تولید داروی جدیدی برای ام .اس

محققان از موفقیت آزمایش های بالینی نوعی داروی جدید ام اس خبر دادند.

به گزارش شبکه خبر ، محققان در انگلیس اعلام کردند : آزمایش داروی (( فِرَم پیریدین )) در 250 بیمار مبتلا به ام اس موفقیت آمیز بوده است .

بررسی محققان نشان می دهد : استفاده از این دارو باعث می شود ، اختلالات حرکتی در این بیماران بهبود یابد.

این بیماری در پی تخریب غلاف رشته های عصبی و کاهش سرعت انتقال پیام در این رشته ها بروز می کند که اختلالات حسی و حرکتی در این بیماران را موجب می شود

کنترل و سرکوب بیماری ام اس

داروهای متداول مصرفی در ام اس : در درمان این بیماری از چند سری دارو استفاده می‌شود، اگر چه هنوز هیچ‌کدام موفق به درمان قطعی نشده‌اند، ولی در کُند کردن روند بیماری موثر بوده و به فرد مبتلا کمک می‌کند تا با علائم و مشکلات بیماری راحت‌تر کنار بیاید.
کورتیکواستروییدها و اینترفرون‌ها(بتااینترفرون) از جمله داروهایی هستند که در مراحل حاد بیماری و برای به تاخیر انداختن عود مجدد آن کاربرد دارند. در مراحل شدیدتر، گاهی از داروهای شیمی درمانی نیز استفاده می‌شود.

روش‌های درمانی مکمل : به غیر از دارو درمانی، از روش‌ها و راه کارهای دیگری نیز جهت کمک به درمان "ام اس" استفاده می‌شود. یکی از این روش‌ها فیزیوتراپی صحیح و موثر است که باید حتما توسط افراد متخصص در این زمینه، صورت گیرد تا عضلات بیمار مجددا توان و قدرت خود را مانند قبل از حمله و عود علائم بیماری به دست آورند.

 

از آنجایی که استرس‌ها و فشارهای عصبی در ایجاد و عود بیماری تاثیرگذار هستند، برای کنترل علائم و کمک به بهبود شرایط بیمار، استفاده از مشاوره‌های روان شناسی به جهت پیش‌گیری از افسردگی، اضطراب و سایر اختلالات روانی در افراد مبتلا، بسیار موثر می‌باشد.
کار درمانی یکی دیگر از روش‌های کمک‌کننده در بهبود وضعیت بیمار است. به وسیله کاردرمانی به بیمار آموزش داده می‌شود که علی‌رغم مشکلات و ناتوانی‌هایی ایجاد شده، بتواند تا حد ممکن کارهای روزمره خود را انجام دهد.

 

