Category Archives: Issues in Science

Biomarkers in transplantation

Posted on October 1, 2012 by | 3 comments

A way to predict and diagnose organ rejection without the need for invasive biopsies

Source: http://bit.ly/PTa5tl

For patients with end stage organ failure, transplantation is often the only possible treatment. It involves the replacement of a failing organ with a healthy one from a donor. Although the surgery itself may go smoothly, the patient’s immune system may react to the new organ and reject it.

Biopsy needle.

Biopsy needle.
Source: http://bit.ly/hHKPJP

At present, when doctors want to detect if the recipient’s immune system is attacking the transplanted organ, they take a small sample from the tissue in a procedure called biopsy. Tissue biopsies are costly, painful procedures and in the first year post-transplant, patient would typically undergo around 14 of them. The use of blood biomarkers could decrease or completely eliminate the need for biopsies. The biomarkers would diagnose organ rejection using a simple blood test. This would be a simple and non-invasive method.

Biomarkers explained

In the context of graft rejection, a biomarker is a molecule produced by the action of genes. It can be messenger RNA, a protein or a metabolite, which is produced as a result of body’s immune response. Because people with organ failure express different types and/or quantities of these molecules than healthy people, they can be used as a reliable measure of body’s reaction to the transplanted organ. Their presence can be detected in a blood sample and used as an indicator of the impending organ rejection.

The development of biomarkers is currently underway by the PROOF Centre research team as a part of ongoing movement towards a personalized medicine approach – a patient-centered care providing treatment that is “particularly suited to that patient at that particular time”.

Dr. Scott Tebbutt, Chief Scientific Officer for the PROOF Centre of Excellence, talks about biomarkers:

YouTube Preview Image
Source: http://www.proofcentre.ca/what-is-a-biomarker/

 

For more information about the PROOF Centre and biomarkers, please read here.

Hopes for the future

Laboratory tests currently being used for graft monitoring do not provide a clear measure of immunological risk or accommodation between graft and host. Tissue biopsy thus still remains the primary diagnostic tool for monitoring graft status despite its many limitations. By implementing the use of biomarkers in post-transplant care, researchers hope to completely eliminate or decrease the frequency of biopsies in transplant recipients. Replacing biopsies with a simple blood test would not only reduce patient’s emotional and physical discomfort but would also decrease healthcare costs by preventing disease and improving health.

Submitted by: Nesim Lichy

 

References

1. Biomarkers: A new way to predict and diagnose organ rejection. Transplant Research Foundation of British Columbia Web site. http://www.trfbc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=News_Biomarkers. Accessed 09/20, 2012.

2. Keown PA, McMaster WR, McManus BM. Tools to identify organ rejection and immune quiescence for biological understanding and personalized medical care. Biomarkers in medicine. 2010;4(1):115-121.


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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science

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Power Up Our World Using Wastewater

Posted on October 1, 2012 by | 1 comment

Scientists have been trying to replace energy sources such as coal, natural gas and fossil fuel as they are not only limited but also harmful to the environment. Despite of the fact that we have a lot of renewable energy sources from sunlight, wind, and tides, however they are all uncontrollable to a certain extent. Therefore it is important that we can think of some economical and efficient replacement. Fortunately, scientists have come up with the idea of generating electricity from wastewater using microbes.

This idea has been around for decades but not until recently a team of engineers led by Dr. Liu at Oregon State University has had a major breakthrough which made the production of energy high enough to be used on a commercial scale. Their microbial fuel cell can generate 10 to 50 times more energy per volume than other similar fuel cells as they made some improvements by reducing anode–cathode spacing, utilizing evolved microbes and adopting better separator materials.

Microbes on the anode (shown in green) break down the organic material in wastewater, producing carbon dioxide, protons and electrons.

A schematic view of double microbial fuel cell.
Energy Environ. Sci.,2012

”The fuel cell resembles a book,” Dr Liu said. This cell basically consists of two electrodes, one is a platinum-coated cathode and the other is microbe-covered anode. At the anode, bacteria break down organic material in the wastewater to produce CO2, protons and electrons. Then the electrons along with protons will flow through a wire to the cathode creating an electric current.  Also, the platinum coating cathode reacts with air to produce water. From the process we get water, CO2 and energy as our end products. In short, this process gets rid of some unwanted material in the wastewater and generates energy along the way.

