Scientists have been able to map the genetic codes for melanoma and lung cancer completely for the first time—which is sure to lead to better diagnostic tests and much more specific and effective treatments for two of the most deadly forms of cancer.

The scientists made it possible by using  a relatively new high-speed DNA analysis technique called “massively parallel sequencing,” scientists from Britain’s Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their colleagues sequenced the DNA of both tumor tissue and normal healthy tissue from patients with melanoma and lung cancer. By comparing the sequences, the researchers were able to identify exactly where the genetic changes had taken place.

Scientists found the DNA code for skin cancer had 33,345 mutations, largely caused by too much exposure to sun. The lung cancer DNA had 22,910 genetic abnormalities, due largely to cigarette smoke.

Starting with the first puff, typical smokers develop one genetic mutation for every 15 cigarettes smoked,as computed by , Sanger Institute researcher Peter Campbell.

Oseltamivir(Tamiflu) has been recommended by WHO for the treatment of H1N1 and its complications. Deaths due to Swine flu are on the rise and the pandemic is yet to be brought under control. It is at this juncture that a new study has come out with results questioning the efficacy of the drug in treating the complications of H1N1 flu.

The review was done by BMJ and Channel 4 News in Great Britain.The review found that Oseltamivir has no added benefit in preventing complications of H1N1.No evidence exists that the widely used influenza drug Tamiflu prevents pneumonia or other complications in otherwise healthy patients who come down with the flu.Claims about the effectiveness of the antiviral drug against flu-related complications have influenced governments worldwide to stockpile Tamiflu (oseltamivir) as part of their preparations for a global pandemic, the review authors said.

Based on the data available to them, the authors of the new review concluded they have “no confidence in claims that Tamiflu reduces the risk of complications of influenza in otherwise healthy adults,” and said the drug should not be used in routine control of seasonal flu.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that data from countries around the world show that when given early, Tamiflu can reduce the severity of swine flu symptoms. Still, the agency recommends the drug be saved for people at risk of complications, such as pregnant women, the elderly, children, and those with chronic health problems, the Associated Press reported.

“This will not change our (Tamiflu) guidelines,” said Charles Penn, a WHO antivirals expert.

Source:Medlineplus

Sickle cell disease which was believed to be incurable, can be cured by bone marrow transplantation a new study reveals. A study conducted by US National Institute of health revealed that nine out of ten people who were treated with bone marrow transplantation were cured of the disease.

Though bone marrow transplantation was used in children, it was not used among adults due to risk of surgery.

Background

Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterised by sickling of red blood cells resulting in decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This decreased oxygen carrying capacity of blood leads to fatigue, severe pain,organ damage etc. Sickling of RBC’s is found mostly among mountain dwellers in Wayand district in kerala.Sickle cell disease is protective against malaria  because it is difficult for malarial parasite to dwell in sickled RBC’.

Treatments used for sickling are  prophylactic antibiotics to fight infections, blood transfusions and hydroxyurea.This new study result will prove beneficial to many adult sickle cell anemia patients and will pave way to innovative treatment methods, in combination with medical therapy.

Reference:medlineplus

Emedicine is the best website which I have encountered in the web till now which deals comprehensively with medical topics.During our college days most brillian students used emedicine as a place where they could cut copy paste for their presentations.I love this website so much that I would recommend this site to all of my readers.

I registered with emedicine years back, thought I do not visit regularly, the quality of the content has astonished me. I wonder how anyone can maintain a website so elaborate and still provide it free of cost.I subscribed to emedicine CME’s and weekly radiology newsletter, which would deliver to my inbox all I needed. Infact I have benefited greatly from emedicine.

The quality of images is superb, and anyone who is spending more time on the internet can always look forward for help from emedicine.

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Hearing the name swine flu, I first thought, there is nothing to worry, we don’t have pigs and we don’t eat pigs.But the rapidity with which Swine flu spread around alarmed me.

Background

Swineflu was first reported in mexico. Swine influenza is common among pigs just as influenza is common among humans. But since it was reported first among pig farmers it was named swine(pig) flu.The Swine flu virus is believed to be a new variant of the swine influenza virus which first spread from pigs to humans and then spread among humans.

