Christopher Nguyen - Quadruple Limb Transplant Patient Dies

Article: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/02/28/quadruple-limb-transplant-patient-dies/

Summary: This news story features a 27 year old Turkish man named Sevket Cavdar, who was subject to a quadruple limb transplant. He lost all his limbs during a freak accident in 1998, while he was electrocuted. The surgery was not a success. Usually, limb transplants place an extraordinary amount of strain on the heart, but this man had an amazing four limb transplant. After a few days, doctors had to remove one of the limbs. And eventually removed all. The cause was because of metabolic imbalance.

Question: Just weeks before, a patient went through the same process but instead with three limbs, she died shortly after. If it is obvious that this feat may almost be impossible, why do doctors continue to allow these treatments? Do the physical plus's outweigh the negatives?

Meghan Corbett- Abortion: Gender claims probed by Department of Health

Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17136213

Summary: The article discusses the issue of women receiving abortions because of gender. Some women feel as if it is okay to get an abortion simply because they would prefer a boy over a girl or vice versa. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said that this was was an "inevitable consequence" of easy access to abortion. It is said that the Care Quality Commission, who regulate the clinics, need to a hold of this issue as soon as possible.

Question: Is access to abortion to too convenient? Has society made abortion seem like an easier way to get what you really want whether it be a boy or a girl? 

Impatient Web Users, an Eye Blink Is Just Too Long to Wait

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/technology/impatient-web-users-flee-slow-loading-sites.html?ref=technology

Summary:
Steve Lohr talks about how people these days are becoming more and more impatient when using the computer. He says that 400 milliseconds which is the blink of an eye is considered too long for a person to wait for their computer to load. Google and other companies are working to create faster websites and competing to become the best one. People would most likely visit sites that are faster than those that are not. People are becoming too attached to technology and are losing patience for things that aren't even that important.

Question:
How else can the internet/technology harm society? Do you think technology is taking over people's lives?

Safety Alerts Cite Cholesterol Drugs’ Side Effects - Rachel Lee

Federal Health Officials on Tuesday decided to label cholesterol reducing medication with safety alerts citing the rare risks of memory loss, diabetes and muscle pain. This is the first time the Food and Drug Administration officially linked statin use with problems such as forgetfulness and confusion. Medical Patients who have been taking the medication have been reporting these problems for years. Among the drugs affected are huge sellers like Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor and Vytorin. However, federal officials and medical experts say that people should not be afraid to use medication  that contains statin. “The value of statins in preventing heart disease has been clearly established,” said Dr. Amy G. Egan, deputy director for safety in the F.D.A.’s division of metabolism and endocrinology products. “Their benefit is indisputable, but they need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects.”  

Given that these medications can cause side effects such as diabetes, should doctors weigh out the pros and cons of drugs such as Lipitor and Crestor before they prescribe it to their patients?


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/health/fda-warns-of-cholesterol-drugs-side-effects.html?ref=health 

Scientists Use Stem Cells to Generate Human Eggs in the Lab

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-02/scientists-isolate-reproductive-stem-cells-generate-human-eggs-lab

Scientists were able to create egg cells from stem cells. Using animal fertility as a model, stem cells taken from mice were used in the experiment. A special machine was used to isolate the specific protein that is involved in creating stem cells. These stem cells were then able to develop into egg cells. These findings in animal research imply that one day the same process can be eventually applied to human cells. The purpose of this is to help cure female infertility.

If this process is used to create egg cells for women, can stem cells be a viable option for future research?

Genetically Engineered Bacteria Could Help Fight Climate Change - Julian Gaskins

Summary: Scientists are genetically modifying bacteria to trap carbon dioxide faster, keeping it underground for millions of years.  When CO₂ is pumped into underground porous rocks, it combines with metal ions in the salty water that fills the rock pores and mineralizes into mineral carbonates, such as calcium carbonate.  This was a major breakthrough for these scientists as this would help the environment by cutting back at the number of carbon dioxide in the air.  One of the scientists did note though that they would need to run more tests on a real-life scenario instead of controlled tests.

Question:  What are the possible risks for releasing advanced bacteria into the weather patterns?

ULTRA SOUND SURGERY-HEALING WITHOUT CUTS

http://www.ted.com/talks/yoav_medan_ultrasound_surgery_healing_without_cuts.html



Summary: Yoav Medan, from the University of San Diego, discusses how new scientific research has found a way to eliminate some devastating health problems with ultra sound rather than surgery. To do this, the ultra sound would be concentrated into a specific area without affecting the area surrounded the target. Medan argues that this type of surgery is better than the physical cuts because for one, the patient is actually awake during this procedure, so the relationship between the doctor and patient will be stronger. He also argues that the results are immediate, with no pain, leaving the suffering and patient out of the recovery stage. Finally, Medan explains how doctors will no longer have to physically operate on a patient; the machines will do it all. Yet as of right now, this procedure can only be done on certain cases of the brain and some types of cancers. For example, one seventy-year-old man suffered from joint and back pain on his right side. The pain was so severe that he could barley walk and sit. Yet immediately after this procedure, the patient was back to his old routines pain free.



Question: Often times, doctors make mistakes during surgery that can cause patients to suffer severely, even die. Do you think computerized procedures will help doctors with accuracy? On the other hand, is the physical surgery safer?