Boston (PRWEB) December 6, 2007

A gene related to rapid replication and lethality has been found to be present in, and to contain some identical protein sequences in, tobacco mosaic virus and non-small cell lung cancer. The early detection diagnostic test for cancer, the AMAS® test, appears to measure this gene’s activity.

This is the first of a series of reports on the use of a new methodology to isolate ‘in silico’ and track specific gene activity in normal and several disease states.

This newly identified gene has been named the Replikin Peak Gene (RPG). “Replikins”TM are a class of proteins containing high concentrations of amino acids lysine and histidine that have been previously determined to be related to rapid replication and virulence. Using proprietary computer algorithms constructed to identify, count and track historically this class of proteins, replikins have now been analyzed in 130,488 protein and genome sequences. These include all the accession numbers for common strains of influenza and other lethal virus isolations published between 1917 and 2007 in the PubMed repository. Replikins have been found to be concentrated in specific genomic areas. The area of each genome with the highest concentration of continuous replikin peptides has been isolated in silico and named a Replikin Peak Gene (RPG).

Specific RPGs have been identified and quantified in infectious organisms including viruses, bacteria and trypanosomes (malaria). ‘Upregulation’ of the Replikin Peak Gene is evidenced by an increase in the replikin count in the RPG, that is, in the number of replikins per 100 amino acids. For example, in the case of influenza B, which has not to date been lethal, a low replikin count (less than 4) always occurred in influenza B RPGs between 1940 and 2006; and in quiescent periods of influenza A. In contrast, the replikin counts in lethal influenza A virus RPGs increased to over 20, from as much as one to three years before and during outbreaks. Strain-specific increases in replikin count have appeared in relation to the major influenza pandemics and epidemics, after years of constant low stable counts. Furthermore, a high replikin count of the RPG of an organism has been shown to be associated consistently with a higher percent lethality in the host. The increase in count was frequently detected one year or more before the outbreak was clinically apparent. The ability to identify, count and track replikins in the genomic structure of an emerging organism has been shown to be accurately predictive in advance warning of H5N1 outbreaks, and may have value in the management of influenza epidemics.

The highest replikin count of the RPG found in any organism studied to date is in lethal non-small cell lung cancer. The highest AMAS test results found to date also are in lung cancer. Tobacco mosaic virus has some sequences in its RPG that are identical to those in the RPG in non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Two structural studies have suggested mobility and inter-organism transfer of replikins associated with lethality.

Replikins have been chemically synthesized and were found experimentally to be immunostimulants, producing strong antibody responses in animals. Synthetic cancer replikins administered to animals produce antibodies that can be measured by the AMAS cancer test. The AMAS test’s results are evidently related to the rate of replication in the cancer. In short, the AMAS test measures the activity of the replikins that are unique to cancers, whose concentration is related to lethality.

High replikin counts are present in a wide range of lethal diseases. The structural and functional relationship found between the replikin peak genes of the tobacco mosaic virus and non-small cell lung cancer is one illustration of the relationship between replikin count, rapid replication and virulence. Possible implications of these findings of the same replikin structures and functions in tobacco mosaic virus and lung cancer are under further study.

Detailed data on these studies are the subject of issued and pending published patents and are being presented today at a seminar in New York by Samuel Bogoch, M.D., Ph.D.

FluForecast® and ReplikinForecastTM are products of Replikins,LLC. The AMAS test is a product of Oncolab, Inc.

http://www.oncolabinc.com

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Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 29, 2009

Today, The Emergency Preparedness Institute, Inc. announced a detailed list of simple actions every person needs to follow both at home and at work to minimize swine flu exposure. In addition, the Institute also has provided a list of preventative measures for businesses to undertake to be prepared for a swine flu pandemic.

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, the Center for Disease Control and the White House declared a public health emergency concerning swine flu, advising Americans to be prepared for extensive outbreaks of the illness. Although only a small number of cases had been definitely confirmed at that time, the expectation is that additional and more severe cases would be seen in this country.

Reassuring people that this was a precautionary measure and not reason for panic, the government emphasized that there were steps that everyone should take to avoid the spread of the disease.

“Information and prudent actions are the best defense against getting sick,” says Norris Beren, Institute Director. “People tend to “hear” and “read” but not always listen to the message and take the necessary and very simple actions,” Beren says. “The more people that do the right things, the more people are helped. This is not like preparing for a hurricane or tornado.”

