Diet affects sleep - Study

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine shows an association between what one eats’ and how one sleeps,reported BBC health. "In general, seven to eight hours of sleep each night is most likely an experience of overall better health and well being.

Question that was asked in the study, `Are there differences in the diet of those who report shorter sleep, longer sleep, or standard sleep patterns?'" said study researcher Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the university.

Researchers examined the daily calories and foods consumed - down to a glass of water. They also gathered information on the amount of time the study participants slept, putting them into four categories: "very short" sleepers, who slept fewer than five hours a night;"short" sleepers, who slept five to six hours a night; "standard" sleepers, who slept seven to eight hours a night; and "long" sleepers, who slept nine or more hours a night.

And researchers did find an association between the number of calories consumed and how long the study participants slept. Those who consumed the most were more likely to be "short" sleepers.

Interestingly, "normal" sleepers were the next type to consume a lot of calories, followed by "very short" sleepers and then "long" sleepers, researchers found.

The researchers also identified different associations between sleep time and the types of nutrients the participants ate.

Overall, researchers noted that the very short, short and long sleepers consumed a less varietal diet than those who were considered normal sleepers.

The question is now whether changing eating habits can actually affect sleep, as the study only showed an association.

KFC USES NO CHICKEN --- JUST A RUMOR OR A FACT?

KFC USES NO CHICKEN --- JUST A RUMOR OR A FACT?...................... Whats your opinion?


KFC has been a part of American traditions for many years. Many people, day in and day out, eat at KFC religiously. Do they really know what they are eating? During a recent study of KFC done at the University of New Hampshire, they found some very upsetting facts. First of all, has anybody noticed that just recently, the company has changed their name?

Kentucky Fried Chicken has become KFC. Does anybody know why? We thought the real reason was because of the "FRIED" food issue.
IT'S NOT!!

The reason why they call it KFC is because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real chickens. They actually use genetically manipulated organisms. These so called "chickens" are kept alive by tubes inserted into their bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure. They have no beaks, no feathers, and no feet. Their bone structure is dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them. This is great for KFC.

Because they do not have to pay so much for their production costs. There is no more plucking of the feathers or the removal of the beaks and feet. The government has told them to change all of their menus so they do not say chicken anywhere. If you look closely you will notice this.

A new type of malaria vaccine could beat all strains

JENNIFER REIMAN, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

A new type of malaria vaccine that has been shown to be safe in mice is about to start trials in humans.

This promising vaccine is different to other approaches to stopping the deadly disease because we use the whole malaria parasite in it. And it is able to protect against multiple strains of the illness.

Malaria and the need for a vaccine

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease infecting nearly 250 million people each year across 109 countries. It causes approximately one million deaths each year, mostly among African children under the age of five.

The parasite has a complex life cycle with half of it lived within the female mosquito, and the other half in the human host (first within the liver and then by infecting red blood cells).

When the parasite bursts out of infected red blood cells, it destroys the cells and causes the symptoms of malaria.

Current preventive measures against malaria include those that act on the mosquito including insecticide-treated bed nets (physical barrier) and indoor residual spraying of chemicals (insecticides) to kill mosquitoes when they land on the walls.

If you’re infected, anti-malaria drugs (artemisinin-based combination therapies) are used to kill the parasite, but not everyone has access to them.

What’s more, mosquitoes and malaria parasites are continually developing resistance to current chemicals and drugs, frustrating efforts to protect against the illness.

There is no licensed vaccine against malaria, and the most advanced experimental one in clinical trials, RTS,S is showing little protection.

Our vaccine

Researchers around the world have been working on a vaccine for malaria for over 80 years. The team I’m in has been working on the problem for over 20 years.

Based on previous results from our group showing that a vaccine containing low doses of the dead parasite protected against malaria, we decided to use the whole parasite while it is still inside the red blood cell (the second stage of malaria infection) in our vaccine.

Colleagues in North America had previously showed that treating sporozoites (the malaria parasite at the stage when it is transmitted from an infected mosquito) with a particular drug protected against infection with sporozoites of all strains.

We used this same drug to treat infected red blood cells. The drug binds to the parasite’s DNA and prevents it from multiplying.

We treated red blood cells from mice infected with malaria with the drug in a test tube, then washed away the excess drug and gave the remaining treated cells to mice. This is our vaccine.

Later, we infected the mice with malaria to see if they were protected. We found that mice given our vaccine before infection did not develop as many parasites in their blood. Some of the mice had so few parasites that we were unable to see them when we looked at the blood under a microscope.

And even though mice were immunised with only one strain of malaria and infected with a different strain, they were also protected by our vaccine. That means that our vaccine protects against all strains of malaria.

How our vaccine is different

Previous vaccines have been able to activate humoral immunity (protection mediated by antibodies). These vaccines stimulate to body to make antibodies that bind to proteins on the surface of the parasite and can prevent parasites from invading new red blood cells. Or they can make antibodies that bind to the surface of infected red blood cells and are important in their removal.

These vaccines have, for the most part, not been successful. Malaria can hide from these antibodies by making a new version of the protein that won’t be recognised by the antibodies.

People who live in malaria infected areas do eventually develop protection against malaria symptoms. But this protection doesn’t occur until they have been infected with multiple strains of malaria (and only if they don’t die from one of the infections first).

Unlike naturally acquired immunity to malaria, our vaccine works by turning on cell-mediated immunity which involves T lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). These T lymphocytes are able to recognise all kinds of proteins including those hidden inside the malaria parasite.

The hidden proteins may be shared between the various strains of malaria and we suspect that’s why our vaccine protects not only against the strain given in the vaccine but all strains of malaria.

The next steps

The results from our studies in mice has prompted us to test our malaria vaccine in humans. Within the next few months, we will begin a human clinical trial testing the vaccine made in human red blood cells that are infected with the human malaria parasite.

If results of the study in healthy Australian volunteers is promising, the vaccine will progress onto studies in areas where malaria is present. We are very encouraged by the results so far and optimistic that our vaccine approach will aid the fight against this debilitating illness that affects so many people around the world.

Obesity can be inherited

New research from the University of Adelaide shows that the sperm of obese fathers could increase the risk of both their children and their grandchildren to inherit obesity.

In laboratory studies, researchers from the University's Robinson Institute have found that molecular signals in the sperm of obese fathers can lead to obesity and diabetes-like symptoms in two generations of offspring, even though the offspring are eating healthily.

The results of the research are published online inThe FASEB Journal.

"A father's diet changes the molecular makeup of the sperm. With obese fathers, the changes in their sperm - in their microRNA molecules - might program the embryo for obesity or metabolic disease later in life," says the lead author of the paper, Dr Tod Fullston, who is an NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellow with the University's Robinson Institute, based in Dr Michelle Lane's Gamete and Embryo Biology Group.

"For female offspring, there is an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. What we've also found is that there is an increased chance of both male and female offspring developing metabolic disease similar to type 2 diabetes.

"This is the first report of both male and female offspring inheriting a metabolic disease due to their father's obesity," he says.

The study also extended into the second generation of progeny, which showed signs of similar metabolic disorders, including obesity, although it was not as severe as the first generation.

Dr Fullston says even if the obese father does not show any signs of diabetes, metabolic disease similar to diabetes was being seen in two generations of their descendants.

"It's been known for some time that the health of a mother before, during and after pregnancy can impact on her child's health, but the father's health during this period is often overlooked," Dr Fullston says.

"If our laboratory studies are translatable to humans, this could be a new and as yet unexplored intervention window into the epidemic of childhood obesity.

"A focus on the mother's health is extremely important, but we're seeing that the father's health is also important for conception. It's possible that by showing additional attention to diet and exercise in the father, this could have a positive impact on his future children and grandchildren."

RHEOLOGY

Rheology

Study of deformation and flow of matter

A fluid is a substance that deforms continuously under the action of a shearing force.

Intuitively, a fluid flows!

Inquiry into the flow behavior of complex fluids

Complex fluids do not follows Newton's Law or Hooke's Law (of elasticity)

 
Newton and Simple Fluids

Reflected upon the resistance of liquids to a cylinder rotating in a vessel.

Newton (-Stokes) Law

Deformation rate is expected to be proportional to stress and the constant coefficient of proportionality is called viscosity.

The study of simpler fluids have their own well-defined field, called fluid mechanics.

Purely viscous fluid.

