therapy Optimizing lentiviral vector transduction of hematopoietic stem cells for gene therapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-27 Full Article
therapy Treating osteoarthritis via gene therapy with rejuvenation factors By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-27 Full Article
therapy Gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases in China: basic research By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-27 Full Article
therapy Albumin fusion with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor acts as an immunotherapy against chronic tuberculosis By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-07 Full Article
therapy Physical therapy better than steroids for knee OA By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-04 Full Article
therapy <i>KRAS</i> amplification in metastatic colon cancer is associated with a history of inflammatory bowel disease and may confer resistance to anti-EGFR therapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-06 Full Article
therapy Cost-effectiveness of <i>CYP2C19-</i>guided antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome and percutaneous coronary intervention informed by real-world data By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-02-11 Full Article
therapy Identification of gene modules associated with survival of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with CHOP-based chemotherapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-02-11 Full Article
therapy Association of <i>MICA</i>-129Met/Val polymorphism with clinical outcome of anti-TNF therapy and MICA serum levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-03-03 Full Article
therapy Adoptive immunotherapy for myeloid malignancies By www.nature.com Published On :: 2014-12-17 Full Article
therapy Abstracts from the 2nd International Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet (NTNU) Symposium: Day 1—Immunotherapy and Hematology By www.nature.com Published On :: 2019-10-07 Full Article
therapy Statin therapy is associated with lower prevalence of gut microbiota dysbiosis By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-06 Full Article
therapy Urate-lowering therapy exerts protective effects against hypertension development in patients with gout By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-04 Full Article
therapy Apixaban therapy is effective and safe for cancer-associated VTE By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-15 Full Article
therapy Exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising is associated with overestimation of benefits regarding ultrahypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-04 Full Article
therapy Safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with renal impairment By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-09 Full Article
therapy Myeloid PTEN promotes chemotherapy-induced NLRP3-inflammasome activation and antitumour immunity By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-04 Full Article
therapy TMB: a promising immune-response biomarker, and potential spearhead in advancing targeted therapy trials By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-28 Full Article
therapy Immunostimulatory oncolytic virotherapy for multiple myeloma targeting 4-1BB and/or CD40 By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-01 Full Article
therapy Engineering nanomedicines through boosting immunogenic cell death for improved cancer immunotherapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-21 Full Article
therapy Nanomedicines based on nanoscale metal-organic frameworks for cancer immunotherapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-30 Full Article
therapy Age influences structural brain restoration during weight gain therapy in anorexia nervosa By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-04 Full Article
therapy Impact of corticosteroid therapy on outcomes of persons with SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, or MERS-CoV infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-05-05 Full Article
therapy Anti-obesity therapy with peripheral CB1 blockers: from promise to safe(?) practice By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-21 Full Article
therapy Innovations in dialysis membranes for improved kidney replacement therapy By feeds.nature.com Published On :: 2020-04-22 Full Article
therapy Breakthrough therapy designation: A primer By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 16:00:00 -0400 Breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) is the newest of four expedited programs developed by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accelerate the development and review of novel therapies that target serious conditions. The public response to the program has been largely positive, and dozens of drugs have successfully received the designation. However, the FDA denies many more requests than it grants. In fact, as of March 2015, less than one in three of the BTD requests submitted have been granted. By contrast, roughly 75 percent of the requests for fast track designation (another of the Agency’s expedited programs) were granted between 1998 and 2007. This discrepancy suggests ongoing uncertainty