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9th May , 2014 Volume No.: 33 Issue No.: 02

Contents • Message from GNIPST • Letter to the Editor • News Update • Health awareness • Disease Outbreak News • Forth Coming Events • Drugs Update • Campus News • Student’s Section • Editor’s Note • Archive •

Vision

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

EDITOR: Soumya Bhattacharya GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

GNIPST Photo Gallery For your comments/contributionOR

For Back-Issues, mailto:gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

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MESSAGE FROM GNIPST

GNIPST BULLETIN is the official publication of Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology. All the members of GNIPST are proud to publish the 33rd Volume of “GNIPST BULLETIN”. Over the last three years this bulletin updating readers with different scientific, cultural or sports activities of this prestigious institute and promoting knowledge of recent development in Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences. Student’s section is informing readers about some curious facts of drug discovery, science, sports and other relevant fields. We look forward to seeing your submission and welcome comments and ideas you may have.

NEWS UPDATE

World Health Day, 2014 World Health Day was observed on 7th April globally with the theme of Preventing Vector-borne Disease. More than half the world’s population is at risk from diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, schistosomiasis, and yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors. Every year, more than 1 billion people are infected and more than 1 million die from vector-borne diseases. On this World Health Day – 7 April – WHO is highlighting the serious and increasing threat of vector-borne diseases, with the slogan “Small bite, big threat”.

Soy sauce molecule may unlock drug therapy for HIV patients (5th May, 2014)

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For HIV patients being treated with anti-AIDS medications, resistance to drug therapy regimens is commonplace. Often, patients develop resistance to first-line drug therapies, such as Tenofovir, and are forced to adopt more potent medications. Virologists Virologists at the University of Missouri now are testing the next generation of medications that stop HIV from spreading, and are using a molecule related to flavor enhancers found in soy sauce, to develop compounds that are more potent

than Tenofovir. For detail mail to editor

Fluorescent sensor developed for detecting nitric oxide, a molecule related to many diseases (5th

May, 2014)

The detection of nitric oxide in our body is essential to prevent many diseases and set out their treatment. Nitric oxide, which is a molecule involved in countless cardiovascular, neurological and immune system processes, among others. The detection of nitric oxide may be executed more efficiently and selectively thanks to a new compound developed by researchers from the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) in Castelló. The new compounds can detect the presence of nitric oxide by fluorescence. They also have the advantage of being highly selective because they do not interact with other typical substances that can be found in the biological environment. This progress can be very useful to the medical and

pharmaceutical industry. For detail mail to editor

New combination therapy for hepatitis C (5th May,

2014)

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A new combination therapy allows chronic hepatitis C to be treated in a manner that is less aggressive yet equally efficient. This is the result of a current study, led by primary author Peter Ferenci from the University Department of Internal Medicine III at the MedUni Vienna, which has been published in the highly New England Journal of Medicine. "This is a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of this disease and represents a huge improvement in the quality of life of those affected," says the Vienna hepatologist.Ferenci and a global group of scientists were able to demonstrate using 419 test subjects with chronic hepatitis C that the combined use of the protease inhibitor ABT-450r, the NS5A inhibitor Ombitasvir and the non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor Dasubavir yields significantly higher cure outcomes than the previous therapy which involves Ribavarin and the hormone interferon (mostly in combination with a protease inhibitor). For detail mail to editor

World's smallest cardiac pacemaker implanted (5th May, 2014)

The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) announced its first implant of the world's smallest pacemaker: the Medtronic Micra™ Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) in the Midwest. The device was implanted by Dr. Charles Gornick as part of the global

pivotal clinical trial. For detail mail to editor New approach to treating brittle bone disease

unveiled (4th May, 2014)

A new approach to treating brittle bone disease, a congenital disorder that results in fragile bones that break easily, has been discovered by researchers. The study showed that excessive activity of an important signalling protein in the matrix of the

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bone called transforming growth factor beta is associated with the

cause of the disease. For detail mail to editor

Diabetes Tied to Higher Risk of Pancreatic Cancer (4th April, 2014) People with diabetes have double the risk of pancreatic cancer compared to people who don't have diabetes, according to a new analysis of 88 previous studies.Diabetes has been considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but what's not clear is which condition comes first. This new analysis suggests that at least for some people, pancreatic cancer might be responsible for diabetes. For detail mail to editor

HEALTH AWARENESS

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the most important cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, meaning it is related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses. The first case of JE was documented in 1871 in Japan.

The annual incidence of clinical disease varies both across and within countries, ranging from <10 to >100 per 100 000 population. A recent literature review estimates nearly 68 000 clinical cases of JE globally each year, with up to 20 400 deaths due to JE (Bulletin of WHO, October 2011). JE primarily affects children. Most adults

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in endemic countries have natural immunity after childhood infection, but individuals of any age may be affected.

