The Hindu : Health / Medicine & Research : Skin cells transformed into blood

The Hindu : Health / Medicine & Research : Skin cells transformed into blood

Patients who need blood for surgery or a medical condition could have a healthy supply created for transfusion by using a patch of their own skin, researchers said.

The technique could benefit patients with leukaemia, for example, by providing them with a source of blood that exactly matches their biological make-up. Similar transfusions might help other cancer patients endure chemo and radiotherapy, which has the side effect of destroying the body’s blood-making cells.

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario took skin cells from adults and newborn babies and converted them into blood cells by adding a gene called OCT4 along with some chemicals known as blood growth factors.

Depending on the chemicals used, the skin cells became various kinds of cell that together make up healthy blood. They included early stage red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, white blood cells, which fight infection and platelets that enable blood to clot.

“If the patient has anaemia, they only need red blood cells, so we can change the recipe and make those. If we wanted to treat someone with a blood coagulation disorder, we change the recipe again and make platelets,” said Mickie Bhatia, scientific director at the university’s Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute.

The team, whose work is published in the journal Nature, is the first to show it is possible to convert human skin cells directly into blood. “We have shown this works using human skin. We know how it works and believe we can even improve on the process,” said Bhatia.

Cynthia Dunbar of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Maryland, said producing blood from a patient’s own skin cells had the potential to make bone marrow transplants and a shortage of blood donors “a thing of the past”.

“I see our first patients as being leukaemia patients. If we can take skin cells from them and turn them into healthy blood, the product could outcompete the leukaemic cells,” Bhatia told the Guardian.

“More importantly, I can see this blood being used for anyone undergoing cancer therapy. Chemotherapy and radiation affect the blood system, so even though the therapy is targeting a tumour, the patient usually has to withdraw because the blood system dies as an innocent bystander. We hope our technique will provide an alternative blood source that is healthy and allows them to continue therapy and eradicate the tumour.” The team is now developing ways to produce large volumes of blood by growing patients’ cells in the lab before converting them into blood cells. In further tests, the scientists will freeze and thaw the blood, with a view to keeping it in cold storage.

Aung San Suu Kyi set free in Myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi walks free

Walking free for the first time since 2003, Ms. Suu Kyi covered the distance from her old lakeside bungalow to the gate to acknowledge the greetings of her supporters »
The 65-year-old Ms. Suu Kyi's release was greeted by cheering supporters who gathered outside her house in a show of defiance against Myanmar's military government. Hundreds of other supporters waited for her at the Yangon headquarters of the recently-derecognised National League for Democracy (NLD), which she still leads.
Ms. Suu Kyi was later quoted as having exhorted the people of Myanmar to act in “unison” to achieve genuine democracy. NLD sources could not be reached over the telephone, despite repeated calls, for ascertaining her exact message.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1901

Emil Adolf von Behring

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1901 was awarded to Emil von Behring "for his work on serum therapy, especially its application against diphtheria, by which he has opened a new road in the domain of medical science and thereby placed in the hands of the physician a victorious weapon against illness and deaths".

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1901

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923

Frederick Grant Banting

John James Rickard Macleod

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923 was awarded jointly to Frederick Grant Banting and John James Rickard Macleod "for the discovery of insulin".Banting is the youngest ever to win the Nobel Prize.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923

Facts on the Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

Facts on the Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

Number of Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

101 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine have been awarded since 1901. It was not awarded on nine occasions: in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1921, 1925, 1940, 1941 and 1942.
Why were the Medicine Prizes not awarded in those years? In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: "If none of the works under consideration is found to be of the importance indicated in the first paragraph, the prize money shall be reserved until the following year. If, even then, the prize cannot be awarded, the amount shall be added to the Foundation's restricted funds." During World War I and II, fewer Nobel Prizes were awarded.

Number of shared and unshared Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

38 Medicine Prizes have been given to one Laureate only.
31 Medicine Prizes have been shared by two Laureates.
32 Medicine Prizes have been shared between three Laureates.
Why is that? In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: A prize amount may be equally divided between two works, each of which is considered to merit a prize. If a work that is being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons.

About the Nobel Prizes

Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.

Tuesday really is named for a one-handed god named Tiw. Who is he? | The Hot Word

Yes, it’s true. Tiw’s remarkable myth involves women with beards (more on that in a bit.) Regardless, the past 1,000 years or so have not been kind to this Northern European divinity.

To make a long story short, it seems that Tiw used to be a big shot, up there with Odin and Thor in Norse mythology. He may even have been chief of the gods. But culture can be fickle and cruel. Think Miley Cyrus replacing Hillary Duff. Nowadays it’s not clear who he was exactly, or how to pronounce his name. We just have hints.

There’s a lot to like about Tiw: He’s a war god, associated with courage and combat. He may have had a female companion named Zisa. And listen to how he lost his hand:

There was a huge wolf named Fenris who was prophesized to eventually kill Odin, king of the gods. Understandably, the gods decided to restrain the beast while he was still growing. Fenris kept breaking his tethers, so the gods asked the dwarves to use their magic to craft a super leash called Gleipnir.

Tuesday really is named for a one-handed god named Tiw. Who is he? | The Hot Word

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010

• Summary
• Prize Announcement
• Press Release
• Advanced Information
• Speed Read

Robert G. Edwards

• Biographical
• Photo Gallery

• Other Resources

Photo: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

Robert G. Edwards

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 was awarded to Robert G. Edwards "for the development of in vitro fertilization".