over what exactly constitutes a “breakthrough” according to the FDA’s criteria. On April 24, the Center for Health Policy at Brookings will host an event, Breakthrough Therapy Designation: Exploring the Qualifying Criteria, that will discuss qualifying criteria for the BTD program using real and hypothetical case studies to explore how FDA weighs the evidence submitted. Below is a primer that describes the definition, value, and impact of BTD. What is BTD? BTD was established in 2012 under the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, and is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs that show signs of extraordinary benefit at early stages of the clinical development process. However, BTD is not an automatic approval. The drug still has to undergo clinical testing and review by the FDA. Rather, BTD is designed to facilitate and shorten the clinical development process, which can otherwise take many years to complete. What criteria does FDA use to evaluate potential breakthroughs? In order to qualify for the designation, a therapy must be intended to treat a serious or life-threatening illness, and there must be preliminary clinical evidence that it represents a substantial improvement over existing therapies on at least one clinically significant outcome (such as death or permanent impairment). In considering a request for BTD, FDA relies on three primary considerations: 1) the quantity and quality of the clinical evidence being submitted; 2) the available therapies that the drug is being compared to; and 3) the magnitude of treatment effect shown on the outcome being studied. In practice, however, it can be difficult to define a single threshold that a therapy must meet. The decision depends on the specific context for that drug. In some cases, for example, the targeted disease has few or no treatments available, while in others there may be several effective alternative treatments to which the new therapy can be compared. The request may also be made at different stages of the clinical development process, which means that the amount and type of data available to FDA can vary. In some cases, early evidence of benefit may disappear when the drug is tested in larger populations, which is why FDA reserves the right to rescinded the designation if subsequent data shows that the therapy no longer meets the criteria. How many therapies have received the designation? As of March 2015, FDA had received a total of 293 requests for BTD. Of these, 82 received the designation, and 23 have since been approved for marketing. Ten of these approvals were new indications for already approved drugs, rather than novel therapies that had never before received FDA approval. What are the benefits of BTD? For drug manufacturers, it is about the intensity and frequency of their interactions with FDA. Once the designation is granted, the FDA takes an “all hands-on-deck” approach to providing the manufacturer with ongoing guidance and feedback throughout the clinical development process. Products that receive BTD are also able to submit portions of their marketing application on a rolling basis (rather than all at once at the end of clinical trials) and BTD can also be used in combination with other expedited programs in order to further reduce the product’s time to market. For patients, the potential benefits are straightforward: earlier access to therapies that may significantly improve or extend their lives. How does BTD relate to the other three expedited programs? The other three expedited review and development programs—fast track designation, priority review, and accelerated approval—are also geared at facilitating the development and approval of drugs for serious conditions. These other programs have been in place for over 15 years, and have played a significant role in accelerating patient access to new therapeutics (Table 1). In 2014 alone, 66 percent of the 41 drugs approved by FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research used at least one of these four pathways, and 46 percent received at least two of the designations in combination. Table 1: Overview of FDA’s Expedited Review Programs Adapted from FDA's Guidance for Industry: Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions - Drugs and Biologics Authors Gregory W. DanielElizabeth RichardsonCraig Streit Full Article
therapy Breakthrough therapy designation: Exploring the qualifying criteria By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2015 08:45:00 -0400 Event Information April 24, 20158:45 AM - 4:45 PM EDTBallroomThe Park Hyatt Hotel24th and M Streets, NWWashington, DC Register for the Event Established by the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012, breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) is one of several programs developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up the development and review of drugs and biologics that address unmet medical needs. In order to qualify for this designation, the treatment must address a serious or life-threatening illness. In addition, the manufacturer (i.e., sponsor) must provide early clinical evidence that the treatment is a substantial improvement over currently available therapies. The FDA is working to further clarify how it applies the qualifying criteria to breakthrough designation applications. On April 24, under a cooperative agreement with FDA, the Center for Health Policy convened a public meeting to discuss the qualifying criteria for this special designation. Using examples from oncology, neurology, psychiatry, and hematology, the workshop highlighted considerations for the BTD application process, the evaluation process, and factors for acceptance or rejection. The discussion also focused on key strategies for ensuring that the qualifying criteria are understood across a broad range of stakeholder groups. Video Breakthrough therapy designation: Two and a half years inApplying the breakthrough therapy criteria: OncologyApplying the breakthrough therapy criteria: NeurologyApplying the breakthrough therapy criteria: Anti-infective/psychiatry/hematologySummary and discussion of lessons learned Event Materials Breakthrough Therapy Designation_finalBreakthrough therapy slide deck Full Article
therapy Event recap: Lessons learned from two years of breakthrough therapy designation By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 14 May 2015 10:05:00 -0400 The breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) program was initiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 to expedite the development of treatments for serious or life-threatening illness that demonstrate “substantial improvement” over existing therapies. The program has since become a widely supported mechanism for accelerating patient access to new drugs. As of March 2015, FDA has received a total of 293 requests for BTD. However, it has granted just 82 (28%), which indicates an ongoing lack of clarity over what exactly meets the criteria for the designation. On April 24, the Center for Health Policy at Brookings convened a public meeting to explore the designation’s qualifying criteria and how FDA applies those criteria across therapeutic areas. Panelists used real-world and hypothetical case studies to frame the discussion, and highlighted major considerations for the application process, the FDA’s evaluation of the evidence, and the key factors for acceptance or rejection. The discussion also identified strategies to ensure that qualifying criteria are well understood. Here are the five big takeaways: 1. The BTD program is viewed positively by drug companies, researchers, advocates, and others Across the board, participants expressed enthusiasm for the BTD program. Industry representatives noted that their experience had been extremely positive, and that the increased cooperation with and guidance from FDA were very helpful in streamlining their development programs. Receiving the designation can also raise a drug company’s profile, which can facilitate additional investment as well as clinical trial patient recruitment; this is particularly important for smaller companies with limited resources. Patient and disease advocates were likewise supportive, and expressed hope that the early lessons learned from successful breakthrough therapy approvals (which have been mostly concentrated in the oncology and antiviral fields) could be translated to other disease areas with less success. However, while BTD is an important tool in expediting the development of new drugs, it is just one piece of broader scientific and regulatory policy landscape. Accelerating the pace of discovery and development of truly innovative new drugs will depend on a range of other factors, such as developing and validating new biomarkers that can be used to measure treatment effects at an earlier stage, as well as establishing networks that can streamline the clinical trial process. It will also be important to develop effective new approaches to collecting, analyzing, and communicating information about these treatments once they are on the market, as this information can potentially be used by FDA, providers, and patients to further improve prescription drug policy and medical decision-making. 2. BTD requests far outnumber those that actually meet the qualifying criteria Since the program began, less than 30 percent of requests have received BTD designation. A substantial majority were denied at least in part due to either a lack of data or problems with the quality of the data, or some combination of the two. For example, some sponsors requested the designation before they had any clinical data, or submitted the request using clinical data that was incomplete or based on flawed study designs. Many requests also failed to meet the Agency’s bar for “substantial improvement” over existing therapies. One reason for the high denial rate may be a lack of a clear regulatory or statutory bar that could be used as a definitive guide for sponsors to know what is needed to qualify for the designation. BTD denials are also confidential, which means that sponsors effectively have nothing to lose by submitting a request. Going forward, manufacturers may need to exercise more discretion in deciding to request the designation, as the process can be resource- and time-intensive for both sides. 