Right now, Dr. Liu aims to make this wastewater treatment process self-sustainable. As technology advances, Dr. Liu expects treating wastewater to be an energy producer rather than an energy cost.

Besides limited energy and natural renewable energy sources, scientist have started a new era of generating energy from our own wastes.

 

The following video is provided by an Israel company called EMEFCY which describes the process of how they generate electricity from the waste water. The approach is similar to Dr. Liu’s microbial fuel cell.

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References

“Converting Waster Water into Electricity.”30 September 2012  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYAlsOmJ-8M>.

Fan, Y., Han, S., & Liu, H. (2012). Improved performance of CEA microbial fuel cells with increased reactor size. Energy&Environmental Science, 5(8), 8273-8280.

Li, Sophia. “In Fuel Cells, Some Hope for Urban Sanitation.” The New York Times. 23 September 2012 <http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/in-fuel-cells-some-hope-for-urban-sanitation/?partner=rss&emc=rss>.

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A bitter pill? Illegal narcotics to treat PTSD.

Posted on September 29, 2012 by | 2 comments

While it is known as a popular (but illegal) club drug, MDMA – which also goes by the street name, Ecstasy – is being clinically studied for use in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing a psychologically traumatic event such as war, rape, childhood abuse, or a serious accident. Treatment of this condition can take a number of years, yet at least one-third of PTSD sufferers will never fully recover.

MDMA has the ability to stimulate a sense of happiness, promote closeness to others, and reduce anxiety. Researchers concerned with the underlying psychology of PTSD are discovering that MDMA, when taken by individuals who have the condition, demonstrate therapeutic benefits. MDMA appears to assist with the process of coming to terms with personal experiences, and controlling intrusive and traumatic memories.

Professor David Nutt, a psychiatrist and former drug advisor for the UK government, is a leading researcher on the therapeutic effects of MDMA. His view is that while MDMA has been made illegal in order to prevent youth from drug abuse, its therapeutic value has been overlooked. It must be added, however, that this is the same David Nutt who was asked to resign after he claimed that ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol.

In a recent interview with BBC Radio 4, Professor Nutt discusses why the drug is being studied in clinical research and how it could be useful for treating the condition of PTSD. Click here to listen to a short segment of this interview.

Professor Nutt recently undertook a research study to test the benefits of MDMA for individuals experiencing PTSD, of which the results were promising. In this study, 12 treatment group subjects were given MDMA pills, while 8 control group subjects were given placebo pills. Both treatments were taken alongside therapy sessions. Results showed that ten subjects in the treatment group showed an improvement after two therapy sessions.

Even here in Vancouver, Psychologist Andrew Feldmar, Ph.D., is about to begin a similar study alongside Health Canada. Check out the video below where he talks about the importance of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research for PTSD.

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All in all, the use of illegal drugs as medicine is not a new occurrence. For example, medical marijuana has long been recommended as a treatment for pain, and is increasingly used in mainstream medicine. Ingredients from magic mushrooms have demonstrated calming effects on patients entering a late stage of cancer. There are other examples of the use of illegal drugs to address medical conditions. Will MDMA follow the same path?

 

 
Blog post submitted by Jackie Romeyn.

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MIT researchers announce a possible solution to oil spills

Posted on September 24, 2012 by | 4 comments

Picture courtesy of wikipedia

In 2010, a massive oil spill devastated the Gulf of Mexico, leaving much of its coast in a seemingly hopeless environmental disaster. As a result, some important questions were raised, such as what the most effective method of removing oil from the water would be. The world really demonstrated its lack of preparedness in light of this incident, as the solutions involved extremely inefficient measures, such as setting fire to the oil on the surface of the ocean. However, this incident sparked a significant interest in researching new methods which separate oil and water as a precaution against future spills.

