Vitamin D could help fight deadly breast cancer

Vitamin D could help fight deadly breast cancer

ANI

January 23, 12:52 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1791784

A research team has discovered a molecular pathway that contributes to triple-negative breast cancer, an often deadly and treatment resistant form of cancer that tends to strike younger women.

The team led by Susana Gonzalo, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Saint Louis University, also identified vitamin D and some protease inhibitors as possible new therapies and discovered a set of three biomarkers that can help to identify patients who could benefit from the treatment.

In the recent breakthrough, Gonzalo’s lab identified one pathway that is activated in breast cancers with the poorest prognosis, such as those classified as triple-negative. These cancers often strike younger women and are harder to treat than any other type of breast cancer.

Experiments performed in Gonzalo's laboratory, in collaboration with the laboratories of Xavier Matias-Guiu and Adriana Duso (IRBLleida, Spain), showed that activation of this novel pathway not only allows tumor cells to grow unchecked, but also explains the reduced sensitivity of these types of tumors to current therapeutic strategies.

Importantly, vitamin D plays a role in turning off this pathway, providing a safe and cost-effective strategy to fight these types of tumors.

BRCA1 is a well-established tumor suppressor gene. Women who carry mutations in this gene have a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Tumors that arise often lack expression of three receptors: estrogen, progesterone and HER2 (thus, “triple-negative”), and do not respond to hormone therapy.

Loss of BRCA1 is bad news for the information contained in a cell’s genetic blueprint. It results in genomic instability characterized by unrepaired DNA breaks and chromosomal aberrations that compromise cell viability.

How BRCA1-mutated cells are able to form tumors has been a long-standing question. Investigators recently showed that loss of another DNA repair factor, 53BP1, allows proliferation and survival of BRCA1-deficient cells. In addition, decreased levels of 53BP1 were observed in triple-negative breast cancers, and correlated with resistance to drugs at the forefront of cancer treatment, such as PARP inhibitors.

Gonzalo’s team has found a pathway responsible for the loss of 53BP1 in breast cancers with poor prognosis, specifically BRCA1 mutated and triple-negative. It turns out that loss of BRCA1 increases the expression of a protease, known as cathepsin L (CTSL), which causes the degradation of 53BP1. Cells that have lost both BRCA1 and 53BP1 have the ability to repair DNA, maintain the integrity of the genome, and proliferate. Thus, the protease helps cells with faulty BRCA1 to survive.

 

Kirti Chakra for terrorist killer from Malad

Kirti Chakra for terrorist killer from Malad

DNA Correspondent

January 26, 7:00 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1792766

Mumbai: A Mumbaikar has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award, for his indomitable courage to fight militants in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Major Anup Joseph Manjali, a resident of Malad (W), is the only army officer to have been awarded this peacetime gallantry award — equivalent to the Mahavir Chakra in the time of war — this year.
On October 1 last year, Major Manjali, while commanding the Sutrun Company of 24 Rashtriya Rifles (Bihar), took on heavily-armed militants and killed three of them in close combat in Kupwara’s thick forests.

“While leading his patrol in a forested area in Kupwara sector, he noticed suspicious movements... Having cordoned off the area in a daring act of courage and leadership, he crawled and lobbed a grenade, killing one terrorist instantly. He killed two other terrorists from close quarters when they were trying to flee,” said Lt Col Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur.

Major Manjali is among the 96 brave men and officers of Northern Command, which has won the highest number of gallantry awards, who have been awarded.

The list of gallantry award winners includes 11 Shaurya Chakra awardees. Four of them have been awarded posthumously — Captain A Rahul Ramesh and Naiks Rajeshver Singh, Anil Kumar and Krishan Kumar, and a naval officer. There will not be any Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry medal, awarded this year.

