Uni Blake's Blog

If two different people take a similar journey with alcohol, the end result may be different. They may frequent the same bars, drink the same amounts of alcohol over the same period of time. After a given amount of time one of the two may have the ability to walk away from that lifestyle, while the other faces a lifetime of alcohol dependence. Even though their level of alcohol abuse was similar there is a difference in the end point. This may be the genetic factor, where some people have higher tendency to become alcoholics. It is not that their will power is lacking but that their brain is wired differently. Researchers are actively working on ways to determine what genes are responsible for this difference in wiring. In the future it is hoped that it will be possible to determine an individual predisposition to alcoholism by looking at their genetic information.

Zicam use has been associated with the loss of the sense of smell; either long lasting loss or a permanent loss. The products Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size were recalled by the FDA on June 16^th 2009. The FDA urged consumers to discontinue the use of the compounds and properly dispose of the unused medication. The problem active ingredient is zincum gluconate. Zicam’s labels claim that the product will help relieve symptoms associated with the common cold and should be considered a drug. FDA has no information on the efficacy of zinc gluconate or any other zinc compound as an approved active ingredient in the nasal remedy for colds.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) have added a new element to the periodic table. To date the element is unnamed. The element referred to as “element 112” is 277 times heavier than hydrogen. It was created by bombarding zinc ions and lead nuclei to create the new element.

One has to wonder what the possible benefits of these newly discovered (manufactured) elements are. When the expense these laboratories go through to create the elements is taken into account, there has to a benefit. Anyone know the answer?

Most people know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis always makes people nervous. The good news is that there are many breast cancer survivors. Early diagnosis and advancements in breast cancer treatment seems to be changing the statistics in the favor of survivors. This week an article appeared in the FASEB journal (Toyoda et al., “Earwax, osmidrosis, and breast cancer: why does one SNP (538G>A) in the human ABC transporter ABCC11 gene determine earwax type?” FASEB Journal, 2009 23: 2001-2013), that basically stated that the type of ear wax an individual has and their level of body odor may be an indicator of an increased risk to developing breast cancer. Could this be a break through early breast cancer detection tool? Apparently these clues are all linked to the gene that is associated with Breast cancer.

Sports drinks can be an expensive addition to the bottom line when switching to an exercise filled healthy lifestyle. Sports drink when drank after exercise help promote protein synthesis. Scientists in recent study however found that a simple bowl of whole grain cereal with low fat milk is just as effective. The milk contains proteins that are easily digested. Therefore drinking milk is definitely beneficial. The whole grain cereal adds the carbs needed to supplement the energy lost. (Berardi et al., “Recovery from a cycling time trial is enhanced with carbohydrate-protein supplementation vs. isoenergetic carbohydrate supplementation”. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition).

Hepatitis C is caused by the HCV virus. It is a chronic condition that sometimes ends with the patient suffering from liver cirrhosis and in some cases liver cancer. The disease is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood. People get infected by sharing needles with a person carrying the infection in their blood. There is no vaccine to prevent this disease. Most common treatment is the combination of pegylated interferon and the anti-viral drug ribavirin. Treatment normally takes 48 weeks and not all patients are cured. However, a recent study showed that accentuating the normal treatment with telaprevir another anti-viral drug can reduce the treatment time to 24 weeks.

(McHutchison et al., “Telaprevir with Peginterferon and Ribavirin for Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection” NEJM Vol. 360:1827-1838 April 30, 2009)

Antiviral drugs are commonly used to treat viral infections like the flu. They do not destroy the virus but effectively disable it or stop its reproductive cycle. A virus’s main intention once it infects a host like a human cell is to replicate itself. In the replication process it causes harm to the cells, affecting their function and the health of the infected person. The goal of antiviral drugs is to disrupt the virus life cycle; with advances in viral genome research it is possible to create drugs that target different phases of the virus’s lifecycle. Different viruses have different surface proteins. The body develops is antibodies mostly based on the surface proteins. Vaccines allow the body to fight of an active infection by pre-developing immunity, so when the body is infected actively it is has the built in ability to fight off the infection. However, there are many different combinations of the virus’s proteins creating a difficulty in predicting and creating the right vaccines.

The future of immunizing against influenza lies in universal vaccines which can immunize against a variety of influenza virus strains.

