Archive for month: March, 2024

Thiruvananthapuram: CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) has pioneered a groundbreaking technology for the safe, sustainable, and cost-effective management of biomedical waste, marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind in the country.

This innovative technology was unveiled at the Biomedical Waste Management Conclave, a one-day event hosted at the CSIR-NIIST campus in the city on March 26. 

According to UNI, Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi, inaugurated the meet, which was presided over by Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and Director General, CSIR, through videoconferencing.

Also Read:Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital slapped Rs 10,000 fine for irresponsible disposal of waste near Operation Theatre

Dr Srinivas emphasized the importance of innovative technologies in the biomedical field and reiterated AIIMS’ commitment to collaboration with academic and research institutions, particularly CSIR. He commended CSIR-NIIST Director Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan and his team for their groundbreaking alternative for the disposal of pathogenic biomedical waste.

Dr Kalaiselvi said the biomedical waste treatment technology of CSIR-NIIST will help effectively address one of the biggest challenges of modern times. “This technology will have a great impact on the global biomedical arena by addressing the limitations of conventional technologies, including energy intense incineration,” she observed.

Dr Anandharamakrishnan said using the technology one kilo medical waste can be converted into soil additives in three minutes and it can be used for agriculture purposes. This technology, which is safe and cost effective, will help hospitals dispose of medical waste at its origin very easily, the UNI news agency reported.

However, the implementation of the technology in hospitals across the country requires the concurrence of the Central Pollution Control Board.

“CSIR-NIIST is actively working on various waste management strategies, including biomedical waste. The technology that we developed for converting pathogenic biomedical waste into value added soil additives is a perfect example for the ‘Waste to Wealth’ concept,” he added.

The event saw the participation of notable figures such as Dr Sanjay Behari, Director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology; Er. Sreekala S., Chairperson of Kerala State Pollution Control Board; Dr Joseph Benavan, State President of the Indian Medical Association; Dr Pragya Yadav, Director-in-Charge of ICMR-NIOH and Head of the BSL 4 Facility at the National Institute for Virology, Pune; M. S. Faisal Khan, MD of NIMS Medicity, Thiruvananthapuram; and Er. J. Chandrababu, Regional Director of the Central Pollution Control Board, Bengaluru.

Following the development of this groundbreaking technology, CSIR-NIIST has transferred it to Bio Vastum Solutions, a firm based in Angamaly.

The conclave also facilitated discussions on various aspects of scientific biomedical waste management, underscoring the need for innovative technologies to replace conventional methods. Over 250 delegates, including policymakers, major medical institutions, technocrats, NGOs, industries, and academia, attended the event.

NIIST is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (CSIR).

Through a recent notification, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has declared to permit the pharmaceutical sector to increase the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of scheduled formulations by approximately 0.00551% at the start of the fiscal year 2024-25, considering the change observed in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) between 2022 and 2023.

NEET MDS 2024 results set for release on April 18th

As per the official schedule of the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test For Master Of Dental Surgery (NEET MDS) 2024 result will be declared on April 18, 2024.

Candidates can check their NEET MDS Result 2024 through candidate login and download the result from the official website of NBE after the declaration of the result.

Somya Kurmi, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her PG room late Wednesday night, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Tailor informed PTI. This heartbreaking incident comes just a day after the discovery of another NEET aspirant, Mohammad Urooj (20), who was found dead at his PG accommodation in Vigyan Nagar.

As the debate around the safety of electronic cigarettes continues to swirl, a recent pilot study has shed light on a concerning aspect: the potential impact of secondhand vapor on children. Presented at the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners conference, the study conducted by researchers at Emory University delved into the effects of e-cigarette exposure on children aged 4 through 12. What they discovered raises alarms about the potential health risks posed by vaping around kids.

The study, involving 48 parent-child pairs, examined the levels of metabolites linked to chemicals found in e-cigarettes in children regularly exposed to vaping. Comparing these findings with a control group of non-exposed children, researchers identified higher levels of metabolites associated with disruptions in dopamine levels, inflammation, and cellular damage due to oxidative stress. While the study serves as a preliminary exploration, it sets the stage for further investigation into the long-term health implications of secondhand e-cigarette vapor exposure in children.

Vemlidy is a targeted prodrug of tenofovir that was approved by the FDA in 2016 as a once-daily treatment for adults with chronic HBV infection with compensated liver disease. In 2022, the FDA approved Vemlidy for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with compensated liver disease. Vemlidy is recommended as a preferred or first-line treatment for adults with chronic HBV with compensated liver disease by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) guidelines.

“Chronic hepatitis B can have a significant and lasting impact on the health of children. If left untreated, hepatitis B can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer,” said Chaun-Hao Lin, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Krek School of Medicine of USC. “As a clinician, I am well aware of the critical importance of promptly treating this disease to avoid possible complications and liver damage. The clinical trial demonstrated that tenofovir alafenamide may represent an effective treatment option for children as young as six years old affected by this chronic disease.”

Vemlidy’s approval in this pediatric patient population is supported by Week 96 data from a Phase 2 clinical trial (Trial 1092) comparing treatment with Vemlidy 25 mg to placebo among 18 treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients aged 6 to less than 12 years weighing at least 25 kg (Cohort 2, Group 1). Participants in the Vemlidy group and in the placebo group who switched to open-label Vemlidy after Week 24 demonstrated progressive increases in the rates of virological suppression through Week 96 overall and within both study cohorts (children and adolescents).

“The expanded indication for Vemlidy for the treatment of children as young as six years old is a testament to the safety, tolerability and efficacy profile of this therapy,” said Frank Duff, MD, Senior Vice President, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. “Effective and tolerable options for children require our best science and a dedicated focus. The work of our Gilead Pediatric Center of Excellence is responsible for coordinating pediatric clinical trials for treatments for cancer, HIV, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 and we will continue our research to help address unmet treatment needs for children.”

Vemlidy has a boxed warning in its product label regarding post-treatment severe acute exacerbation of hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a serious disease that attacks the liver and can cause chronic (lifelong) infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, and death in up to a third of patients. Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood or body fluids, sexual contact, injection drug use, or perinatally from mother to child. Early symptoms may include loss of appetite, fever, generalized aches and pains, fatigue, itching, urticaria (hives), and joint pain. The disease is often asymptomatic, which may lead to undiagnosed individuals. Later symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, halitosis (bad breath), dark brown urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and right-sided abdominal pain (especially with external pressure or palpitation).

Read also: Gilead Sciences completes acquisition of CymaBay Therapeutics for USD 4.3 billion