Onions could fight antibiotics resistance

A type of onion could fight against antibiotic resistance in cases of tuberculosis TB, a UCL and Birkbeck-led study suggests. Researchers believe the antibacterial properties extracted from the Persian shallot could increase the effects of existing antibiotic treatment.

The study was led by Dr. Sanjib Bhakta of Birkbeck, University of London and UCL's Professor Simon Gibbons, who worked with a team of scientists from Birkbeck, UCL, the University of Greenwich, the University of East London and Royal Free Hospital. When a patient has a bacterial infection, they may be prescribed an antibiotic. In the case of TB, they will likely be prescribed a cocktail of four antibiotics including Isoniazid and Rifampicin – but increasingly, the pathogens in bacterial infections are developing resistance to antibiotic drugs.

This means the drug loses its ability to effectively control or kill harmful bacteria, and is free to grow and cause further damage to the patient which, can be passed along to the population at large. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new classes of antibacterials to combat antibiotic resistance, which this research may help progress. The team investigated extracts of bulbs from Allium Stipitatum – also known as the Persian shallot and used as a staple part of Iranian cooking- and its antibacterial effects.

They synthesised the chemical compounds present in these plants in order to better understand and optimise their antibacterial potential. They tested four different synthesised compounds, all of which showed a significant reduction in the presence of the bacteria in the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis-the most promising candidate of which, with highest therapeutic index, inhibited growth of the isolated TB cells by more than 99.9%.

The team concluded that the chemical compounds may work as templates for the discovery of new drug treatment to combat strains of tuberculosis, which have previously developed resistance to anti-bacterial drugs.Natural products from plants and microbes have enormous potential as a source of new antibiotics. Nature is an amazingly creative chemist and it is likely that plants such as the Persian shallot produce these chemicals as a defence against microbes in their environment.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Infliximab for reducing inflammation

Infliximab reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation. Infliximab is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. Infliximab is also used to treat severe or disabling plaque psoriasis. Infliximab is often used when other medicines have not been effective.

Using infliximab may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma that can be fatal. Infliximab can lower blood cells that help the body fight infections. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur.  However, people with autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis) may have a higher risk of lymphoma.

Using infliximab may increase the risk of developing other types of cancer, including skin cancer. Before you start treatment with infliximab, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis (TB) or other infections. Infliximab is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be watched closely after receiving infliximab, to make sure the medicine has not caused any serious side effects.

Infliximab can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using infliximab, or you could develop a serious infection. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy or tingly, swollen, short of breath, or have a headache, fever, chills, muscle or joint pain, pain or tightness in your throat, chest pain, or trouble swallowing during the injection. Infusion reactions may also occur within 1 or 2 hours after injection.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing; fever, chills, severe dizziness; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with infliximab. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, extreme tiredness, flu symptoms, cough, or skin symptoms (pain, warmth, or redness).
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Fast diagnosis for tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious bacteria disease that usually affects the lungs, it can also affects other parts of the body. It spreads through the air when an infected person talks, coughs, sneezes, yawns or laughs.

British scientists have discovered better ways of diagnosing tuberculosis by the use of genome sequencing to isolate different strains of the disease this leads to better and faster diagnosis  of tuberculosis and quick recovery.

Use of modern technology for treating tuberculosis  makes the patients to spend days for treatment instead of initial spending of months. This new development  can blot out tuberculosis from every parts of the world.

How HIV affects the immune system

Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus that causes HIV and later AIDS. Early signs of HIV are: fever, joint pain, sore throat and skin rashes.

A T-cell is a type of lymphocyte - white blood cell that defend the body against disease, HIV infects a cell by attaching itself to T-cell, multiplies its virus and destroy the T-cell.

CD4 count shows the strength of one's immune system which is between 500 1500 for healthy people, being infected with HIV without treatment will reduce the count below 200.

 HIV  exposes the infected person to opportunistic  infections like: pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, thrush, and tuberculosis.

Presently, there is no cure for HIV. Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for people living with HIV virus.

Common side effects of Antiretroviral drugs are: glucose intolerance, kidney failure, hepatitis of the liver, insulin resistance, osteoporosis, anemia and inflamed pancreas.