Flu or influenza is a viral infection that
is highly contagious. Vaccines for this
infection are available at the Gisborne
Hospital, which is one of the health
services provided by Hauora Tairāwhiti,
New Zealand. The vaccine is provided
free to all staff and pregnant women
attending the hospital antenatal clinic
or the maternity unit.
The authorities believe that it is
extremely important for all health
professionals working with pregnant
women and babies to be immunised to
reduce the risk. Studies conducted in
New Zealand have shown that pregnant
women are nearly five times more
likely to be admitted to hospital whensuffering from the flu than women who
are not pregnant. The consequences
to a mother and baby who get the
flu are more serious and can be life-
threatening.
The Ministry of Health recommends
that all healthcare workers need to
get immunised against influenza.
It is mandatory for individuals who
are at a higher risk of contracting flu
infection, such as pregnant women,
elderly people, and patients suffering
from heart diseases, strokes, diabetes,
asthma, and cancers. The vaccine
administration might cause minor
side-effects but they usually disappear
within 48 hours.Researchers from University of Iowa have shown that high doses
of vitamin C can cause death of cancer cells by altering their iron
metabolism. As part of the study, patients suffering from brain cancer
were subjected to a safety trial in which three infusions of vitamin C
were given for two months on a weekly basis. This was followed by two
infusions given for seven months per week along with the standard
chemotherapy procedure. Due to these infusions, the level of vitamin C
in the patient’s blood was raised to 20,000 μM, as compared to a blood
level of about 70 μM found in most adults. The high dose was required
to maintain a constant level of vitamin C in the blood as the half-life of
this molecule is just two hours.
The cancer cells generate high levels of redox active iron molecules
during abnormal mitochondrial metabolism. By increasing the level of
vitamin C in the blood, these redox active iron molecules can be used
for generating free radicals through hydrogen peroxide. These free
radicals can in turn damage the DNA in these cancer cells as compared
to normal cells. Studies are also being conducted with patients suffering
from lung cancer to evaluate the role of vitamin C further.
During the phase I trial, an increase in the overall survival of 4-6
months was observed in 11 patients suffering from brain cancer (18-22
months), in comparison to the 14-16 month survival typically seen with
the standard treatment. Phase II trials are being set up for studying the
effectiveness of high doses of vitamin C at extending overall lifespan
and quality of life for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.
at Pune, will start a Phase II/
III vaccine trial for tuberculosis
using a novel recombinant BCG
(Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine
in June this year. The new vaccine,
VPM1002, is more powerful,
efficacious and better recognised by
the immune system.
A single dose of the vaccine will
be administered to adult volunteers
and a follow up would be done for a
year. The trial will be conducted in
15-17 centres across the country on
adults who have been successfully
treated and cured for TB. The safety
concerns of the vaccine have already
been addressed in two Phase I trials
in Germany in 2009 and South
Africa in 2010, and in one Phase
2a trial in South Africa in 2012.
Trials conducted in newborn infants
confirmed the safety and tolerance
of the new vaccine. It has been
observed that the currently used
BCG vaccine causes BCG related
disease in HIV-positive babies due
to an immuno-compromised system.
This recombinant version is expected
to be safe for babies exposed to HIV.Serum new phase
vaccine trial for TB
Flu vaccines available in NZ
Trial of high
vitamin C
intake for
cancer
http://www.biospectrumindia.com | May 2017 | BioSpectrum l WORLD NEWS^23