Tuesday, 5 September 2017

minutes to midnight. written in 2003.

Sir Robin Cook is a man of honor, and resigned from the cabinet because he opposed the idea of the US-Britain government coalition in Iraq war.

The brink idea of war, brought me to the warning hands of doomsday clock. The doomsday clock is a symbol of the how close the world is to annihilation due to nuclear warfare.

Since Vietnam War and ever since the world is never be a safe place. It is estimated 12 million of mines are still out there taking lives of innnocent people. War did not only cause massive destruction on human lives and environment but to the future generation where the depletion of radioactive and chemicals can last for thousand of years.

The effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must not be overlooked. In retrospect, the Chernobyl Disaster had created the tense of possibilities that may happen if doomsday clock had taken place.

We always neglected the responsibility to avoid conflicts.

The world is in the brink of war by the leaders of superpower hands.

Iraq was invaded for the search of weapon of massive destruction without basis evidence and international support from the international community.

In fact it was invaded by the countries that own and produce weapons capable of massive destruction.

The truth is nuclear is still a threat. and it is not in the hands of coalition link of terrorism cells but by the leaders of the world.

Ever since, the leaders were always paying lip service during negotiation.

Although with Nuclear Treaty Protocol, there were only few countries had signed the treaty, and still the world is not free by nuclear threat.

Living in South Korea, I am always threatened by the North Korea action to produce nuclear every minutes, every hour and everyday,

Sometimes it was relief when North Korean leader Kim Jong Il,  said that he does not have any intention to attack South. Although it is only temporary relief, nuclear threat cause us to live in anxiety most of the time.

The fact that our destiny will always have to rely on country leaders who have nuclear arsenals is absurd. But that is the reality. And the clock is ticking.

Hanyang University,
Munira Shah
2003


Saturday, 2 September 2017

May the force be with tissue engineering

Munira Shahbuddin
May 2017
May the force be with you

Ubiquitous force – that impact cellular functions and regeneration.


Understanding the role of controlled degradation and mechanotransduction (the minute force that capable of influencing cellular behaviour and functions) examining the current thinking and directions of tissue engineering.

In this premise, my writing will reflect i) the current understanding of development of DRT designs and experimental rationale and techniques in vivo and in vitro, and ii) recent efforts to consider incorporation of exogenous cues (cells, growth factors) in the DRT for complete) organ regeneration (with adnexa). 

The ultimate goal of the treatment of cutaneous burns and wounds is to restore, repair and regenerate damaged skin structurally and functionally into its original state. Yannas et al. works over the past 40 years have shown great potential and success of collagen based Dermal and Nerve Regenerative Template in improving the rate and quality of the injured site with regeneration of skin, nerve and their appendages.

The work proposed that controlled degradation rate and porosity of the hydrogel scaffolds between 40 and 120 um are the key to scarless wound healing. The basis that optimized pore size can regulate tissue remodelling and development of skin and nerve came from larger surface area enable the cells to adhere and spread onto the surface, while at the same time reducing the contraction between each cell. Controlled degradation give enough time for the cells to mature, differentiate and produce fibrous, collagenous tissues for skin remodelling and regeneration.

It is essential to note that DRT promotes skin regeneration without the implantation of exogenous cells – but recruitment of cells from the surroundings. In case for 3rd degree burn where most part of the skin are damaged and lack of biochemical cues for renewal and restoration – is stem cells implantation be the ultimate approach compared to skin grafting from auto, allo and xeno sources.
One of the most interesting topics in the book lingers on the subject of spontaneous and induced regeneration in adult organs. Like other mammals, human has the ability to heal but often the newly synthesized materials (or organ) (or adnexa) are often overlapped with the existing architecture, creating dent and un-uniform structure – called scar.


It is important to address the capabilities and limitations of DRT (in the present) to design/improve new materials for organ regeneration.




Intelligent Biomaterials

Should the new so called biomimetic materials be complex and incorporate multi-functionality for tissue engineering applications?


Addressing Material-ECM interactions – mechanotransduction.


Mechanical properties of scaffolds are critical to the regulation of cellular functions and behaviour in organ regeneration.
Cells derive a vast wealth of information from their environment. The native extra-cellular matrix (ECM) surrounded, and produced, by cells is instructive, providing a dynamic and spatially heterogeneous constellation of microstructural, compositional and mechanical cues that can influence cell behavior.

