Gut Bacteria can affect Mental Health: Did you know that?

A gut feeling may help you make a quick decision, but one study credits the digestive system for possibly influencing our mental states and behavior as well. The results help scientists understand how inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems relate to the psychological issues that often accompany them. Anxiety and depression commonly occur alongside these bowel conditions.

Scientists want to know whether certain gut bacteria influence humans' behavior. If so, doctors may be able to battle the physical and psychological effects of disease-causing bacteria by developing treatments such as probiotics.In the experiment, researchers introduced antimicrobials to mice via drinking water in order to change the ratios of their gut bacteria. The control group received sterile water. Afterward, both groups of mice were placed between two boxes -- one in the dark, one with light, as scientists recorded their behaviors. Mice with altered digestive bacteria showed less apprehension and were less afraid to go into the well-lit box, a common sign the animals are under the influence of drugs or illness.

Scientists then euthanized the mice to study their intestines and brains. They also found out that the hippocampus of the rodents with altered gut bacteria produced more brain-derived neurotrophic factor, also called BDNF, which often increases with stress and mood disorders, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Although more research is needed to extend the findings to humans, the team found that the effects of bacterial imbalance were reversible in mice, meaning there might be a way to do the same thing for humans in the future.

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

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Astrocytes now can be grown in lab

The most common brain cell, called the astrocyte, is often overlooked in the face of its cousin, the neuron. Researchers are finally realizing their importance and have, for the first time, been able to grow them in the lab.

"Not a lot of attention has been paid to these cells because human astrocytes have been hard to get," study researcher Su-Chun Zhang, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "But we can make billions or trillions of them from a single stem cell." Astrocytes are small, star-shaped cells in the brain that act like the neuron's bodyguards, and because of that they play an important role in diseases of the central nervous system, including dementia. They are more common than neurons but have been hard to grow in the lab. Being able to study them could help researchers understand their role in normal brain functioning, and help find new treatments for disease.

"Without the astrocyte, neurons can't function," Zhang said in a statement. "Astrocytes wrap around nerve cells to protect them and keep them healthy. They participate in virtually every function or disorder of the brain." They protect neurons by performing basic housekeeping functions, like regulating blood flow, cleaning up excess neurotransmitters (the communication molecules used by neurons), and playing a key role in controlling the blood-brain barrier, which keeps toxic substances out of the brain.

Zhang created the cells from both embryonic and adult stem cells by treating them with special proteins to get them to grow into astrocytes. These cells could also be useful as a transplant, to treat diseases like Lou Gehrig's disease (also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), in which the neurons are overworked. Transplanting healthy astrocytes could rescue the injured neurons.

Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Anxiety may be in your gut rather than in your head

For the first time, researchers at McMaster University have conclusive evidence that bacteria residing in the gut influence brain chemistry and behaviour.The findings are important because several common types of gastrointestinal disease, including irritable bowel syndrome, are frequently associated with anxiety or depression. In addition there has been speculation that some psychiatric disorders, such as late onset autism, may be associated with an abnormal bacterial content in the gut.
"The exciting results provide stimulus for further investigating a microbial component to the causation of behavioural illnesses," said Stephen Collins, professor of medicine and associate dean research, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Collins and Premysl Bercik, assistant professor of medicine, undertook the research in the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute.The research appears in the online edition of the journal Gastroenterology.
For each person, the gut is home to about 1,000 trillium bacteria with which we live in harmony. These bacteria perform a number of functions vital to health: They harvest energy from the diet, protect against infections and provide nutrition to cells in the gut. Any disruption can result in life-threatening conditions, such as antibiotic-induced colitis from infection with the "superbug" Clostridium difficile.Working with healthy adult mice, the researchers showed that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behaviour; the mice became less cautious or anxious. This change was accompanied by an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has been linked, to depression and anxiety.
When oral antibiotics were discontinued, bacteria in the gut returned to normal. "This was accompanied by restoration of normal behaviour and brain chemistry," Collins said.To confirm that bacteria can influence behaviour, the researchers colonized germ-free mice with bacteria taken from mice with a different behavioural pattern. They found that when germ-free mice with a genetic background associated with passive behaviour were colonized with bacteria from mice with higher exploratory behaviour, they became more active and daring. Similarly, normally active mice became more passive after receiving bacteria from mice whose genetic background is associated with passive behaviour.
While previous research has focused on the role bacteria play in brain development early in life, Collins said this latest research indicates that while many factors determine behaviour, the nature and stability of bacteria in the gut appear to influence behaviour and any disruption , from antibiotics or infection, might produce changes in behaviour. Bercik said that these results lay the foundation for investigating the therapeutic potential of probiotic bacteria and their products in the treatment of behavioural disorders, particularly those associated with gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Source: Mcmaster University
 

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Body can be re-educated to accept donor organ on its own

