Blood Vessel Bio Printer

Introduction:

Creating a synthetic network of blood vessels to support organs that scientists have created artificially from the heart, liver, and lungs has been one of researchers greatest challenge. Blood vessels incredibly important because they are vital to the body's circulatory system supplying organs with nutrients and remove wastes. Researchers are able to create artificial blood vessels within the lab using 3D printers, which can be used for transplants and to test for new drugs.  (B)

Research:

On October 25, 2015 the Revotek (Chinese Co.) released the world's very first 3D blood vessel bioprinter where two nozzles work alternatively so that the bioprinter can finish a 10cm blood vessel within 2 minutes. The core of the pinter, 'BioBrick', holds within it stem cells wher when the perfect conditions are met so that the stem cell can differentiate into the cells that the scientists need. BioBrick refers to stem cell producing system with a biomimetic function. The major difference in 3D blood vessel bioprinting (compared to regular 3D printings) is that the stem cells are kept active during the process.(A) Discovering methods to keep vascular cells and other active substances alive are just some of the goals.  Not only does this type of printing print one blood vessel but it is capable of printing livers, kidneys, as well as other organs in the human body. Although the release of the worlds very first 3D blood vessel bioprinter is a mjor breakthrough in scientific research holding an incredible amount of potential to help patients, there needs a long period of time before it can be applied to human medical care. (A)

Methods:

There are two ways in which researchers can use 3D printing. They can either print the actual cells or they can print a structure on which they can grow the cells (later dissolving). However, caution needs to be applied during these processes and methods because printing cells often times damages or kills them.  The substances that get dissolved-mentioned above- can be harmful to cells in our body. In Khademhosseini's tissue study, he and his team were able to print a template for cell growth that can later be pulled out before damaging cells. A network of tiny channels of agarose as the role of template for artificial blood vessels was embedded into the passages of the gel structure. Here mouse cells were grown to develop into bone. (B)

*agarose is a polymer made from seaweed which is often used for culturing cells*

Results:

The blood vessels can effectively transport fluids, support living cells, and allow the cells to mature. The cells were also able to rearrange themselves into a layer of cells on the templates. (B)

Concluding Remarks:

The reason as to why this is such a milestone in medical research is that,  there is a significant need for blood vessels as well as tissue donor transplant. Even if patients who need an organ transplant were lucky enough to receive one, there is a great chance that the patients immune system will reject the new body part

Links:
(A) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/china-revotek-releases-worlds-first-3d-blood-vessel-bioprinter-1525757
(B)http://www.livescience.com/46067-3d-printed-blood-vessels.html

*These images do not belong to me! They were found on various tumblr sites! If any belong to you please let me know so that I can give you credit for them- Thanks so much ! 

Cystic Fibrosis: 2020 Gene Therapy

Cystic Fibrosis (aka: Muco-viscidosis) is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs as well as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and the intestines. Individuals with CF have difficulty breathing, cough up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections, sinus infections, poor growth, fatty stool, clubbing of fingers and toes, and infertility in males. (There are many other symptoms) (B) The degrees in which people with CF have the symptoms listed above varies on a case by case basis. This chronic disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive way where there are mutations in both copies of a gene for the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein. (CFTR) Those who have a single copy are carriers of the disease and are normal functioning/looking individuals. As of today, there is no cure for CF and lung infections are treated with antibiotics that can be received intravenously, inhaled, or by the mouth. (B) 

Introduction: 

In 1989, scientists failed to find a cure for cystic fibrosis although the faulty gene that causes CF was located. But with the use of experimental gene therapy (a technique where copies of normal genes are inserted into the cells DNA to counter the effects of the faulty gene) is giving hope for individuals suffering from CF. (C) Cystic Fibrosis (being the most common life-threatening inherited disease especially in the UK, shorting lives of many) was an early and clear target for scientists to further investigate gene therapy when the mutated gene that causes it.The results of a year-long trial showed only a small and variable improvement in the lung capacity of those children and adults who took part, but scientists now believe they have proved gene therapy is possible in treating cystic fibrosis. (A) After years of attempting to develop gene therapy for CF, recent research shows that a treatment for CF might be available within the next 5 years. Although results of first trial were ‘modest and variable’, second bigger trial aims to combine gene therapy with other treatments for longer term benefits. With more work, researchers say that they will be able to at least help stabilize these patients. (A) 

