A possible answer to formation of memories

Memories has been a very complex issue that many biologist have not been able to work out but according to a paper released by Dietmar Plenz and Tara Thiagarjan from the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Marland have thoeries to believe that the brain cells seems to use a process known as phase locking which seems the frequency to be a signture which allows other neuron that is forming the same task to be able to understand and identify the other cells.

They believe this could explain how our minds is able to take different experience from the different senses and put it into one memory.

During their experiment, they analysed neuronal activity from two awake macque monkeys by using a array of electrodes inserted into their brains and also embedded a dish grown neuron culture.

In both cases, they normal that the electrical signal in the groups of neurons rose and fell in exactly the same pattern. While this is a very basic version of it, read the paper below and come back and give your views on it.

 

References

• PLoS Biology, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000278

Scientific Research Studies on Spiritual Science and Philosophy

Guest Author: Yuga Rishi Shriram Sharma Acharya

Today’s era predominates with a high intellect. Every aspect of our life is fully influenced by the modern scientific principle of proof and sound logic. As a result world humanity requires both proof and logic as far as philosophy is concerned too. Only after testing it thus will they deign to accept its usefulness. Truth and Reality will be imbibed only after it is tested via logic and scientific proof. This insistence of ‘proof’ has greatly challenged the very existence of Spiritual Sciences. Man’s glory and social arrangement has its roots in high leveled faith that encompasses both sacred ideals and principles. Sheer intellectualism with its emphasis on direct proof has truly harmed man’s faith potential. Logic and proof says that faith is ‘blind’. Hence today’s need of the hour is to test Spiritual Values like faith, trust, ideals etc on the basis of scientific logic and principles along with its utility and proof of its very existence. For this those very scientific research need to be deployed which are today being used by Modern Material Science.

Today everyone fully accepts the importance of Material Science. Its utility and importance have always remained in vogue because it tests itself on the basis of logic, experimentation and research. In addition to this it never wavers when it is required to give up beliefs that are not scientifically sound and rational. Of course it is a well known fact that scientific findings do tend to change every now and then. If for the first time some proof is found it is not necessary that it will remain eternally correct. This is because when newer discoveries and inventions unfold the previous conclusions are renounced. Thus scientific findings at a particular point in time are accepted as true only until new findings later disprove their veracity. Hence the previous finding henceforth does not hold true as it did previously. It is this yearning for truth that helps Modern Science retain its importance and utility.

The attainments of Spiritual Science are infinitely more than those of Material Science. Hence its importance too is n-fold more than modern science. Thus it is most required that greater attention be paid to it. Since in ancient times Spiritual Science was given a lot of importance man’s overall glory too reached high peaks. But later the more man’s soul force weakened the more he headed towards both a material and spiritual degradation. Hence if we wish to herald in a radiant future in the 21st century optimum usage of soul principles are the need of the hour. Thus keeping this in mind it is most required that Spiritual Sciences be researched in a modern scientific manner and place them in front of all so as to imbibe them in their pristine purity.

It is Spiritual Philosophy that is the foundation stone of human thought/viewpoint. It is the very life force of spirituality. Man’s wholesome thinking or otherwise is totally dependent on the beliefs of social norm that are in vogue at a particular time. The basis of high leveled thought flow during the Rishi Era was Spiritual Philosophy that was in vogue. It ceaselessly inspired human beings to strive for supremacy as far as wholesome thought and activity was concerned. As a result heavenly situations manifested and divinely human beings took birth. Serious questions regarding the soul, God’s existence, God’s glory, fruits of ones past/present/future actions, creation of this world and the aim behind it can only be answered by Spiritual Philosophy.

During varying times and circumstances great Rishis of yore gave us philosophical tenets to suit those times and requirements. As long as the Rishi Yuga existed, this tradition continued thus creating heavenly situations for world beings. But later during the Middle Age a fairly long time span of darkness and gloom prevailed. Since in this dark period unruliness and anarchy took over philosophy, righteousness and spirituality were totally ignored by one and all. During such dire times it is most required that one is alert enough to gauge what is apt and what is not apt. Thus we should develop an intellect which leans towards research so as to understand what is true and what is its day to day usefulness.
Ancient and very useful spiritual principles need to be put forth to world humanity in such a way wherein there remains no room for doubt as far as its utility and veracity is concerned especially in today’s Jet Age.

