How lives are saved from heart attacks

Well, since forums seem to be a little quiet and boring right now, I decided to give you all story time . Enjoy!

Heart attacks. The proper term is myocardial infarction. They're dangerous. They must be treated quickly, or they will surely be fatal.

Back in the day, a heart attack was that amount to a death sentence. No treatment was available, and people were considered very lucky to even be able to survive a heart attack.

Then, scientists discovered the ways of blood. Blood can coagulate, or dry up into a ball. This can be seen when you get a scar over a paper cut. Coagulation inside the veins however, can cut off blood flow to a specific tissue or organ, and cause medical problems.

When someone has a heart attack, the heart is very susceptible to throwing out blood clots. This can lead to a "secondary heart attack", a pulmonary embolism, or a stroke.

To be continued...

Continuing:

When scientists looked at blood more closely, they discovered a fibrous network inside the clot. These fibers were made out of chains of a protein called fibrin. It was evident that the body wanted to do something with these clots. A protein called plasminogen was found attached to these fibrin strands. Its purpose is to break down the fibrin, and thus, destroy the clot. However, plasminogen is inactive, and must be converted to its active, enzymatic form, which is plasmin.

For a long time, the "activator" of plasminogen was a mystery. Then, in 1979, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was discovered. This was the enzyme that converted plasminogen into plasmin.

Scientists discovered the gene for t-PA soon after, and isolated it. Copies of the gene were made, and incorporated into the genome of bacteria. These bacteria, now armed with the human t-PA gene, produced human t-PA.

These new t-PA enzymes were given to patients via IV fluids. The result was as expected. Clots were broken, and the patient's mortality rate decreased.

Scientists later optimized the enzyme for longer lasting effects. They also modified it so that the body's own mechanism could not inhibit the new plasminogen activator. A new version of t-PA, was made, and called TNK-tPA. It is known generically as Tenecteplase.

Looking at the enzymes from side to side, the structural changes are very minimal, and the chances of foreign protein allergies are near impossible. With these new anti-thrombotic agents, patients can survive heart attacks.


[]

 

Nice speech!!!

 

Okay....

Would've helped a lot in 7th grade.

 

Its that picture again! >:3

 

Kewl! (Didn't read it)

 

Give me a reason why I should read this 69000 word esay.

 

XD

 

Free cookies.

 

Ew words .