Maharashtra gets lion's share in Padma awards

 

BMC Online services

BMC Online services
ref: http://www.in-mumbai.com/2011/11/bmc-online-services.html

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Official Website - http://www.mcgm.gov.in

Online Services:

Pay Property Tax Online - https://aquaptax.mcgm.gov.in/ptax/citizenptax/

Pay Water Bills Online - https://aquaptax.mcgm.gov.in/aqua/citizenportal/

Mumbai Property Card (City) - http://prcmumbai.nic.in/prcmumbai/jsp/propertyNew.jsp
Mumbai Property Card (Suburban) - http://mumbaisuburban.gov.in/pcsql/pcmain.asp

Maharastra State excise - http://services.mahaonline.gov.in/Excise/Home/Home.Aspx

Aadhar - http://aadhaar.maharashtra.gov.in/home/home.aspx

Maharastra Online - https://www.mahaonline.gov.in/portal/web?

Maharastra Tourism - http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/Index/Index.aspx

Maharastra State transport - http://www.msrtc.gov.in/msrtc_live/index-eng.html

 

Women being targeted by local gang in Malwani

Women being targeted by local gang in Malwani

Dilnaz Boga / DNA

January 15, 5:22 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1788980

Mumbai: Women from Ambujwadi slum in Malvani are struggling to fight against a gang of youngsters who harass them and rob their houses in Malad (W). Despite several protests in the city against attacks on women, residents allege that the police is not keen on taking action against these criminals as they believe the cops are hand in glove with them.

After a spate of robberies in the slum, residents say that their complaints are going unheard. “The gang of youngsters (aged between 15 and 27) operate in groups of three or four. They rob houses in the middle of the night or early morning after using a spray on those asleep so that they don’t wake up. The police doesn’t take action as these criminals bribe them. They are known offenders who make and sell drugs,” said a resident, on the condition of anonymity.

Social workers claim that the gang is also involved in cases of sexual violence. Most of these cases are not reported for fear of reprisals.

“These youngsters are drug addicts who sell thinners, illegal alcohol and steal electricity. I was drugged early in the morning in November, 2012 following which they robbed my house. I lodged a complaint but no action has been taken so far,” said Gulab Pawar, a resident of Ambujwadi.

A 25-year-old man was beaten up by gang members when he complained to the police. “The police don’t help us. What can we do?” he said.

DCP Zone XI Mahesh Patil told DNA that the allegations were untrue. “Why should we let off robbers? No such complaints have been made,” he said and added that he will check with the senior inspector at Malvani police station.

 

APL card holders to get rice subsidy through banks

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

10th November 2012 10:10 AM

Ref: http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1335149.ece

APL ration card holders will start getting rice subsidy through banks from January 1, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Friday. The subsidy will be at the rate of Rs 6.90 per kg.

“Those who submit their bank account numbers by March 31, 2013, will be paid the subsidy with retrospective effect from January 1,” Chandy told a post-Cabinet briefing here.

Existing bank accounts can be used for claiming the subsidy and a zero balance account can be opened if the beneficiary does not have a bank account.

For BPL card holders, the subsidised rice- up to 25 kg- at Re 1 per kg, will be sold using a system of smart cards and biometric enrolment.

“This facility will come into effect from January 1, 2014. By then, the 14,000-plus ration shops in the state are expected to become automated,” he said.

“The government is also planning to introduce a GPS-based system to monitor the transportation of rice to ration shops,” he said.

All three decisions are part of the government’s initiative to bring in reforms to ensure transparency in the PDS.

“The government is spending Rs 700 crore a year on subsidising rice supply to the BPL and APL categories.

“Still, the price of rice in the open market is soaring, which means that the subsidy is not reaching the people. The government has the duty to ensure that it does,” Chandy said.

As part of ridding the Public Distribution System of corruption, the government will ensure a system where the rice will be directly collected from the rice mills by the Supplyco.

Of this 62,000 tonnes will be used for the noon meal scheme and the rest will go into the Public Distribution System  pool.

 

Stage dancer found murdered in Malad

Stage dancer found murdered in Malad

DNA Correspondent

January 12, 5:27 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1788160

A 29-year-old stage dancer was found murdered at her Malwani residence in Malad on Friday. Parveen Banu Shaikh’s body was found partly decomposed and it has burn injuries.
According to police, preliminary investigations have revealed that the woman was murdered around two days ago.

