MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'engineering'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:48:45 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174803&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1065-The-Transhumanism-Trap.html is out there.  I am seeing it more and more often. SpliceIf you do not know what transhumanism is let alone know that it has a logical trap into which the average person is likely to fall, don't worry.  Most people don't.   Transhumanism is a movement that wants to use technology to go beyond curing or preventing disease or disability.  Transhumanists hunger for technology that will take an otherwise healthy individual and enhance him or her beyond normal human ability.  Transhumanism seeks not just to cure disease but to change the very nature of man.  To make him more than human, even immortal, with whatever means are available, whether it is with nanotechnology, artificial limbs, artificial intelligence, or genetic enhancement.  Transhumanism is a in... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174803 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:09:00 +0100 5174803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140184&cid=t_98245_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fadvanced-mri-scan-may-predict-chemotherapy-benefit-in-late-stage-ovarian-cancer-patients-after-just-one-cycle%2F Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital have developed an advanced type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that can detect whether late-stage ovarian cancers are responding to chemotherapy treatment after just one cycle. Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden Hospital have developed an [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140184 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:34:49 +0100 5140184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086175&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fresearchers-make-an-artificial-lung-that-would-not-require-a-mechanical-pump%2F2011.07.31 Researchers from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio made a prototype of an artificial lung which reaches gas exchange efficiencies almost equal to the genuine organ. The small device does not need extra oxygen, it works with normal air. Joe Potkay, a research assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science published the technique this week in the journal Lab on a Chip. The scientists developed this prototype while keeping track of the natural design of our lungs. It is made of breathable silicone rubber acting as blood vessels that get as small as one-fourth of the width of a human hair. Because it works on the same scale as normal lung tissue, the team was able to shrink the distances for gas diffusion compared to current techniques. Tests usin... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086175 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:00:01 +0100 5086175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5076973&cid=t_98245_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FVQLvzLRbR7U%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Margaret McFall-Ngai, and Elio Schaechter On episode #12 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Margaret, Michael and Elio review the use of photothermal nanoblades to dissect the Burkholderia intracellular life cycle, and manipulation of chromosomes in vivo for genome-wide codon replacement in E. coli. Click the arrow above to play, or right click to download TWiM #12 (52 MB, .mp3, 75 minutes). Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Zune Marketplace, via RSS feed, by email or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Using a photothermal nanoblade to study intracellular life cycle (PNAS) Reynolds number Theriot lab movie collection Manipulation of chromosomes in vivo (Science) Stop codons Church... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5076973 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:27:48 +0100 5076973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008089&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008172.html Robert K. Kaufmann of Boston University and a few other researchers have proposed a theory to explain why global warming basically stopped for about 10 years: sulfur aerosols emissions from China's big surge in coal burning (doubling from 2003 to 2007!) have canceled out most of the warming effects of higher carbon dioxide. Accidental large-scale climate engineering. What a fascinating experiment. Massive sulfur never would have been politically approved as an intentional intervention for cooling. Given the widely noted increase in the warming effects of rising greenhouse gas concentrations, it has been unclear why global surface temperatures did not rise between 1998 and 2008. We find that this hiatus in warming coincides with a period of little increase in the... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008089 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5008089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976115&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1036-Good-News-for-Gene-Therapy.html Gene therapy is the kind of genetic engineering Catholics can get behind.  Gene therapy would deliver a copy of a normal gene into the cells of a patient with defective genes to cure or slow the progress of disease. The added gene would produce a protein that is missing or defective in the diseased patient.  It has proven to be not such an easy thing to do however because the gene has to be targeted to the right spot and our bodies have a lot of ways to prevent foreign DNA from inserting itself into our genome.  And even if a new gene is inserted properly, it often does not make it into a daughter cell when the cell divides.  Scientists have announced that they have found a way to get a normal blood clotting gene into mice with hemophilia and keep it there.  From The Scientist: Using ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976115 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:04:38 +0100 4976115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872338&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1014-Controlling-Human-Genetic-Engineering-Before-it-Controls-Us-Part-2.html Cartoon S. HarrisControlling Human Genetic Engineering Before it Controls Us Part 1 was all about the distinction between gene therapy and genetic enhancement.  I want to delve deeper into the world of human genetic engineering in Part 2 and discuss somatic and germ-line genetic modifications. I know that for some of you the words "somatic" and "germ-line" have made your eyes glass over and I am about to lose you (if I haven't already). Stick with me! This will not be as painful as it sounds and you might actually enjoy knowing more about human genetic engineering than 99.9% of the general populaceThe distinction between somatic and germ-line modifications is just as important as the distinction between gene therapy and genetic enhancement. Somatic is a fancy scientifi... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872338 Fri, 27 May 2011 20:53:00 +0100 4872338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872090&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fiphone-app-can-substitute-for-expensive-pulse-oximeter%2F2011.05.27 The Electrical and Computer Engineering in Medicine (ECEM) research group in collaboration with the Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team (PART) at the University of British Columbia have developed a mobile solution to measuring key vital signs — called the “Phone Oximeter”. The Phone Oximeter uses a traditional FDA approved pulse oximetry sensor, but researchers have modified it to interface with a phone, in this case, your iPhone. Currently the setup is being interfaced with an iPhone for trial studies, but is compatible with Android, and other mobile operating systems. What makes the Phone Oximeter special is its ability to capture SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation), heart rate, and respiratory rate — then dynamically comprehend the variables using the decision support software, giving... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872090 Fri, 27 May 2011 18:00:12 +0100 4872090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862493&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2Fcanadian-court-ruling-allows-donor-offspring-to-find-biological-parents Many of us have at least heard of controversies over open vs. closed adoption laws, and the efforts by many to make adoption more open so children can find out about their biological parents. One of many arguments for open adoptions relates to health – children may want or need to find out about their family history and risk for medical conditions that may affect them. Until recently, I hadn’t heard that the same debate is raging with regards to “donor offspring” – people conceived as the result of sperm, egg, or embryo donation. It makes sense – many of the same issues are raised in a donor situation, including what hereditary medical issues are important to watch out for. Last week, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada) ruled in favor of jou... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862493 Mon, 23 May 2011 22:05:03 +0100 4862493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780435&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1013-Controling-human-genetic-engineering-before-it-controls-us-Part-1.html I have not had much time lately to write so here is a repost for my readers of a guest piece at Creative Minority.www.chrismadden.co.ukMore and more movies depicting a dystopian future are playing on big screens everywhere.  They are usually cautionary tales of how technology ends up dominating human existence, our choices, our families, our relationships, our lives.  These tales are not new.  From GATTACA to The Island, from Surrogates to Limitless, what begins as man wielding his superior intellect to mold his world and harness nature ends up as individuals losing their humanity and becoming slaves to technology. As in Surrogates, often the technology is developed as a way to cure disease or help the disabled, but applied to the common man it changes who we are and how we interact wit... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780435 Tue, 03 May 2011 20:18:00 +0100 4780435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771076&cid=t_98245_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.com%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fcan-hobbyists-and-hackers-transform-biotechnology%2F For most of us, managing our health means visiting a doctor. The more serious our concerns, the more specialized a medical expert we seek. Our bodies often feel like foreign and frightening lands, and we are happy to let someone with an MD serve as our tour guide. For most of us, our own DNA [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771076 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:21:06 +0100 4771076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723769&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008035.html In response to the BP Macondo Deepwater Horizon oil well blow-out and resulting 87 days of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico 2 consortiums of oil companies and formed 2 companies to develop devices that can be brought on after a blow-out to cap a run-away well within a couple of weeks of a blow-out. 10 major oil companies (e.g. Exxon and COP) that account for 70% of the oil pumped in the Gulf put up $1 billion to fund the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) to create what are called capping stacks. Some of these stacks are ready for deployment. A separate group of oil companies founded Helix Well Containment Group which has developed their own capping stacks.... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723769 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4723769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709206&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fibms-new-solution-for-drug-resistant-bacteria-nanotechnology%2F2011.04.13 IBM and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Shanghai have designed a new type of polymer that can detect and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. The polymer nanostructures also prevent bacteria from developing drug resistance. Moreover, because of the mechanism by which the nanostructures work, they don’t affect circulating blood cells, and, unlike most traditional antimicrobial agents, the nanostructures are biodegradable, naturally eliminated from the body rather than remaining behind and accumulating in tissues. From the Nature Chemistry abstract by Nederberg, et al.: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709206 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:00:58 +0100 4709206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664475&cid=t_98245_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJViUwPFkJdM%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that PTC Therapeutics hired Robert Spiegel as chief medical officer, who previously held the same position at Schering-Plough, where he worked since 1983. While he was at the big drugmaker, Spiegel was involved in the filing of more than 30 New Drug... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664475 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:06:13 +0100 4664475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658514&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1011-3-Parent-Babies-Could-Be-Conceived-in-UK-Next-Year.html Yes.  Thats right a three genetic parent baby maybe on the way in the UK within the next year.  Why would scientists want to engineer an embryo with the genetic material from 3 people?  To "prevent" the inheritance of mitochondrial disease.  Not all of our DNA that we inherit is in the nuclei of the egg and sperm that join at fertilization.  In the cytoplasm of our mother's egg are mitochondria.  Mitochondria have their own DNA called mtDNA.  We inherit our mtDNA only from our mother because sperm's mitochondria are dumped at conception.  There are genetic mutations that cause disease in mtDNA and a woman with a such a mutation cannot help but pass this mutation on to her children.This is where the three parent embryos come in.  Here is how it works.  Scientists took th... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658514 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:45:12 +0100 4658514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592718&cid=t_98245_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2FwnX9ZyDvEj8%2F After watching the unfolding events in Northern Japan, I was blown away by the magnitude of the devastation. While the earthquake did massive damage, the ensuing tsunami completely decimated coastal Japanese towns. The scary thing was the speed of the water as it encroached onto flat land and through city streets. The water had an almost eerie seductiveness. It came on slowly at first and then just seemed to explode. Instead of huge tidal waves, the water rose from the bottom almost invisibly. I cannot imagine what those people must be going through. Everything they had has been washed away. And now the nuclear reactors are spewing radioactivity. It’s like a Hollywood disaster movie gone bad. When I was a kid, growing up in California, we used to worry about a massive earthquake and... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592718 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:20:08 +0100 4592718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592336&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007969.html In Technology Review Kevin Bullis highlights nuclear reactor design improvements that would cut the risk of cooling system failures. The latest nuclear reactor designs could help avoid the overheating and explosions that have occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan following the powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck on Friday. Newer reactor designs propose the use of passive cooling systems that would not fail after a power outage, as happened in Japan, as well as other novel approaches to managing reactor heat. Passive systems are key in my view. Human operators make mistakes and active systems can get damaged when you most need them. According to a Bloomberg report the Japanese reactors had back-up generators designed to withstand... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592336 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4592336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4565869&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007958.html Regeneration and rejuvenation will become possible as a result of tissue engineering research aimed at growing replacement parts. WINSTON-SALEM, NC – March 7, 2011 – Researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues reported today on a new advance in tissue engineering. The team is the first in the world to use patients’ own cells to build tailor-made urinary tubes and successfully replace damaged tissue.In an article published Online First by The Lancet, the research team reports replacing damaged segments of urinary tubes (urethras) in five boys. Tests to measure urine flow and tube diameter showed that the engineered tissue remained functional throughout the six-year (median) follow-up period.“These findings sugges... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4565869 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4565869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522231&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1006-Jim-A-movie-about-genetic-enhancement.html This movie looks phenomenal.  I am hoping it delivers.  Jim is a movie about genetic enhancement, taking otherwise normal humans and genetically engineering them to be more than human.  After crushing life experiences, Jim decides to order up a child who is enhanced to handle all of the troubles that he could not.  There is another story line of a distant future where a genetically enhanced super race controls a race of clones.  Here is the trailer:<p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14282384">Jim Theatrical Tr... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522231 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:37:18 +0100 4522231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507388&cid=t_98245_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Fdrgkja0ersI%2F As many of you know, EMR and HIPAA is a big time news company. We have a really fat budget and pay our reporters huge amounts of money to sit and smoke cigars while producing very little content of value. One of our biggest expenses here at HIMSS is in our investigative reporting department. Our motto is that if someone else breaks a story before us, then we spend the money to break them. Yes, we’re very serious about spending outrageous money breaking stories that no one else can break. After 3 years of investigation (and no government stimulus money), we’ve finally cracked the code on who’s behind the famous (and hilarious) Extormity EHR software. They’ve been very good about concealing their identity before their big HIMSS press conference in 312C, West Building.... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507388 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:46:10 +0100 4507388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360933&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007837.html Michael Anissimov sees the Singularity as the biggest threat to the continued existence of the human species. Some folks, like Aaron Saenz of Singularity Hub, were surprised that the NPR piece framed the Singularity as “the biggest threat to humanity”, but that’s exactly what the Singularity is. The Singularity is both the greatest threat and greatest opportunity to our civilization, all wrapped into one crucial event. This shouldn’t be surprising — after all, intelligence is the most powerful force in the universe that we know of, obviously the creation of a higher form of intelligence/power would represent a tremendous threat/opportunity to the lesser intelligences that come before it and whose survival depends on the whims of the greater intelligence/power. The... (Source: FuturePu... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360933 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4360933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343110&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1n2Mnzis_NA%2F By Mark A. CalabriaA common rationale for federal policies to expand homeownership is the desire to reduce observed racial differences in homeownership.  Receiving the most attention has been the gap in homeownership rates between white households and African-American.  The current homeownership rate for whites is 76.5%  (2007), while that for African-Americans is 54%, leaving a gap of 22.5%. Limitations on available data have made observations prior to 1940 difficult (1940 was the first “Census of Housing”).  A new working paper adds to our understanding by constructing a time series back to 1870, using previous Census data.  The findings are quite surprising. In 1870 the gap between white and African-American homeownership rates stood at an astonishing 48.8 percent.  ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343110 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:38:27 +0100 4343110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294591&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007779.html This report tells the story from the perspectives of many participants. Worth reading. The result, the interviews and records show, was paralysis. For nine long minutes, as the drilling crew battled the blowout and gas alarms eventually sounded on the bridge, no warning was given to the rest of the crew. For many, the first hint of crisis came in the form of a blast wave. The paralysis had two main sources, the examination by The Times shows. The first was a failure to train for the... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294591 Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4294591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272271&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007762.html Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and the University of Colorado find evidence that wind turbines alter microclimates for farm crops, possibly for the better. “We’ve finished the first phase of our research, and we’re confident that wind turbines do produce measureable effects on the microclimate near crops,” said Ames Laboratory associate and agricultural meteorology expert Gene Takle.  According to Takle, who is also a professor of agricultural meteorology and director of the Climate Science Program at Iowa State University, the slow-moving turbine blades that have become a familiar sight along Midwestern highways, channel air downwards, in effect bathing the crops below via the increased airflow they create. Wind turbines might reduce temperature e... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272271 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4272271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249179&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F996-Do-you-know-what-the-Catholic-Church-teaches-about-human-genetic-engineering.html Would you be surprised to find out that the Catholic Church teaches that some genetic engineering of humans is morally acceptable?  Read here to find out what kinds of human genetic engineering are ethical.  Think you don't need to know?  Think again.  The genetic engineering of humans is around the corner.  Gene therapy trials have already begun.  Find out what is ethical and what is not before human genetic engineering is out of control. (Source: Mary Meets Dolly) Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249179 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:22:06 +0100 4249179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190117&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007665.html Maria Konovalenko points to an impressive feat of tissue engineering. Using the cartilage of a donor trachea to form a scaffolding the stem cells from the nose and bone marrow of a 19 year old girl were grown on the cartilage scaffolding and then the new windpipe was implanted as a replacement for a cancerous trachea. A British teenager has been given a new windpipe grown from her own stem cells in a pioneering operation. The 19-year-old has now been discharged after having the procedure in Italy. Curiously, this is not the first success at growing replacement tracheas. Whether the stem cells are first grown on the trachea for a while before implantation has differed in the few times trachea... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190117 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4190117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993843&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007514.html Your position on climate engineering might be driven by how it will change rains and temperatures where you live. Reflecting sunlight from the Earth by geoengineering would undoubtedly cool the climate, but would different countries agree on how much to reflect? Research by climate scientists at the University of Bristol shows that the impact of geoengineering would be felt in very different ways across the world. Previous studies of geoengineering approaches, aimed at averting dangerous climate change, have shown that although the average global temperature could be restored to 'normal' levels, some regions would remain too warm, whereas others would 'overshoot' and cool to much. In addition, average rainfall would be reduced. People in coastal and low land regions are... (Source: FutureP... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993843 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3993843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868719&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007408.html Fun with cell engineering. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute funds a lot of cool stuff btw. Therapeutic cells, such as those implanted in the body to battle cancer or replenish devastated populations of stem cells, may someday be able to carry their own life-support packets. New research, led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator Darrell J. Irvine, shows how transplanted cells can be loaded with minuscule particles, or nanoparticles, which contain substances that help the therapeutic cells survive and flourish. These tiny packets of drugs may provide more effective support for the therapeutic cells, and cause less harm overall, because doctors might be able to achieve therapeutic effects with smaller doses of medicine. In this case the researchers are... (Source: FutureP... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868719 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3868719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3848844&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007393.html After a heart attack it might be possible to guide cells to do repairs that prevent deadly scar formation. These days people usually don't die from a heart attack. But the damage to heart muscle is irreversible, and most patients eventually succumb to congestive heart failure, the most common cause of death in developed countries. Stem cells now offer hope for achieving what the body can't do: mending broken hearts. Engineers and physicians at the University of Washington have built a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. A description of the scaffold, which supports the growth of cardiac cells in the lab and encourages blood vessel growth in living animals, is published this... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3848844 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3848844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827066&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhich-five-drugs-would-you-take-on-a-remote-desert-island%2F2010.08.05 This post follows a lengthy conversation I had with my wife, a physician-scientist, about this very topic. Many of you who attended the ScienceOnline2010 conference here last January probably met Carmen Drahl, the Princeton-trained chemist who now writes for Chemical & Engineering News and their appropriately-named drug discovery blog, The Haystack, as well as their Newscripts feature. For the latter, Dr. Drahl pointed us toward a recent “Crosstalks” paper in Chemistry & Biology by Thomas U. Mayer and Andreas Marx of the University of Konstanz (and her interview with the authors) who mused as follows from their abstract: Which five molecules would you take to a remote island? If you imagine yourself as a castaway on an island you might pick water, glucose, penicillin, and e... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827066 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:00:33 +0100 3827066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3812959&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FX3lkT597Q_c%2F By Malou InnocentIn an interview that aired yesterday on CBS’s Early Show, President Obama said his objective for Afghanistan is “fairly modest.” On its face, the mission seems modest enough: “don’t allow terrorists to operate from this region; don’t allow them to create big training camps and to plan attacks against the US homeland with impunity.” In reality, such a policy is not modest in the least. A commitment to never allow terrorists to resurface not only serves as a convenient rationale to prolong the mission but also as an open-ended justification to intervene anywhere in the world without hesitation. Moreover, the president claims that strengthening the capacity of a sovereign Afghan government will enhance America’s security, but the basis ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3812959 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:52:45 +0100 3812959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3807391&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-pre-term-labor-be-detected-earlier%2F2010.07.31 A team of biomedical engineering masters students at Johns Hopkins have developed a device that they hope will be able to spot oncoming pre-term labor in pregnant women earlier than by using an external tocodynamometer. The CervoCheck device is meant to be inserted into the vaginal canal/cervical opening where it then can measure electrical signals characteristic of contractions. Prototypes of the device are currently being tested in animals. We sympathize with those who have to insert them into pigs(?). (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3807391 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:00:38 +0100 3807391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767037&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007350.html Raising the albedo (reflectivity) of roofs and pavement with lighter colored and more reflective material could delay the effects of higher atmospheric CO2 by about 2 years. In the latest study, the Berkeley Lab researchers and their collaborators used a detailed global land surface model from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, which contained regional information on surface variables, such as topography, evaporation, radiation and temperature, as well as on cloud cover. For the northern hemisphere summer, they found that increasing the reflectivity of roof and pavement materials in cities with a population greater than 1 million would achieve a one-time offset of 57 gigatons (1gigaton equals 1 billion metric tons) of CO2 emissions (31 Gt from roofs and 26 Gt... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767037 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3767037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753772&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007342.html Why can cars be kept operational decades longer than they were originally designed to last? Because repair shops can replace worn out and broken parts. We humans can't replace our worn out parts because we have no way to make replacements for most of our parts. With that thought in mind check out how researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have grown replacement livers by using the vasculature and other structure of a freshly dead liver to grow a new liver. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have taken the first steps toward building functional, transplantable livers. In a study in rats, published online today by Nature Medicine, the researchers took donor livers, gently stripped them of their cells while... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753772 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3753772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710524&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007291.html One of the methods proposed to cool the planet involves building lots of large floating spray pump systems that would use wind or wave energy to spray water into the atmosphere. The purpose of the water would be to create more white clouds that would reflect away more sunlight and thereby cool the planet. Ken Caldeira and associates find that the ocean spray approach would increase the amount of precipitation on land. Palo Alto, CA— One proposed emergency fix to halt global warming is to seed clouds over the ocean to make them more reflective, reducing the solar radiation absorbed by the Earth. But the scheme could also change global rainfall patterns, raising concerns of water shortages on land. A... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710524 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3710524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706778&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxiHveFhb7SE%2F In spite of the recent economic downturn, revenues for digital technologies to assess, enhance and treat cognition, or digital brain health and fitness tools, grew 35% in 2009. “The convergence of demographic and policy trends with cognitive neuroscience discoveries and technological innovation is giving birth to a nascent marketplace that can fundamentally transform what brain health is, how it is measured, and how it is done,” says Alvaro Fernandez, member of the World Economic Forum’s Council on the Aging Society and Editor-in-Chief of the report. “This groundbreaking report can help pioneers shape the emerging toolkit to benefit an aging society that increasingly seeks new ways to enhance cognitive functionality and mental wellness across the lifespan.” &#... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706778 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:26:58 +0100 3706778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629637&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmonitor-blood-glucose-and-look-cool-with-a-nano-tattoo%2F2010.06.03 Millions of people with diabetes are forced to endure multiple finger pricks daily — an unpleasant practice that may impede compliance, and whose reliability is operator-dependent. Now, Dr. Paul Barone and Dr. Michael Strano at the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering are developing a new approach to glucose monitoring. Building on work they previously published in ACS Nano, the new technology employs a nanoparticle “tattoo” as a glucose sensor, which can then be continuously monitored by a device on the surface of the body. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629637 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:00:03 +0100 3629637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607662&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4LM9fpoeyVs%2F Let me now share what the Judging Panel and the SharpBrains team found most impressive from each Winner and Finalist of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, accompanied by some additional information on each of these 10 noteworthy initiatives and case studies. Grand Prize Winner USA Hockey, Inc., is the National Governing Body of the sport of ice hockey in the United States. With a membership of nearly 600,000 players, coaches, officials and volunteers that span all 50 states, USA Hockey seeks to promote the growth of hockey and provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing and administering the sport. Project Scope: The National Team Development Program (NTDP), a USA Hockey body, is a full-time development program aimed at preparing ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607662 Fri, 28 May 2010 04:04:56 +0100 3607662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603545&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007205.html Only an early stage retina but still a good step in the right direction. UC Irvine scientists have created an eight-layer, early stage retina from human embryonic stem cells, the first three-dimensional tissue structure to be made from stem cells. It also marks the first step toward the development of transplant-ready retinas to treat eye disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration that affect millions. "We made a complex structure consisting of many cell types," said study leader Hans Keirstead of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center and the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at UCI. "This is a major advance in our quest to treat retinal disease." One of the things I wonder about future rejuvenation therapies... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603545 Tue, 25 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3603545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595712&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FT38ThbcsgI0%2F Please join us in congratulating USA Hockey, Allstate, and Nationwide, for reaching the podium of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, unveiled today. The podium’s top position went to USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), a full-time development program aimed at preparing student-athletes for participation on the US National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams, for its innovative cognitive training system designed with the help of Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) and the BIRD Foundation to help hockey players develop perception and decision-making skills. More than two years in the making and $2 million to produce, the Hockey IntelliGym offers players a video-game-like training environment to enhance ‘hockey-sense’-the information gathered from surrounding... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595712 Mon, 24 May 2010 19:59:55 +0100 3595712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502790&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007124.html At a conference on the ethical, political, and scientific issues surrounding climate engineering Princeton University climate researcher Robert Socolow laid out a variety of scenarios in which countries decide to do climate engineering unilaterally. In one, a single country unilaterally pumps aerosols into the stratosphere to block the Sun's rays and preserve — or perhaps create — a climate of its own liking. In another, climate policies result in a world full of forest plantations that are created solely to store the greatest possible amount of carbon, with no regard for preserving biodiversity. Or what if the very possibility of using geoengineering to mitigate climate change gives political leaders cover to say that greenhouse gases aren't a problem? The morning... (Source: FuturePund... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502790 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3502790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476000&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F957-3-parent-human-embryos-created-in-the-UK.html Previously, I blogged about 3 parent monkeys that were created to "cure" mitochondrial disease.  I warned that there was a push to create 3 parent human embryos for the same purpose.  Well less than a year later, scientists in the UK announced they have created human embryos with 3 genetic parents. Why would scientists want to engineer an embryo with the genetic material from 3 people?  To "prevent" the inheritance of mitochondrial disease.  Not all of our DNA that we inherit is in the nuclei of the egg and sperm that join at conception.  In the cytoplasm of our mother's egg are mitochondria.  Mitochondria have their own DNA called mtDNA.  We inherit our mtDNA only from our mother because sperm's mitochondria are dumped at conception.  