A Next-gen Cure for Killer Infections?
Today, deadly bacteria and viruses like Staphylococcus aureus and HIV run rampant, and because of this, science is doing its best to suppress, if not totally stop, the spread of these highly dangerous bacteria. However, as each day passes, more and more strains are being discovered, one more resistant to medicine and treatment than the other. Even now, when medicine has gotten very far, they still haven't found a way to cure the most dreaded diseases. However, this may all change with the discovery of one man named Kary Mullis. This man isn't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill researcher. Rather, he is a chemist who received a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1998 for finding a way to copy a strand of DNA.
The above video is a talk given by him in February 2009. It's entitled "Kary Mullis' next-gen cure for killer infections". Just looking at the title made me interested. The level of medicine today is already pretty high, right? And yet, they can't cure some of the deadliest diseases on Earth. You might think that this "next-gen" cure is some kind of wonder drug or possibly a very complicated procedure. You thought wrong. In fact, his proposed cure is a back-to-the-basics technology. It's simple yet innovative. Take a certain molecule, called alpha-gal epitope, that white blood cells love to eat, slap it onto a bacteria, and the white blood cell will eat it along witl the bacteria. Simple, right?
Now, let me delve further into the details. The way he presented it was very simple. All he had was his brain, a model of a molecule, and some slides. That's it. Yet, it was very comprehensive, so much that an ordinary high school student would easily understand it. The molecule alpha-gal epitope, he said, is something our cells “love to eat”. He had an idea. He said, ”If I could take this molecule, slap it onto a bacteria, a pathogen that was harmful to me...the immune system could immediately respond and take it out.” To simplify things further, he compared it to someone who was stopped for a traffic violation and suddenly the cop drops a bag of marijuana to your car and charged you with possession of marijuana. It was a “very, very fast way to get people of the street.” Same thing with the bacteria. Take the bacteria, clamp it onto the molecule, and it will be taken off your body quickly. However, for certain bacteria, it isn’t that simple. Our antibiotics now are getting less efficient due to the rise of tougher, more resistant bacteria. In order to solve this, he took some collaborators and started working on it. He said that if you could attach the molecule to a DNA aptamer, it will track down and “consume” the bacteria, thereby killing them. He tried this method on some rats infected with anthrax. And the result? 100% survival rate. After being given the procedure, the anthrax in the rats’ bodies was completely eliminated. And it was all thanks to a simple yet very effective procedure.
Even though his talk was short (lasting for only 5 minutes), it was full of information and ideas. I want to be a doctor someday, so this particular topic piqued my interest. Imagine all the possibilities this discovery could offer. Maybe, just maybe, even the toughest of the bacteria will be eliminated thanks to this. Millions of lives will be saved; mankind won’t have to worry anymore because of Kary Mullis’ discovery. Even the scientists at Yale have taken up his idea. Their method may not be exactly the same as his, but the concept is very similar. They are trying to see if it can be a possible cure for HIV and prostate cancer. They called it "antibody-recruiting molecule targeting HIV" (ARM-H) and "antibody-recruiting molecule targeting prostate cancer" (ARM-P). They said that since it won’t target necessary biological functions of the body, side effects could be lessened. It’s also cheap.
(The original article can be found at this link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105165527.htm)
I think that, with the arrival of Mullis’ discovery, more lives can be saved. More deaths can be prevented. Even though it’s still young, it has lots of potential to truly be a next-gen cure for killer infections.
P.S. Before I forget, here is the link of the original website where the video came from:
http://www.ted.com/talks/kary_mullis_next_gen_cure_for_killer_infections.html
The Wonderful World of Food
Ah, food. What would I do without it? I've gotten so addicted to it my body gets rounder and rounder. We all know food is essential to man's survival. However, some people, especially big-time chefs or restaurant owners, take food to the next level. What really makes food by them so special? They claim it is because of their company secret, such as KFC's chicken recipe. Whatever the case, food is loved by everyone. Now, let me share some of my favorite foods.
(Note: The following are not arranged according to rank.)
1) Burgers
The burger. A complete (or not-so-complete, depending on the ingredients) meal rolled into one package. It's easy to carry, quite filling, and somewhat cheap, making it popular to students and other people who are always on-the-go. Also, it's quite delicious, although its tastiness depends on the maker. People have their own preferences of the burger. What are my preferences, you ask? Well, I like mine flame-grilled, with no veggies and lots of tomato ketchup and cheese. In any case, the burger is very popular today and will stay popular until the future.
2) Pizza
Pizza is one of my all-time favorites. The soft, warm mozzarella, the tangy tomato sauce, the yummy pepperoni, it seems that everything about the pizza is just perfect. Who would ever forget their first experience with pizza? When I was a kid, my dad brought home a box of the local pizza (I forgot the name). When I took my first bite, that was when it all began. You may think that an elegant food equals an elegant origin. Well, you thought wrong. Actually, pizza started out as food for the poor and the homeless. Eventually, its popularity among the people grew, being known by nobles and commoners alike. As time moved on and on, it has now become the legendary pizza we all know and love.