The police said Parveen, a divorcee, was living alone in a rented room at Agra gully in Malwani’s Gate 6 for the past one month. Parveen had recently gone to Hyderabad to meet her sister.
The police said after coming back, her sister tried to get in touch with her but to noavail. She then sent her mother-in-law to find out about her. When the mother-in-law went to Parveen’s house, she found the house to be locked

For the last three days, Praveen’s sister was calling her but nobody was picking up the phone. So, she sent her mother-in-law to her house again. This time the mother-in-law realised that some foul smell was coming out of the house.

“Parveen was allegedly having an affair with a man. We are looking for him.From his cellphone location, we found out that he has moved out of Maharashtra. One of deceased’s neighbours had seen him with Parveen three days ago,” said a police officer from the Malwani police station.

The Malwani police have registered a case of murder and investigating the case. Parveen’s body has been sent for an autopsy.

 

This article tells you about how to keep track of your 'rightful' six subsidized LPG cylinders, unless you want pay more every time

This article tells you about how to keep track of your ‘rightful’ six subsidized LPG cylinders, unless you want pay more every time

Ref: http://www.moneylife.in/article/how-to-use-your-subsidized-lpg-cylinders-wisely/28816.html

Here are details about the capping of subsidized cylinders scheme for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) announced by the Government of India on 13 September 2012. You will be surprised to know that almost 50% of the LPG consumers in the country use six cylinders or less during one full year. Therefore, effectively this percentage of customers will not be affected at all. I request each one of you to note the following:
 

• •  The number of subsidized domestic LPG cylinders available for the balance period of the current year (i.e. 14 September 2012 to 31 March 2013) would be limited to first three cylinders for each consumer irrespective of the number of cylinders consumed up to 13 September 2012.
   
• •  Thereafter, every year, first six cylinders will be supplied at the subsidized rate and beyond the first six cylinders they will be supplied at non-subsidized or market rate.
   
• •  In order to ensure that you receive all the six subsidized LPG cylinders in a year, you are required to possess the Domestic Gas Consumer Card (DGCC) booklet with a serial number and consumer number entered by the distributor. DGCC book is also commonly referred to as “Blue Book” and is issued at the time of enrolling a consumer.
   

If you have lost /misplaced the DGCC booklet or do not have the DGCC booklet or have a DGCC booklet without a serial number/consumer number, you must get in touch with your distributor and obtain a new booklet, duly stamped and signed by the distributor, after paying applicable charges or get the serial number stamped and signed by the distributor in the old DGCC booklet. The serial number of the DGCC book must be entered by the distributor in his system.
 

To ensure that all cylinders are delivered to the genuine customer, the following process has been devised:
 

The cash memo and the acknowledgement generated by the system for each cylinder will indicate the number of subsidized cylinder being delivered against entitlement i.e. 1/3, 2/3 or 3/3 as well as the Serial number of DGCC booklet.
 

Consumers on their part must do the following at each cylinder delivery:
 

•         Produce the DGCC booklet to the delivery boy while receiving the refill cylinder.
 

•         Check that the serial number of the DGCC matches with that printed on the cash memo.
 

•         Sign on the DGCC booklet as well as copy of the cash memo as acknowledgement of receipt of the refill cylinder and handover the same to the delivery man.
 

•         Ensure that the delivery details are recorded in the book and signed by the deliveryman.

 

Every consumer must keep the cash memo and DGCC book carefully as in case of any dispute with regard to receipt of subsidized cylinders, the cash memo and the DGCC book will be the reference points for resolution of the case. In the absence of the DGCC booklet, the distributor’s record would be considered as final.
 

All consumers are requested to get their mobile number recorded with the distributor so that confirmation of delivery of the refill cylinder can be sent through SMS by the respective oil companies to their consumers as and when electronic confirmation system is rolled out.
 

