Scientists at the University of Toronto have recently made a breakthrough in the control of IPS cells’ pluripotency:

Scientists have found a control switch that regulates stem cell “pluripotency,” the capacity of stem cells to develop into any type of cell in the human body. The discovery reveals that pluripotency is regulated by a single event in a process called alternative splicing.

Alternative splicing allows one gene to generate many different genetic messages and protein products. The researchers found that in genetic messages of a gene called FOXP1, the switch was active in embryonic stem cells but silent in “adult” cells—those that had become the specialized cells that comprise organs and perform functions.

“It opens the field to the fact that alternative splicing plays a really important role in stem cell pluripotency,” said Prof. Benjamin Blencowe, principal investigator on the study and a Professor in the University of Toronto’s Departments of Molecular Genetics and Banting and Best Department of Medical Research. “We’re beginning to see an entirely new landscape of regulation, which will be crucial to our understanding of how to produce more effective pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic and research applications.”

The findings were published in the current online edition of the scientific journal Cell. _Source

These are some fascinating developments, which will eventually lead to advanced therapies for diseases which are currently untreatable, such as cancers and end stage degenerative diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain.

The ability to grow replacement organs from stem cells is already being proven in animals. The ability to regenerate a badly degenerated organ in situ, using stem cells, is also being proven. According to George Church, stem cells are also the best method for making genetic improvements to organs and organisms.

BioHeart’s clinical stem cell trials in Mexico

ThermoGenesis an early commercial entrant into the human stem cell regenerative medicine industry

Al Fin Longevity

Multiple losses are common as people age, including deaths of spouse, family, and friends. A less obvious form of loss involves the change in relationship quality with a spouse or friend who may be experiencing physical or cognitive impairment. These losses, as well as the awareness of one’s own mortality, often trigger a review and evaluation of unrealized dreams, lost opportunities, and unresolved relationships. This review may activate negative thoughts and maladaptive schema that impede the recovery process. In addition, the loss of meaningful relationships may isolate the older adult and reduce the opportunities for support and social interactions with others.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions that seek to address these concerns can be helpful in reversing the negative spiral and engaging the individual in a more positive and adaptive response. For example, cognitive interventions that identify negative thoughts and challenge their accuracy will facilitate a more positive grief reaction and process. If the person believes that ‘I can’t survive alone,’ ‘My life is a total failure,’ or ‘I’ll never be happy again,’ then the person will find it difficult to interpret experience accurately. Cognitive techniques, such as ‘examining the evidence’ and ‘generating alternative thoughts,’ will facilitate a more positive recovery from loss and bereavement. In combination with behavioral techniques, such as increasing pleasant events and interactions with others, Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps move the person into a more problem-solving and adaptive response.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an approach to treatment of psychological problems that emphasizes the relationship among cognitive processes (thoughts or beliefs), emotions, and behavior. The assumption is that what one believes about an event or experience impacts how one feels and behaves in that situation. Similarly, the activities or behaviors that one engages in will affect mood and thoughts. Thus, a depressed person is often trapped in a downward spiral of negative thoughts that lead to depressed feelings and disengagement from meaningful and pleasant activities. The approach to treatment assumes that changes in thoughts and behaviors will result in changes in mood. The process of treatment is active and directive, with the therapist and patient working collaboratively to identify and change negative or dysfunctional thoughts and increase participation in meaningful activities. The goal of CBT is to teach the skills needed to change the dysfunctional thinking and behaviors that contribute to negative mood. Thus, Cognitive behavioral interventions therapy emphasizes the teaching of coping skills for dealing with problems rather than ‘curing’ the problem. The expected consequence of teaching these skills is an increase in patients’ sense of self efficacy, competency, and coping abilities. These skills equip them to deal not only with present problems, but also with future problems. The leading figures in the development of general cognitive therapy approaches to treatment of mood disorders are Albert Ellis, Donald Meichenbaum, and Aaron Beck.

Aging begins before we are born, is a lifelong process and continues throughout life. Throughout the life course, differing life experiences influence our capabilities and well-being in our later years. The functional capacity of our biological systems increases during the first years of life, reaches its peak in early adult-hood and naturally declines thereafter. Throughout most countries (but not all), persons experience a long childhood and a long old age. These two lengthy developmental spans have provided great utility. Throughout history, it has enabled older persons to educate the younger and pass on values to them. (more…)

Young people rarely worry about their physics capacities. As a matter of fact they take tremendous pride in their physical well being and usually behave as though it were something that will go on forever.

However, by the time people reach middle age certain changes become apparent to challenge this certainty that youthful vigor will last for all time. (more…)

There are differences on what exactly contribute to quality of life on a personal level from person to person. Although many older people in good health condition have the increase of physical problems that affect them and their businesses. Although these disorders are more common with age, including Alzheimer, dementia, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, kidneys problem; lung disease, cancer and men’s prostate disease. (more…)

Some researches on relation between exercise and body human health results indicate that in addition to increasing muscle capacity, physical activity can help improve strength, balance, joint mobility, flexibility, agility, the speed with which one walks and physical coordination as a whole. In addition, physical activity has effects favorably on metabolism, blood pressure regulation, and prevention of an excessive increase in weight. (more…)

In past decades, the traditional understanding of education, which was exclusively oriented toward formal learning in childhood and young adulthood, has been broadened to the concept of lifelong learning. Different versions of this concept have in common the idea that learning in different phases of human life span, (more…)

Creativity is most often defined as the individual capacity to generate ideas that are both original and useful. In everyday life there are numerous solutions to problems that work just fine but are totally routine, such as a motorist’s decision to take an alternate route to the grocery store when an automobile accident blocks the habitual route. Of course, the two defining components of creativity—originality and utility—are not discrete characteristics—there are varying degrees of these elements in a creative idea. (more…)