Research: 

The Royal Bromptom and Harefield NHS Foundation Tust and the NHS Lothian came together in 2001 to develop a gene therapy which was supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. They were able to develop a technique where patients could breathe in molecules of DNA where a normal copy of the defective gene could travel to the cells of the lung. A trial of a total of 136 patients (ages 12 and older) showed results of better lung functioning in those who were given the gene therapy. This was the first demonstration that repeated gene therapy to improve lung function. Eric Alton (coordinator of UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium) stated that, “The effects were modest and variable. This is not yet ready for clinical use for those reasons. (A)” At Western General Hospital and the Royal Bromptom half of their patients were treated with gene therapy and the other half were give saline. Those with the best results were those who suffered from the worst lung function. The mucus obstructs the smaller airways so that most of the doses end up in the larger airways instead. Those with milder lung troubles would have to receive a larger dose to get the same results. (A) Unfortunately, the scientists were unable to make permanent changes to the faulty gene. According to the trial published in the 'Journal of Lancet Respiratory Medicine' patients were dosed only once a month and soon realized that increasing the dosages showed a direct correlation to improved results. In larger trials the goal will be to combine gene therapy with other treatments. (A) A new trial may be able to give patients benefits that last much longer through the injection of a specially engineered virus rather than injecting them in fat globules (aka: the method physicians use today in treating CF) This form of treatment was not considered much because repeated dosages treatment through a virus would cause the immune system to reject it. If the next trial shows a bigger benefit, said Alton, it would be feasible to have a treatment to improve lung function available for patients by the end of the decade. The aim would be to prevent damage to the lungs occurring. (A) “The lungs must be one of the worst possible organs to go for,” said Alton. “They are so extremely well-defended. With bone marrow you can take it out, do the gene transfer in controlled conditions in the laboratory and put it back in the patient. That is the low-hanging fruit. We have gone for the high-hanging fruit but I’m not at all sorry we have.(A)” 

Concluding Remarks:

Since gene therapy is still such an experimental process where there are very few treatments discovered through this technique which only apply to very rare diseases, there needs to be continuous investments, innovative approaches to genetic research, and creating advancements for diseases such as CF which cuts many young people's lives. There is no doubt that this study with experimental gene therapy is inspiring scientists and physicians world wide to explore more of this technique to target other genetic conditions as well as cancer.

Links:
(A)http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jul/03/gene-therapy-cystic-fibrosis-2020-scientists
(B) wiki/CF
(C)http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/thecure/2015/08/gene-therapy-cystic-fibrosis-150817115228509.html

*These images do not belong to me- They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Thanks so much~

Mammogram Fail

Introduction: 

The Value of Mammograms The United States, throughout the years, have no recordings in which the rate of cancers have declined in which they have already spread far beyond the breast before they were located. The purpose of screening is in the hope for early detection of cancer so that it is possible to treated. Cancers being in a local area then spread to various organs eventually to various parts of the human body. But why is it that screenings have not reduced the rate of cancers? (A)Detection options for breast cancer have been provided and the rates of these cancers have been stable since 1975.  The average age that women are diagnosed with cancer is at about the age of 63. (A quite possibility that this is another reason as to why cancers are not being detected sooner) The pattern that breast cancer tends to take is that it is already systemic, spreading quickly and widely from the very beginning. Because of this pattern, detecting breast cancers sooner limits the process. (A)

Investigation: 

Limitations of MammographyThe limitations in mammography include false-negative results, false-positive results, and over-diagnosis/over-treatment. Mammograms were created in the 1980s to detect breast cancers that are too small to be felt. The value of mammograms and its influence in helping women live longer is not as promising as people might think. A woman's overall health status (aka: whether or not she has other serious or life-threatening health problems. Congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary/lung disease are just some examples). 