آیا پیروی از یک برنامه‌ غذایی مناسب و متعادل به کنترل علائم بیماری کمک می‌کند؟ در حال حاضر هیچ رژیم غذایی مشخص برای درمان "ام اس" وجود ندارد، ولی مسلما رعایت یک الگوی غذایی کامل و متعادل برای کمک به وضعیت این بیماران حائز اهمیت است. شواهد علمی موجود نشان می‌دهد که رادیکال‌های آزاد که در ایجاد بسیاری از بیماری‌ها(مانند بیماری‌های قلب و عروق، سرطان‌ها، دیابت و...) موثر هستند، در بروز این بیماری نیز بی‌تاثیر نمی‌باشند. به همین دلیل شاید دریافت آنتی اکسیدان‌ها با مقدار و دفعات مصرف مشخص، در کنترل علائم "ام اس" موثر باشد. آنتی اکسیدان‌ها مانند ویتامین‌های " ئی و سی " بتاکاروتن و ماده معدنی سلنیوم، مانند یک سپر دفاعی، بدن را تا حدود زیادی از حمله رادیکال‌های آزاد حفظ می‌کنند. دریافت این ترکیبات باید زیر نظر متخصصین صورت گیرد.
از آنجایی که علائم عصبی مربوط به کمبود ویتامین " بی دوازده " تا حدودی به علائم ام اس شبیه است (مانند سوزن سوزن شدن دست‌ها و پاها، عدم تعادل و خستگی مفرط)، محققین بر این تصور هستند که شاید کمبود این ویتامین نیز در تخریب غلاف میلین نقش داشته باشد. به همین سبب در بیماران مبتلا به ام اس بهتر است که ذخایر ویتامین " بی دوازده " بدن مورد بررسی قرار گیرد و در صورت لزوم از مکمل خوراکی یا تزریقی آن استفاده گردد. گاهی دریافت مکمل ویتامین‌های گروه " بی " (مانند " بی شش " نیاسین، تیامین و اسید فولیک) می‌تواند به فروکش کردن علائم بیماری کمک کند.
میزان انرژی مورد نیاز روزانه باید با توجه به شرایط و وضعیت بیمار، در نظر گرفته می شود تا موجب اضافه وزن و چاقی نشود. همچنین توصیه می‌شود که انرژی مورد نیاز، از مواد غذایی گروه‌های اصلی غذایی، تامین گردد.
الگوی چربی‌های مصرفی نیز در بیماران مبتلا به ام اس اهمیت دارد. مطالعات علمی نشان می‌دهند که کاهش دریافت چربی‌های اشباع(کمتر از ده درصد انرژی کل روزانه) و افزایش دریافت اسیدهای چرب ضروری موجود در ماهی‌های چرب یا روغن های گیاهی مانند سویا و کانولا، جوانه گندم ، گردو، روغن تخم کتان و یا استفاده از مکمل‌های آنها(مکمل‌های امگا- سه) در کاهش و پیشگیری از تشدید علائم بیماری موثر می‌باشد.

 

در این رابطه توصیه می‌شود که : مصرف انواع گوشت‌های چرب، کره، سس‌های چرب، لبنیات پرچربی، پنیر، روغن‌های نباتی جامد و... محدود گردد.
مصرف روغن زیتون ، روغن سویا ، کانولا، آفتاب گردان و سایر روغن‌های مایع غنی از اسیدهای چرب ضروری توصیه می‌شود.
استفاده از انواع مغزها(مانند گردو، فندق، بادام درختی و پسته) و دانه‌های روغنی(مانند کنجد، برزک، تخم کتان و...) به صورت تازه در برنامه غذایی این بیماران به جهت افزایش دریافت اسیدهای چرب ضروری، مفید می‌باشد. استفاده از انواع جوانه به ویژه جوانه یونجه(در زمان شروع جوانه زدن) مفید است. از انواع ماهی به ویژه ماهی ساردین، سالمون، ماهی تن و سایر ماهی‌های دارای چربی‌های امگا-3 به شکل پخته(غیر سرخ کرده) استفاده شود. مصرف انواع میوه و سبزی‌های تازه، غلات کامل و حبوبات ، هم برای تامین مواد مغذی مورد نیاز و هم به لحاظ دریافت کافی فیبر غذایی به جهت فعال کردن روده‌ها و کمک به اجابت مزاج ضروری است. نوشیدن آب کافی در طی روز برای پیشگیری از یبوست و کاهش خطر عفونت‌های مثانه در بیماران توصیه می‌شود. فقط به خاطر داشته باشیم که اغلب این بیماران کنترل ادرار ضعیفی دارند، بهتر است که مصرف آب مورد نیاز در طول روز تقسیم شده و پیش از خواب آب کمتری نوشیده شود.
با توجه به این که در این بیماران از داروهای کورتیکواستروییدی استفاده می‌شود، بهتر است که دریافت نمک کنترل شده باشد، برای بهبود طعم و مزه غذا می‌توان از سایر چاشنی‌ها مانند آب لیموترش استفاده کرد.
در شرایطی که بیمار مشکل بلع غذا داشته باشد، بهتر است که رژیم غذایی به شکل مایع غلیظ یا نرم آماده گردد. گاهی وجود حساسیت‌های غذایی در تشدید علائم بیماری موثر است. چنان چه در بیمار سابقه حساسیت‌های غذایی وجود دارد، برای پیشگیری از عود علائم "ام اس"، باید به کمک یک رژیم حذفی(مشابه کاری که در کنترل و درمان آلرژی‌های غذایی صورت می‌گیرد) مواد غذایی حساسیت‌زا شناسایی شده و از برنامه غذایی بیمار خارج گردد.
شکلات، قهوه، نوشابه، بادام‌زمینی، تخم‌مرغ، شیر، گوجه‌فرنگی، مخمر، نان گندم، مواد غذایی حاوی انواع افزودنی‌ها و رنگ‌های شیمیایی و... اغلب در افراد مستعد، حساسیت‌زا هستند. بهتر است که مصرف غذاهای بسیار شیرین، کیک‌ها و شیرینی‌های‌ تر، بیسکویت‌ها، آب‌نبات و شکلات محدود باشد.

