Ebola Breakthrough

Recently, we've heard of a doctor being diagnosed with Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Shortly after, a nurse was infected. However, with the high quality of medicine in the United States, these people could be kept alive due to hydration and coagulation to control any bleeding. This salvaged time so that their immune systems could get rid of the Ebola virus in their blood system. A while later, the doctor and nurse are declared Ebola free.

This means that the doctor and nurse have now produced antibodies that have specific targeting for Ebola virus. This means that their body is ready just in case they become infected with Ebola again. If they do become infected again, the symptoms will be less severe.

Think of it. There now exists an antibody for Ebola. The doctor now has the gene that codes for that Ebola antibody for his whole life. If we could grab a copy of that DNA, and incorporate them into cell cultures, the cultures would contain the gene for producing the human antibody for Ebola. Consequently, these cell cultures would produce the human antibody for Ebola.

 

Thats bluddy lucky for them.
I imagine that people are already cracking down on this though? I imagine that if this does work though, it won't get to Africa for some time.

 

What if we do like a flu shot but with ebola? A small dose and then we become more resistant.

 

Bit dangerous, because it might overpower your bodies cells. (MLG, don't sue me for wrong terminology <3)

 

They did something last time in Zaire except that was with blood transfusions.

 

Oh god.
I can imagine the worst outcome of that already.

 

They actually cured the remaining patients who had Ebola.

 

I was imagining the worst outcome.
And what easily could have happened.
But that's good.

 

They only gave the transfusions to people who already had the disease.

 

Accidents do happen.

 

Like my 7 billion + children >.>
But seriously now, medicine always prevails.
HIV infection was turned into a chronic but manageable condition.
Hepatitis can be treated with interferons.
MRSA can be overcome with stronger antibiotics.
Proteins can be modified to meet therapeutic requirements.
This is why I love medicine x3.

 

I said accidents happen, but not every time.
Yeah, medicine is probably the greatest human advancement in my opinion.

 

Neurology FTW

 

The era when we can colonise other planets and star systems.

 

For example, when a person has a heart attack, the heart is susceptible to throwing blood clots out into the blood stream. If a clot gets stuck, blood flow will become cut off, and the affected tissue will die(necrosis).

Our bodies have a mechanism to break down clots. Clots are made up of fibers. These fibers are made of chains of a protein called fibrin. When our body wants to rid itself of a clot (like a scar over a paper cut), it breaks it down using an enzyme called plasmin. However, plasmin has to be activated to work. Another enzyme, called Tissue Plasminogen Activator, activates plasmin, and as a result, the clot breaks down.

Tissue Plasminogen Activator became one of the most studied enzymes in medicine during the late 1900's-early 2000's. With the help of biotechnology and genetic engineering, Tissue Plasminogen Activator was successfully modified to yield an enzyme that could be used to help people with heart attacks.

First, scientists took the human gene for Tissue Plasminogen Activator(t-PA). Then, they modified it a bit so that it could last longer, and work much better than normal t-PA. This new enzyme was called TNK-tPA. It is well known by its brand name, Tenecteplase.

That's just an example of how you can take a protein from a human, make changes to it, and use it to treat disorders, diseases, conditions, etc.

 

I heard that people have been making breakthroughs with arthritis and strokes.
Which is a big deal to me because my family have had a history of those two things and I've been told I'm likely to suffer either one or both. :/

 

I'm sorry :/
But it's true, breakthroughs have been made.
Arthritis is inflammation of the bone. It's an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system has mistaken your own body part for an invader, and begins attacking it. One little protein in your body causes it. It's called Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, better known as cachexin. It's a very annoying protein. It interacts with cells, and expressing its pro-inflammatory activity, resulting in inflammation.

Therapies are available to help inhibit inflammation caused by TNF.
Scientists have taken digestive enzymes from the stomach, such as trypsin, and have been able to modify them. They changed the shape of the enzyme slightly so that it specifically targeted TNF. When this modified trypsin protein interacted with TNF, it cleaved a piece of it off. This damaged the TNF protein, and when it attempted to cause inflammation, it couldn't. Antibodies also exist, with specific targeting for Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha. This results in alleviation of any inflammatory activity from TNF.

Point is, if arthritis does occur, therapies always exist, and medicine will be there to help x3.

 

Yeah. And then I get to wait out my days of waiting for stroke with full movement. x)

 

Well the best way to prevent both diseases is to exercise and eat healthy.

 

The thing is though, its hereditary. I can't do much about that, even though both of those things mentioned do help.

 

For strokes, always remember the acronym F.A.S.T.
F: Face. Is the face drooping from one side?
A: Arm. Raise both arms. Does one arm feel weak?
S: Speech. Are you having a hard time speaking? Is it slurred?
T: Time: If you meet these criteria, call 9-1-1 as fast as you can, or tell someone you are having a stroke, so you can be sent to the hospital, and be attended ASAP.

 

Yeah. We have one of those in my house. Laminated and everything.
I hate it.

 

You might hate it now, but you'll be glad it's there. That way, if something happens, you'll enhance your ability to realize you're having a stroke, and get treated right away.

 

Yeah. I know what good it could do, but the thought of it has made me almost destroy it numerous times.

 

Ah I see. Well, I wish you luck.
In the meantime, stay healthy!
It will decrease chances of anything going haywire

 

Yeah.
Damn, I'm an idiot for saying all this. :S
Being unwell has opened me up. :/
Next I'll be posting selfies.

 

Selfie :3

 

Zmapp cured some people.

 

Human Advancement? Medicine is made from nature, bruh.

 

Raw ingredients are made by nature, as well as by humans. The medicine is compounded by humans

 

Well, what am I supposed to know bruh? Your probs older den me.

 

That medicine is compounded by humans.