The fact that Exposure to Nuclear Radiation leads to disastrous health hazards and even death is a well known fact. The latest news that could bring relief to many people is that, a single injection given a day after being exposed to nuclear radiation could increase the survival chances of the people who got exposed to it.
According to University of Texas Branch, UTMB, USA, lead author Carla Kantara, a peptide drug TP 508, was injected into mice 24 hours after they were exposed to hazardous radiations and it was found that the mice survived the radiation effects. It delayed mortality in mice by withstanding damage to the gastrointestinal system.
The threats caused on being exposed to nuclear radiations, had increased the global awareness regarding the need for medical counter process to prevent body damages and thereby the need to keep people alive. Carla Kantara was also of the view that, this peptide might be emergency nuclear counter step after exposure to radiations to increase the survival.
The positive feedback on the usage of this drug TP 508 included the healing of foot based ulcers and some fractures in the wrists with no harmful effects. This drug was developed for the repair of skin, bones and muscle tissues. Tissue repair was done by stimulated proper blood flow and it further reduced the inflammation and cell death.
Large number of radiation effects was present and one that was most prevalent because of radiation effect was the Gastro Intestinal (GI) toxicity syndrome that was caused due to the radiation-induced damage of the lining of the intestines. As a result of the damage to the intestine, the ability of the body to absorb water was reduced and it caused electrolyte imbalances, bacterial based infections, leakages in the intestines, death etc.
It was found that the crypt cells present in the intestines and colon were damaged due to this GI toxicity syndrome as these cells lost their ability to renew continuously for GI track to perform its functions. These crypt cells indicated the survival rate of a person after being exposed to the radiations.
Professor Darrell Carney, Department of biochemistry and molecular biology said that, new medicines were the need of the hour for the treatment of GI problems caused due to exposure to radiations. He also said that radiation induced damage to the intestine was very important as it indicated how well a person had recovered after exposed to radiations. The entire study was published in the Laboratory Investigation journal.