 

 

نکاتی که باید بیمار مبتلا به ام اس به آن توجه کند
بیمار نباید دچار استرس، اضطراب، فشارهای روحی و جسمی باشد.
به وزن خود توجه کند و دچار اضافه وزن یا چاقی نشود.
بیمار می‌تواند یک پیاده روی یا نرمش سبک روزانه و یا شنا در آب به شکل ملایم داشته باشد، ولی دقت داشته باشد که ورزشی که باعث بالا رفتن دمای بدن شود و یا سونا ممنوع است.
حمام آب داغ برای بیمار مناسب نیست.
هر گونه کار یا فعالیتی که سبب بالا رفتن درجه حرارت بدن شود، هدایت عصبی را دچار اختلال می‌کند.
نوشیدن آب کافی(دو تا سه لیتر در روز) به بیماران توصیه می‌شود.
داشتن خواب آرام و کافی برای آن ها مفید است.
پیروی از برنامه غذایی مناسب و متعادل طبق موارد و توصیه‌های بیان شده در بالا ضروری است.
منیره دادخواه- کارشناس ارشد تغذیه - انستیتو تحقیقات تغذیه و صنایع غذایی کشور

Switchgrass: Finally a viable biofuel

Using switchgrass as a source of energy could take off, supporters say, if we stop thinking of it as a liquid-fuel replacement

By Jerry Langton CBC News

John Fike, a Virginia Tech researcher, combs through switchgrass at the school's agricultural center in Orange, Va. According to a five-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, switchgrass grown for biofuel delivered 540 per cent more energy than was needed to grow, harvest and process it. (The Washington Post, Tracy A. Woodward/AP) While the idea of using switchgrass as a biofuel has been around for a while, it really hasn't taken off. It still could, supporters say, if people would simply start using it the right way.

Switchgrass is a perennial grass native to much of the prairie. It grows extremely quickly, sometimes up to 2.2 metres tall. It grows on land not considered suitable for food crops, yielding about 15 to 20 tonnes per hectare. And, when dried, it burns very efficiently.

When the idea that this hardy, native plant could be a source of cellulose for biofuel emerged in the early 1990s, the media began to postulate that it wouldn't be long before Canadians would be relying on this former weed to solve their energy woes. No less an authority than David Suzuki wrote an essay called Fill 'Er Up With Switchgrass in which he indicated we'd all be filling our tanks with biofuel before long.

It was a ready-for-prime-time story: Here was a weed that grew in places not suitable for traditional food crops. It had already developed its own effective defences against insects — reducing the need for pesticides — as well as against drought, flood and poor soil. And it's a perennial, so you don't have to worry about planting it every year.

That switchgrass could be burned to make energy seemed like a modern-day miracle.