Although mammograms can detect small tumors in the breast area, breast cancer is fast-growing and so aggressive that there is a great chance that it has already spread to other areas before it can even be detected. (B) False-negative mammogram results occurs when everything seems normal when in fact the breast cancer is present. One in five breast cancers are not found in mammogram screenings. These type of results are more common in younger women whose breasts are much more dense making it difficult to detect. ( As we age, women's breasts become less dense) (B) 

False-positive mammogram results occur when the breast looks abnormal in the screening but no cancer is present. Diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs or even biopsy's are performed when abnormal mammograms are detected to make sure that there is or is no cancer.  These results are also more common in younger women who have dense breasts, have had breast biopsies, taking estrogen,or have family history in breast cancer.  These results often cause a lot of anxiety in patients due to the extra tests needed to make sure that cancer is not present which costs time money and physical discomfort.(B) 

Lastly, another limitation of mammograms is that physicians can not tell the difference between life-threatening cancers which grow and spread to other parts of the human body to those that are not dangerous and will not grow. Although mammograms can detect cancers such as invasive breast cancers as well as DCIS (aka: ductal carcinoma in situ- which are cancer cells in the lining of the breast ducts), some of the tumors detected may not be life-threatening and do not grow. (B) Over diagnosis, subsequently, has women being treated unnecessarily with cancer therapy which can be physically draining and challenge an individual's mental health. About 0-10% of women fall into this range(B). We have to find ways for doctors to differentiate between cancers and cases of DCIS that become life threatening, instead of treating everything detected by mammograms the same.

Concluding Remarks: 

Benefits of Mammography The fundamental purpose of mammogram screenings is to save lives by detecting diseases before symptoms develop so that physicans are able to provide their patients treatments to reduce the affects of the disease (possibly even cure it), but above all to give their patients hope of a longer life. Diagnostic mammography ( known more commonly in the medical field as the 'problem solving mammography' which uses the similar procedure to normal mammograms) uses x-rays and the patients specific symptoms of men and women. It can also be used to determine presence or absence of breast cancer in patients with personal history of breast cancer or biopsy-proven breast disease. (C) 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has screening guidelines that applies to both breast cancer and mammography.  First the disease being screened is serious and prevalent, and the test used should be sensitive and specific, well tolerated, inexpensive and changes therapy or outcome. The reason for these five principles is so that the disease has to be prevalent enough and show symptoms of the diseases to warrant screenings and tests. (C)

Links:

(A)http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/29/mammograms-not-catching-cancers-before-they-spread-say-us-experts
(B) http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourdiagnosis/examsandtestdescriptions/mammogramsandotherbreastimagingprocedures/mammograms-and-other-breast-imaging-procedures-mammogram-limitations
(C)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22311/

*These images are not mine! They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours -please let me know so that I can give you credit! Thanks so much~

Spermatid Injection Gives Hope

 

INTRODUCTION: 

Spermatid was injected into the cytoplasm of the oocyte (female egg) allows for the production viable embryos developing to term in the mother. Round Spermatid Injection (aka: ROSI) and Elongated Spermatid Injection (aka: ELSI) as well as the focus of the features of zygote development associated with sperm percursor cells for fertilization. The fertilization rates of ROSI were 45% and the rates of ELSI were 44%. (C)

Individual rounds or elongated spermatids were found in spermatid enriched fractions (formed by the centrifugion of cells from azoospermic ejaculates through a discontinuous Percoll gradient column) which were then injected into the female oocytes causing 'Oocyte Activation'. This activation was boosted with the addition of ooplasm at the same time the injection occured. (C)


