Author: xaurav

Drugs lose effectiveness in space

Astronauts in spaceDrugs were tested by being sent into space for varying lengths of time
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Astronauts on long space missions may not be able to take paracetamol to treat a headache or antibiotics to fight infection, a study has found.

Scientists at the Johnson Space Centre have shown that the effectiveness of drugs declines more rapidly in space.

Continuous doses of radiation onboard spacecraft may be to blame, according to the study published in the AAPS Journal.

The authors said longer missions have increased the need for drugs in space.

On Earth, medication is typically designed to be stored for a couple years from the manufacture date. They normally need to be kept in precise conditions, such as away from direct sunlight or in a cool, dry space.

“A number of formulations tested had a lower potency after storage in space”

Johnson Space Centre report

The research team investigated whether the unique environment of space – including radiation, excessive vibrations, microgravity, a carbon dioxide rich environment and variations in humidity and temperature – affected drugs’ effectiveness.

Four boxes of drugs, containing 35 different medications, were flown to the International Space Station.

Four identical boxes were kept in controlled conditions at the Johnson Space Centre.

The boxes came back to Earth after varying lengths of time in space. One was there for just 13 days, whereas another spent 28 months on the space station.

The study concluded: “A number of formulations tested had a lower potency after storage in space with consistently higher numbers of formulations failing United States Pharmacopeia potency requirement after each storage period interval in space than on Earth.

“This reduction in potency of flight samples occurred sooner than the labelled expiration date for many formulations suggesting that storage conditions unique to the spacecraft environment may influence stability of pharmaceuticals in space”.

Dr Colin Cable, science information adviser at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “On Earth, medicines are tested to assess the effects of, for example, temperature, moisture, oxygen and light, and are packaged and stored to ensure they remain stable and effective over their shelf life.

“Repackaging of medicines into containers that do not give the medicines the protection required to moisture, oxygen and light can have a detrimental effect on their stability.”

He added that radiation was known to affect medicines, depending on the dose used.

“One potential benefit of keeping medicines in a Space Station is that the medicines will be exposed to a carbon dioxide-rich environment, this may help minimise the degradation of those medicines prone to oxidation, such as adrenaline, vitamin C and vitamin A.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Ivorian party urges ‘end to war’

Pro-Ouattara soldiers patrol Abidjan, 15 AprilHeavily armed pro-Ouattara soldiers have been patrolling Abidjan

The party of deposed Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo, the Ivorian Popular Front, has appealed for an end to fighting by armed groups.

Party leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan said the “war” had to end in order to allow Ivory Coast a chance to rebuild.

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, who won November’s presidential election, captured Mr Gbagbo this week.

Shooting erupted on Saturday morning outside the main city, Abidjan, between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters.

Pro-Gbagbo fighters had sought refuge in the sprawling Yopougon neighbourhood and pro-Ouattara fighters were trying to disarm them, local residents said.

Fears of reprisals among Gbagbo supporters have been stoked by reports of atrocities committed in the days before pro-Ouattara forces advanced on Abidjan.

At least 1,500 people have been killed in violence since the election while a further million have been forced from their homes in the west African state, which was once seen as a model of development for Africa.

“In many places, some of our compatriots are still fighting,” said Mr Affi N’Guessan, reading out a statement to the nation, at the Abidjan hotel used as President Ouattara’s headquarters.

“The FPI [Ivorian Popular Front] is devastated by the chaotic situation and presents its sympathies to the families of all those who have died.”

Standing alongside former Foreign Minister Alcide Djedje, he called for a halt to “the escalation of violence”.

“In the name of peace, let us end the war,” he said. “Let us put an end to all forms of belligerence and confrontation. We must give our country the chance for restoration and reconstruction.”

International journalists initially were prevented from hearing the FPI leader’s declaration by a pro-Ouattara military officer, an Associated Press news agency correspondent reports.

Only Mr Ouattara’s Ivorian Radio and Television, known by its French acronym RTI, was first allowed to film the declaration.

However, after journalists telephoned ministers in Mr Ouattara’s cabinet complaining, they were allowed to record separately Mr Affi N’Guessan’s statement.

Mr Affi N’Guessan is a former prime minister in the Gbagbo government and was seen as a hardliner, so his appeal reflects an acceptance that the struggle for power has been lost, and a feeling that Ivorians now need to get on with restoring normal life, the BBC’s John James reports from Abidjan.

The call coincided with the release this weekend of around 70 prisoners held by the Ouattara government – mainly members of Laurent Gbagbo’s family and household staff who were arrested when the presidential residence was stormed.