About Emergency Preparedness Institute

The Emergency Preparedness Institute (EPI) was formed in 2001 in response to increasing evidence that the nature and frequency of potential disasters had changed. EPI was founded on the belief that traditional thinking about emergency preparedness, emergency management and disaster recovery may be ill adapted to the new realities.

Believing that these new realities demand new strategies, EPI’s mission is to explore, uncover and spread the most effective “emerging” strategies and practices for saving lives and property during an emergency or disaster. Beyond simply collecting and disseminating the current “best practices” of the industry, EPI is vigorously engaged in discovering the “next” practices that will advance the discipline of emergency management in communities, businesses, and families. The Institute is located in Mt Prospect, Illinois.

For more information or a copy of these tips contact Sara Bylak at info (at) getprepared (dot) org

Tips for Safety from Swine Flu Illness

Personal Actions:

    Know symptoms of various types of illnesses, such as flu, cold, etc.
    Contact medical doctor immediately upon onset of symptoms
    Stay informed about flu outbreaks, get news alerts on line, listen, read or watch news reports
    Exercise careful hand hygiene.
    Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled.
    Cover your cough. People who are coughing should be encouraged to contain their coughs by use of disposable tissues.
    A surgical mask can reduce the number of droplets coughed into the air. Ask a sick person to wear a mask if one is available provided the person can tolerate it
    Avoid traveling when ill
    If possible, avoid going to work or school or other public places while ill
    Raw food always should be handled hygienically. All utensils and surfaces (including hands) that come in contact with raw food, especially poultry, should be cleaned carefully immediately with water and soap
    For travelers, assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be sure to include a thermometer and alcohol-based hand rub for hand hygiene

Businesses:

    Provide flu shots if possible to employees, if appropriate and recommended by public health authorities
    Provide disease control information in paycheck stuffers and posters for employees
    Teach employees how to reduce their risks of illness by proper preparedness and safe methods of careful hand hygiene as described above
    Develop backup preparedness plans, build inventory, cross-train employees and utilize other strategies to continue to function the business when large numbers of employees are out sick at the same time
    Provide adequate supplies of facial tissues and receptacles for disposal
    Sanitize restroom facilities, eating facilities and work areas where appropriate. Keep the workplace safe and prepared for a high incidence of germs and contamination by stressing sanitation
    Provide individualized personal equipment when appropriate such as ear pieces and head sets for phones, welding masks, goggles, and provide alcohol wipes for equipment used by more than one person, such as handsets for phones, head gear, etc.
    Coach employees who travel, especially on airplanes, about hygiene, air quality issues and prophylactic needs, such as face masks, alcohol wipes, medication, and other doctor recommended needs
    Have plans for temporary workers as needed
    Prepare for loss of basic services such health care, law enforcement, emergency response, communications, transportation and utilities
    Have contingency plans for vendors, suppliers, professional staff and customers who cannot respond to your needs or accept your products or services
    Provide maximum air quality safety procedures in the workplace
    Revisit sick day policies to avoid people reporting for work who should not because of illness
    Encourage employees to wear disposable gloves or face masks if appropriate for their job function -e.g. food handling, medical workers, personal care employees, etc.
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Bird Flu Protection And The Measures Taken To Safeguard Ourselves

Bird flu is caused by the influenza A type of virus which is hosted by birds and some animal species like pigs, horses, etc. and just like any other influenza virus it propagates via air, water, direct contact, body fluids and excreta. With the flu virus being airborne, the contamination in air could be reasonably high during epidemics and/or pandemic outbreak. Infected people carry the flu virus with them wherever they travel and spread it in the air and on objects they touch via their nasal secretions and bodily discharges. This makes such diseases like human influenza and bird flu contagious.

The preventive measures include combinations of various partly effective methods like vaccination, immunization, isolation, mass killing (when poultry birds get infected), and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

One such PPE device is a mask worn by people living or working in contaminated environments. Nose and mouth respirators or ‘Masks’ contain filters which keep out microscopic viruses of sizes as low as 0.3 microns. Typically the droplets containing the flu virus in a human sneeze, cough or spit are 0.5 micron wide and are difficult to filter using conventional (surgical) masks.

