Interesante artículo del Dr. Prahallad Panda de India que nos explica las calves de las lineas de investigación biomédica encaminadas a aumentar considerablente la duración de la vida humana en las próximas décadas.
José Miguel Rodríguez-Pardo del Castillo.
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"There are aliens around us, scientists have been able to establish 50% communication with them and in the near future they will be able to communicate fully with them"; I quote from a recently published article in An English daily in India. In Hinduism; there is belief of rebirth, immortal soul and spirit etc. Can the aliens referred hitherto, be spirit or wandering soul as described in Hindu scripture waiting for salvation?
The scientists are trying hard to find out the clue to life, birth, death and life after death since long; and have sped up the research in that direction in the recent past. Now they have been able to find out, at least for the time being, the basic unit of life; the chromosome and genes. They have mapped the genes and proceeding ahead to find other solutions like: controlling diseases, the ways to defy the aging process and making the human immortal etc. It is said that the Gods are immortal as they have taken nectar. Perhaps, scientists will be able to find something similar to nectar, so that the human will be immortal too. That I call as "In the search of God".
Most important discovery in the recent past was the telomeres in the chromosomes. The recent Nobel Prize was conferred on the scientists who uncovered many mysteries in the gene and duplication of cells. As told, telomeres are the protectors of the genetic codes located on the chromosomes, help in preventing alterations in it; in the course of multiple cell divisions. As a result, that creates a normal copy of cells after the divisions. It is said that these telomeres lose their length in the long run, making the chromosomes vulnerable to abnormalities and resulting in the rapid death of the cells. There is also protective mechanism by which the shortening is repaired to maintain the length of the telomeres. The protein enzyme responsible for the repair is called a telomerase, and when the activity of this enzyme decreases the repair is also decreased. Scientists are finding ways to keep the enzyme activity optimized, so that the telomere remains intact to keep the aging process away. It is rather a very simplified presentation of the facts here. So, many things are advanced, which may facilitate to keep the telomerase activity optimized. Amongst them regular exercise is much studied. It has been seen regular exercise keeps the enzyme activity in near normal level.
The next important study is perhaps on the antioxidants. These act as free oxygen radical scavengers. As we know, a molecule of oxygen consists of two atoms, and if one is negatively charged is called as free oxygen radical. These are generated during the process of metabolism. Those may cause damage to genetic material and many more cell components, if not contained. And, the antioxidants precisely do that. These are vitamins like E and A, micro nutrients like selenium, zinc and chromium etc. and some naturally occurring substances found in fruits and vegetables. Much studied are the extracts from the seed and skin of grapes, parts of the plant graviola, some Chinese herbs and some plant extracts described in Ayurveda in India.
Diseases and associated genetic defects responsible for it, has been much targeted. The oncogenes: genes responsible for initiation and maintenance of uncontrolled cell multiplication have been identified for many cancers. Now these are being targeted in various ways. Elimination and replacement of the portion the bad segment by a good one through an innocent virus as a carrier is much studied. Down regulation of the oncogene, switching it off, suppression of it and many more ways are being studied to tackle the uncontrolled growth seen in cancers.
I think the next target is, perhaps repair of damaged tissue. The creation of blood vessels, muscles, bones and even tissue of any other organ from stem cells is catching up. The damaged tissue can be repaired using these cells. So, the much dreaded myocardial infarction site in the heart muscle can be repaired, which will work like a new heart adding years to the longevity of human beings.
There has been control of many communicable and infectious diseases by vaccination and alertness. This has increased the average life expectancy at birth; from a level what it was some 50 years back. Study of the effect of environmental factors and different bad habits on the health has been undertaken and remedial measures suggested from time to time. Quitting smoking has increasing the life expectancy in many countries including the US.
I hope, a complete guide line to live the life in full, will be prepared in the near future; starting from diet to medications and that will ensure long survival. That guide line perhaps will be the end of quest for the God.
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Dr. Prahallad Panda, Surgeon, Paradip Port Trust, Paradip, Orissa, India.
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