Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla back on terra firma after 18-day space expedition
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New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Shux return a proud moment: ISRO chief
BENGALURU: As cheers and celebrations grew louder with the return of India's Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (call sign Shux), after spending 21 days in space, the ISRO team remained concerned about his health and well-being. ISRO's V. Narayanan stated that the return of Shukrayaanin Shux is a very proud moment for the country and the entire scientific community. 'We are constantly receiving updates on his health and well-being. Before he returns to India in the third week of August, we will have regular interactions with him,' he said. Narayanan added that the training and experience gained by Shux and India's second Gaganyatri, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who was the backup crew member for the Axiom-4 mission are vital for India's Gaganyaan and Bhartiya Antariksh Mission.
New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Students watch splashdown live, thrilled by experience
BENGALURU: Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP) screened the livestream of Axiom 4's return to Earth carrying pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and the rest of the crew on Tuesday. The C V Vishveshvara Auditorium at JNP was all waiting for Axiom 4's splashdown, which was carrying Shukla of the ISRO. Dr B R Guruprasad, former ISRO scientist and director of JNP, who provided crucial insights alongside the crew's descent, pointed out, 'It [Shukla's participation in the mission] has empowered Indian scientists. It is going to tremendously benefit Indian space programmes.' Excited students from a BBMP-run school in Kamala Nagar and Government High School, Itagi, comprised the majority of the throng. Jayashri Murudeppanavar, an English teacher at Government High School, Itagi, said, 'The students and I enjoyed the great opportunity to witness this landing.' Sara, 10-year-old, who could barely contain her glee at having witnessed the event said, 'When they [the Axiom 4 crew] launched, I saw the livestream. I wanted to see how they came back to the earth. I want to become an astronaut when I grow up. I learnt a lot from Sunita Williams,' she said.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Can Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Treat Cancer? Indian Scientists Begin Tests After Positive Mice Data
Last Updated: Anecdotal and epidemiological evidence has also suggested that people taking statins regularly may have a lower risk of developing solid tumours such as colorectal or breast cancer Cholesterol-lowering statins, long trusted to protect hearts, may soon find a new role in cancer care — this time, as a potential ally in shrinking tumours. A team led by Dr Sanjeev Galande, dean of the School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar University and one of India's leading cell biologists and epigeneticists, is repurposing statins to treat colorectal, breast and other solid cancers. In collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre, a multi-phase clinical trial involving 350 patients is underway to evaluate the drug's cancer-fighting potential. The ongoing trial, which bypassed early-stage studies due to strong pre-clinical evidence, is comparing two groups: one receiving standard therapy (chemotherapy plus radiation), and another receiving statins as part of the regimen. Patient recruitment began in 2022, with results expected to be submitted for publication in the next few months. 'Our pre-clinical studies in animal models were promising. We induced tumour formation in mice and treated them with statins. Not only did the visible tumour lumps begin regressing, but molecular and cellular studies confirmed that statins reversed the tumorigenic process," Galande told News18. 'These drugs altered the molecular signature of cancer cells—switching off proteins that drive tumour growth and pushing cells back toward a normal state." The findings in mice, published in Oncotarget medical journal on Tuesday, showed how statins affected gene and protein expression in tumours, with data derived from dissected tissues and molecular assays. The samples were collected from patients via colonoscopy and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen before undergoing analysis. 'Importantly, anecdotal and epidemiological evidence has also suggested that people taking statins regularly may have a lower risk of developing solid tumours such as colorectal or breast cancer — though the effect does not appear to extend to blood cancers like leukemia, which follow different biological pathways," explained Galande, who is among India's most-decorated molecular biologists and a key 'torch-bearer of Indian bioscience". According to the trial protocol published on Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI), the success of the study would bring a low-cost, low-risk intervention in the form of statins that could 'potentially lead to the refinement of strategies, such as 'watch and wait', in a select subgroup of patients". Clinical Trial On Humans Likely To Conclude Soon Currently, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. In India, it is the third most common cancer. In India, the annual incidence rates for colon cancer and rectal cancer in men are 4.4 and 4.1 per 100,000, respectively. The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer is chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery. Galande's team, backed by funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), believes the implications of this research could extend to cancer prevention. 'Once the study on humans is peer-reviewed and published, statins could be explored as a precautionary treatment for individuals with a hereditary risk of cancer, given their well-established safety profile," he said. Under the trial, patients are given 20mg rosuvastatin—a popular statin—orally. The team also plans to investigate whether statins can help prevent metastasis in advanced cancers, particularly in secondary sites like the liver. If successful, this could open new avenues for affordable cancer therapy using an existing, widely available drug. 'The project began in 2019 but was temporarily stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic," Galande said, adding: 'However, the accelerated translation from lab to clinic has put it back on track — and statins may soon graduate from cholesterol management to tumour management." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
