scholarly journals Arguments for Human Therapeutic Cloning

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krešimir Pavelić
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Molecular Medicine ◽  
Genetic Diagnostics ◽  
Modern Biology ◽  
Ethical Violations ◽  
History Of ◽  
Short Time

For over 30 years, many Western governments have regulated scientific research involving human subjects. According to Knoppers (1) implementation of regulation followed a long and checkered history of research abuse. The regulations evolved largely in response to ethical violations. The Nuremberg Codex exemplifies the progression. It was adopted in 1947. At the conclusion of Nazi Doctors Trial.Spectacular technical and conceptual advances in modern biology and molecular medicine have solved many problems in a short time. Genetic diagnostics extended well beyond simple inheritance testing, and is now moving into all areas of pathology. Gene therapy, although in a phase of consolidation after an exuberant youth, holds real promise. Understanding of the molecular basis of tissue differentiation, perhaps with the use of nuclear transfer techniques, may allow creation of histocompatible tissue for transplantation purposes (2).Scientific work will have propounds long-term consequences for medicine, leading to the elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms of disease and thereby facilitating the design of rational diagnostics and therapeutics targeted at those mechanisms.All molecular medicine must operate within a social and ethical context.Prominence of ethical controversy (i.e. presymptomatic genetical testing, or human therapeutically cloning) will very likely diminish with time, as the products of molecular medicine range further away from establishing pure diagnostic and into therapy.One of the major issues of today’s modern medicine is therapeutically cloning. The main practical purpose of cloning is to generate genetically modified animals to serve as bioreactors. The cloning of mammals is fascinating biological problem, although it is difficult to perform and attempts are rarely successful. The reproductive cloning of humans is likely to cause more individual concern than real social effects, as it is unlikely to became a widespread method of reproduction even if possible and safe.

Alkaptonuria – Many questions answered, further challenges beckon

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-120
Author(s):  
AS Davison ◽  
AT Hughes ◽  
AM Milan ◽  
N Sireau ◽  
JA Gallagher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Homogentisic Acid ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Clinical Complications ◽  
Disease Modifying Therapy ◽  
Treatment Measures ◽  
History Of ◽  
Collagenous Tissues

Alkaptonuria is an iconic rare inherited inborn error of metabolism affecting the tyrosine metabolic pathway, resulting in the accumulation of homogentisic acid in the circulation, and significant excretion in urine. Dating as far back as 1500 BC in the Egyptian mummy Harwa, homogentisic acid was shown to be central to the pathophysiology of alkaptonuria through its deposition in collagenous tissues in a process termed ochronosis. Clinical manifestations occurring as a consequence of this are typically observed from the third decade of life, are lifelong and significantly affect the quality of life. In large supportive and palliative treatment measures are available to patients, including analgesia, physiotherapy and joint replacement. Studying the natural history of alkaptonuria, in a murine model and human subjects, has provided key insights into the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology associated with the disease, and has enabled a better understanding of the common disease osteoarthritis. In the last decade, a major focus has been on an unlicensed disease-modifying therapy called nitisinone. This has been shown to be highly efficacious in reducing homogentisic acid, and it is hoped this will halt ochronosis, thus limiting the clinical complications associated with the disease. A well-documented metabolic consequence of nitisinone therapy is hypertyrosinaemia, the clinical implications of which are uncertain. Recent metabolomic studies have helped understand the wider metabolic consequences of nitisinone therapy.

The Role of Periplaneta americana (Blattodea: Blattidae) in Modern Versus Traditional Chinese Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1522-1526
Author(s):  
Chenjuan Zeng ◽  
Qi Liao ◽  
Ye Hu ◽  
Yongmei Shen ◽  
Funeng Geng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Extraction Technology ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Use

Abstract The purpose of this review is to elaborate the role of Periplaneta (P.) americana L. in modern and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and compare the use of the species in these two forms of medical treatments. From searches on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, studies were identified involving TCMs with P. americana, which have a history of use over several thousand years, and demonstrate how extracts from this insect play a role in the treatment of diseases through antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor activity, and enhancement of immune function. Extracts from P. americana have not been fully developed for clinical use because the active components have not been completely purified or their molecular mechanisms thoroughly understood. The development of extraction technology in modern Chinese medicine has revealed that many extracts from P. americana are able to play an important role in the control of diseases such as cancer. Drugs such as ‘Kangfuxin Solution’ and ‘Xinmailong Injection’ are now widely used for gastrointestinal ulcers and chronic heart failure, having achieved beneficial curative effects in clinical studies. Based on this, the information from studies of P. americana in TCM and modern medicine should be combined and their respective advantages applied. This review provides an overview of the role of P. americana in modern and TCM and thus contributes to identification of further applications and area requiring drug development.