Recently, one of the most intriguing ideas driving research has been the use of magnetic nanoparticles with an affinity for oil. As a result, researchers at MIT have recently announced their progress on a ferrous nanoparticle which first binds to oil in water and can then be drawn out of the water by way of a magnet, taking the oil out with it. Furthermore, this technique is expected to be a vast improvement on the efficiency of previous techniques used to recover oil, because once the oil has been separated from the water, the nanoparticles can be recovered, which leaves the uncontaminated oil behind for sale or usage. Listen to MIT researchers Shahriar Khushrushahi and Markus Zahn explain their project here: YouTube Preview Image

The concept is there, but the question of how practical such a method will be when dealing with vast bodies of water is still uncertain. Also, the nanoparticles themselves could be seen as an environmental contaminant, so recovery of the oil and then recollection of the particles should probably be done in a controlled manner. Hopefully some resolutions to all the issues surrounding this idea come to fruition soon, because even British Columbia could stand to benefit from the security this method of cleanup might offer, in light of the recently proposed pipeline.

Cameron Tough

 

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science Communication, Science in the News, Uncategorized

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Triclosan: Harmful Chemical Found in Soap

Posted on September 24, 2012 by | 3 comments

Image From:
http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/documents/image/ucm206191.jpg

If you take a look at the bottle of soap in your bathroom, triclosan might just be listed as one of the ingredients.  Recent studies have shown that the chemical triclosan may impair muscle function. It is also commonly found in supplies that we use on a daily basis, such as deodorants and toothpastes. First developed in the 1960s, triclosan was used in hospitals to prevent bacterial infections. It was then included into other products such as kitchen utensils, trash bags and bedding once manufacturers were certain that triclosan was able to kill harmful bacteria.

Image from:
http://img.medscape.com/boards/user/1e09eecb/hand-washing.jpg

Researchers from the University of California did a study and found that triclosan does impair muscle function in both humans and animals. In their study, they isolated human muscle cells from the heart and skeletal muscles and exposed them to triclosan. They also tested how mice and fathead minnows would react to triclosan. Results showed that in the isolated human muscle cells, triclosan interrupted two proteins, important for proper muscle functioning from communicating. In the mice, the function of the heart muscle was reduced by 25% and there was also an 18% reduction in grip strength. The fathead minnows exposed to triclosan were found to be worse swimmers when compared to fathead minnows that weren’t exposed to triclosan. These results definitely show that exposure to triclosan can impair muscle function, especially cardiac function. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, triclosan is not known to be any more hazardous than just washing with non-antibacterial soap, but further studies will be done and reviewed to the public in winter 2012.

Image From:
http://worldtruth.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/images287.jpeg

There are certainly strong evidences provided to show how we should be concerned about triclosan being used in products. Experts are concerned that a resistant bacteria strain will develop with prolong use of this chemical. Although triclosan isn’t regulated as a drug, it should still be a concern to human health and the environment. Hospitals should continue using antibacterial soap that contains triclosan because it is important in preventing the spread of bacteria from one patient to another. But antibacterial soap that contains triclosan really isn’t needed for household hang washing. According to Dr. Peter N. Wenger, the most effective way of getting rid of bacteria on your hands is to wash thoroughly, making sure to also wash between the fingers. So try to buy triclosan free soap and remember to wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of bacteria!

References:
– Pakalert Press
– Smithsonian
–  Live Science

Post Submitted by Mandy Choi

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News

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Do “Smart Drugs” Make Us Smarter?

Posted on September 24, 2012 by | 4 comments

Picture from www.iamrogue.com/limitless

Have you seen the movie “Limitless”? Eddie Morra is an unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret “smart drug” NZT. It allows him to use 100% of his brain and he can remember everything he has ever read, seen or heard.

Do you know that the made-up plot in the movie, in fact, happens in real life? A number of people, including students in universities, keep using “smart drugs”, like Adderall, Ritalin, and modafinil, and they say that it has given them the boost to work non-stop for 10 hours a day and made them more concentrated and more intelligent. Originally, Adderall and Ritalin are prescribed for patients with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); modafinil is generally taken as the treatment of narcolepsy. However, some university students are taking the drugs, because they hope to be smarter in order to get higher grades.

NBC News reported this kind of issues on TODAY: “I figured if everyone else is doing it, why shouldn’t I get the advantage?”