British-based researchers have discovered a way to reprogramme immune system cells so that they think the donated organ is a natural part of the recipient's body.Not only will the development avoid patients having to take three different types of costly drugs every day of their life, it will also mean the donated organs lasts indefinitely.
Dr Pervinder Sagoo, co-author at King's College London, said: "We hope this is the holy grail that means that the recipient is completely tolerant to the transplanted organ for the rest of their life."
Currently patients must take around three immunosuppressant drugs a day to prevent a new organ from being rejected after transplantation.However, these drugs suppress the entire immune system, leaving the patient susceptible to infections and tumours.
Transplanted organs are also put under pressure andoften do not last longer than 10 years.
The new approach involves re-educating the immune system so that the body sees the organ as a natural part of the body.The immune system carries on working in exactly the same way but because it does not see the new tissue as alien, leaves it alone.The technique works by mixing the immune cells of the donor and the recipient in the laboratory to produce a kind of hybrid which is then copied millions of times.These new cells of then injected into the recipient – spreading around the body and re-educating the immune system for life.Ultimately this approach could extend the life of a transplanted organ and in turn, could alleviate the organ shortage problem.
The technique has already been used in animals and clinical human trials start at the end of the year.
Scientists hope it could be used in earnest within a decade.Professor Robert Lechler, Vice-Principal for Health at King's, said: "This study is a promising step forward that could lead to dramatic advances in preventing organ rejection and improving the quality of life of transplant patients."
Dr Shannon Amoils, Research Advisor at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded both studies, said: "If the techniques used in these studies can be transferred to the clinic it could signal a move to replace long term use of immune-suppressing drugs."This would be a huge step forward for transplantation, more than four decades since the revolutionary treatment began."

Source: King's College London
 

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Cross your Arm, Confuse your brain & relieve pain

Simply crossing your hands confuses your brain and distracts it from any pain being administered, a study suggests.The brain is used to your left hand carrying out tasks on your left hand side and the right hand carrying out tasks on the right.By crossing them, the brain is momentarily bamboozled and this makes it less susceptible to pain.
Researchers think the theory has most impact on pain felt in the hands, and have not yet tested it on other parts of the body."Perhaps when we get hurt, we should not only 'rub it better' but also cross our arms," said Dr Giandomenico Iannetti, the lead author of the study at the University College London.
In the study, scientists used a laser to generate a four millisecond pin prick of "pure pain" – which is pain without touch – on the hands of a small group of eight participants, which was repeated with the arms crossed.The hands were over the midline – an imaginary line running vertically down the centre of the body. Participants rated their perception of the intensity of the pain, and their electrical brain responses were also measured using electroencephalography (EEG) scanner.
The pain was rated from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most pain you could possibly imagine.
The results from both participants' reports and the EEG showed that the perception of pain was weaker when the arms were crossed.The effect is said to be "small but significant" and equivalent to a reduction in pain of around three per cent, the study claims.Dr Iannetti believes that the effect was caused by the brain being confused."In everyday life you mostly use your left hand to touch things on the left side of the world, and your right hand for the right side of the world – for example when picking up a glass of water on your right side you generally use your right hand," he said.
"Crossing your hands causes a mismatch and this makes the processing of pain more difficult.
"It works for other stimuli. The sensitivity of the brain is reduced. It is not a huge analgesic but we are testing it on people with chronic pain in their hands."

Source: University College London.
 

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Early HIV Treatment Reduces Transmission

The World Health Organization is calling the results of a new study a "crucial development" in HIV treatment. The U.S. National Institutes of Health studied almost 1,800 couples from countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas in which one partner was infected with HIV. The researchers found that the couples, in which the infected partner was started on antiretroviral medications immediately after diagnosis, had a 96% decrease in the rate of HIV transmission to the uninfected partner, compared to couples in which the infected partner was given antiretroviral drugs only when their white blood cell counts decreased. Among those who started therapy immediately after diagnosis there was only one case of transmission between partners. In the other group there were 27 HIV transmissions. The study was cut short by four years due to the successful outcome thus far, and will no doubt affect current recommendations for HIV treatment.

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LIST OF IMPORTANT INSTITUTES TO PURSUE INTERNSHIP/TRAINING

List of Institutions in India:

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Marg, New Delhi-110 029.
2. Amravati Uaniversity, Amravati-44 602
3. Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan-304 022
4. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, TN
5. Bose Institute, P-1/12, CIT Scheme, VII Kankurgachi, Calcutta-700 054.
6. Calicut University, Kozhikode-673 635, Kerala
7. Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-25.
8. Centre for Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Pondichery-605 014.
9. Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003
10. Consortium India Ltd,. G-6, (3rd Floor), NDSE Part 1, New Delhi.
11. Department of Biotechnology, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore-452 001, Madhya Pradesh.
12. Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005.
13. Department of Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032.
14. Department of Biotechnology, Punjab University, Goa-5.
15. Department of Marine Sciences, Goa University, Goa-5.
16. Department of Microbiology, M.S. University, Vadodara-390 002, Gujarat.
17. Department of Zoology, Poona University, Pune-411 007, Maharashtra.
18. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431 004.
19. Faculty of Applied Science, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam-686 560, Kerala.
20. Faculty of Science, G.B, Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pant Nagar-263 145, Nainital Dist. Uttar Pradesh.
21. Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, Haryana.
22. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171 005.
23. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110 012.
24. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012.
25. Indian Institute of Technology, Haus Khas, New, Delhi-6.
26. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-723 102.
27. Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai-400 076.
28. Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh.
29. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Masab Tank, Mahaveer Marg, Hyderabad-Anadhra Pradesh.
30. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067.

31. Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474 011.
32. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119.
33. North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon-425 002.
34. Osmania University, Administrative Building, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh-500 007.
35. Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492 010, Chhattisgarh.
36. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.
37. Punjab University, Patiala-147 002.
38. Rajendra Agricultural University, PO Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar.
39. School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai-625 021.
40. School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005.
41. School of Life Sciences, Central University, Hyderabad-500 134.
42. Swami Ramanad Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded-431 603.
43. Tezpur University, Tezpur-784 001.
44. University of Delhi. Delhi-110 007.
45. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500 046.
46. University of Kerala, Thiruvananthaouram-34, Kerala.
47. University of Madras, Centenary Building Chepauk, Triplicane PO, Chennai-600 005, Tamil Nadu.
48. University of Mysore, Mysore-570 005.
49. University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667.
 Some of the centres where Biotechnology labs are equipped with advanced facilities are:

1. National Facility for Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh.
2. National Facility for Collection of Blue Green Algae (BGA) Collection at IARI, New Delhi.
3. National Facility for Marine Cyanobacteria at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli.
4. National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture Repository at NBPGR, Pusa, New Delhi.
5. National Laboratory Animal House Facilities at Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow.
6. National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad.

Genetic Engineering labs with latest infrastructure facilities are :

1. BHU, Varanasi
2. Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre at IMTECH, Chandigarh.
3. Centre for DNA Finger Printing and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad.
4. JNU, New Delhi
5. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
6. National Facility for Animal Cell and Tissue Culture, Pune
. 7. National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi.
8. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Stem Cells Can Be Distinguished on the Basis of Sugar Residues: A new study suggests

 A new study at Bochum let to the development of an antibody that allows them to distinguish the numerous types of stem cells in the nervous system better than before.

"In order to use stem cells for therapeutic purposes, it is important to be able to distinguish between the different types," explained Eva Hennen of the RUB Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology (Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology). The antibody 5750 recognises a specific sugar residue on the cell surface, which is called LewisX. The research group led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Faissner has now been able to use LewisX for the first time to separate different types of stem cells. The researchers report on their results in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Unexpected sugar diversity

Antibodies that recognise the LewisX sugar residue are used routinely to identify so-called neural stem cells from which the various cells of the nervous system originate. Prof. Faissner's team has now shown that the designation "LewisX" does not just cover a single sugar motif, but a whole range of different sugar residues. Different types of neural stem cells are equipped with individual combinations of LewisX sugar residues on their cell surface. The new Bochum antibody 5750 recognises a different LewisX sugar residue to the antibodies previously used. "This sugar diversity could also be interesting for cancer diagnosis" Prof. Faissner explained, "because LewisX sugars have also been detected on tumour cells."

New Research: Genes Determine Donor Kidney Survival

A new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center sheds light on what causes certain kidneys to do better than others after being transplanted.

"It's been long observed that kidneys taken from some black donors just don't last as long as those taken from non-black donors, and the reason for that has not been known," said Barry I. Freedman, M.D., John H. Felts III Professor and senior investigator. "This study reveals that the genetic profile of the donor has a marked affect on graft survival after transplantation. We now know that these organs aren't failing because they came from black donors, but rather because they came from individuals with two copies of a specific recessive gene."

The study appears in the May issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

Freedman and co-researchers at Wake Forest Baptist examined 12 years' worth of medical records dating back to 1998, looking for all patients who received a kidney transplant from a black deceased donor whose genetic information had been recorded. The search yielded 106 black donors -- from whom one or both kidneys were transplanted -- for a total of 136 donated kidneys.

The researchers identified that kidneys from donors who had specific coding changes in a gene called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) did not last as long after transplant as those from donors without these changes. These coding changes in the APOL1 gene that affect kidney transplant function are found in about 10 to 12 percent of black individuals. Recent studies, led by Freedman and his colleagues, have shown that these genetic changes are associated with an increased risk of kidney disease, which prompted researchers to investigate the role of these changes in transplant success.

"In looking at the records and follow-up of the recipients of these organs, we accounted for all the usual factors that are known to contribute to more rapid loss of kidney function after transplant," said Freedman, chief of the section on nephrology. "What we found was that the kidney disease-causing risk variants in APOL1 were the strongest predictor of graft loss after transplant. The effect of having two copies of this gene was stronger than the impact of genetic matching between donor and recipient, the amount of time the organ was out of the body, and the antibody levels. APOL1 dwarfed all these other factors known to affect survival."