Males with defects in their spermatogensis are not able to reproduce. Human conception with the use of spermatids instead of spermtaozoa became a possibility when scientists observed that injecting elongated spermatid during cleavage and four cell stage of oocytes produced normal fertilization. This procedure was confirmed through two resulting childbirths due to injection of round spermatids into the female oocytes. (C)

But WHERE are these researchers finding these spermatids to inject into the female oocytes? Well, spermatids are found in the testicular tissue of sertoli cells. Using a micromanipulator to pull these spermatids off but it is common for spermatids to detach spontaneously and appear in the ejaculate of *azoospermic men. (C) *azoospermia is the absence of motile sperm in the semen*

It is critical to have a deep understanding of how fertilization occurs in the human body in order for this procedure to work.  Knowledge of the specific features of spermatids and zygote development are essential for the procedure of ROSI and ELSI to have effective outcomes.

 RESEARCH:

Fourteen healthy children were born to twelve men and their partners after a round of injection of spermatid. This injection of spermatid was once called Rosi which had been banned in the United Kingdom since the 1990s because of the large health risks to children. The injection of the immature sperm cells into eggs could help infertile men worldwide become fathers. This study and its findings have urged UK to reconsider the ban of Rosi. (A)

The 14 successful births followed the injection of 76 electrically stimulated eggs with spermatids taken from men aged 22 to 46. None of the children, born between September 2011 and March 2014, have shown any sign of physical or mental problems or genetic disorders, said the scientists, writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.(A)

Dr Atsushi Tanaka and his team from Institute for Assisted Reproductive Technology in Fukuoka, Japan, concluded, “Round spermatid injection was effectively used in our clinic and resulted in the birth of 14 healthy babies. Although the current success rate of round spermatid injection is not very high compared with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (Icsi), this procedure can be the last resort for men who cannot produce spermatozoa but wish to use their own genetic material to produce offspring.(A)”

CONCLUSION:

Two decades ago British researchers tried the technique and as a result a few babies were born because of this procedure. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (aka: HFEA) decided to outlaw this procedure due to the risks of these very same babies produced through this process, coming into the world with physical or mental disability. (Not to mention that it did not always work.) (A)

Such previous attempts with ROSI were failures due to the fact that there was major obstacles in identifying the cells as well as activating the recipient eggs. In order for British scientists to perform a similar study, they would have to ask for permission from HFEA, providing scientific, technologic, and ethical/moral evidence behind this research. (A)

Links:
(A) http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/02/modern-twist-fertility-technique-hope-sterile-men
(B)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583157/
(C)http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/11/4/772.full.pdf

*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on various tumblr, pinterest, google image sites! If any are yours’ please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so much & enjoy~

Wednesday Inspiration: Passion has a funny way of Trumping Logic

New Heart Disease Treatment

Introduction:

Recently discovered cells that grow fresh arteries and restore blood supply to organs through a radical new treatment for heart disease. Natural bypass therapies that coax heart cells into forming new arteries that are capable of re-routing blood around diseased and blocked blood vessels. This treatment can be given to patients as a precaution to heart disease or even after a heart attack.  The treatment given will give these patients extra arteries that will be ready to take over if their own become clogged. (A)

Coronary heart disease is when the arteries that supply the heart with oxygen rich blood becomes narrow from build up of fatty tissues due to a poor diet.  These narrowed pathways forces blood into smaller nearby vessels that are brought around the diseased artery. Unfortunately, not enough blood will be supplied to the heart that it needs. The researchers of 'Red-Horse' hope to grow arteries that can take over and supply this much needed blood supply to the heart when a heart attack strikes. (A)

Research:

The greatest obstacle that scientists faced is HOW coronary arteries actually formed. The ambiguity of which heart cells formed smooth muscle sheaths that need to form new arteries and more importantly if they even existed in adults were just some of the challenges researchers faced.
In adult mice, the Stanford team, added fluorescent tags to single cell located in the epicardium (which is located in the tissue layer that covers the heart) in order to track down cells that form arterial muscles.  The team was now able to trace this epicardial cell including its cell generations and the cells that were created as they divided. Some cells became arterial muscle cells which originated from pericytes. (A)

Molecular signals tell pericytes to grow into arterial muscle cells. If these very same signals can be somehow mimicked by a drug, then the cells in the heart could form new arteries on the hearts surface so that blood can flow. Tests are still being conducted to this day by the scientists from Standford (aka Red-Horse) on the hearts of mice in hopes of growing new arteries in these mice within the next five years. (A)

Concluding Remarks:

As of today, patients with blocked arteries,  are treated with angioplasty where the material that is causing the blockage is removed. Unfortunately, many times the blockage returns. Bypass surgery, another option for patients, is the process in which blood vessels bridge the blocked areas of the arteries. This option is often more successful than angioplasty. Scientists now believe that regenerating new arteries may work better than both angioplasty and bypass surgery. (A)

Links:
(A)http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/artery-cell-discovery-paves-way-for-new-heart-disease-treatment

*These images do not belong to me! They were found on various tumblr sites- if any are yours please let me know so I can give you credit for them! Thanks so much~

Herpes Virus to Cure Cancer

Introduction:

The United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a first-of-its-kind drug that uses a modified version of the herpes virus to infiltrate and reduce the size of cancer tumors. (The HSV or Herpes Simplex Virus produces cold sores with individuals infected with HSV-1 and genital herpes with those that have the HSV-2 infection.

These viruses are not only contagious but incurable.) (B) Amgen Incorporations have produced a drug called 'Imlygic' (that is injectable) which will be used on cancerous tumors. Malignant melanoma (aka: skin cancer tumors) that cannot be surgically removed as well as those who suffer from metastatic malignant melanomas (cancer has started to spread to other parts of the body or metastasizing) are to be injected with Imlygic. (B)

Research:

New medicines known in the medical or research field as immuno-therapies or immune-oncology have the ability to use the immune system of the human body to aid in attacking cancer cells. Approved by the FDA, these drugs have brought one of the very first significant advances in patient survival for specific cancer types such as lung cancer and melanoma. (A) Injected directly into tumor tissues, the herpes virus slips through and kills cancer cells.


Once inside, the HSV-1 uses its own receptors to target and bind to the surface of the host cell membrane. Next, an 'entry pore' is developed where the virus can now inject its genetic material into the cell filtrating to the cell's nucleus. Subsequently, the host cell is now -hijacked by the virus- being forced to replicate its genetic viral code, host cell then bursts (now destroyed) and the new viral particles are released. This is the process that will be used to destroy cancerous tumor cells with a modified version of HSV-1. Presence of HSV-1 will trigger the immune system which will also end up aiding in the attack of the tumor. (B)

So how does this process affect melanoma cells specifically? Well, what the drug T-VEC (aka: talimogene laherparepvec) does is that is divides repeatedly into copies until the cancer cell membranes burst. As this is happening, the gene snippet produces a protein that stimulates the immune system to respond and ultimately kill melanoma cells of tumors.(A)

Results: 

Although, this drug with the modified HSV-1 (the virus which causes cold sores) have shown groundbreaking results, the FDA stresses that it does not extend life. Results of the study showed that 16% that were injected with the drug did not show a dramatic increase in life expectancy. The effect only lasted 6 months. These patients' tumors shrunk compared to the 2% of patients who took more conventional cancer drugs. Regulators stressed that Imlygic had no effect on melanoma that had spread to the brain, lungs or other internal organs.(A)

Trading one disease for another- Is it really worth it?

Links:
(A) http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/oct/28/us-approval-for-drug-that-turns-herpes-virus-against-cancer
(B)http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/herpes-virus-recruited-fight-against-skin-cancer

*These images do not belong to me! They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them~ Thanks so much~!