TIBA ILIYOTUKUKA: TIBA YA KISASA NA MATUMIZI MABAYA YA TIBA MBADALA

 TIBA ILIYOTUKUKA: TIBA YA KISASA NA MATUMIZI MABAYA YA TIBA MBADALA

Naandika hapa baada ya kuona hakuna anaeandika ama kujitokeza hadharani kuongelea kuhusu hili. Naamini kuna madaktari bingwa na wa uhakika wenye ujuzi mkubwa katika maswala yahusuyo tiba na afya kwa ujumla katika nchi hii; najua hawa ndio walipaswa waandike haya maana wana ujuzi na uzoefu zaidi yangu. Ila nahisi kwa uchache wao ukilinganisha na namba ya watu wanaohitaji huduma yao na kwa kujitolea kwao kwa ajili ya afya ya wengine wamebanana.

Mara kadhaa nikikaa mbele ya runinga ama kufungua redio huja vipindi vinavyojiita ni vya “afya”. Nami kwa kua ni mwanafunzi wa udaktari basi hujilamba midomo nisubiri elimu inayotolewa na watu waliokwenda kwenye mfumo huu wa kisasa wa mawasiliano ili wawafikie watanzania wengine kuwapa elimu ya afya na tiba. Hazipiti dakika chache baada ya kuanza kipindi huwa naanza kusikia maneno ya kuchefusha nikaukunja wangu wajihi, ila linalokuja kunitapisha huwa ni hawa watu wanaposema wana vibali vinavyotambulika na wizara ya afya na ustawi wa jamii.

Kwa kuwa natambua mtu anapohitaji tiba ama elimu ya kiafya huwa ana shida, shida hii huenda ikawa ugonjwa alionao ama kutaka kuzuia magonjwa ambayo bado hajayapata; Basi kimbilio la mnyonge huyu huwa ni wanaoitwa ama kujiita wataalam wa mambo ya afya ambao serikali kupitia wizara yake ya afya na ustawi wa jamii imewathibitisha ikawaruhusu wakaguse maisha ya watanzania. Hapa huwa siachi kufikiria jinsi kimbilio la wanyonge linavyoweza kujigeuza nyoka kwa kujikumbusha maneno ya mshairi T. Mvungi kwenye Mashairi ya Chekacheka:

Kimbilio la wanyonge, limejigeuza chatu,

Chatu mmeza matonge, asiyeogopa watu,

Dawaye uchonge singe, chatu afanywe si kitu,

Akishaoza samaki, busara ni kumtupa.

Naamini mimi ni mmoja kati ya watu wenye wajibu wa kuzichonga singe kumuokoa mtanzania mwenzangu kwenye janga hili la hawa watu na ninafanya hivyo kwenye haya chache zijazo:

Lakini kabla sijaenda mbali, na isijekua namie ninavutia upande wangu, kwanza tujiulize: NI IPI TIBA YA KWELI?

Tiba ya kweli ni ile iliyothibitishwa kufanya kile inachodai inafanya; iliyofanyiwa utafiti wa kina wa kisayansi usio baguzi. Hapa si tu ile anayopewa mtu alieugua tayari ili apone pekee bali ni pamoja na ushauri wowote wa kiafya unaotolewa (nakosa msamiati wa kuviunganisha hivi viwili). Hii ni ile ya kisasa ila baadhi ya tiba mbadala zimeoneshwa kuwa na vithibitisho pia, na hizi ni 1. Homeopathy (matumizi ya vitu vinavyosababisha ugonjwa kwa kiasi kidogo sana kutibu ugonjwa huo) 2. Osteopathy (kutibu kwa kutambua uhusiano kati ya misuli, mifupa na afya) 3. Chiropractic (kutibu kwa kutambua uhusiano kati ya uti wa mgongo na afya) 4. Acupuncture (kutuliza maumivu kwa kuchomeka sindano kwenye ngozi) 5. Herbal Medicine (mitishamba) (Davidson’s principles & practice of medicine 21^st ed, 2010. Pg 15). Japo mara nyingi jinsi zinavyofanya kazi huwa inapotoshwa na kuzielezea moja baada ya nyingine itahitaji makala nyingine.

Acupuncture

Wengi wa hawa watu wanaokwenda kwenye runinga kufanya vipindi vya afya (ambavyo kiuhalisia huwa ni matangazo yao ya biashara) huwa wanaongea vitu wasivyovifaham kwa undani, ambavyo wana ujuzi navyo wa juu juu sana aidha kwa kusoma kwenye mitandao ama kusikia sehemu, ila cha muhimu kuliko yote ni kwamba havina VITHIBITISHO vya kisayansi kwa kile wanachosema. Nakumbuka wakati nipo sekondari nilikua navutiwa sana na habari za kisayansi, nilipenda kuzisikia ama kuziangalia kwenye runinga nyumbani. Alikuepo bwana mmoja aliitwa Isaac Ndodi aliekua akiendesha kipindi kilichoanza kwa nyimbo za dini na kisha akaanza kuelezea biolojia anayojua yeye mwenyewe na jinsi gani magonjwa yanatokea mfano alisema “kunywa maji pamoja na chakula husababisha magonjwa”. Nilipokua kitaaluma na nikawa naangalia nyuma niliwaza huyu bwana alikua anatoa wapi haya mambo? je alikua anatoa malezo yoyote kwanini? Je kulikua na vithibitisho vyovyote vya anavyodai? Na kama serikali ilimpa kibali kweli, je haifuatilii nini anafanya? Wengine walijitokeza wakisema wana dawa za kutibu magonjwa sugu kama kisukari, shinikizo la damu, saratani na kadhalika. Ila leo nikiwaza hawa walitakiwa wapate tuzo za nobel kwa kazi hizo.

Wengi wa hawa watu hupenda kuunganisha tiba zao na mambo ya kiroho. Watakwambia mungu aliwaweka wanadam wa kwanza wale mboga na matunda na wakaishi miaka mingi bila magonjwa; japo ukienda kwenye jamii zilizobaki zinazokula mboga na matunda mfano wahadzabe wa hapa kwetu utakuta wana afya mbovu zaidi yetu. Kitendo cha kuunganisha mambo ya kiroho na tiba zao ni mbinu za kumfanya mteja wao awaamini kiasi cha kutokuhoji kama tusivyotakiwa kuhoji mambo ya imani.

