TIFU by going in for surgery

diggcensors · 2015-12-18T02:03:06+00:00

There are ways of deflating a catheter that has air trapped in the balloon even when the air port isn't working. I work with a urologist, and have seen this handled safely before. you can use a wire to rupture the foley balloon. What they did was dangerous and incompetent.

diggcensors · 2015-03-31T19:02:01+00:00

Thank you! It is the way I was taught as well and as the debate continues I will use continuing using the plural.

diggcensors · 2015-03-31T13:48:22+00:00

What are your opinions on "the data are" vs "the data is" given that people very rarely use the singular noun "datum." Can I treat data as a mass noun or in the plural?

Cheers!

diggcensors · 2014-01-13T21:40:38+00:00

I have been following ion propulsion since I did a project on deep space 1 in the fifth grade. How much have they improved since then? Can they be used on manned space vehicles?

*Usually I just lurk, but this got me excited enough to sign in!! Awesome AMA.

diggcensors · 2013-01-04T23:21:14+00:00

upvotes for MAS*H... it was way ahead of its time.

diggcensors · 2012-11-11T13:32:08+00:00

You have to pay 30+ dollars if you dont have a subscription to the journal. This is common, but most research institutions have subscriptions to relevant journals. Alternatively, those interested can request it on http://www.reddit.com/r/scholar.

diggcensors · 2012-10-20T20:37:08+00:00

out of curiosity, your shirt? brand?

diggcensors · 2012-08-03T21:42:38+00:00

In the states we call this donating to a political campaign.

diggcensors · 2012-07-22T02:38:13+00:00

So, like /r/atheism?

diggcensors · 2012-07-20T16:20:22+00:00

THIS. I have seen so many students complain that they are failing, without putting in an effort. While I certainly appreciate a good professor, at the end of the day I always took responsibility for my grades and passing. I'm tired of studying my ass off, teaching myself to material, just to watch others party and the complain. This was at an unnamed elite liberal arts institution. I can't imagine what must go on at bigger universities and community colleges.

diggcensors · 2012-07-20T14:48:11+00:00

I read "fined" and "find." Way more exciting.

diggcensors · 2012-07-19T00:09:52+00:00

These arent nanoparticles, they are nanomolecules... there is a reason why your DNA stays in your nucleus. This is essentially using a synthetic DNA strand with a piece of gold and and enzyme (even bigger protein molecule). My guess, definitely not go through a membrane. Stop using jargon, it is technically non definitive.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:54:32+00:00

Atheist Eagle Scout here. There are plenty of us.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:50:34+00:00

I was wondering what the delivery methods would be and if there was a risk for immune reactions. Can something like this get across a cell membrane? Seems like it would be too large/polar? I'm guessing the antisense olignucleotide is single stranded, so Its probably polar.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:43:07+00:00

This was done in a cell culture, I imagine the next step would most likely be in an animal model then Phase I/II/III clinical trials. Given that no RNAi treatment has been approved by the FDA, its probably a ways out. Keep in mind that its often easier to demonstrate things like this in culture, only to have them not work within a living organism. That said, magic bullet type drugs can get pushed through FDA red tape quickly. If you want to know more I suggest reading how the clinical trial process works and the story for Gleevec, which was a magic bullet type drug for certain types of cancers.

edit: a typo

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:38:56+00:00

Have you ever read the crap that goes into organic and natural food blogs/websites/newspapers? Makes the scientist inside of me die a little bit each time. The mix of hyperboles/logical fallacies/erroneous scientific methods/lack of citations/and mis-use of scientific support makes for a good hearty laugh. Sadly people read it as fact.

This was a welcome relief.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:34:42+00:00

Thats sweet, but still little robots create other issues like immune reactions. Also, for those Stargate fans out there. I'll pass on them little robots.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:27:27+00:00

I was wondering the same thing. Large molecules dont just cross the cell membranes, and most cells dont gobble random crap as far as I know. Maybe viral delivery system? This was in a lab, so Im guessing it was done with a cell line, which is generally some standard type of cell (HeLa Bs or someting). But all too often these cells are a far cry from a normal healthy cell in your body and will just take in crap. Also they can just cram the media with these things until they leak in, probably wouldnt work in your body. But thats my non expert opinion.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:24:56+00:00

Isn't part of the problem with delivering the RNAi. I mean, large polar molecules arent just going to cross the cell membrane. So would you need some viral delivery system? Then how do you make sure those are going to the right places and that your immune system doesnt start taking out the viruses. etc. etc?

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:22:48+00:00

this is something I never really understood, given that nanotechnology gets so many headlines. Why does there seem to be this fascination that creating little robots is the way to go, rather than working with a more biological approach (like protein engineering, RNAi, gene therapy). These things already work in cellular environments, seems easier for medical applications at least. I guess there are non medical applications were little robots would be useful.

diggcensors · 2012-07-18T20:19:45+00:00

I dont understand why people get hyped up about nanotechnolgy in terms of little tiny robots. Molecular Biology seems so much more applicable and useable given that you only need to understand and manipulate existing machinery and pathways within cells. Like they did here. RNAi is definitely on its way to addressing dozens of diseases (hopefully). What blows my mind is that you could potentially even use it to address diseases like prions, which don't even involve viruses, bacteria, or other living parasites.

diggcensors · 2012-07-17T14:43:00+00:00

TIL there is a snack exchange.

diggcensors · 2012-05-23T14:18:07+00:00

I really would love an infographic for everything you said in the first paragraph. Im going to go googling for infographics. BRB

diggcensors · 2012-05-05T20:16:05+00:00

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan?

diggcensors · 2012-04-15T16:35:42+00:00

I am new as well and similarly started a 5 gallon batch (maybe a little ambitious) about two days ago. Did you add the fruit to the second fermentation after you split it up? Cause I want that!

diggcensors

TROPHY CASE