What I need to know
I've always wanted to become a doctor. Ever since the video I watched in middle school about doctors over borders has made me become more and more passionate and in love with medicine. After years of research and family history like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’, neuroscience has become a field of interest for me. After witnessing multiple surgeries on Parkinson’s patients with Dr. Gorecki, I needed to know if there was another way to treat an aggressive surgery. Through my intrigue of such a puzzling dilemma, I formed my essential question “What is the future plan for Parkinson's disease and cell transplants, and how can cell transplants improve the prognosis of Parkinson's disease?” The mystery and confusing origin of this life-altering condition attracted me to the subject. I thought that choosing a question with open-ended answers will lead to a better discussion as well as allow for me to use more effective critical thinking.
What I know
Because Neuroscience and Neurosurgery was a new thing for me there was not much knowledge other than knowing that Parkinson’s mobilizes patients motor functions. Also, DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) is a long and invasive surgery. Cell transplants are not really used because it is sometimes unknown if the cells still live after separation. But, there were cases that were being studied on animals and there was a change in the test subject which was amazing.
The Search
While I used many sources to find the information that I needed, I relied heavily on the expertise of other scientists and researchers because I did not have the resources to do so. Through my dig for knowledge though, I also looked into studies and researches by well-known sources.This way I allowed for numerous differing opinions as well as similar facts to create an objectively valid conclusion.
What I discovered
Through my findings, I have established a much deeper understanding of “What is the future plan for Parkinson's disease and cell transplants, and how can cell transplants improve the prognosis of Parkinson's disease?”.
Stem cells are a renewable source of tissue that can be coaxed to become different cell types of the body. The best-known examples are the embryonic stem (ES) cells found within an early-stage embryo. These cells can generate all the major cell types of the body (they are "pluripotent").Essentially, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are "man-made" stem cells that share ES cells' ability to become other cell types. IPS cells are created when scientists convert or "reprogram" a mature cell, such as a skin cell, into an embryonic-like state. These cells may have potential both for cell replacement treatment approaches in patients. Use of iPS cells is the development of cell models of Parkinson's disease. In theory, scientists could use cells from people living with Parkinson's disease to create iPS cell models of the disease that have the same intrinsic cellular machinery of a Parkinson's patient. Researchers could use these cell models to evaluate genetic and environmental factors implicated in Parkinson's disease.
Tests on animals have shown many amazing results and many uncertain results. For example, the rat would show positive changes in cognitive tests, but then suddenly get worse. So there is a claim where the cells don’t combine perfectly with the ES cells. Also, the studies showed that cells could not always have been alive in transplant. For example stem cells offer greater potential as a source of dopaminergic neurons for cell replacement in PD in the future, the time course for generating stem cell-derived reservoir of neurons for clinical use is uncertain, and it could be the case that maximizing the efficacy of the limited supply of primary cells/tissues in the short term is a route worth continuing. his proves that even though the success rate is really low there is potential.
However, further development and optimization of the safety and efficacy of the techniques involved in generating and manipulating these, as well as other, cell sources will be essential before any further clinical trials are carried out.
I've always wanted to become a doctor. Ever since the video I watched in middle school about doctors over borders has made me become more and more passionate and in love with medicine. After years of research and family history like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’, neuroscience has become a field of interest for me. After witnessing multiple surgeries on Parkinson’s patients with Dr. Gorecki, I needed to know if there was another way to treat an aggressive surgery. Through my intrigue of such a puzzling dilemma, I formed my essential question “What is the future plan for Parkinson's disease and cell transplants, and how can cell transplants improve the prognosis of Parkinson's disease?” The mystery and confusing origin of this life-altering condition attracted me to the subject. I thought that choosing a question with open-ended answers will lead to a better discussion as well as allow for me to use more effective critical thinking.
What I know
Because Neuroscience and Neurosurgery was a new thing for me there was not much knowledge other than knowing that Parkinson’s mobilizes patients motor functions. Also, DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) is a long and invasive surgery. Cell transplants are not really used because it is sometimes unknown if the cells still live after separation. But, there were cases that were being studied on animals and there was a change in the test subject which was amazing.
The Search
While I used many sources to find the information that I needed, I relied heavily on the expertise of other scientists and researchers because I did not have the resources to do so. Through my dig for knowledge though, I also looked into studies and researches by well-known sources.This way I allowed for numerous differing opinions as well as similar facts to create an objectively valid conclusion.
What I discovered
Through my findings, I have established a much deeper understanding of “What is the future plan for Parkinson's disease and cell transplants, and how can cell transplants improve the prognosis of Parkinson's disease?”.
Stem cells are a renewable source of tissue that can be coaxed to become different cell types of the body. The best-known examples are the embryonic stem (ES) cells found within an early-stage embryo. These cells can generate all the major cell types of the body (they are "pluripotent").Essentially, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are "man-made" stem cells that share ES cells' ability to become other cell types. IPS cells are created when scientists convert or "reprogram" a mature cell, such as a skin cell, into an embryonic-like state. These cells may have potential both for cell replacement treatment approaches in patients. Use of iPS cells is the development of cell models of Parkinson's disease. In theory, scientists could use cells from people living with Parkinson's disease to create iPS cell models of the disease that have the same intrinsic cellular machinery of a Parkinson's patient. Researchers could use these cell models to evaluate genetic and environmental factors implicated in Parkinson's disease.
Tests on animals have shown many amazing results and many uncertain results. For example, the rat would show positive changes in cognitive tests, but then suddenly get worse. So there is a claim where the cells don’t combine perfectly with the ES cells. Also, the studies showed that cells could not always have been alive in transplant. For example stem cells offer greater potential as a source of dopaminergic neurons for cell replacement in PD in the future, the time course for generating stem cell-derived reservoir of neurons for clinical use is uncertain, and it could be the case that maximizing the efficacy of the limited supply of primary cells/tissues in the short term is a route worth continuing. his proves that even though the success rate is really low there is potential.
However, further development and optimization of the safety and efficacy of the techniques involved in generating and manipulating these, as well as other, cell sources will be essential before any further clinical trials are carried out.
Interview
- What made you want to become a Doctor?
- What made you choose Neurosurgery out of all the other options?
- Would you recommend students like me to become a Doctor/Neurosurgeon?
- What percentage of your time is spent doing what?
- How does the time use vary? Are there busy and slow times or is the work activity fairly constant?
- How do you balance work and family responsibilities?
- How does the demanding nature of a physician’s daily job function compare to that of other medical professions?
- What advances do you think will be made in this field and how will that impact your career or the way that you do your job?
- What courses do you wish you would have taken as an undergraduate student?
- What do you think of the experience I’ve had so far in terms of entering this field?
- Do you have any suggestions for me when shadowing in the future? Things I can improve?