A surprising number of students take the drugs without thinking of the risks of the drugs. An American study, cited in the journal Nature, estimated that up to 25% of students at some campuses had taken neuroenhancing drugs in the past year. They think they are doing something that their body can tolerate, but they do not realize these drugs are highly addictive

Picture from bioethics.net

substances. For example, a freshman honor student named Aly said that she took only one week to become dependent on Adderall. Besides addiction, there are numerous side effects. Ritalin, as an example, can cause nervous system side effects (such as, dizziness, headache, nervousness, trouble sleeping), gastrointestinal side effects (such as, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain), and cardiovascular side effects (such as, changes in blood pressure and pulse rate).

 

Continue the story in “Limitless” mentioned at the beginning, Eddie Morra suddenly experiences financial and social success, but soon realizes that he has to keep taking the drug, which has lethal and lasting side effects, in order to keep the ability. Does he really become smarter? The same questions apply to these drugs like Adederall. Do people who take “smart drugs” really gain IQ? Dr. Greely published her paper about Cognitive-Enhancing Drugs on Nature, and stated that these drug typically improve concentration and a few areas of cognitive performance, but only while the drug is still in the blood. Therefore, it may be more accurately to refer to these drugs as productivity enhancers instead of intelligence enhancers. Seriously, an overdose of Ritalin can be fatal. Moreover, these drugs are recently developed, thus lacking long-term observations of future physiological effects.

 

Adderall XR 20mg capsules by Patrick Mallahan III

At the end, I wish people would stop using these “smart drug”, because they do not make people actually become more intelligent, but can cause addiction and ruin people’s lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science in the News

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch-a future vacation destination?

Posted on September 17, 2012 by | 7 comments

When you picture yourself on vacation, do you think of palm trees, sandy beaches, and clear blue waters? Ramon Knoester, an architect and designer from Holland has proposed an idea that may change future vacation destinations. He has plans to create an island made entirely from plastic waste collected from the oceans. He calls his creation “Recycled Island” and it would have the ability to sustain agriculture and a community. The idea is a creative solution to clean up the great garbage patch in the Northern Pacific Subtropical gyre. Would you vacation on a giant island made from recycled plastic?

Why does the patch need to be cleaned up?

The existence of an oceanic garbage patch that has been increasing tenfold every decade since the 1950s has some consequences that are of immediate concern. For example, plastic pollution has direct damage on marine organisms and seabirds. These animals are dying from ingesting the material, or suffocating from entanglement. Over 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds die from plastic each year. Eliminating plastic debris is of great importance and transforming the great patch into a self-sustaining island could be a possible solution.

Can this dream become reality?

“Recycled Island” may seem like a far-fetched idea, but there is a chance that it will be created.   After presenting his vision at the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference in Hawaii,  Ramon Knoester was given a grant from the Netherlands Architecture Fund to design a prototype for the 10,000 square kilometer habitat. He admits that it is a daunting task that will take years to complete,  but it is possible and something needs to be done about plastic waste.  This island will not only reduce marine pollution, but it will provide a welcoming and sustainable environment for climate refugees. Who knows, maybe you will be vacationing to “Recycled Island” instead of Hawaii sometime in the future.

References:

  • Berton, Justin. “Continent-size toxic stew of plastic trash fouling swath of Pacific Ocean.” San Francisco Chronicle 110 (2007): 8
  • Dore, J., et al. “Ecosystem changes in the North Pacific subtropical gyre attributed to the 1991-92 El Nino.” Nature 373 (1995): 230-231.

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How to choose the best butter or margarine product for you

Posted on September 17, 2012 by | 7 comments

Image from http://www.webexhibits.org/butter/baking.html

“Help, too many choices!” – This could quite likely be the thought going through your head while standing in front of the butter and margarine section of the grocery store. It seems through the years that an increasing number of brands and products have appeared on the shelves. So, how do you begin to make a well informed decision of which to buy? It may initially take some time to look at the labels, but you are likely to continue to buy this product as a household staple for years to come. Here are some things to consider when deciding upon which butter or margarine product to choose.

