DIABETES VACCINE: THE WORLD CELEBRATES OFFICIAL RELEASE

Once again, after the last article on scientists raising the hopes for diabetic patients, is with yet another excitement to write again that the Vaccine Against Diabetes has now been officially announced leaving not only those with diabetes rejoicing but the entire world as well.

At the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, an announcement which said that the FDA was going to test the vaccine on 150 people who are in an advanced stage of type 1 diabetes was made.

In the United States alone according to reports, about 1.25 millions of people suffer from the type 1 diabetes and a vaccine used over 100 years ago for tuberculosis (bacillus Calmette-Guerin) which has showed promise in reversing this disease is also now commonly used for treating other cases such as bladder cancer and it’s considered safe as well.

Those patients with diabetes who have been injected with the vaccine saw an increase in the levels of the substance called tumor necrosis factor. The increased level of the TNF in the system destroys the T cells which are hindering the production of insulin.

The body of one person with type 1 diabetes doesn’t produce insulin as a result of the immune system which is destroying the cells that create insulin. T cells are produced, and they create problems in the pancreatic islets, where the insulin is produced. The vaccine works by eliminating those T cells.

The report says that in the previous trial, patients were injected with the tuberculosis vaccine two times within a 4-week time frame. The results showed that the very dangerous T cells were gone, and some patients even began to secrete insulin on their own.

One of those excited about the results from the BCG vaccine so far is Dr. Denise Faustman, the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital of Immunobiology Laboratory in Boston and was quoted by omigy.com to have explained “In the phase 1 (preliminary) trial we demonstrated a statistically significant response to the BCG, but our goal in (this trial) is to create a lasting therapeutic response. We will be working again with persons who have had type 1 diabetes for many years. This is not a prevention trial; instead, we are trying to create a regimen that is going to treat even advanced disease”.

There is a new trial coming which will use the same format as the previous one, on individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 years. The subjects are going to be injected with the vaccine two times in a period of 4 weeks, and then once a year for a four-year time span.

The Diabetes Care journal published the results of the past study that analyzed the effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on children with diabetes at the age between 5 and 18 years. The results showed that BCG vaccine doesn’t keep the beta-cell function or raise the remission rate in children.

HEPATITIS: THE SILENT KILLER DISEASE

Many years ago, while on the Lagos Island shopping in the ever busy ‘Akponbon’ market, my shopping partner was pressed and needed to use the bathroom. So she asked the owner of the shop where we were sorting out fabrics if there was a place to “pee” and the woman responded with a quick “yes”.

And so while my partner was trying to get set to be taken to a decent place to pee, we heard the heavily built shop owner call out to one of her sales girls “come pour our those oranges from that bucket under the table” and when the girl did her bidding, she turned towards my partner and continued “customer please go in and use the bucket, my girl will pour it in the gutter when you finish” pointing towards the small gutter in front of the shop.

To say I was shocked would be understated as it was the first time I was hearing and seeing such. As for my friend and shopping partner, she was too pressed to ask questions so she quickly went and did her ‘pee thing’ as she was told. On her return, she didn’t utter a word but I deduced from the look on her face that it was new to her as well and we were sure going to talk more about the incident on our way out of the market.

Many years after, and a couple of weeks ago, I got to the market and was about to buy tomatoes from a young girl when I realized that she had just stood up from sitting over a bucket under the table and without washing her hands first, proceeded to picking up a bag for my tomatoes. Arrrgh! I couldn’t argue so I just said, “you know what, don’t bother, I think these tomatoes are quite expensive” walking off swiftly before she starts raining abuses.

Do you all get my gist? If you didn’t, just hang in there, you will get it soon.

A while ago I was reading about a Lancet study and its description of Hepatitis as one of the leading killers across the globe contending a death toll with the highly dreaded AIDS or tuberculosis.

Back in the days, while in the University, the talk of HIV or Aids was something frightening enough not to talk about knowing someone who was already infected thus driving home the already established fact that Aids is real and it’s here amongst us and it’s still getting very prevalent given our kinds of lifestyles.

According to the report, it says in 2013 alone, despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, about 1.45m deaths were recorded due to complications from hepatitis infections and such a number scares me because the World Health Organisation data revealed that there were 1.2m AIDS-related deaths in 2014, while TB led by1.5m.

However one can only hope that the numbers would have dropped between 2013 and now as there seems to be more awareness of hepatitis presently even as the WHO is making plans to curtail the increase having put forward a global strategy for tackling it.

Now the question is how can the strategy be effective?

First I need you to know there are five types of hepatitis virus from A to E and some of them can be spread through sweats while A and E are spread through contaminated food or water even though most of the deaths worldwide are due to the B and C virus which cause grave damages to the liver predisposing victims to cancer of the liver as well.

You will be amazed to know that at times, it is those same buckets/utensils as described in the two scenarios above that are also used to convey edibles and most people who have the habits of eating without washing of hands and foods requiring washing before eating, get contaminated on a daily basis.

What about the sweats? You may want to ask?

A lot of us get sweats contact with others while, for example, in public transport right? You can’t help it so protect yourself from skin to skin contact while in such circumstances. Maybe covering your body properly would do in such situations.

Let's not even go the way of those who defecate in streams.

Alright, how about those who feel once they have a condom on during intimacy, they are well protected?

Well you know the answer to the question already. 

The saddest part is that the virus may have carried out long term damages before the victims become aware as the symptoms are rarely noticed at the initial stage.

So, take HOLD of your life.