Reality check

Fast-forward to today, and not only aren't Canadians filling up with switchgrass biofuel, it's not even being cultivated in any large way.

About 40 farms in Canada dedicate a mere 600 hectares to switchgrass, using it mainly for livestock bedding, a base for growing mushrooms, or in low-quality fibreboard.

The biggest grower of switchgrass for fuel receives not a penny of federal funding. Roger Samson, executive director of Resource Efficient Agriculture Production Canada (REAP), a non-profit research organization, said it's as though switchgrass was relegated to the scrap heap as an energy source.

"The federal government doesn't seem to want anything to do with switchgrass," said Samson. "They're betting taxpayer money on other fuel sources."

The federal government has dedicated $2.2 billion to biofuel research, of which $500 million has been earmarked for "next-generation" projects. That $500 million is administered by Sustainable Technology Development Canada (STDC), a not-for-profit foundation.

"We look at the viability of any fuel source as far as supply," said Patrice Breton, the STDC's director of communications. "We want to get beyond the food-versus-fuel debate, and have looked at things like wheat sheaves, corn husks, wood chips and even garbage as a viable energy feedstock."

But none of the research money has yet been handed out for projects like this.

"We put out the criteria, people apply, we go out and kick the tires and, potentially, fund the project," he said. "We launched in the fall and have one application we are considering."

That application is from Iogen, an Ottawa-based company that makes cellulose ethanol from farm leftovers, while producing essential enzymes used in paper manufacture and animal feed.

"We had lots of very interesting conversations," said Breton. "But only one viable application so far."

Liquid or solid for gas?

The problem, Samson said, is that the federal government seems fixated on using liquid fuels for energy, and that's not good for switchgrass — at least with our current technology. Making any plant material like switchgrass into a liquid fuel is a complex and difficult process.

"It takes up as much energy as it produces," said Samson.

Researcher Steve Gulick harvests switchgrass at the Virginia Tech center in Orange, Va. Switchgrass is a perennial grass native to much of the Canadian prairie, it grows extremely quickly (sometimes up to 2.2 metres tall), and can be grown on land not considered suitable for food crops, yielding about 15 to 20 tonnes per hectare. (The Washington Post, Tracy A. Woodward/AP) University of Massachusetts-Amherst resea

rchers George Huber, Torren Carlson and Tushar Vispute have managed to transform switchgrass and poplar trees — another non-food plant Canada has plenty of — into high-grade gasoline (rather than ethanol). Even so, they admit that a viable application of their feat is still at least a decade away.

"The challenge for chemical engineers is to efficiently produce liquid fuels from biomass while fitting into the existing infrastructure today," said Huber.

Samson has a different idea. Instead of burning fossil fuels to make switchgrass into a liquid, why not just burn the switchgrass?

At REAP's farm and research facility in Ste-Anne-de-Belleville, Quebec, they cut the switchgrass down in November, just before it snows, then harvest it in April after the snow has melted away. The winter dries the plant enough so that it just has to be compressed into fuel pellets.

Samson doesn't expect people to fill their gas tanks with pellets, but that's not his point.

"The biggest user of energy — and the biggest contributor of greenhouses gasses to the environment — in this country isn't transportation, it's thermal," he said, and renewable solid fuels could be used instead of non-renewable liquid heating fuels and gas. "Heating our houses and institutions with pellets would reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in huge way."

According to a five-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540 per cent more energy than was needed to grow, harvest and process it.

"This clearly demonstrates that switchgrass is not only energy efficient, but can be used in a renewable biofuel economy to reduce reliance of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance rural economies," said Ken Vogel, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service geneticist.

REAP's pellets, which look like green charcoal briquettes, can be used in the same applications as coal or natural gas, according to Samson. And they yield seven times as much energy per hectare of land as corn does.

And switchgrass as a heating fuel can be cheaper than natural gas.