"Rheology is the study of the flow of materials that behave in an interesting or unusual manner. Oil and water flow in familiar, normal ways, whereas mayonnaise, peanut butter, chocolate, bread dough, and silly putty flow in complex and unusual ways. In rheology, we study the flows of unusual materials."

"… all normal or Newtonian fluids (air, water, oil, honey) follow the same scientific laws. On the other hand, there are also fluids that do not follow the Newtonian flow laws. These non-Newtonian fluids, for example mayo, paint, molten plastics, foams, clays, and many other fluids, behave in a wide variety of ways. The science of studying these types of unusual materials is called rheology"

Examples of Complex Fluids
Foods
Emulsions (mayonaisse, ice cream)
Foams (ice cream, whipped cream)
Suspensions (mustard, chocolate)
Gels (cheese)
Biofluids
Suspension (blood)
Gel (mucin)
Solutions (spittle)
Personal Care Products
Suspensions (nail polish, face scrubs)
Solutions/Gels (shampoos, conditioners)
Foams (shaving cream)
Electronic and Optical Materials
Liquid Crystals (Monitor displays)
Melts (soldering paste)
Pharmaceuticals
Gels (creams, particle precursors)
Emulsions (creams)
Aerosols (nasal sprays)
Polymers

 
Rheology's Goals

• Establishing the relationship between applied forces and geometrical effects induced by these forces at a point (in a fluid).
  • The mathematical form of this relationship is called the rheological equation of state, or the constitutive equation.
  • The constitutive equations are used to solve macroscopic problems related to continuum mechanics of these materials.
  • Any equation is just a model of physical reality.
    
     

2. Establishing the relationship between rheological properties of material and its molecular structure (composition).

• Related to:
  • Estimating quality of materials
  • Understanding laws of molecular movements
  • Intermolecular interactions
• Interested in what happens inside a point during deformation of the medium.

 
(Material) Structure

More or less well-organized and regularly spaced shapes

Arrangements, organization or intermolecular interactions

Structured Materials – properties change due to the influence of applied of applied forces on the structure of matter

Rheology sometimes is referred to as mechanical spectroscopy.

"Structure Mechanisms" are usually proposed, analogous to reaction mechanisms in reaction kinetics

Structural probes are used to support rheological studies and proposed mechanisms.

Rheological analysis is based on the use of continuum theories
meaning that:

• There is no discontinuity in transition from one geometrical point to another, and the mathematical analysis of infinitesimal quantities can be used; discontinuities appear only at boundaries
• Properties of materials may change in space (due to gradients) but such changes occur gradually

 

• changes are reflected in space dependencies of material properties entering equations of continuum theories

 
Rheological Properties

• Stress
  • Shear stress
  • Normal stress
  • Normal Stress differences
• Viscosity
  • Steady-state (i.e. shear)
  • Extensional
  • Complex
• Viscoelastic Modulus
  • G' – storage modulus
  • G" – loss modulus
• Creep, Compliance, Decay
• Relaxation times
• and many more …

Common Non-Newtonian Behavior

• shear thinning
• shear thickening
• yield stress
• viscoelastic effects
  • Weissenberg effect
  • Fluid memory
  • Die Swell

Shear Thinning and Shear Thickening

shear thinning – tendency of some materials to decrease in viscosity when driven to flow at high shear rates, such as by higher pressure drops.

Shear Thickening

Shear Thickening– tendency of some materials to increase in viscosity when driven to flow at high shear rates

Facts about Kidney Disease

1. The incidence kidney failure (or chronic Kidney disease) has doubled the last 15 years.

2. It is estimated that currently there are over 1 million people worldwide who are alive on dialysis or with a functioning graft.

3. Diabetes is an important cause of kidney failure and diabetes is five times more common in the Asians when compared to the white population

4. Another lifestyle related disorder - hypertension is an important cause of kidney failure and it too has seen a global increase in its incidence. Asians again are twice more prone to develop this condition in comparison to the white population.

5. Almost 66% kidney failure occurs due to hypertension or diabetes.

6. There are approximately 7.85 million people suffering from chronic kidney failure in India.

7. It is estimated that there are between 11 to 30 million people with chronic Kidney disease or other evidence of kidney disease in USA.

8. In the United States the cost of treating patients with renal replacement therapy will be US $28 billion by the year 2013. It is estimated that over 600 000 patients will require treatment.