Na watu hawa wapo kwa ajili ya watu wenye pesa kwani huduma zao ni ghali mno tofauti na ilivyooneshwa kwenye mtandao wa Foreplan Herbal Clinic inayomilikiwa na J.J.Mwaka ambapo wanasema wao hawapo kwa ajili ya pesa bali huduma na mara nyingine hutoa huduma za bure kwa wasiojiweza. Ninae rafiki yake na rafiki yangu mmoja ambae amekua akisumbuliwa na maumivu ya mgongo kwa muda sasa na aliamua kujikita na hizi tiba mbadala na anasema baada ya yeye kuambiwa kushika kimtambo ambacho kinaweza “kuchunguza mwili mzima” basi walimwambia “wamegundua ana mafuta mengi kwenye mgongo na yanazuia damu inayopitia mgongoni isifike kwenye ubongo, hivyo ndio maana anaumwa mgongo”. Baadae wakamuuzia dawa za kienyeji ambazo alisema nyingine zilikua kama vumbi ambalo atakua anatia kwenye chai, na nyingine kama kinyesi cha ng’ombe, pia wakamshauri akanunue asali mbichi nyingi sana atumie na kwa wakati huo aache kula nyama kwani ina mafuta. Kwa vyote hivi alitumia zaidi ya Sh. 120,000/= za kitanzania na asione maumivu hata yakipungua wakati akikosa burudani ya vyakula vitamu vyenye protini nyingi kama nyama na kunyweshwa takataka asizozijua kwa dozi isiyochunguzwa madhara yake. Gharama hii kubwa husababisha hawa jamaa waone wagonjwa wachache kwa siku ukilinganisha na daktari wa tiba ya kisasa na ya kisayansi. Hapa huweza kuongea na wagonjwa kwa ukaribu sana na ujaliji ambao hata mimi ninautamani sana. Hiki ndicho huwa kinawaponya hawa wagonjwa ikitokea wanapona ukijumlisha na ukweli kwamba mwili una uwezo wake wa asili wa kujiponya wenyewe, na sio yale wanayoyafanya.

Ukienda kwenye tiba ya kisasa, achilia mbali usumbufu utakaoupata mwanzoni ili uonane na daktari pia hatoweza kukusikiliza kana kwamba upo peke yako siku iyo bali ni watu wengi waliozidi watu anaotakiwa kuwaona kwa siku ila nae hujitahidi kadiri awezavyo. Baada ya kukusikiliza hukumbuka kile alichojifunza ambacho njia za kisayansi dunia nzima zimeonesha hivyo, huja na hisia ya nini kinachokusumbua. Yeye haishii hapa bali hutaka kuonesha vithibitisho kama kweli anachofikiria ni sawa, na hapa atakuchukua vipimo (mfano atahitaji kujua kama kuuma kwa tumbo lako kunasababishwa na vijidudu vilivyokuingia tumboni pale ulipokula chakula kisicho salama, kwa kuchukua kinyesi chako na kupeleka maabara ili wakaangalie kama hivyo vijidudu vimo maana kinyesi kimetoka huko viliko vijidudu). Baadae akishajua nini shida hujiuliza ni njia gani ya kutibu ugonjwa wako inayotumika kwa sasa na ambayo imethibitishwa kisayansi na inakubalika dunia nzima. Basi utapewa dawa ama kufanyiwa upasuaji. Dawa zetu hawa jamaa wameziita kemikali pasi hata na kujua nini maana ya hili neon. Kemia ya kidato cha kwanza haikueleweka vizuri hapa. Kwa maana ya kemikali, zetu ni kemikali ila na zao ni kemikali, bila kusahau vitu vingi tu vya asili. Lakini siku zote mambo hayawi hivi kwani si magonjwa yote tunajua sababu zake; ila hata kama ikiwa hivyo tunakua wawazi tu na tunasubiri tukijua tafiti zinaendelea na ipo siku watakuja na majibu hata kama sisi tutakua hatupo.

Kwa kuhitimisha naomba nihimize mambo kadhaa:

Kwanza pindi tusikiapo watu wanatoa elimu za afya, tuwahoji watuelezee kwa kina tuelewe angalau kwa ujumla, kama hawawezi kutuelezea tuelewe basi wao wenyewe hawavielewi. Pili watupe vithibitisho vya kisayansi kuhusu yale wanayodai, watuambie wametoa wapi wanavyosema na kama wameota kama babu wa Loliondo basi tuwapotezee. Tatu tuwe wagumu wa kuamini haraka kama alivyokua Tomaso mwanafunzi wa Yesu; Tukisikia mtu anatibu saratani ama VVU/UKIMWI basi tujiulize kwa nini anakuja kuhangaika kwenye runinga ya ndani ya nchi wakati ugonjwa huo unatesa dunia nzima? Tujiulize kama hivyo vyakula wanavyosema vinatibu magonjwa flani mfano tango, nyanya, ukwaju, vitunguu na vinginenyo ni kwanini basi tunapata wakati twavila mara kwa mara? Mwisho tuunganishe nguvu kwa pamoja katika kuhimiza umuhimu wa kujielimisha na kukuza sekta ya afya ya kisasa maana hii ndiyo iliyoweza kuongeza muda wa wanadamu kuishi duniani maradufu, imeupoteza ugonjwa wa Ndui kwenye uso wa dunia kwa chanjo, imepunguza vifo vya watoto chini ya miaka 5 ukilinganisha na zamani, na haijakaa kibiashara kwani madaktari walio wengi huwa na wito wa kusaidia na wanaishi wakijua hawawezi kuwa matajiri, na mengine mengi.

JOSEPH JULIUS

AJALI YA KIHISTORIA: RANGI, UWEZO WA KIAKILI NA TOFAUTI YA MAENDELEO DUNIANI

 

AJALI YA KIHISTORIA: RANGI, UWEZO WA KIAKILI NA TOFAUTI YA MAENDELEO DUNIANI

Tukiwa tumepumzika kwenye kivuli ikiwa ni baada ya vipindi vya darasani, tulijikuta katika mabishano ya kwa nini watu weupe wanaonekana kua wameendelea zaidi ya weusi. Wote walikubaliana kwamba watu weupe ni watofauti sana na ndivyo walivyozaliwa kua wenye akili na ndio maana wao waliwahi kuendelea hata wakaja kututawala na kutufanya watumwa. Katika lile kundi la takribani watu kumi na tano nikajikuta ni peke yangu tu ambae nilikua kinyume nao.