If the finding is confirmed by other researchers, it has the potential to dramatically improve outcomes for both the individuals undergoing kidney transplantation and those considering kidney donation, Freedman said. It could revolutionize donor selection criteria, allowing transplant physicians the ability to identify kidneys that are likely to function for shorter periods of time. In addition, this screening tool has the potential to help doctors protect potential donors who may be at risk of developing kidney disease down the road.

Certain Heart Medications Better Taken At Night

A new study to be published in the May 17, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that ACE inhibitors, a class of cardiac drugs, may be more efficacious when administered at night. ACE inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, especially in people who have sustained a heart attack. They reduce the deleterious post-heart attack remodeling of heart tissue which usually occurs at night. By studying mice, the researchers found that those who were given the medication at night demonstrated better heart function and preservation of normal heart size than mice that were given the medication in the morning. The study calls to attention the need for more studies on the best times to administer cardiac drugs, since evidence shows that heart function runs on a cyclic pattern. For example, it is well known that the risk of heart attack is dramatically increased in the mornings for a variety of reasons. Therefore, giving medications to anticipate this would be more beneficial than taking a medication after one awakens.

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glutamate receptors

Glutamate neurotransmission plays an important role in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Activation of glutamate receptors occurs in pathways involved in pain, neurotoxicity and memory formation.

There are big expectations in the neuropharmacology field about the possible clinical applications of novel agents acting on these receptors. Some of the conditions that might benefit from future glutamatergic drugs include: hyperalgesia, stroke, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

This article overviews the structure and physiology of glutamate receptors.

Outline:

• Classification
  • Ionotropic glutamate receptors
    • NMDA receptors
    • AMPA receptors
    • Kainate receptors
  • Metabotropic receptors

Structure and characteristics

Glutamate receptors are divided into two subgroups: ionotropic (ligand-gated ion channels) and metabotropic (G protein-coupled receptors).

Ionotropic glutamate receptors

These receptors act as cation-selective channels, when activated they allow the flow of Na⁺ , K⁺ and Ca²⁺.

Ionotropic glutamate receptors can be subdivided into three subtypes, according to their activation by selective agonists such as NMDA, AMPA and kainate.

NMDA receptors

NMDA receptors are ligand-gated ion channels, with a primary glutamate-binding site and an allosteric glycine-binding site.These receptors consist of multisubunit oligomeric transmembrane complexes. NDMA receptor subunits include:

• NR1
• NR2A
• NR2B
• NR2C
• NR2D

Smith, S. Diabetic Retinopathy and the NMDA Receptor, Drug News Perspect 2002, 15(4): 226

Three events need to occur simultaneously in order to activate NMDA receptors: binding of glutamate and glycine (which acts as cotransmitter) and membrane depolarization. Under resting conditions,  Mg²⁺ ions block the channel pore in the resting membrane. When NMDA receptors are activated, Mg²⁺ ions are removed from their location, allowing the influx of Ca⁺² ions.

AMPA receptors

AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid) receptors are constituted of four subunits:

• GluR1
• GluR2
• GluR3
• GluR4

These receptors regulate fast excitatory postsynaptic depolarization at glutamatergic synapses. AMPA receptors are located in the CNS, specially in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

Kainate receptors

Kainate receptors are expressed throughout the CNS, particularly in the hyppocampus and cerebellum where they play a role in both pre- and postsynaptic neurotransmission.

Five kainate receptor subunits have been identified:

• GluR5
• GluR6
• GluR7
• KA1
• KA2

According to recent findings, kainate receptors may be relevant in pain neurotransmission.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) are seven transmembrane-spanning proteins that exert their actions through G protein signalling cascades.

There are eight subtypes of metabotropic glutamate receptors, which are organized into three separate groups (I, II and III).

Recent findings suggest that groups II and III might be located presynaptically, where they function as autoreceptors to block glutamate release. Autoreceptors act as "detectors" of glutamate activity in the synaptic cleft. When ligands activate group II and III mGluRs glutamate release may be reduced. Therefore, activation of presynaptic group II and III mGLURs may inhibit glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission.

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors may be located postsynaptically, where they hypothetically enhance excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission.

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New Florida Bill Could Prevent Doctors From Asking About Guns

Florida governor Rick Scott is expected to sign a bill that is penned with the assistance of National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbyists which would effectively make it illegal for doctors to ask their patients whether they have access to guns. The bill is aimed mostly at pediatricians who routinely ask new parents whether there are guns in the home and if they are safely stored. Doctors will routinely ask suicidal patients as well regarding access to firearms. These questions are meant to guide the doctor during the patient encounter by helping to identify and discuss potential safety issues. However, gun rights advocates say physicians have a political agenda because the American Academy of Pediatrics is officially on the record supporting gun control. Similar laws are also being considered in the states of North Carolina and Alabama

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Your Happiness also has genetic basis: Did you know that?

Recently, a study has come up stating links of happiness with the type of genes you possess.

