Johns Hopkins new release

Breaking news: Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a new and reliable method to turn blood cells back to stem cells, making it possible for the primitive state to develop into any cell type in the body.  The Public Library of Science (PLos) says that this is "chapter two" in an ongoing effort to revert various types of cells back to stem cells, which are highly qualified for clinical and research use.  “Taking a cell from an adult and converting it all the way back to the way it was when that person was a 6-day-old embryo creates a completely new biology toward our understanding of how cells age and what happens when things go wrong, as in cancer development,” say Zambidis, assistant professor of oncology and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering and the Kimmel Cancer Center.  

Chapter one, which apparently took place last spring, was the successful process of transforming adult blood cells into heart cells.  Now Zambidis and his colleagues are coaxing adult blood cells back into induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS).  These are reprogrammed to an embryonic stage, opening a whole new world of possibilities and efficiencies.  As explained in the article below, the Zambidis' method of producing these iPS cells is extremely efficient and virus free, boosting odds of success from 1-2% to 50-60%.

Traditionally, scientists used viruses, which delivered a package of genes initiating a series of processes that converted the cells from one type, back to their stem cell state.  This was pretty risky considering that introducing viruses drastically increases the chance of genes mutating and producing cancers in the newly transformed cells.  In place of using viruses, Zambidis' team now uses plasmids, rings of DNA, which briefly replicate inside cells and then degenerate.  It was also found that growing in their natural bone-marrow environment stimulated growth.

"For the new study, the Johns Hopkins team took cord blood cells, treated them with growth factors, and used plasmids to transfer four genes into them. They then delivered an electrical pulse to the cells, making tiny holes in the surface through which the plasmids could slip inside. Once inside, the plasmids triggered the cells to revert to a more primitive cell state. The scientific team next grew some of the treated cells in a dish alone, and some together with irradiated bone marrow cells, " as explained in an article from www.hopkinsmedicine.org.  When scientists compared the growth between the blood cell method with iPS cells from hair and skin, they found the iPS cells from blood stem cells treated with four genes and cultured along with bone marrow cells was far superior.  These converted into their primitive state within 14 days.

Additional and effective methods to produce virus-free iPS cells may open the doors to other developmental stem cell therapies, along with providing a more accurate picture of cell development and biology.

The study's co-authors were Park, Huo, Peters, Talbot, Verma, Zimmerlin, and Kaplan.  They were supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/johns_hopkins_researchers_return_blood_cells_to_stem_cell_state

Clashing of medicine and the law

This article is written with a heavy and disappointed heart, coming from a pro-choice medical student.  It has been released that a 16 year old girl from the Domican Republic died recently after being diagnosed with leukemia, but was denied chemotherapy because she was nine weeks pregnant.  Doctors were certain that the life-saving treatment would terminate her pregnancy, violating the constitution which prohibits taking the life of another.  Article 37, written and passed in 2009, states that 'the right to life is inviolable from the moment of conception and until death', and has been interpreted by Dominican courts as a mandate against abortion.  Any doctor that administered the treatment could be prosecuted.  The girls mother, Rosa Hernandez appealed to heath and government authorities to make an exception and save the teenager's life, 'My daughter's life is first. I know that [abortion] is a sin and that it goes against the law ... but my daughter's health is first.'.  Controversy among government officials and human rights groups arose over whether administering chemotherapy would be allowing an abortion to take place, because that was the guaranteed outcome.  Women's rights activist Lilliam Fondeur says the delay was 'unacceptable' and that the treatment should have been offered immediately.  Pelegrin Castillo, one of the engineers of the law behind the abortion ban, stated that the ban did not prohibit the patient from receiving chemotherapy but makes it illegal for doctors to carry out a termination in order to administer such treatment.

The young girl was eventually treated at the Semma Hospital in the capital city of Santos Domingo three weeks after being diagnosed and just after her second trimester had begun.  At this time the girl began to bleed, but the doctors still refused to interrupt the pregnancy.  Advocates report that she subsequently miscarried and began to hemorrhage.  The medical team was unable to stop the bleeding and she eventually died.