Lakini kama unavyojua, ubishi mwingi usiokua na mpangilio huwa hauangalii nani anasema nini ila wale wenye uwezo wa kupaza sauti ya juu na wanaokua wengi ndio huonekana wameshinda. Swali kama hili nilikua nalo kitambo sana hata kabla ya kukutana na haya mabishano. Ni mpaka pale nilipokutana na kitabu “Guns, Germs and Steel” ambapo mwandishi Jared Diamonds anaonesha kwa nini sehemu nyingine zilianza kuendelea kabla ya nyingine, ndipo angalau niliweza kujibiwa. Nami basi mamlaka yangu atakua Jared katika kulielezea hili.

Naomba nianze na kwa nini hawa wenzetu ni weupe kwa maksudi kabisa maana kwenye yale mabishano yetu ya kivulini mmoja kati yetu alikwenda mbali sana na kudiriki kusema kwamba “kile kinasaba kilichokuja na ile rangi nyeupe ndicho pia kitakua na uwezo wa kiakili wa hawa watu”. Lakini sayansi inatuambia sio hivyo. Tukumbuke vinasaba vyote vya mwanadam vinajulikana ikiwa ni mafanikio ya “Human Genome Project” iliyokamilika mwaka 2003 huko USA.

Tukumbuke watangulizi wa wanadamu walitoka afrika. Ni pale walipoanza kjifunza kutembea kwa miguu miwili ndipo walipoanza kuondoka afrika na kwenda kwingineko. Rangi nyeusi ndio rangi asilia ya watangulizi wetu. Watangulizi wetu walipoweka makazi kaskazini mwa ulaya ambako hakuna jua la kutosha, ngozi zao hazikuweza kufyonza kiasi cha jua la kutosha ili kupata vitamin D. Wengi walipata matatizo ya mifupa ikiwemo matege na haikua rahisi kwao kuzaa (aidha walifariki wao ama/na watoto wao wakati wa kujifungua ). Wakati huohuo mabadiliko yalitokea kwenye vinasaba vinavyohusika na utoaji wa rangi nyeusi (wanasayansi wamevigndua na kuviita SLC24A5 ) na kuwapa rangi nyeupe yenye uwezo wa kuingiza kiasi kikubwa cha jua lile chache. Kwahiyo wale waliokua wamepata mabadiliko kwenye vinasaba hivyo waliweza kuzaa vizuri na kuendeleza uzao wakati wengine wakitoweka, na ndio maana leo tunawaona ni weupe na sisi ni weusi, na hakuna chochote cha kushangaza kwenye rangi yao na aihusiani na wao kua na akili.

Picha: kuonesha kusambaa kwa watu kutoka afrika kwenda sehemu mbalimbali duniani

 

Kwanini wao waliendelea kabla yetu kiasi cha kututawala na kutufanya watumwa? Kwanza nianze kwa kusema hata kama tutabishana kuhusu jibu la swali hili, jibu la kwamba wao wana akili zaidi yetu hilo si kweli na hakuna vithibitisho vya hilo. Wanaopendelea jibu hilo mara nyingi ni wabaguzi wa rangi na wamefanikiwa kuingiza mawazo yao yasiyokua na vithibitisho kwenye bongo za wengi ikiwemo wale wote niliojikuta nao kivulini kwenye ubishi. Diamond anatuambia Wanasaikolojia kwenye nchi zenye mchanganyiko wa watu weupe na weusi wametafuta kwa nguvu zote kwa makumi ya miaka kuweza kuthibitisha kwamba watu weupe wana uwezo mkubwa wa kiakili ukilinganisha na weusi ila wasipate wanachotafuta. Wanawalinganisha watu bila hata kujiuliza kwamba wamekulia katika mazingira,tamaduni na wenye elimu tofauti. Jared Diamond mwenyewe ambae ameishi na watu wa New Guinea kwa miaka 33 akifanya tafiti zake anaamini wazawa wa New Guinea ni wenye akili zaidi ya wazungu wenzie kwa kuweza kuishi kwenye mazingira magum kama yale.

Kabla ya miaka 11,000 iliyopita watu wote duniani waliishi kwa kuwinda na kukusanya matunda na mizizi, hivyo katika kipindi hiki wote duniani tulifanana hali. Karibia Dunia nzima leo haipo huko tena isipokua kwa maeneo machache sana wakiwemo wahadzabe wa hapa Tanzania ambao naamini nao kadiri muda unavyokwenda watatoka huko. Ni mpaka miaka 11,000 iliyopita ndipo tulianza kutofautiana kwa kilimo kugunduliwa katika baadhi ya maeneo duniani. Kilimo ni muhimu katika swali letu maana jamii Fulani ikiachana na kuwinda na kula matunda na mizizi ikaanza kulima chakula na kukitunza kinachobaki na pia ikaanza kufuga na wanyama, kwanza jamii hii itaongezeka katika idadi ya watu, pili itapata maambukizi ya vijidudu vipya kutoka kwa wanyama wanaowafuga na mimea wanayootesha; na tatu kwa wingi wa jamii hii itawalazimu kutengeneza serikali na itakua na jeshi;watu mbalimbali watajikita katika shughuli tofautitofauti mbali na ile ya wawindaji na wakusanyaji ambamo wote huzunguka kutafuta chakula, katika jamii inayolima na kufuga wengine watajihusisha na kuendeleza teknolojia na humo zitatoka mashine kwa ajili ya kurahisisha kazi na silaha kwa ajili ya kutawala jamii nyingine. Pia watakapoenda kukutana na jamii nyingine ambayo ni mpya kwao wataiambukiza magonjwa ambayo wao tayari wana kinga nayo, nayo inaweza hata kutoweka. Hivyo wataishia kuwatawala wale ambao hawakuwa/walichelewa kuanza kilimo. Vithibitisho vilivyopo mpaka leo vinaonesha kilimo kilianza kwa mara ya kwanza katika maeneo matano duniani ambayo ni: kusini magharibi mwa asia (pia hujulikana kama mashariki ya karibu); China; Mesoamerica (yaani mexico ya kati na kusini na maeneo ya karibu na amerika ya kati); Andes ya amerika kusini; na mashariki mwa marekani.

