Fish off Japan's Coast Said to Contain Elevated Levels of Cesium

 Samantha Past 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/world/asia/fish-off-fukushima-japan-show-elevated-levels-of-cesium.html

Tabuchi, Hiroko. “Fish off Japan’s Coast Said to Contain Elevated Levels of Cesium.”  The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2012.  Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

              The article “Fish off Japan’s Coast Said to Contain Elevated Levels of Cesium,” written by Hiroko Tabuchi, pertains to the effect’s of the fairly recent nuclear disaster in Japan, while specifically describing the radioactive particles found in fish off of the Fukushima coast.  As a result of the high levels of cesium detected in these fish, Japan has banned the sale of 36 species of fish caught off of the Fukushima coast. Japan has faced many challenges, while trying to compensate for this major loss of industry. Although, local fishermen are trying to get back to work, as few have entered the small-scale commercial fishing industry, about 40 percent of fish caught off of the coast of Fukushima, are still not safe to eat.  As much as four-fifths of the radioactive substances freed from the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant, are believed to have entered the sea.  No more than two months ago, two greenling fish, caught near the Fukushima shore were found to have the highest cesium levels found in fish since the nuclear disaster. More than 25,000 becquerels, a kilogram of cesium were found, which is 250 times the government’s safety limit.  Ken O. Buesseler, a marine chemistry expert at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has come to believe, through analysis of test results, high radiation levels most frequently detected in bottom-feeding fish, are likely becoming newly contaminated by cesium. Therefore, many researchers are coming to the conclusion, radioactive substances are settling on the seafloor. However, further research still needs to be conducted to determine how different species of fish are affected by such radioactive contamination, and perhaps more importantly, how extensive radioactive contamination of Japan’s oceans are and how long the contamination will have an impact on marine life. 

            As the article discusses, radioactive cesium has been found in fish caught in the Fukushima area, however, a dominant significance to these findings, is the connection to an increased risk of cancer in humans. As Mr. Buesseler states, “The fact that many fish are just as contaminated today with cesium 134 and cesium 137 as they were more than one year ago implies that cesium is still being released into the food chain.”  If cesium continues to be freed into the ocean, resulting in more contaminated fish, more people will be exposed to such radioactive chemicals.  It is important for further experimentation, and further research to be conducted to help stop increased contamination, and to help those in Japan who are directly effected by the radioactive cesium in their food.

            Although, this article included a substantial amount of information regarding the increased contamination of radioactive cesium, specifically found in fish, the author did not include very much detail pertaining to the direct effects of cesium on those in Japan, and she never directly discussed what cesium is.  Throughout the entire article, the author describes increased levels of cesium detected in fish, however never in the article does she explain exactly what cesium is, or the direct effects it can have. Upon reading the article, one can understand cesium must pertain to radioactivity, and would definitely have negative effects, however, the author does not describe in detail the negative effects. If she had included more information describing the direct impact such chemicals, specifically in fish, have had on people in Japan, I believe it would have enhanced her article and perhaps helped readers to identify the urgency and importance of what the author was trying to talk about, regarding this issue.

Human Muscle Regrown on Animal Scaffolding

Nicolette Petnuch

Fountain, Henry. "BODY BUILDERS; Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/health/research/human-muscle-regenerated-with-animal-help.html?pagewanted=1>.

           

The article Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding spoke about how the use of the extracellular matrix in animals specifically pig urinary bladder, could help regrow muscle tissue. Sergeant Ron Strang was hit with a roadside bomb in Afghanistan that took off part of his thigh and left him unable to move his left leg forward. The article explains how while promising, this technique is not a miracle, but doctors like Dr. Stephen Badylak, deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, believe that it can make a big difference. This procedure is done by removing all of the living cells from a specific organ or tissue and leaving the proteins. The reason for this is because removing the old human cells gives a more likely chance that the new animal cells will not be rejected during implantation.

This new procedure where animal cells are implanted in human cells to help recreate muscle tissue is quite astonishing. This gives hope to all the fallen soldiers and people who lack functioning limbs and muscles that they too can walk and run regularly. But the trials that have begun are a great success. Sergeant Strang was skeptical that the new animal cells would help him regain movement to where he would be able to run on a treadmill or walk without a hitch. But the surgery was successful and immediately he was up and moving. Besides being able to move more easily, this surgery was also important for Sergeant Strang’s thoughts. Before the procedure, he used to sit by the doors or exits in order to get out safely in case of an emergency in places like restaurants. Now that he has regained his stride, he no longer fears of not getting out fast enough and doesn’t need to be by an exit. This groundbreaking procedure could give hope to many people who have lost muscle tissue and are not able to move as efficiently. This could be the start of a wonderful new surgery that could help many people to function regularly because of animal extracellular matrix and a little physical therapy.

While the article was well written, I think that it was also a bit hard to follow. First the author starts out talking about Sergeant Strang and his battle in Afghanistan. As the article continues it talks about a doctor who two decades ago was looking for a way to transfer blood in different parts of the body. The author then goes on to explain how the doctor, Dr. Badylak tested this on a dog by replacing the dog’s main artery with a piece of the small intestine. Then the article goes back to speaking about Sergeant Strang. Overall, the article was very promising and the topic of replacing muscle tissue with animal extracellular matrix is a very interesting new procedure. 

BODY BUILDERS; One Day, Growing Spare Parts Inside the Body.

Fountain, Henry. "BODY BUILDERS; One Day, Growing Spare Parts Inside the Body." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/health/research/using-the-body-to-incubate-replacement-organs.html?ref=health>.

