Author: Biotech Express

A journal has retracted a 2021 paper claiming that vitamin D “significantly reduced the inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19 without any side effects” following criticism that led them to “no longer have confidence in the conclusions.” The paper “Impact of daily high dose oral vitamin D therapy on the inflammatory markers in patients with COVID 19 disease,” appeared in Scientific Reports, a Springer Nature journal, on May 20, 2021. The paper earned a correction on August 30, and has been cited 29 times, according to Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science. The editors said that “the Editorial Board Member indicates that…

A 3D printed polymer glove that can allow an attendant of a stroke victim to conduct daily physiotherapy sessions at home for months, is the latest innovation from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, which is teaming up with the Manipal group forfor clinical trials. The scientists who developed the physiotherapy gloves said similar wearable devices could be made for any limb, depending on the requirements of a paralytic patient. A physiotherapist or a family member can operate it by either wearing an identical device or using a smartphone application. “The biggest advantage is that a physiotherapist can measure the muscle…

Plants can’t speak up when they are thirsty. And visual signs, such as shriveling or browning leaves, don’t start until most of their water is gone. To detect water loss earlier, researchers have created a wearable sensor for plant leaves. The system wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone app, allowing for remote management of drought stress in gardens and crops. Newer wearable devices are more than simple step-counters. Some smart watches now monitor the electrical activity of the wearer’s heart with electrodes that sit against the skin. And because many devices can wirelessly share the data that are collected, physicians…

Sanofi India (SIL) announced on Monday that its Board of Directors has appointed Rodolfo Hrosz as the Company’s new Managing Director with effect from June 1, 2022, subject to regulatory approvals. He will transition from being Sanofi’s General Manager, Consumer Healthcare business in Brazil to his new role in India as soon as the applicable regulatory approvals are in place. “Rodolfo joined Sanofi as General Manager of the Consumer Healthcare business in Brazil in 2017 and has successfully led the organization through several transformative stages, right from the business unit’s inception to it becoming a top growth contributor and a…

Moderna enjoyed $5.9 billion in product sales this quarter, with the majority of these occurring outside of the U.S. The company anticipates that sales will become even larger in the second half of 2022 as it introduces its COVID-19 boosters and SARS-CoV-2 becomes endemic. With its capital, Moderna chiefly plans to reinvest in its 46 research and development programs which include its pipeline vaccine programs for COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and development-stage vaccine programs which include trials in Zika virus and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Notably, Moderna is full speed ahead for COVID-19 boosters despite growing concerns from the scientific community…

According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, more than 1 million excess deaths — that is, deaths in excess of the historical average — have been recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, and this cannot be explained by COVID-19. Deaths from heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia and many other illnesses rose during that time. “We’ve never seen anything like it,” Robert Anderson, CDC’s head of mortality statistics, told The Washington Post in mid-February 2022. According to University of Warwick researchers, “the scale of excess non-COVID deaths is large enough for it to be…

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have discovered a drug molecule that can be used to treat diabetes. In a press release issued recently, IIT Mandi said that the molecule, named PK2, is able to trigger the release of insulin by the pancreas and can potentially be used as an orally administered medicine for diabetes. According to the press statement the details of the research have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Dr. Prosenjit Mondal, Associate Professor, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi has authored the paper. Dr Prosenjit Mondal, said “Current drugs such as…

No one can be forced to take the vaccine, the Supreme Court said in a landmark decision on India’s Covid vaccine policy, also directing the central government to publish reports on the adverse effects of vaccination. “Bodily integrity is protected under the law and nobody can be forced to be vaccinated,” the Supreme Court said. The court asserted, however, that “certain limitations on individual rights” could be imposed in the interest of community health. “Barring Covid-appropriate behaviour, we suggest no curbs on unvaccinated individuals in access to public places, services and resources if cases are low,” the Supreme Court said.…

State-run energy large NTPC has invited bids from the nation’s startups for the manufacturing of torrefied biomass pellets. Through its analysis and growth wing NETRA, the NTPC intends to present a platform to startups to allow them develop a sophisticated know-how for producing torrefied biomass pellets which might be well-suited for decentralised small-scale customers. The deadline for the submission of the proposals titled ‘torrefied pellet manufacturing plant for agri-waste‘ is May 19, 2022, NTPC stated in an announcement. The transfer is predicted to reinforce NTPC’s dedication in the direction of growing the biomass ecosystem within the nation, and can present…

Dr. Ritu Trivedi, Senor Principal Scientist at Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow has been selected for the National Women Scientist Award for Excellence in Translational Research (National Tech Excellence Award for Women-2022) by Department of Science and Technology (DST). Dr. Ritu is being awarded for her contribution in the development of Reunion as a rapid fracture healing and for management of post-menopausal osteoporosis. To recognize outstanding contribution of women scientists and entrepreneurs in commercializing innovative indigenous technologies, Technology Development Board under DST gives away the National Tech Excellence Award under the two categories i.e., first as National Women Scientist…