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23rd May , 2014 Volume No.: 33 Issue No.: 04

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

Blood Test May Spot Pancreatic Cancer Earlier (18th

May, 2014)

Researchers report that a new blood test could help doctors find pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage, potentially improving a patient's chances of survival. A set of four "markers" -- or signs -- in the blood identified cases of pancreatic cancer nine out of 10 times, sorting malignancies from other diseases like chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cysts. Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect early because it does not cause symptoms right away, and when symptoms do appear they are often vague and slight. In the blood test study, doctors began with a known pancreatic cancer

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biomarker called CA 19-9. They then tested 20 other potential biomarkers, using blood samples taken from pancreatic cancer patients, healthy people and patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Phase 3 ASCEND Study of Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

(18th May, 2014)

Results from the Phase 3 ASCEND study evaluating pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in San Diego, and published on-line in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Talmadge King, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Co-chair of the ASCEND protocol steering committee, presented the ASCEND results. In ASCEND, pirfenidone significantly reduced decline in lung function as measured by change in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) from Baseline to Week 52 (rank ANCOVA p<0.000001). Additionally, significant treatment effects were demonstrated on both of the key secondary endpoints of change in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and progression-free survival (PFS) .

Diet, Lifestyle Affect Prostate Cancer Risk, Studies

(20th May, 2014)

Diet and lifestyle can play a role in lowering a man's risk of prostate cancer, according to a trio of new studies. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates and lower in protein and fat is associated

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with a 60 percent to 70 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer, said Adriana Vidal, a co-author of two of the studies and an assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C. In addition, a fiber-filled diet reduced the risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 70 percent to 80 percent, according to Vidal.

Urine test could help clinicians spot blood clots in at-risk patients (18th May, 2014) A new study by researchers from California and Canada indicates a simple urine test can indicate the presence of venous thromboembolism, a blood clot that has broken free from its point of origin and which travels through the bloodstream, eventually lodging in a vein. The test evaluates the levels of fibrinopeptide B (FPB), a small peptide that's released when a thrombosis forms and which is removed from the body through urine. The results of the study will be presented at the American Thoracic Society's 2014 International Conference .

Diets rich in antioxidant resveratrol fail to reduce deaths, heart disease or cancer (12th May, 2014)

A study of Italians who consume a diet rich in resveratrol -- the compound found in red wine, dark chocolate and berries -- finds they live no longer than and are just as likely to develop cardiovascular disease or cancer as those who eat or drink smaller amounts of the antioxidant.

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New preclinical research on the molecular mechanisms responsible for sickle cell disease (16th May, 2014)

new preclinical research on the molecular mechanisms responsible for sickle cell disease could aid efforts to develop much needed treatments for this devastating blood disorder that affects millions worldwide. At the present time, hydroxyurea is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication that decreases the number of pain crises and episodes of acute chest syndrome.

An international research team led by biochemists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) reduced the sickling of red blood cells in a mouse model of the disease. Results of the study appear in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.The scientists did this by manipulating a small molecule known as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which they report is found in elevated levels in people with sickle cell disease.

Genetic blueprint for cancerous appendix tumors identified (12th May, 2014) Using next generation DNA sequencing, scientists have identified potentially actionable mutations in cancers of the appendix. When specific mutations for a cancer type are identified, patients can be treated with chemotherapy or other targeted agents that work on those mutations. Little is known about the molecular biology of two types of appendix tumors, low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) and adenocarcinoma, but both can lead to pseudomyxoma peritonea (PMP), a critical condition in

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which cancerous cells grow uncontrollably along the wall of the abdomen and can crush digestive organs.

For detail mail to editor

HEALTH AWARENESS

Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

According to WHO, Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2). The WHO definition is:

• a BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight • a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obesity.

BMI provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults. However, it should be considered a rough guide because it may not correspond to the same degree of fatness in different individuals.

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Adult Obesity

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

• An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.

• An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

Height Weight Range

BMI Considered

5' 9"

124 lbs or less Below 18.5 Underweight

125 lbs to 168 lbs

18.5 to 24.9

Healthy weight

169 lbs to 202 lbs

25.0 to 29.9

Overweight

203 lbs or more

30 or higher

Obese

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat.

Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist

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circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Assessing Health Risks Associated with Overweight and Obesity

BMI is just one indicator of potential health risks associated with being overweight or obese. For assessing someone's likelihood of developing overweight- or obesity-related diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines recommend looking at two other predictors:

• The individual's waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related diseases).

• Other risk factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity (for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity)

•

Causes of Overweight And Obesity

There are a variety of factors that play a role in obesity. This makes it a complex health issue to address. Behavior, environment, and genetic factors may have an effect in causing people to be overweight and obese.

• Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance. This involves eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.

• Body weight is the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status.

