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Stem cells could create new skin to help burns victims
French researchers say they have found a way of using human embryonic stem cells to create new skin which could help serious burn victims. They say the stem cells grew into fully formed human skin 12 weeks after being grafted onto mice. The researchers, writing in the Lancet journal, say the skin could solve the problems of rejection that burn patients currently face. One stem cell expert said they had made an important advance.
Burn techniques
For more than 20 years, patients with serious burns have benefited from a technique which grows new skin in the laboratory using their own skin cells.
But the technique takes three weeks, putting the patients at risk of dehydration and infection.
Skin from cadavers is used during this period to cover the wounds but its availability is limited and it is often rejected by the patient's immune system.
Artificial nets which cells can grow on have also been tried. However, they do not work on large burns, where they increase the risk of rejection and disease transmission because they can contain material from cows and other humans.
Skin formation
The researchers duplicated the biological steps that lead to skin formation during embryonic development. They placed the cells on an artificial net which helped the cells to form a layer of skin. This was grafted onto five mice, and 12 weeks later, the skin had a structure consistent with human skin.
Dr Christine Baldeschi, from the Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases in Evry, France, who led the research, said the results were promising.
She said the technique could lead to "an unlimited resource for temporary skin replacement in patients with large burns awaiting grafts of their own skin".
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The Making Of A Mother
By the time God made mothers, He was into the sixth day working overtime. An Angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
God answered and said, "Have you read the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not elastic; have 200 movable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that can hold three children at one time and disappears when she stands up; have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart; and have six pairs of hands."
The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No way!" said the Angel.
God replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!"
"And that's on the standard model?" the Angel asked.
God nodded in agreement, "Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another pair is in the back of her head to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair are here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word."
The Angel tried to stop the Lord, "This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
"But I can't!" The Lord protested, "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can feed a family of six on a pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand in the shower."
The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, God."
"She is soft," God agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?" asked the Angel.
God replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason, and negotiate."
The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like You have a leak with this model. I told You that You were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak." the Lord objected. "That's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the Angel asked.
God said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."
The Angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything for this one. You even created the tear!"
God looked at the Angel and smiled and said, "I'm afraid you are wrong again. I created the woman, but she created the tear!"
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Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens (born November 27, 1964) is an American film, television, and stage actress.Givens was born in New York City, the daughter of Ruth Roper and Reuben Givens. Givens's mother and father divorced when she was two. She and her sister Stephanie were raised by their mother in New Rochelle, New York. Givens graduated in 1980 from New Rochelle Academy (closed 1987). At 15, she enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. She later claimed she studied various medical courses at Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, although Harvard's registrar office only confirmed that she took one class in 1984.Givens first began acting in 1985 with an appearance on The Cosby Show, followed by roles in Diff'rent Strokes, and the 1986 television film Beverly Hills Madam opposite Faye Dunaway. That same year, she landed her breakthrough role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class. The series lasted five seasons, ending in 1991. In 1989, while starring in Head of the Class, she appeared in The Women of Brewster Place with Oprah Winfrey. She later appeared in 1992's Boomerang. In 1994, she posed nude for Playboy magazine and was ranked #88 on Empire Magazine 100 Sexiest Stars in Film History list in May 1995.In 1996, Givens portrayed Claudia in the television movie The Face (also known as A Face to Die For) with Yasmine Bleeth. Later that year, she co-starred in the UPN sitcom Sparks. The series ended its run in 1998.In January 2000, Givens appeared in a cameo in music video "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton, as the wife of a cheating husband. She returned to the entertainment industry later that year as the host of the talk show Forgive or Forget, replacing television personality Mother Love halfway through the show's second season. Ratings initially increased after Givens took over hosting duties, but soon fell. The series was canceled after that season.In 2006, Givens attempted a return to television on MyNetworkTV's telenovela Saints and Sinners, but the show garnered low ratings and was soon canceled. Givens continued acting in made-for-television films while also making appearances on Trinity Broadcasting Network's Praise the Lord program (July 12, 2007), and Larry King Live. In June 2007, she released her autobiography Grace Will Lead Me Home.In 2008, Givens had a recurring role portraying a fictionalized version of herself on the CW comdey-drama The Game. She has also had a recurring role on the TBS show Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and she has a guest role on USA Network's Burn Notice. In addition to television and film roles, Givens has also performed onstage. In 2001, she appeared in an Off Broadway production of The Vagina Monologues. From February to April 16, 2006, she played the role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway play Chicago. In 2007, she toured the country playing a part in the I'm Ready Productions play Men, Money & Golddiggers.
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How Istanbul has changed in the last 10 years
In 1997, we moved to our new home in Istanbul. Istanbul had a lot of problems 10 years ago. However, many of those problems have been solved.
Istanbul has progressed year by year. For example, we now have the F1 GrandPrix.
Nevertheless, Istanbul still has a lot of things to improve. For instance, Istanbul has a population problem, so the city is very crowded.
I think Istanbul will get better day by day.
Muhammed Çağlayan
Level 2
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What cake can you drink coffee from?
A cupcake!
What boats can you always buy cheaply?
Sale (sail) boats!
A banana and apple got married, but they argued all the time. So, the banana split.
How many bees are there in a hive?
None. There are no “bs”in the word hive.
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back to square one
Having to start all over again
Audrey hadn’t had a drink in 4 months, but she got reall drunk last night. Now, it’s back to square one.
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It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Plastics take more than 500 years to break down.
A normal person laughs five times a day.
Traffic lights were used even before the invention of cars.
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