The Ouattara government has told civil servants to return to work from Monday morning, though most have not received their salaries for several months and the banks remain closed.

Many moderate members of Mr Gbagbo’s government have now pledged allegiance to President Ouattara, whose victory was recognised by the UN.

The former president is believed to be living under UN protection in a town in northern Ivory Coast, where Mr Ouattara has his power base.

Mr Ouattara has said he wants his predecessor tried by both national and international courts for alleged crimes.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has said it is conducting a preliminary examination into crimes perpetrated by all sides in the conflict.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Prayers for gun death teenagers

Sophie Taylor and Calum MurraySophie Taylor and Calum Murray were both popular in the local community
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Prayers are to be said for the two teenagers who died in a shooting tragedy and their families.

Sophie Taylor, 16, and her 18-year-old boyfriend Calum Murray died at a cottage near Tomintoul on Tuesday.

It is understood the trainee gamekeeper was cleaning a legally-held gun when he accidentally shot his girlfriend – and then turned it on himself.

They will be remembered in services at local churches on Sunday, ahead of a special school assembly on Monday.

The Reverend Sven Bjarnason will lead the assembly at Speyside High School in Aberlour, where Sophie was a pupil.

He told the BBC Scotland News Website it would offer classmates and the community a chance to “come together and reflect”.

Pupils will also be offered counselling either one-to-one or in groups.

Sophie’s family said they had been left “completely shocked” by the death of their “beautiful” daughter.

And Mr Murray’s family said he would be “treasured forever”.

It is understood Sophie and a friend were cooking dinner for Mr Murray and another friend when the tragedy happened.

It is believed Mr Murray was cleaning a shotgun when it went off and killed Sophie.

Family friend Dru McPherson told BBC Scotland it appeared Mr Murray, who he presumed would be in a “state of shock”, ran from the cottage pursued by the others and shot himself.

Police have said they are not looking for anyone else over the deaths.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

CO poison deaths ‘underestimated’

Adrian GoldbergBy Adrian Goldberg

Elisabeth GiauqueElisabeth Giauque died after less than three hours’ exposure to the gas
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The number of deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning could be significantly higher than official figures show, the BBC has been told.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show reported deaths to be lower than a decade ago.

But research suggests many cases are missed because medical staff do not routinely test for the poisoning.

The HSE said it accepted there was underreporting in all health and safety matters.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless poisonous gas which is produced when fuel does not burn properly.

It leaks from boilers, gas appliances or flues that have not been properly installed or maintained.

According to the HSE, four people died and 117 fell ill as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning at home in the year to June 2010.

Seventeen people died and 86 became ill the previous year.

But 5 live Investigates has seen research (pdf) by the Gas Safety Trust charity, which suggests the true figure may be much higher.

As part of the study, the charity looked at a pilot involving ambulance crews in London who were sent out with five carbon monoxide testing kits over a year-long period.

They identified 83 people suffering from poisoning in London alone – almost as many as the official figures for the whole of the UK in 2008-09.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide gas molecules

HeadachesBreathlessnessNauseaDizzinessCollapseLoss of consciousnessTirednessVomiting

Source: Health and Safety Executive

Find out more from the NHS website

Paramedic Andy Humber, who co-ordinated the pilot, said: “We were shocked by the numbers.

“We used two types of testing devices, one used on the pulse and one to test levels of carbon monoxide in the breath.

The pilot has now been extended to teams in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, and the charity says that if the London results were replicated across the country, the official figures would “skyrocket”.

The trust believes cases are being missed because of a lack of awareness and because pathologists in the UK do not routinely check for carbon monoxide poisoning following every death.

It added: “Overseas research suggests the gaps in our knowledge could be masking significant numbers of carbon monoxide poisoning incidents.”

In a statement the HSE told 5 live that “there is a legal requirement to report carbon monoxide poisonings, and while we have confidence in the reports we receive, we accept there will always be a possibility of misdiagnosis”.

A spokesman said the organisation also accepted there was under-reporting of health and safety incidents across all sectors.

Nicolas Giauque’s six-year-old daughter Elisabeth died after a faulty boiler at the family’s rented home in London leaked out lethal levels of toxic fumes.

Doctors initially thought the little girl was suffering from meningitis.

Mr Giauque said: “Elisabeth was a wonderful little girl.

Robert Schenker and Vikki CourtmanVikki Courtman with her boyfriend Robert Schenker, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning

“A couple of hours after she had gone to bed I found her unconscious by the side of her bed. There was no smell, no sign of anything untoward.”

