Heritable Genome Editing in a Global Context: National and International Policy Challenges

A central problem for the international governance of heritable germline gene editing is that there are important differences in attitudes and values as well as ethical and health care considerations around the world. These differences are reflected in a complicated and diverse regulatory landscape. Several publications have discussed whether reproductive uses would be legally permissible in individual countries and whether clinical applications could emerge in the context of regulatory gaps and gray areas. Systematic comparative studies that explore issues related to the governance of this technology from different national and international perspectives are needed to address the lack of knowledge in this area. In this research report, we contribute to filling this gap by presenting views of stakeholders in the United Kingdom on challenges to the governance of heritable genome editing. We present findings from a multistakeholder study conducted in the United Kingdom between October 2016 and January 2018 and funded by the Wellcome Trust. This research included interviews, literature analysis, and a workshop. We involved leading U.K. scientists, in vitro fertilization clinicians, and representatives from regulatory bodies, patient organizations, and other civil societal organizations, as well as fertility companies. Part one of this article explores stakeholder perceptions of possible global developments in heritable genome editing and associated risks and governance challenges. Part two presents a range of policy options that were generated during the workshop in relation to the challenges discussed in part one.     

骨骼肌异体移植神经吻合和种植的功率比较

本实验目的检验以下假说：失神经７个月的移植肌用神经吻合其功能恢复优于神经种植。采用大鼠比目鱼肌同种异体移植，供肌在移植时立即或预先２、４、７个月失神经，各时间组肌肉都从供鼠右后肢移植到受鼠右后肢，用神经吻合或神经种植再神经化。左后肢同名肌作对照。术后６０天，两后肢肌肉均作原位张力和功率测量。结果：２个月神经吻合组张力和功率（正常的６１％）高于神经种植组（４０％±），但７个月组却相反，神经吻合组不到正常的２０％，神经种植组达２３％以上。实验结果不接受工作假说。作者认为长期失神经肌肉，神经种植再神经化效果可能较神经吻合效果好。     

Gabapentin for the treatment of tremor

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of the antiepileptic drug gabapentin for the treatment of various types of tremor. DATA SOURCES: A search of biomedical literature was completed through MEDLINE and EMBASE (1993-May 2002) to identify all clinical trials pertaining to the use of gabapentin for the treatment of tremor in humans. DATA SYNTHESIS: Outcome data from the few published studies have varied widely. Patient groups have been small, and conclusions have been based largely on subjective patient and investigator ratings. CONCLUSIONS: A trial of gabapentin is warranted in patients who fail therapy with traditional agents. Improvement should be measured by a patient's perceived functional ability.     

Family influence on self-care, quality of life, and metabolic control in school-age children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

This study explored the influence of family behaviors on self-care, quality of life (QoL), and metabolic control in school-age children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Ninety-nine participants were recruited in the midsouth from a health science center and an affiliated diabetes camp. Warm and caring family behaviors predicted self-care behaviors and aspects of QoL for the participants. African American school-age children and adolescents had more worries related to diabetes and had poorer metabolic control than Caucasians. Nursing implications included emphasizing open family communication and providing emotional support for diabetes management to promote developmentally appropriate levels of self-care and QoL.     

Electrical stimulation attenuates denervation and age-related atrophy in extensor digitorum longus muscles of old rats

Skeletal muscles of old rats and elderly humans lose muscle mass and maximum force. Denervation is a major cause of age-related muscle atrophy and weakness, because denervated fibers do not contract, and undergo atrophy. At any age, surgical denervation causes even more dramatic muscle atrophy and loss in force than aging does. Electrical stimulation that generates tetanic contractions of denervated muscles reduces the denervation-induced declines. We investigated whether a stimulation protocol that maintains mass and force of denervated extensor digitorum longus muscles of adult rats would also maintain these properties in denervated muscles of old rats during a 2-month period of age-induced declines in these properties. Contractile activity generated by the electrical stimulation eliminated age-related losses in muscle mass and reduced the deficit in force by 50%. These data provide support for the hypothesis that during aging, lack of contractile activity in fibers contributes to muscle atrophy and weakness.