The study of more than 2,500 Americans revealed two variants of a gene that influenced how satisfied – or dissatisfied – people were with their lot. Those born with two long versions of the gene (one is passed down from each parent) were more likely to declare themselves "very satisfied" with life than those who inherited two short versions.The study marks a tentative step towards explaining the mystery of why some people seem naturally happier than others.

"This gives us more insight into the biological mechanisms that influence life satisfaction," said Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

"If you're feeling down, you can say it's your biology telling you life is less rosy that it is," he added.

A greater understanding of happiness genes might in future allow would-be parents to create a child who will be more satisfied with their life.

Happiness is only partly influenced by genetic makeup. Studies in twins suggest that genes account for roughly a third to a half of the variation in happiness between people. It is not yet known how many genes affect how cheerful we are. De Neve looked at the genetic makeup of 2,574 people selected to be representative of the general population, whose medical histories were recorded for the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Among the records were answers to a question participants were asked in their early 20s about life satisfaction.

Writing in the Journal of Human Genetics, De Neve describes how roughly 40% said they were "very satisfied" with life, and among these, 35.4% had two long variants of the gene and only 19.1% had two short versions. Of those who were "dissatisfied" with life, 26.2% had two long variants of the gene, while 20% had two short versions. That indicates a slight over-representation of the long variants in happier people.

The gene, known as 5-HTT, is involved with the transport of serotonin, a feelgood chemical, in the brain. The longer variant leads to more efficient release and recycling of the neurotransmitter.

De Neve calculated that, everything else being equal, having one long version of the gene increased the number of people claiming to be "very satisfied" with life by around 8.5%. Having two long versions raised the number by 17.3%.

De Neve urged caution over the result, however, and emphasised that inheriting two short versions of the gene did not condemn a person to a life of misery any more than two long versions would make someone impervious to sadness.

"This gene has an important influence, but you cannot say it causes happiness. Happiness is hugely complex and your experiences throughout the course of your life will remain the dominant force on that," he said.

Source: London School of Economics and Political Science

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Regeneration of Nerve cells: New Hope for Spinal Cord injuries

 A recent study at Rutgers University suggests innovative new treatment that could help minimize nerve damage in spinal cord injuries, promote tissue healing and minimize pain.

A spinal cord injury leads to an increased production of a protein (RhoA) that blocks regeneration of nerve cells that carry signals along the spinal cord and prevents the injured tissue from healing.

Scientists at the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc. have developed a chemically synthesized siRNA molecule that decreases the production of the RhoA protein when administered to the spine and allows regeneration of the nerve cells.

"It is exciting because this minimally-invasive treatment can selectively target the injured tissue and thereby promote healing and reduce pain," says Martin Grumet, associate director of the Keck Center and senior author of a recent study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

The neuropathic pain, also known as phantom pain that occurs as a result of a spinal cord injury is often associated with an increased production of RhoA. When researchers injected the chemically synthesized molecular substance into the spinal cords of laboratory rats with spinal cord injury using a procedure similar to a spinal tap, there was an overall improvement in tissue healing and recovery.

More than 250,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury and currently there is no way to reverse the damage. No drugs for early treatment of spinal cord injury have been approved in over a decade. Based on this joint research, Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc now has a drug development program for the treatment of spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain. This new research is supported by grants from the New Jersey Commission for Spinal Cord Research and Quark

Source: Rutgers University

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bubonic plague

A 58 year-old man in the state of New Mexico has been officially deemed as the first bubonic plague case of 2011 in the U.S. Each year approximately 10 to 15 people in the U.S. contract the disease through contact with infected rodents and animals or through the bites of infected fleas. Symptoms of the disease (historically known as the "Black Death" which killed an estimated 75 million people in the 14th century) include fever, chills, headaches, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin, and armpits. Although the disease is now treatable with antibiotics, one out of every seven patients die from it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1,000 to 3,000 cases of the disease occurs annually world wide. The disease is particularly prevalent in New Mexico because the state has a high population of rodents and fleas. The gentleman from New Mexico survived after being treated and has been released from a hospita

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Q: I’ve had diabetes for 7 years. My hemoglobin A1C fluctuates between 6.2 to 6.5. Am I subject to developing problems with my feet?

A: Thanks for this very important question. Foot problems are always a concern for diabetics because they can develop temporary or permanent damage to their nerves (diabetic neuropathy). Diabetics are prone to elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels and poor circulation, both of which can lead to nerve damage, especially of nerves which are fed by very small blood vessels, such as those in the feet. When nerve damage occurs in the feet, you may experience sensations of foot tingling, numbness, burning, cramping and even weakness. Nerve damage can occur in other areas of the body as well, such as the eyes, stomach, intestines, bladder, penis, eyelids, etc. This can lead to vision problems, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, eyelid drooping, and more. About 50% of diabetics will develop nerve damage and, on average, these symptoms will develop 10 to 20 years after the diagnosis of diabetes has been made. One of the most important ways to prevent nerve damage is to control your blood glucose level. The latest guidelines dictate that a person has diabetes when their hemoglobin A1C (a measure of your average blood glucose level over the most recent 2-3 month period) level is 6.4 or higher. Therefore, Lorenzo, keep up the good work because your A1C level is very good and, hopefully, that will reduce your risk of future nerve problems.