Usage of procedural and surgical masks has been widespread for curtailing the spread of common respiratory diseases. Recently they were used by personnel involved in controlling SARS. However, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there have been no scientific studies which unquestionably establish masks as 100% effective in preventing the spread of the flu virus.

The masks that are recommended for especially bird flu are N-95, NIOSH approved ones which are capable of filtering out 95% of 0.3 micron wide flu viruses. WHO recommends strictly using these masks when in the vicinity (within 3 feet) of a potentially infected person. Also the masks should be disposed off, after one single use. Another set of very powerful, protective masks are Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). These are used by persons who cannot wear N-95 masks, like people with facial hair.

There is more to mask usage than just filtering out viruses. Masks can also help in many indirect ways apart from blocking flu viruses directly, however we must bear in mind an unfortunate fact that no mask is a guarantee against protecting its user from the viruses. It’s just that they dramatically cut down the probability of infection. There is no single way of preventing bird flu until a generic vaccine is developed. Until then we’ll have to rely on a combination of various measures to keep ourselves safe.

Swine flu is a very real threat to the world ? only urgent measures can help contain it

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease found in pigs. It is caused by one of the swine influenza A viruses. Swine flu results in high morbidity and low mortality of about 1-4%. Amongst the pigs themselves, the virus spreads through aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and through asymptomatic carrier pigs. Although the pigs are prone to regular infections, incidences increase in the fall and winter months in the temperate zones. Therefore, pigs are routinely vaccinated against swine influenza in many countries.

Swine influenza viruses though commonly belong to the H1N1 subtype, other subtypes like H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 are also known to be circulating in pigs. Pigs, on the other hand, are more susceptible to being infected with avian influenza viruses, human seasonal influenza viruses and swine influenza viruses, allowing the genes from the viruses to mix and result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources; this is called a “reassortant” virus. Although swine influenza viruses are species specific, they can in extreme conditions make a crossover to cause disease in humans.

How is swine flu diagnosed?

When a person is under the weather, many symptoms may be present. However, symptoms of swine flu are very similar to normal cold and flu symptoms, and may include:

Headache Fever Cough Appetite loss Fatigue Sore throat Runny nose Chills Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea

Fatigue, appetite loss and diarrhea can be dangerous. If the symptoms are persistent, it becomes imperative that you see a doctor. In order to diagnose your illness, the doctor may order:

Chest x-rays Respiratory specimen Blood work

To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen must be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of the onset of the illness as this is the time when the infected person is most likely to be shedding virus; however, children especially, may be shedding the virus for 7 days or longer. In order to identify the swine influenza A virus, the specimen must be sent to the CDC for laboratory testing. Only RT-PCR or viral culture has the potential to confirm infection with swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus. The test performance of rapid antigen tests and immunofluorescence tests for detection of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus is unknown. Persons who are suspected of having swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus and who test positive for the same using one of these tests should then have confirmatory RT-PCR or viral culture testing to confirm the presence of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus. A negative rapid antigen or immunofluorescence test cannot be used to rule out swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. The results of this test from nasopharyngeal or nasal swab, along with other information, will in all probability help your doctor take better care of you. Knowing the test results will help prevent the spread of the virus to others.

The Swine Influenza Test Kit is a sensitive test to detect the swine flu virus; however, the FDA has not cleared or approved this test. But it has been agreed by the FDA has agreed that this test can be used under an Emergency Use Authorization.

How is swine flu different from bird flu?

The swine flu and the bird flu viruses do not have a twin-like similarity but are however quite similar. The virus that causes bird flu in humans first mutated from a virus that birds had so that it could then be passed on to humans; once established, it now passes from human to human contact. Same is the case with swine flu. It started among pigs as a virus but then soon mutated to spread to humans. Viruses have the ability to replicate rapidly; these viruses are able to mutate very quickly thereby creating new strains that then move on to multiply in other areas and susceptible hosts. Avian flu so far has found it difficult to infect humans unless they were exposed to birds intensely. This is because the virus has not mutated in a way that makes it transmissible by one human to another. However, the swine flu virus has genetic origins from both pigs and birds. The biggest difference here is that the swine flu virus has mutated to an extent where it can readily be transmitted on human to human contact.

What drugs are available to treat swine flu and bird flu?

Antiviral treatment is normally the first line of treatment for the confirmed, probable or suspected cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, prioritizing treatment of hospitalized patients and patients with high risk for complications. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with actively works against influenza viruses, including the swine influenza virus. Antiviral drugs are generally used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses. These medications are prescribed by a health care professional.