3. There is no single threshold for determining what defines a breakthrough therapy About 53 percent of the 109 total BTD denials were due at least in part to the fact that the drug did not represent a substantial improvement over existing therapies. During the day’s discussion, FDA and sponsors both noted that this is likely because the criteria for BTD are inherently subjective. In practice, this means there is no clear threshold for determining when a new therapy represents a “substantial improvement” over existing therapies. Designation decisions are complex and highly dependent on the context, including the disease or condition being targeted, the availability of other treatments, the patient population, the outcomes being studied, and the overall reliability of the data submitted. Given the multiple factors at play, it can be difficult in some cases to determine when a new product is potentially “transformational” as opposed to “better,” especially for conditions that are poorly understood or have few or no existing treatments. In making its determinations, FDA considers the totality of the evidence submitted, rather than focusing on specific evidentiary requirements. 4. Early communication with FDA is strongly recommended for BTD applicants Roughly 72 percent of the BTD denials related at least in part to trial design or analysis problems, which led several people to suggest that sponsors engage with FDA prior to submitting their request. Though there are several formal mechanisms for interacting with the agency, informal consultations with the relevant review division could help sponsors to get a better and much earlier sense of what kind of data FDA might need. This early communication could both strengthen viable BTD requests and reduce the number of frivolous requests. 5. FDA may need more resources for implementing the BTD program Drugs that receive breakthrough designation are subject to much more intensive FDA guidance and review. However, when the program was established in 2012, Congress did not allocate funding to cover its costs. There have been ongoing concerns that the program is exacting a significant toll on FDA’s already limited resources, and potentially affecting the timeline for other drug application reviews. These concerns were reiterated during the day’s discussion, and some suggested that Congress consider attaching a user fee to the BTD program when the Prescription Drug User Fee Act comes up for reauthorization in 2017. Authors Gregory W. DanielElizabeth RichardsonCraig Streit Full Article
therapy Say it with Butterflies - Green Start-Up Grows Monarch Butterflies for Events, Therapy & Conservation By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:16:45 -0400 Here is an interesting buisness idea; grow butterflies to let fly at special ocasions and at the same time help the enviornment as well as people with special needs. The project is called Mariposeando (Spanish for something Full Article Living
therapy How do dogs feel about being therapy animals? By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 02 May 2018 11:23:02 -0400 Anyone who knows dogs probably knows the answer to this question. Full Article Living
therapy Results of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association and Eisai Inc. Survey Show 83 Percent of Patients Receiving Chemotherapy May Be Unnecessarily Suffering from Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting - Time to Talk CINV™ Video By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 19 Oct 2015 15:42:00 EDT Time to Talk CINV™ Video Full Article Healthcare Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals Supplementary Medicine Pharmaceuticals Broadcast Feed Announcements Survey Polls & Research MultiVu Video
therapy Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation with Brachytherapy Achieves Excellent Long-Term Toxicity and Cosmetic Outcomes - Robert Kuske, MD By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 27 Oct 2015 15:58:00 EDT Robert Kuske, MD Full Article Biotechnology Healthcare Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals Medical Equipment Pharmaceuticals FDA Approval Clinical Trials Medical Discoveries MultiVu Video
therapy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® opens first proton therapy center for children - Proton Therapy at St. Jude By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 14 Dec 2015 16:35:00 EST Proton therapy will be used to treat brain tumors, Hodgkin lymphoma and other solid tumors and is the most advanced form of radiation technology available to patients. Full Article Healthcare Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals New Products Services Children-related News Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
therapy i dont need therapy By www.toothpastefordinner.com Published On :: Sun, 23 Jul 2017 04:00:00 EDT Today on Toothpaste For Dinner: i dont need therapyThe Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS! Full Article comic
therapy Can virtual therapy help us cope with the coronavirus lockdown? By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 13:00:36 +0000 Many people are turning to virtual therapy and mental health apps to cope with the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, but they may not be as helpful as talking face to face Full Article
