Joseph Murray, the Kidney transplant pioneer died

Dr. Joseph E. Murray, who performed the world’s first successful kidney transplant died  at the age of 93. He had won a Nobel Prize for his pioneering work. Murray shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 with Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, who won for his work in bone marrow transplants.

In the early 1950s, there had never been a successful human organ transplant. Murray and his associates at Boston’s Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, now Brigham and Women’s Hospital, developed new surgical techniques, gaining knowledge by successfully transplanting kidneys on dogs. In December 1954, they found the right patients, 23-year-old Richard Herrick, who had end-stage kidney failure, and his identical twin, Ronald Herrick.
Because of their identical genetic background, they did not face the biggest problem with transplant patients, the immune system’s rejection of foreign tissue.
After the operation, Richard had a functioning kidney transplanted from Ronald. Richard lived another eight years.

Dr. Joseph E. Murray (at center facing camera), is seen performing the first successful organ transplant
at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston on Dec. 23, 1954.

Murray performed more transplants on identical twins over the next few years and tried kidney transplants on other relatives, including fraternal twins, learning more about how to suppress the immune system’s rejection of foreign tissue. In 1962, Murray and his team successfully completed the first organ transplant from an unrelated donor. The 23-year-old patient, Mel Doucette, received a kidney from a man who had died.

Dr. Joseph E. Murray and his wife, Bobby.

Gel that controls birth!!!

A birth control gel that is applied directly to the skin could offer woman an alternative to the Pill, according to a latest report. Used once daily, it delivers hormones to prevent a pregnancy in the same way as oral contraceptives do. Early studies show the gel is effective and well tolerated, with none of the typical side effects associated with the Pill, like weight gain and acne. The Nestorone gel is being developed with drug firm Antares Pharma. Researchers told the American Society for Reproductive Medicine how they hope to bring the product to market if clinical trial results continue to be positive.

The advantage of the gel is that it can be applied to the abdomen, thighs, arms or shoulders and is quickly absorbed, with no residue. Dr Ruth Merkatz from the not-for-profit Population Council research centre in New York led the latest study, which involved 18 women in their 20s to 30s.
The research found the optimum dose of the gel was 3mg a day. Over the course of seven months, none of the women using the treatment fell pregnant.
The researchers say it could offer an alternative to the Pill, which is used by over 3 million women in the UK alone.
Any way the researches are on the move and not yet reached in the final stages. So don’t make any hurry and keep away from worries now. Let’s hope it will come soon to those need ‘urgent helps’!!!