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The Union Health Ministry announced on Monday that the government has distributed more than 193.53 crores of COVID-19 vaccination doses to states and union territories.

According to official statistics, more than 13.81 crore balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available for administration to states and union territories. The Union Government is dedicated to speeding up and broadening the scope of COVID-19 immunisation across the country. The national COVID 19 immunisation campaign began on January 16, 2021.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccine universalization began on June 21, 2021.

Also Read: India has reported 8,084 new COVID-19 cases

The immunisation campaign has been stepped up with the availability of more vaccinations, increased visibility of vaccine availability to states and UTs for better planning, and simplification of the vaccine supply chain.

As part of the statewide immunisation campaign, the Government of India has been supplying free COVID vaccines to states and union territories.

In the next phase of the COVID19 immunisation programme, the Union Government would acquire and deliver (at no cost) to States and UTs 75% of the vaccines manufactured in the country by vaccine makers.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported 8,084 new COVID-19 cases and 10 fatalities in India in the previous 24 hours. Delhi reported 735 new cases, Maharashtra 2,946 cases, Karnataka 463 cases, and Kerala 1,955 cases.

With the increase in new Coronavirus infections reported each day, India’s total of COVID-19 cases increased to 4,32,30,101, with a daily positive rate of more than 3%.

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According to a research conducted by the University of California, Riverside, published in the Atmosphere Journal, cutaneous exposure to nicotine amounts observed in thirdhand smoke, or THS, and electronic cigarette spillage may cause skin damage.

THS, which contains nicotine, is produced when inhaled smoke and smoke from the tip of burning cigarettes settle on surfaces such as clothes, hair, furniture, and automobiles. THS refers to the leftovers left behind by smoking and is not purely smoke. E-liquid spills caused by leaky electronic cigarette devices or when users and vendors mix e-liquids for refillable electronic cigarettes are referred to as “electronic cigarette spills.”

“We found dermal contact with nicotine may impair wound healing, increase susceptibility to skin infections due to a decrease in immune response, and cause oxidative stress in skin cells,” said Giovanna Pozuelos, who graduated earlier this year from UC Riverside with a doctoral degree in cell, molecular, and developmental biology.

According to Pozuelos, the most susceptible individuals include those with skin conditions such as diabetic-related ulcers or arterial ulcers.

“Dermal contact with nicotine residue may impair wound healing of such skin lesions and increase susceptibility to pathogenic skin infections,” she said. “Toddlers and infants, who tend to crawl on contaminated surfaces or have frequent contact with indoor surfaces, are particularly susceptible to high dermal exposure. Employers who work in heavily THS-contaminated environments, such as casinos where indoor smoking is permitted, can be exposed for months or even years.”

Fortunately, the changes in the mitochondria of human keratinocytes exposed to nicotine for 24 hours are reversible.

Also Read: Study discovered truth behind consumer’s ‘appropriate size’ quantities of high-calorie items

“Skin may recover by avoiding continual dermal exposure to THS-contaminated environments and properly handling electronic cigarettes e-liquid,” said coauthor Prue Talbot, a professor of cell biology who advised Pozuelos on the study. “It’s important to note that a relatively short exposure — 24 hours in our study — is sufficient to cause skin damage.”

Severity due to duration of smoke

Pozuelos stressed that the severity of skin damage depends on both exposure duration and nicotine concentration.

“Both THS and electronic cigarette spills and leaks can be damaging,” she said. “THS exposure may be chronic for someone living in a THS-contaminated household, which can lead to persistent dermal exposure. Vendors and consumers who handle or use electronic cigarettes that contain high nicotine concentrations could also become highly exposed.”

Pozuelos advises consumers and vendors dealing with electronic cigarettes to minimize dermal contact by wearing adequate protective gear and properly cleaning contaminated areas.

“Restrictions on indoor smoking and vaping, and policies for remediating contaminated environments need to be implemented,” she said.