therapy Concert to cheer up children undergoing chemotherapy at Parel hospital By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 26 Feb 2019 02:54:46 GMT So many of us have lost someone we know to cancer. So when 15-year-old Devika Madgavkar, who was volunteering at the Tata Memorial Centre and working with kids with cancer, asked Alfred D'Souza, the director of her choir Stop-Gaps Junior Choral Ensemble, if they could do something to cheer up the children undergoing chemotherapy, he thought, "why not?" And Carnival in Song was born. "Madgavakar wanted to do something for the kids, who she observed were quite self-conscious and distant after they lost their hair. Also, many of them hail from a low social economic background. The event is just before Lent, which begins on March 6, and as it's the season of hope, we wanted to brighten up their lives. I prepared two choirs and reached out to others, who agreed immediately," says D'Souza. The Salvation Singers The audience will get to hear happy numbers, and renditions of peppy tracks with a samba or calypso beat, akin to what you hear at a carnival, shares D'Souza, adding that while the Stop-Gaps Choral Ensemble will be performing Brazil and Senorita, The Salvation Singers will offer a medley of Hindi songs, and Siddharth Meghani will perform some Elvis Presley tracks. The line-up will also include The Victory Chorus Line, and soloists such as Ella Atai, Kim Cardoz, Mehmood Curmally and Darren Das, accompanied by Mimosa Almeida Pinto (piano) and Ishan Jadwani (drums), besides dancers on stage. "We've been planning this since October. We have a lot of kids aged between five and 15 years, who have their term exams at the moment, but yet they have been practising," adds D'Souza. All proceeds from the evening will be given to the centre's Runners of Hope Initiative. ON March 1, 7.45 pm onwards AT St Andrew's Auditorium, St Andrew's College, St Dominic Road, Bandra West LOG ON TO bookmyshow.comCALL 26410926 COST Rs 300 onwards Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates Full Article
therapy Vino therapy in Bandra By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 25 Mar 2019 03:03:00 GMT Two decades ago, drinking wine was restricted to snooty pseudo-intellectuals who turned the experience into flavour profiles of tannins and acids, melons and mango, and grape varieties that we could barely pronounce. We now sip in times when the pourer, who once intimidated us with technical terms, explains the story of the vineyard, the grape and body with passion in layman’s terms. When we stepped into 266 Wine and Bar Room, we were quickly reminded of the Kala Ghoda Wine Bar that recently opened in the much-loved backroom of Kala Ghoda Café. The space is done up in hues of light blue and grey, with light fixtures adding a warm, amber glow from low-wattage tungsten bulbs. We settle into blue sofas, preferring the comfort to the high stools that may turn tricky after a few glasses. 266 Charcuterie and Cheese Board The 266 Charcuterie and Cheese Board (Rs 675) is an indulgence with brie, camembert, cheddar, strawberries, walnuts, olives and chicken and pork cold cuts. Between nibbles and sips, we realise this is a space we’d love to hang out at for conversations or even some alone time. The platter beautifully compliments the wines. The thirstier one among us has signed up for an old world red wine flight (Rs 1,800) that takes her from an Italian pinot noir by Folonari, which is crisp and medium-bodied, to a full-bodied French syrah by Domaine Gayda, a Spanish Monastrell and finally, a fresh Italian Umani Ronchi of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Of the lot, the syrah’s peppery, fruity notes get the highest applause. World maps should have been taught according to wine regions of the world, we think, as we enjoy the joyride through this mini trip across some of the world’s finest wine counties. On the other hand, we sip a honeyed South African Chenin blanc by Tall Horse (Rs 850) which is tart-y, fruity and light on the palate. Tomato stew with prawns and Malabari paratha The food at this wine bar draws our attention too. We take a risk and order the tomato stew with prawns (Rs 575) that comes with a side of flaky, buttery Malabari paratha (Rs 60). It’s a great example of wine pairing with Indian food. The broth is sweet, tangy and cuts the acidity of the wine. With the cheese board now reduced to crumbs of brie and cheddar, we settle for a dark chocolate and olive oil mousse (Rs 425) that gives our spirited sojourn a bittersweet (pun not intended) end. AT 266 Wine and Bar Room, next to Shopper’s Stop, Linking Road, Bandra WestTIME 4 pm to 12 amCALL 8879101350 Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates 266 Wine and Bar Room didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals Full Article