Now I about lost all faith in humanity after reading this next quote.  "Anti-choice activists continue to push the idea that a woman or teen refusing cancer treatment and dying to try to continue a pregnancy is the most beautiful sacrifice that could be made".  WHAT!?  Isn't the life of this girl MORE important than the life of an unborn child?  Not to mention the child will never be born if the woman carrying it dies.  Everyone should be entitled to treatment and doctors refusing to do the right thing because they're afraid of getting in trouble is just as shameful.  It's too bad that common sense wasn't used in order to save this poor girl's life. If this law could be changed, legalizing abortion for good reason (such as rape, incest, not being able to provide a good life for the child), this would eradicate the risk posed to other women seeking this 'secret' and now illegal procedure for unwanted pregnancies.

For more details and a video of Rosa go to: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/08/17/draft-16-year-old-who-wasnt-allowed-abortion-dies-complications-from-her-cancer

Good Ol' STD's

You're going to college, and dreams of hot hook-ups, crazy parties, and the lifestyle you've always wanted dance around in your mind.  This new found freedom is great and you feel invincible, livin' it up, and going to class becomes quite the burden.  We've all been there.  While this independence feels fantastic, and you're sure you'll never be one of "those stories" of contracting some disease at school, it's time to face the facts.  1 in 4 students will have a sexually transmitted disease at some point in their college career, and that's horrifying.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) sees this as a major problem in today's schools, mostly because of miseducation and poor decision making as a result of being under the influence while getting hot and bothered between the sheets.
MOST COMMON STD'S:
1.  Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of genital warts and cervical cancer is considered the most transmittable STD.  This is an incurable virus spread through sexual contact usually with no symptoms.  Many girls now get a set of 3 shots over a few months to protect them from this disease.

2.  Chlamydia is a bacterial STD, caught through vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.  If left untreated, permanent damage can result in both men and women's reproductive organs.  This is easily cured with antibiotics.

                             (couldn't find a picture that didn't make me want to barf)
3.  Genital herpes is NOT curable and it is thought that 1 in 5 college students are infected since it is as easy to catch as chlamydia.  Redness and multiple blisters form around the genital area.

OTHER COMMON STD'S:
-Trich is a parasitic infection of the genitals often accompanied by a frothy, smelly and yellowish-green vaginal discharge in women.  Men may experience a slight discharge, burning after urination or ejaculation, and irritation of the penis.  This can only be contracted through vaginal intercourse and is treated with a dose of antibiotics.  If left untreated, as with all other infections, trich can cause complications during pregnancy and make is easier to contract other infections.

-Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of the genitals, anus, or throat and usually does not show symptoms.  In those which it does present, a burning during urination and white, green or yellow vaginal or penile discharge can be expected.  Women can have irregular bleeding with pelvic pain and men, swollen and painful testicles.  We can be exposed to this through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, or through birth if the mother is infected.  Oral antibiotics are the usual quick-fix but other protection should be used since risk of infection by other diseases is heightened.  If left untreated, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, or an ectopic pregnancy in women may result.  Epididymitis, a condition found in men that can result in infertility can occur.  Babies born to women with this disease may develop eye infections.

-Syphilis is a bacterial infection that spreads throughout the body and begins with a chancre, a painless sore found on or in the genitals, anus, or mouth.  After a few months the sore will disappear and a rash may pop up.  This can become a very serious condition if allowed to progress.  It is transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, kissing, or a sore in the mouth.  It is also possible for mothers to pass it to their children through birth.  Antibiotics are used to treat syphilis but cannot reverse permanent damage done before the disease is caught.  While infected, an individual is more susceptible to other infections including HIV.  If left untreated, symptoms may disappear but the infection will continue to spread throughout the body and can damage the brain, heart, and nervous system, even resulting in death.

-Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver and can be acute or chronic.  Most people do not show immediate symptoms, especially adults.  Some may experience tiredness, aches, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, darkening of urine, tenderness of the stomach, and jaundice.  These typically occur 1-6 months after exposure.  Chronic Hepatitis B can take up to 30 years to rear its ugly head but liver damage can still occur silently.  This is transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, along with child birth if the baby is not vaccinated.  Acute Hep-B is treated with some R&R, eating well, and plenty of fluids.  If one has chronic Hep-B, they will be monitored by a doctor and put on anti-retroviral medications.  Consequences of this disease include an increased risk of infection along with persistent inflammation and later cirrhosis of the liver.

