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Bharat Biotech's cholera vaccine 'Hillchol' clears phase-III trials

Bharat Biotech's cholera vaccine 'Hillchol' clears phase-III trials

Bharat Biotech International Ltd on Wednesday said its oral Cholera Vaccine Hillchol has successfully completed phase III clinical trials.
The vaccine maker, in a press release, said it has demonstrated against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes, proving non-inferior in healthy Indian adults and children, supporting its potential as an effective OCV.
Ogawa and Inaba are two serotypes of Vibrio cholerae O1, a bacterial species that causes cholera.
The findings of a double-blind, randomized phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety, immunogenicity, non-inferiority, and lot-to-lot consistency of the Hillchol oral cholera vaccine, compared to a comparator vaccine, were recently published in a journal. The study involved 1,800 participants, ranging from infants to adults, across 10 clinical sites in India, the release said.
The participants were divided into three age groups: adults over 18 years, children aged 5 to under 18 years, and infants aged 1 to under 5 years. They were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive either Hillchol or a comparator vaccine.
This publication reaffirms our commitment to advancing vaccines built on rigorous research, thorough clinical trials, and reliable clinical data. It highlights our continued commitment to providing affordable, effective, and accessible vaccines for the populations who need them the most, said Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Studies have estimated that 2.86 million cases and 95,000 deaths occur annually, the release further said.
Global demand for OCVs is close to 100 million doses a year, and given that only one manufacturer supplies them, there is a global shortage. Bharat Biotech's facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar have a capacity to produce up to 200 million doses of Hillchol, it added.

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Shubhanshu Shukla expected to carry aamras, halwa to space as part of Axiom Mission 4; sister refutes claim dishes are homemade: ‘It is just impossible'
Shubhanshu Shukla expected to carry aamras, halwa to space as part of Axiom Mission 4; sister refutes claim dishes are homemade: ‘It is just impossible'

Indian Express

time21 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Shubhanshu Shukla expected to carry aamras, halwa to space as part of Axiom Mission 4; sister refutes claim dishes are homemade: ‘It is just impossible'

The Axiom-4 mission, which was scheduled to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to the International Space Station on Tuesday, was postponed again to fix a leak in SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V. Narayanan said in a statement. Shukla is the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, who completed an eight-day orbit of Earth in 1984. As the Indian Air Force pilot awaits his turn, here are some edible things he is set to carry to space. He is carrying moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, and aamras. As I prepare to spend 14 days abroad the ISS, I carry with me not just instruments and equipment but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts, Shubhanshu said in a video titled 'Crew Countdown to Launch ' on Axiom Space's YouTube channel. Responding to a user's question about his food aboard the spacecraft, he said, 'I am carrying a few delicacies from India. You know, we have a rich culinary heritage. 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Since microgravity presents unique challenges, floating food particles and liquids must be controlled, epxerts urge. 'Storage is limited on spacecraft, so food must be carefully chosen and compactly packaged to reduce waste,' said Dr Singla. Above all, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial. 'Astronauts need optimal nutrition to stay healthy and perform well during missions, making meal planning a critical aspect of space travel,' said Dr Singla.

Falcon-9's liquid-oxygen leak plagues Indian astronaut's space launch: What is it?
Falcon-9's liquid-oxygen leak plagues Indian astronaut's space launch: What is it?

India Today

time40 minutes ago

  • India Today

Falcon-9's liquid-oxygen leak plagues Indian astronaut's space launch: What is it?

Hours before Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was planned to strap into the Dragon spacecraft for a historic launch to the International Space Station, the mission stands postponed with no next launch announced on Wednesday, hours before the planned launch, that the teams require more time to repair the LOx (Liquid-oxygen) leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections."Standing down from tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the Space Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date," SpaceX The Ax-4 mission was initially planned to launch on May 29 but was delayed to June 8 and then to June 10. It was postponed to June 11 due to weather issues and high winds in the launch rocket's liquid oxygen leak delays launchLatest input by @imsktripathi #ITVideo #Space #ShubhanshuShukla #Axiom4 | (@Akshita_N) IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 11, 2025WHAT IS LIQUID-OXYGEN? Liquid oxygen (LOX) is a supercooled form of oxygen, stored at -183C, and is used as an oxidizer in rockets like SpaceX's Falcon space lacks atmospheric oxygen, rockets must carry their own oxidizer to burn fuel. Falcon 9 combines LOX with RP-1, a refined form of kerosene, to power its Merlin mixed and ignited, this combination produces the high-pressure thrust needed to lift the rocket into orbit. LOx is used as an oxidizer in rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9. (Photo: SpaceX) advertisementLOX is highly reactive and supports rapid combustion, making it essential for efficient rocket propulsion. Any leak or malfunction involving LOX can seriously impact launch safety and THE ISSUE? SpaceX had noticed a leak from the booster during the static fire test that was conducted on June is worth mentioning that the Falcon-9 being used to launch the newly developed Dragon spacecraft, had launched previously. SpaceX used the booster to launch a batch of Starlink satellites a few weeks back. Following its landing, it was refurbished and integrated with the Dragon spacecraft before moving to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Centre in initially stated that they were installing a purge to fix the leak, but it appears that it did not work.' #India Today's @imsktripathi explains the significance of this mission from India's perspective.@ISRO #Super6 | @Akshita_N IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 10, 2025Now, that the launch has been postponed, there are chances that SpaceX might need to remove the Falcon-9 entirely from the pad and get it horizontal to fix the issue. That would mean a bigger delay in the launch that could stretch into the next week."It is understood that LOX leakage was detected in the propulsion bay during the test. Based on the discussion between the Isro team and experts from Axiom and SpaceX, it has been decided to correct the leak and conduct necessary validation tests before clearing the launch. Hence the launch of Axiom-4 slated for 11th June 2025 for sending the first Indian Gaganyatri to ISS is postponed," Isro the moment, SpaceX has yet to give a final launch date for the Ax-4 InMust Watch

Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final
Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final

French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz took sips of pickle juice during the five-hour, 29-minute marathon men's final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday, the longest-ever at Roland Garros. Alcaraz is not the first nor will be the last athlete to take small portions of pickle juice, known to help stave off the onset of cramps. There are many examples, recent and from the aughts. Over two decades ago, when temperatures touched 43 degree Celcius in Texas, the American football team Philadelphia Eagles drank pickle juice to stay hydrated during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Indian women's hockey team which finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics took shots of pickle juice at the onset of cramps. At last year's UEFA Euros, England full-back Kieran Trippier was seen sipping from a sachet of pickle juice after cramping during the game against Serbia. Decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, the national record holder, Asian Games and Asian Championship silver medalist, swears by pickle juice as a quick-fix solution for cramps. What is pickle juice? Pickle juice is a briny liquid made up of water, salt and vinegar used for pickling. Gherkins, baby cucumbers, are a popular choice for pickling. The acetic acid in vinegar, a byproduct of fermentation, helps provide immediate relief from cramps, experts say. Brine also contains sodium and potassium, electrolytes the body loses through sweating. With it gaining popularity, commercial pickle juice is available in small PET bottles and sachets which may also contain dill oil or starch extracts. What in pickle juice gives relief from cramps? Experts believe that it's the acetic acid which is most effective in stopping cramps. 'Nerve receptors in the mouth detect acetic acid in the pickle brine and provoke a neurological reflex in which the brain sends messages to the muscles telling them to relax,' Anita Bean, a sports nutritionist told The Times, London. Tejaswin, India's high jump and decathlon national record holder, reckons, going by his practical knowledge, that acetic acid is like a silver bullet for cramps. 'It is not just sodium or potassium. We know because it's in electrolyte drinks and when you have it the cramps don't stop immediately. Maybe the brine in the pickle juice, or the vinegar or the acetic acid — one of those triggers a neuro reflex that stops the cramping,' Tejaswin told The Indian Express. Tejaswin uses a band-aid analogy. 'This is like a quick fix. I can't address hydration in the middle of a competition because if I do oral hydration it is going to take time to show results. When you are cramping you need to have something quick, like a pickle juice which puts a band-aid or a pause on the cramping and then you can continue.' What do top athletes experience? Tejaswin usually drinks pickle juice just before or during the high jump, the fourth event in decathlon on the first day. He reasons it is because of two reasons — he is starting to get tired because he has completed three events and also because he is tense ahead of his strongest event. 'I usually cramp right before or during the high jump. If I am cramping too much, I consume two shots but when I run the 400 metres (the event that follows the high jump), I feel really weird in my stomach, and after I finish I throw up for at least 10 minutes. To avoid that I don't consume it, but just gargle it so it just hits the back of my throat and the cramping stops,' Tejaswin said. Other than lack of hydration and loss of electrolytes, Tejaswin says a stressed mind can result in tense muscles that can cause a cramp. 'It comes down to the fact that it is my most important event, and there is some amount of stress that I carry going into the high jump thinking, 'I have to maximise my score here'. When you are not relaxed, your body tends to stiffen up, and those tight spots contribute to make a cramp worse. I am also fatigued by the time I reach the high jump because I have already done three events. All these add up,' Tejaswin said. He also carries a 'dabba' of mustard sauce in his bag as an option because he feels it has a similar effect on cramps. Did the women's hockey team benefit? Yes, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team's strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard went shopping for pickles with gherkin and vinegar. He carried one hundred servings of pickle juice. 'When it was back-to-back games, the girls would drink that after breakfast, or depending on when the game was. And then, at the onset of cramps they would have additional shots if required,' he had told this paper. The bronze-medal match, which India lost narrowly to Britain, was played when the temperature touched nearly 40 degree Celsius. 'There are two ways to consume it. You either have it as a shot or you can gargle so your membranes get it, and then you spit it out,' Lombard said.

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