He said it took several days to diagnose the carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It’s a silent killer. You can’t smell it, you can’t feel, it you can’t see it,” he said.

“The second problem is that it has a short life in the blood. The hospital took blood tests as she arrived, but were not looking for carbon monoxide poisoning so didn’t notice the elevated level in her blood at that time.

“When they took further blood tests just a few hours later, you can’t see it in the blood anymore but it’s still in the brain doing damage.”

An investigation later discovered that the levels of carbon monoxide in Elisabeth’s blood were so high that even if she had been correctly diagnosed at the outset, she could not have been saved.

Vikki Courtman’s 31-year-old boyfriend Robert Schenker died from carbon monoxide when the flue became blocked at his home in Peterborough.

Ms Courtman, 35, said: “It took the police and the scientific people three months to find out it was carbon monoxide poisoning.

“They didn’t test for it straight away. It’s never at the forefront of people’s minds when something like this happens.”

Find out more

Hear the full report on 5 live Investigates, on Sunday 17 April at 2100 BST on BBC Radio 5 live.

Listen to the 5 live Investigates podcast Post comments on Facebook Send comments via Twitter

Concerns about misdiagnosis have been expressed by the chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, who sent a circular (pdf) to health professionals in November 2010 warning poisoning was “almost certainly under-diagnosed” and urging “increased vigilance”.

In a statement she told 5 live Investigates that recognising CO poisoning was not easy because the symptoms were similar to many other conditions.

She said the Department of Health was working to get better estimates of the number of non-fatal poisonings.

Landlords are required by law to have appliances inspected annually by a qualified engineer, but it is down to the tenant to check the tests have been done.

In many types of private rented accommodation, no statutory body will carry out checks unless a complaint is made or an incident is reported.

Campaigners say the law should be strengthened to include a service of the appliances, as well as a check.

They also want landlords to be forced to fit carbon monoxide detectors in properties.

You can hear the full report on 5 live Investigates on Sunday 17 April at 2100 BST on BBC Radio 5 live. You can also listen again on the BBC iPlayer or by downloading the 5 live Investigates podcast.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Burkina Faso capital under curfew

Smoke billows over Ouagadougou after traders riot in the Burkina Faso capital, 16 AprilKey sites in the capital were targeted by rioting traders on Saturday
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Authorities in the west African state of Burkina Faso have placed the capital Ouagadougou under curfew as unrest continues after a mutiny in the army.

Restrictions on movement were being imposed between 1900 (1900 GMT) and 0600, starting on Saturday, the security ministry said.

Market traders set the ruling party’s headquarters on fire earlier in protest at looting by mutineers.

President Blaise Compaore sacked his government after the mutiny.

He also named a new army chief and fired the head of his presidential guard, the elite unit involved in the revolt, which reportedly began over unpaid housing allowances.

While the mutiny appears to have died down after promises to pay the outstanding monies, Mr Compaore, a former coup leader in power since 1987, faces wider public unrest over food prices.

The struggling country of 16.3 million has also been affected by turmoil in its richer neighbour, Ivory Coast.

On the day the curfew was announced, the former colonial ruler, France, warned its citizens not to travel to the country.

“We are angry at the soldiers who have looted our stores, and also at the government that is doing nothing to stop the looting”

Abdoulaye Mobile phone vendor in Ouagadougou

“The situation in Burkina Faso, especially Ouagadougou, is currently marked by tension due to the soldiers’ protest,” the foreign ministry said, adding that travellers also faced an increased risk of highway robbery and kidnapping.

Forty-five people have been taken to hospital with injuries, some from bullets, and there have been a number of cases of rape, a source at the main hospital in Ouagadougou told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

As well as setting the ruling party’s HQ alight, traders attacked the National Assembly, the trade ministry and other public buildings in Ouagadougou, setting vehicles on fire.

“We are angry at the soldiers who have looted our stores, and also at the government that is doing nothing to stop the looting,” Abdoulaye, a mobile phone vendor who declined to give his second name, told Reuters news agency.

“Among us are people who have lost everything… and do not even know yet whether they will be reimbursed. We’re fed up.”

Another protester said the president was “solely responsible” for the unrest.

“He trained his guards and they pillage us,” Oumarou Belem told AFP, urging Mr Compaore to “leave power to those who can manage”.

On Thursday, hours before the mutiny, thousands of people staged a protest against the high cost of living in one of the biggest rallies seen for many years in Ouagadougou.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Ten die in Afghan army base bomb

Afghan National Army soldiers at the site of a recent attack (7 April 2011)The Afghan National Army is a frequent target for insurgent attacks

Five foreign and four Afghan troops have died in an attack in eastern Afghanistan, officials say.