Consumers are also advised to check their booking and delivery details on the Transparency Portal of oil companies (www.petroleum.nic.in, www.hindustanpetroleum.com/www.indane.co.in/www.ebharatgas.com) and in case of any discrepancy in delivery of cylinders, immediately log complaint in the Transparency Portal.

 

Aadhar cards must for teachers' salaries, students' scholarships

Aadhar cards must for teachers’ salaries, students’ scholarships

DNA Correspondent

January 7, 3:00 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1786320

Mumbai: The education department has urged schools to register and collect the Aadhar cards for their teachers and students by March 31. Teachers will require the cards to receive their salaries, while students will need them to claim benefits such as scholarships.

“We are trying to speed up this process. We have asked officials to create awareness about the cards wherever they go. Schools will not be given government aid if they do not have the cards,” said Rajendra Darda, school education minister.

The move was prompted by the bogus students’ scam unearthed earlier this year. Over 1.80 crore students studying in one lakh primary and secondary schools in the state, including 32,573 private schools, will be given Aadhar cards which contain a Unique Identification Number (UID), and the education department will use the cards to crack down on bogus students.

A state-wide survey of schools in October 2011 had revealed that many schools were indulging in malpractices by showing bogus students on their rolls. Education officers in charge of primary and secondary schools will have to work with district-level officials to make a district-wise timetable for the issuing of UID cards to schools. They will then have to submit a report to the education director fortnightly on the status of the schools.

 

Parents plan to fund school requirements

Parents plan to fund school requirements

Puja Pednekar / DNA

January 5, 8:03 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1785703

Mumbai: Parents of students studying at the Oshiwara’s Raigad Military School met on Friday to decide how to mitigate the woes of their children ahead of the exam season. The school has been facing trouble due to internal disputes between its two factions.

During the meeting held between students’ parents and office-bearers of Forum For Fairness in Education — a non-government organisation, that has taken up cudgels for the parents — considered pooling in funds to keep the academic institute running.

“We have decided to knock at the doors of the court only if all other measures fail,” said the parent of a student.

Even as exams are a couple of months away, students are being forced to study in the dark classrooms over the last fortnight. Electricity to the school building has been cut off and the school is unable to contribute towards its expenses as its bank account has allegedly been frozen. Besides, water supply to the building has been disrupted and toilets are not in a usable condition, complained parents.

The parents said they were at the end of their tether as they were not receiving any support from senior education officials. Jayant Jain of the Forum For Fairness in Education said that their complaints had been ignored by education authorities who expressed inability to help, saying the school is affiliated to the CBSE [Central Board of Secondary Education] board.

“But every school requires an NOC [no-objection certificate] from the state government. How can the state education authorities shrug off their responsibility?” said Jain who spoke to DNA on behalf of the parents of students. “As a last resort, we will just have to go to court.”

 

Direct cash scheme launched in 6 dists

Direct cash scheme launched in 6 dists

DNA Correspondent

January 2, 11:54 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1784579

Mumbai: Now, more than 51,000 beneficiaries in Mumbai and its suburbs will be able to directly transfer money from state and central schemes to their bank accounts. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan launched the direct cash transfer scheme in six districts of the state on Tuesday.

While Mumbai has nearly 21,000 beneficiaries of 11 government schemes, the suburbs have nearly 29,400. Almost 90% of the beneficiaries have opened their bank accounts for the benefits of the scheme, although enrolment percentage of Aadhaar is 60% in Mumbai and 56% in the suburbs.

After the launch of the Aadhar-linked direct cash transfer, a dozen beneficiaries from a couple of schemes were handed over their bank cards for direct credit.

The six districts in Maharashtra were chosen from the shortlisted 42 for the cash transfer scheme. The state government has shortlisted 11 schemes for the beneficiaries’ of these districts.

Maharashtra is number two in terms of enrolment for Aadhar cards, with nearly 5 crore citizens having enrolled for it.

Mumbai Guardian minister Jayant Patil said the government wishes to bring all 35 districts under the scheme by end of September 2013.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan termed the scheme a historic step that will help the government bring in great transparency.