-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is responsible for causing AIDS.  Most people who are infected do not have any symptoms and feel perfectly fine.  They do not develop until a person's immune system has been compromised.  When symptoms do appear they are usually related to infection and cancer.  This is transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, as well as sharing contaminated needles.  It can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or breast feeding.  This is no cure for HIV or AIDS.  Anti-retroviral treatment slows the progression of the disease and can delay the onset of AIDS.  Early detection can increase life expectancy, making it more enjoyable.  This greatly increases the risk of contracting other life-threatening diseases and those with HIV may contract infections they wouldn't otherwise get.  Left untreated, HIV is fatal.

Now that we've covered all that, whether in a monogamous relationship or single, it's always important to take the necessary precautions and protect yourself. So....

Don't be silly, wrap your willy
Cover your stump before you hump
Don't be a loner, cover your boner
Before you attack her, wrap your whacker
If you think she's spunky, cover your monkey
No glove, no love

http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/the-most-common-stds/
http://joellebrittneysoc340.webs.com/newsandphotos.htm
http://www.stdinfo.org/the-causes-symptoms-and-prevention-of-chlamydia-infection/

Affordable Care Act

Regardless of my opinions of President Obama's other policies, I am grateful and truly respect the Affordable Care Act which took effect on August 1st, 2012.  This mandate grants 47 million women enrolled in workplace health insurance the eligibility to free preventive health care services. "Women deserve to have control over their health care," wrote Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a recent blog post on Healthcare.gov.  Under the new provision, eight services will be available to women without paying a co-pay.

1. Well-woman visits, including annual check-ups for recommended preventive services, more if doctors determine it to be necessary.

2. FDA-approved contraception and counseling is free for those women with employer-sponsored health insurance.  This includes sterilization procedures and education without a co-pay

3. Gestational diabetes screening is now a free test for women 24-48 weeks pregnant with a high chance of developing gestational diabetes.  Women who have this ailment are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the near future.  Their children are also more likely to be overweight and insulin-resistant during childhood.

4. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) DNA testing for women 30 years of age and older can be tested, despite Pap smear results.  This test is especially important because early HPV screening has been shown to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer.

5. Annual STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) counseling is provided for sexually-active women.  It has been shown to decrease risky sexual behavior in patients.  A surprisingly low 28% of women aged 18-44 have discussed STI's and STD's with their primary care physician.

6.  HIV screening is also provided for sexually active women.  "From 1999 to 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 15 percent increase in AIDS cases among women and a 1% increase among men," stated Ryan Joslow of CBS news.

7.  Providing breastfeeding support and supplies for pregnant and postpartum women, including lactation support and counseling from trained professionals, as well as equipment.

8.  Interpersonal and domestic violence screening for adolescent and adult women.  A reported 25% of U.S. women have been targets of intimate partner violence, and this act aims to increase their safety.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a groups of doctors that govern treatment guidelines, provide a wide variety of preventive services: yearly or biyearly mammograms for women 40 and older, cervical cancer screenings, and prenatal care.  It also needs to be understood that until the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, uninsured women will still be required to pay out of pocked for contraceptives.  Religious universities and hospitals that find contraception to be an "unconscionable violation" of their beliefs can decline to cover it, and insurance companies will then be responsible to step in and prove.

Though this seems like a huge step forward for women to me, it has quickly become a controversial topic.  Many Catholic organizations are outraged and 12 lawsuits in 43 different courts have ben filed across the country.  Good news cannot come without a debate as the church opposes the mandate which requires birth control to be provided to insured women free of charge.   Some argue that contraception was already available for those who wanted it, inexpensive, and easy to access.  They say that the government should not be forcing people to provide it free to women and it may violate some companies conscience.  While some maybe be insulted, it seems unanimous that the policy helps far more people than is offends.  "It's not just important to women, it's important to their families, it's important to their children," said Pamela Kalinowski of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.

On a more political note, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a Washington news conference that if elected, "I will reverse every single Obama regulation that attacks our religious liberty and threatens innocent life in this country."....SHOCKING (sarcasm)

Overall this seems like a great option for women, helping us worry less about unwanted pregnancy and most likely reducing abortion rates and improving children's quality of life.