scholarly journals Exploring the phenotypic space and the evolutionary history of a natural mutation inDrosophila melanogaster

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ullastres ◽  
Natalia Petit ◽  
Josefa González
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Adaptive Mutation ◽  
Induced Mutations ◽  
Modern Biology ◽  
Adaptive Effect ◽  
History Of

A major challenge of modern Biology is elucidating the functional consequences of natural mutations. While we have a good understanding of the effects of lab-induced mutations on the molecular- and organismal-level phenotypes, the study of natural mutations has lagged behind. In this work, we explore the phenotypic space and the evolutionary history of a previously identified adaptive transposable element insertion. We first combined several tests that capture different signatures of selection to show that there is evidence of positive selection in the regions flanking FBti0019386 insertion. We then explored several phenotypes related to known phenotypic effects of nearby genes, and having plausible connections to fitness variation in nature. We found that flies with FBti0019386 insertion had a shorter developmental time and were more sensitive to stress, which are likely to be the adaptive effect and the cost of selection of this mutation, respectively. Interestingly, these phenotypic effects are not consistent with a role of FBti0019386 in temperate adaptation as has been previously suggested. Indeed, a global analysis of the population frequency of FBti0019386 showed that clinal frequency patterns are found in North America and Australia but not in Europe. Finally, we showed that FBti0019386 is associated with down-regulation of sra most likely because it induces the formation of heterochromatin by recruiting HP1a protein. Overall, our integrative approach allowed us to shed light on the evolutionary history, the relevant fitness effects and the likely molecular mechanisms of an adaptive mutation and highlights the complexity of natural genetic variants.

Towards a Contemporary Philosophy of Islamic Science

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anwar Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Work ◽  
Single Observation ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Stephen Hawking ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Theoretical Physicist ◽  
Islamic Science ◽  
Rational Mind ◽  
Understanding Of Science

Our understanding of science itself as a body of knowledge and as asystem of analysis and research has changed over the last decades, just asover the last two centuries, or especially after the age of Enlightement inEurope, science has become more powerful, more sophisticated and complex.It is rather difficult to determine where science ends and where technologybegins. In fact there is a gmwing awareness that the physical or nam sciences,as a means of studying and understanding nature, are relying on the more“humanistic“ and cultural approaches adopted by the social sciences or thehumanities. The tradition of natural science is being challenged by newdiscoveries of the non-physical and non-natural sciences which go beyondthe physical world.Certainly research is vital for the growth and development of all sciencesthat attempt to discover and understand the “secrets” of nature. The validityof any scientific theory depends on its research and methodological premisesand even that-its proposition or theories (in the words of a leading cosmologistand theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking) -is tentative. Hawlung says: “Anyphysical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis:you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experimentsagree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the resultwill not contradict the theory. On the other hand, you can disprove a theoryby finding even a single observation that disagrees with the predictions ofthe theory.”The history of Western science is rooted in the idea of finding the ’truth’by objectivity. Nothing can be believed until there is a scientific proof ofits existence, or until it can be logically accepted by the rational mind. Theclassical scenario of scientific work gives you an austere picture of heroicactivity, undertaken against all odds, a ceaseless effort to subjugate hostileand menacing nature, and to tame its formidable forces. Science is depicted ...

Potential Therapeutic Targets of Curcumin, Most Abundant Active Compound of Turmeric Spice: Role in the Management of Various Types of Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh A. Almatroodi ◽  
Mansoor Ali Syed ◽  
Arshad Husain Rahmani
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Active Compound ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Signalling Molecules ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Background:: Curcumin, an active compound of turmeric spice is one of the most-studies natural compounds and have been widely recognized as chemopreventive agents. Several molecular mechanisms have been proven, curcumin and its analogs play a role in cancer prevention through modulating various cell signaling pathways as well as inhibition of carcinogenesis process. Objective:: To study the potential role of curcumin in the management of various types of cancer through modulating cell signalling molecules based on available literature and recent patents. Methods:: A wide-ranging literature survey was performed based on Scopus, PubMed, PubMed central and Google scholar for the implication of curcumin in cancer management along with special emphasis on human clinical trials. Moreover, patents were searched through www.google.com/patents, www.freepatentsonline.com and www.freshpatents.com. Result:: Recent studies based on cancer cells have proven that curcumin have potential effects against cancer cells, prevent the growth of cancer and act as cancer therapeutic agents. Besides, curcumin exerted anticancer effects through inducing apoptosis, activating tumor suppressor genes, cell cycle arrest, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, initiation, promotion and progression stages of tumor. It was established that co-treatment of curcumin and anti-cancer drugs could induce apoptosis and also play a significant role in the suppression of the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Conclusion:: Accumulating evidences suggest that curcumin has potentiality to inhibit cancer growth, induced apoptosis and modulate various cell signalling pathways molecules. Well-designed clinical trials of curcumin based on human subjects are still needed to establish the bioavailability, mechanism of action, efficacy and safe dose in the management of various cancers.

