ARTIFICIAL BLOOD
Substitute for blood
Scientific American- Feb
1998
THE IDEAL SUBSTITUTE
 Non toxic- Free from Disease
 No Immune Response- Compatible
 Transportable- Long Shelf life
 Excreted without Side effects
 Remains in circulation until replaced
 Performs Blood’s many Tasks
RESEARCH APPROACH

Haemoglobin- based
Polymerised Hb
Cross- Linked Hb
Bovine Hb

Chemicals
LIQUID BREATHING MOUSE
 LeLand Clark of Univ. Alabama 1960
 Mouse immersed in Poly F loro Carbons
(PFC)
 Science Fiction Movie “ ABYSS”
PFC - Mode of action
 PFC floats in Plasma after administration
 Oxygen from Lungs moves directly to PFC
bypassing RBCs
 PFC travels to rest of Body and Exchanges
Oxygen for Carbon Dioxide
 Excreted through Exhalation
MILESTONES TO CONQUER







2005 - Male Contraceptive
2010 - More effective Cancer Treatment through
combined Gene & Immunotherapy
2015 - Genetic Roots of all Diseases identified
2022 - Fetuses conceived In Vitro mature to Term in
Extra Uterine Incubators
2030 - Fully Functional Artificial Eyes
2035 - Human Hibernation used for Space Travel
2500 - Human Life Span extended to 140 years
Source:“The next 500 years”- Adrian Berry
CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT FOR MEN
Times of India 17 April 99
 Etonogestrel Implant in Arm switches off
Spermatogenesis & Testosterone
 Testosterone Pellets in the Abdomen
restores Libido
 Reversible & Long acting
 Prelim Studies encouraging in Edinburgh &
Manchester
Contributed by Dr. Padma Rao
HUMAN
GENOME
PROJECT
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
BREAKING THE CODE OF LIFE
 Launched a Decade ago by Universities &
Governments of USA UK & Germany
 1997 - 50000 Genes identified and
Functions of 5000 determined
 1998 - 21 Genes identified
 Deadline: 2003 AD
GENE MAPPING
 How to Decode the Book of Life?
 Genes vary from person to person because
of Conspiracy of Genes & Environment
 Molecular Basis of most Diseases
 Treatment through Genetic Engineering
 >250 Ongoing Trials allover the world
BRCA1 GENE
 Responsible for 82% of Ca Breast & 44% of
Ca Ovary
 Prevention Strategies:
Frequent screening
Early Biopsy
With hold Estrogen Replacement
Oopherectomy after Child bearing
Gene Therapy will
revolutionize Medicine
We used think that our fate
was in our stars.Now we
know that our fate is in our
Genes
- James watson
GENDER
PRESELECTION
PRESELECTION OF SEX:
TECHNIQUES
 Albumin Density Gradient
Ericsson et al
Based on Increased motility of Y Sperms
86% Males
 Sephadex Method
First 5ml of Semen passed thru Sephadex has more X sperms
Y sperm attaches to Gel
70% Females
PRESELECTION OF SEX

Ficoll - Paque Method
Centrifuging sediments more Y sperms
But decreases motility

Percoll Gradient
12 step sedimentation

Laminar Flow ChamberElectrophoresis
X sperms swim in straight line

Electophoresis
X sperms move towards Anode
FLOW CYTOMETRY
Fugger et al - J Human Repr 99
 Sperms dosed with DNA stain
 X sperms have 2.3% more DNA and take up
more stain
 When subjected to Laser beam X sperms
shine more
 Cell sorting Machine separates X&Ysperms
 85% Chance of Girl
PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC
DIAGNOSIS (PGD) India Today 17 May 99
 Malpani Mumbai
 Ova harvested from ovary fertilized in vitro
 8 cell embryos stained with fluorescent
dye
 X becomes pink and Y blue
 Only X embryos implanted in utero
Designer baby
Today parents can choose a baby’s Sex and
screen for genetic defects
 How about the colour of hair,eyes, IQ and
personality?
 ‘Remaking Eden’ by Lee Silver of Princeton Univ
mentions Reprogenetics & Genetic tinkering
 Adding genes for HIV resistance, High IQ,
Longevity, Attractive face & figure
 ‘Doable’ says Prof.Lipshultz

BABY ASPIRIN
Has it had a Neonatal death?
CLASP TRIAL
Lancet March 94
 Routine prophylaxis not recommended in
Pre eclampsia
 Justified in Early onset PE requiring Preterm
Delivery
 Start early in second trimester
BLASP TRIAL
Brit J Ob G March 98
 Incidence of PE
unchanged
 Incidence of Preterm Delivery reduced
 2.5% with Aspirin vs 14.0% with Placebo
TRIAL OF CALCIUM
New Eng J Med July 97
 No significant difference in PE/ PIH without
PE/ HT disorders
 No change in Preterm delivery/ SGA/ NND
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
 ZINC
Brit Med J 1989 - Acta ObG Scand 1996
 MAGNESIUM
Am J Ob G 1989
 FISH OIL - Omega 3 Fatty acids
Brit J Ob G 1996
THANK YOU