Signs and symptoms

Most JE virus infections are mild (fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms, but approximately 1 in 250 infections results in severe disease characterized by rapid onset of high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, seizures, spastic paralysis and death. The case-fatality rate can be as high as 30% among those with disease symptoms.

Of those who survive, 20%–30% suffer permanent intellectual, behavioural or neurological problems such as paralysis, recurrent seizures or the inability to speak.

Transmission

24 countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions have JE transmission risk, which includes more than 3 billion people.

JE is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes of the Culex species (mainly Culex tritaeniorhynchus). Humans, once infected, do not develop sufficient viraemia to infect feeding mosquitoes. The virus exists in a transmission cycle between mosquitoes, pigs and/or water birds (enzootic cycle). The disease is predominantly found in rural and periurban settings, where humans live in closer proximity to these vertebrate hosts.

In most temperate areas of Asia, the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is transmitted mainly during the warm season, when large epidemics can occur. In the tropics and subtropics, transmission can

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occur year-round but often intensifies during the rainy season and pre-harvest period in rice-cultivating regions.

Diagnosis

Individuals who live in or have travelled to a JE-endemic area and experience encephalitis are considered a suspected JE case. To confirm JE infection and to rule out other causes of encephalitis requires a laboratory testing of serum or, preferentially, cerebrospinal fluid.

Surveillance of the disease is mostly syndromic for acute encephalitis. Confirmatory laboratory testing is often conducted in dedicated sentinel sites, and efforts are undertaken to expand laboratory-based surveillance. Case-based surveillance is established in countries that effectively control JE through vaccination.

Treatment

There is no antiviral treatment for patients with JE. Treatment is supportive to relieve symptoms and stabilize the patient. Clinical care guidelines have been developed by PATH.

Prevention and control

Safe and effective JE vaccines are available to prevent disease. WHO recommends having strong prevention and control activities, including JE immunization in all regions where the disease is a recognized public health problem, along with strengthening surveillance and reporting mechanisms. Other control measures such as mosquito control or amplifying pig control have shown to be less reliable.

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There are four main types of JE vaccines currently in use: inactivated mouse brain-based vaccines, inactivated cell-based vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, and live chimeric vaccines. Traditionally, the most widely used vaccine was a purified inactivated product made from either Nakayama or Beijing strains propagated in mouse brain tissue. It is still produced and used in several countries.

Over the past years, the live attenuated SA14-14-2 vaccine manufactured in China has become the most widely used vaccine in endemic countries, and it was prequalified by WHO in October 2013. Cell-culture based inactivated vaccines have also been licensed (and one product WHO prequalified), as has a live, recombinant product based on the yellow fever vaccine strain. In November 2013, GAVI opened a funding window to support JE vaccination campaigns in eligible countries.

All travellers to Japanese encephalitis-endemic areas should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce the risk for JE. Personal preventive measures include the use of repellents, long-sleeved clothes, coils and vaporizers.

Disease outbreaks

Major outbreaks of JE occur every 2-15 years. JE transmission intensifies during the rainy season, during which vector populations increase. However, there has not yet been evidence of increased JE transmission following major floods or tsunamis. The spread of JE in new areas has been correlated with agricultural development and intensive rice cultivation supported by irrigation programmes.

WHO responds to JE by:

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• providing global recommendations for JE control, including the use of vaccines. WHO recommends JE immunization in all regions where the disease is a recognized public health problem and supports implementation.

• providing technical support for JE surveillance, JE vaccine introduction and large-scale JE vaccination campaigns.

DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS

Ebola virus disease, West Africa (6th May, 2014)

Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 231 clinical cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 155 deaths. Read more

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FIP Congress 2014 - Access to Medicines and Pharmacist today, Better outcomes tomorrow

DRUGS UPDATES

FDA allows marketing for first-of-kind dressing to control bleeding from certain battlefield wounds (3rd April, 2014)

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of an expandable, multi-sponge wound dressing to control the bleeding from certain types of wounds received in battle. For military use only, the XSTAT is a temporary dressing for wounds in areas that a tourniquet cannot be placed, such as the groin or armpit. The dressing can be used up to four hours, which could allow time for the patient to receive surgical care. Read more

CAMPUS NEWS

Reminiscence, 2014(GNIPST Reunion) was held in College campus on 2nd February,2014.

1st Annual Sports of GNIPST was held on 3rd February,2014 in College campus ground.

