In its annual list of the year's top ten scientific breakthroughs, the journal Science has given top honors to research that produced "made-to-order" cell lines by reprogramming cells from ill patients. These cell lines, and the techniques for producing them, offer long-sought tools for understanding -- and hopefully someday curing -- difficult-to-study diseases such as Parkinson's disease and type 1 diabetes.
Science and its publisher, AAAS, the nonprofit science society, now salute cellular reprogramming as the Breakthrough of the Year and recognize nine more of the year's most significant scientific accomplishments. The top ten list appears in a special feature in the journal's 19 December 2008 issue.
"When Science's writers and editors set out to pick this year's biggest advances, we looked for research that answers major questions about how the universe works and that paves the way for future discoveries. Our top choice, cellular reprogramming, opened a new field of biology almost overnight and holds out hope of life-saving medical advances," said deputy news editor Robert Coontz.
Two years ago, in experiments with mice, researchers showed that they could wipe out a cell's developmental "memory" by inserting just four genes. Once returned to its pristine, embryonic state, the cell could then be coaxed to become an altogether different type of cell.
This year, scientists built on this work with spectacular results. Two research teams took cells from patients suffering from a variety of diseases and reprogrammed them into stem cells. Many of these diseases are difficult or impossible to study with animal models, making the need for human cell lines to study even more acute.
The transformed cells grow and divide in the laboratory, unlike most adult cells, which don't survive in culture conditions. The cells could then be induced to assume new identities, including those cell types most affected by the diseases afflicting the patients who had donated the initial cells.
A third research team skipped the embryonic state altogether and, working with mouse cells, turned one type of mature pancreas cells, called exocrine cells, directly into another type, called beta cells.
The new cell lines will be major tools for understanding how diseases arise and develop, and they may also prove useful in screens for potential drugs. Eventually, if scientists can master cellular reprogramming so that it's more finely controlled, efficient and safe, patients may someday be treated with healthy versions of their own cells.
The other nine scientific achievements of 2008 follow. Except for the first runner-up, the direct detection of extrasolar planets, they are in no particular order.
Exoplanets - Seeing Is Believing: For the first time this year, astronomers directly observed planets orbiting other stars, using special telescope techniques to distinguish the planets' faint light from the stars' bright glare.
Expanding the Catalog of Cancer Genes: By sequencing genes from various cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma, two of the deadliest cancers, researchers turned up dozens of mutations that remove the brakes on cell division and send the cell down the path to cancer.
New Mystery Materials: High-temperature superconductors are materials that carry electricity without resistance at inexplicably high temperatures. In 2008, researchers created a stir by discovering a whole second family of high-temperature superconductors, consisting of iron compounds instead of copper-and-oxygen-compounds.
Watching Proteins at Work: Biochemists encountered major surprises this year as they watched proteins bind to their targets, switch a cell's metabolic state and contribute to a tissue's properties.
Toward Renewable Energy on Demand: This year, researchers found a promising new tool for storing excess electricity generated from part-time sources like wind and solar power, on industrial scale. A cobalt-phosphorus catalyst that's relatively easy to come by can use electricity to split water to free its hydrogen, which can in turn be fed into fuel cells to produce electricity again.
The Video Embryo: In 2008, researchers observed in unprecedented detail the dance of cells in a developing embryo, recording and analyzing movies that trace the movements of the roughly 16,000 cells that make up the zebrafish embryo by the end of its first day of development.
"Good" Fat, Illuminated: In a study that may offer new approaches to treating obesity, scientists discovered that they could morph "good" brown fat, which burns "bad" white fat to generate heat for the body, into muscle and vice versa.
Calculating the Weight of the World: Physicists now have the calculations in hand to show that the standard model -- which describes most of the visible universe's particles and their interactions -- accurately predicts how much mass protons and neutrons have.
