PHARMA LITERATI

A new research study by scientists in Australia and the US provides an explanation for why clinical trials of drugs reducing proteins in the brain that were thought to cause dementia and Alzheimer's have failed. The study has opened the way for potential new treatments with existing drugs. Published online in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, the researchers assembled evidence from a wide range of human studies and animal models of dementia-related diseases to show that inflammation is a major cause, not just a consequence. They show that many genes linked with dementia regulate our susceptibility and response to inflammatory damage. " For decades, scientists have thought that dementia and Alzheimer's Disease are caused by protein aggregates forming in the brain. But recent clinical trials of drugs that reduce the aggregates have failed ," says project leader Professor Robert Richards, from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences....

With regards to mental health care, the state government should take a leaf out from Kerala government, which is setting up an exclusive ministry called 'ministry of mental healthcare' said Dr Hanumanthachar Joshi, chairman, Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Mysuru chapter. Speaking during 'World Alzheimer's Month' celebration at FK Irani Hall, Rotary Club, JLB Road here on Saturday, he said, "We are yet to give more importance to brain related disorders, including memory loss. We still don't have any particular drugs for the disease, though a lot of research is going on ." " For the welfare of Alzheimer's disease affected patients, we have planned various programmes including a walkathon on September 18, interaction programme on September 14, seminar on September 26, and memory exercise events on September 21 ," he added. Dr G Parthasarathy, principal of JSS Pharmacy College , said, " The ...

2015 brought a plenty of significant steps forward in the field of health sowing seeds for major developments to unfold in 2016. From dengue virus ravaging Delhi to Ebola being declared an international health emergency, experts had to tackle a variety of medical challenges. Let's browse through some important ones:   Delhi in grip of worst dengue crisis since 1996 Delhi grappled with its worst dengue crisis in five years. Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans that in recent years has become a major international public health concern. The number of cases almost touched 10, 000 this year. A breather came after a Bengaluru-based lab came up with a tablet to treat the dreaded vector-borne disease. The firm, Micro Labs Ltd launched a botanical pill 'Caripill' that helps to increase the platelet count in dengue patients. Also recently, the first-ever vaccine against dengue fever, which affects up to 400 million people per year, has...