The WHO has given a Level 6 alert ie that of a pandemic for Swine flu. The virus type which causes swine flu is H1N1 virus.

The treatment for H1N1 is through antivirals like Oseltamivir(Tamiflu)

References:

Nytimes,

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_it_called_the_swine_flu,

http://health.howstuffworks.com/swine-flu-name.htm

An idea dawned on me, why don’t I just elaborate the things I search for in the web? That would be a good idea, as it would help me keep track of all the way I travelled….. And my visitors can check on this site and learn more on what I learn.

Keeping a weblog is great, unless it is utilized properly it will be worthless in no time

I was thinking of buying a car,and many options came up in my mind. One year back, I wished to buy scorpio, and even boasted to my friend mathew that I would buy a scorpio in one year time.
1 year and many months have passed, and I didnt even think of my bet,and didnt buy a car. I forgot the matter altogether until now.

Yesterday

My question where is Albert, was answered by one of my friends.He has gone to kottayam.what for?was my query Friend:So didn’t you hear Albert is looking for a new car.
So he maybe at kottayam, in some car showroom, Who is with him? I lost my thoughts there. When my friend came back, he told me his story about the trip.
Santro is a good car and he has selected it, and I came back and slept.

Today

After abandoning my plan of having food from hostel after seeing the familiar food pattern in hostel mess, I was thinking about having food.
I had two options before me,either have food from Mess or go to sleep and rise in the evening

Surprise! Here comes Albert.

Alia!(friend), had food? Me:no. Let’s go out and have biriani from Floral Park. So we had our food there, and met some of our friends there,came back and he dropped me at hostel.
He went out again on his bike to buy a recharge coupon for his mobile phone( To call home,his mother had called him earlier and he had no balance to call back).

I didn’t have the thought ” Why do I see him again and again” when I met Albert after a few minutes I thought it up now. This time he was going out to buy Sports magazine.
I led him to a familiar place, where the shopkeeperwas known to both of us.Albert told me about the shopkeeper, a man who doesn’t show gratitude. I implored him to tell more about the incident, and he began to narrate
the story until we reached the front of the store. Did he hear us? I had a thought then, which I lost when I and Albert lost ourselves searching the bookstore for a sports magazine. We couldn’t find any, we were disappointed,
while scanning the books a book had caught my eye. I took the book and began reading, Albert went across the street to another bookstore.It is a car buyers guide.Albert came back and HE HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE.
I bought the book and mounted on his bike and we rode back to the hostel.

After I settled everything, I began to lay down to sleep.I barely closed my eyes when a familiar face popped up by my side, this time it is not Albert.Who else other than Jomon.He is doing Msc outide state.
A friend of mine, and an intimate friend of Mujeeb my neighbour in hostel.His room is opposite to mine,Jomon has come in search for Ayub we couldn’t find Mujeeb in his room.He maybe in ward 24 I answered before Jomon could ask me where he might be.
I called him but he is switched off,Informed Jomon. I tried to call, but, got the same answer from the lady at the Telephone Exchange, does she get any sleep? He has another number, let me try again, great this time the phone is ringing. Why doesn’t he pick it up.
He uses this number to access internet on phone. Maybe he has left it in his room.

The Car buyers manual was by my side, I asked for Jomon’s opinion. Santro is a nice car,my car is Santro. He has come to get an appointment with a surgeon.
And I mentioned the name of one who is approachable and good at his work. I described the way to the surgeons consultation and the way to ward 24.

Albert again,this time I had my fast track magazine in my hand, and we had a detailed discussion. I came back to sleep,and while I was drifting off to sleep, a wonderful idea crossed my mind.

It was about building a simulation, with a computer keyboard
and gear system of a car. I imagined it so well that I was so happy at that time.

I already knew something about google flight simulator,but learning more about it, I knew it will cost me a lot of money.So I started the basics
of making a simulator and have shelved the project for some years.

I started taking Oseltamivir as a prophylaxis against swine flu from 31st of August. My plan was to stop the drug by 9th of September as recommended in the WHO site. As I was nearing completion of my drug course, I got exposed to another case of H1N1. The story goes like this

Since clear case definition is not possible in case of H1N1, most of the cases are categorized and isolated. Severe fever and respiratory distress in children has to be suspected to be H1N1 even if no clear history of contact with H1N1 is available.