Faster, Cheaper Genome Sequencing: Researchers reported a flurry of genome sequences this year - from woolly mammoths to human cancer patients - aided by a variety of sequencing technologies that are much speedier and cheaper than the ones used to sequence the first human genome.
Areas to Watch: Science's predictions for hot science topics in 2009 include plants genomics, the elusive Higgs boson, speciation genes, ocean acidification, and neuroscience in court.
The special news features also looks at how the financial meltdown - the Breakdown of the Year - affected scientific research, and the major scientific collaborations getting off the ground in Europe.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Cellular Reprogramming: Science's Breakthrough Of The Year
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Congenital and conductive deafnes
I visited an old friend last Tuesday, I had a great time talking and catching up but that wasn't the one that i really can't forget, it was my friend's niece.
She was just around 2 years old. I called her but she didn't react or respond.
Then i found out that she was deaf.
My friend told me that it was Congenital deafness. And she is planning to send her to speech classes the moment the kid started schooling.
I was really concern because this is the first time i saw somebody that is deaf at a very young age.
So the moment i arrived i started my research about different type of deafness, and here's what i found.
Congenital deafness is one type of deafness that started from the moment you were born. It's like you already show hearing defects since you were young.
People don't usually react to different sounds that surround them.
You will know if a child has these kind of hearing defects if he's old enough to talk but still doesn't talk.
They should be wearing hearing aids and should undergo some speech training. Congenital deafness usually started from mothers who has German Measles.
Conductive deafness is a hearing loss that is cause by a defect of the external canal and the middle ear.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Fate And Effects Of The Drug Tamiflu In The Environment
The research council FORMAS in Sweden has granted 574 000 euro to a new research project that will study the environmental fate and effects of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu on the development on influenza resistance.
Tamiflu is being stockpiled all over the world for use in fighting the next influenza pandemic. However, there are growing signs that influenza viruses may develop resistance to this vital pharmaceutical, because it is routinely prescribed for seasonal influenza.
- This research project is interdisciplinary and will combine studies on the environmental fate of the drug with in vivo studies of the development of Tamiflu resistant viruses say the project leader Björn Olsen at the Department of Medical Sciences Uppsala University.
This research project presents an innovative approach to studying the development of Tamiflu resistance in influenza viruses caused by environmental contamination which is a potential threat to one of our few defences against a future influenza pandemic.
Scientists from Uppsala University, Umeå University and Karolinska Institute will investigate the potential problem from an environmental chemical, virological and infectious diseases aspect.
A wide range of topics will be addressed; studies of the degradation of Tamiflu in sewage treatment plants will be combined with screening of the environmental levels in surface water in Japan. Japan is one of the world's top-per-capita consumers of Tamiflu and it has been estimated that approximately 40% of those that are infected by influenza viruses are treated with Tamiflu. This makes Japan one of the "Hot Spots" in the world and the research project has established collaboration with scientists at Kyoto University and several field sampling campaigns in Japan has been scheduled. Detected environmental levels will then be used in an in vivo Mallard infection model for detailed studies on the development of Tamiflu resistance in low pathogenic avian viruses. This will be combined with a screening study of the occurrence of resistant viruses in faecal samples from wild ducks in the vicinity of Japanese sewage treatment plants.
UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
P.O. Box 256
SE-751 05 Uppsala
http://www.uu.se
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tamiflu In The Environment
The research council FORMAS, Sweden, has granted 5.9 million SEK to a new research project that will study the environmental fate and effects of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu on the development on influenza resistance.
Tamiflu is being stockpiled all over the world for use in fighting the next influenza pandemic. However, there are growing signs that influenza viruses may develop resistance to this vital pharmaceutical, because it is routinely prescribed for seasonal influenza.
This research project is interdisciplinary and will combine studies on the environmental fate of the drug with in vivo studies of the development of Tamiflu resistant viruses say the project leader Björn Olsen at the Department of Medical Sciences Uppsala University.
