Friday, May 28, 2010
Synthetic life
A genome with watermarks , names of 46 people , a a website address and 3 quotations
"TO LIVE, TO ERR, TO FALL, TO TRIUMPH, TO RECREATE LIFE OUT OF LIFE." - JAMES JOYCE;
"SEE THINGS NOT AS THEY ARE, BUT AS THEY MIGHT BE.”-A quote from the book, “American Prometheus”;
"WHAT I CANNOT BUILD, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND." - RICHARD FEYNMAN.
This is the synthetic DNA that Craig venter and his team developed in the J.CRAIG VENTER INSTITUTE(JCVI)after 15 years of extensive hard work and toil.the organism Mycoplasma mycoides is an self replicating synthetic organism whose DNA is synthetically prepared by a computer and then transplanted into the cell of a bacterium.
This breakthrough has evoked mixed responses from the scientific community.On one hand it will be easier to make vaccines in relatively less time and discover new vaccines for many disorders,and bring about solutions to various environmental issues,on the other hand there looms a threat of the discovery falling into the wrong hnds and unfortunate events like bioterrorism and development of unknown new species of organisms developing.
heres an excellent video of Craig Venter unveiling his work.
http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_unveils_synthetic_life.html
post your comments about your opinion on the topic.
"TO LIVE, TO ERR, TO FALL, TO TRIUMPH, TO RECREATE LIFE OUT OF LIFE." - JAMES JOYCE;
"SEE THINGS NOT AS THEY ARE, BUT AS THEY MIGHT BE.”-A quote from the book, “American Prometheus”;
"WHAT I CANNOT BUILD, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND." - RICHARD FEYNMAN.
This is the synthetic DNA that Craig venter and his team developed in the J.CRAIG VENTER INSTITUTE(JCVI)after 15 years of extensive hard work and toil.the organism Mycoplasma mycoides is an self replicating synthetic organism whose DNA is synthetically prepared by a computer and then transplanted into the cell of a bacterium.
This breakthrough has evoked mixed responses from the scientific community.On one hand it will be easier to make vaccines in relatively less time and discover new vaccines for many disorders,and bring about solutions to various environmental issues,on the other hand there looms a threat of the discovery falling into the wrong hnds and unfortunate events like bioterrorism and development of unknown new species of organisms developing.
heres an excellent video of Craig Venter unveiling his work.
http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_unveils_synthetic_life.html
post your comments about your opinion on the topic.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
cardiomyocytes from adipose tissues -- future of cardiac therapies.
Spanish scientists have been able to reprogram adult stem cells from lipoaspiration to create cardiomyocytes.At a time when the burden of cardiac mortality and morbidity is o n the rise and the burden is ever increasing both in developed and developing countries,this comes as a good news.
the stem cells were isolated from the lipoaspiration of adult human and then permeabilized and treated with adult human auricle cell extract.after about 21 days the cells were found to be differentiated to cardiomyocytes.
The study is a boon as this will pave the way for some promising treatments in cardiac diseases.But there is a long way to go before the therapies come into being,because further researches on animal and human models have to be done.
for further reading
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100519081558.htm
the stem cells were isolated from the lipoaspiration of adult human and then permeabilized and treated with adult human auricle cell extract.after about 21 days the cells were found to be differentiated to cardiomyocytes.
The study is a boon as this will pave the way for some promising treatments in cardiac diseases.But there is a long way to go before the therapies come into being,because further researches on animal and human models have to be done.
for further reading
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100519081558.htm
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pollution - A modifiable risk factor of CV mortality and morbidity
The american heart association has included one more modifiable risk factor contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.researchers have found that fine particulate matter(PM2.5)has a causal effect on cardiovascular disorders especially IHD.
It is believed that due to the fine particulate matter especially PM2.5 AND PM10,inflammatory responses take place in the lungs,this in turn leads to systemic inflammation .systemic inflammation triggers a host of responses like oxidative stress,platelet and leukocyte activation and endothelial dysfunction.These in turn lead to thrombus formation,atherosclerosis and plaque instability which predisposes to MI.Another mechanism is activation of pulmonary reflexes due to the particulate matter and pollutants in the air which leads to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and in turn cardiac arrhythmia.
Application in nursing practice:
- Since this is modifiable risk factor,it is important to include this aspect in the health teaching of all patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular disorders or who are already diagnosed with one. Emphasize on the importance of avoiding polluted environments as far as possible to the clients with higher risk factors for CV mortality and morbidity.
for further reading refer to links:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4419
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/21/2655/FIG2
http://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/286/2/H479
It is believed that due to the fine particulate matter especially PM2.5 AND PM10,inflammatory responses take place in the lungs,this in turn leads to systemic inflammation .systemic inflammation triggers a host of responses like oxidative stress,platelet and leukocyte activation and endothelial dysfunction.These in turn lead to thrombus formation,atherosclerosis and plaque instability which predisposes to MI.Another mechanism is activation of pulmonary reflexes due to the particulate matter and pollutants in the air which leads to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and in turn cardiac arrhythmia.
Application in nursing practice:
- Since this is modifiable risk factor,it is important to include this aspect in the health teaching of all patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular disorders or who are already diagnosed with one. Emphasize on the importance of avoiding polluted environments as far as possible to the clients with higher risk factors for CV mortality and morbidity.
for further reading refer to links:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4419
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/21/2655/FIG2
http://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/286/2/H479
Monday, May 10, 2010
commemorating Florence Nightingale
hey friends ..I am really sorry for being away from the blog world for so long....Well its nurses week and and this is a time to celebrate nursing.....
This 12th may is also the centennial of Florence nightingale and to commemorate this occasion the nurses' chapel in Westminster abbey dedicated to more than 3000 nurses who died in the second world war will be dedicated to Florence nightingale.This is the first time that a commoner gets a chapel in Westminster abbey named after her,the others being saints or members of the royal family.She is the only nurse and one among the few women to be commemorated at the abbey.
Do you believe Florence Nightingale deserves this????send your comments.....
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