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• Behavior and environment play a large role causing people to be overweight and obese. These are the greatest areas for prevention and treatment actions.

Environment

People may make decisions based on their environment or community. For example, a person may choose not to walk to the store or to work because of a lack of sidewalks. Community, home, child care, school, health care, and workplace settings can all influence people's health decisions. Therefore, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy diet. Watch The Obesity Epidemic to learn about the many environmental factors that have contributed to the obesity epidemic, as well as several community initiatives taking place to prevent and reduce obesity.

Genetics Genetics plays a role in obesity. Genes can directly cause obesity in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. However genes do not always predict future health. Genes and behavior may both be needed for a person to be overweight. In some cases multiple genes may increase one's susceptibility for obesity and require outside factors; such as abundant food supply or little physical activity.

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Other Factors Diseases Some illnesses may lead to obesity or weight gain. These may include Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain. A doctor is the best source to tell you whether illnesses, medications, or psychological factors are contributing to weight gain or making weight loss hard. Consequences Of Overweight And Obesity

Health Consequences Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as "overweight" and "obesity," the risks for the following conditions also increases:1

• Coronary heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes

• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

• Stroke

• Liver and Gallbladder disease

• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)

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• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

Economic Consequences Overweight and obesity and their associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system.Medical costs associated with overweight and obesity may involve direct and indirect costs.Direct medical costs may include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity. Indirect costs relate to morbidity and mortality costs. Morbidity costs are defined as the value of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism, and bed days. Mortality costs are the value of future income lost by premature death. The medical care costs of obesity in the United States are staggering. In 2008 dollars, these costs totaled about $147 billion.

Prevalence of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity rates remain high. Overall, obesity among our nation’s young people, aged 2 to 19 years, has not changed significantly since 2003-2004 and remains at about 17 percent. However among 2-5 years old, obesity has declined based on CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.

• Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.

• The prevalence of obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years decreased significantly from 13.9% in 2003-2004 to 8.4% in 2011-2012.

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• There are significant racial and age disparities in obesity prevalence among children and adolescents. In 2011-2012, obesity prevalence was higher among Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic black youth (20.2%) than non-Hispanic white youth (14.1%). The prevalence of obesity was lower in non-Hispanic Asian youth (8.6%) than in youth who were non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black or Hispanic.

• In 2011-2012, 8.4% of 2- to 5-year-olds were obese compared with 17.7% of 6- to 11-year-olds and 20.5% of 12- to 19-year-olds.

Note: In children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific CDC BMI-for-age growth charts.

Obesity and extreme obesity rates decline among low-income preschool children Obesity and extreme obesity among U.S. low-income, preschool-aged children went down for the first time in recent years, according to a CDC study.

• From 2003 through 2010, the prevalence of obesity decreased slightly from 15.21% to 14.94%. Similarly, the prevalence of extreme obesity decreased from 2.22% to 2.07%.1

• However, from 1998 through 2003, the prevalence of obesity increased from 13.05% to 15.21%, and the prevalence of extreme obesity increased from 1.75% to 2.22%.1

• Extreme obesity significantly decreased among all racial groups except American Indians/Alaska Natives. The greatest decrease was among 2-year old and Asian/Pacific Islander children.1

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in the Prevalence of Extreme Obesity Among US Preschool-Aged

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Children Living in Low-Income Families, 1998-2010. JAMA. 2012; 308 (24): 2563-2565 WHO has developed the "Global Action Plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020" which aims to achieve the commitments of the UN Political Declaration on NCDs which was endorsed by Heads of State and Government in September 2011. This action plan aims to build on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The action plan will contribute to progress on 9 global NCD targets to be attained in 2025, including a 25% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025 and a halting of the global obesity rates to those of 2010.

DISEASE OUTBREAK NEWS Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

(MERS-CoV)

(15th May, 2014)

On 15 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for the Netherlands notified WHO about a second laboratory confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection in the Netherlands. The case was discovered during the national contact investigation, performed in relation to the first MERS-CoV case in the Netherlands reported on 14 May 2014. Read more

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS 5th International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer ,2014,JNU Convention Centre, New Delhi,India from 8-10 November.2014

DRUGS UPDATES

FDA approves Entyvio to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (20th May, 2014) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Entyvio (vedolizumab) injection to treat adult patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and adult patients with moderate to severe Crohn‘s disease.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.

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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 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.

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STUDENTS’ SECTION

WHO CAN ANSWER FIRST????

Which cosmetic company was named after a French Opera?

Which cosmetic company was first devloped by Eugène Schueller in 1909?

Answer of Previous Issue’s Questions:

A) Indiana Jones B)Bandicoot

Identify the lady

Answer of Previous Issue’s Image: Arthur C. Clarke

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

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EDITOR’S NOTE

I am proud to publish the 4th 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. 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

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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 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.

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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: 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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