTH AWARENESS

Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception, or post-coital contraception, refers to methods of contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy in the first few days after intercourse. It is intended for emergency use following unprotected intercourse, contraceptive failure or misuse (such as forgotten pills or torn condoms), rape or coerced sex. Emergency contraception is effective only in the first few days following intercourse before the ovum is released from the ovary and before the sperm fertilizes the ovum. Emergency contraceptive pills cannot interrupt an established pregnancy or harm a developing embryo. Who needs emergency contraception? Any woman of reproductive age may need emergency contraception at some point to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. In what situations should emergency contraception be used? Emergency contraception can be used in a number of situations following sexual intercourse. When no contraceptive has been used.
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When there is a contraceptive failure or incorrect use, including: o condom breakage, slippage, or incorrect use; o three or more consecutively missed combined oral contraceptive pills; o the progestogen-only pill (minipill) taken more than three hours late (or more than 12 hours late if taking a 0.75mg desogestrel-containing pill); o norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) progestogen-only injection taken more than two weeks late; o depot-medroxyprogesterone late; o the combined estrogen-plus-progestogen monthly injection taken more than seven days late; o dislodgment, delay in placing, or early removal of a contraceptive hormonal ring or skin patch; o dislodgment, breakage, tearing, or early removal of a diaphragm or cervical cap; o failed withdrawal (e.g. ejaculation in the vagina or on external genitalia); o failure of a spermicide tablet or film to melt before intercourse;
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acetate

(DMPA)

progestogen-only injection taken more than four weeks

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o miscalculation of the periodic abstinence method, or failure to abstain or use a barrier method on the fertile days of the cycle; o expulsion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or hormonal contraceptive implant. o In cases of sexual assault when the woman was not protected by an effective contraceptive method. Methods of emergency contraception There are two methods of emergency contraception: emergency contraception pills (ECPs) copper-bearing intrauterine devices (IUDs). 1. Emergency contraception pills WHO recommends levonorgestrel for emergency contraceptive pill use. Ideally, this progestogen-only method should be taken as a single dose (1.5 mg) within five days (120 hours) of unprotected intercourse. Alternatively, a woman can take the levonorgestrel in two doses (0.75 mg each; 12 hours apart). Mode of action Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy by preventing or delaying ovulation. They may also work to prevent
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fertilization of an egg by affecting the cervical mucus or the ability of sperm to bind to the egg. Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills are not effective once the process of implantation has begun, and they will not cause abortion. Effectiveness Based on reports from nine studies including 10 500 women, the WHO-recommended levonorgestrel regimen is 5294% effective in preventing pregnancy. The regimen is more effective the sooner after intercourse it is taken. Safety Levonorgestrel-alone emergency contraception pills are very safe and do not cause abortion or harm future fertility. Side-effects are uncommon and generally mild. Medical eligibility criteria and contraindications Emergency contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy. They should not be given to a woman who already has a confirmed pregnancy. However, if a woman inadvertently takes the pills after she becomes pregnant, the available evidence suggests that the pills will not harm either the mother or her fetus.
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Emergency contraceptive pills are for emergency use only and are not appropriate for regular use as an ongoing contraceptive method because of the higher possibility of failure compared with nonemergency contraceptives. In addition, frequent use of emergency contraception can result in side-effects such as menstrual irregularities, although their repeated use poses no known health risks. There are no medical contraindications to the use of levonorgestrel emergency contraception pills. 2. Copper-bearing intrauterine devices (IUDs) WHO recommends that a copper-bearing IUD, as an emergency contraceptive, be inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse. This may be an ideal emergency contraceptive for a woman who is hoping for an ongoing, highly effective contraceptive method. Mode of action As emergency contraception, the copper-bearing IUD primarily prevents fertilization by causing a chemical change that damages sperm and egg before they can meet. Effectiveness

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When inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse, a copper-bearing IUD is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. This is the most effective form of emergency contraception available. Once inserted, the woman can continue to use the IUD as an ongoing method of contraception, and she may choose to change to another contraceptive method in the future. Safety A copper-bearing IUD is a very safe form of emergency contraception. The risks of infection, expulsion or perforation are low. Medical eligibility criteria and contraindications The only situation in which a copper-bearing IUD should never be used as emergency contraception is if a woman is already pregnant. There are other contraindications to using a copper-bearing IUD as ongoing contraception, which also should be considered before its use as emergency contraception. For more information, please refer to the WHO Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use.

DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS

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Yellow fever in the Republic of Congo

JANUARY 2013)

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The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Congo is launching an emergency mass-vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Ewo District in Cuvette-Ouest region, beginning next week. Read more

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

DRUGS UPDATES
FDA issues draft guidance on abuse-deterrent

opioids (09 JANUARY 2013)

The document Guidance for Industry: Abuse-Deterrent Opioids Evaluation and Labeling, explains the FDAs current thinking about the studies that should be conducted to demonstrate that a given formulation has abuse-deterrent properties, how those studies will be evaluated by the agency, and what labeling claims may be approved based on the results of those studies. Read more FDA

requiring

lower

recommended

dose

for (10

certain sleep drugs containing zolpidem.

JANUARY 2013)

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The U.S. FDA announced it is requiring the manufacturers of Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist, widely used sleep drugs that contain the active ingredient zolpidem, to lower current recommended doses. Ambien and Ambien CR are also available as generics. New data show that zolpidem blood levels in some patients may be high enough the morning after use to impair activities that require alertness, including driving. Read more

CAMPUS NEWS
The academic activities will commence on 16th January, 2013.

STUDENTS SECTION
WHO CAN ANS WER FIRS T???

() The first Otis elevator was installed in Kolkata in the late nineteenth century in which building? () In which Indian city would one find artificial lake Sukhna?
Answer of Previous Issue Question:

A) Sachin Tendulkar

B)Badminton

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Send yourthoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/writeups or any other contributions for Students Section & answers of this Section atgnipstbulletin@gmail.com

EDITORS NOTE Wish you all a very happy new year 2013. I am very happy to publish the first issue of this new year 2013, the 4thissue of 21stVolume of GNIPST BULLETIN.It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the newly launched facebook account GNIPST bulletin. You are cordially invited to add this account to your friend list. The current issues will also be directly available on facebook. I would like to convey my thanks to all the GNIPST members and the readers for their valuable comments, encouragement& supports. Special thanks to Dr. Prerona Saha for her advice; Mr.Soumya Bhattacharya, for his contribution in students section. It would be my great pleasure to receive the contributions, suggestions & feedback from your desk for further upliftment of this deliberation GNIPST BULLETIN.

ARCHIVE The general body meeting of APTI, Bengal Branch has been conducted at GNIPST on 15th June, 2012. The programme started
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with a nice presentation by Dr. Pulok Kr. Mukherjee, School of Natural Products, JU on the skill to write a good manuscript for publication in impact journals. It was followed by nearly two hour long discussion among more than thirty participants on different aspects of pharmacy education. Five nonmember participants applied for membership on that very day. GNIPST is now approved by AICTE and affiliated to WBUT for conducting the two years post graduate course (M.Pharm) in

PHARMACOLOGY. The approved number of seat is 18.

The number of seats in B.Pharm. has been increased from 60 to 120. 2nd World Congress on Ga-68 (Generators and Novel Radiopharmaceuticals), Molecular Imaging (PET/CT), Targeted Radionuclide Therapy, and Dosimetry (SWC-2013) : On the Way to Personalized Medicine Dates 28 Feb 2013 02 Mar 2013 Location: Chandigarh, India.Details.

5-Days Hands-on Workshop on Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. 7thto 11th January 2013, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Details. IAMLE- 2013 4th International Conference on Medical Negligence and litigation in Medical Practice, and 4th International Conference on Recent Advances in Forensic Sciences, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
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Date: 25 Jan 2013 27 Jan 2013, Location: Kovalam, Thiruvanthapuram, India. Details. 64thIndian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) will be held fromDecember 6thto 9th, 2012, at Chennai. The four-day event will be organized by the Association of Pharmacy Teachers of India (APTI). AICTE has sanctioned a release of grant under Research Promotion Scheme (RPS) during the financial year 201213to GNIPST as per the details below: a. Beneficiary Institution: Guru Nanak Institution of Pharmaceutical Science & 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 potential medicinal plant of Purulia&Bankuradistricts of West Bengal with respect to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism, Jaundice, hypertension and developing biotechnological tools for enhancing bioactive molecules in these plant. Special classes on Communication Skills, G.D. and Interview will commence from 3rd week of January 2013 for the students of this Institute. Interested students are
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required to contact the undersigned for enrolment either personally or by e-mail. Dr. LopamudraDatta E-mail: info.gnipst@jisgroup.org gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

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