This research project presents an innovative approach to studying the development of Tamiflu resistance in influenza viruses caused by environmental contamination which is a potential threat to one of our few defences against a future influenza pandemic.
Scientists from Uppsala University, Umeå University and Karolinska Institute will investigate the potential problem from an environmental chemical, virological and infectious diseases aspect.
A wide range of topics will be addressed; studies of the degradation of Tamiflu in sewage treatment plants will be combined with screening of the environmental levels in surface water in Japan. Japan is one of the world's top-per-capita consumers of Tamiflu and it has been estimated that approximately 40% of those that are infected by influenza viruses are treated with Tamiflu. This makes Japan one of the "Hot Spots" in the world and the research project has established collaboration with scientists at Kyoto University and several field sampling campaigns in Japan has been scheduled. Detected environmental levels will then be used in an in vivo Mallard infection model for detailed studies on the development of Tamiflu resistance in low pathogenic avian viruses. This will be combined with a screening study of the occurrence of resistant viruses in faecal samples from wild ducks in the vicinity of Japanese sewage treatment plants.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Abnormally short stature with normal body proportions
Growth hormone deficiency involves abnormally short stature with normal body proportions. It is a condition of inadequate production of growth hormone.Growth hormone deficiency can be categorized as either congenital (present at birth) or acquired.It is also known as Panhypopituitarism; Dwarfism; Pituitary dwarfism.
Causes:
Receiving brain radiation treatments for cancer,severe head injury,insufficient release of stimulatory hormone from the hypothalamus,insufficient production of growth hormone by the pituitary,decrease in IGF-1 hormones, lack of oxygen at birth,diseases in the pituitary gland, abnormalities in the hormone receptors, an autoimmune attack,mutations of specific genes,congenital malformations involving the pituitary,surgery in the area of the pituitary,auto immune inflammation (hypophysitis), severe head trauma, anatomical abnormalities,deficiencies of other hormones, including: Thyrotropins (control production of thyroid hormones) Vasopressin (controls water balance in the body) ,Gonadotropins (control production of male and female sex hormones) , adrenocorticotrophic hormone (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones) etc.
Symptoms:
Physical and psychological symptoms, including poor memory, social withdrawal, and even depression,loss of strength, stamina, and musculature,lowed or absent increase in height ,short stature,absent or delayed sexual development in an adolescent ,headaches ,excessive thirst with excessive urination ,reduced muscle mass and strength ,reduced bone mass and strength ,reduced physical, mental, and social energy and resilience , increased amount of fat around the waist, delayed tooth development, delayed onset of puberty , low energy , decreased strength and exercise tolerance,thin and dry skin.
Treatment:
Growth hormone deficiency is treated by growth hormone replacement. The goals of treatment are to increase growth in children and restore energy, metabolism, and body composition.Usually,somatropin (Humatrope, Genotropin, Norditropin, Nutropin, Saizen, TevTropin) is the growth hormone prescribed by doctors .Other Therapy-Radiation therapy to the pituitary gland. Synthetic growth hormone can be used for children with growth hormone deficiency.
Prevention:
Review child’s growth chart and add nutritional food in diet,
Alternative treatment:
Self-Care at home, patients should eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Influenza -highly contagious infection cuased by viruses
Influenza,commonly known as the flu, is an acute, highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract which commonly occurs in the winter, caused by influenza viruses.
Symptoms
Chills and Fever (usually high), severe headache ,tiredness (can be extreme),cough ,sore throat ,runny or stuffy nose ,body aches ,diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults),muscle pains,fatigue,irritated watering eyes,nasal congestion,reddened eyes,skin,mouth,throat and nose, loss of appetite,weakness,ear pain.