In a study, participants were given either glucose-sweetened or fructose sweetened beverages for 10 weeks (Stanhope et al. “Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases visceral adiposity and lipids and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese humans.” Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2009.) The participants both gained weight but those who consumed the fructose-sweetened beverages gained more fat around their middle, had a diminished reaction to insulin (increased diabetes risk) and had higher levels of blood lipids (increased heart attack risk). Fructose is found in most non-diet sodas as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

An e-cigarette is touted as alternative to regular tobacco containing products. Instead the smoker inhales nicotine as a vapor. To make the vapor more interesting the manufacturers of e-cigarettes have added flavors to allow the smoker the similar sensation as they would experience from smoking regular cigarettes. The e-cigarette can be designed to resemble commonly smoked cigarettes. The big difference is that e-cigarettes do not contain the concoction of tobacco products that are suspect in causing a numerous number of health issues.

The Canadian government on March 27^th, 2009, issued an advisory against the e-cigarettes stating that the e-cigarettes “pose risks such as nicotine poisoning and addiction.” The FDA’s jury is still out as the agency looks into the e-cigarette claims and try’s to figure out what jurisdiction the electronic cigarettes fall under.

The good news for non smokers is that e-cigarettes are smokeless and are safe enough to be around. The bad news for smoker is that e-cigarettes still deliver a nicotine dose.

Staying fit during the wintertime in the northeast US is a challenge. Most people rely heavily on indoor gyms to keep physically active. There are however some draw backs to exercising in indoor facilities, especially indoor swimming pools.

Swimming pools need to be disinfected; it is a matter of public health. Most swimming pools maintainance includes chlorinating the water to destroy the unwanted microorganisms. This gives the indoor pool the familiar chlorine smell. The chlorine then interacts with among other things the nitrogen containing compounds found in sweat, urine and saliva producing unwanted chloroamines as byproducts. These gases combined with the chlorine and other chlorination products to create a mist of chemicals above the water’s surface. This is the air exposed to indoor pool swimmers.

Inhalation of the chlorine based compounds at high enough concentrations can cause acute lung damage, aspiration pneumonia, allergy related diseases and in some cases asthma especially in infant children. These chemicals create an unwanted burden in children predisposing them to asthma and possibly chronic bronchitis.

Be cautious when taking infants to indoor pools where there is a suspect amount of chlorine in the air.

This century is all about biotechnology; from advances in disease diagnosis to advances in genetics touching human lives, crops and animals. The biotech century signals not only the end of the big industry era of pollution and other non green human activities but the onset of generations dealing with the price of advances made in the previous century.

Biotechnology will have a hand in solving and helping settle the debt owed for the industrial advances and the lifestyle choices societies made. The field of medical technology responds to the lifestyle choices by improving disease diagnosis and with advances in medical care and treatment. Not only do we see technical advances but also pharmaceutical advances. The new technology is helping scientists better understand pharmacology and toxicology processes.

Agricultural biotechnology also plays a role settling our debt by developing new bio-remediation techniques and focusing on the use of biomass as an alternative renewable energy source. Agriculture biotechnology also has an important role in supplying food and fiber for the growing population by focusing on fields like genetically engineered plants, indoor agricultural techniques and the movement towards green agriculture.

Along with the advances come some tough bioethical questions that require objective answers. The questions raised try to understand the science of the morality behind human cloning, genetically engineered life forms and body parts and stem cell research.

Articles in the biotech/pharmaceutical suite offer a look at subject matter related to the research advances during the biotech century by exploring the positive along with the negative impacts.

As a Toxicologist I have a fascination with the workings of the human body especially when it comes to the impact that xenobiotics on the intricate systems of humans, plants and animals. Most of my writings examine the positive and negative impacts of xenobiotics through the fields of pharmacology and toxicology. I also write about the resultant pharmaceuticals developed and the lessons that are learnt through these exposures.

I am also fascinated by how chemicals can redefine an entire generation’s landscape such as the case of Thalidomide, the effects of exposure to cigarette smoke and current obesity epidemic. Technology has helped spark and broaden my interest. Advances in technology have led to improved dissemination of information with the latest research papers being available on line. By keeping up with new research, this niche will provide readers up to date research results on topics within the fields of agricultural biotechnology, bioethics, medical technology, pharmacology and toxicology.