Clinical and echographical control protocol of haemarthrosis in haemophilia patients with inhibitors: evaluation of the efficacy of recombinant factor VIIa in the evolution process (EFFISEVEN protocol)

Summary.  The intention of the ‘clinical and echographical protocol of evaluation the efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII in the haemarthrosis’ (EFFISEVEN protocol) was to provide an extensive study of the evolution of haemarthrosis, and second, of its repercussions on the degenerative process of joints. The clinical evaluation of haemarthroses and their evolution is based on a well-established methodology, although very few studies have sought to determine the correlation between pain, mobility and the objective data regarding the haemorrhage. We believe that it is necessary to unify criteria and that the EFFISEVEN protocol may contribute data that improve standards which, in turn…

Ethical Aspects of Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) (cloning), as a reproductive or therapeutic method, and mitochondrial DNA transfer, as a method to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, are analyzed in this paper from a bioethics perspective. The licit purpose of being able to treat certain diseases, as in the case of SCNT, cannot justify, in any case, resorting to illicit means such as the manipulation, selection, and elimination of human embryos in the blastocyst phase, by using cell lines obtained from them. Crossing this line paves the way (as utilitarian ethics advocates) to assuming any cost in scientific experimentation so long as satisfactory results are obtained. With mitochondr…

Gestational surrogacy. Current view

Surrogate motherhood is an assisted procreation practice by which a woman gestates an embryo with which she has no biological relationship on behalf of a contracting couple or individual, having to relinquish the child to them after its birth. This practice normally entails a financial remuneration for the pregnant woman; when this is not the case, it is called altruistic surrogacy. From a medical perspective, potential problems for the surrogate and for children born through this practice should be taken into account, especially the existence of possible disabilities in the child. The bioethical aspects are of most interest because the practice of surrogacy objectifies the expectant mother…

Gene therapy and editing in the treatment of hereditary blood disorders: Medical and ethical aspects

Gene therapy and gene editing are revolutionising the treatment of genetic diseases, most notably haematological disorders. This paper evaluates the use of both techniques in hereditary blood disorders. Many studies have been conducted in this field, especially with gene therapy, with very promising results in diseases such as haemophilia, certain haemoglobinopathies and Fanconi anaemia. The application of these techniques in clinical practice and the foreseeable development of these approaches in the coming years suggest that it might be useful to evaluate the results achieved thus far. It is also essential to reflect on the possible bioethical concerns raised by the use of both technique…

Verso una proposta eticamente accettabile nella prevenzione delle malattie del DNA mitocondriale / Towards an ethically acceptable proposal in the prevention of mitochondrial DNA-associated diseases

Le malattie dovute alle alterazioni del DNA mitocondriale (mtDNA) sono attualmente incurabili. C’è tuttavia un certo numero di metodi a vari livelli di sviluppo che potrebbe evitare la trasmissione madre-figlio di questi disturbi ereditari. Tra questi metodi ci sono due tecniche che sono attualmente attirando l’attenzione di ricercatori, decisori e pazienti: il trasferimento pronucleare (PNT) e il trasferimento del fuso materno (MST). Questi metodi comportano l’uso di mitocondri sani da un donatore. PNT ha luogo in uno zigote, mentre nell’MST, le cellule uovo sono manipolate. Questi metodi sono molto promettenti, in quanto sembrano essere efficaci e sicuri, e infatti, potranno presto essere…

The Vatican Opinion on Gender Theory

This article is a reasoned response to the article by Timothy F. Murphy, recently published in the prestigious journal Bioethics, on the supposed opposition between the views of the Catholic Church and what he calls “contemporary science” in relation to certain anthropological issues linked to the gender perspective. To point to “the Vatican” as anchored in an unscientific and anachronistic position, using the term contemporary science to which he attributes a unanimous representation of current scientific thinking on the subject is, in our view, unfounded and completely unacceptable. In his reflection, he does not adequately distinguish between intersex and transgenderism, two clearly dif…

Moral assessment of frozen human embryo adoption in the light of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church

As the number of frozen human embryos continues to rise daily, with numbers not expected to fall, an answer must be found to this dilemma. Four possible solutions have been suggested: a) thaw the embryos and allow them to perish; b) thaw them and donate them for biomedical research; c) thaw them and donate them in adoption; and d) leave them frozen indefinitely. This paper will evaluate the morality of these four possible solutions, particularly frozen human embryo adoption in the light of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, which in its Instruction Dignitas Personae, appears to have opted to consider this practice as illicit. We also review the various stances of expert moralists in fa…

Fibrinolytic parameters in normotensive pregnancy with intrauterine fetal growth retardation and in severe preeclampsia

In pregnancy a decrease in fibrinolytic activity, which is due to an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and type 2, has been described. Because the placenta is a source of both type 1 and type 2 plasminogen activator inhibitor, we have studied them and other fibrinolytic parameters in a group of normotensive pregnant women with intrauterine fetal growth retardation and in two groups of women with preeclampsia, with or without intrauterine growth retardation. A significant increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was observed in preeclampsia, with or without intrauterin…

Influence of religious beliefs in the professional practice of US gynecologists

The lipid composition of red blood cells and their hemorheological behavior in patients with primary hyperlipoproteinemia

A Personalist Ontological Approach to Synthetic Biology

Although synthetic biology is a promising discipline, it also raises serious ethical questions that must be addressed in order to prevent unwanted consequences and to ensure that its progress leads toward the good of all. Questions arise about the role of this discipline in a possible redefinition of the concept of life and its creation. With regard to the products of synthetic biology, the moral status that they should be given as well as the ethically correct way to behave towards them are not clear. Moreover, risks that could result from a misuse of this technology or from an accidental release of synthetic organisms into the environment cannot be ignored; concerns about biosecurity and …

