Regrowing limbs: science, or science fiction?

Regenerative medicine is the study of methods that can help regrow a damaged limb or organ, and it has always seemed like science fiction…until recently, that is.  Scientists at the Salk Institute have found one of the clues to the puzzle.  They’re studying zebrafish, which can regrow their tails, to find out what triggers the regeneration and how it is controlled.  What they’ve found so far is very promising, and could lead to medical advancements that could make prosthetic limbs and organ transplants history.

Read the full article in the New York Times.

No more butts

As if you need another reason to not smoke, or to quit smoking, San Diego State University researchers have found that the chemicals in cigarette butts and filters can leech out into the water and kill fish.  When you consider that cigarette butts are the most common littered item in the world, it means they could cause significant problems for fish when the butts end up in our waterways.  The researchers have suggested that cigarette butts should be reclassified as toxic waste.

We already know that pets are affected by secondhand smoke, and we already know about the health problems associated with smoking.  If you don’t smoke, keep it that way—your health and your family’s health (including your four-legged family members) will benefit.  If you do smoke, consider quitting – but if that’s not an option for you, please be considerate and discard your butts appropriately instead of littering.

Read the full article on WikiNews.

Haiti, at the intersection of human health and animal health

The tragic effects of the recent earthquake in Haiti have brought the intersection of human health and animal health to the forefront once again.  A large population of Haitians rely on livestock to survive, and these animals are threatened.  Sure, the livestock weren’t in the buildings that collapsed, but their lives are no less in danger.  Right now, relief efforts include addressing public health issues – even though Haiti is surrounded by water, quality drinking water is in short supply for animals and humans alike.  Haiti has a large population of feral dogs, and the disaster and its after effects are increasing conflict between these animals and people.  Rabies is a big concern, as are other diseases that can be spread by poor quality water (including leptospirosis).  Keeping the human and animal populations healthy is critical to the country’s survival.

Please keep them in your thoughts and help however you can.  For more information and updates, visit the AVMA’s Haiti earthquake page.

Read about the US Army’s 43rd Medical Detachment veterinary team on its way to Haiti.

Helping paws

Artificial limbs, called prosthetics, can help people with physical disabilities lead happier and more active lives.  Did you know they can help animals do the same?  Yes, they can.  Chance, Molly and Cervantes are just a few of the animals who can live active lives thanks to prosthetics.

Read the stories of pets that have been helped with prosthetics in USA Today.

Sharing more than our homes and lives

When there’s talk of diseases shared by people and animals, the focus is usually on diseases that are transferred from animals to people.  However, they can go the other way, too.  In fact, researchers in the U.K. have found evidence that the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus actually jumped from people to chickens about 38 years ago.  As a result, the bacteria has become a common infection in chickens and can cause severe lameness.

We share our planet with the animals, and a consequence of this is sharing our bugs, too.

Read the story in the Times Online.

Learning from Rufus and his friends

When you hear “naked mole rat,” you might think of Rufus, the naked mole rat in the cartoon “Kimpossible.” Although Rufus is a great cartoon sidekick for Kim and Ron, studying real naked mole rats might just help us find the Fountain of Youth. Although naked mole rats are rodents, just like mice and rats and others, they are very different. For one thing, they live MUCH longer—naked mole rats have lived to be 28 years old! Compare that to mice, which only live a couple of years. They also don’t seem to get cancer—at all—which makes them very unique. Scientists are studying them to try to find out just what makes them live so long and why they seem to be immune to cancer. If they can solve those mysteries, people might be on the way to longer, healthier, cancer-free living. Read more in the New York Times.