3) Pasta
Italian food never ceases to wonder, especially pasta. I absolutely love it. It’s simple to prepare, and it’s very filling. There are many varieties of pasta, from fettucini to ravioli, but my favorite is spaghetti, especially when cooked either with tomato sauce and meatballs or ala carbonara. I love it when my mom cooks spaghetti. I’m always the first to get some, so don’t expect the spaghetti bowl to remain full when I’m around. By the time you get another plate, it’ll already be half-empty.
4) Filipino food
Last but not the least, we have Filipino food. Being a Filipino myself, it would be disrespectful to my culture for me not to include this. But, I didn’t place Filipino food just for the sake of it. In fact, almost all of my favorite dishes are from the Philippines. As they say, a Filipino isn’t a Filipino if he didn’t get a taste of balut, or any other Filipino dishes, such as kare-kare (ox tail, tripe and veggies cooked in peanut sauce), sinigang (meat, either fish or pork, and vegetables cooked in sour broth) and the national dish, adobo (chicken, beef or pork cooked in soy sauce and vinegar; shown above). For those out there who don’t know what balut is or what it looks like, here is a picture.
Basically it’s a fertilized duck egg with the chick still whole inside. Sure, it looks disgusting, but, as they say, never judge a book by its cover. It actually tastes good, especially when you add some salt (but not too much, or it would ruin the flavor). Aside from the well-known dishes such as adobo, bulalo, and many others, there are also many lesser-known exotic dishes here, such as dinakdakan, adobong aso (yep, that’s right, dog meat cooked a la adobo), and soup #5 (a soup of the “family jewels” of a bull).
What’s my favorite Filipino dish, you ask? Well, it’s hard to say, considering that I like almost all Filipino dishes, although I do prefer sinigang, grilled meat and seafood, and adobo.
There you have it, some of my favourite foods. I hope you enjoyed viewing this post, and until then, see you!
Where I Got the Pics:
Human Sexuality: A Sensitive Topic
Last Saturday, September 18, 2010, we 3rd years went to a seminar-workshop in our school. The seminar was about human sexuality. I was thinking, “Why go to this event when we already discussed it in our Religion class?” I was hesitant to go to the said event. It was Saturday, for Pete’s sake! And I thought I would finally get some rest from all that school work. Even then, I had to go since it was required for us to attend. So, I went to school early and waited for a long time (around 1-2 hours) before the seminar started. I said to myself, “This is gonna be boring…” I was proven wrong. In fact, the seminar was very interesting. It was quite sensitive in nature.
Let me share the details of the seminar. When the term “sexuality” comes up, the very first thing that comes to the minds of many is intercourse, or, as one student put it, “the meeting of a man and a woman in bed.” The most common perception of sexuality, according to the speakers, is the genital sexuality, the aspect of sexuality regarding the privates of people. However, sexuality is much more than that. According to them, sexuality is the aspect of our being that affects our actions, what we do, how we act, how we think, and how we speak. It is a God-given gift that makes us what we are, it is something to be respected, not to be mocked and laughed at. Some people aren’t that comfortable when talking about sexuality directly. They tend to cite jokes or stories they have learned to make a crude reference to this. The speakers, however, were quite relaxed when they were talking about this sensitive subject matter. Well, they ARE professional guidance counselors who have handled these kinds of things, so that’s hardly surprising. Not only that, being mothers themselves, they have a pretty good grasp of the subject matter.
Going on, they discussed one topic that haunts society up to this very point in time: premarital sex. Jose Rizal, our national hero, said that the youth is the hope of the nation. Sad to say, I find that hard to believe. Everyday, more and more teenagers are having premarital sex. More and more are becoming pregnant. If he were alive today, Rizal would be very disappointed. Where’s the hope in that?
Why are teenagers engaging in premarital sex, anyway? They know it’s not right, but yet, they still do it. Why is that? Well, according to the speakers, it is because of 5 reasons. One is the need for intimacy. Is it really necessary to have sex just to have intimacy? They don’t need to do it in bed just so they could get closer (figuratively) to each other. There’s something called friendship. Try it. Another is the need for belongingness. There is no need to do “it” just so you could belong. You can do it in other, more appropriate ways. Another is curiosity. Well, if they’re so curious, why can’t they wait until they’re married? Yet another is rebellion. Truthfully, I don’t really get this one. Kids have sex just so they can get back at their parents? They’re off their rockers, I tell you. The last reason is to cope with stress. Seriously? There are millions of fun activities that can relieve stress. Music, reading, playing sports, etc. The list goes on and on. To cope with stress, eh? They’re just increasing it.
Teens are pretty good at making excuses when it comes to stuff, and premarital sex is one of them. Seriously, “afraid to lose the relationship”? “Wants to prove he/she is a real man/woman”? “Seeks to gain affection and warmth”? They’re nuts. Cracked, broken nuts.
Obviously, as with all bad things, there are corresponding consequences. And with premarital sex, those consequences can change one’s life in a bad way, or worse, totally ruin it. Once you’ve done it, there’s no turning back, especially when the girl gets pregnant. Trying to hide your pregnancy to your parents is like hiding a large boulder in a small closet. They WILL find it out sooner or later. The presenters showed three video clips regarding the effects of teenage pregnancy. The first one was about a girl from high school saying to her parents that her friend was pregnant. The second one was about a guy and his second girlfriend doing “it”, and with bad results. The girls finds out she’s pregnant, and the guy doesn’t want to take responsibility for it. So sad, considering that a baby is supposed to be a blessing, not a curse. The third one, well…let’s say that it was a bit disturbing. What has been seen cannot be unseen, after all.
On the other hand, the speakers showed the brighter side of the seminar. Saying no to premarital sex, according to them, is a choice that will make you feel better about yourself. You won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancies, STDs, fear, stress, worry, and most of all, guilt. You’ll be able be in control of your future, spend your time in trying to reach you goals, and enjoy teenage life. And with that, they ended the seminar. And my once again lengthy blog post. Thank you.
Noynoy's 10-point Education Agenda
President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III, our country's current president, introduced a 10-point basic education agenda which I think will revolutionize and change our country's education system for the better (I hope). I was impressed at Noynoy's inaugural speech. He spoke the words with passion and emotion. And with the start a new era in the Philippine government, P-Noy (as he is affectionately called by the people) has set the ball rolling.
The 10-point basic education agenda has 10 reforms (obviously). As a student, I will be of course greatly affected by this. Let me share my thoughts on these reforms.
The first reform is the 12-year basic education cycle. This reform will add another 2 years to the current education system, meaning there will be Grade 7 for the elementary and 5th Year for the high-schoolers. Personally, I find this good, since we will be finally on par with other nations in terms of education. Although, I'm worried that some students will not find this easy to accept. Imagine, if this reform were to be implemented next school year, there will be a drastic change in the curriculum. If this was to be implemented immediately, then what will the teachers teach the 5th years? Therefore, there should be a period of time in which DepEd will adapt to this new system and be ready with a new educational curriculum to adapt to this change.
The second reform is universal pre-schooling for all. This states, "All public school children will have preschool as their introduction to formal schooling by 2016, and we will make this available to all children regardless of income." This reform is very advantageous. This will give incoming students, regardless of status in life, an opportunity to learn the basics of school so that when they enter elementary, they are more prepared and therefore more inspired and motivated to learn. Although, 2016 will be a long time. It will already be very near the end of Noynoy's term. I hope they implement it sooner so that more will benefit.
The third reform is Madaris education as a sub-system within the education system. This reform incorporates Islam education and Arabic lessons to the full basic education system offered to our Muslim brothers. This shows that education has no boundaries, and I'm glad Noynoy sees that in this reform.
The fourth reform is technical vocational education as an alternative stream in senior high school. This means that this reform will better prepared senior high-schoolers for the real world and the local industries that await them. This is good, considering that we have not that many technical workers in the Philippines. With this, I hope that our local industries will benefit better
The fifth reform is “Every child a reader” by Grade 1. This means that by the end of the next administration, all first graders should know how to read properly by Grade 1. I noticed that some students, even though they're already in the latter grades, don't know how to read properly. This reform will hopefully increase the level of education of our nation, and will improve the reading and comprehension skills of our young students, skills which they will need for the rest of their lives.
The sixth reform is science and math proficiency, which is pretty self-explanatory. The Philippines is falling behind the levels of science and math education of other countries. With this, I hope that our level will rise so that we will be close, if not totally on par, with the levels of other countries.'
The seventh reform is assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education. Finally, private schools will be getting the sorely-needed attention they have been longing for. With this, private schools will become better institutions and will form a greater bond with the public schools. Also, the population of overcrowded public schools will be lessened, thanks to this.
The eighth reform is medium of instruction rationalized. This means that our educational system will be trilingual: English, Filipino, and the local dialect. This will definitely help students know more about their roots using their own dialect, which, for me, is very beneficial.
The ninth reform is quality textbooks. Some schools, especially the poorer ones, have to use dilapidated, outdated books for their students, which can be very detrimental to them. Thankfully, P-Noy is working on this. I hope that by the next school year, students will have better, newer textbooks so that their learning experience will be enriched further.
