Pain and
itch blocking antibody discovered
Washington:
Scientists have discovered a new antibody that simultaneously blocks the
sensations of pain and itching in studies with mice.
According
to the researchers of Duke University, the new antibody works by targeting the
voltage-sensitive sodium channels in the cell membrane of neurons.
The
scientists said that voltage- sensitive sodium channels control the flow of
sodium ions through the neuron's membrane and theses channels open and close by
responding to the electric current or action potential of the cells, and that
one particular type of sodium channel, called the Nav1.7 subtype, is
responsible for sensing pain.
The
research team first tested the antibody in cultured cells engineered to express
the Nav1.7 sodium channel and found that the antibody can bind to the channel
and stabilize its closed state.
Seok-Yong
Lee, assistant professor of biochemistry in the Duke University Medical School,
said that he was originally interested in isolating these sodium channels from
cells to study their structure, but they he thought of making an antibody that
interferes with the channel function.
The
study found that the antibody can also relieve acute and chronic itch in mouse
models, making them the first to discover the role of Nav1.7 in transmitting
the itch sensation.
Lee
added that they now have a compound that can potentially treat both pain and
itch at the same time and hope that their discovery will garner interest from
pharmaceutical companies that can help us expand our studies into clinical
trials.
The
study was published online in Cell.
Source:
www.zeenews.india.com
24.05.2014
World's first ever kidney dialysis
machine treats multiple organ failure in babies
Washington:
Scientists have developed a miniaturised kidney dialysis machine capable of
treating the smallest babies that has successfully treated a newborn baby with
multiple organ failure for the first time.
According
to the researchers, this technology has the potential to revolutionise the
treatment of infants with acute kidney injury.
The
new continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machine-named CARPEDIEM
(Cardio-Renal Pediatric Dialysis Emergency Machine)-was created to overcome the
problems of existing dialysis machines that are only designed for adults and
have to be adapted for use in newborns and small infants.
Lead
author Professor Claudio Ronco from San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza, Italy,
said that such modifications make adult devices inaccurate when used in infants
smaller than 15kg and can result in complications with fluid management and
treatment delivery.
Ronco
added that a major problem is the potential for errors in ultrafiltration
volumes, and adult dialysis equipment has a tendency to either withdraw too
much fluid from a child, leading to dehydration and loss of blood pressure, or
too little fluid, leading to high blood pressure and edema.
The
study was published in The Lancet.
Source:
www.zeenews.india.com
24.05.2014
The greater damage for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
miss it, but that it it too low and we reach it
Michelangelo
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