2010年5月11日火曜日

RRJ5

Reference:

Parker-Pope, T. (2010, April 28). Clue for personalizing breast cancer treatment.

The New York Times, Retrieved May 3, 2010, from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/clues-for-personalizing-breast-cancer-treatment/

Summary:

There is a new study to offer a clue to understand whether a patient needs aggressive treatment on the early stage of breast cancer. Therefore, the patient does not take unnecessary treatment. The researcher of the University of California confirmed three specific “biomakers” which predicted the danger of the invasive cancer. Most patients have to choose

a combination of lumpectomy and radiation or mastectomy. With these marks, the study will decrease overtreatment and it may be possible for individualized cancer treatment.

Reaction:

It is a very important thing that women discover the early breast cancer and treat it early. In current cancer treatment, aggressive treatment is common. If the new study is taken under inspection, we can reduce overtreatment. Besides, women can take the personalized breast cancer treatment. I think that there is enough room for still more improvement on the treatment of cancer. It is necessary for the woman with breast cancer to know expanse of the condition of the invasive cancer in precision before losing their breast. Before treatment, I think that we should develop inspection to know the progress of the cancer more. The current cancer treatment does not completely allow us to understand the progress of the invasive cancer, unless it appears after excision.

2010年5月4日火曜日

RRJ4

Reference:

Neergaard, L. (2010, April 26). Dirty-Bomb Test for Terror May Aid Cancer Research.

The New York Times, Retrieved April 27, 2010, from http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/26/health/AP-US-MED-HealthBeat-Radiation-Test.

Summary:

Scientists found that a method can distinguish the person who is exposed to radiation from another quickly. The research might use the treatment of cancer. The government has to prepare against a terrorist attack, vaccines and chemical threats. Radiological threat is one of these. Lymphocytes, which are immune cells, are very sensitive to radiation and change the response of genes. Duke hematology specialist Dr. John Chute found the response of genes with two or three drops of blood. He has to change the find into an emergency test.

Reaction:

Nowadays, there is no way to distinguish the people who are exposed to radiation from other people quickly. I think some test which has a purpose often aids other research. If radioactive contamination happened, we would not find the situation visually soon. I did not know lymphocytes are super-sensitive to radiation. I know the genes switch on and off in response to radiation. I am interested in the relation between genes and radiation.

2010年4月30日金曜日

RRJ3

Reference:

Altman, Lawrence K. (2010, March 8). Dr. Barton Childs, Who Studied Inherited Diseases, Is Dead at 93. The New York Times, Retrieved April 20, 2010,

from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/health/09childs.html?scp=1&sq=Barton&st=cse

Summary:

Dr. Barton Childs died of lung disease on Feb. 18. He was the originator of pediatric genetics and contributed to comprehend of inherited disease. He had taught at Johns Hopkins University for almost 70 years. First, he found the disorder connected with family. The genes interact with social and environmental experiences and cause to specific disease. He was born on Feb. 29, 1916, in Chicago and graduated at Williams College in 1938. He wanted to treat children. He showed the first proof that females choose only one X chromosomes of the two.

He helped us to understand that women have fewer genetic diseases than men, like hemophilia.

He looked into genes which are related to dyslexia and other learning problems. He found that genetic study had started to make an exploration of natural disease.

Reaction:

I knew that hemophilia was caused by the X chromosome. But I didn't know that he provided the first evidence. I am sorry about his death and wanted to listen to his lecture. I learned about his idea and how to think about genetic diseases from the article. It is interesting that social and environmental experiences interact with genetic disease. We worry about only our every gene too much. We have to think about genetic diseases, including social and environmental experiences of a person. I will use his way of thinking about genetic diseases. So, I am interested in genetics. In the future, I think that the use of genetics information should be considered from different angles.

2010年4月15日木曜日

RRJ2

Reference:
Wade, N (2010, March 10). Disease cause is pinpointed with genome. The New York Times, Retrieved April 6, 2010, from http://www.nytimes.com/
Summary:
Two study teams decipher all genomes of patients to find the genetic cause of the origin of a disease. There are three hereditary diseases, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's. Three diseases were brought about by mutations in a gene. In addition, one team estimates the change in DNA. The changes move from parent to child. The change cause 60 per generation. The common diseases are caused by rare mutation. The natural selection has gotten rid of any disease causing mutation before general.
Reaction:
To make out the genetic code of a human was very expensive, like $500 million. Although the study was expensive, disease with genetic causes. Gene manipulation and gene therapy haven't been completed. All we can do is to make use of genetic information. The genetic information is the root of human. I learned about an article about the progress of genetic. Humans want to solve not only hereditary diseases but also lifestyle-related illnesses. I suspect that the both diseases must be related, because the environment affects to the genes of humans.

2010年4月1日木曜日

RRJ1

Reference:
Hutter Epstein, R. (2010,March 22). Pioneer Reflects on Future of Reproductive Medicine. The
New York Times, Retrieved March 30, 2010, from http://www.nytimes.com/well
Summary:
The first test tube baby born was assisted in its created by Dr. Howard W. Jones Jr. He told us about the past and future of in vitro fertilization. Human beings are not efficient for reproduction. The first test tube baby is a revolution for reproduction with argument. Formerly he established the first vitro fertilization clinic and guided the British scientist Robert Edward. They are the first men who succeeded in creating the world's first test tube baby. They had never seen the fertilization-the tail of the sperm in the egg. He experienced harsh criticism. When he was 65 years old, he started the obstetrics and gynecology department at the new Eastern Virginia Medical School. After the Joneses had 41 failures, they succeeded. Although today women can release more than half-dozen oocytes, at that time a doctor could get only one egg per month to fertilize. In addition, they counted the time of ovulation from circumstantial evidence without ultrasound.
Dr. Jones tried to get the oocytes in the ovary. After 12 failures in vitro fertilization Judith Carr, the first patient, could get pregnant. They worried if the baby would be born healthy or not. But she could have a baby with health. Dr. Jones developed reproductive technology. Now, the success rate of in vitro fertilization was increased around 30 percent.
Reaction:
When I was a child, the test tube baby was shocking news in Japan. As one of the fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization is an effective method today. There is today's advancement after an honest attempt like the article. Prof. Suzuki at Tohoku University succeeded in Japan in 1983. It is said that about 60,000 babies have been born at present. It is necessary for us to think about bioethics and the philosophy of in vitro fertilization. Only humans can create their descendant artificially.