There are genetic mutation... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476000 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:18:22 +0100 3476000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411190&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=35068&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainwindows.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fupdate-bi-directional-optogenetic-control%2F The Deissseroth lab has released an updated version of their optical neuronal silencing gene Natronomonas halorhodopsin. In Molecular and Cellular Approaches for Diversifying and Extending Optogenetics, Gradinaru et al review current optogenetic methodology, and introduce eNpHR3.0-2A-ChR2, a genetic vector whose expression allows both action potential silencing and firing via illumination. This vector uses post-translational cleavage (via cis-acting hydrolase elements) of the 2A peptide to coexpress channelrhodopsin and halorohdopsin at high levels via a single promoter. The use of 2A provides a more balanced level of relative expression compared to the traditional strategy of using an IRES site, though differing degradation rates of the two proteins cause expression to not be truly st... Brain Windows blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411190 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:57:55 +0100 3411190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366427&cid=t_98245_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAivY3Hc3qck%2F A trial gets under way today involving a former Pfizer biologist who claims she was illegally fired for claiming she was intermittently paralyzed by a genetically engineered virus to which she was exposed, and the proceedings are being closely watched because the alleged incident raises questions about safety practices in genetic engineering, The Hartford Courant writes. Organizations involved in workplace safety and responsible genetic research say the lawsuit filed by Becky McClain is an example of what they claim is evidence that risks caused by genetic manipulation have outstripped more slowly evolving government regulation of laboratories, the paper continues. McClain suspects she was inadvertently exposed, through work by a former Pfizer colleague, to an engineered form of the lentiv... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366427 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:25:33 +0100 3366427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350420&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F6ki3S0Q1arM%2F We are pleased to announce the new annual Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, designed to foster innovation and best practice sharing by celebrating outstanding pioneers who apply neuroplasticity-based research and tools in the “real world”. The awards will recognize organizations that are devising and implementing results-oriented and scalable initiatives that demonstrate their commitment to the brain fitness of their clients, members, patients, students or employees, and showcase innovative uses of non-invasive tools to improve cognitive and emotional functions and “real-world” outcomes. Prizes 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive: $2,500 check, consulting session with SharpBrains staff, 2 tickets for each SharpBrains Summit in 2011; 10 signed copies of The SharpBrains ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350420 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:08:14 +0100 3350420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346514&cid=t_98245_109_f&fid=34786&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrmichelletempest.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fengineering-excellence.html Sir James Dyson completed a report for David Cameron highlighting the importance of science to help diversify the economy. Dyson has called for more support for science teachers and tax breaks for high-tech firms to conduct research to encourage an economy where Britain designs, makes and sells.Among the report's key recommendations are greater financial and regulatory freedom for universities to promote investment in science and engineering, public-private institutes to help translate research into commercial opportunities and more generous tax relief for investors in start-up and established high-tech firms.David Cameron summarised "I think we have a choice where we go on as we are borrowing money from the Chinese to buy their products, or we can say 'no - wait - this is actually a count... The Psychiatrist Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346514 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:05:00 +0100 3346514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294554&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006965.html Assuming humans do not go extinct we should be able to prevent future ice ages. NASA Goddard Institute director and climate scientist James Hansen's Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity has a relevant passage. He says the Earth won't experience ice ages as long as humans live here. The size of continental-scale ice sheets is mind-boggling. Although thinner toward the edges, ice over New York towered several times higher than the Empire State building--thick enough to crush everything in today's New York City to smithereens. But not to worry--even though we sometimes hear geoscientists talk as if ice ages will occur again, it won't happen--unless humans go extinct.... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294554 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291863&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006959.html One way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere involves pumping deep and nutrient-rich water up to the surface where the nutrients will boost algae growth and thereby pull lots of carbon from the atmosphere as carbon gets fixed to hydrogen (to make sugars, fats. protein) by photosynthesis. But some researchers in Germany find that if the pumping system ever stops the rebound would be worse never intervening in the first place. Pumping nutrient-rich water up from the deep ocean to boost algal growth in sunlit surface waters and draw carbon dioxide down from the atmosphere has been touted as a way of ameliorating global warming. However, a new study led by Professor Andreas Oschlies of the Leibniz Institute of... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291863 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3291863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283506&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2Fh7eQIpWbePw%2Fdiy-synthetic-biology-more-than.html A few years in his book, A Many-Colored Glass, Freeman Dyson envisioned that the domestication of biotechnology would result in a new art form, as creative as painting or sculpture and would give rise to an explosion of new diverse creatures, few of which will be masterpieces, but “all will bring joy to their creators and variety to our flora and fauna.”  Now, college biology students are competing to see who can create new, living tools to address the planet's problems (e.g., bacteria that   The comments and reactions to the article range from go-get-'em to we-are-destroying-ourselves-and-the planet to philosophical: Sample comment 1:  Genetic engineering by experienced professionals is dangerous enough. Genetic engineering by students is a spectacularly bad idea. S... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283506 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:47:25 +0100 3283506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235799&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006921.html Painting roofs white in order to cool the planet has been proposed previously. Now some scientists do some computer modeling of the effects of more reflective roofing in cities. BOULDER—Painting the roofs of buildings white has the potential to significantly cool cities and mitigate some impacts of global warming, a new study indicates. The new NCAR-led research suggests there may be merit to an idea advanced by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu that white roofs can be an important tool to help society adjust to climate change. But the study team, led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), cautions that there are still many hurdles between the concept and actual use of white roofs to counteract... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235799 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3235799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236010&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F933-Surrogates-movie-a-comment-on-enhancement-vs.-therapy.html Last night I saw the latest Bruce Willis flick Surrogates.  It is a story about a world where most everyone uses a robotic surrogate to go about their daily business.  Crime and disease disappear as people no longer interact face to face, but through their synthetic double.  Even husband and wife living in the same house use their surrogates to relate. I won't spoil the movie by giving away the plot details, but I wanted to talk about how most things in science and technology that threaten our humanity begin: as a way to help the sick.  The man who designed the surrogate in this movie did it as a way to help disabled people live a better life.  His vision was taken and used by people who did not need it.  It was used for vain and selfish reasons.The real world is no different.  Whi... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236010 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:40:07 +0100 3236010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3223236&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmYy8TV6Guj8%2F By Chris Moody A libertarian primer on the real meaning of the phrase “campaign finance reform.” For more, read John Samples’ book, The Fallacy of Campaign Finance Reform. New report shows that Head Start, a sacrosanct (and very expensive) federal education program, doesn’t work. So what should we do about it? Give it more money of course! “In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed spending another $4 billion annually on K–12 public education. He did not mention that state, local, and federal governments already spend well over twice what they did in 1980, or that there has been no discernible improvement in student achievement during that period.” Just sayin’. Michael Tanner on Obama’s faith-based boondoggle: “The ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3223236 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:08:02 +0100 3223236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216547&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006904.html If the world heats up too much climate engineering with aersols might be needed. Internationally coordinated research and field-testing on 'geoengineering' the planet's atmosphere to limit risk of climate change should begin soon along with building international governance of the technology, say scientists from the University of Calgary and the United States. Collaborative and government-supported studies on solar-radiation management, a form of geo-engineering, would reduce the risk of nations' unilateral experiments and help identify technologies with the least risk, says U of C scientist David Keith, in an article published in the Jan. 27 online edition of Nature. Co-authors of the opinion piece are Edward Parson at the University of Michigan and Granger Morgan at Carnegie Mellon Unive... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216547 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3216547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3251255&cid=t_98245_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F4873961%2F12jedf%2Fneuromarketing%7EPricing-Lessons-from-Restaurants.htm My last Neuromarketing post, Neuro-Menus and Restaurant Psychology, talked about various things restaurant menu engineers do to maximize sales and profits. I think it’s worth calling special attention to one aspect touched on in that post: how price presentation affects sales. Not, the price itself, which of course is very important, but the [...] CommentsThis is fascinating, I don't have any great insights but I am ... by Claire BoylesI've decided (years ago) to avoid rubbing currency signs in ... by Paul JohhnsonPlus 4 more... (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3251255 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:58:52 +0100 3251255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248578&cid=t_98245_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F4725198%2F12fm1y%2Fneuromarketing%7ENeuroMenus-and-Restaurant-Psychology.htm Restaurants are great test labs for testing neuromarketing techniques. It's easy to change offerings, menus, and pricing, and one gets immediate feedback on what's working and what's not. Today, many eateries are employing sophisticated menu psychology to maximize sales and profits. CommentsA great piece, Roger. Thanks. Twittered to the rest of our ... by Harold (SMM)Don't know how I missed this when you first wrote it. Good ... by Matches MalonePlus 8 more... (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248578 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:12:18 +0100 3248578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133638&cid=t_98245_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F31%2Fthe-future-of-psychiatry-5-reasons-for-optimism%2F After reading the last chapter of the book, Demystifying Psychiatry, I felt so much better about where psychiatry might be when my kids are my age. Perhaps, if either is ever diagnosed with a mental illnesses, there will be more targeted treatments, and more optimism for a speedy recovery. Here are a few reasons we can be optimistic about the future of psychiatry: 1. Interdisciplinary Studies Over the next 50 to 100 years, neuroscience research will lead scientists to understand in exquisite detail how humans process information, express and regulate emotions, and motivate themselves to achieve specific goals. This information will affect many clinical and scientific disciplines, including neurology, psychology, biomedical engineering, and computer sciences, but it will likely pay its grea... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133638 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:15:13 +0100 3133638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3129491&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrZhJDnkdfDo%2F By David BoazBart Hinkle makes some interesting observations in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the unfortunate similarities between neoconservatives and progressives. Progressives, he says (and of course they’re not really for progress, so they might better be called left-liberals), spent the Bush years criticizing “bullying,” “heavy-handed meddling,” and even “neoconservative theories of social engineering.” They preferred “soft power.” Yet turn the subject to domestic policy, and what happens? Progressives eagerly embrace the use of coercive hard power to achieve their aims. Force industry to adopt a cumbersome cap-and-trade policy to reduce carbon emissions? Check. Force the country to adopt a health care “public option&#822... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3129491 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:23:23 +0100 3129491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115049&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006810.html Writing in Technology Review Kevin Bullis reports that mainstream scientists are beginning to accept the necessity of climate engineering. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have already climbed to 385 parts per million, well over the 350 parts per million that many scientists say is the upper limit for a relatively stable climate. And despite government-led efforts to limit carbon emissions in many countries, annual emissions from fossil-fuel combustion are going up, not down: over the last two decades, they have increased 41 percent. In the last 10 years, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by nearly two parts per million every year. At this rate, they'll be twice preindustrial levels by the end of the century.... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115049 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084748&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006781.html John Tierney points to discussions by climate scientists about whether to do climate engineering to prevent global warming. Tierney is confident that the nations of the world are not going to agree to huge sacrifices to cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. I tend to agree. So if CO2 really is going to warm the planet other measures will be needed to deal with it. So climate engineering is getting wider consideration. The National Academy of Sciences and Britain’s Royal Society are preparing reports on climate engineering, and the Obama administration has promised to consider it. But so far there has been virtually no government support for research and development — certainly nothing like the tens of billions of dollars... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084748 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3084748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977247&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006701.html A US Congressional committee held hearings on engineered approaches to cooling the planet. In addition to multiple articles and books in the popular media, the United Kingdom's Royal Society, the authoritative national academy of science there, issued an in-depth review of geoengineering and President Obama's science advisor, John Holdren, has repeatedly stated that geoengineering must be on the table as a possible approach to addressing climate change. Makes sense to debate and study the option decades before it might become necessary to use it. Yesterday, the House of Representatives' Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing that its chairman, Bart Gordan (D-TN), said was, "the first time that a congressional committee has undertaken a serious review of proposals for... (Source... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977247 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2977247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950962&cid=t_98245_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F01%2Funusual-metals-may-forge-new-ovarian-colon-cancer-drugs%2F Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to research at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds. Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950962 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:57:13 +0100 2950962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871536&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006605.html The reason cars can keep running indefinitely is because their worn out parts can be replaced. By contrast, we have very limited abilities to replace worn out human parts. The... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871536 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2871536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809765&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=35068&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainwindows.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F18%2Foptogenetic-induction-of-memory-recall%2F Speaking of reactivating specific memories, at the 2009 Society for Neuroscience meeting, Matteo Rizzi of Michael Häusser’s lab is presenting the realization of an idea that has been floating around in some research proposals I’ve read over the last year.  Express channelrhodopsin-2 under control of the immediate early gene c-fos, induce a strong memory formation via fear conditioning, and then drive the recall of that memory by stimulating the neurons that are expressing ChR2. Immediate early genes are activated shorty after high levels activity in neurons, though the precise patterns are different depending on which promoter (c-fos, Zif268, etc) you use, making precisely HOW they reflect recent neuronal activity patterns unclear.  