Asunto(s)
Clonación de Organismos , Periodismo Médico , Periódicos como Asunto , Humanos , Opinión PúblicaAsunto(s)
Ética Médica , Política , Investigación , Células Madre , Cadáver , Separación Celular/métodosAsunto(s)
Medios de Comunicación de Masas , Ciencia , Escritura , Animales , Clonación de Organismos , ADN , Hominidae , HumanosRESUMEN
In this review, we examine the energetics of well-characterized biodegradation pathways and explore the possibilities for these to support growth of multiple organisms interacting in consortia. The relevant phenotypic and/or phylogenetic characteristics of isolates and consortia mediating hydrocarbon degradation coupled with different terminal electron-accepting processes (TEAP) are also reviewed. While the information on metabolic pathways has been gained from the analysis of individual isolates, the energetic framework presented here demonstrates that microbial consortia could be readily postulated for hydrocarbon degradation coupled to any TEAP. Several specialized reactions occur within these pathways, and the organisms mediating these are likely to play a key role in defining the hydrocarbon degradation characteristics of the community under a given TEAP. Comparing these processes within and between TEAPs reveals biological unity in that divergent phylotypes display similar degradation mechanisms and biological diversity in that hydrocarbon-degraders closely related as phylotypes differ in the type and variety of hydrocarbon degradation pathways they possess. Analysis of microcosms and of field samples suggests that we have only begun to reveal the diversity of organisms mediating anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation. Advancements in the understanding of how hydrocarbon-degrading communities function will be significantly affected by the extent to which organisms mediating specialized reactions can be identified, and tools developed to allow their study in situ.
Asunto(s)
Bacterias Anaerobias/metabolismo , Hidrocarburos/metabolismo , Biodegradación AmbientalAsunto(s)
Evolución Biológica , Hominidae/anatomía & histología , Edición , Animales , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
The morphologically distinct diabetic or 'metabolic' cataract is rare in newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes. The cases described are of five adolescents (three girls, two boys) with newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes who developed metabolic cataracts close to the time of diagnosis (0-16 months). They all had a prolonged duration of symptoms before diagnosis (4-24 months) and high glycated haemoglobin levels at diagnosis (15-21%). The pathogenesis of diabetic cataract is not well understood in humans. An attempt is made to link clinical observations with evidence from experimental animal models to understand the mechanism of cataract formation, with particular reference to the aldose reductase pathway. It is recommended that the lens and retina are examined at the onset of diabetes in all children, especially those who have a prolonged duration of symptoms before diagnosis and who report persistent blurred vision.
Asunto(s)
Catarata/etiología , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicaciones , Adolescente , Catarata/diagnóstico , Niño , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/sangre , Femenino , Hemoglobina Glucada/análisis , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the James P. Timilty Middle School established a partnership to enhance science education, promote faculty development, and improve the health status and academic performance of all Timilty students. This article describes one of the Partnership's Science Connection programs, the Science Fair Mentoring Program, designed to enhance middle school science education, inform urban early adolescents about professions in the health field, inspire them to pursue postsecondary study in the health sciences, and prepare them for rigorous academic work in high school. In this program, hospital-based clinical and research staff mentor young adolescent students. The authors describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Science Fair Mentoring Program as an innovative learning experience.