New
compound may prevent asthma
A new compound has shown promise in
preventing asthma by targeting its causative mechanisms rather than just
treating the symptoms.
The drug, originally developed by
the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to treat leukaemia, is able to
activate a protein that is suppressed during asthma. It could enable doctors to
treat the causes, not just the symptoms.
The research centres on the role
played by two proteins in the lungs in causing asthma attacks. When they come
into contact with the common cold virus and dust mites, the two main asthma
triggers, they work together to produce a series of events that cause an
attack, reports the journal Nature Medicine.
"Asthma is one of the major
diseases of the developed world. It's very rare to find a compound that can
reverse the symptoms of asthma," Anthony Don from UNSW, who started
working on the compound in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia, was quoted
as saying in a university statement.
"The important thing with this compound
is that it's not just alleviating the symptoms, it's hitting at an underlying
disease mechanism," says Don, a team leader at UNSW's Lowy Cancer Research
Centre.
Jonathan Morris, associate professor
from the UNSW School of Chemistry, synthesised the compound.
The development is also significant
because asthma attacks are currently treated similarly regardless of whether
they are caused by viruses or allergens, but virus-induced effects are much
less responsive to current therapies.
The compound could also be used in
the treatment of other inflammatory diseases.
01.02.2013
Smoking also
costs smiles!
Studies prove that kicking the
butt helps people become happier
Okay guys! Time to bust the myth: Smoking does not help ease anxiety. Rather it leads to release of stress hormones, according to experts.
And if you think that a 'happy ever after' is just meant for the last page of fairy tales, then you have got to know what researchers at Brown University and the University of Southern California think. Researchers have found that quitting smoking makes people happier, and the effect lasts for as long as they manage to kick the habit. The teams said it showed quitting is not, as many smokers fear, a psychological sacrifice made for the sake of their physical health.
Study author Christopher Kahler from Brown University explains, "If people quit smoking, their depressive symptoms go down. And if they relapse, their mood goes back to where they were. An effective anti-depressant should look like that."
Psychiatrist Dr Dayal Mirchandani agrees, "Smoking takes away from a lot of things. It affects one's sense of smell, taste and even stamina. Once you stop smoking, you begin to recover these senses, and it definitely helps better the quality of life."
Now, the argument is, it's easier said then done. Agreed. But advancements in science could well be the answer. "Nicotine replacement therapy, using gum and a patch together, has been quite effective," informs Dr Mirchandani. Internist Dr Mursalin Shaikh says nicotine tablets are also prescribed to those, who express their desire to quit smoking.
Those who intend to quit, and have tried and failed, or fear failure even before trying, Dr Shaikh advises they take a three-step approach. "First, a strong will power is necessary. Be determined." But he says not to be harsh, as, "Smokers often find it difficult to stick to their resolution to quit due to other problems that come along in the process. Some face constipation if they don't smoke while others lose sleep. Therefore, if you've identified such an allied issue, approach your doctor for a remedy. It makes the process easier," he says.
01.02.2013
Honesty
is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to
perform shall cease to exist
Mary Kay Ash
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