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Vaccine That Wiped Out Cancer in Mice Ready for Human Trial

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New York: Raising hopes for a cancer vaccine for different types of cancers, researchers have found that injecting minute amounts of two immune-stimulating agents directly into solid tumours in mice can eliminate all traces of cancer in the animals.

A clinical trial was launched in January to test the effect of the treatment in humans with lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system.

The approach works for many different types of cancers, including those that arise spontaneously, said the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

The researchers believe the local application of very small amounts of the agents could serve as a rapid and relatively inexpensive cancer therapy that is unlikely to cause the adverse side effects often seen with bodywide immune stimulation.

“When we use these two agents together, we see the elimination of tumours all over the body,” said senior author of the study Ronald Levy, Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US.

“This approach bypasses the need to identify tumour-specific immune targets and doesn’t require wholesale activation of the immune system or customisation of a patient’s immune cells,” Levy said.

“Our approach uses a one-time application of very small amounts of two agents to stimulate the immune cells only within the tumour itself. In the mice, we saw amazing, bodywide effects, including the elimination of tumours all over the animal,” Levy explained.

Cancers often exist in a strange kind of limbo with regard to the immune system. Immune cells like T cells recognise the abnormal proteins often present on cancer cells and infiltrate to attack the tumour. However, as the tumour grows, it often devises ways to suppress the activity of the T cells.

Levy’s method works to reactivate the cancer-specific T cells by injecting microgram (one-millionth of a gram) amounts of two agents directly into the tumour site.

One, a short stretch of DNA called a CpG oligonucleotide, works with other nearby immune cells to amplify the expression of an activating receptor called OX40 on the surface of the T cells.

The other, an antibody that binds to OX40, activates the T cells to lead the charge against the cancer cells.

Because the two agents are injected directly into the tumour, only T cells that have infiltrated it are activated. In effect, these T cells are “prescreened” by the body to recognise only cancer-specific proteins.

“This is a very targeted approach,” Levy said.

“Only the tumour that shares the protein targets displayed by the treated site is affected. We’re attacking specific targets without having to identify exactly what proteins the T cells are recognising,” Levy added.

Source: http://www.news18.com/news/world/vaccine-that-wiped-out-cancer-in-mice-ready-for-human-trial-1649495.html

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Are mosquito repellant safe for humans?

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Electricity is used to heat up a liquid, which either repells the insects, or masks your scent, making it harder for them to locate you and bite you.

Is It Safe To Use Mosquito Repellents?

Coming to the safety, these mosquito repellents are used widely, day after day and have become an indispensable part of our Good Night routine. Most of us have grown into adults snuggling to sleep sniffing to the slight aroma of mosquito repellents. What about those who are not yet present this world or are on their way – yes the reference here is to the expecting moms, newborns and infants! Mosquitoes can be really annoying and they can be very dangerous. Research has it that chemicals in mosquito repellents are not safe to be inhaled and can cause serious breathing problems, or trigger allergic reactions. In large doses, these chemicals can be fatal to inhale and may even cause cancer.

Is It Safe To Use Mosquito Repellents During Pregnancy

Mosquitoes can cause life-threatening diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and malaria. If these diseases are encountered during pregnancy, they can harm the fetus and health of the baby. When a repellent is directly applied to the skin in the form of cream or lotion, 5-10% of it gets directly absorbed into the blood stream and thus may reach the fetus. This is a very meagre amount and there are no side effects such as birth abnormalities due to this. However care should be taken because some people may be allergic to DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), the very common active ingredient in repellents.

On the other hand, there has been a study which has linked use of the so-called safe DEET-based mosquito repellents in the first trimester and birth abnormality in male babies. Although the study is still in elementary stages, the condition called, Hypospadias (difficulty opening penis or foreskin) has been identified in male babies, whose mothers used repellents in the first three months of pregnancy.

Is It Safe To Use Mosquito Repellents with Babies and Infants?

The cheap and easily available mosquito coils emit a lot of smoke and an unpleasant smell. This smoke may lead to various respiratory disorders such as asthma and cough along with allergic reactions. Also since the doors and windows are closed during the night to prevent any nasty intruders and mosquitoes, the constantly burning coil may cause suffocation to young beings. Though many of them are safe for babies over 2 months of age, it is recommended not to use the same for babies less than 2 months. Infact, kids should not be exposed to mosquito repellents with more than 30% DEET.

If you are using mosquito coil or repellent liquid, spray..  and don’t want to use old-fashioned Mosquito Nets,  please note the following points,

  • It always helps to use a product as per the instructions on the box
  • When you do use the repellent, make your baby sit or sleep in the other room
  • Do not sleep with the baby with the mosquito repellent burning all night
  • Make sure that you do not use a repellent more than once a day
  • Dress your baby in full sleeved, light color clothing as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors
  • The easy to apply mosquito repellent creams are also available in the market. If you do use them, then use them on the clothes, and never on the skin
  • If using other mosquito repellents, do not spray them near their face
  • Also do not apply anything on their hands or the things such as teething rings which they are most likely to taste!
  • Cover the babies as much as possible
  • Opt for fragrance-free baby products – perfume attracts mosquitoes!
  • For babies, consider applying cream on the clothes, rather than on the skin as the chemicals may irritate their delicate skin
  • The most important point is to thoroughly wash your hands with soap after handling the repellents. Never ever ingest these!

I think babies or adults, it harms human being slowly. SO better to avoid using them and stay away from the coils.

Source: https://www.beingtheparent.com/mosquito-repellents-are-they-safe/

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