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The University of Melbourne discovered a thorough generic glaucoma roadmap. The blueprint will assist scientists in developing new medications to tackle the condition.

The findings were reported in the journal ‘Cell Genomics.’ More than 300 unique genetic characteristics of retinal ganglion cells were discovered by comparing stem cell models of persons with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma to those without the condition.

The findings are the result of a national collaboration led by Professor Alex Hewitt (Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, and University of Tasmania), Professor Alice Pebay and Dr Maciej Daniszewski (University of Melbourne), and Ms Anne Senabouth and Professor Joseph Powell (Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, and University of Tasmania) (Garvan Institute of Medical Research).

According to Professor Hewitt, Head of Clinical Genetics at CERA, the study will lead to a better understanding of the processes that destroy retinal ganglion cells and cause glaucoma to develop.

This will aid researchers in developing novel glaucoma medications by identifying potential new regions to target in order to slow or reverse vision loss. Healthy retinal ganglion cells are required for vision because they transfer visual information from the eye to the brain through the optic nerve. The slow damage and death of these cells in glaucoma results in a cumulative, permanent loss of vision.

“Glaucoma is often an inherited condition and comparing diseased retinal ganglion cells with healthy one is an effective way to increase our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to vision loss,” says Professor Hewitt.

Professor Pebay, whose team lead the stem cell aspects of this work, says: “Until recently that’s been impossible because you cannot obtain or profile retinal ganglion cells from living donors without an invasive procedure.” caused by the disease.

Also Read: Neuroscientists found new elements that lead to improved vision: Research

To overcome this obstacle, the researchers employed Nobel Prize-winning induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to’reprogram’ skin cells donated by donors into stem cells, which were subsequently transformed into retinal ganglion cells in the lab.

They then mapped the individual genetic expression of nearly a quarter-million cells to uncover traits that might influence how genes are expressed in the cell, so affecting its function and perhaps leading to eyesight loss.

312 genetic sites of Glaucoma

The researchers discovered 312 distinct genetic characteristics in retinal ganglion cell models that need additional study.

“The sequencing identifies which genes are turned on in a cell, their level of activation and where they are turned on and off — like a road network with traffic lights,” says Professor Powell, whose team led the analysis of world leading dataset.
“This research gives us a genetic roadmap of glaucoma and identifies 312 sites in the genome where these lights are blinking.

“Understanding which of these traffic lights should be turned off or on will be the next step in developing new therapies to prevent glaucoma.”

Professor Hewitt, an ophthalmologist, says the research provides hundreds of new targets for researchers developing new drugs to treat glaucoma which is predicted to affect more than 80 million people globally by 2040.

“Current therapies are limited to slowing vision loss by reducing pressure in the eye — but they do not work for all patients and some people continue to lose many retinal ganglion cells and vision despite having normal eye pressure.

“The rich source of genetic information generated by this research is an important first step towards developing new treatments that go beyond lowering eye pressure and can reverse damage and vision loss.”

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Today is World Albinism Awareness Day. Every year on June 13, this day recognises the human rights of those living with albinism.

Albinism is an uncommon, non-contagious, genetically inherited health disorder characterised by a lack of melanin in the skin, eyes, and hair, making people affected sensitive to sunlight and strong light. People who have this significant disparity in pigmentation are also at risk of developing skin cancer. In reality, many people experience persistent vision impairments as a result of a lack of melanin in their eyes. Albinism is not communicable, yet it has numerous negative connotations.

People with albinism endure significant prejudice as a result of a lack of information of the condition, which leads to marginalisation and social isolation.

The United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution in 2013 to increase awareness. Within a year (in 2014), the United Nations General Assembly recognised June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day, effective in 2015.

The topic for this year is “United in making our voices heard.” The subject is crucial for ensuring equality, according to the United Nations. The UN plans to honour those who suffer from the disease and to make their voices heard in order to ensure that people all over the globe understand what Albinism is and to avoid prejudice and violence against those who suffer from it. The subject also attempts to raise awareness of various albinism groups throughout the world.

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