As of today, four influenza antiviral drugs are approved for use in the United States. They are:

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Zanamivir (Relenza) Amantadine Rimantadine (Flumadine)

Laboratory testing conducted on the swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses so far has indicated that the viruses are susceptible (sensitive) to oseltamivir and zanamivir. Antiviral drugs can make the illness milder as well prevent serious influenza complications. However, these antiviral drugs work best when they are started within two days of the onset of the illness. Antiviral drugs can also be used as a preventive measure to protect a person who has been or may be near a person with swine flu. Antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective in preventing the flu.

Antiviral doses recommended for treatment of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in adults or children 1 year of age or older are the same as those recommended for seasonal influenza. Oseltamivir use in children less than 1 year of age was recently approved by the U.S. FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Moreover, there are vaccines available that can be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza from spreading. Nonetheless, there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu yet. It is believed that the seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses.

Find More Swine Flu Articles

Swine Flu Proactive and Preventive Measures

A prominent expert on global flu outbreaks, with the University of Minnesota, Michael Osterholm said, “What makes this so difficult is we may be somewhere between an important but yet still uneventful public health occurrence here — with something that could literally die out over the next couple of weeks and never show up again — or this could be the opening act of a full-fledged influenza pandemic.”

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend and the first thing she asked me is, “Have you read about the swine flu?” She is concerned and worried about how the swine flu can potentially kill a lot of people. Hopefully this will not go on to kill millions around the world, as pandemics did in 1918, 1957 and 1968.

Besides being concerned and worried about this, it is more important to take proactive measures to secure yourself and your family. Everyone has an important part to play to prevent the swine flu pandemic from happening.

Although flu shots have been offered in different nations, new types of flu viruses have remained a threat. So what can we do? The best bet will be to work on your immune system. With a stronger immune system, you body has a higher chance of winning battles against viruses.

How do we boost our immune systems? (These are not the only things you can do to boost your immune system. I am sure you can add more to this list. The important thing we should focus on is boosting our immune systems)

1. In a previous article, ‘C is the Alphabet to Healthy Life,’ which I posted, increasing your intake of Vitamin C could be a good start to boosting your immune system.

The good thing is Vitamin C is easily available in fruits and vegetables. The foods that are very rich in Vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, and cantaloupe. I believe there are more foods which you can add to the list.

2. Drink plenty of water. How many times have you heard about the important of drinking water? And how many of us are doing it? The usual guideline is about 6-8 glasses of water everyday. My body has a way to let me know that it needs water – it protests by giving me headaches. Headaches and thirst are both signs of dehydration.

3. Get a full night’s sleep. Depending on individual, your body may need anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of sleep each night. According to an article on Vibe Health dated 27 February 2009, “Medical researchers are discovering that sleep may be the body’s way of recharging your immune system, explaining why poor sleepers are prone to infections and heart disease.”

4. Exercising. Exercise can make a noticeable difference to your health and happiness by releasing Endorphins. Moderate and consistent exercise help one to boost immune system and to sleep better. If you overdo it, it may do harm to your immune system instead.

5. Drinking Tea. Immunologists at Harvard University discovered that people who drank five cups of black tea a day for 2 weeks transformed their immune system T cells into “Hulk cells” that pumped out 10 times more cold and flu virus – fighting interferon — proteins that defend against infection — than did the immune systems of those who didn’t drink black tea. Green tea should work just as well.

While five cups a day may seem like a lot, Dr. Jack Bukowski of the Harvard Medical School thinks fewer cups may still offer some valuable protection. Moderation is important.

Besides following these points to boost immune system, we must also adopt good hygiene practices and be socially responsible:

1. Washing hands thoroughly and often especially if you have been out in the public.
2. People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they’ve washed their hands.
3. Using a serving spoon when sharing food.
4. Not spitting on the floor, covering nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to throw it into garbage immediately.
5. Wearing masks when unwell.

Those who have flu-like symptoms are advised to seek medical help promptly, and inform the doctors of their travel history.

Although there is no way to control 100 percent on how the swine flu pandemic may evolve, we can do our parts to prevent it from affecting ourselves, our immediate families and friends. I hope these few points can inspire you to take proactive measures to boost your immune system. Wishing everyone great health!