Lakini hapa tumeongeza swali lingine kubwa zaidi, kwanini kilimo na ufugaji ugunduliwe miaka11,000 iliyopita kwao kwanza na si huku? Jibu lake sio kwa kua babu zao walikua na akili sana kuzidi babu zetu hapana ila ni “ajali ya kihistoria” kama Diamond mwenyewe anavyoiita. Maana yake ni kwamba ilitokea kama ajali wao wakajikuta wapo katika maaeneo ambayo yanaruhusu kuanzisha kilimo na ufugaji tofauti na sisi. Nitatoa mifano kadhaa:

Asia na ulaya kwa pamoja inaitwa “Eurasia” na imeungana, ni kubwa zaidi katika latitudo kuliko longitudo. Hii inamaanisha kuna mabadiliko ya tabia nchi kwa kiasi kidogo ukilinganisha na mabara ambayo ni makubwa katika longitudo mfano afrika. Hii husaidia kuweza kusambaa kwa urahisi kwa mimea na mifugo kutoka sehem moja kwenda nyingine kwa sababu wanakua wamezoea mazingira yaleyale. Pia eneo kubwa kabisa la kimediterania duniani linapatikana magharibi mwa “Eurasia”; eneo hili lina mtawanyiko mkubwa wa mimea na wanyama, linafaa kwa kilimo na ufugaji.

“Eurasia” ndiko chanzo cha mazao mengi ya kilimo na wanyama wengi wanaoonekana leo duniani wakifugwa. Kati ya mifugo mikuu mitano ya kufuga iliyopo duniani leo, minne (ng’ombe, mbuzi, kondoo na nguruwe) ilifugwa kwa mara ya kwanza huko na baadae kutawanywa maeneo mbalimbali duniani.

Kwa kua chakula kilipatikana kwa wingi katika meeneo yaliyoanza kulima hata kingine kikatunzwa. Hakukua na haja ya kila mtu kujikita katika utafutaji wa chakula. Basi watu wakabobea katika fani mbalimbali. Wengine wakawa viongozi wa serikali wenye kuangalia wapi pa kutawala na kuendesha jamii kupitia kodi iliyokua ikikusanywa. Wengine wakawa wanajeshi na kupigana katika vita vya kuyatawala maeneo mengine yaliyokua hayajaendelea. Wenngine wakajikita na teknolojia wakatengeneza mashine mbalimbali kama magari ya kuvutwa na farasi, silaha zenye uwezo wa hali ya juu kama bunduki ukilinganisha na mawe ama marungu waliokua nayo waliopambana nao. Na kikubwa zaidi wakagundua kuandika, kitu ambacho kiliharakisha utawala wa maeneo mapya pale walipoyaona na kuandika kuhusu taarifa zake na habari zikawafikia wengine katika maeneo mengine.

Kuhitimisha, ni kwamba hawa watu weupe walianza kuendelea kabla ya wengine sio kwa sababu wao wana akili sana ama wamebarikiwa sana ila ni kama bahati kwao kwamba walijikuta katika maeneo ambako kuna uwezekano wa kuendelea kuliko mengine, maeneo yenye wanyama wa kufugika, yenye mimea ya kufanyia kilimo na yenye geografia inayoruhusu. Kama tungekua tumekwishagundua chombo chenye uwezo wa kurudi nyuma ya muda (time machine) na tungerudi miaka 11,000 iliyopita tukabadilisha sisi ndio tukaanza kugundua kilimo na ufugaji na wao wakaendelea kua wawindaji na wakusanya matunda na mizizi, leo ingekua kinyume na ilivyo. Kwa leo kila wanachoweza kufanya hata sisi tunaweza kama tumepewa kile walichopewa ili wafanye kitu flani mfano elimu ama mtaji. Wenzetu wanaoishi nao katika maazingira yaleyale wamekwishatuonesha vithibitisho kwa kufanya vitu vikubwa huko kwao. Obama, Dr. Ben Carson, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Kambarage Nyerere, Kofi Annan, Wangari Muta Maathai, Oprah Winfrey ni mifano michache tu.

Tujiamini na tuongeze bidii ya kubadilisha hali ya jamii yetu, tusikubali mawazo ya kiubaguzi wa rangi kuzama kwenye maada yenye kilo 2 iliyokaa ndani ya mafuvu yetu, uliokuwepo ni utofauti wa kimazingira na sio vitu ambavyo vipo ndani yetu. 

Joseph J. Masalu

Muhimbili University of health and allied sciences(MUHAS)

will you be able to eat printed meat? printed blood vessel and organs-a breakthrough in medical field.

Imagine if you are eating meat which has been made from scratch - without slaughtering any animal. Will you be able to feel the taste of it?
Modern Meadow believes it can do just that - by making artificial raw meat using a 3D bioprinter.[1]
The Modern Meadow applies the latest advances in tissue engineering to develop novel biomaterials to address some of our most pressing global challenges. We develop cultured leather and meat products which require no animal slaughter and much lower inputs of land, water, energy and chemicals.[2]
For three-dimensional printing, solid objects are made from a digital model. It's also known as additive manufacturing: to make the structure tiny droplets are "printed" - layer by layer - via a carefully controlled inkjet nozzle.
The principle has been around for more than a decade, and is already used successfully to create jewellery, toys, furniture, cars, and even - most recently - parts of a gun.
Some researchers have also managed to print food like chocolate.
To bioengineer meat, the scientists first get stem cells or other specialised cells from an animal via a common procedure known as biopsy.
Stem cells are cells able to replicate themselves many times, and also can turn into other specialised cells. Once the cells multiplied to sufficient numbers, they are put into a bio-cartridge.
So instead of traditional ink or a material like plastic, the 3D printer cartridge contains something called bioink made of hundreds of thousands of live cells.
Once printed in the desired shape, the bioink particles naturally fuse to form living tissue.
This process of bioprinting biomaterials is similar to attempts to print artificial organs for transplants -the organovo
Although the actual process of making meat may be simpler, it will be challenging to produce such meat on an industrial scale, and persuade consumers to accept it.
So in the future, more cows may be able to roam the fields without having to fear the slaughterhouse.
This technology will be helpfull in famine countries.

ORGAN BIOPRINT
Oganovo is a company based in San Diego, California.
Organovo designs and creates multi-cellular, dynamic and functional human tissues for use in drug discovery and medical research. Our proprietary 3D bioprinting technology enables the creation of tissues that mimic key aspects of native tissues.
Organovo’s tissues are made available through testing services, customized projects, partnerships, and eventual therapeutic applications.
Their latest science invention is a technology (novogen) which allows living tissue cells to be assembled into patterns and complex structures, such as organs.
Organovo has partnered with other companies to develop a bio-printer.The device prints (places) human cells in a three-dimensional matrix to construct human tissue.
Currently, the bio-printer can grow blood vessels. It is anticipated that within five years the device will construct arteries and by 2020 sophisticated organs will be built by the device.
In 2010, Organovo successfully bioprinted functional blood vessels made from the cells of an individual person.
This is breakthrough in medical field,many diseases like vasicular diseases can be treated and cured.



