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Biology is pushing open the door to germline gene therapies that one day might eradicate disease genes not only from the sufferers but also from their descendants. Now society must decide whether to pursue these therapies.
In all nations that do science, researchers need support not only for the direct costs of experimentation, but also for the direct costs of their institutions. The US is about to see a vast change in the system for such costs that will affect its ability to do science and, quite possibly, limit the opportunities for researchers from other countries who are studying or working in US laboratories.
ECT can be life-saving for patients with certain mental illnesses, such as severe depression, but that is no reason to allow ECT without informed consent. Nor is there general medical justification for the use of ECT on children, a practice in the United Kingdom that is out of control.
Transplantation of fetal mesencephalic tissue into patients suffering from Parkinson's disease has had mixed clinical results. Perhaps antioxidant therapy can increase the odds of success (pages 226–231).
Activation of the enzyme telomerase is associated with neuroblastoma and other cancers. Is it an effect or a cause of tumour formation (pages 249–255)?
Recent publication of the results of the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Trial has led to the Woman's Health Initiative(WHI) to rethink the protocols for its own large trial.
It is unclear whether modified immunoglobulins are at least partially responsible for rheumatoid arthritis (pages 237–243) or only an effect of the disease.
Engineering chylomicron vesicles to target drugs to the liver may provide effective new treatments for hepatitis B and other liver diseases (pages 221–225).