"If a final pelleted price of $150 a tonne is considered, switchgrass pellets as source of energy would cost in the range of $7 to $8 per gigajoule," said Glenn Friesen, business development specialist for Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. "If a comparison energy source of natural gas is priced at $17 per cubic metre, then it has been estimated that an average homeowner would recoup the costs of a pellet stove purchase in three to four years [based on pellet stove price of approximately $3,000]."

Electrifying possibilities

Since the pellets can be burned as fuel by existing infrastructure, such as coal-fired power plants, Samson said that the liquefaction problem for automobiles is moot — if people switch to electric cars.

"It can be burned in a power plant to make electricity," he said. "So why not use that electricity to power vehicles?"

It's a scenario he sees as beneficial not just for the air in Central Canada, but also for the economy.

"Look at Ontario, their economy is in recession and they are importing coal from the U.S. and natural gas from Western Canada to make energy," he said. "And now the federal government wants them to use ethanol — when Ontario is also a net importer of corn; it doesn't make sense."

'It [switchgrass] can grow on marginal farmland, unfit for food crops," Samson said. "So it wouldn't compete with them.'— REAP's Roger Samson

And the hardy plant could grow well in Ontario, where it occurs naturally in some places.

"It can grow on marginal farmland, unfit for food crops," Samson said. "So it wouldn't compete with them."

He adds that he's had success farming switchgrass and other hardy native grasses in many different types of conditions. "Soil that's too wet, soil that's too dry, soil on an incline — none have been a problem. I went down to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and saw some switchgrass that had been under water for more than 30 days — it was fine."

Despite all that it has going for it, Samson said that the federal government just isn't interested in switchgrass. He says he is still waiting for the government or STDC to recognize switchgrass as a solid fuel alternative.

Gary Kellar, spokesman for the federal Ministry of Energy, points out that conventional ethanol and biodiesel represent the first generation of biofuel. "We're big on the next generation of biofuels. Cellulosic ethanol - fuel made from farm products not used as food — is what we see as that next generation."

Samson and other switchgrass supporters agree - and they would like to see that approach put into action in Canada now.

"Instead of exploring alternatives, they [the Canadian government] are trying to pick winners," Samson said. "And if they are going with things like coal and corn ethanol, I think they're picking the wrong ones."

The Ethics of Biowarfare

Daniel Reyes

articlehighlights

Nations need to take preventative measures to curb the development and proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, such as:

• adopting a scientific code of ethics
• incorporating ethics into graduate science courses
• formulating accountability mechanisms for research
• raising academic, industry, and public awareness of ethical issues

Introduction: A Modern Day Trojan Horse

Although the envelope resembled a letter from a fourth grade student, the contents addressed to U.S. Senator Tom Daschle were life threatening. Laced within the envelope was a form of the bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis, bacteria more commonly known as anthrax. When exposed to humans, an anthrax infection leads to the release of toxins, which if not properly treated are fatal.¹ Around the same time of Senator Daschle’s threat, other cases of anthrax exposure were publicized. Through these events, the public was introduced to a new terror — chemical and biological weapons.

Some call such weaponry “the poor man’s atomic bomb” — its construction is cheaper and its effects are potentially as far-reaching and devastating. The ability to manufacture chemical or biological threats is relatively much easier and its availability more widespread that nuclear weapons. Because of this, many believe any future terrorist attacks might include biological/chemical weapons similar to anthrax. Though seemingly a new threat, similar weaponry has been the subject of debate for decades.

