Vitamin C supplementation may help reduce inflammatory response, myocardial injury and mortality in sepsis patients: Study

Sepsis-induced inflammatory responses and myocardial injury pose significant challenges in patient management. Exploring novel therapeutic interventions such as vitamin C could revolutionize sepsis treatment and improve patient outcomes. Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties, has garnered attention for its potential role in mitigating inflammation and tissue damage.

A recent study delves into the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in sepsis, shedding light on its efficacy in reducing inflammatory responses and myocardial injury. This study was published in the journal of Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine by Jiang N. and colleagues.

Conducted on 83 sepsis patients, this study aimed to assess the impact of vitamin C supplementation on inflammatory response and myocardial damage. Patients were randomly divided into a control group receiving basic treatment and a study group receiving vitamin C in addition to basic treatment. Various parameters including organ dysfunction, inflammatory markers, myocardial injury indices, and morbidity/mortality rates were evaluated before and after treatment.

  • The study revealed significant improvements in the study group compared to the control group.

  • After therapy, the study group exhibited lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, indicating reduced organ dysfunction.

  • Levels of inflammatory markers such as Hypersensitive C-reactive Protein (hs-CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), and High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1) were significantly lower in the study group post-treatment.

  • Moreover, indices of myocardial injury including Creatine Kinase Isoenzyme (CK-MB), Troponin I (cTnI), and B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were markedly reduced in the study group.

  • Importantly, the study group demonstrated a lower morbidity and mortality rate compared to the control group, further emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of vitamin C supplementation in sepsis.

The study underscores the significant therapeutic value of vitamin C supplementation in sepsis management. By attenuating inflammatory responses, reducing myocardial injury, and improving clinical outcomes, vitamin C emerges as a promising adjunctive therapy for sepsis. These findings pave the way for future strategies aimed at enhancing patient care and mitigating sepsis-related complications.

Reference:

Jiang, N., Li, N., Huang, J., Ning, K., Zhang, H., Gou, H., & Zhang, R. Impact of vitamin C on inflammatory response and myocardial injury in sepsis patients. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine,2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38401077/

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New recombinant flu vaccine, Hexaplex may boost flu protection: Study

Recombinant protein vaccines, like the Novavax vaccine used to fight COVID-19, offer several advantages over conventional vaccines.

They’re easy to precisely produce. They’re safe, and potentially more effective. And they could require smaller doses.

Because of these traits, there is much interest in developing recombinant influenza vaccines. To date, however, the Food and Drug Administration has approved only one such vaccine.

A University at Bufalo-led research team hopes to add to that number. It is developing a new recombinant flu vaccine – described in a study published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine – that has the potential to compete with existing vaccines.

“Because of the variable nature of the viruses that cause influenza, current vaccines are not optimally effective among the overall population. We believe our vaccine candidate has the potential to improve upon this by inducing stronger and broader immunity, and reducing the likelihood of illness and death,” says study senior co-author, Jonathan Lovell, PhD, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UB.

Conventional flu vaccines contain either deactivated microbes that cause influenza, or they are based on weakened forms of the disease. They are made using fertilized chicken eggs or, less commonly, through cell culture-based production.

The vaccine the UB-led team is developing is based on a nanoliposome – a tiny spherical sac – that Lovell and colleagues created called cobalt-porphyrin-phospholipid, or CoPoP. The CoPoP platform enables immune response promoting proteins to be displayed on the surface of the nanoliposome, resulting in potent vaccine efficacy.

(While not part of this study, the CoPoP vaccine platform underwent phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in South Korea and the Philippines as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. This is a partnership between UB spinoff company POP Biotechnologies, co-founded by Lovell, and South Korean biotech company EuBiologics.)

Alone, these nanoliposomes do not fight disease. But when combined with recombinant influenza proteins that can be generated based on genetic information from viruses, they enhance the immune system’s response to disease.

In the new study, the team attached to the nanoliposome a total of six proteins – three each from two different protein groups, hemagglutinins and neuraminidases. The team also added two adjuvants (PHAD and QS21) to boost immune response.

