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Comment Not like any yogurt (Score 3, Informative) 183

Med student here, just attended three meetings on this condition, and I've had a number of patients with this condition.

This kind of treatment has been tested before and is an exciting possibility, but there have been failures in the past. Also, this is nothing like the yogurt cultures you know.

......... then again I'm an idiot .........

Comment Re:A question for the bio geeks.. (Score 3, Informative) 121

While you are correct about many of the concerns from the stemming process, I was mainly talking about somatic mutations (like those caused by gamma radiation for example). The statement I made previously about these somatic mutations propagating no more in stemming than in breeding is still true. Also, the proto-oncogene concern is one that current research is already working toward limiting.
My main concern with your statement is the argument that stem cells are MORE susceptible to random mutation than somatic cells. This is simply false. You argued that decreased activity is a protective attribute than for stem cells. In fact, most stem cells in the human body are LESS active than somatic cells as somatic cells do the work and (monopotent) stem cells like osteoprogenitor cells are mainly there to replenish and preserve genetic information. It's a biological axiom that sex cells (sperm and ova) have the highest importance in preserving genetic integrity and that's what we see experimentally: the sex cells have BETTER preservation of information, not worse.
.... Then again ..... I'm an idiot ....

Comment Re:A question for the bio geeks.. (Score 5, Informative) 121

Biochemist medical student here. Propagating genetic errors is certainly a concern here, but the same concerns exist for genetic transfer in breeding generally. While skin cell are exposed to more radiation, the cells preferred for sampling here are typically from buccal (mouth) sources or are relatively deeper than the layers where most melanoma form.
Honestly, the more prime concerns are with imperfect "stemming" or imperfect conversion to heart cells.
Then again ... I'm and idiot ....

Comment Re:Calling 'shock' or 'electroshock' inaccurate (Score 1) 65

Yes, in the sense that they're using it to try to determine which parts serve which function. Certain areas are dependent on the function of other areas, like Broca's area (mouth articulation for speech) being dependent on Wernicke's area (Word association/searching).

Then again.... I'm an idiot.....

Comment Calling 'shock' or 'electroshock' inaccurate (Score 2) 65

This is deep brain stimulation. They're running a constant or alternating current, not producing bursts of electricity or a 'shock'. I've administered the modern, anesthetized, calibrated version of electroshock in my medical training and this procedure described here is also very, very different.

This is much more analogous to overclocking a part of the brain by preferentially stimulating it to work harder. This may be used to improve performance but those applications are still far away. This is most useful as a diagnostic tool or even more likely as a research tool to try to understand what various parts of the brain do.

Then again.... I'm an idiot.....

Comment Re:Good (Score 1) 1319

This is ignoring the point of the objection: Some pharmacists believe that the morning after pill is murder and that filling it just because it's their job is akin to soldiers in various atrocities saying that they were just following orders.
Also, you seem to have misunderstood the post to which you were responding. They were agreeing with you.
Then again..... I'm an idiot....

Comment Re:How about not admitting terrorist groups (Score 2, Insightful) 735

Really? It seems with reports of shiite and suni violence from the official thugs in many middle east countries that Isreal would be the best country to support. Their record for religious freedom for Muslims beats that of their neighbors.

Certainly both sides have made many mistakes but putting Hamas beside the Isreali government shows that they're not even in the same league. Supporting Isreal and expecting any others to recognize their right to live is a fundamental requirement for peace in the middle east if they're willing to have it.

Then again.... I'm an idiot....

Comment Re:This can't be true! (Score 1) 519

Very poor methodology. The US actually has the best, what you're thinking of is 'best per cost'. That's very different. We're willing to pay for all kinds of treatments that aren't available in Cuba.

If I were sick, I would want to be treated in the country that had the best absolute results, not the one that spent minimally. If I were very sick, I would want to spend every effectual dollar, not just the ones that a bureaucrat approved.

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