Happiness Issue – Moral Aspects of its Biochemical Enhancement

The search for happiness is something that constitutes human existence from its beginning, and even though people have achieved unimaginable progress in science and technologies, they still have not found the secret of being happy. Transhumanist authors, headed by Mark Walker, believe we can reach happiness biochemically using specific drugs and without considerable side effects. They consider it to be our moral duty because it would increase the prosocial behaviour of people enhanced in that way, following research showing that the happier people are, the more useful it is for society. In this paper, we critically respond to the vision of biochemical enhanced happiness (bio-happiness). We follow the classic and modern authors in our analysis of what happiness is, and based on this analysis, we want to demonstrate why the biochemical enhancement of happiness is not a moral imperative these days. On the contrary, we offer the reasoning why such a vision of bio-happiness is not morally right, and why it bears the risk of losing the connection between happiness and finding the meaningfulness of life. We critically evaluate the absence of spirituality in the transhumanist understanding of man and the devaluation of her/his intrinsic values.

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Gastric Ulcers Produced by Cisplatin

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100099337 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 582-583

Author(s):

S.K. Aggarwal ◽

J. San Antonio

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Single Dose ◽

Side Effects ◽

Antitumor Agent ◽

Gastric Ulcers ◽

Enzyme Cytochemistry ◽

Intestinal Toxicity ◽

Ovarian Cancers ◽

Inner Surface

Cisplatin (cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)) a potent antitumor agent is now available for the treatment of testicular and ovarian cancers. It is however, not free from its serious side effects including nephrotoxicity, gastro intestinal toxicity, myelosuppression, and ototoxicity. Here we now report that the drug produces peculiar bloating of the stomach in rats and induces acute ulceration.Wistar-derived rats weighing 200-250 g were administered cisplatin(9 mg/kg) ip as a single dose in 0.15 M NaCl. After 3 days the animals were sacrificed by decapitation. The stomachs were removed, the contents analyzed for pepsin and acidity. The inner surface was examined with a dissecting microscope after a moderate stretching for ulcers. Affected areas were fixed and processed for routine electron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry.The drug treated animals kept on food and water consistently showed bloating and lesions (Fig. 1) with a frequency of 6-70 ulcers in the rumen section of the stomachs.

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Effects of cisplatin treatment on the rat neurohypophysis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100142256 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 122-123

Author(s):

J.M. Fadool ◽

P.J. Boyer ◽

S.K. Aggarwal

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Urine Output ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Antineoplastic Drugs

Cisplatin (CDDP) is currently one of the most valuable antineoplastic drugs available. However, it has severe toxic side effects of which nephrotoxicity is the major dose limiting factor in its use. It induces morphological changes in the kidney with hampered urine output. The present study is an effort to determine the influence of the drug on the neurohypophysis for any antidiuretic effects on the kidney.

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Severe Drooling and Treatment With Botulinum Toxin

Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) ◽

10.1044/sasd21.1.15 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 15-21

Author(s):

Merete Bakke ◽

Allan Bardow ◽

Eigild Møller

Keyword(s):

Botulinum Toxin ◽

Side Effects ◽

Health Risk ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Clinical Evidence ◽

Acetylcholine Release ◽

Psychosocial Problems ◽

Rate Reduction ◽

Local Inhibition ◽

Surgical Treatments

Severe drooling is associated with discomfort and psychosocial problems and may constitute a health risk. A variety of different surgical and non-surgical treatments have been used to diminish drooling, some of them with little or uncertain effect and others more effective but irreversible or with side effects. Based on clinical evidence, injection with botulinum toxin (BTX) into the parotid and submandibular glands is a useful treatment option, because it is local, reversible, and with few side effects, although it has to be repeated. The mechanism of BTX is a local inhibition of acetylcholine release, which diminishes receptor-coupled secretion and results in a flow rate reduction of 25–50% for 2–7 months.

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