therapy Coronavirus outbreak: Doctors put their faith in BCG vaccine therapy By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 3 May 2020 01:29:01 GMT Apart from plasma therapy, COVID-19 patients who are in critical condition, will soon have another kind of treatment, to help fight the infection. Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute, which last month had submitted a proposal to conduct a clinical trial to use the anti-tuberculosis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, as a therapeutic treatment received a nod for it from the Drug Controller General of India on Friday. Around 30 COVID-19 patients, who have moderate or severe symptoms, will be part of the trial run, starting next week. "The BCG vaccine strengthens immunity and research has shown that it can be used as a therapeutic treatment, to help patients fight the infection. We received an approval from the DGCI and are waiting for the clinical registration number from the ICMR, which should come in a couple of days," said a senior official from the Medical Education and Drugs (MED) department. While the trial will be carried out by the Haffkine Institute and led by Dr Usha Padmanabhan, it is being monitored by the MED department. Mumbai has the highest number of Coronavirus-related deaths in the state, as well as in India. The official added that once the trials are successful, patients who are critical, especially in cities like Mumbai and Pune, will be able to benefit from it. "Unlike new drugs, the BCG vaccine is already in production and will be easily available. So far, the institute has carried out preliminary studies and they have come across positive results," the official said. Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, managing director of the Haffkine Institute in Parel, said that they are likely to start the trial next week. "It will take place at the BJ Medical College in Pune. We have carried out the preparations and the scientists are almost ready," he said. Based on the preliminary findings of the research for the trial, the effect of the virus can be reduced among patients, if they are given a dose of the BCG vaccine. The official said that the vaccine will help reduce the severity of the symptoms among patients. Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news Full Article
therapy Plasma therapy: To use or not to use... By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 4 May 2020 01:55:46 GMT While trials on plasma therapy for COVID-19 continue, they have sparked debate among medical professionals. While one set of experts feels that plasma therapy can work wonders with a supportive line of treatment, the other set opines that it is too premature to make such claims without thorough clinical evidence. Interestingly, the first set of experts is now further puzzled as to whom they should administer plasma therapy. That's because of the high risk involved as COVID-19 patients may still have existing ailments that may not respond well to plasma therapy. The concern was raised after the recent death of a 52-year-old man who was given plasma therapy at a Mumbai hospital. The man had co-morbidities and was on ventilator support. Dr Anoop Kumar, consultant and chief of Critical Care Medicine at BM Hospital, Calicut Premature to consider itDr Asha Kishore, medical director, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, said, "While there have been a few reports of convalescent plasma therapy being effective in treating COVID patients, unless there is a clinical study it is premature to consider it as an accepted form of treatment. It should be considered experimental therapy and should be monitored and regulated by the health ministry. Even data from China is too limited to confirm successful experiment of plasma therapy." "Our transfusion medicine department has applied for participation in a clinical trial of convalescent plasma for the treatment for COVID-19 called by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR's sponsored trial will be conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in patients with moderate COVID-19 infection. We are awaiting approval," said Dr Asha. Against immunology principleDr Wiqar Shaikh, senior allergy and asthma specialist, who had treated the 52-year-old Byculla resident who was treated at home and recovered from COVID-19, said, "Plasma therapy means giving antibodies from a COVID cured patient to one still suffering from it. This is not within the principle of immunology. When a person has a viral infection, the first reaction of the body's immune system is to form IgM (Immuno Globulin M) antibodies and IgG (Immuno Globulin G). However, these are not the important defences against a virus. When the virus enters a body, it does so by mistake and cannot survive within the body and hence enters a cell to survive." Dr Shaikh added, "The COVID virus is an RNA virus, which cannot replicate on its own, it requires the cell apparatus to multiply. Whenever the immune system identifies a virus containing cell, two types of cells are activated. Both are T-lymphocytes, the first category is the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and the second is the Natural Killer (NK) T-lymphocyte, both of which destroy the virus containing cell using bodily chemicals called 'perforins' and 'granzymes'. This cytotoxic and NK cells develop a memory for the virus within the body, and when the person gets infected with the same virus again, the memory cytotoxic and NK cells launch an immediate attack and kill the virus. Therefore, antibodies (plasma therapy), has a very poor role in defence against COVID and hence is of no use, claims Dr Shaikh. Dr Asha Kishore, medical director, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram "There are no double-blind placebo-controlled trials anywhere in the world of plasma therapy actually helping in recovery of serious COVID patients. Moreover, such clinical research is a welcome move, but it takes months or years of painstaking research," said Dr Shaikh. In favour of plasma therapyDr Anoop Kumar, consultant and chief of Critical Care Medicine at BM Hospital, Calicut, said, "The Kerala government was concerned about the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and called for a meeting of well-known health professionals in Kerala on March 20. At the meeting it was agreed to make use of plasma therapy, as we have come across case studies of successful results in China, South Korea, and other countries. However, it is yet to be published in the international journal." "Plasma therapy has been effective in various virus outbreaks in the past, such as Nipah virus in 2018, H1N1 in 2008 and even the 1918 flu outbreak," said Dr Anoop, adding, "We intend to collect plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. For instance, a 55-year-old recovered patient can donate around 800ml of plasma from the blood, and this can save four lives with a mere 200 ml of plasma." However, donor protocol mandates that the donor should not have any fever, or foreign travel history or respiratory infection, and should have remained in self-isolation for 14 days post discharge and the swab collected after self-quarantine period should be negative. 200Quantity in ml of plasma required for treatment Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news Full Article
therapy COVID-19 Outbreak: No evidence that plasma therapy can be used for treatment, says Health Ministry By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 28 Apr 2020 13:05:23 GMT New Delhi: The Health Ministry on Tuesday said currently plasma therapy is at the experimental stage and there is no evidence yet to support that it can be used as a treatment for COVID-19.Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said currently there are no approved therapies for COVID-19 and there is not enough evidence to claim that plasma therapy can be used for the treatment of the disease. "ICMR has launched a national-level study to study the efficacy of plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID 19," he said. "Till ICMR concludes its study and a robust scientific proof is available, plasma therapy should be used only for research or trial purpose. If plasma therapy is not used in a proper manner under proper guidelines, then it can also cause life-threatening complications," said Agarwal. The official said that the doubling rate of coronavirus cases now stands at 10.2 days.He further said that in the last 24 hours, 1,543 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported, taking the total cases to 29,435. "6,868 COVID-19 patients, which is 23.3 per cent of total cases, have recovered so far," he added. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news Full Article
therapy Dosage mapping tracks cancer radiotherapy more closely By ec.europa.eu Published On :: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT A non-invasive system being developed by EU-funded researchers could make radiotherapy a safer and more-effective treatment for cancer patients by creating a visual dosage map of the tumour and the surrounding healthy tissue. Full Article
therapy New Cancer Treatment can Hide Boron Inside Cancer Cells During Radiotherapy By www.medindia.net Published On :: Highlights: Boron can now be retained within cancer cells using a novel method Trapping boron within ca Full Article
therapy Disrupting Glutamine Metabolism Aids to Treat Chemotherapy Resistant Pancreatic Cancer By www.medindia.net Published On :: Highlights : A way to utilize existing chemotherapy in a more efficient manner in treating pancreat Full Article
therapy Combination Immune Therapy Reduces Genital Herpes Outbreaks By www.medindia.net Published On :: Combination of a vaccine and a medicated cream was found to be a promising strategy to dramatically reduce the recurrence of genital herpes, said Yale investigators. Full Article
therapy Light Therapy Helps Improve Mood in People With Concussion By www.medindia.net Published On :: Early morning blue light therapy was found to decrease depression and other concussion symptoms in people with mild traumatic brain injury, stated study Full Article
therapy Psychotherapy Unavailable to Most of the People Requiring Mental Health By www.medindia.net Published On :: Physician psychotherapy is only available to a fraction of those with urgent mental health needs in Ontario, according to a joint study by the Centre Full Article
therapy Cognitive-behavioral Therapy by Telephone Benefits People With Parkinson's By www.medindia.net Published On :: In people with Parkinson's disease, cognitive-behavioral therapy by telephone was found to be effective for treating depression, revealed study published Full Article
therapy New Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Works by Changing Parent Behavior By www.medindia.net Published On :: Parent-based treatment known as SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is as efficacious as individual cognitive-behavioral therapy Full Article