 

Image from http://www.fullcirclehealthcare.ca/blog/busted-margarine-myths-

Margarine – The major issue with margarine is the presence of trans fats. Health Canada notes that trans fats raise levels of LDL-cholesterol while lowering levels of HDL-cholesterol in the blood. This is not a good thing as LDL-cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, while HDL-cholesterol helps to prevent heart disease. Dr. Kristie Leong explains that, in general, the more the liquid the margarine the less trans fat the margarine contains. Be sure to read the Nutrition Facts on the label as well as the ingredients list. Sometimes the label will say that there is 0 grams of trans fats, even though some is present in the product. Keep an eye out for hydrogenated and fractionated oils on the ingredients list to indicate the presence of trans fats.

Image from http://thescienceofeating.com/fats/butter-vs-margarine/

Butter – The major issue with butter is the high content of saturated fats. According to Health Canada, saturated fats increase levels of both LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in the blood; thus, saturated fats have both positive and negative effects. Consumption of saturated fats have previously been thought to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. However, a study by Siri-Tarino et al. (2010) suggests that there is no link between saturated fats and heart disease. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side try to consume butters with lower amounts of saturated fats.  On a positive note, butter is less processed than margarine, and, as Dr. Kristie Leong explains, butter is a source of other beneficial nutrients, of which margarine is not.

Overall, try to limit the amount of butter and/or margarine you consume on a daily basis. Eating it in similar quantities as the people in the video shown below is not advised.  I would opt for a butter that is low in saturated fat. If you prefer margarine, then choose one that does not contain trans fat. But, in the end, the product you buy is up to you!

YouTube Preview Image

References:

Siri-Tarino, Patty W, Sun, Qi, Hu, Frank B, and Krauss, Ronald M. (2010). “Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 91(3): 535-546.

Submitted by: Angela Johnston

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Scientific Advances in Treatments for Deafness

Posted on September 17, 2012 by | 2 comments

Behind the Ear Hearing Aid
http://www.hearing-aids-wizard.com/image-files/behind-the-ear-hearing-aid-decorated.jpg

One important characteristic of being human is our complexly developed senses; our senses are what place us at the top of the food chain. However, one in twenty five people in Canada are unable to experience one of the most fundamental senses for survival: hearing. Scientists have aimed to develop technology to improve the quality of life for those who are hearing impaired. There are already methods that are successful in improving hearing: the hearing aid and the cochlear implant. Furthermore, recent research  suggests that embryonic stem cells could also be of great help when treating the hearing impaired.

The hearing aid is the most common type of treatment that doctors recommend for hearing loss. It is an electronic device consisting of a battery and some form of a miniature loudspeaker that amplifies sounds that the user is unable to detect. Moreover, the device is customized to the ear shape of the user and fits comfortably inside the ear. An advantage of the hearing aid is that it is cost effective; no matter the financial state of the patient, it is possible to find an affordable device. A second advantage to the hearing aid is that it comes in different styles so finding the right one depends solely on the user’s preference. Its many advantages have widely popularized the use of it for people who are hearing impaired.

The Inner Ear http://drharris.ucsd.edu/Portals/0/inner%20ear%20detail.jpg

Another method of improving hearing is the surgical implantation of an artificial cochlea, also known as the bionic ear. The cochlea implant functions through skipping the component of the patient’s inner ear where the fully functional hair cells  used to be, and stimulating the cochlear nerves directly using electrical impulses sent by the implant.  This would allow the brain to be able to receive nerve impulses the same way hair cells would send nerve impulses.  The downside of the cochlear implant include risk of infection from the surgical procedure, and the high cost of the implant itself.

The last method that will be discussed was found recently by the University of Sheffield in England and involves an area of science that has been on the rise for the past twenty years: stem cell research.  This new discovery suggests embryonic stem cells can be modified such that it mimics the function of a hair cell, thus, allowing the ear to hear normally. Further research must be done to implement this method but researchers at the University believe this method, when paired with the cochlear implant, possesses the ability to treat people with  hearing impairment.

To demonstrate how life changing advances in science can be, here is a short video of a girl hearing herself for the first time after a cochlear implant.

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The methods described are only a few ways science has advanced to treat those who are hearing impaired. Science still strives to discover new and innovative ways to give the same opportunities to the people who are hearing impaired as people who are not.

Submitted by: Elsie Ng

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