1) The organism, called _Bacillus Anthracis,_ is grown in the lab. 2) Removed from a nutrient-rich environment, the bacteria turns into spores, which naturally clump together. 3) Spores are purified, separated, and concentrated. 4) Spores are combined with fine dust particles to maintain separation and increase time they can suspend in the air. 5) The powdery mixture is put into an envelope. 6) When released into the air, a high concentration of spores can be drawn deep into the lungs. The spores return to their bacteria state and a rapidly developing anthrax infection releases deadly toxins. (cnn.com)

Biological/chemical weaponry overview

“Biological warfare is the intentional use of disease-causing microorganisms or other entities that can replicate themselves (e.g., viruses, infectious nucleic acids and prions) against humans, animals or plants for hostile purposes. It may also involve the use of toxins: poisonous substances produced by living organisms…plants…and animals. If they are utilized for warfare purpose, the synthetically manufactured counterparts of these toxins are biological weapons.”²

Delivery of such substances can be as easy as sending it via mail, as in the anthrax example, or as sophisticated as mounting a chemical warhead onto a missile. Other possible means of delivery include introducing a substance to a water supply or through air dispersal in the form of gas.

As far back as the 6th century BC, warring nations have been involved with the use of biological weaponry.³ Despite its long history, it is perhaps best to look at more recent events.

• With the better understanding of disease in the 20th century, various forms of chemical and biological weaponry emerged. For example, during World War I, poisonous gases were used⁴ in addition to anthrax applications by German operatives.²
• Even more recently, radical groups have implemented various chemical agents with the intent of mass destruction. For example, in addition to the anthrax threat, in March of 1995, a nerve gas called sarin was released in a subway system of Japan.⁵

In such cases, it is clear that the endangerment of human life is wrong. However, stopping such activity is becoming increasingly more difficult with the continued development of chemical and biological weaponry by rogue parties and states.

Legal Issues: The Chemical Weapons Convention

In 1992, in order to curb the proliferation of chemical and biological war agents, members of the United Nations agreed upon the text of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction — more simply, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It is, most simply put, an extension of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 (BTWC).

• The Geneva Protocol called for the prohibition of the use of chemical and biological weapons in war.⁶
• The BTWC outlawed biological and toxin weapons altogether and required their destruction.⁷
• What the CWC added was more specific information regarding actual chemicals as well as provisions for assistance if chemical weapons are used on a cooperating state.⁸

The CWC and like-minded protocols have given an outline for cooperating states to follow. However, it is difficult to contend with groups who do not adhere to the CWC. Because the development and use of biological weapons continue throughout rogue states, the question arises on how to deal with the situation. Under the guidelines of the CWC, cooperating nations such as the United States are not allowed to develop, produce, or use chemical weapons. As such, the use of weapons by a cooperating state should not be an issue. In order to deal with the possible use of toxins against a nation under the CWC, research for vaccines is allowed.

A Code of Ethics

Most people and nations agree that the use of biological or chemical weapons is unethical and morally wrong. So why are such weapons produced? One significant reason is that most biotechnology is dual-use, that is, it has both peaceful and harmful purposes. The same technology that gives us genetically engineered medicine can also give us military weapons.

A 2001 research study illustrates the dual-use dilemma:

In an effort to develop a contraceptive vaccine for purposes of pest control, scientists inadvertently created a potential bioweapon. Early this year, Australian researchers hypothesized that introducing a gene that creates large amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) into mice would stimulate antibodies against mouse eggs and render the animals infertile. IL-4 occurs naturally in the body, but an overabundance triggers an immune response. The researchers working on this study needed a vehicle to get the new gene incorporated into the mouse DNA. The scientists chose a benign mousepox virus as their vector and, to their surprise, the virus killed all of the mice in the study. IL-4 suppressed the immune system, making it unable to fight the mousepox virus. With no defensive launched by the immune system the virus was 100 percent lethal. The virus was significantly lethal even in mice vaccinated against this particular strain of mousepox. Mousepox is a virus equivalent to human smallpox. “It would be safe to assume that if some idiot did put human IL-4 into human smallpox they’d increase the lethality quite dramatically,” said Ronald J. Jackson in the Jan. 10, 2001 issue of theNew Scientist. Jackson is one of the researchers on the Australian study.⁹

When the conventions to ban such weapons were formulated, the world did not think these weapons had major military uses. Now, recent terrorist and scientific developments require stronger measures. For example:

Especially controversial is the Human Genome Diversity Project, begun in 1993 to study the genetic variation across different human populations. The project could contribute to the understanding of human genetics and the improvement of human health. However, some critics of the project fear the information may be used to create weapons to target a particular racial or ethnic group. Although many researchers conclude that ethnic biological warfare is not a practical possibility today, they nevertheless caution that it cannot be ruled out in the future.