9. In India 90 % patients suffer from kidney disease are not able to afford the cost of treatment.

10. The crisis of kidney shortage is a global phenomenon and it is worst in Asian countries.

PHARMACEUTICAL SUSPENSIONS

DISPERSE SYSTEM

—The term "Disperse System" refers to a system in which one substance (The Dispersed Phase) is distributed, in discrete units, throughout a second substance (the continuous Phase ).

—

—Each phase can exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous state .

—Suspensions are heterogenous system consisting of 2 phases.

   Definition

Ø   A Pharmaceutical suspension is a  coarse dispersion in which internal

      phase (therapeutically active ingredient)is dispersed uniformly

      throughout the external phase.

ØThe internal phase consisting of insoluble solid particles  

     having a range of size(0.5 to 5 microns) which is  maintained uniformly through out the suspending vehicle with aid of single or combination of suspending agent.

Ø The external phase (suspending medium) is generally
 aqueous in some instance, may be an organic or oily  liquid for non oral use.

The reasons for the formulation of a pharmaceutical suspension:

-- when the drug is insoluble in the delivery vehicle.

–To mask the bitter taste of the drug.

–To increase drug stability.

–To achieve controlled/sustained drug release.

SOME PHARMACEUTICAL SUSPENSIONS

—1. Antacid oral suspensions

—2. Antibacterial oral suspension

—3. Dry powders for oral suspension (antibiotic)

—4. Analgesic oral suspension

—5. Anthelmentic oral suspension

—6. Anticonvulsant oral suspension

—7. Antifungal oral suspension

Classification

Based On General Classes

Ø Oral suspension

     eg: Paracetamol suspension

       antacids, Tetracycline HCl.

Ø  Externally applied suspension

      eg :Calamine lotion.

Ø  Parenteral suspension

eg: Procaine penicillin G

Insulin Zinc Suspension

Based on Proportion of Solid Particles

Ø  Dilute suspension (2 to10%w/v solid)

Eg: cortisone acetate, predinisolone acetate

Ø  Concentrated suspension (50%w/v solid)

Eg: zinc oxide suspension

 Based on Electrokinetic Nature of Solid Particles

Ø Flocculated suspension

Ø Deflocculated suspension

Based on Size of Solid Particles

ØColloidal suspensions (< 1 micron)

-Suspensions having particle sizes of suspended solid less than about 1micron in size are called as colloidal suspensions.

Coarse suspensions (>1 micron)

ØSuspensions having particle sizes of greater than about 1micron in diameter are called as coarse suspensions.

Nano suspensions (10 ng)

Ø Suspensions are the biphasic colloidal dispersions of nanosized drug particles stabilized by surfactants.

ØSize of the drug particles is less than 1mm.

Advantages And Disadvantages

ADVANTAGES

Suspension can improve chemical stability of certain drug.

  E.g. Procaine penicillin G.

ØDrug in suspension exhibits higher rate of bioavailability than other dosage forms.

Solution > Suspension > Capsule > Compressed Tablet > Coated tablet

ØDuration and onset of action can be controlled.

    E.g. Protamine Zinc-Insulin suspension.

ØSuspension can mask the unpleasant/ bitter taste of drug.

    E.g. Chloramphenicol

DISADVANTAGES

ØPhysical stability , sedimentation and compaction can causes 

     problems.

Ø It is bulky sufficient care must be taken during handling and 

    transport.

Ø It is difficult to formulate.

Ø Uniform and accurate dose can not be achieved unless suspension are  packed in unit dosage form.

Applications

Ø  Suspension is usually applicable for drug which is insoluble

     (or )   poorly soluble.

    E.g. Prednisolone suspension

Ø  To prevent degradation of drug or to improve stability of drug.

     E.g. Oxy tetracycline suspension

Ø  To mask the taste of bitter of unpleasant drug.
      E.g. Chloramphenicol  palmitate suspension

Ø  Suspension of drug can be formulated for topical application  

     e.g. Calamine lotion

ØSuspension can be formulated for parentral application in order to

    control rate of drug absorption. E.g. penicillin procaine

Ø Vaccines as a immunizing agent are often formulated as suspension.
     E.g. Cholera vaccine

Ø  X-ray contrast agent are also formulated as suspension .

     eg: Barium sulphate for examination of alimentary tract.