A Taliban suicide bomber wearing a military uniform hit an Afghan army base near the city of Jalalabad, the Afghan defence ministry said.

Coalition officials said five foreign troops died but gave no more details. Four Afghan soldiers and four translators were said to be injured.

The attack was one of the deadliest in months against foreign troops.

Coalition officials in Afghanistan confirmed that foreign troops had died on Saturday but did not specify the nationalities of those killed.

“Five International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today,” a statement said.

The attack was the third in four days blamed on Taliban rebels.

The first killed a tribal elder closely connected to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while on Friday the police chief of the southern province of Kandahar was killed.

In the two most recent incidents, the attacker was wearing an Afghan military uniform.

The Afghan National Army and Afghan police are two of the key institutions preparing to take over responsibility for security from international troops, the BBC’s Bilal Sarwary reports from Kabul.

The Taliban are now deliberately targeting the army and police in an effort to undermine people’s confidence in them and to stop Afghans enlisting in the security forces, he adds.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Pakistani PM meets Hamid Karzai

Yousuf Raza Gilani during a welcome ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan on April 5, 2011Mr Gilani is travelling with two other high-ranking Pakistani officials

Pakistani Prime Minsiter Yousuf Raza Gilani has travelled to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other government officials.

Mr Gilani is joined by his armed forces chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and the head of the intelligence agency, Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

The leaders discussed the Taliban conflict and regional security, as well as trade issues.

Mr Gilani made his first visit to Afghanistan in December 2010.

Correspondents say it is unusual for such high-ranking figures to make the visit together.

The talks are about forging a new chapter in Afghan-Pakistan relations after years of tension, says the BBC’s Jill McGivering.

They also come at a time when US relations with both nations are deeply strained.

Before leaving for Kabul, Mr Gilani told reporters in Pakistan that he was taking a “message of love for the Afghan people” and would extend complete support to his country’s neighbour.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Royal succession reform discussed

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave the wedding of their friends Harry Mead and Rosie Bradford, October 2010Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married in Westminster Abbey on 29 April
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The government is consulting Commonwealth countries about changing the laws on royal succession, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said.

At present, the law of primogeniture means male heirs accede to the throne before any older sisters.

Mr Clegg, who is responsible for constitutional reform, told the BBC the issue would “require careful thought”.

But he said both he and David Cameron were “sympathetic” to changing rules which seemed “a little old fashioned”.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Clegg said: “Prince William and Catherine Middleton might have a baby daughter for instance as their first child, I think most people in this day and age would think it’s worth considering whether we change the rules so that that baby girl then could become the future monarch.

“I think that would be in keeping with the changes that happen in society as a whole.”

But he said it was not a “straightforward” process because the decision would have to be approved by all Commonwealth countries.

“It’s something that affects other countries – New Zealand, Canada, Australia and so on – and we’re having consultations at official level with those governments,” he said.

“My own personal view is that in this day and age the idea that only a man should ascend to the throne I think would strike most people as a little old-fashioned.

“I think it is worth thinking about, I think it is worth talking about. It is worth looking at what other countries that would be affected also feel on the subject,” he added.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said it was a matter for the government and would not comment.

The 1701 Act of Settlement which gives precedence to male heirs in the succession also bars any Catholic or anyone married to a Catholic from ascending the throne.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Egypt dissolves Mubarak’s party

Defaced poster showing NPD members, 1 April 2011Egyptian protesters have made clear their anger at the National Democratic Party

An Egyptian court has ordered that the former ruling party of ousted President Hosni Mubarak should be dissolved.

All assets of the National Democratic Party will be seized and handed to the government, the supreme administrative court ruled.

Mr Mubarak is under detention in hospital awaiting questioning on corruption allegations.

His two sons and a growing number of ministers from his ruling era are also facing investigation.

Mr Mubarak stood down in February after a popular uprising against his 30-year rule.

The dissolution of his party has been a key demand of the protesters who drove him from power. Its offices were among the buildings targeted during the uprising.

The NDP had dominated the country’s politics since it was set up by Mr Mubarak’s predecessor, Anwar Sadat, in 1978.

Details of the court ruling were not immediately available.

Mr Mubarak is said to be in an “unstable condition” in hospital with heart problems. He has been ordered to be detained for 15 days.

He and his sons have been banned from leaving the country and their assets frozen.

In a pre-recorded audio message released on Sunday, Mr Mubarak said he would work to clear the names of himself and his sons.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.