• Weapons targeting specific varieties of plants and animals are a real possibility today. In regions where monoculture (large acreage of genetically-identical crops) is the norm, such weapons could destroy a nation’s agricultural output.

A code of ethics may prevent harmful applications of biotechnology.

One of the proposals put forth by some nations, including the U.S., is to institutionalize a code of ethics for scientists working with potentially dangerous pathogens and toxins. Scientists would be required to foresee potential dangerous applications of their work and to either discontinue the research or redirect their work. In 2002, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) conducted an online survey (English-only sites) of how many scientific organizations worldwide had a code of ethics. The Institute discovered a code of ethics for the following:¹⁰

• 11% of 71 international scientific organizations
• 12% of 267 national or regional scientific organizations

Ethics codes currently in existence are not well publicized.

Ethics is about recognizing that there are some things we cannot and will not support or do. Codes of ethics have been around for a long time in the sciences. Perhaps the best-known one is the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath, which states “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.” The Stimson Center, a security think-tank organization, offers some of the reasons why ethics codes in the sciences are not well established:¹¹

• codes are not particularly well publicized
• science students are not sufficiently educated in such codes at universities
• codes that are already in place vary in form from good to poor among scientific organizations

Another consideration for a code that prohibits scientists from working on dangerous substances with potential military applications — How can scientists know in advance the outcome of their experiments or all future applications of their work? Einstein had no idea that his work would lead to the atomic bomb.

In addition to ethical codes, there are other ways to increase ethical awareness:¹⁰

Education and resources in ethics are needed.

• inclusion of ethical content and decision-making instruction in scientific curricula
• online ethical resources
• ethical awareness campaigns conducted by professional science organizations
• workshops for industry, academia, and scientists on the interface between research and business ethics
• ongoing discussion in scientific journals and the mainstream press
• accountability mechanisms and public oversight of research
• provision of confidential ethical mentoring services
• protection for whistle-blowers

Conclusion

Stronger treaty guidelines and codes of ethics should be formulated.

With the current evolution of potential threats, the issue of biological and chemical weaponry is a very important one. Ethical issues regarding war in general are a paper in and of itself. The use of weapons comes down to whether or not it is morally acceptable and ethically responsible to do harm to another person. And essentially, the destruction of human life is unacceptable in most areas of the world. Just like nuclear weapons, the potential for mass destruction using biological/toxin weapons is too great a threat. The CWC is right in imposing its guidelines. However, because the threat of biotechnological attacks exist, it is also important to develop and implement a global scientific code of conduct to curb the proliferation of such weaponry.

In conclusion: Education is the key to raise the ethical consciousness of bioscientists.

One organization, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), believes that the education of young scientists is an important step in the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. FAS would like to see first-year science graduate students taking at least one course on the essentials of treaties, laws, regulations, and other programs designed to control biological warfare. This, FAS believes, would “raise the ethical consciousness of bioscientists, increase their awareness of the potential for hostile or dangerous exploitation of biotechnology, and persuade them of their responsibility to take action whenever possible to prevent it.”¹²

Calcutta University to roll out biotechnology course

Calcutta University (CU) is set to introduce a five-year undergraduate course in biotechnology, possibly from this academic year.

Only St Xavier’s College, an autonomous institution, now offers a five-year undergraduate course in the subject in Calcutta.

“The demand for biotechnology courses is increasing by the year. We will soon identify the colleges where an undergraduate course in the subject can be started, preferably from this year,” said CU vice-chancellor Suranjan Das.

