Universal Medicine

CRISPR(Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is receiving international acclaim after showing great promise in the medical world. This type of genetic engineering, discovered when CRISPR loci were found in the genomes of bacteria and archaea, is proving to be a cheaper, more precise, more accessible and less time-consuming way of altering DNA. Certain types of viruses (namely bacteriophages or “bacteria eaters”) can attack and infect bacteria, using the bacteria as a host in order to replicate themselves. Bacteria, in response to the attack, can save a part of the virus DNA in their own genetic code in a DNA archive known as CRISPR, which stores the virus DNA until it is needed. Once the virus attacks the bacterium again, the bacterium can make a RNA copy from the DNA archive and use a protein called CAS9 to scan the bacterium’s insides for traces of the virus- comparing every bit of DNA the protein finds to the virus sample from the DNA archive. When CAS9 finds...

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder affecting about 1 in 100 people. While there may not be a cure schizophrenia research is leading to new safer treatment. Schizophrenia occurs when previously normal cognitive abilities and behaviours are disrupted. However, the  precise cause is unknown. It is  now though t  that a combination of factors such as genetic make -up , prenatal viruses, early brain damage and underlying biochemical abnormalities cause schizophrenia to occur . When comparing the brain of a schizophrenic and a normal brain it has shown different ar eas of the brain being affected, the most common  findings being   the enlargement of the lateral ventricles (fluid filled sacs surrounding the brain), reduced volume of the brain and the cerebral cortex being smaller. Unfortunately , there has been a lack of evidence on how these  difference s  cause schizophrenia. Another are a  of the brain that has been found to be severely...

As I’m sure some of you are aware, the mosquito has caused more deaths than all other insects combined. There are over 3,500 species of mosquito only about 4 of which carry major diseases. These diseases are normally carried by parasites that live in the mouthparts of the mosquito and reproduce inside it, until they are transferred to a human host when the mosquito bites them. In addition, only adult female mosquitoes bite, since they need lipids and proteins in their diet in order to produce eggs for reproduction; the male mosquitoes are content to consume solely nectar. When a female mosquito bites, it pierces the skin with a proboscis and searches for a capillary. When one is found, the mosquito releases its saliva which acts as an anti-coagulant to ensure that your blood does not clot, so that she can consume as much as she is able. Your immune system sends histamine when the saliva is detected and this causes your blood vessels to swell in a mild allergenic response; you recei...

Psychedelics are hallucinogens that are able to alter cognition and perception to create a heightened state of consciousness. Many are not addictive and there is no evidence that suggests long term harm to mental health. They have an effect on the body by acting on the neural circuits in the brain that use the neurotransmitter serotonin. They effect areas in the brain that are linked to emotions and perception (e.g. the prefrontal cortex)   A taboo among modern society, psychedelic drugs have shown promise in the past at being able to alleviate symptoms for many medical conditions. For example, MDMA (more commonly known as ecstasy) floods the brain with serotonin which can potentially be used for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In 2017 results were presented at a conference that 67% of people overcame their PTSD with MDMA use. This was enough that the FDA allowed for further testing and labelled MDMA a “breakthrough therapy”.   Another example is Psil...

This past year on the Universal Medicine blog has seen a myriad of different medical and scientific marvels. Breakthroughs in heart attack research, the development of CRISPR, the impact gum can have on our oral hygiene and stem cells are just a few of the many areas covered by the four of us on the team. We felt very privileged to be able to carry on from the previous writers and hopefully maintain the integrity and high quality of the site. Each of has learned a great deal from the experience, and wish to share with you how the blog has been beneficial: Vicale Czan Alfanti The blog has allowed me to enhance my ability to acquire knowledge and present it in a coherent manner, collating a variety of sources to construct a well-balanced article. Importantly, it has afforded me the chance to delve into the rapid pace of the medical world and keep in line with the latest developments which are salient in the progression of our healthcare system. It has been a pleasure writing for ...