Great Rishis elucidated various behavioral depending on each circumstance and its requirement. Smritis clearly depict such differences in norms laid down. The different norms laid down by great seers during various points in world history were not because there was hatred, differences etc amongst these seers. In fact they were forced to lay down different social norms simply because the requirements during various phases of world history required specific norms for each and every phase.

The basis of past progress, analysis of downfall and goal setting for the future is an intellect which yearns for facts and reality. In spiritual parlance it is called Ritambhara. According to Brahman scriptures this is what Prajapati says while elucidating Divine Wisdom or Self Realization: When during cosmic annihilation (Pralaya) everything in this world is destroyed at that time too one Rishi remains alive to reveal the truth. His name is ‘Tarka’. Over here Tarka is not some dry and superficial argument but it is a divine intellect full of profound wisdom. It is with its help that one can attain Self Realization. An intellect that is open to accept truth shies away from prejudiced fanatical beliefs. The wheel of time is such that situations faced by us all are bound to change again and again. And it is because of this that the methods of solving various problems too change when situations change. No doubt we revere saints and seers of the past and the spiritual endeavors demarcated by them. And yet it is not necessary that these endeavors can help in today’s times since situations of those times and today differ a great deal. Hence it is most required that spiritual practices of those times that can be used today be imbibed wholeheartedly and renounce those which are not suitable for modern times (but were apt for past times).

As mentioned previously in the Middle Age of darkness and ignorance a lot of distortions plagued the spiritual arena. Such disparity was seen in the principles, methods and social execution of Spiritual Philosophy that even a common thinking intellect would refuse to trust its veracity and utility. In the dark Middle Age sacred scriptures got ‘adulterated’ so as to say. This resulted in the degradation of the lives of so called religious and spiritual “leaders”. Thus majority of world humanity rightly refused to trust them and follow in their footsteps.

There was a time many centuries back when Rishis’ speech and the sacred gospel of our scriptures were thought to be beyond doubt. Today because intellectualism and logic/proof is the in thing, scriptural precepts will not be gulped down solely on the basis of faith. The philosophy of faith can only be reinstated today on the firm foundation of its utility, proof and veracity. Today the need of the hour is that the principles and day to day execution of Spiritual Science be put forth in a form that is wholesome and acceptable to this present generation of the Computer Age. Those very spiritual tenets faithfully and wholeheartedly imbibed by seers of yore must be presented today in a manner that is acceptable to the highly intellectual human beings of modern times. The gist of the teachings of great thinkers and sages of ancient times is unanimous wherein human beings love each other selflessly, imbibe the wealth of sacred thinking, grow the flowers of wholesome actions and develop a great character. How will al this happen? The answer is one without a second and that is faith towards Spiritual Sciences be imbibed deeply in ones psyche.

For this a 2-pronged effort has been designed wherein distortions that have entered Spiritual Science are being rooted out and to prove with sound scientific arguments the futility to pursue materialism that does not have a firm substratum of spiritual values. For this in the gigantic library of the Brahmavarchas Research Institute’s highly experienced scholars are re-analyzing every religious scripture in a scientific manner. Every scripture is scrutinized minutely for its useful tenets and without any prejudice or bias renounce all precepts that are not useful/applicable in today’s 21st century. We must have deep faith that just as when the mythological churning of the ocean took place and 14 jewels emerged from it so too our scientific research will definitely unearth those spiritual jewels that will be acceptable the world over.

It is also the need of the hour to combat the rat race like material pursuits (one could say it is a by product of Modern Science) devoid of spiritual and human values. The very foundation of ethics has been shattered because of laying emphasis solely on direct visible proof and material utility. Die hard materialists refuse to accept the existence of the soul and God. As a result the attitude of ‘why even deign to think about good deeds/merits, spiritual goals, renunciation, sacrifice etc’? Charvak said: Rinam Kritvaa Gridham Pibait. It means keep borrowing money and thus eat, drink and be merry. He also said: Yena Kena Prakaarena, Yaavajjeevait Sukham Jeevait. It means beg, borrow or steal and continue to live a life of sense merriment. If one looks around and analyzes the life style of the highly materialistic intellectual class it certainly appears as though they are hell bent on proving Charvak right. When scientific research proves everything on the basis of proof collected from ones sense organs, mind and intellect why should not life’s philosophy be erected on the foundation stone of selfishness? The results of such erroneous thinking stares starkly in our face wherein every area of our life predominates with narrow minded selfishness, lack of magnanimity and generosity and hard heartedness. There is no other cause for this apart from our lack of faith in the importance of spiritual values and tenets. How can it be warded off? The answer is unanimous in that faith in spiritual values must be reinstated in the psyche of world humanity on a firm footing. And this is possible only by imbibing the sacred precepts of Spiritual Sciences.

Spirituality can be imbued with new vigor only by 1) destroying distortions that have entered spirituality and 2) reinstating the philosophy of aspiring for greatness which is being ignored today by those who pursue rank materialism devoid of spiritual and human values. It is hence that the gigantic Research Institute called Brahmavarchas has been established. The highly intellectual class of this Computer Age can only be convinced by giving philosophical answers to philosophy, scientific answers to science and logical answers to logic. Atheism is ruling the roost today simply because spiritual principles have not been presented via sound scientific proof and logic. One can safely say that Modern Sciences’ principles that rely on proof only is not the major cause of people scoffing the existence of the soul, God, fruits of ones actions, spiritual goals etc. Instead the root cause is that till today we have failed to present Spiritual Sciences laced with ample scientific proof and logic.

In order to fulfill this all important goal Brahmavarchas Research Institute has been set up as a all round centre of scientific research. No doubt our beginning is dwarfish yet the potential of it becoming gigantic and all pervasive is very high. We have sown a powerful seed and without doubt it is not the end. It is a gigantic task to test Spiritual Science’s principle on the basis of sound scientific logic and proof. And hence gigantic means that include a well equipped high profiled laboratory are most required. Over here there are 2 options. The first one wherein wait for high leveled means and then start research activities. The second is make-do with the limited means available at present and commence research studies on a war like footing. We realized that it is not possible to stop research just because all the required means are not available. A delay would mean not helping in the obstruction of world humanity’s imminent spiritual and material downfall. Hence it is important that without delay we prove the authentic nature of spiritual values via scientific research and only then will the highly intellectual class of the world accept it and imbibe it to the fullest. Brahmavarchas Research Institute’s wheels are on a roll and the train of research studies has started moving slowly but surely.

Research studies have 2 aspects viz. literature based research and experimentation in a well equipped laboratory. A gigantic collection of literature in our high profile library that includes religions of all nations of the world, books of great thinkers and philosophers of the world covering areas of Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Parapsychology, Sociology etc will help fulfill our requirement of scientific as well as a philosophic method of scientific analysis. Further spiritual practices will be scientifically tested in our laboratory that is equipped with advanced scientific apparatus and technology. We are analyzing the effect of Mantras, Japa and Yajna on human beings, other creatures and plants. It is no secret that today man’s bodily, mental and spiritual health is fast deteriorating. Various medical therapies like Allopathy, Homeopathy and Ayurveda are not weeding out diseases from their very roots. Under such dire circumstances what is required is that we unearth a mode of therapy which gives us sound bodily, mental and spiritual health for keeps.

The Science of Yajna or Yajnopathy is being given a firm and strong foundation. We are constantly in touch with well known scientists and medical specialists so as to reap rich dividends from our research. We must all have faith that in the near future Yajnopathy will bloom forth in its total healthy and all encompassing form. Thus it will serve entire world humanity both materially and spiritually.

Literature based research study has many aspects. And yet chief amongst them are Science and Philosophy. This era demands that spiritual and human values be given prime importance. Hence 4 main topics with reference to them have been taken up for research studies. They are: 1) Inter Faith Understanding and Equality, 2) Cosmic Consciousness and Cosmic Nature, 3) Science of True Thinking and 4) Yajna based therapy. In the subsequent phase of our research other topics too will be studied minutely.

1) Inter Faith Understanding and Equality: In order that every world religion is given utmost honor and respect 14 golden aphorisms have been elucidated that are accepted by all religions. They will encompass the religious discourses, rites/rituals and traditions of religions like Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Parsi, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, Jew and Taoism. In order to make individuals and world society great and pious in character ethics, human/spiritual values, discipline and wholesome social behavior have been taken up for study purposes.
2) Cosmic Consciousness and Cosmic Nature: We are deeply studying material nature, the subtle atom, special qualities of the gigantic cosmos and the mysterious layers of human (microcosm) and cosmic (macrocosm) consciousness. Serious research is being carried out into the scientific basis of the awakening of Extrasensory Potential (ESP). In addition the question of how could one ‘contact’ cosmic consciousness and imbibe their Divine Powers is being researched into. Within this topic the various branches of Modern Science are being studied and on its basis soul scientific principles will be put forth.
3) Science of True Thinking: All those principles and theories of Psychology and Philosophy are being studied deeply that are strongly related to man’s very thinking process. The Science of Thinking includes research studies on reflection, faith, trust, sensitivity etc that designs man’s inner personality and character. A psychological study of devotion, meditation, prayer and mental focus/concentration too has been taken up by us.
4) Yajna based therapy: It encompasses the scientific application and utility of Yajna, its influence on our body and psyche and what is its philosophical basis.

We must imbibe deep faith that soul based principles stand on the firm foundation of spirituality. In addition they are omnipotent enough to ward off all attacks made by atheistic units. What can we achieve by ‘defeating’ that path which has yet to be imbibed totally and which yet has no followers or propagators? In the court of intellectualism theism tasted defeat simply because theistic propagators did not take up the challenges thrown by their modern intellectual counterparts and instead insisted on saving theism with the slogan: Have faith in God! If only they had answered logic with counter logic, precepts with counter precepts, proof with counter proof etc theism would have succeeded in defeating hard core intellectuals in their own court. But alas this was not to be and theism was relegated to an ethical downfall and psychic inertia. This is the reason why Spiritual Science over the years beat a hasty retreat to its downfall. And yet there is no need to despair because today scientific research on Spiritual Sciences will help regain eternally its lost glory.

In reality Spiritual Principles are such that the basis of human joy, peace, progress and prosperity remain on a solid footing. The problem is only one wherein the complexity of what is true and false is so enormous that it is very difficult to understand the true meaning of their precepts along with its application in day to day life. Gold is purified via a blazing fire. Similarly spiritual teachings too will be heated in such a manner so as to transform them into that form which can be understood easily by even a layman and thus will be conducive to imbibe in ones daily professional, social etc life. The probability to achieve this goal via a positive transformation of Spiritual Philosophy indeed is very high. We must have faith via the research endeavor of Brahmavarchas Research Institute that all encompassing form of Spiritual Philosophy will be presented to the world wherein there will be no room for differences and doubts. Only modern scientific research can ward off obstacles faced by theism and reinstating of spiritual values in our day to day life. Only those principles that are heated in the furnace of research and tested for sound proof and logic will prove to be true and useful both materially and spiritually. Without this the highly intellectual class of the world cannot be wooed to imbibe spiritual tenets.

About the Author:

AUTHOR: Shriram Sharma Acharya: founder of the International Gayatri Family: was a great Yogi: seer and incarnation of God who wrote volumes of scientific literature mainly on spiritual subjects for world welfare and peace. For more scientific e-books visit: http://www.shriramsharma.com/ (GOOGLE PR 4) and http://www.awgp.org/ (Google 5) KEYWORDS: Kundalini Yoga Gayatri e-books biography Guru world peace mind psyche god nerve subtle consciousness soul divine trance endocrine glands ESP Chakras plexus meditation concentration intellect prophecy thought thinking Cheiro Nostradamus Aurobindo bliss brain Vedas solar sun energy sacred pure sense organs Prana Avatar Upanishad light cell hypothalamus pituitary transformation futurist prediction serpent power life human ethics integrity character vagus Tantra Mooladhar atom neutron proton DESCRIPTION: Free e-books on Future Scientific Religion: Gayatri Science & Kundalini Yoga correlated to Neurosciences-ESP, Endocrinology, Anatomy, Psychology & Sociology for 1) material & spiritual prosperity & 2) uniting the world peacefully as a family. Ours is a strictly non-commercial website which aims at realizing the age old dream of great leaders and thinkers of the world: A beautiful borderless world.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Scientific Research Studies on Spiritual Science and Philosophy

Premature aging linked to unstable proteins

Aging is a normal process that for a very long while has been linked to problems with cell respiration. Cell respiration is the process in which cells within the body is able to extract energy which is needed by using the mitochondria in the cells.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet which has been able to prove that certain proteins that is used in the mitochondria become unstable and thus become less affective which by proxy causes problems with cell respiration which then can cause premature ageing.

As I am sure I do not need to say, but when you inhale oxygen is in taken by your lungs which then is sent to the blood which then transport the oxygen to cells. Once the oxygen has made it to the cells an organelle called the mitochondria converts the oxygen and other nutrients into energy which the cells then is able to use for whatever reason is needed. There are links that with problems with cell respiration a number of conditions can happen (ranging from cancer, Parkinson’s and abnormal ageing).

In order for this process to happen correctly a number of proteins have to be synthesised outside of the mitochondria and then imported into the mitochondria. Some proteins are synthesised from within the mitochondria by using it’s own DNA (mtDNA – Mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic acid) and it is known that an accumulation of harmful mutations of mtDNA can cause premature ageing however it only leads to another question – why and that, it still up for debate.

For cell respiration to function properly, it needs proteins synthesised outside and then imported into the mitochondria, and proteins synthesised within the mitochondria themselves from their own DNA (mtDNA). It has long been known that an accumulation of harmful mutations of mtDNA can cause premature ageing, but just how this happens has remained something of a mystery.

Killing HIV using methods never used before…

Human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that is able to cause a condition that is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome which in humans, causes our immune system to fail which then allows other pathogens to be able to infect the body which otherwise, it wouldn’t have been able to do.

HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus which is a part of the family known as Retroviridae. All lentiviruses are transmitted as a single-strained enveloped RNA virus which when enters the cell, is converted to a double stranded DNA by an encoded reverse transcriptase that was within the virus particle.

Once this is done, it is then able to be integrated into the host cellular co-factors so that the genome is able to be transcribed. Once this happens, there is only two outcomes.

1. The virus becomes latent which then allows the cell to be able to function normally (in this case, it still does the next part but often delayed).
2. The virus becomes active which then causes the cell to replication along with a large number of the virus.

Once this has happened, the new viruses are free to be able to infect any other cell that it is able to. The video below in this article shows what I have just written in slightly more detail but it is much more easy to follow.

There is two known strains of the virus which is HIV-1 & HIV –2. The first one being HIV-1 is the one that was first discovered and it is the most easy transmitted out of the two and it is the cause of most HIV infections globally. HIV-2 is less transmittable then HIV-1 and it is mostly confined to West Africa.

At this current time, HIV isn’t curable. One of the major reason for why this is the case is that the virus goes to attack the immune system which stops our bodies from being able to fight the HIV. However, there is treatment and as you will read in the rest of this article, a possible solution to HIV.

If you are infected with HIV, chances are that you will not be affected by it however more then likely you will be needing to take what is known as anti-viral drugs to be able to live longer then a year or so if you wasn’t taking them. The different anti-viral drugs that are taken is listed in the table below (Data taken from AVERT)

Antiretroviral drug class	Abbreviations	First approved to treat HIV	How they attack HIV
Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors	NRTIs, nucleoside analogues, nukes	1987	NRTIs interfere with the action of an HIV protein called reverse transcriptase, which the virus needs to make new copies of itself.
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors	NNRTIs, non-nucleosides, non-nukes	1997	NNRTIs also stop HIV from replicating within cells by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase protein.
Protease Inhibitors	PIs	1995	PIs inhibit protease, which is another protein involved in the HIV replication process.
Fusion or Entry Inhibitors		2003	Fusion or entry inhibitors prevent HIV from binding to or entering human immune cells.
Integrase Inhibitors		2007	Integrase inhibitors interfere with the integrase enzyme, which HIV needs to insert its genetic material into human cells.

The anti-viral drugs works by slowing down (or hopefully stopping) certain stages of what happens when you are infected by HIV. However, there is one problem still that has been researched by many HIV researchers for many years.

How do you deal with a virus which attacks the immune system that is trying to fight it off

Well, it seems they might be a solution which goes against all the typical methods of fighting off viruses – Bypass the immune system all together.

As you know, the immune system is the system in your body that fights of infections however HIV is able to defeat it. But some researchers has been able to protect nine macaques against the monkey form of HIV (simian-immunodefiency virus). Their idea is rather then making the immune system be prepared to be able to fight the virus, they turned the monkey muscle cells into “factories” which then creates many antibodies that is able to kill the SIV.

This was done by Philip Johnson of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and his colleagues. They are hoping to be able to have this in clinical trials within 2-3 years given the strong proof of principle.

HIV Replication Animation

Incase you wanted to see how  HIV is able to infect the human immune system or that the article I have written doesn’t explain or maybe you just like seeing videos rather then text.

Regardless of the reason, the video below is a very good video in showing how the virus is able to infect the cells. Bear in mind this is an animation, not seeing the actual virus infecting cells as this is next to impossible to record at this time.

HIV Replication 3D Medical Animation

 

References

Andy Coghlan. (2009). Muscle "immunity" weigh in against monkey HIV.. NewScientist. 2709 (1), p12.

Dr. A. Rufus. (2007). HIV Replication 3D Medical Animation. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8MP3wMvqg. Last accessed 27 May 2009.

International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. (2006).00.061.1.06. Lentivirus. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/index.htm. Last accessed 27 May 2009.

Our own beliefs can kill us

For a very long while now, it has been proven that someone whom believes in something that will give them something good in return will often feel very good. An example of this is used for medical reasons – a “placebo”.

However what many doesn’t know is that you have also have it the other away around. This affect is known as a “nocebo”. You might be wondering what I mean and I will give you an example.

Imagine that you are working in a school. The children was all playing. In the school fridge you see a drink that doesn’t have a label. For reasons unknown, you take a sip of that drink and notice it had an odd taste.

Suddenly, you wonder what it would have been however you don’t feel no different. However, a few hours later when you are at home and got time to think, you start to wonder what that drink might have been. You start to worry, you start to panic and suddenly you vomit.

You then start to worry that the drink you might have had was a poison or something on that line and you then start to feel much worst. In panic, you ring up the hospital and you are sent there right away.

In hospital, the staff carry out a toxicology screen test however that comes back negative. Doctors then start to look for any possible cause for this however they find nothing and after a few days, you died for unknown reasons.

However, that bottle was just unknown fruit to you favoured water.

Sure, this example might be “over the top”, but it is a classic example of what the worst that can happen. People have died by this.

Surprisingly, others may fill the same. Carrying on the example above, another teacher might have saw you drink it however they didn’t. However, once they see you get ill they might then start to think that they too have the same “condition” as you and then to fill ill.

However, (and it goes three ways). Either:

• If you know what path you went down, they go down the following as well.
• If they do not know, then they go down the path they think they have.
• They may suddenly remember they didn’t have anything, fail to link together how they could have got it and then fill better.

The human mind is one of the most powerful tools that we have. It is able to  makes us feel much better or very bad. Sadly, alot of cancer patients believe they are going to die and often do. However, (and research has shown) that some whom died didn’t actually die from cancer. Their cancer didn’t spend and was fully treatable. They died because everyone else was treating them as if they was going to die.

This leaves a question of ethics and it is one I am going to leave you with. If this is the case, should doctors treat everyone as if they are going to live or they should treat everyone as if they are dying ?

Science is never questioned by ethics and as you may know, Science itself doesn’t worry about what is right or wrong. However, it is up to each person to decide the ethics of it and in this case, what does the doctor decide to do ?

I leave that up to you to debate.

References

• Barker, J.C., Scared to Death: An Examination of Fear, its Cause and Effects, Frederick Muller, (London), 1968.
• Rubel, A.J., "The Epidemiology of a Folk Illness: Susto in Hispanic America", Ethnology, Vol.3, No.3, (July 1964), pp.268-283.

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Finally – The Answer behind Thalidomide

Many years ago that Thalidomide was used as a medical drug to prevent morning sickness. It was used in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany & Japan during 1957 – 1962. However, it was never approved by the FDA.

Sadly, this drug caused massive problems with the unborn child and the 12,000 babies that survived and was born, suffered with phocomelia.

It was never understood why Thalidomide caused this and it has been a long unanswered question – Until now.

It has been claimed by the University of Aberdeen-led team that Thalidomide prevents the growth of new blood vessels from developing within the embryo. As you might think, this is going to cause a problem. The blood vessels carry oxygen and other substances through out the body and if there isn’t any blood vessels in certain parts, the cells around that area will die after a short time.

The reason for why it was such a bigger affect is because of the time it taken. Thalidomide was used mostly during the five to nine weeks. It is during this time, that the blood vessels are in such an immature stage so they can rapidly expand to they can grow with the growing limb.

However, even with what has been caused there is still come use for Thalidomide. Scientists are currently researching ways so that  it can be used to battle cancer and leprosy.

However, Dr. Martin Johnson (Thalidomide Trust) argues that, “The study does not appear to take into account the wide range of damage caused by thalidomide other then limb damage.”. At this time, I do not know of any papers that shows the affect of Thalidomide other then this one so if anyone knows (or even if Dr. Martin Johnson is reading this) then please do let me know and I will update this post according.

He also added that “It also does not take into account explanations that are already widely accepted in the scientific community".”.

Should you wish to want to read more about this paper, it was published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

Below is a video of YouTube that shows just some victims of the usage of Thalidomide. If you would like to help some of the victims of Thalidomide in the United Kingdom or learn more, then visit The Thalidomide Trust (Registered Charity Number: 266220)