Radiation sickness treatment shows promise
Author: Rachel Ehrenberg
Source: Science News
URL:http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/336443/title/Radiation_sickness_treatment_shows_promise
Date Published: Nov. 23rd, 2011
Exposure to high dose radiation, just like in nuclear power plant accidents or after explosions of atomic bombs, is the cause of radiation sickness. It is a fatal disease as the bone marrow - the basic source of human immune system - is usually first destroyed, so the body is not able to fight even ordinary microbial infections. That’s why bone marrow transplantation is usually only way to cure this dangerous disease. Scientists from the Harvard Medical School have just presented the results of the research that shows the other, less invasive way to cure radiation sickness. Mice were exposed to high dose radiation and then divided in two groups. The first group of mice received combination of antibiotic and a protein that is naturally made by immune system. The second group of mice didn’t receive any medication. After one month, 80 % of mice from the first group survived, while all mice from the second group were dead. There is no doubt this study could change medical approach to radiation sickness treatment in the future.
The danger of nuclear power plant accident is very small, but real, as it recently happened in Fukushima, Japan. Such accidents could be potentially harmful for human society and it is possible to expect many people suffering of radiation sickness at the same time. I am glad to be informed about the new achievements in medicine and that there is the way to cure once considered a hopeless disease. On the other hand I still stay on position that it would be better for mankind to give up of nuclear power.
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