Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops

Ellie Briskin AP Bio C Even

October 30, 2015 Current Event 6

Grady, Denise. "Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/health/penis-transplants-being-planned-to-heal-troops-hidden-wounds.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-3&action=click&contentCollection=Science®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article>.

This article tells of one of the most breakthrough medical techniques; the penis transplant. Although this procedure has never been done in the United States, within just a few months we may have the technology for a young soldier with a horrific injury to have this operation. The organ will come from a deceased donor, and the surgeons, for Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, say it will start working in a matter of months after the operation, developing urinary function, sensation and, eventually, the ability to have sex. This is a huge accomplishment, for in 2001 to 3013, 1,367 deployed military service men suffered genital wounds. These injuries, however devastating, are unfortunately cloaked in shame, stigma and embarrassment, and not something many people hear about. Only two transplants have ever taken place: a failed one in China in 2006 and a successful one in South Africa last year. The Johns Hopkins doctors plan to do 60 transplants, monitor the results, and decide whether or not to make the operation a standard treatment. If successful, it may allow these men to father children, and since the testes (where sperm are produced) are not being replaced, the child will genetically belong to the father, not the donor.  The article continues to cite multiple specialists and patients argueing the seriousness of genetalian injuries, saying it’s so much more than a physical injury, and many men feel it is the worst injury to go through. Also, if the transplant fails, it will be removed, leaving the recipient no worse off than before the surgery. The article also raises the question of whether or not these men and their partners will be able to deal with the fact that the penises are not the men’s own. A leading doctor, Dr. Brandacher, says that he thinks it will be like hand surgeries, saying that “I can tell you from all the patients — and I’ve been involved since 1998 — every single one, after surgery, look at the graft, try to move it and they immediately call it ‘my hand’... They immediately incorporate it as part of their body. I would assume, extrapolating, that this is going to be the same for this kind of transplant.” For now, the operation is only being offered to men injured in combat.

I was initially drawn in with this article because I find the topic of genital transplants extremely intriguing. I think it is beyond impressive that we are able to take one mans penis and attach it to another; and not just that, but actually have it functional. But more than that, this discovery is definitely still relevant to people today. For starters, the fact that we are just now discovering how to transplant these organs proves that no progress in any field is ever truly completed, and that development in all areas is always possible. It truly does open the doors of possibilities in the transplant world! One doesn’t think about how lucky he is to have an intact pelvic area until it is gone; think about it, losing this organ would interfere greatly with life. Being able to have a penis again would have a colossal effect on these patients.

Overall, I was impressed by the presentation of this article. Its paragraphs flowed and were ordered in a way that made sense, making it extremely easy for me to follow along. I also felt that it was strengthened by the substantial number of expert quotes, which legitimized the arguments. I also enjoyed the fun, conversational tone that the author used; this was not only easy to understand but also kept me, the reader, captive. However, the one criticism I have of the article is that it gave an extremely large amount of information, to a point of being extraneous. The latter portion of the article gave extremely extensive details on the psychological affects of being penis-less; although this was pertinent to the article, it took up roughly a fourth of what should have been a much more medically based arguement. I would suggest that the author synthesises his information better, not just condensing what he has but really sifting through what is important and what is not, while still maintaining a logical flow. But overall, I thought this article was very well put together, and maintained my interest throughout.

Data Storage on DNA Can Keep It Safe for Centuries.

Using DNA as Storage Space

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/science/data-storage-on-dna-can-keep-it-safe-for-centuries.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=12&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

Markoff, John. "Data Storage on DNA Can Keep It Safe for Centuries." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015.

DNA is arguably the most important aspect of who we are. What if DNA could be used as a storage device for things other than our genes? Scientists have begun working on a way of utilizing DNA as a form of media storage device. The new research demonstrates that specific digital files can be retrieved from a potentially vast pool of data. Magnetic disks, tape and even optical storage systems safely store information at most for only a handful of decades. Researchers say the new storage technology would also be capable of keeping immense amounts of information safely for a millennium or longer. The scientists use the ability to amplify specific DNA strands rapidly and efficiently using a technique known as “polymerase chain reaction,” to make it easier to find the information they wish to retrieve. The cost and speed of encoding digital information in DNA will soon come down by several orders of magnitude, making it competitive with magnetic storage. Although it is slow in retrieval speed compared with electronic and magnetic memory, DNA will be far better in terms of the scale of the data it can store and the time scale.

This advance in data storage is very relevant because of the vast amount of data that we have accumulated in the relatively recent years. With these new advances, we need to begin looking at long term solutions to store data for long periods of time. It is also interesting because instead of creating larger forms of storage electronically, we are looking to the already existing code that is in every being in order to store important data. It is very ironic how some of the most advanced technology for storage is and has been in the DNA of living things.

The main thing this article did very well was getting information from a variety of reliable sources. With so many sources, it is very easy to get a variety of different perspectives on the idea of DNA usage. I also thought the article did a good job of making the information user friendly and easy to understand. I thought that one weakness the article had was that it didn’t talk about its usage potential in the future aside from the storage. I felt as though it could provide a few innovative ways this technology could be used for.

Coffee Compounds that Could Help Prevent Type II Diabetes Identified

            The article I researched today provided insight into the causes and prevention methods for type II diabetes. The focal point was drinking coffee, which researchers from ACS’s Journal of Natural Products found to decrease the chances of an individual developing type II diabetes. In individuals with the ailment, they experience decreased insulin production over time, which can lead to blindness and nerve damage. The main constituent of coffee that is thought to hinder the process of developing this disease is cafestol. Cafestol was found to increase insulin secretion, as well as glucose intake in muscle cells. In fact, its level of effectiveness matched that of a currently prescribed antidiabetic drug. In addition, it is worth noting that there are likely other compounds in coffee that perform a similar function, as a large portion of the cafestol is filtered out by coffee filters and the similar effects are still noted.

            This article is quite relevant to contemporary society, as coffee is a beverage that is consumed by many Americans on a daily basis, and diabetes is a disease that plagues many within the country. If coffee intake increased, the number of people who develop type II diabetes would as well. As a result of this, the government would be able to reduce expenditures on medicare and Medicaid, and filter those funds into public education.

            This article was quite an interesting read, and immediately caught my attention as I drink coffee from time to time. It did a good covering how consuming coffee effects the development of type II diabetes, as well as the key compounds within coffee that are beneficial. However, I thought it was a little on the brief side and could have included more information regarding actual numbers and the noticeable effects coffee had on mice when tested. Lastly, they almost seldom mentioned that to achieve such effects, individuals would have to drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day, which in itself produces negative side effects and takes a toll on the body, while at the same time causing addiction.

Article Citation:

American Chemical Society. "Coffee compounds that could help prevent type 2 diabetes identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 December 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm>.

Hyperlink:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm

Closing In on Where Eels Go to Connect

This article talks about the mating patterns of the American eel, which scientists have tracked for the first time. In prior years, scientists have assumed the eels have mated in the Sargasso Sea because of the sudden appearance of eel larvae in the spring, but have had no concrete evidence to support this claim. Now, however, because of new technology, scientists finally have that proof. Because traditional tracking devices were too big for the small statured eels, scientists created new mini trackers to attach so they could monitor the movements and living conditions of the eels as they migrate. After a few trials with the trackers (predators ate them too often) they were able to pinpoint the journey of the eels to the Sargasso Sea. This migration is remarkable, and scientists say it is one of the most dramatic on Earth, believing the eels orient themselves by the Earth’s geomagnetic field. Karin Limburg, a scientist from SUNY Syracuse stated that this tracking is revolutionary and crucial to helping the species, which are considered endangered: “In order to develop conservation plans, we need to learn as much as possible about the entire life cycle of eels, and the largest information vacuum is this long, long migration back to the spawning area.”

This article really opened my eyes to a topic I had never heard about before. It is so relevant because entire species, such as the American eel, are in danger because of human interactions: “Hydroelectric dams block the eels’ migration inland, and the larvae are often illegally fished.” Also, climate change poses a threat to the eels because it could affect migration patterns. If everything continues on its course as is, the eel population could be destroyed and affect countless ecosystems in innumerable ways, such as the basic food chain.

The New York Times is a highly respectable newspaper with a reputation for delivering the best news in a professional fashion. This article furthered that reputation, as I found excellent research and couldn’t find any grammatical errors. Rachel Nuwer, the author of this piece, has written several articles for the Times, most about climate or endangered species. The one thing she could have included in her writing was a possible solution to this issue, because it is left rather open-ended. Other than that, the article was well-written and an interesting read.

Nuwer, Rachel. "Closing In on Where Eels Go to Connect." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/science/closing-in-on-where-eels-go-to-connect.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront>.

Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops

Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops

Many male soldiers return turn from active duty with serious injuries caused by I.E.D’s (improvised explosive devices). According to the Department of Defense Trauma Registry, between 2001 to 2012, 1,367 men in military service suffered wounds to the genitals in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost all of them under the age of 35. The loss of genitals is one of the most devastating losses because of the psychological impact it has on the victims. Sgt. First Class Aaron Causey, who lost both legs, one testicle and part of the other from an I.E.D. while in Afghanistan with the Army in 2011, said the testicular damage was the most troubling of his injuries. Sergeant Causey said, “I don’t care who you are — military, civilian, anything — you have an injury like this, it’s more than just a physical injury.” Luckily for these soldiers, surgeons at the University of John’s Hopkins are preparing to experiment with a procedure which has never before been conducted in the US, a penis transplant. Within the next few month, the surgeons believe that they will be able to successfully transfer a penis from a deceased donor to a recipient who will be able to use this organ to the full extent of his own. The procedure, which should take around 12 hours, involves the connecting of 2 to 6 nerves and 6 or 7 veins or arteries. Only two other penis transplants have been reported in medical journals. The first was a failed attempt China in 2006 and the latter was a successful attempt South Africa last year. Of course, like any major transplant operation, there are risks which include bleeding, infection, and the possibility that the medicine needed to prevent transplant rejection will increase the odds of Cancer. Still, for many victims, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. There are some requirements which the applicants must pass. The receiver must still have his testicles and a functioning portion of his urethra, but, the good news is, if they pass these prerequisites, the patient will likely be able to produce children of his own. “Some hope to father children,” Dr. Lee, a leading researcher at John’s Hopkins, said. “I think that is a realistic goal.” This procedure will be revolutionary in restoring the manhood which many soldier feel as though they lost through their injuries. As Dr. Brandacher puts it, “It’s very hard to imagine what it means if you don’t feel whole. There are very subtle things that we take for granted that this transplant is able to give back.”

The greatest part of this surgery is that it can restore such an iconic body part. Because of the connection between manhood and the male genitals, an injury of this type can have very a severe psychological impact on the victim. Restoring the genitals to soldiers in need is a very important step forward in the recovery of the soldier and also a step forward in medical science. John’s Hopkins is licensed to perform 60 surgeries to test if this experiment is truly beneficial for the patients. If so, this will be a large step forward in learning about the human body and figuring out how to repair it. As of now, the surgery is only available for those injured in combat, but if the results of the experiment are sufficient, the surgery will soon become open to the public.

Denise Grady’s article was incredibly well written, weaving in plenty of quotes and statistics from various surgeons. There are really no complaints that I have with this article. The writing was very elegant, all the information needed on the topic was there, and the author even included graphs and diagrams to explain some of the more difficult to understand concepts such as the surgery itself. There was so much information presented that I couldn’t fit all of it into my summary in great detail so I would suggest to any reader who found my review interesting to go back and read the article for themselves.

Citation:

Grady, Denise. "Penis Transplants Being Planned to Help Wounded Troops." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/health/penis-transplants-being-planned-to-heal-troops-hidden-wounds.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0>.

Coffee compounds that could help prevent type 2 diabetes identified

Just as the title indicates, researchers have found that drinking coffee has actually been able to prevent the onsets of type 2 diabetes. The researchers investigated different coffee compounds' effects on cells in the lab, for example, cafestol and caffeic acid. These two compounded resulted in an increase in insulin secretion when glucose was added. They say cafestol is good for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, this observation becomes unclear because coffee filters eliminate quite a bit of the cafestol in drip coffee, so it is likely that other compounds also contribute to these health benefits.

This was very shocking a comforting to learn, because I drink coffee everyday, as well as probably a good amount of my classmates. So this discovery is definitely relevant to people our age. This was discovered because people believed that coffee was actually one of the causes or triggers of type 2 diabetes. Therefore making this discovery even more shocking, than just at first glance.

One good aspect of this article was it opened with explaining type 2 diabetes“patients with type 2 diabetes become resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps turn glucose from food into energy. To overcome this resistance, the pancreas makes more insulin, but eventually, it just can't make enough. High blood glucose levels can cause health problems, such as blindness and nerve damage” Although I really enjoyed reading this article, there is probably a few things I wish it touch on. For example, is there a certain amount of coffee that if exceeded will no longer prevent type 2 diabetes. Also, the article didn’t mention whether or not this accounts for those who drink coffee everyday.  

Citations:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm

American Chemical Society. "Coffee compounds that could help prevent type 2 diabetes identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 December 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124610.htm>.

Parents May Pass Down More Than Just Genes, Study Suggests

The article that I read, Parents May Pass Down More Than Just Genes, Study Shows, discusses how a recent study has hinted that males’ experiences may alter their sperm, which then changes their offspring. In one experiment that was completed, male rats were fed a high-fat diet and were mated with females. The results of this were that compared to the male rats fed a regular diet, those on the high-fat one were more likely to father offspring that gained weight. This idea suggests that the experiences in a male’s life can change their genes in such a way that affects their children. Though it may seem that this is true with the rat experiment, this may differ in humans. The latest challenge is to determine if a human’s life sways the genetic makeup passed to their offspring. In 2013, an obese man went to have his stomach stapled, but a week before the operation, a week after the operation, and a year after the operation, the man provided sperm to see whether or not there was a genetic difference. The entire idea that scientists are trying to prove contradicts the standard thinking about heredity: that parents only pass down their genes to their children. These inherited genes may predispose them to obesity or cancer but whether or not the parent actually experienced these traits in their life does not change the genes. Scientists are not completely sure if their idea is correct but they do have hope that they are partially correct. Dr. Romain Barres of the University of Copenhagen said, “I don’t want to speculate whether it’s positive or negative in the following generation...We’re going to try to see if there’s something transmitted all the way down.”

This article is very important to the scientific world because of its understanding or goal to understanding the human body and our genetic makeup. With technology becoming more advanced, the knowledge and ingenuity of science is changing and expanding in many different directions very quickly. These types of studies are beneficial because they can help the medical and scientific field to understand how specific traits such as obesity and stress are more common in the offspring of parents who experienced the trait in their life, not just carrying the gene. Knowing and understanding how this works allows us to be one step closer to grasping how we can prevent diseases such as cancer and improve the lives of humans everywhere.

In my opinion, I feel that this article was written very well. The author gave a great summary of the experiment that was completed and gave great detail on DNA and how it transfers from parent to offspring. There was no time in which I was confused content-wise, nor was it repetitive or wordy. For this reason, I believe that the author was very clear and concise in his research and writing. Also, because there were some quotes that were included from experts on the subject of genes and the passing of them, it allowed me to be comfortable and trust the information that was presented in the article. Overall, the author seemed to know a lot about what he was talking about, definitely a sign of good research, and knew how to correctly portray the information in an understandable way to the reader.

Zimmer, Carl. "Parents May Pass Down More Than Just Genes, Study Suggests." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 05 Dec. 2015.