Finally, the tenth and last reform is covenant with the local governments to build more schools. This means that the national government will cooperate with the local governments to not only build more schools to accommodate the ever-increasing number of students but also address the teacher and classroom shortages. I have seen kids on TV literally squeezing in a tiny classroom and few teachers to teach all of them. Hopefully, this reform will help the deteriorating educational system of our country and help kids have a better learning experience.
So there you have it, my personal views on Noynoy's 10-point education agenda. I must say, it's a bit long (okay, it's VERY long), but that's what's in my mind, and that's what I will say. Thank you for the time you have spent listening to my ideas, and until next time, see you!
Ad astra per aspera.
Hello? Testing, testing. Is this thing on? OK, let's start! Hi there! I'm Marc Pulmano, a citizen of this earth for 14 years and counting. I like to listen to music, especially rock, alternative, and classical music. I also play the guitar and the piano, although the latter I'm not that good at. I'm also a bookworm (I have lots of books in my room). For me, any book would do, as long as it interests me and catches my eye. I am also an avid gamer. Among my favorite genres are FPS, RPG, and platformers. I am also quite fond of eating, so much that my physique has gotten a bit...large. I'm interested in Medicine, and I want to be a successful surgeon when I grow up. I also like Math and Science, both of which are my favorite subjects at school. My motto is "When life gives you lemons, make orange juice and let everyone wonder how you did it." In other words, be unique. Be yourself. The lemonade is clichéd. Everyone is making lemonade. Don't just follow the trend. Be the trend. That's my plan, to do my own thing.
This is my first time blogging, and frankly, I'm not that comfortable with it. I'm used to keeping things to myself, so these kinds of things, namely sharing your thoughts, are...not that familiar to me. As you can see, my blog is fairly empty (for now). My blog isn't really focused on a single, particular topic, although expect to see stuff related to music (as made obvious by the template).You may have noticed the title of this post, which is in Latin. It means "to the stars through difficulties", and that is what I plan to do in life. To be what I want to be, to overcome any obstacle that comes in my way. Sounds nice, eh? How come things always sound good in Latin, anyway?
Music is my life. Well, not entirely, only a part of it. Before I sleep, after I wake up, while eating at home, doing homework or projects, there is always music blaring. Whether it's Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses, Stephen Speaks, The Beatles, Parokya ni Edgar, or Rivermaya, I cannot live without music. Everything I do, there is music in it. I have been greatly influenced by music. Not only do I listen to music, I play music. My dad used to play classic songs from the '70s and '80s on the guitar. He inspired me to learn how to play the guitar, and now, my guitar is and always will be one of my most treasured possessions of all time. Recently, I am learning how to play the piano by myself. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series, and the soundtrack is just heavenly, especially the piano versions of those songs. Nobuo Uematsu is a musical genius, and the song "Aerith's Theme", composed by him, was the spark that ignited my interest in the piano.
Technology is also a big part of my life, so much that I can't seem to imagine life without it. Each and every day science keeps on going forward. I hope I will be able to live long enough to at least experience flying cars and public space travel.
I could keep going on and on and on, but I would probably fill the whole page. That's it. I hope you got to know much about yours truly. See you next time!
This is my first time blogging, and frankly, I'm not that comfortable with it. I'm used to keeping things to myself, so these kinds of things, namely sharing your thoughts, are...not that familiar to me. As you can see, my blog is fairly empty (for now). My blog isn't really focused on a single, particular topic, although expect to see stuff related to music (as made obvious by the template).You may have noticed the title of this post, which is in Latin. It means "to the stars through difficulties", and that is what I plan to do in life. To be what I want to be, to overcome any obstacle that comes in my way. Sounds nice, eh? How come things always sound good in Latin, anyway?
Music is my life. Well, not entirely, only a part of it. Before I sleep, after I wake up, while eating at home, doing homework or projects, there is always music blaring. Whether it's Bon Jovi, Guns and Roses, Stephen Speaks, The Beatles, Parokya ni Edgar, or Rivermaya, I cannot live without music. Everything I do, there is music in it. I have been greatly influenced by music. Not only do I listen to music, I play music. My dad used to play classic songs from the '70s and '80s on the guitar. He inspired me to learn how to play the guitar, and now, my guitar is and always will be one of my most treasured possessions of all time. Recently, I am learning how to play the piano by myself. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series, and the soundtrack is just heavenly, especially the piano versions of those songs. Nobuo Uematsu is a musical genius, and the song "Aerith's Theme", composed by him, was the spark that ignited my interest in the piano.
Technology is also a big part of my life, so much that I can't seem to imagine life without it. Each and every day science keeps on going forward. I hope I will be able to live long enough to at least experience flying cars and public space travel.
I could keep going on and on and on, but I would probably fill the whole page. That's it. I hope you got to know much about yours truly. See you next time!
