BARC develops radionuclides for inoperable cancers, arthritis

In a breakthrough which may pave way for an effective treatment of inoperable cancers, scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have developed radio pharmaceuticals, which they claim can be used for curing skin and liver tumours besides alleviating rheumatic arthritis.

"A research carried out in BARC in collaboration with few hospitals in the country has shown Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), Yittrium-90 (Y-90) and Phosphorus-32 (P-32) as very effective therapeutic radionuclides (radio pharmaceuticals) that can be used in the treatment of cancers of liver, skin and in non-cancerous maladies such as rheumatic arthritis and haemophilia," Meera Venkatesh, Head, Radio pharmaceuticals Division told PTI.

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Researchers dismiss superbug controversy

Experts across India on Friday said that the issue of superbug of Indian origin, or New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1), is unnecessarily being fuelled as similar resistances have been found in other parts of the world.

"I don't think that there is a basis to all of these rumours. Resistance phenomena was always there and there are different mechanism, one after the other mechanisms are discovered," said Dr.M.R Sen, Professor of Microbiology at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

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Govt surprised over UK scientists linking new superbug to India

Government today expressed surprise at scientists in the United Kingdom linking a new superbug resistant to antibiotics to India and said that it was drafting a reply to an alert issued by Britain in this regard.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a nodal agency under the Health Ministry, is meeting today and "we would soon draft a reply to this," Secretary, Health Research, V M Katoch told PTI.

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Protein which cause Alzheimer's 'identified'

In what could pave the way for effective therapies for Alzheimer's, scientists claim to have discovered a protein which plays a key role at a cellular level in the development of the disease.

An international team, led by Prof Jrgen Gtz and Dr Lars Ittner of University of Sydney, has revealed how a protein called TAU affects and mediates toxicity of amyloid-b, which together with TAU causes the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
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Best ways to shed extra flab, revealed

Forget starving and gruelling gym sessions, just follow the Atkins diet or the calorie-counting 'Weight Watchers' plan and do away with love handles, says a new study.

A study of four popular weight loss plans showed that dieters lost an average of 11 pounds over two months by following the Atkins plan, while the calorie-counting 'Weight Watchers' method helped people shed more than 10 pounds.

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