Nevertheless, the activation of the c-fos ... Brain Windows blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809765 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:40:52 +0100 2809765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807801&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F877-What-is-the-Catholic-view-on-genetic-engineering-Updated.html **According to statistics, this earlier entry on the Catholic Church's Teaching on genetic engineering is pretty popular.  I have updated it to include more references from the recently released Dignitas Personae.**The genetic engineering of humans is not yet a reality.  But, with advancements in gene therapy and cloning, it will be.  I think it is critical that Catholics be ahead of the rhetorical curve on this one, instead of behind.  Now is the time to look at the genetic engineering of humans and what the Church says on the issue.  Now is the time to understand what we as Catholics can embrace and what we should reject.First, under the umbrella of "genetic engineering" we must make a strong distinction between gene therapy and genetic enhancement. These concepts are ofte... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807801 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:10:38 +0100 2807801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766213&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F2BEtNQ7gafI%2F Through the wonders of genetics, we might have a wonder drug that let us eat anything we want -without ever gaining a single pound! We can eat fatty and sugary food and we won’t even need to exercise to lose all those calories.   I’m not sure that’s such a good idea but that drug may exist in the near future, with the recent discovery of the so-called “obeso-genes”. The key lies in a gene called IKKE that acts as a master switch that control obesity, by producing a protein kinase that turns other proteins on or off. When a body is fed a high fat diet, the IKKE kinase slows down metabolism and burns less calories, and weight increases. When the gene IKKE (and thus the kinases) are deleted, metabolism speeds up and the body burns more calories. Knock-off mice that didn’t c... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766213 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:16:24 +0100 2766213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741527&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F868-Why-genetic-enhancement-is-NOT-a-liberal-ideal.html Liberals and libertarians often bristle at the idea of regulating the fertility industry and, by extension, the genetic engineering of offspring that is sure to be available to parents in the coming decades.  Most other enlightened countries have banned inherited genetic modification (genetic engineering that is passed on from one generation to the next), but the United States is still grappling with the idea that parents can have whatever children they can order in whatever why they want and if that includes genetically enhancing their children then so be it.The argument is always that to regulate the way in which parents have children and how they conceive them is limiting the parents civil liberties.  Putting regulations in place to limit reproductive technologies would be to impose s... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741527 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:21:47 +0100 2741527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2716151&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fu5LFLPo9kmU%2F 45 breaks and fractures , 16 screws and 2 plates in lower right leg , 3 screws in right knee , 2 screws in left knee , 4 pins and 2 screws in right wrist , 2 screws and a load of wire in left elbow that’s about it. Ouch. That sounds like major ‘machinery’ repair to me. When bones break into several pieces, usually the only repair would be screws, pins and plates. But that could all be a thing of the past with this medical breakthrough – Scientists created a synthetic glue for repairing broken bones using the genes of a marine worm! The sandcastle worm is a marine animal that builds its home from sand and broken shells by gluing the pieces together using a glue-like substance that it secretes. Scientists were able to clone the genes of the natural adhesive and manufacture syn... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2716151 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2716151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2705212&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fmusings-on-spatial-thinking-dyslexia.html "Thoughts die the moment they are embodied by words." Arthur Schopehauer, philosopherSpatial thinking has been on our minds a lot lately because we're interviewing highly creative dyslexic adults for a book that we're planning to write, and spatial thinking is a recurring theme. Some people equate spatial thinking with visual thinking - but it's not the same. Sometimes spatial thinking involves vivid or vague visual images, but sometimes (as people assure us)...it involves no pictoral images at all. As far as a multiple intelligence, spatial thinking gets short shrift, and young spatial experts (kids who seem to love maps, mazes, legos, physics, military history, etc.) seem better suited to life outside, rather than inside the classroom. We've been re-reading Spatial Child and Psyhology of... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2705212 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:01:00 +0100 2705212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699730&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-JW8Doxud-I%2F Here you have the August edition of our monthly newsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, using the box at the top of this page. Scientific publication Frontiers in Neuroscience recently published a special issue on Augmenting Cognition, and invited me to contribute with an article titled Preparing Society for the Cognitive Age. Groundbreaking brain research has occurred over the last 20 years. The opportunity to improve brain health and performance is immense, but we need to ensure the marketplace matures in a rational and sustainable manner, both through healthcare and non-healthcare channels. Click Here to read my article. Announcements In May 2009 SharpBrains published The State of the Bra... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699730 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:18:24 +0100 2699730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699745&cid=t_98245_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fdental-medical-news-stem-cells-grow-replacement-tooth-in-mouse%2F This is a breakthrough that could lead to a major overhaul in dental prosthetics and, more importantly, organ regeneration. The Wall Street Journal covered a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in which Tokyo University of Science researches implanted a “tooth germ” into a mouse’s empty tooth socket. The “tooth germ” consisted of cells with a genetic map of how to build a tooth. Taken from Tokyo University of Science press release. After 11 weeks, the tooth had grown from bud to maturity. The durability, shape, and natural stress responses mimicked that of a natural tooth. It also functioned like nature intended for a healthy tooth. Human testing has not been announced. Read the full article here. Stem cell research is bounding forward. If you’re ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699745 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:27:19 +0100 2699745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639741&cid=t_98245_155_f&fid=36522&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpathtalk%2F%7E3%2F4hc37E0yl0E%2F1420 A group of researchers at UC Berkeley has developed a portable, mobile phone-based light microscopy system (PLoS) for rapid computer-assisted analysis of clinical specimens in parts of the world where quality lab equipment or trained personnel are not available. a) Optical layout (b) Current prototype (c) Brightfield image of fluorescent beads. (d) Fluorescent images of beads shown in (c). Counterintuitively, in these parts of the world, excellent cell phone service is often available. From the article: . . . we have built a mobile phone-mounted light microscope and demonstrated its potential for clinical use by imaging P. falciparum-infected and sickle red blood cells in brightfield and M. tuberculosis-infected sputum samples in fluorescence with LED excitation. In all cases resoluti... pathtalk.org blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639741 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:16:34 +0100 2639741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637959&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F-Akq6-PAgBs%2F I was just reading about how prenatal screening can eradicate genetic disease (and reported it too) when I read another article that casts doubt on the entire procedure of pre-implantation genetic diasnosis (PGD). Used with in vitro fertilization, PGD is a biopsy of the developing embryos to look for signs of abnormalities. Obviously, only normal embryos are then implanted into a woman’s uterus to ensure that no abnormality will be present in the child. However, new studies on mice suggested that PGD can affect fetal, neonatal and adult development. The scientists found that biopsied embryos implanted after PGD result in lesser number of births. Adult mice that have been biopsied as embryos also showed neurodegenerative disorders disorders like Alzheimers and Down Syndrome, according ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637959 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:46:00 +0100 2637959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2606092&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=35068&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbrainwindows.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F15%2Fphilosophy-can-a-biologist-reverse-engineer-a-radio%2F Every week or two one of the post-doc’s in our lab passes around a paper that is as much philosophy of science as experimental result.  