Causes:
viruses is a much more severe disease and is caused by a different type of virus.They are:influenza A, B and C. Type A is responsible for the deadly influenza pandemics (worldwide epidemics) that strike every 10 to 40 years, whereas type B causes smaller, more localized outbreaks. Type C is less common and causes only mild symptoms. The influenza virus is generally passed from person to person by airborne transmission (i.e., sneezing or coughing.It may also be spread by touching something that has been handled by someone infected with the virus and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes. Influenza virus is spread by inhaling droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by an infected person or by having direct contact with an infected person's secretions.
Treatment:
The most common human vaccine is the trivalent influenza vaccine that contains purified and inactivated material from three viral strains.Anti-flue medications is necessary. .Anti viral medications are neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir(Tamiflu) and Zanamivir(relenza) and M2 inhibitors(adamantanes) such as Amantadine and rimantadine are effective anti-influenza drugs .Two newer medications, Relenza and Tamiflu work on influenza subtypes A and B. Relenza is an inhaled powder, while Tamiflu is an oral medication
Prevention:
Influenza vaccination and infection control,good personal health and hygiene habits are effective in avoiding and minimizing influenza. Avoiding large crowds Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, never pick up used tissues,never share cups and eating utensils,stay home from work or school when you're sick with the flu. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Altrnative Treatment:
Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration,get plenty of sleep,Avoid alcohol,take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches, wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thyroid diseases and Psychology problem
Introduction
Thyroid problems are mainly of two types. Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than that is necessary for human body. In hypothyroidism hormone is produced in less quantity than necessary.
Symptoms
Weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, depression, irritability, sweating, hyperactivity etc. Palpitation, softness of breath, vomiting, nausea etc are also found in some patients.
Causes
Hypothyroidism may be due to loss of thyroid tissue due to some radioactive destruction, presence of antithyroid antibodies, congenital problems, defective production of thyroid hormone by gland, due to medications including lithium etc.
Hyperthyroidism occurs due to some diseases causing stimulation of thyroid gland, toxic multinodular goiter, thyroiditis, pituitary adenoma, or due to some drugs used by patient. Usually amiodarone given for cardiac problems causes hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid disorders and psychology
Patients are also found to have developed anxiety along with depression in cases of thyroid diseases. In the studies conducted it was found that patients with biochemical hypothyroidism these symptoms are low. Most of them has mood disorders as well. Thyroid disorders are also likely to cause mental and neurological dysfunction. Anxiety due to this disease is also likely to affect the quality of life of patient. In patients with antiimmune thyroid disease psychoses are likely to develop. This is because of the neurobiologic disorganization caused by this disease. Cognitive dysfunction and other psychiatric illnesses are also likely to occur. Several problems like dysphoria, emotional lability, insomnia etc are also likely to occur due to thyroid problem. At times this may lead to delusional thoughts at times of paranoid nature.
In men this disease is associated with several sexual symptoms. Thyroid diseases leads to below normal sexual desire, delayed or premature ejaculation and erectile disfunction. These are all considered to be psychological problems related to thyroid disease.
Even mild problem with thyroid is likely to cause mood problems. This may lead to bipolar or unipolar disorder. If thyroid diseases are developed in childhood they are likely to affect behavior and Intellectual development of child. Neuropsychiatric problems are common in children with thyroid problems and in those with hyperthyroidism and leads to bipolar disorder, depression, sleep disorders and cognitive changes.
Those with thyroid problems have symptoms of mental and physical complaints like loss of energy and is difficult to understand psychiatric problems. Some of them have depression, about 62 percent patients have anxiety disorders. Panic disorders are not popular. Due to decresed attentiveness, slowing of thought and speech and poor concentration they are likely to develop depression. Patients suffer problems like fear, suspicion, delusion, anger etc. They experience auditory and visual problems, sleep disturbances as well. More symptoms are seen in those with euthyroid goiter.
Treatment
Those with depression, anxiety, should undergo medical lab test for blood count, thyroid functions, electrolysis, liver function test etc. men if having thyroid problem must consider their sexual function. At times medicines given to patients with mental illness is also likely to cause thyroid problems. This should be taken care of.
Links
http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:174868