An industrial tour and biodiversity tour was conducted in Sikkim for B.Pharm and B.Sc. students under the supervision of Mr. Asis Bala, Ms. Jeentara Begum and Ms. Moumita Chowdhury.

B.Pharm 3rd year won the GNIPST Football Champions trophy, 2013. B.Pharm 3rd year won the final match 1-0 against B.Pharm 2nd year. Deep Chakraborty was the only scorer of the final.

Students of GNIPST organized pre puja celebration programme, ‘Saaranya’ on 7th October, 2013 in college Auditorium.

GNIPST organized a garment distribution programme on 28th September, 2013 at Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Adyapith, Kolkata. On this remarkable event about hundred people have

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received garments. More than hundred students and most of the faculties participated on that day with lot of enthusiasm.

GNIPST celebrated World Heart Day (29th September) and Pharmacist’s Day (25th September) on 25th and 26th September, 2013 in GNIPST Auditorium. A seminar on ‘Violence against woman’ and ‘female foeticide’ was held on GNIPST Auditorium on 25th September organized by JABALA Action Research Organization. On 26th September an intra-college Oral and Poster presentation competition related to World Pharmacist’s day and Heart day was held in GNIPST. Ms. Purbali Chakraborty of B.Pharm 4th year won the first prize in Oral Presentation. The winner of Poster presentation was the group of Ms. Utsa Sinha, Mr. Koushik Saha and Mr. Niladri Banerjee (B.Pharm 4th year). A good number of students have participated in both the competition with their valuable views.

STUDENTS’ SECTION

WHO CAN ANSWER FIRST????

How are brother Harry, Albert, Samuel and Jack are popularly known?

Which Indian won the Rudi Putra Goldman prize in 2014?

Answer of Previous Issue’s Questions:

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A) Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam B)Yakov G. Sinai

Identify the person

Answer of Previous Issue’s Image: W. Scoville, an American Pharmacist best known

for his creation Scoville Scale to determine the hotness of chilies and other pungent substances

Send your thoughts/ Quiz/Puzzles/games/write-ups or any other contributions for Students’ Section& answers of this Section at gnipstbulletin@gmail.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

I am proud to publish the 2nd issue of 33rd Volume of GNIPST BULLETIN. GNIPST BULLETIN now connected globally through facebook account ‘GNIPST bulletin’

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

I am thankful to Dr. Abhijit Sengupta, Director of GNIPST for his valuable advice and encouragement. Special thanks to Dr.

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Prerona Saha and Mr. Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar for their kind co-operation and technical supports. An important part of the improvement of the bulletin is the contribution of the readers. You are invited to send in your write ups, notes, critiques or any kind of contribution for the forthcoming special and regular issue.

ARCHIVE

Teacher’s day was celebrated on 5th September, 2013 by the students of GNIPST in GNIPST Auditorium.

Azalea (exotic flower ) , the fresher welcome programme for newcomers of GNIPST in the session 2013-14 was held on 8th August in GNIPST Auditorium.

One day seminar cum teachers’ development programme for school teachers on the theme of “Recent Trends of Life Sciences in Higher Education” organized by GNIPST held on 29th June, 2013 at GNIPST auditorium. The programme was inaugurated by Prof . Asit Guha, Director of JIS Group, Mr. U.S. Mukherjee, Dy Director of JIS Group and Dr. Abhijit Sengupta, Director cum Principal of GNIPST with lamp lighting. The programme started with an opening song performed by the B.Pharm students of this institute. The seminar consists of a series of lectures, video presentations and poster session. On the pre lunch session 4 lectures were given by Dr. Lopamudra Dutta, Mr. Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar, Ms. Swati Nandy and Ms. Tamalika Chakraborty respectively. On their presentation the speakers enlighten the recent development of Pharmacy, Genetics and Microbiology and their correlation with Life Sciences. On the post lunch session, Ms. Saini Setua and Ms. Sanchari Bhattacharjee explained the recent

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development and career opportunities in Biotechnology and Hospital Management. The programme was concluded with valedictory session and certificate distribution. About 50 Higher secondary school teachers from different schools of Kolkata and North& South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal participated in this programme. A good interactive session between participants and speakers was observed in the seminar. The seminar was a great success with the effort of faculties, staffs and students of our Institute. It was a unique discussion platform for school teachers and professional of the emerging and newer branches of Life Science.

The general body meeting of APTI, Bengal Branch has been conducted at GNIPST on 15th June, 2012. The program started 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.

AICTE has sanctioned a release of grant under Research Promotion Scheme (RPS) during the financial year 2012-13to GNIPST as per the details below:

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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 & Bankura districts of West Bengal with respect to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism, Jaundice, hypertension and developing biotechnological tools for enhancing bioactive molecules in these plants.

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