Let me first say that I am sorry about the disruption in your life and the difficulties you face in carrying on every day activities. I admire your determination to overcome obstacles. Then, on to the meat of your article.
The headline caught my eye because of the peculiar history of my family. While none of us has suffered from nephritic syndrome, we do have an unusual incidence of autoimmune disease. This includes pediatric and adult rheumatic fever and adult systemic lupus. As you know, (and as you suggest in your article) both diseases (that is, streptoccocus/rheumatic fever) can be associated with glomerulonephritis. I find it interesting that both diseases have not attacked the kidneys in my family, although cardiac and CNS involvement have been present. I think tracing the specific genetic profile that increases susceptibility to these diseases, and then fine tuning that profile to describe particular areas of vulnerability, might be a way forward to preventing much disease and disability in the future.
The question to be asked: why the heart and not the kidney? Why the brain and not the kidney? At this point I think most doctors consider it a matter of random chance when they ponder which organ system might be affected by these diseases. If science could offer more specific information (about genetic susceptibility) perhaps we could anticipate where damage might occur when these diseases strike.
Of course, I'm not a doctor, or a scientist. Just a person making observations from personal experience. As such, I'm grateful to you for your clear language and easy-to-follow discussion.
I hope your personal circumstances improve.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! And you're quite right; there's a lot of research going into DNA engineering just for that purpose you mention. When people hear that term they immediately think about scientists wanting to create super humans, or changing the genes as to breed people of a predetermined race or appearance. However, the real goal behind genetic engineering is that - to eliminate all genetic diseases.
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Thank you for that answer. Several people who blog on SteemSTEM are doing that kind of research. I have been following it closely.
I'm glad to see you have access to the Internet tonight.
Hope there is peace in your life.
May I ask, who are those people? I would love to read more about the subject!
And indeed I've had relatively stable internet access this week, now I just need the time to post lol
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Here's a related one from @scienceblocks, and another one. @chappertron ran a whole series on mitochondria and epigenetic influences. Here's and early one, and another one (in German!!)
These may be tangentially related, but they draw a direct relationship between disease, cell biology. I think both writers are brilliant. Also gracious. I'll be following you :) Already tweeted out your article.
You remember me to translate them!
Thanks
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@chappertron:Es tut mir leid 😔
I was tired last night and the German ones came up first. Fresh with energy this morning, I have found some of the English and am referencing them. Much work to translate, I know 😃
No trouble! It's weekend ;-)
Thanks a lot man, I'll make sure to check them out!
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@mike961: I found some in English, written by @chappertron. He often translates his articles. Here are a few:
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@chappertron/how-to-live-healthy-part-1-what-are-caloric-restriction-mimetics-crm
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@chappertron/how-to-live-healthy-part-5-what-should-i-do
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@chappertron/how-to-live-healthy-part-4-how-can-i-get-to-the-truth
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@chappertron/how-to-live-healthy-part-3-is-there-an-interplay-between-crm-autophagy-and-telomeres
https://steemit.com/steemstem/@chappertron/clean-up-your-cells-the-best-protection-against-aging-cancer-alzheimer-s-disease-and-co-5-autophagy-vs-mtor-how-can-i-optimally
Looks like I have some reading to do this afternoon! While right now my main interests are topics related to surgery (the service I'm currently serving under, since a couple of weeks ago) I'll always dedicate some time every week to read a bit about genetics and hereditary diseases, I find them really interesting. Thanks for the links again!
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