Researchers evaluated the resulting “hexaplex” nanoliposome in animal models with three common flu strains: H1N1, H3N2 and type B.

Even when administered in low doses, the hexaplex nanoliposome provided superior protection and survival from H1 and N1 when compared to Flublok, which is the sole licensed recombinant influenza vaccine in the U.S., and Fluaid, an egg-based vaccine. Tests showed comparable levels of protection against H3N2 and type B viruses.

The tests were performed via vaccination and through blood serum transfer from vaccinated mice into non-vaccinated mice.

“The combination of the two groups of proteins led to synergistic effects. In particular, the adjuvanted nanoliposomes excelled in the production of functional antibodies and the activation of T cells, which are critical to fighting off serious infection of the flu,” says lead author Zachary Sia, a PhD candidate in Lovell’s lab.

Bruce Davidson, PhD, research associate professor of anesthesiology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, is a senior co-author of the study.

He says “using not only hemagglutinin but also neuraminidase antigens to create vaccines is important because it translates into broader immunity and companies will be able to create more doses with less materials. That’s critical for not only the flu but also potential outbreaks like what we saw with COVID-19. There is still much work to be done in fully testing and validating this flu technology, but at this point these early results are quite promising.”

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Sanofi Gets CDSCO Panel Nod to Study COPD drug Itepekimab

New Delhi: The drug major Sanofi has got a go-ahead from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to conduct the clinical trial of the REGN3500 (Itepekimab) 300 mg (150 mg/mL) Solution in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

This came after the drug maker Sanofi presented phase III clinical study protocol No. LTS18133 version No. 1 dated 24 October 2023.

Itepekimab (REGN-3500) is a monoclonal antibody of IL-33. Itepekimab reduces airway inflammation and related tissue damage in previous clinical studies. Itepekimab has potential applications in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and atopic dermatitis (AD).

Itepekimab is under development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is administered intravenously and subcutaneously. The drug candidate is a fully human monoclonal antibody that acts by targeting the interleukin-33 (IL-33).

At the recent SEC meeting for Pulmonary held on 6th February 2024, the expert panel reviewed the Phase III clinical study protocol No LTS18133 version No. 1 dated 24 October 2023 presented by the drug major Sanofi.

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended a grant of permission to conduct the trial as presented by the firm.

Also Read: CDSCO releases regulatory guidelines for sampling of drugs, cosmetics and medical device

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Ajanta Pharma Sets a Record with India’s Largest Photo Collage of CPR Workshops

New Delhi: Ajanta
Pharma Ltd., a leading specialty pharmaceutical formulation company, has once
again made a significant mark in the Asia Book of Records, this time for
creating the largest photo collage of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) workshops conducted across India. CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure
performed when the heart stops beating.

The American Heart Association reports
that survival rates can increase to 40% when CPR performed promptly.

The
doctors at various locations, like parks, malls, institutes, colleges,
hospitals, NGOs, national and regional conferences, conducted Pan India CPR
training workshops. The collage, in the form of a massive 500+ square-foot
banner, was unveiled at APICON 2024. 523 photographs were collected from the
numerous workshops, each capturing moments of eager participants learning the
vital skills of CPR.

This
achievement marks the second consecutive year that Ajanta Pharma has been
recognized for its outstanding contributions to public health awareness and
education, following a remarkable record set last year in a massive CPR
awareness and training campaign.

In
its previous endeavour, Ajanta Pharma orchestrated an unparalleled initiative
by organising over 1000+ workshops across the country, focusing on the
life-saving technique of CPR. These workshops, held between April 2022 and
February 2023, were aimed at imparting crucial CPR training to over 27,000
participants, including doctors, paramedics, patients, and the general public.
The training was delivered by more than 1000 highly skilled doctors,
highlighting Ajanta Pharma’s commitment to leveraging its expertise and
resources for the greater good of society.

40,000+
people were trained over the last 2 years in this unique initiative.