This article talks about a Dr. Tracy Grikscheit who is a surgeon at  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and is known for treating infants with damaged, dead, intestinal tissue. Premature infants that weigh less than 3 pounds at birth, can develop this intestine destroying disease called Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Dr. Grikscheit works diligently in her laboratory at the Saban’s Research Insitute to create simple replacement organs and tissues, like bladders and windpipes with the help of advances in stem cell research. Dr. Grikschiet has been working on growing rat, mouse, and pig intestinal tissue in laboratory animals. Dr. Griekschiet’s lab team has been removing healthy intestine from mice, cutting it up, mixing it with enzymes and compounds and forming cell bunches that include stem cells from the lining of the intestine. They take these cell bundles and place them in the omentum where blood vessels help it grow. A few weeks later the bunches are removed and contain the parts of intestines. Rats with this intestine recovered quicker than those without it. Dr. Griekschiet has also accomplished growing human intestinal tissue using donor cells and is starting to study the method for human patients.

The knowledge and experiments done by Dr. Griekschiet are helping find successful ways to develop vital organs in the body. Her research and work is has given hope to infants who may have not had a chance at survival without intravenous nutrients. A young baby, Mark Barfknecht, is a patient of Dr. Griekschiet, and had almost 75% of his intestines damage. He was thought not to be able to survive off of intravenous fluids. The surgery done by Dr. Griekschiet, saved the life of Mark and after the surgery, was predicted to only be on fluids for a short while before he would be able to eat regular foods and process them through his intestine. Although some babies are not as lucky as Mark, studies and experiments are being conducted to try and save the lives of many and hopefully in the future, organs will be able to be grown inside the body.

The article was well-written but was a little disorganized. The name of the disease mentioned in the beginning of the article was not said until the second page of the article. Also, the baby that was mentioned in the beginning was revisited towards the end of the article and I feel the example should have been kept together. Also, more stories of the success of Dr. Griekschiet could have been mentioned to show how she is able to save the lives of many.  Overall, this article was interesting and gave an idea of a new way for future growth of organs.

-Alexis Petnuch 

True Blue Stands Out in an Earthy Crowd

Angier, Natalie. "True Blue Stands Out in an Earthy Crowd." The New York Times.

The New York Times, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/science/with-new-findings-scientists-are-captivated-by-the-color-blue.html?pagewanted=1>.

This article discusses the world’s fascination with the color blue.  Scientists have been enchanted by the color’s optical purity, complexity and metaphorical fluency. And because of this, scientists are exploring the physics and chemistry of blueness in nature, and the boldness it takes for something to be blue since most in nature tend to be earthy tones such as brown and beige. The article sites psychologists whom have even stated that blue’s basic emotional valence is calmness and open-endedness, in contrast to the aggressive nature of the color red. The article even sites a study that took place in which people were asked to participate in a lengthy video game exercise while sitting next to a blue partition, and then a yellow and red one. Researchers reported that the subjects sitting next to the blue partition reported feeling less fatigued and claustrophobic, and displayed a more regular heart beat pattern than did the people who sat by red or yellow. Although blue conveys many positive feelings, it also has been proven to invoke other feelings such as sadness, and a loss in appetite. The article also explained why blue is more rare than other colors found in nature. It explained that this is because blues come from the specific shape and arrangement of their underlying components. The color is made by structure: starting with a material that is transparent, and changing the structure by just a few hundred nanometers.

Since blue is a primary color, it has always been an important color. The impact blue has had on many different aspects of life is very interesting. As stated in the article, blue has a greatly affects people’s everyday lives subconsciously. Understanding this important fact may lead to future advancements in color usage. People may start purposely thinking of what color to use because of its effects on people.

I believe that the author did a great job with the article. The article covered a topic that spanned a sizable amount but the author was able to focus on the important facts. The article provided a good explanation of all of the opinions and findings on the color blue but at times the article seemed like many small articles jumbled into one. Overall, I enjoyed this article because my favorite color is blue, and because it offered me a different outlook on colors and their effects. 

Steroid Shot Near Spine Gives Illness an Opening

 Grady, Denise. "Tracing Crucial Components of Meningitis Outbreak." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/health/tracing-crucial-components-of-meningitis-outbreak.html?ref=science>.

            This article describes the meningitis outbreak across the country caused by contaminated treatments for spine and neck problems. The fungus causes a severe form of meningitis that can cause strokes and has resulted in now 19 deaths (the article, written two days ago, says 14), and 205 severe cases. It is estimated that 14,000 people have come in contact with the fungus. The fungus is called Exserohilum, one so rare that most doctors have never heard of it. The treatment that is contaminated is called methylprednisolone, and a total of 17,676 vials of it are involved in the outbreak. Though several patients have experienced symptoms, there are several more who have not gotten sick (some doctors estimate that the proportion may be as low as 5 percent). Doctors are now trying to find out why some people have been killed while others have gone symptom-free.

            Figuring out why some people are contaminated could have several positive implications on the science of administering drugs to the spine. There are a number of possible explanations for why some people get sick, relating to variations in the extent of contamination, the patients’ underlying health, and the procedure itself. As most of the patients had strong immune systems, doctors are led to believe that it is due to bad procedures on behalf of the doctors. The injection used to administer the drug should not pierce the Dura, one of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain. As most doctors do not use fluoroscopy to help them guide the needle, the contamination may be due to nicks in the Dura. This would allow the fungus to enter into the spinal fluids, and consequently, the brain. More research by specialists could help determine what physicians could improve when administering drugs, and could lead to better safety procedures in the field.

            I believe that the author could have done a better job organizing the article and explaining the effects of the fungus. She often went back to previous arguments, and sometimes her progression of ideas was confusing. She also didn’t explain how the fungus killed patients; she only explained what it was. She did do a good job explaining what could have caused the fungus to enter the spinal fluids and the controversy surrounding safety regulations in administering these drugs.