The child to whom I was exposed was a girl, who had no history of contact or travel abroad.But the troat swab taken from the child came out strongly positive. Even though I wore a mask during my discussion with the parents and the child, I was adviced to take Oseltamivir. Since I was already taking Oseltamivir, I had to start day 1 from day 10. So now my course of Oseltamivir is extended up to Sept 19.

Adverse effects

I had mild head ache and gastric irritation on taking Oseltamivir.My headache was relieved on drinking water(psychological). Some clinical trials show that, there is increased chances of depression and self harm. I had mild depression at the start of medicine, which soon disappeared.

[nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headache. Rare ADRs include: hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes, rash, allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.Various other ADRs have been reported in postmarketing surveillance including: toxic epidermal necrolysis, cardiac arrhythmia, seizure, confusion, aggravation of diabetes, and haemorrhagic colitis.]

Kerala Medical College Teachers Association has decided to continue their strike. This decision was taken today at KGMCTA central committee meeting. The Govt has increased the pay package for Medical college teachers, but has banned private practice by these doctors. Govt has also increased the working time up to 4, and evening OP’s are to be conducted.

This has lead to a wide spread dissentment among members of KGMCTA as many of the doctors in clinical field are already heavily burdened. Some blame it on former president of KGMCTA for withdrawing strike unilaterally.

A section of doctors approve this deal because they don’t have to take any extra burden.These are the non clinical doctors who don’t have to conduct OP’s or Perform surgeries. Since their work is teaching students, they are happy to get more pay without extra effort. This has lead to a serious rift as Anaesthesiologists have also joined with the non clinical side. Meaningful discussion has to be done among the members of KGMCTA other than fight among themselves.

The private practice ban is a big loss to patients as well.There is a wide spread belief that private practice is only for money. Many of those who go to a doctors house just want to be away from the crowd in the OP’s. Not all those who go to a doctors house for consultation are rich and affluent.Some of them maybe friends, some maybe friends of friends or relatives. Though it is their right to take fees for every consultation, most of these doctors take only meagre amounts or no money at all.

Considering private service ban, most of Medical college doctors in Kerala may go looking for better options. Many private Medical Colleges are looking for experienced doctors.They are willing to pay a lot more than govt plans to give. This may lead to many doctors leaving for greener pastures. Our Medical Education system is going to be in serious trouble if this issue is not dealt with properly.

Swine flu cases are spreading all over India. The Institute Of Child Health(ICH) Kottayam, where I am currently doing my internship has had 2 cases of H1N1. Both were children below 12 years.

The first case gave a history of H1N1 contact. She was treated and was discharged after completion of treatment. The second case was a boy, who came from UAE. He was having very severe disease during the time of admission, he was having some co-morbid conditions(cerebral Palsy). Eventhough he was treated for 3 days, he didnt respond to treatment.

Prophylactic measures are taken by the government of India. Now our hospital has supply of the antiviral drug Oseltamivir( Fluvir).

The recommended dosage for prophylaxis is,

1 tablet of Oseltamivir(75mg) once daily for 10 days from the day of contact with a known case of H1N1.

If there are subsequent contacts with H1N1 cases, it is recommended that the person should take the medicine for 10 more days from the period of last contact.

ie If I have started taking medicine today, I have to take it for 10 days. But if I have another contact on the 5th day, I have to take day 5 as day 1 of the next course and take it for 10 more days. So the total number of days become 15.

Post exposure antiviral chemoprophylaxis with either oseltamivir or zanamivir can be considered for the following:

1. Close contacts of cases (confirmed, probable, or suspected) who are at high-risk for complications of influenza
2. Health care personnel, public health workers, or first responders who have had a recognized, unprotected close contact exposure to a person with novel (H1N1) influenza virus infection (confirmed, probable, or suspected) during that person’s infectious period. Information on appropriate personal protective equipment is available at: Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting and might be updated frequently as additional information on transmission becomes available.

for more details visit the CDC website :