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010

Healthiest food in the world.

Healthiest Foods on Earth
1. Berries
All berries are low in sugar and high in fiber. Blueberries have been shown to increase memory in lab studies, and raspberries and strawberries are loaded with ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant that seems to have some anti-cancer properties, according to the American Cancer Society.

2. Beans
Beans are extremely high in fiber, which helps to control weight, prevent or manage diabetes and blood sugar, and may help prevent colon cancer and protect against heart disease. The National Institute of Medicine recommends 25-38 grams of fiber a day. The average American gets only 4-11 grams. One cup of beans provides 11-17 grams.

3. Nuts
Some of the largest and most important long-term studies of diet and health have shown that eating nuts several times a week is consistent with a risk of heart attack and heart disease that is 30%-50% lower than the general population. Just one ounce of nuts-almonds, macadamia, Brazil, walnuts, pecans-eaten three to five times a week seems to be the magic number.

4. Wild Salmon
Fish is the ultimate anti-aging food. Cold-water fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fats that protect the brain and the heart, improve mood, and lower blood pressure and triglycerides.

5. Raw Milk
Raw, organic milk nearly always comes from grass-fed cows and contains high levels of cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as well as a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillus acidophilus)

6. Grass-Fed
Meat from grass-fed cows has a much different fat profile than ordinary supermarket meat: high in omega-3s, lower in potentially harmful omega-6s and loaded with CLA, a kind of fat known for its anti-cancer activity. A superb source of protein and vitamin B12, it's also missing the antibiotics, steroids and hormones found in the meat that comes from feedlot farms.

7. Eggs
Considered by many to be nature's most perfect food, the egg is high in protein and relatively low in calories. The yolk contains choline, one of the most important nutrients for the brain, as well as lutein and xeazanthin, two critical nutrients for eye health. Brassica Vegetables Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale all contain plant compounds called indoles that help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to a stunning range of vitamins and minerals, they also contain sulforaphane, an important plant chemical that helps the body detoxify health-damaging chemicals.

8. Apples
Not only do they keep the doctor away, they also appear to do the same for lung cancer, diabetes and asthma. An apple contains five grams of fiber and a rich blend of nutrients including the bone-building vitamin K and the anti-inflammatory nutrient quercetin. And there's no better way to control your appetite than an apple eaten about half an hour before a big meal.

9. Onions and Garlic
In an impressive number of published studies, the consumption of onions and garlic has demonstrated protective effects against stomach, prostate and esophageal cancer. Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20%.

10. Pomegranate Juice
Called "a natural Viagra" by researchers at Tel Aviv University, pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. New research indicates it also slows the progression of tumors.. Four to eight ounces a day is highly recommended.

11. Green Tea
Though all teas are great for you, green tea has a unique profile of plant chemicals that have anti-cancer activity. It's now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancers in humans: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectum and stomach. If that's not enough, it also appears to help with weight control.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Ashok Chavan must go

Ashok Chavan must go

It is now clear there is no way Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan can hang on to his chair — without the ruling Congress compounding its ignominy and the mess in which it has landed the politics and governance of one of India's most advanced States. His 23-month tenure has been little more than an unending series of controversies and scams. He took over as Chief Minister after the 26/11 terror attacks saw the Congress remove Vilasrao Deshmukh from the gaddi. Mr. Chavan's time at the helm will be remembered for the paid news scandal, bank scams, shady land deals, and pathetic governance. L'affaire Adarsh Society, which has implicated several Army officers as well, seems to be scandal that broke the camel's back. It is a measure of the Congress's predicament that just as it seems to be in the process of jettisoning Mr. Chavan — the Pranab Mukherjee-A.K. Antony enquiry seems to be a ploy to put off the last rites to a politically less inconvenient short date — a new land deal controversy has engulfed Narayan Rane, the Revenue Minister and a once-potential replacement. A credible successor, that is, someone not tainted by transactions that now epitomise Maharashtra's political economy, is hard to come by. The greatest asset the Congress has had in the State these past few years is the opposition. The party was aided by a split in the Shiv Sena, a demoralised Bharatiya Janata Party, the absence of a credible ‘Third Force,' and at least five fragmented fronts during the last Assembly elections. So the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine won major victories at the polls even as its vote share declined.

A divided and inept opposition meant Congress-led governments could muddle through. But Maharashtra's latest embarrassments were the last thing the party ruling at the Centre — struggling to cope with other, national-level scandals — needed. It is not as though Mr. Chavan's predecessors performed any better. In the three years before the economic slowdown of 2008, Maharashtra lost two million jobs — 1,800 a day on average. In the 12 years before he took office, more than 40,000 farmers in the State committed suicide. In the year before Mr. Chavan came to power, food production fell 24 per cent. Close to a third of Maharashtra's population remained below the official poverty line. Mr. Chavan did nothing to improve any of this. Yet it is hard to spot a successor in his party or alliance who can. That is the agonising dilemma the Congress faces. The party has not produced a leader of Statewide standing since Vasantdada Patil. Given its own and the State's entrenched political culture, it seems unlikely to do better any time soon.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Ashok Chavan must go: 3 Nov 2010