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Opportunity for M.Sc Life Science to join miRNA research group at SRM University | NET required

Applications are invited for a post of Junior Research Fellow to work in a research project entitled "Regulation of mesenchymal stem cells towards osteogenic cell lineage by microRNAs" funded by the Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi.

Name of Post : JRF
No of Post : One
Emoluments :
Rs. 16,000 + 10% HRA = Rs. 17,600 per month (fixed) for 1st year and 2nd year
Rs. 18,000 + 10% HRA = Rs. 19,800 per month (fixed) for 3rd year

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Medicare Will Pay For Pricey Prostate Cancer Drug

Medicare officials announced today that they will pay the $93,000 cost of the drug, Provenge, for patients with incurable late-stage prostate cancer. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid said the biotech drug is a "reasonable and necessary" medication which can extend a patient's life by an average of 4 months, twice as long as patient undergoing chemotherapy (which has notable side effects). Provenge is an advanced medication whereby each dose is customized to work with an individual patient's immune system. The Seattle-based Dendreon Corp., maker of the drug, says Provenge's price point reflects the more than $1 billion spent on research and development of the drug. From a legal standpoint, Medicare is prohibited from considering price when deciding whether to pay for a new treatment or not

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Stroke “Triggers” May Surprise You

According to the American Heart Association health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking and certain heart rhythm disorders can increase one's risk for stroke. But are there certain triggers which can actually cause a stroke to occur. That's what researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands set out to find. According to their study, published in the journal Stroke, it appears that there are certain events which may by associated with the onset of stroke. Interestingly, the researchers found that coffee intake had the highest association with having a stroke. Other triggers include:

• Coffee 10.6% (of cases of stroke)
• Vigorous exercise 7.9%
• Nose blowing 5.4%
• Sex 4.3%
• Straining to defecate 3.6%
• Drinking cola 3.5%
• Being startled 2.7%
• Being angry 1.3%

More studies are needed to see if any of these triggers can directly cause a stroke to occur. But, for now, they are just associations which have been noted to have some form of association with stroke.

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Oral Asthma Medications Prove Effective

A new study published online in the current New England Journal of Medicine suggests that oral medications used to control asthma can be just as effective as inhaled medicines. The researchers studied over 650 patients over a two year period and found that the oral asthma medications Singular (montelukast) and Accolate (zafirlukast) performed just as well as inhaled steroids in controlling asthma, but only in the first two months of the study. After two years, asthma control between oral and inhaled medications was almost equivalent, but inhaled medications held a very slight advantage. What the researchers chose to focus on, however, is that patients are more likely to adhere to a medication regimen when given oral pills, compared to inhaled medicines. This is especially important when it comes to chronic diseases such as asthma, and certainly should be taken into consideration for patients who cannot adhere to inhaled medications for whatever reason. It should be noted that the study and its authors have associations with Merck and AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals, the two companies that produce the two oral asthma medications

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Fwd: BTSE 2011 Notification

 

BIOTECH TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION 2011

 

Dear Sir / Madam

                           Regards, Please find enclosed here with detailed information broacher of the

                           Exam, BIOTECH TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION 2011 to be held online on 29^th

                           May'2011, organized by Kaushik Biotech Pvt.Ltd. in association ship with leading

                           news paper Dainik Bhaskar.

                           Please visit our website www.kaushikbiotech.com for more details.

 

Organizing  Secretary

BTSE 2011

 

 

 

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China Attempts Public Smoking Ban

One third of the world's smokers are Chinese, according to the BBC. And in China, one million people a year die of smoking-related illnesses. This is why the country is attempting to implement a ban on smoking in public spaces, including restaurants, hotels, train stations, theaters and the like (smoking in the office is apparently still okay). But, however noble the intentions, the smoking ban comes as not much more than a casual reminder of the potential ill effects of smoking. Employers will be obliged to warn employees of the dangers of smoking, however, anyone who chooses to disobey will not be met with any form of punishment or penalty. It seems like education is a major issue as studies show that only one in four Chinese are aware of the potential health effects of cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke. Chinese officials would like to reduce the annual mortality numbers from smoking, but, at the same time, the government is the sole producer and distributor of all tobacco products in the country. A product which generates a lot of state money

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Waist Size More Accurate In Predicting Death From Heart Disease

New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that waist circumference is a much better indicator of one's risk of death from heart disease than widely used measures, such as Body Mass Index (BMI). The researchers found that patients with known heart disease who have a high ratio of waist-to-hip circumference and large waists — greater than 35 inches for women, or 40 inches for men — were 70% more likely to die during the study period than those with smaller waists. The combination of a large waist and a high BMI further increased the risk of death. "What matters probably the most is the distribution of fat, more than anything else," says the lead researcher, Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. This study drives home what we are beginning to learn more about – that the patient's body shape and fat distribution is extremely important when it comes to heart disease, and BMI tells us nothing about a person's body habitus. But, why is belly fat so bad? Research has shown that this type of fat that surrounds the organs in the abdomen tends to promote development of insulin resistance (which can increase the risk for diabetes), worsen cholesterol levels, and also increase inflammation, all of which can lead to worsened heart disease

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Q: I’ve been on Nexium for two weeks and my stomach pain and burning has not resolved. What should I do?