REFERENCE :
http://m.bbc.com/news/technology-20972018
http://modernmeadow.com/
http://www.organovo.com/

mental illnesses their causes and stigma part 1

Mental illness is considered an incurable curse. People fear and reject people with mental illness. They often resort to witchcraft,traditional healers and religious exorcism to remove the curses or supernatural forces behind the illness.
People’s beliefs and attitudes toward mental illness set the stage for how they interact with, provide opportunities for, and help support a person with mental illness. Attitudes and beliefs about mental illness are shaped by personal knowledge, knowing and interacting with someone living with mental illness, cultural stereotypes, and other factors.
When people understand the causes of mental illness,stigma and other related discriminating belief can be reduced.
These are common questions raised by people with co-occurring disorders and their family members.
What causes mental illnesses (psychiatric disorders)?
Why do some people develop a psychiatric disorder but others don't?
What affects the course of the disorder?
The stress-vulnerability model provides answers to these questions. This model can help in understanding the causes of psychiatric disorders, how psychiatric disorders and addiction can influence each other, and how co-occurring disorders can be managed and treated together.
In this model, two main factors are involved. "Vulnerability" refers to our basic susceptibility to mental health disorders. This is determined by our genetic makeup and our early life experiences. It is affected by our use of medications and our likelihood of using alcohol or drugs. "Stress" refers to the challenges faced in our lives. It is affected by our coping skills, social support, and involvement in meaningful activities.
We are all predisposed to mental illnesses,no one is spared. It depend on the interaction of the following factors
Biological Vulnerability
To be vulnerable it means that we are likely to be affected. Mental illnesses like other diseases like asthma run in families and make us vulnerable. Not only family history but also early life events like trauma,adverse life events sets us up for it.
Some people are biologically vulnerable to certain psychiatric disorders: bipolar disorder, major depression(sonona in kiswahili), schizophrenia, or anxiety disorders (panic, post-traumatic stress), for example. This vulnerability is determined early in life by a combination of factors, including genetics(disease run in families-inherited), prenatal nutrition,infections(influenza) and stress, birth complications, and early experiences in childhood (such as abuse or the loss of a parent).
This is why some families are more likely to have members with a particular psychiatric disorder.Although vulnerability to psychiatric disorders is primarily biological in nature, people can take steps to reduce their vulnerability, including taking medication and not using alcohol or drugs. It's also worth noting that the greater a person's vulnerability to a particular disorder, the earlier it is likely to develop, and the more severe it may become.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!! FOR MUHAS STUDENTS

The android application which goes by the name SERENGETI is now ready. Serengeti make your life easier then before by providing you with news feeds from different sources especially information as soon as they are posted from university community webs,blog,fb pages like MUHAS websites,MUHASSO facebook page, MUHASSO blog and more other websites,you don't need to search the information but the information will search you.
The application contain the followings

1. INFORMATIONS

• MUHASSO facebook page
• MUHAS websites
• Jamii forums 

   2 .BLOGS

• MUHASSO blog
• Michuzi blog
• Missiepopular
• medstuinfo

   3 .ENTERTAINMENT

• IMDb for movies
• Bongo5
• Bongocinemas

   4 .YOUTUBE

• MkasiEATV
• WemasepetuOfficial

   5 . SPORTS

• Goal.com
• Livescores

These are just webs n blogs to start with,the app will be modified and updated with time depending on the needs of pepole.This version is special for MUHAS students.
SPECS:

• 3.7MB
• HD DISPLAY
• SETTING MENU
• 2 DIFFERENT THEMES
• POWER 9CHARGE)FRIENDLY

SCREEN SHOTS.

DOWNLOAD SERENGETI HERE

PONA KWA IMANI YAKO ILA USIDANGANYIKE

PONA KWA IMANI YAKO ILA USIDANGANYIKE
Joseph Julius(MD, MUHAS)

“Ona!imani yako imekuponya”,ndivyo yesu alivyomwambia kipofu mmoja huko yeriko baada ya kupona upofu. Hapa alikua sawa kabisa,imani inaponya kweli. Kinachonisikitisha na kunisumbua mimi kama mwanafunzi wa tiba ya kisayansi na ya kisasa ya wanadamu ni jinsi gani uwezo huu wa imani kuponya ulivyovamiwa na waganga wa jadi pamoja na viongozi wa dini,ambao sintosita kuwaita matapeli.

Ndio maana Kwenye mashahiri ya chekacheka T.mvungi hakusita kuuburuza wino karatasini kwamba:
                      
                         Kimbilio la wanyonge,limejigeuza chatu,
                         Chatu mmeza matonge,asieogopa watu,
                         Dawa uchonge singe,chatu afanywe si kitu,
                         Akishaoza samaki,busara ni kumtupa.

Naam,na tuzichonge singe zetu basi,kwangu mimi singe ni elimu,tufahamu nini maana ya kupona kwa imani ili kuepusha kutapeliwa basi huko mbele na labda kuokoa maisha ambayo huenda yangeokolewa kwa njia nyingine ila sio lazima iwe hii ya imani.

Kwanza kabisa tutambue kuwa miili ya wanyama ina mbinu asilia za kuepukana na kujitibu magonjwa,hii nitaiita kinga asilia dhidi ya magonjwa. Tunatapika tukila vitu vibaya ili kusafisha mfumo wa chakula wa juu,tunaharisha kusafisha mfumo wa chakula wa chini,jotoridi letu la mwili likipanda(homa) ,miili yetu inapambana vizuri zaidi na maambukizi. Mbinu zote hizo pia zinaweza kumgharimu mnyama hata maisha yake pia. Sote tunajua athari za kuhara au kutapika kupita kiasi au kwa muda mrefu. Kwa hiyo sasa, miili ya wanyama ipo makini sana katika kuruhusu mbinu hizo zifanye kazi.

Wengi tunafaham pia kuwa kama tukipata tetekuwanga mara moja maishani basi hatutopata tena na pia hata malaria inapunguza kutusumbua kadiri tunavyozidi kuwa wakubwa ukilinganisha na utotoni.
Hapa kinachotokea ni kwamba: vimelea vya maambukizi vikishaingia kwenye miili yetu,miili yetu inavitambua na kutengeneza vitu mfano wa askari ambao watapambana navyo kama vitakuja kuvamia tena.

Kama vimelea hivyo vitarudi na sura ileile basi vitatambuliwa na kuchukuliwa hatua za haraka na hatutapata ule ugonjwa. Vimelea navyo vijanja lakini,huwa vinarudi vimebadilisha sura kitu ambacho kinaulazimu mwili kutengeneza askari wengine watakaoweza kuvitambua tena. Kwa hiyo usipende kwenda maabara kupima malaria ukaambiwa “una ringi mbili za malaria” nawe ukaenda kubugia dawa,ni kawaida kuwa na hivyo vimelea kwenye damu kama unaishi haya maeneo yenye maambukizi mazito,lakini haimaanishi unaumwa;sanasana utapelekea mwili wako kuwa sugu kwa dawa hizo na siku ukiumwa kweli ikawa shida kukutibu.

Nilichokieleza hapo juu ndio sababu za magonjwa hasa ya watoto huwa yanapona bila hata kuwafikisha hospitali japo jamii inaamua kuweka imani zake,kwa mfano wanasema watoto huwa wanalilia majina ya mababu/mabibi/mizimu na ukiwabadilishia wanaacha kulia. Wanaongeza kuwa ukikosea jina wataendelea kulia tu na inabidi ubadilishe ili uone,wanaongeza tena kuwa kama mtakosea jina basi kitoto kitalia mpaka kufa. Hapo wamekosea; kipindi kitoto kikiacha kulia basi kinga asilia imefanya kazi na kama ndio walikua wamebadilisha jina basi matukio mawili yameenda pamoja ila moja(la jina) halina matokeo,na kama itashindwa basi kitoto kitahangaika mpaka kufa na watatafasili kimekataa jina.

Turudi basi kwenye imani kuponya; ili kukufungua macho acha nikuelezee kuhusu “placebo effect” kwanza; kwenye kamusi yangu ya TUKI(eng-swah) neno placebo limetafsiriwa kama kipozauongo:dawa ya kutuliza/kupoza,ila kama tutakavyokuja kuona hapo baadae hii sio dawa.
Wataalam wa tiba wakiwa wanataka kujua kama dawa au mbinu Fulani ya tiba inatibu kweli huwa wanatumia kipoza uongo kwa upande mmoja na dawa au mbinu inayochunguzwa kwa upande mwingine,kipozauongo hicho hufanana sana na ile dawa ila tu inaondolewa kiambato muhimu ambacho ndicho kinasemekana kuponya.

Mfano tunataka kuchunguza kama dawa fulani iliyotengenezwa kwa ajili ya kutibu malaria kama kweli inatibu malaria,tutachukua wagonjwa waliothibitishwa kuwa na malaria na tutawagawa katika makundi mawili bila wao kujua,tuseme wapo elfu moja kila kundi. Alafu tutachukua ile dawa inayosemekana inatibu malaria kutokana na kuwa na kiambata Fulani kiitwacho X labda,alafu tutatengeneza kidonge kingine kama hiyo dawa na tutaiondolea kiambata X ila itafanana kabisa na ile dawa ya kweli kwa vitu vingine vyote(hii ndio kipozauongo)

Baada ya hapo tutaligawia kundi moja la wagonjwa dawa inayojaribiwa na jingine kipozauongo katika kipimo na masharti sawa. Baadae tutakuja kuchunguza idadi ya wagonjwa waliopona kutoka katika kila kundi. Kila kundi litakua na wagonjwa waliopona na ambao hawajapona. Ili dawa/mbinu ile inayojaribiwa ionekane kuwa ni kweli inaponya,namba ya waliopona lazima ivuke kiwango flani cha kitwakwimu,kwa mfano wale waliopewa dawa wanaweza kupona kwa 99.9% na lile kundi lililopewa kipozauongo wakapona 1%.
Je hawa waliopona bila kupewa dawa wameponaje?imani yao imewaponya,kuna uhusiano kati ya saikolojia na fiziolojia ya mwili.
Wenzangu na mimi wanaosoma/wanaofanya tiba watakubaliana na mimi kuwa kuna umuhimu wa kutengeneza ukaribu kati yako na mgonjwa,kuwa sehemu ya kinachomsumbua,jinsi ya kujionesha mbele yake,na mengine. (Angalia hapa pia)

Nakumbuka tukiwa wodi ya wazazi,ukiwasogelea wajawazito walio karibu kujifungua ukawa unawapa moyo kwa kuwashika mkono na kuwaaminisha kuwa haitakuwa shida wanaonekana kupunguza kuhangaika na wanatulia kama maumivu yamepungua.

Baba wa udaktari Hippocrates aliwahi kusema ”watu wanadhani kifafa kimeshushwa toka mbinguni,kwa sababu tu hawakielewi. Ila kama wangeita kila kitu wasichokielewa kuwa kimeshushwa,basi vitu vilivyoshushwa visingekuwa na mwisho”. Kupona kwa imani kunatokea kwa uwezekano mdogo sana ukilinganisha na tiba zilizowahi kufanyiwa utafiti kisayansi na zinazotolewa na watu waliotumia miaka mitano au zaidi wakijifunza sababu za magonjwa,jinsi magonjwa yanavyoathiri mifumo wa mwili,vipimo vya kuhakiki na hatimaye tiba,kuzuia na ushauri.

Inasemekana miaka mia hamsini iliyopita bikira la Maria alimtokea mtakatifu Bernadete Soubirous huko Lourdes,Ufaransa mara kumi na tatu na tangu hapo watu huenda kuhiji huko. Tovuti ya www.catholicnews .com imendika kwamba zaidi ya watu milioni sita huenda kuhiji huko kila mwaka wakiomba kuponywa na msamaha. Ila watu sitini na saba tu ndio waliorekodiwa kuwahi kupona kati ya hayo mamilioni,hii ni kipozauongo. Yale tunayoyaona kwenye runinga kuwa makundi makubwa ya watu yanapona palepale baada ya kuombewa,tena magonjwa makubwa kabisa kama saratani na UKIMWI ni ghilba tu ya kutaka kuvuta wateja wengi zaidi. Nakumbuka kichekesho cha mtu aliekuwa kipofu toka amezaliwa ila baada ya kuombewa na kuona aliweza kuzitambua rangi za simba na yanga.

Ni vyema basi tukipata magonjwa kuanzia kwanza kwenye tiba hii ya kisasa,tiba ya kisayansi,tiba ya magharibi kama inapatikana kabla ya kwenda huko kwingine kwa sababu kama tulivyoona kuna uwezekano mdogo sana wa kipozauongo kukuponya(japo inawezekana). Waganga wa kienyeji wao hutoa hata dawa za kunywa ambazo hazijafanyiwa utafiti na hivyo madhara yake hawayajui,hizi huweza kusababisha matatizo ya figo. Ila nisiwaonee waganga wa kienyeji tu,siku hizi hata viongozi wa dini nao wanatoa vitu vya kumeza kama dawa walizooneshwa na mungu wao,nikitaja neno Roliondo sihitaji kuelezea zaidi kilichotokea. Umaskini wetu unafanya iwe ngumu kuipata tiba hii ya kisasa ila hilo halimaanishi siyo ya kweli.kwa mfano kuna magonjwa ambayo ili wapate tiba yake ni lazima upigwe picha ya MRI labda,hizi zipo chache na wengi wetu hatuwezi kulipia ndio maana lazima tupiganie kupata maendeleo ili tuishi maisha yenye ubora.

0766817574
Josejulius1990@gmail.com

NOTICIFICATION!!

This blog is under modification........unusual activities can happen!We are trying to make this as faster as we can!!

NGONO,DUNIA YA LEO NA JAMII

NGONO,DUNIA YA LEO NA JAMII

Joseph Julius MD(MUHAS)

Habarini za leo ndugu wasomaji! Kwanza nitangulize heshima zangu za dhati kwa ndugu Paschal Ndaro kwa ubunifu alio nao wa kutumia maendeleo ya teknohama kusababisha sisi kuweza kuelimishana, kubadilishana ufahamu na kuburudishana kama ilivyo hapa.

Pia niongeze kuwa kama mtu ana chochote cha kuchangia basi ni vyema tukachangia hapa hapa kwenye blogi ili kuwapanua zaidi wanaosoma. Binafsi napenda kuandika kwa lugha yetu mama ili kuwafikia wengi na pia nina wazo la kuongeza misamiati kwenye lugha yetu hii,ila kama mahitaji ya utafsiri yatajitokeza basi sintokuwa na budi kufanya hivyo.

Leo nitagusia swala nyeti sana kwenye maadili ya mwanadam; nitachambua swala la ngono katika uhusiano na maendeleo ya dunia ya leo na jamii yetu. Kabla ya yote na tutambue tofauti yetu sisi wanadam na wanyama wengine(sisi nao ni wanyama pia). Vinasaba vya binadam vinafana na vile vya sokwe kwa zaidi ya 98% na vile vya mmea wa nyanya kwa 60%,pia vipande vidogo kabisa(atomu) vinavyotuunda vinapatikana kwenye mawe,mchanga,maji na hata nyota. Kinachotutofautisha na mengine hayo yote ni tamaduni,zinazotokana na ubongo wetu kuwa mkubwa ukilinganisha na viumbe wengine.

Kila tamaduni huwa zinaweka sheria zake kuhusu swala la ngono ambazo huwa zinahusishwa na ndoa kwa upande mmoja na makatazo au ruhusa katika vipindi mbalimbali kwa upande mwingine. Binafsi nimekuzwa katika familia ya kikristu na nilifundishwa kufuata maelekezo kutoka kwenye kitabu cha biblia kwenye mambo mengi ninayofanya,hasa maadili,ninaamini pia hata wewe huwa unatumia/umewahi kutumia mafundisho ya dini yako kukuongoza katika maadili.

Kutoka 20:14 imeandika “usizini”,20:17 ikakataza hata usimtamani mke wa jirani yako,wakati katika Mathayo 5:28 Yesu anasema “lakini mimi nawaambieni,atakaemtazama mwanamke kwa kumtamani,amekwishazini naye moyoni mwake”.Kanisa katoliki likaenda mbali mpaka kuwachagulia watu jinsi ya kufanya tendo hili kwa kuweka ‘staili ya kimisionari’ ambayo ndio inakubalika. Hii sio makala ya kidini ila najaribu kuonesha vyanzo vyetu vya kujifunzia vilivyolipa uzito swala hili. Niliwahi kujifunza pia kuwa vitabu vyetu vya dini vimeandikwa katika lugha ya picha na pia viliandikwa wakati tofauti na sasa,kwa hiyo tunaweza kusoma kitu ila tukakitafsiri vingine kutokana na muda tunaoishi(mfano swala la kumiliki watumwa,wachungaji wa kike,dunia kuzunguka jua na sio kama ilivyoandikwa,n.k).

Ngono inachukua picha gani kwenye jamii katika dunia ya leo? Sio miaka mingi iliyopita ilikua ni kukosa maadili kama utaliongelea swala la ngono(hata sasa miongoni mwetu) mbele ya watu,lilionekana ni jambo nyeti linalohitaji usiri(nikiwa mdogo nilikua nikiona ng’ombe wetu wanapanda niliambiwa wanacheza). Huko Marekani pia hali ilikua hivyo mpaka miaka ya 1940 na 1950 ambapo Alfred C.Kinsey alipofanya utafiti wa kisayansi kuhusu ngono na vitendo vinavyohusiana na ngono kwa wanadam. Kwa mara ya kwanza wamarekani walijifunza kua: zaidi ya 90% ya vijana wao wamewahi kupiga punyeto,10% walikua ni mashoga, wasichana nao huwa wanafika kileleni,na pia wasagaji wana ufanisi mkubwa wa kuwafikisha kileleni wasichana zaidi ya wavulana wanavyoweza. Kinsley alilaumiwa sana kwa kukosa maadili lakini utafiti wake ulisaidia watu kujitambua zaidi na kuboresha maisha yao ya mapenzi.

Hatutakiwi kabisa kulionea aibu swala la ngono. Utafiti uliofanywa hivi karibuni na idara ya magonjwa ya akili katika chuo kikuu cha afya na sayansi shirikishi (MUHAS) ulionesha kua 10% ya watoto kati ya umri wa miaka 12 hadi 14 wamewahi kufanya ngono,na miongoni mwao 68% hawakutumia mpira. Tukinyamaza,hawa watoto watapata madhara kwa kua hawajui nini kipo mbele yao.

Tukisikia kuwaka tamaa za ngono wala tusisikitike maana sayansi inatueleza kua sababu zake ni nzuri tu,sawa na zile sababu za kusikia njaa au kiu au maumivu. Asilia inatutengeneza kuhakikisha tunapeleka nakala ya vinasaba vyetu kwenye vizazi vijavyo kupitia kuzaliana,na tutafanya hivyo tukiwa tumekwishapevuka;na tukishapevuka asilia haina tena kazi na sisi na inatuacha tuzeeke mpaka tufe,yenyewe haijali. Tumetengenezwa na kemikali(homoni) ambazo zikitoka sisi sio wa kuamua tena ila ni kutamani tu,kemikali hizi zipo kwa wingi kwa wanaume zaidi ya wanawake na ndio maana wanaume wanatamani zaidi. Tofauti yetu wanadam na wanyama wengine ni kua sio lazima tufuate asilia inachotaka,ndio maana kuna maseja na sio kila tukijisikia kutamani tunafanya,tuna mipango.

