Specialists have developed a drug to combat radiation sickness

High doses of radioactive radiation can destroy DNA in a few minutes. But before the first aid can be provided from the moment of irradiation, several days can pass. Recent studies in this field have shown that it is possible to significantly reduce the mortality rate of affected individuals. In the course of the research, specialists developed a remedy that remained effective even three days after receiving a high dose of radiation (all experiments scientists conducted on laboratory rodents).

As experts believe, the new drug can be used in the future to protect the astronauts from harmful to human galactic rays.

The developers noted that the cells repair DNA damaged by radiation, but this process does not always proceed correctly. When the cell does not recognize the remnants of a disorder in the DNA, it significantly increases the risk of developing cancerous tumors, if an opposite reaction is observed, then the cell self-destruct. If such a reaction occurs in many cells, then death will occur within seven days.

Professor Gabor Tigyi and colleagues at the Public Research University in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, devoted 10 years to the study of the properties of LFK (lysophosphatidic acid, due to which the cells have a chance to survive after a high dose of radiation). How exactly the acid helps to restore cells is not known, but experts can say that thanks to exercise therapy, the cells have the necessary time to repair the broken DNA. Thanks to this molecule, the risk of oncology or self-destruction in most cells is significantly reduced .

Back in 2007, specialists developed a drug that reacts with the cellular receptors of exercise therapy and reduces the manifestation of radiation on the digestive system and bone marrow, which are most susceptible to radiation. However, the remedy, in terms of medicine, was not strong enough.

In a recent study, a team of specialists applied computer simulation technology to improve the molecular structure of an existing drug and develop a new, more powerful tool. The first experiments on laboratory rodents were already conducted and the results were impressive.

Radiation by force of 3-4 grays can kill a person, but a group of specialists began experimenting with extremely high doses - rodents were exposed to radiation with a force of 15.7 gey. In the group of rodents who were not receiving treatment, 12 mice from 14 died in 14 days.

In another group, where DBIBB treatment was administered (a new remedy for radiation sickness), 13 of 14 rodents remained alive. The drug was administered to mice a day after the radiation, while mice received surgical treatment.

Operative therapy is not always possible, in this connection, scientists have conducted a number of experiments. DBIBB was administered to the experimental animal 72 hours after irradiation with a force of 8.5 ga. In the group of rodents who did not receive treatment, 12 of 15 mice died, 14 of 15 animals remained alive in the group receiving DBIBB therapy.

Now there is no effective drug on the market that can cope with the manifestations of radiation sickness, but several such tools are at the development stage. Most of the drugs that are used for radiation sickness today are effective only if they are introduced within 24 hours after the radioactive study. Given all these advantages of DBIBB are unquestionable.

Tiggyi and colleagues intend to continue work on the new drug to improve its effectiveness (at this stage DBIBB helps in 90% of cases).

To conduct clinical trials involving people do not allow ethical standards, but before there is an acute need to apply the drug on humans, scientists need to thoroughly study the principle of the drug and prove the high efficiency and safety of DBIBB in laboratory animals.

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