Harnessing the mechanosensitive capacity of cells, in particular, provides immense opportunities. The mechanical properties of tissues, biomaterials, cells, and biomolecules have profound biological consequences in terms of implant bioactivity versus failure, transmission of mechanical stimuli, and for a wide range of processes at the tissue, cell and subcellular levels. The key roles in molecular signaling pathways are played by cell adhesion complexes and cytoskeleton, whose contractile forces are transmitted through intra and trans cellular domains.

Scaffolds for tissue engineering: current thinking and future directions


The ultimate goal of tissue engineering is to replicate the exact nature of organs, pathophysiologically. There are many state of the art research in progress to engineer in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo every tissue and organ in the body including the use of 3D printer, decellularization of animal organs, construction of organs from natural and synthetic polymeric materials and genetic editing: removal of animals’ protein allelles and genetic loci.

Lack of vascularity in scaffolds and tissue engineered constructs is a major challenge, and improving vascularization strategies is considered one of the areas requiring the most extensive research in the field of tissue engineering.


One way to improve vascularization might to be engineer microvasculature by cells in the scaffolds prior to implantation.

However, the efficacy of in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering using patients' own cell will require least two procedures of harvesting and cell culture in laboratory is an issue as the procedure will take at least three to four weeks before transplantation. Therefore we need new techniques and scientific knowledge for the future design on materials for organ restoration and regeneration. Although I am very skeptical on the use of animal organs for transplantation due to the danger of disease and viral transmissions, new procedures and research are welcome. My fear to this technology should not halt the progress of scientific exploration but rather promoting ethical and responsible value in research.

Sunday, 27 August 2017

Allahummaghfirlahu warhamhu wa'afihii wa'fu'anhu..

إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
بِسْــــــــمِ اٌللَّهِ اٌلرَّحْمَنِ اٌلرَّحِيْـــــــــمِِ 
اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ ۞ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۞ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۞ إيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۞ اِهْدِنَا الصِّراطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۞ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّيِنَ.. آمِّي
Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat keatas rohnya dan ditempatkan dalam kalangan orang orang yg beriman dan beramal soleh.

Semoga dilimpahi Allah akan rohnya dengan kerahmatan dan belas kasihanNya serta digolong bersama para anbiya', siddiqin, shuhada dan salihin.

"Ya Allah, ampunilah dia, dan kasihanilah dia dan sejahterakanlahserta ampunilah dosa kesalahan dia"
Aamiin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

Thursday, 24 August 2017

my DNA - prudential

we stand at a crossroad for human and genetic research. there are concern over inadequate informed consent, possible loss of genetic privacy, commercialisation in research and others. in general public perceptions and attitutes about biomedical research, many believe that biomedical scientists are doing "the right thing" and "in the right way" without truly understand the process and possible discriminations regarding to genetic research. by far the most prevalent concern about genetic discrimination involve the area of access to important social goods of health insurance and employment. there are hundred thousands of Malaysians who get health insurance through employer sponsored health plans.
the primary concern with This ADVERTISEMENT is about gathering genetic information and future discriminatory use of genetic information. Especially for a  health insurance company, who will store and retain this information for (ever) or sometime, and able to use and keep this information with the family medical record.
it is also fear against genetic discriminations in the near future for close family and relatives to obtain their health insurance premium and coverage.
to come within the protective reach of genetic information, the public needs to know their rights and concerns.
genetic record keeping by "insurance companies" pose risks of psychological harm regarding breaches of confidential genetic information and addition psycological risks based on new knowledge on one's genetic heritage and genetic propensity towards unwanted medical procedures etc. it is very important for the general public and authority to address this concern before allowing companies to store our genetic data.

Monday, 21 August 2017

total eclipse of my heart


i could see the stars all the way from america. of the night view that is shared with millions star gazers, who ponder upon the infinite time as far as the light travels.
'watch the world with glittering eyes, the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. those who don't believe in magic will never find it' roald dahl.
i wish you the sky full of stars.
nashville, TN.

the relativity of time and space - einstein 1919.

Saturday, 19 August 2017

istanbul - rendezvous 2017































dear daisy,

i always wanted to travel like anthony bourdain's no reservation or parts unknown, or at least rewriting my own version of lonely planet. blergh.. i had no idea of what to do when i first arrived at ataturk havalimani (airport) that early dawn from malaysia. i was hungry and thinking about getting the best doner, durum and turkish tea from sidewalks - so i took a private tour from a random travel agency i could find.

i had my breakfast at a local coffee shop behind sultanahmet mosque, famously known as the blue mosque. it was tomatoes mixed with eggs and peppers -  eaten with slices of bread. i had three cups of turkish tea that morning.