Health Bulletin 08/September/2023

Here are the top health stories for the day:

NMC streamlines medical admissions: State counselling committees to now enter data on available seats, not medical colleges

With an aim to streamline the counselling process for admission to medical seats and improve the transparency in seat reporting, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now written to all the State Medical Counselling Committees and informed that from the next academic year, the feeding of data in seat matrix will be done by each state counseling committees (SCC) along with MCC, DGHS instead of colleges/universities.

For more details, check out the link given below:

NMC Streamlines Medical Admissions: State Counselling Committees To Now Enter Data On Available Seats, Not Medical Colleges

Scientists make artificial human embryos without sperm or egg

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have created an artificial "embryo model" that mimics a 14-day-old human embryo without using sperm, eggs, or a womb. They achieved this by starting with pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into various tissue types, and coaxing them into becoming four cell types found in early human embryos. Think of it like making a cake with cells instead of flour and sugar. By mixing these cells in specific ratios, they created an artificial embryo without harming any eggs.

These artificial embryos grew to resemble 14-day-old embryos, which is the legal research limit in many countries. The detailed structure of these artificial embryos closely resembled real embryos, including features like the placenta-like trophoblast and nourishing cavities.

Reference: Oldak, B., Wildschutz, E., Bondarenko, V. et al. Complete human day 14 post-implantation embryo models from naïve ES cells. Nature (2023).(https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06604-5)

CDSCO issues advisory on fake cancer drug; urges doctors to be cautious

Concerning falsified versions of Adcetris Injection (Brentuximab Vedotin) manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has issued an advisory urging doctors and healthcare professionals to prescribe carefully and educate their patients to report any adverse drug reaction (ADR).

This advisory came in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) safety alert that identified multiple falsified versions of Adcetris Injection 50mg (Brentuximab Vedotin) manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in four different countries, including India.

For more details, check out the link given below:

CDSCO Raises Alert On Fake Lymphoma Drug Adcetris Injection Manufactured By Takeda Pharma

Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw appointed as member of Court of Regents at Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd. and Biocon Biologics Ltd., has been appointed as Regent of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSed), at a ceremony earlier this month.

On being appointed as the latest member to the College’s Court of Regents, Kiran Mazumdar- Shaw said, “I am humbled and deeply honoured to be appointed Regent of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. As the oldest surgical college in the world with just under 30,000 members in 100 countries, the RCSed has been championing the highest standards of surgical and dental practice by providing high quality medical education. I look forward to contributing to the College's mission and advancing the frontiers of surgical excellence."

For more details, check out the link given below:

Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Appointed As Member Of Court Of Regents At Royal College Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh