Wearable Artificial Kidney good bye to dialysis !

I have seen people who had kidney failure and how its difficult to get dailysis & to mentain the sterile conditions to avoid infections. Now thanx to a group of researchers from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,  who have come up with a novel idea of developing wearable artificial kidney!. 

As per the claim by the researchers, the device—essentially a miniaturized dialysis machine, worn as a belt—weighs about 10 pounds and is powered by two nine-volt batteries. Patients don't need to be hooked up to a full-size dialysis machine, they are free to walk, work, or sleep while undergoing continuous, gentle dialysis that more closely approximates normal kidney function. Despite enduring long hours on dialysis every week—with major limitations in activities, diet, and other areas of life—dialysis patients face high rates of hospitalization and death and more over its a costly affair too. 

The Wearable Artificial Kidney is successful in preliminary tests, including two studies in dialysis patients. The new study provides important information on the technical details that made these promising results possible. Though further studies like 'long-term effect' has to be established its a great achievement  and hope the researchers will succeed in their endeavor....

Congrats,  Victor Gura et.al., 

Launch of Cobroxin for chronic pain relief.....

I used to read in magazines that,  there are people who sell Cobra venom (from India) for research purpose and there were many groups working on this field. Yes, now the dream has come true,  Nutra Pharma Corp, a biotechnology company that is developing treatments for Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has announced recently  that,  it has launched an OTC- pain reliever, Cobroxin, for the treatment of Stage 2 (moderate to severe) chronic pain.  

As per the claim by the company, Cobroxin is the first OTC pain reliever clinically proven to treat Stage 2 (moderate to severe) chronic pain. The drug, which was developed by Nutra Pharma’s wholly-owned drug discovery subsidiary, ReceptoPharm, will be available as an oral spray for treating lower back pain, migraines, neck aches, shoulder pain, cramps and neuralgia and as a topical gel for treating repetitive stress, arthritis, and joint pain. More over the claims by the company (All Natural;Non-Addictive ;Non-Narcotic ;Non-Opiate ;More Potent than Morphine ; Long Lasting) are really encouraging and hope will become an alternative to the presently available NSAIDs (which have many side effects).

 

The mode of action claimed by the researchers, (peptides from the cobra venom) has many ways superior to the current opiate-based analgesics and those containing acetaminophen & there by help to overcome the side effects.

Hope in the days to come the people suffering from chronic pain will have a  relief....

For more details on cobroxin u can visit the site ...

10 Mysteries of you: Dreams - 05 August 2009 - New Scientist

10 Mysteries of you: Dreams - 05 August 2009 - New Scientist

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Mini-magnet test makes things sticky for TB - tech - 07 August 2009 - New Scientist

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Spam stamper too good to be true? - opinion - 13 August 2009 - New Scientist

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Bhuvan- a satellite mapping tool - an alternate to Google earth ?

Though its premature to claim the advantage of Bhuvan over the Google earth, the comparison between the two like :

1. Google Earth-single layer information, whereas Bhuvan has multilayer info;

2. Google Earth: Images upgraded every 4 years , whereas Bhuvans' are updated every year;

3. Google Earth: No alternate viewing options, whereas  Bhuvan has options of viewing on different dates ;

make a superior option. 

Well done, ISRO and keep going like this and achieve success in ur future Mars Mission. Its really interesting to note the achievement on the eve of 62 nd Independance Day Celebrations....

Those interested can dowload the toolbar using the link.

New journal devoted to gene therapy...

As for as my knowledge goes there was no exclusive journal totally devoted to gene therapy until last year. Yeah its really interesting to to see "The Gene Therapy Review" a journal totally devoted to gene therapy. In my opinion it is an important move and was the urgent need of the hour. Now the fields like antisense drugs & gene therapy will get its due importance and hope in the days to come, will bring together all those people to share and gain the knowledge..... Those interested can follow the blog also.....

URL : http://www.genetherapyreview.com/index.php

Blog : http://www.genetherapyreview.com/gene-therapy-blog.html