Il dibattito in bioetica - Mechanism of action of the morning-after pill

Non disponibile / Not available

Aproximación ética al diagnóstico de muerte bajo criterios neurológicos y cardiocirculatorios. Reflexiones sobre el posicionamiento de la Iglesia Católica sobre la donación de órganos para trasplante / Ethical approach to the diagnosis of death under neurological and cardiocirculatory criteria. Reflections on the position of the Catholic Church on the donation of organs for transplantation

El diagnóstico de muerte del ser humano tiene dimensiones antropológicas, médicas, religiosas, legales, y culturales. No obstante corresponde a los médicos establecer los criterios de muerte del individuo y precisar el momento en que la muerte se ha producido. La donación de órganos para trasplante provenientes de personas fallecidas debe realizarse lo antes posible a fin de preservar la viabilidad de los órganos. Los criterios para establecer la muerte basándose en aspectos neurológicos nacieron simultáneamente al desarrollo de la trasplantología. La creciente demanda de órganos para trasplante ha dado paso a que la muerte se establezca por criterios cardiocirculatorios. En relación con el…

Does levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive have a post-fertilization effect? A review of its mechanism of action.

Background: Recent studies have identified that levonorgestrel administered orally in emergency contraception (LNG-EC) is only efficacious when taken before ovulation. However, the drug does not consistently prevent follicular rupture or impair sperm function. Objective: The present systematic review is performed to analyze and more precisely define the extent to which pre-fertilization mechanisms of action may explain the drug's efficacy in pregnancy avoidance. We also examine the available evidence to determine if pre-ovulatory drug administration may be associated with post-fertilization effects. Conclusion: The mechanism of action of LNG-EC is reviewed. The drug has no ability to alter…

Therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cells

No Status Trial1 Not yet recruitingA Study Of Implantation Of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Retinal Pig-ment Epithelium In Subjects With Acute Wet Age Related MacularDegeneration And Recent Rapid Vision Decline.2 RecruitingA Phase I/IIa, Open-Label, Single-Center, Prospective Study to Determine the Safety and Tolerability of Sub-retinal Transplantation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (MA09-hRPE) Cells in Patients With Advanced Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).3 RecruitingSafety and Tolerability of Sub-retinal Transplantation of Human Em-bryonic Stem Cell Derived Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (hESC-RPE) Cells in Patients With Stargardt’s Macular…

Gestational surrogacy. Ethical aspects / Maternità surrogata. Questioni etiche

Gestational surrogacy is the practice that takes place when a woman becomes pregnant with a foetus with which she is not genetically related, and the eggs used to produce it come from a donor or the contracting mother, to whom the baby will be handed over after the birth. The woman acting as surrogate may be contracted commercially and remunerated for her service, or the surrogacy may be altruistic, a circumstance that arises when, generally, a member of the family or friend selflessly volunteers. The ethical debate lies in which should prevail: the hypothetical right of the parents to have a child, the reproductive rights of the woman, or even the good of the child itself. At the heart of …

The Use of NFP When Pregnancy Is Contraindicated?

The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has declared the moral liceity of hysterectomy when certain medical criteria are met but does not exclude other options, “for example, recourse to infertile periods or total abstinence.” Consequently, there may be couples who prefer to use natural family planning (NFP) methods. We shall refer to these in this article. The efficacy of NFP methods is determined by knowing the day of ovulation. To that end, three parameters are used: the presence and consistency of cervical mucus, measurement of the basal body temperature, and the determination of particular hormones in urine. Of the NFP methods used, the so-called sympto-thermal method se…

Do Australopithecus aos ciborgues. Estamos diante do fim da evolução humana?.

Abstract Social implementation of post-humanism could affect the biological evolution of living beings and especially that of humans. This paper addresses the issue from the biological and anthropological-philosophical perspectives. From the biological perspective, reference is made first to the evolution of hominids until the emergence of Homo sapiens, and secondly, to the theories of evolution with special reference to their scientific foundation and the theory of extended heredity. In the anthropological-philosophical part, the paradigm is presented according to which human consciousness, in its emancipatory zeal against biological nature, must “appropriate” the roots of its physis to tr…

Ulipristal acetate. A new emergency contraceptive. Ethical aspects of its use

Nel 2006, Takahashi e Yamanaka hanno dimostrato, per la prima volta, che i fibroblasti di topo possono essere riprogrammati ad uno stato simile a quello di cellule staminali embrionali con l’introduzione di una combinazione di quattro fattori di trascrizione. Queste cellule sono state chiamate “cellule staminali pluripotenti indotte” o “cellule iPS”. A differenza delle cellule staminali embrionali, l’uso di cellule iPS non solleva questioni etiche. In questo articolo, si fa riferimento in particolare a: 1. esperimenti preclinici condotti fino ad oggi utilizzando cellule iPS, 2. la creazione di linee cellulari a partire da cellule iPS ottenute da cellule adulte di pazienti affetti da varie m…

Maternal-foetal immunity: an admirable design in favour of life

La modulazione della risposta immunitaria materno-fetale, volta a beneficiare la gestazione di un individuo il cui materiale genetico e estraneo a quello della madre (poiche il 50% e di origine paterna), e un processo biologico, unico, molto complesso, che coinvolge il padre, la madre e il bambino. I primi segnali emessi dal liquido seminale sono gia in grado di promuovere l’inizio di un adattamento immunitario, in cui gli antigeni espressi successivamente dal feto e la sequenza di meccanismi umorali e cellulari dei quali la madre sara responsabile nell’ultimo trimestre, formeranno un ambiente di equilibrio omeostatico, in cui i processi di tolleranza immunitaria volti a tutelare la nuova v…

"Death by Donation": Harvesting Organs from Still-Living Persons.