Neuroscientist Claims Full Human Head Transplant Possible

In a paper published recently, Dr Sergio Canavero, of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy, said that these advancements mean that surgeons will now theoretically be able to fuse a human spinal cord just like it happened in Mary Shelley's classic story 'Frankenstein,' the Sun reported.

The last attempt was done in 1970 when the head of a Rhesus monkey was transplanted onto another at a lab in Ohio, US, and even though the simian lived for 8 days, it was never able to move below the neck, as the 'axons' in its spinal cord could not be repaired.

However, Canavero believes that he will be able to do this thanks to chemicals called 'membrane fusogens' or sealants, some of which are already used for making medicines.

He claimed in the paper that the greatest technical obstacle to endeavor like these is reconnecting donor's and recipient's spinal cords, adding that he believes that the technology now exists for such sort of linkages.

Source-ANI

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Swine Flu Claims One Victim in UP

Neelam Singh had recently returned from Delhi and had complained of breathlessness and other complications. Her husband, a doctor at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) here, got her admitted to a medical facility in the city.

Tests conducted on her confirmed that she was infected with H1N1 swine flu virus and was shifted to an isolation ward at the city's Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

Her condition deteriorated Friday night and she died, a family member told IANS, adding that she was administered Tamiflu and other medicines but could not be saved. Her husband, Rakesh Deewan, is an assistant professor at the anatomy department of KGMU.

Soon after the death of the patient due to swine flu was determined, health officials ordered a thorough screening of people who had been in touch with her during treatment, and Tamiflu was administered to them as well.

'We are taking due precautions now that we know that the patient died of swine flu,' a doctor said. He added that certain areas in the SGPGIMS premises and the trauma centre had been sanitized.

Areas around the residence of the family have also been 'taken care of', an official said. This is the first death of a swine flu patient in summers here as the virus is said to be lethal only during the winter season.

Source-IANS

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