Ajanta
Pharma’s business is spread across 30+ countries; it has seven state-of-the-art
manufacturing facilities; its R&D facility is spread across 100,000 square feet of area; and it has 800+ diligent and committed scientists
in India.

Asia Book of Records is a prestigious platform
where the record holders of all major National ‘Book of Records’ including
‘India Book of Records’, ‘Vietnam Book of Records’, ‘Indo-China Book of
Records’, ‘Laos Book of Records’ and ‘Nepal Book of Records’ meet to compare,
compete and claim the title of ‘Asia Book of Records’ Holder.

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PG Medicos not Getting Full Stipend by Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College: RTI Activist demands police investigation

Kalaburgi: Alleging that postgraduate medical students are not being paid a full stipend by Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, run by Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society (HKES), for the last several years, a Right to Information (RTI) activist has demanded police intervention in this matter.

Activist Sharanabasappa Ambesinghe has demanded that the Kalaburagi Police should take cognisance of the issue, register a case against the college authorities and conduct an investigation into the alleged irregularities.

Taking up the issue, Mr. Ambesinghe recently addressed a press conference in Kalaburagi and produced a memorandum written by the PG medical students to the president of HKES, the trust running the medical college, with a demand for regular payment of stipend.

Also Read: Rs 14,000 to Rs 1,20,000 Stipend: Glaring disparities in stipend paid to PG medicos In India

As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the first-year PG medicos belonging to the concerned college get Rs 45,000 stipend, whereas the second-year and third-year students get Rs 50,000 and Rs 55,000 respectively. However, the RTI activist, Mr. Ambesinghe alleged that even though the stipend is shown as fully paid on paper, the students, in reality, are getting only a fraction of it.

It has been alleged by him that even though the college deposits the amount of stipend in the bank account of the PG medicos, later it withdraws the amount from their account through cheques collected from all of them in advance. 

Therefore, even though the PG medicos are not paid full stipend, the college has it on record to prove that the students are being given proper amount of stipend on a regular basis.

He alleged that every month, the college has shown to credit Rs 45,000 stipend for each of the first-year students. However, later Rs 37,000 is withdrawn from their account.

Similarly, Rs 40,000 gets allegedly withdrawn from the account of second-year students who get Rs 50,000 as stipend. In case of the third-years, after paying Rs 55,000 as stipend, the college debits Rs 43,000 from each of their accounts.

During the Press Conference, Mr. Ambesinghe further alleged that a complaint in this regard was made against the college highlighting the irregularities in the payment of stipend for the PG students on February 8. However, police failed to register the case yet, informed the RTI activist.

Medical Dialogues had last year reported about the glaring disparities in the amount of stipend paid to the Undergraduate and Postgraduate medical students across the country.

As per the data regarding the students admitted through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination 2022, which is available on the official website of the Commission, there were glaring disparities in the stipend paid to the Junior Resident doctors across the institutes in a state and also across the country.

The data revealed that the minimum amount of stipend (Rs 20,000 or less than Rs 20,000 per month) is paid to the resident doctors pursuing their postgraduate medical education in medical colleges located in States like Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile recently releasing the final Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER 2023), which were published in the official Gazette on 29.12.2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced uniformity in the amount of stipend paid to the PG medicos in a particular State/UT.

The Commission specified that the PG medicos who are pursuing degree, diploma or super-speciality courses should be paid a stipend at par with the stipend being paid to the PG students of Government institutes, in that particular State/UT.

This is a major relief for all the PG medicos since they have been demanding a uniform stipend policy for a long time. There have often been complaints from the resident doctors of private medical institutes that they are paid a meager amount of stipend, compared to the stipend being paid in the Government institutes.

Also Read: Uniform Stipend for all PG Medicos in a particular State, UT: NMC

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Piramal Pharma gets 2 USFDA observations for Lexington facility

Mumbai: Piramal Pharma has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has concluded a Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) with 2 observations of the Company’s Lexington (USA) facility for one of the product expected to be manufactured at this facility.