scholarly journals On the Short Time Scale Evolutionary History of the Contact Binary VW Cephei

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 396-396
Author(s):  
I. Pustylnik
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Flare Activity ◽  
Considerable Portion ◽  
History Of ◽  
Contact Binary ◽  
Elongation Phase ◽  
Short Time

We study the short-time evolutionary history of the well-known contact binary VW Cep. Our analysis is based partly on the numerous UBV lightcurves obtained at Tartu Observatory, IUE spectra, and samples from the published data. Special attention is given to the effects of asymmetry of the light curves. A higher degree of asymmetry outside the eclipses along with the significant displacements of the brightness maxima in respect to the elongation phase is interpreted as evidence that a considerable portion of the flaring source is concentrated close to the neck connecting the components. We discuss the nature of asymmetry in terms of possible mass exchange and the flare activity and compare the results of our model computations with the record of orbital period variations over the last 60 years.

Memory impairment induced by amphetamine derivatives in laboratory animals and in humans: a review

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Camarasa ◽  
Teresa Rodrigo ◽  
David Pubill ◽  
Elena Escubedo
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Club Drugs ◽  
Synthetic Drugs ◽  
History Of ◽  
Amphetamine Derivatives ◽  
Considerable Body

AbstractThe 20th century brought with it the so-called club drugs (the most notorious being amphetamine derivatives), which are used by young adults at all-night dance parties. Methamphet­amine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) are synthetic drugs with stimulant and psychoactive properties that belong to the amphetamine family. Here, we have reviewed the literature about the cognitive impairment induced by these two amphetamine derivatives and the preclinical and clinical outcomes. Although there is controversial evidence about the effect of methamphetamine and MDMA on learning and memory in laboratory animals, results from published papers demonstrate that amphetamines cause long-term impairment of cognitive functions. A large number of pharmacological receptors have been studied and screened as targets of amphetamine-induced cognitive dysfunction, and extensive research efforts have been invested to provide evidence about the molecular mechanisms behind these cognitive deficits. In humans, there is a considerable body of evidence indicating that methamphetamine and MDMA seriously disrupt memory and learning processes. Although an association between the impairments of memory performance and a history of recreational amphetamine ingestion has also been corroborated, a number of methodological difficulties continue to hamper research in this field, the most important being the concomitant use of other illicit drugs.

25 years of the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 226-235
Author(s):  
Marina M. Valentsova ◽  
Elena S. Uzeneva
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
25Th Anniversary ◽  
Religious Texts ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Slavic Languages ◽  
Language History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Slavic Studies

The essay was written to mark the 25th anniversary of the Slavic Institute named after Jan Stanislav SAS (Bratislava). The Institute was founded to conduct interdisciplinary research on the relationships of the Slovak language and culture with other Slavic languages and cultures, as well as to study the Slovak-Latin, Slovak-Hungarian, and Slovak-German cultural and linguistic interactions in ancient times and the Middle Ages. The article introduces the main milestones in the formation and development of the Institute, its employees, the directions of their scientific work, and their significant publications. The main areas of research of the Slavic Institute (initially the Slavic Cabinet) cover linguistics (lexicography, history of language), history, folklore, cultural studies, musicology, and textology. Much attention is paid to the annotated translation of foreign religious texts into Slovak. A valuable contribution of the Institute to Slavic Studies is the creation of a database of Cyrillic and Latin handwritten and printed texts related to the Byzantine-Slavic tradition in Slovakia.

José Saramago e George Steiner. A antropologia do mal ou “o mal é”

Anthropos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-378
Author(s):  
Carlos Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
History Of Ideas ◽  
Literary Discourse ◽  
History Of ◽  
Jose Saramago ◽  
Short Time

In this article I address the problem of the definition, manifestations, characteristics, and causes of catastrophic evil (one that leads hundreds or thousands of people to exclusion, suffering and death in a short time). To this end, I start from a set of George Steiner’s theses on the nature of evil that José Saramago’s thought and literary discourse confirm and support with an eloquence and depth that is rare in both the history of ideas and and in universal literature.

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