CU’s science faculty council will meet next week to finalise the criteria that a college needs to fulfil to start the course.

The colleges that have the required infrastructure can apply for approval to start the course. The university will then send inspection teams to the colleges. “Based on the inspection report, we will decide whether a college can be allowed to start the course,” said an official.

“A college lacking in infrastructure cannot run a fullfledged biotechnology course, which calls for an in-depth study of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biological sciences. Hence, the stress on infrastructure,” said vice-chancellor Das.

Biotechnology has emerged as one of the most sought-after subjects as it offers a wide range of job opportunities in India and abroad.

Since there was no scope for studying the subject in Calcutta, students used to flock to cities outside the state where three-year undergraduate courses in biotechnology were started in 2001.

To stop the braindrain, CU had decided to a introduce a five-year undergraduate course in the subject. The approval from the University Grants Commission came in 2005 and St Xavier’s was the only college that introduced the course.

But the college has since been declared an autonomous institution and is no longer a CU affiliate.

CU pro vice-chancellor (academic) Dhrubojyoti Chattopadhyay ruled out introducing a three-year course in biotechnology, as that would not be in conformity with the state government’s policy.

A government panel on biotechnology education has stated that a three-year course would not do justice to the subject, which includes “exhaustive study” of all science disciplines.

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Given Imaging

Given Imaging to Present at the Needham & Company, LLC Biotechnology and Medical Technology Conference

Given Imaging (NASDAQ: GIVN) today announced that Homi Shamir, President and CEO, will present at the Seventh Annual Needham & Company, LLC Biotechnology and Medical Technology Conference taking place June 11-12, 2008 in New York, NY. Mr. Shamir's presentation is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at 1:00 pm ET.

To access a live webcast of this presentation, visit www.givenimaging.com and click 'About Given Imaging.' The webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section. A replay will be available for two weeks at the above-referenced website.

About Given Imaging Ltd.

Given Imaging is redefining gastrointestinal diagnosis by developing, producing and marketing innovative, patient-friendly products for detecting gastrointestinal disorders. The company's technology platform is the PillCam® Platform, featuring the PillCam video capsule, a disposable, miniature video camera contained in a capsule, which is ingested by the patient, a sensor array, data recorder and RAPID® software. Given Imaging has a number of available capsules: the PillCam SB video capsule to visualize the entire small intestine which is currently marketed in the United States and in more than 60 other countries; the PillCam ESO video capsule to visualize the esophagus; the Agile(TM) patency capsule to determine the free passage of the PillCam capsule in the GI tract and the PillCam COLON video capsule to visualize the colon that has been cleared for marketing in the European Union. PillCam COLON has received a CE Mark, but is not cleared for marketing or available for commercial distribution in the USA. More than 700,000 patients worldwide have benefited from the PillCam capsule endoscopy procedure. Given Imaging's headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are located in Yoqneam, Israel. It has operating subsidiary companies in the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Singapore. Given Imaging's largest shareholders include Elron Electronic Industries (NASDAQ & TASE: ELRN). For more information, visit http://www.givenimaging.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections about our business and our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) satisfactory results of clinical trials with PillCam COLON (2) our ability to receive regulatory clearance or approval to market our products or changes in regulatory environment, (3) our success in implementing our sales, marketing and manufacturing plans, (4) protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights, (5) the impact of currency exchange rates, (6) the effect of competition by other companies, (7) the outcome of future litigation, including patent litigation with Olympus Corporation, (8) our ability to obtain reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors, (9) quarterly variations in operating results, (10) the possibility of armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, and (11) other risks and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, risks and factors identified under such headings as "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Operating Results and Financial Review and Prospects" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for the Company's ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the applicable securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For further information contact:
Fern Lazar
Email Contact
David Carey
Email Contact
Lazar Partners Ltd.
1-866-GIVEN-IR