The inspection was conducted from 20th February, 2024 to 23rd February, 2024.
On conclusion of the inspection, a Form-483 was issued with 2 observations. An FDA Form 483 is issued to firm management at the conclusion of an inspection when an investigator(s) has observed any conditions that in their judgment may constitute violations of the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and related Acts.
“The
observations does not pose any risk to site’s compliance standards or its business continuity.
The Company is preparing a detailed response to said observations, which will be submitted
to the US FDA within stipulated timelines,” the Company added.
“The Company remains committed to maintain the highest standards of compliance and will
work closely with the agency to comprehensively address all the observations,” Piramal further added.
Read also: Piramal Pharma gets 3 USFDA observations for US facility

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL) offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 15 global facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a Complex Hospital Generics business, and the India Consumer Healthcare business selling over-the-counter products.

PPS offers end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions through a globally integrated network of facilities across the drug life cycle to innovators and generic companies. PCC’s complex hospital product portfolio includes inhalation anaesthetics, intrathecal therapies for spasticity and pain management, injectable pain and anaesthetics, injectable anti-infectives, and other therapies.

In addition, PPL has a joint venture with Allergan. In October 2020, the company received a growth equity investment from the Carlyle Group.

Read also: Piramal Critical Care unveils new 10mg/10mL (1 mg/mL) concentration of Zinc Sulfate for Injection in US

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What are the 5 AIIMS that PM Modi inaugurated recently?

Rajkot: In a landmark development towards strengthening India’s tertiary health care infrastructure and services, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi yesterday dedicated to the nation five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh).

He also inaugurated, laid foundation stone of, and dedicated to the nation a total of 202 Health Care Infrastructure Projects worth more than Rs. 11,700 crores across 23 States and UTs.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat; Shri MahendraMunjapara, Minister of State for AYUSH & Woman and Child Development and Shri Rushikesh Patel, Health Minister, Gujaratwere present on the occasion. Hon’ble Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, State Health Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies also virtually joined the event from various locations across the country.  

Also Read:PM Modi to inaugurate 250-bed IPD at AIIMS Rajkot on February 25

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said, “The dedication of 5 AIIMS today gives a glimpse of how healthcare infrastructure will evolve in Viksit Bharat.” Highlighting that “only one AIIMS in New Delhi was serving the country for a long time”, he said that “Today there are many new AIIMS functioning in different capacities across the nation”. He also stated that “The multiple foundation stone laying and inauguration projects taking place across the country including these 5 AIIMS inaugurated today showcases a new tradition of getting work done at a faster pace”.

Highlighting some major milestones achieved during the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said that “from around 380 medical colleges in 2014, there are over 700 medical colleges today. PG and MBBS seats have more than doubled from 2014 and Jan AushadhiKendras have expanded to more than 10,000 units today across the country.”

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the foundation stone for AIIMS Rajkot was laid by him 3 years ago and that promise is fulfilled today. Similarly, a promise of an AIIMS was given to Bathinda, Raebareli, Mangalagiri, Kalyani, and Rewari AIIMS. In the last 10 years, 10 new AIIMS have been sanctioned in different states. He also extended his best wishes to residents of all cities where the AIIMS were inaugurated today.

In addition to the 5 AIIMS, the 202 Healthcare Infrastructure projects that were virtually inaugurated and foundation stone laid include the following:

Dedication of Medical College of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) at Karaikal, Puducherry and a 300-bedded Satellite Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research (PGIMER) in Sangrur, Punjab; a 90-bedded Multi Specialty Consulting Unit of JIPMER at Yanam, Puducherry; a National Centre for Ageing in Chennai; a new Government Medical College in Purnea, Bihar; 2 field units of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) namely, National Institute of Virology (NIV) Kerala Unit, at Alappuzha, Kerala and National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT): New Composite TB Research Facility, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu among others.

Foundation stone laying of various health projects including a 100-bedded Satellite Centre of PGIMER at Ferozpur, Punjab; a new Medical College building in RML Hospital, Delhi; one Critical Care Block in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal; Nursing Colleges at Koderma and Dumka in Jharkhand, among others.

Under the National Health Mission (NHM) and Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid foundation stone of 115 projects. These include 78 projects under PM-ABHIM. Of these, foundation stone was laid for 57 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) with total amount of more than Rs. 1,625 Crore; 8 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) with total amount of Rs. 10 Crore and 4 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) with amount more than Rs. 3 Crore. In addition, 7 IPHLs with total amount more than Rs. 8 Crore and 9 BPHUs with amount more than Rs. 6 Crore were dedicated to the nation today.

Under NHM, 29 projects (8 PHC, 16 CHC, 1 Model Hospital, 3 MCH wings 100 bedded and 1 District Warehouse) with amount more than Rs. 290 Crore were inaugurated/ dedicated to nation and foundation stone laid for 1 Transit Hostel for Medical Officers with amount of Rs. 1.98 Crore.

Inauguration of National Institute of Naturopathy named ‘Nisarg Gram’ at Pune, Maharashtra. It comprises one Naturopathy Medical College along with a 250-bedded hospital with Multi-disciplinary Research and Extension Centre.

Inauguration of Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy at Jhajjar, Haryana. It will have apex-level Yoga and Naturopathy Research facilities.

Inauguration of 10 new Microbiology Laboratories established by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) with a total cost of approximately Rs. 45 crores in State Food Testing Laboratories (SFTLs) across eight states – Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Meerut), Kerala (Ernakulum, Kozhikode), Maharashtra (Mumbai), Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Assam (Guwahati), Delhi (North West Delhi), Andhra Pradesh (Vishakhapatnam) and Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore).

These laboratories will play a critical role in ensuring food safety by detecting various microorganisms, including pathogens in food products. 53 Mobile Testing Laboratories, known as Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) were also inaugurated in different States/UTs, which include Assam (17), Andhra Pradesh (4), Chandigarh (1), Himachal Pradesh (3), Jammu & Kashmir (6), Meghalaya (2), Uttar Pradesh (18) and Uttarakhand (2).

Background:

The 5 AIIMS at Rajkot, Bathinda, Raebareli, Kalyani and Mangalagiri have been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 6315.23 crore.

AIIMS Mangalagiri is a 960-bed hospital complex built at a cost of 1618.23 crores. It is spread over an area of 183.11 acres. It has a medical college with 125 seats.

AIIMS Raebareli is a 610-bed hospital complex with 30 Emergency & Trauma and ICU & Super Specialty beds. It has a Medical College with 100 seats and 12 Operation Theatres including 2 Emergency & 2 Obstetrics OTs. Its total project cost is Rs. 823 crores.

AIIMS Rajkot is built at a cost of Rs. 1195 crores. It is a 750-bed hospital complex with a 50-seat medical college and encompasses an area of 201 acres.

AIIMS Bathinda is a 750-bed medical institute built on 177 acres of land. It has 10 Specialty departments, 11 Super-Specialty departments and 6 Operation Theatres and 30 Emergency & Trauma and ICU & Super Specialty beds. AIIMS Bathinda has a Medical College with 100 seats and a Nursing College with 60 seats. Its total project cost is Rs. 925 crores.

AIIMS Kalyani is a 960-bed hospital built on 179.82 acres of land. It has a Medical College with 125 seats, a Nursing College with 60 seats and an AYUSH block with 30 beds. Its total project cost is Rs. 1754 crores.

Also Read:Former Union Minister Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria resigns as AIIMS Rajkot President

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Health care leaders call for reinstatement of Canadian hypertension control program

A passionate plea for the re-establishment of Canada’s health coalition focused on hypertension prevention and control has been published as an editorial in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. “We need a national hypertension control program to prevent death and disability,” according to prominent health care leaders.

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Antidepressant dispensing to adolescents and young adults surges during pandemic

Antidepressant dispensing to adolescents and young adults increased sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic began—particularly among females—a new study finds.

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Can they hear you now? Kids increasingly exposed to noise health risks via earbuds and headphones

While it’s not surprising to spot teens wearing headphones and earbuds, it’s also becoming a widespread trend among younger children, a national poll suggests.

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