A: This is an excellent question as most antacid directions will say to take for no longer than two weeks. One of the reasons for this is that there are a multitude of things that can cause abdominal pain, aside from heartburn. Therefore, if your abdominal complaints are still present, despite trying an antacid for two weeks, it's important to seek proper medical attention in order to find out the exact cause of the discomfort. What's more, the intensity of the pain is not necessarily a reflection of the severity of the problem. For example, cancers of the esophagus or stomach may simply present with complaints of increased burping, indigestion, or feeling full soon after starting to eat. Since there are numerous organs in the abdomen, pain can originate from any one of them, including the esophagus, stomach, intestines, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, appendix, liver – and more. In general, it is a good idea to contact your physician if your abdominal discomfort lasts for more than a week, is becoming worse, or is associated with fever or unexplained loss of weight.

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Now Press Delete Button For Traumatic Memory, New Study Reveals!!

Every one of us goes through some tragedy and emotional trauma in life. One of the recent studies suggest that a scientific breakthrough may help us eradicate such traumatic experiences from our lives at least the scientists involved in the research claim so.

In the study, the scientists have discovered a link between a protein called PKM and our recollection of disturbing events. Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, could have profound implications for war veterans, the victims of violent crimes and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Lead researcher David Glanzman, from the University of California, Los Angeles, said: 'I think we will be able to alter memories someday to reduce the trauma from our brains. 'Not in the immediate future, but I think we will be able to go into one's brain, identify the location of the memory of a traumatic experience and try to dampen it down. 'We can do this in culture, and there is no essential difference between the synapse in culture and the synapse in your brain.'

Another professor named Glanzman, a cellular neuroscientist, along with his team reported that they have eliminated, or at least substantially weakened, a long-term memory in both the marine snail known as Aplysia and neurons in a Petri dish. The researchers stated that they have gained important insights into the cell biology of long-term memory. They discovered that the long-term memory for sensitisation in the marine snail can be erased by inhibiting the activity of PKM, a protein associated with memory. The research may also help in effective treatment of drug addiction, Alzheimer's disease and other long-term memory disorders.

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Interest-free scholarship loans by Sakal Foundation

The Sakal India Foundation, Pune, has decided to offer - on an all-India basis - about 50 interest-free loan scholarships, each worth Rs 40,000, to Indian students proposing to pursue post-graduate studies abroad, or research studies leading to Ph.D in India.

The Foundation, which has marked 50 years of promoting excellence in education, has invited applications from eligible Indian students for the purpose. The loans are to be repaid in two years. In order to be eligible for the loan scholarship, the applicant must have secured admission for a post-graduate degree - in any foreign university - for academic study of not less than one year's duration, for the academic year 2011-2012, or must have a valid registration for doing research - leading to Ph.D in a statutory university, national institute or institution, of equivalent standing in India, two years previous to the date of application, for the interest-free loan scholarship. A scholarship of Rs 10,000 (non-refundable), will also be awarded to a deserving student, for pursuing post-graduate studies in journalism, satisfying the above pre-conditions in India or abroad.

Coming Soon: Newer Generation Antidepressant From Max Planck

Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry (Munich) have carried out studies on the genomes of 4,088 patients and 11,001 healthy control subjects from all over the world. They have identified a new risk gene variant for depression. They were able to show genetic correlation with depression. They demonstrated physiologically measurable changes in the brains of healthy carriers of this risk allele which affected a transporter protein involved in the production of an important neuronal transmitter. Since, traditional drugs interact with similar transporter molecules; the researchers believe this factor as the target structure of future antidepressant medication.

Over the past several years, studies have been carried out to identify the genetic causes of depression. Such a study is also carried out by Martin Kohli, Susanne Lucae, Bertram Müller-Myhsok and Elisabeth Binder. While comparing the genetic material of depressive patients with that of healthy control subjects,the researchers discovered that the individual base exchanges, so-called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), clearly arose in the context of major depression. The researchers were very disappointed, however, when they had to establish that this section on the chromosome does not contain any genes. "Instead of getting our hands on a 'depression gene', we found ourselves back in a 'genetic desert' so to speak," Florian Holsboer, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich, explains.

Hence, the scientists wondered whether a gene located further away could possibly be influenced by the genetic variation and whether susceptibility for depression could arise that way. In this case, the SLC6A15 gene was identified as a promising candidate. SLC6A15 is involved in the transportation of amino acids like proline and leucine to the contact sites of neurons in the brain, known as synapses. It may therefore be also involved in the regulation of glutamate which is an important excitatory neurotransmitter found in neurons. Leucine is a structural precursor of glutamate. "Because it is assumed that the communication between the neuron clusters is disturbed in depression, we considered whether the gene we had identified could possibly influence this process through glutamate," explains Elisabeth Binder, research group leader at the MPI.