Ule wakati wa kuwaona watu wanaofanya ngono kama wanakosea sana mi naona umepita,lakini pia ngono isitumike kama chanzo cha ukandamizaji na uonevu au kutaka kujipatia vitu kama mrejesho,heshima iwepo. Ule wakati wa watu kusubiri mpaka ndoa nao umepita maana kitendo ni kilekile. Ule wakati wa kuoneana aibu kuzungumzia maswala ya muhimu kama ngono kwenye jamii zetu nao umepita kwa maana leo kuna magonjwa ya zinaa na kupanga uzazi,lazima tuyaelewe. Na tuache kuweka matabaka ya kimaadili kwa kuwaona watu wengine wasafi na kuwasema wengine hawajatulia kisa tu wanashiriki tendo kabla hawajaoana,swala hili ni binafsi (labda hao wasafi wanaridhika na punyeto,ambayo sio mbaya japo watu hawapendi kujulikana kua huwa wanafanya),na mwisho watu wawili waliokubaliana mambo yao sisi inatuhusu nini na hawatuumizi lolote?sisi ni mapolisi wa maadili?tupanue wigo wa kuyaangalia maadili kwa kuelewa vitu kwa undani wake.

Burning Incense Is Psychoactive: New Class Of Antidepressants Might Be Right Under Our Noses

Religious leaders have contended for millennia that burning incense is good for the soul. Now, biologists have learned that it is good for our brains too. An international team of scientists, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describe how burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. This suggests that an entirely new class of depression and anxiety drugs might be right under our noses.

"In spite of information stemming from ancient texts, constituents of Bosweilla had not been investigated for psychoactivity," said Raphael Mechoulam, one of the research study's co-authors. "We found that incensole acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent, when tested in mice lowers anxiety and causes antidepressive-like behavior. Apparently, most present day worshipers assume that incense burning has only a symbolic meaning."
To determine incense's psychoactive effects, the    researchers administered incensole acetate to mice. 

They found that the compound significantly affected areas in brain areas known to be involved in emotions as well as in nerve circuits that are affected by current anxiety and depression drugs. Specifically, incensole acetate activated a protein called TRPV3, which is present in mammalian brains and also known to play a role in the perception of warmth of the skin. When mice bred without this protein were exposed to incensole acetate, the compound had no effect on their brains.
"Perhaps Marx wasn't too wrong when he called religion the opium of the people: morphine comes from poppies, cannabinoids from marijuana, and LSD from mushrooms; each of these has been used in one or another religious ceremony." said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "Studies of how those psychoactive drugs work have helped us understand modern neurobiology. The discovery of how incensole acetate, purified from frankincense, works on specific targets in the brain should also help us understand diseases of the nervous system. This study also provides a biological explanation for millennia-old spiritual practices that have persisted across time, distance, culture, language, and religion--burning incense really does make you feel warm and tingly all over!"
According to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15--44, affecting approximately 14.8 million American adults. A less severe form of depression, dysthymic disorder, affects approximately 3.3 million American adults. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults, and frequently co-occur with depressive disorders.

---

Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Incensole acetate, an incense component, elicits psychoactivity by activating TRPV3 channels in the brain. Arieh Moussaieff, Neta Rimmerman, Tatiana Bregman, Alex Straiker, Christian C. Felder, Shai Shoham, Yoel Kashman, Susan M. Huang, Hyosang Lee, Esther Shohami, Ken Mackie, Michael J. Caterina, J. Michael Walker, Ester Fride, and Raphael Mechoulam. Published online before print May 20, 2008 as doi: 10.1096/fj.07-101865. [link]

Scientists discover how to 'switch off' autoimmune diseases

Scientists have made an important breakthrough in the fight against debilitating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis by revealing how to stop cells attacking healthy body tissue.

Date:

September 3, 2014

Source:

University of Bristol

Summary:

Scientists have made an important breakthrough in the fight against debilitating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis by revealing how to stop cells attacking healthy body tissue. Rather than the body's immune system destroying its own tissue by mistake, researchers have discovered how cells convert from being aggressive to actually protecting against disease.

Rather than the body's immune system destroying its own tissue by mistake, researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered how cells convert from being aggressive to actually protecting against disease.
The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, is published in Nature Communications.

It's hoped this latest insight will lead to the widespread use of antigen-specific immunotherapy as a treatment for many autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes, Graves' disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
MS alone affects around 100,000 people in the UK and 2.5 million people worldwide.

Scientists were able to selectively target the cells that cause autoimmune disease by dampening down their aggression against the body's own tissues while converting them into cells capable of protecting against disease.
This type of conversion has been previously applied to allergies, known as 'allergic desensitisation', but its application to autoimmune diseases has only been appreciated recently.

The Bristol group has now revealed how the administration of fragments of the proteins that are normally the target for attack leads to correction of the autoimmune response.

Most importantly, their work reveals that effective treatment is achieved by gradually increasing the dose of antigenic fragment injected.
In order to figure out how this type of immunotherapy works, the scientists delved inside the immune cells themselves to see which genes and proteins were turned on or off by the treatment.

They found changes in gene expression that help explain how effective treatment leads to conversion of aggressor into protector cells. The outcome is to reinstate self-tolerance whereby an individual's immune system ignores its own tissues while remaining fully armed to protect against infection.
By specifically targeting the cells at fault, this immunotherapeutic approach avoids the need for the immune suppressive drugs associated with unacceptable side effects such as infections, development of tumours and disruption of natural regulatory mechanisms.

Professor David Wraith, who led the research, said: "Insight into the molecular basis of antigen-specific immunotherapy opens up exciting new opportunities to enhance the selectivity of the approach while providing valuable markers with which to measure effective treatment. These findings have important implications for the many patients suffering from autoimmune conditions that are currently difficult to treat."
This treatment approach, which could improve the lives of millions of people worldwide, is currently undergoing clinical development through biotechnology company Apitope, a spin-out from the University of Bristol.

---

Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Bristol. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. 
Also sciencedaily.com

---

Journal Reference:

1. Bronwen R. Burton, Graham J. Britton, Hai Fang, Johan Verhagen, Ben Smithers, Catherine A. Sabatos-Peyton, Laura J. Carney, Julian Gough, Stephan Strobel, David C. Wraith. Sequential transcriptional changes dictate safe and effective antigen-specific immunotherapy. Nature Communications, 2014; 5: 4741 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5741