Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Treating Disease with Stem Cells essays

Treating Disease with Stem Cells essays This article was written by Dr. Gregory Hale, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, in response to questions posed by Scientific American Magazine regarding the treatment of certain diseases with cord blood stem cells. There is some additional information provided by Viacord, a medical service company that provides private family cord blood banking, processing, and research. Dr. Hale discussed the advantages of cord blood stem cell transplants, the results of several transplants, as well as the research that on-going in the field of stem cell transplantation. The blood that remains in the human umbilical cord blood following birth contains a rich source of hematopoietic progenitor cells known as stem cells. These stem cells are the master cells of the blood. They divide to make new red cells that supply oxygen, white blood cells that fight disease and infection, and platelets that facilitate healing. Doctors now have three sources of stem cells available to them: bone marrow, mobilized bone marrow or peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. Bone marrow has traditionally been used as a source of stem cells, but research is proving that cord blood may be an excellent alternative source. Cord blood can be utilized for the treatment of many diseases, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and Hodgkins disease. The first successful cord blood transplant took place in 1988 when a newborns cord blood was used in a life saving stem cell transplant for her older brother who had Fanconi anemia. Since then, there has been much research into the advantages of cord blood stem cells. Cord blood is much more readily available and poses no donor risk. The blood is simply collected from the placenta and umbilical cord after the baby is born and stored. The potential of expanding the ethnic diversity of the donor pool is greatly increased, since minorities are considerably...

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Rules About Treatment of Numbers

Rules About Treatment of Numbers Rules About Treatment of Numbers Rules About Treatment of Numbers By Mark Nichol The basic rule about referring to numbers, according to The Chicago Manual of Style, is to spell them out when the total is one hundred or less and use numerals for larger numbers (the Associated Press Stylebook and some other style handbooks set the cut-off point after nine), but there are many exceptions. This post outlines those exceptions. When referring to categorically similar totals, spell the pertinent numbers out if all totals are one hundred or less (for example, â€Å"sixty-five chairs arranged around twelve tables†) but use numerals if one or more totals are one hundred or less and one or more totals are more than one hundred (for example, â€Å"127 chairs arranged around 20 tables†). This rule applies only to two or more such numbers in proximity; previous or subsequent isolated numbers pertaining to the same category need not adhere. (Nor do unrelated numbers.) However, text with a concentration of statistics- whether an entire piece of content or one section- will likely benefit from the use of numerals in place of spelled-out numbers. When totals appear in direct discourse (as when a speaker is quoted), spell out numbers, with the exception of years and elements of proper names; again, however, a concentration of numbers is perhaps best treated by using numerals. When reproducing quoted written material, however, do not alter number style. Spell out large round numbers that include orders of magnitude (hundred, thousand, etc.). Recast a sentence that begins with a numeral: For example, revise â€Å"2020 is the next leap year† to â€Å"The next leap year is 2020.† If the sentence must begin with a number, spell it out. In such cases, omit and in expressions such as â€Å"five thousand and three hundred.† When a number consists of or includes a fraction, spell it out or use numerals according to the guidelines above, but numbers with decimals should be styled as numerals. These rules also apply to quantities such as units of time or distance; exceptions can be made for such categories as temperature, clothing sizes, and miles per gallon. Style quantities expressed with an abbreviation or a symbol in numeral form, and use numerals when a range is separated by an en dash (for example, â€Å"25–50 participants†). Refer to percentages with numerals. (However, spell out the word percent in nontechnical usage; use the symbol in statistical references.) When referring to small amounts of money, spell out casual, isolated references but treat concentrations of such figures with the same guidelines as those for statistical materials. In addition, generally, express sums of more than one hundred dollars with numerals or with a combination of figures and words, such as in â€Å"$500 million budget†). Related post: 10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good With41 Words That Are Better Than GoodHow Do You Determine Whether to Use Who or Whom?