Subsequently, the Max Planck scientists have succeeded in showing that the changes in the DNA sequence located a total of 287,000 bases away from the gene influenced its activity. Therefore, cells of the risk genotype displayed a lower level of gene activity than cells carrying the protective genotype. Moreover, tests carried out using the magnetic resonance imaging scanner confirmed that even healthy subjects who are carriers of the risk allele have smaller amounts of the brain metabolic substances N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and glutamate (Glx) compared to healthy subjects without genetic susceptibility.

Morphological changes such as shrinking of certain brain regions may also arise in the course of major depression. This can eventually be observed in depressive patients. Therefore, in addition to genetic susceptibility, other factors must affect the organism to trigger the development of major depression. Stress is considered as an important environmental factor in the depression and research on this aspect has been carried out for many years at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry. It has been found, for example, that the likelihood of developing the disease is raised by a factor of two to three if a person is exposed to chronic social stress.

How Mosquitoes handle Stress? New Research Reveals

Ever Wondered Mosquitoes also get stress while sucking your Blood. Yes that's true there are several ways due to which it may get stressed. Be it the fear of being tightly slapped by a Human hand or handle the hot Blood of Humans.A recent study at The Ohio State University has shown that mosquitoes make proteins which help them handle the stressful spike in body temperature that's prompted by their hot blood meals.

The mosquito's eating pattern is inherently risky:

• Taking a blood meal involves finding warm-blooded hosts,
• avoiding detection, penetrating tough skin and
• evading any host immune response,
• not to mention the slap of a human hand.

Scientists have determined that theinsects protect themselves from the stress of the change in body temperature during and after a meal by producing heat shock proteins. This study was carried out in female insects. These proteins provide protection to the integrity of other proteins and enzymes which help the mosquitoes to digest the blood meal and maintain their ability to produce eggs. Tests in two other types of mosquitoes and in bed bugs showed that these insects undergo a similar response after a blood meal. "These heat shock proteins are really important in a lot of stress responses. Our own bodies make these proteins when we have a fever," said David Denlinger, professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology at Ohio State University and senior author of the study. "It's one of those things that, in retrospect, seems obvious – that blood meals might cause a stress like that. But it hadn't been pursued before." The research will be appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In the studies, the researchers placed sensors on female mosquitoes and subsequently observed that upon taking in a blood meal on a chicken, the insects' body temperatures increased from 22 to 32 degrees Celsius (71.6 to 89.6 Fahrenheit) within one minute – among the most rapid body temperature increases ever recorded in a cold-blooded animal. However, the body temperature decreased after feeding. In response to that blood feeding, the mosquitoes' level of Hsp70 – heat shockprotein 70 – increased nearly eightfold within one hour and remained at least twice as high as usual for 12 hours. The increase in these proteins was most pronounced in the midgut area.

Stanford University launches First PhD program in stem cell science

29^th April, 2011 has marked a beginning of a new era in stem cell science asStanford University's Faculty Senate approved the creation of the first stem cell science PhD program in the nation and, perhaps, the world.

School officials stated that the university is taking the rare step of creating a new doctoral program and acknowledges the growing importance of stem cell research in biomedical science. The senate's initial approval of the program extends for five years. "Stem cell biology is a distinct discipline that requires unique skills and includes a scope of knowledge and a skill set that is not covered by other disciplines," said Renee Reijo Pera, PhD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the new PhD program. CIRM president Alan Trounson, PhD, said the doctoral program "is unique in its interdisciplinary nature and focus on applying discoveries to treat disease. This program, along with CIRM's training and research support at Stanford, will prepare the next generation of scientists to become leaders in the search for new cures." 

The creation of a doctoral program will also provide a boost to graduate students and accelerate the development of the field itself. "We are establishing an entirely new field that affects both life sciences and medicine," said Irving Weissman, MD, director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and professor of pathology. "We are doing this in a time of federal cutbacks of support for graduate students, including those doing life sciences in general and those doing medical science training.

Stanford has received $186 million during the past five years — more than any other institution in the state — from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to advance stem cell research. The funds have enabled Stanford to build facilities such as the Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building (believed to be the largest building in the nation dedicated to stem cell research), to develop educational outreach and tissue banking capabilities, and to recruit a number of renowned researchers and trainees from whom the new PhD students can learn both the science and ethics of human stem cell research.

Invitation for Biochess 2011

Respected Sir/Madam
Dept of Biotechnology and chemical engg  is  organising Biochess
2011,A biotechnology & Chemical engg Fest on 2 nd may 2011 ,you are cordially invited to Biochess
.As you were and are an important part of Biotech dept. ur presence is
higly awaited by students and staff of dept . Please try to come and
grace the occasion.
Thank you
--
Bio-ChESS
Dept. of Biotechnology and Chemical Engg.
SIT-Tumkur

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Mahantesh.I.B
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