One that recently made the rounds is Can a Biologist Fix a Radio?, by Yuri Lazebnik, a spirited and humorous dissection of the flaws of the standard methods of experimentation and analysis in cell and systems biology. The primary contention is that most biologists are not sufficiently quantitative in their descriptions of the interactions of components in their system, which leads to an abundance of confusing, conflicting experimental results. If we hope to understand complex biological systems, we must describe the components in sufficient detail, with a standardized language, to allow accurate models built from numerous components. A radio can be... Brain Windows blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2606092 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:14:39 +0100 2606092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572994&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Ffamous-people-with-dyslexia-silicon.html "I invested a lot of hours disassembling door locks and things like that. My mother just called it mischief."- William Hewlett, co-founder Hewlett-PackardBill Hewlett was co-founder of Hewlett-Packard, currently the largest technology company in the world. Hewlett had a difficult early childhood because of his dyslexia and loss of his father in his teens. What started out as a few hundred dollars and space in a garage would soon grow into a high technology company with offices in nearly every country in the world. Hewlett's accomplishments were not limited to technology, however. Some believe his greatest accomplishment was in creating a model for creative corporations today..."...an egalitarian, decentralized system that came to be known as 'the HP Way'..."...one of the first all-company ... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572994 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:01:00 +0100 2572994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571009&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F849-Japanese-scientists-to-breed-super-tuna.html From the Telegraph UK:Japanese scientists will have bred a new "super-tuna" within a decade that will be stronger, more resistant to disease and taste better than the bluefin presently in the oceans. The tuna - stocks of which are in global decline - would be raised in farms to meet surging demand around the world for the traditional Japanese delicacy.A team from Japan’s Fisheries Research Agency, The University of Tokyo and Kyushu University is close to completing the genome sequence of the bluefin tuna to unravel the secrets of the chemical building blocks of the fish and expects to be able to start a breeding programme next year. “We have already completed two computer sequencing runs and have around 60 per cent of the tuna genome,” said Dr. Kazumasa Ikuta, director of res... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571009 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:46:19 +0100 2571009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511975&cid=t_98245_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F25PQKVoRdEE%2F Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other? Do supplements improve memory? Do you need both physical and mental exercise –or is one of them enough? Which brain training approach, if any, is worth one's time and money? We tried to address these questions, and many others, in our recent book, The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness (182 pages, $24.95), that we presented at Games for Health Conference last week. The book is the result of over two years of extensive research including more than a hundred interviews with scientists, professionals and consumers, and a deep review of the scientific literature, led by neuropsychologist Elkhonon Goldberg and myself with the help of ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511975 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:52:14 +0100 2511975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469810&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F822-Glow-in-the-Dark-Dogs.html I am with very funny Doug Speirs on glow-in-the-dark dogs:But today I am going to draw a line in the sand and take a bold and courageous stand. The stand I have decided to take is: This has to stop! And by "this" I am referring to the current worldwide trend in which scientists take genetic material from one animal and stick it into another animal because -- and you will have already seen this coming -- it gives the second animal the ability to glow in the dark.You will think I am kidding about this major scientific trend, but, sadly, I am not. I first became aware of it about three years ago when I wrote an insightful column announcing that Canada had lost the race to develop the world's first glow-in-the-dark pig.In that case, Taiwanese researchers extracted genetic material fr... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469810 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:46:11 +0100 2469810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469813&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F819-Genetic-modification-and-the-Brave-New-USA.html Via Biopolitical Times, I found this BioPolicy Wiki page run by the Center for Genetics and Society that has information on the "laws and policies governing the use of human genetic and reproductive technologies throughout the world."  Before I get to the information I have complied from BioPolicyWiki, I want to discuss the announcement that brought me there.Last week, scientists in Japan published they genetically modified a marmoset.  So what is so special about this genetic engineering announcement?  Well, not only did researchers genetically modify a primate, but the genetic modification was inherited.  Inherited genetic modification (IGM) in humans is not yet a reality, but this announcement is a warning flag to us that it is coming, especially if we do not have legislat... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469813 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:58:23 +0100 2469813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458375&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FRdUHmqA3XeA%2F My heart breaks when I see photos of children suffering from genetic disorders, such as the nine babies from this story. But this story also lauds to the use of genetically modified organisms for producing drugs for treatment. Recently, scientists discovered a new genetic disorder in nine newborn to 2-week old babies. The infants had swollen bone tissues, bone pain and deformity, and rashes that can range in size from small fluid-filled blisters or pustules to blisters that covered the whole body. The researchers immediately realized they were looking at an unrecognized auto-inflammatory syndrome, where recurring episodes of inflammation occur without any pathogens or immune cells triggering the reaction. All nine babies had mutations of IL1RN, a gene involved in the immune response whic... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458375 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:34:11 +0100 2458375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453072&cid=t_98245_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fgene-network-sciences-uconn-to-work-on-computer-modeled-ovarian-cancer-treatments%2F Gene Network Sciences, Inc. (GNS) today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with The University of Connecticut Health Center’s Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center in which the parties will incorporate genetic, genomic and clinical data (”3-D Data”) together into computer models of different cancers [with ovarian cancer as initial area [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453072 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:32:12 +0100 2453072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442306&cid=t_98245_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FsG4v5D5FRSo%2F A transgenic animal is one where its genome has been changed to carry the genes from another organism. In the medical sciences, transgenic animals can be used to model human diseases or develop strategies for gene therapy. Using transgenic monkeys allows researchers to study genetic diseases in systems that resemble humans as close as possible, and implement strategies and experiments toward treatment or intervention. Last year for example, a transgenic rhesus macaques was created to model Huntington’s disease. Scientists inserted a virus vector carrying part of the mutated human gene for Huntington HTT and a fluorescent marker gene into unfertilized monkey egg cells. This allowed the virus to be integrated into the egg’s genome. Three newborns carried between two and four copies of th... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442306 Fri, 29 May 2009 03:50:00 +0100 2442306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405093&cid=t_98245_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006194.html We need ways to grow replacements for worn out body parts. Then we can become as repairable as cars. While embryonic and pluripotent stem cells get the lion's share of... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405093 Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2405093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405301&cid=t_98245_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fslumdog-engineer.html Having discussed the possible environmental risks of charitable aid in the form of obsolete electronic goods to the developing world, it seemed to timely to mention other research looking into strong solutions to some of the critical problems facing people in many parts of the world. Researchers, Priti Parikh and Allan McRobie, in Cambridge, England, suggest that the current cocktail of approaches used to address poverty in the slums often stretches scarce resource too far. Interventions in health, education, physical improvements, and governance often cement in place the “poverty” mindset and set the slums apart from the urban infrastructure by using minimal paving, having public water posts and community latrines. These two engineers have researched an alternative approach kn... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405301 Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:26 +0100 2405301