Wow...are the dead really dead?

[GlassOnion]

Now the long dead, like more than a few hours are dead for good. But what about those that have been dead for an hour? Or two? The way I learned it was 2 minutes without oxygen is clinical death (apply CPR here) and 5 is biological death where you couldn't be resucitated without a hospital and even then maybe not.

But apparently that's not the case. Apparently it's the sudden flood of oxygen that kills the cells that are in stasis due to a lack of oxygen. Clinical death still applies but biological death? Maybe not so much.

Really interesting article.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18368186/site/newsweek/


So what I'm reallllly curious about is how this is going to affect anything, if at all. Will, instead of a mad dash of "OXYGEN! STAT! PADDLES! CHARGING! CLEAR! BZZZT!! HIT HIM AGAIN!", will situations be handled more of "Ok we need no more than a liter of oxygen, we don't want to overload the cells, any more than that and we'll lose him. Ok someone get me some ice, he's way too hot to be coming out of this." and a few hours/days later his cells are back to functioning entirely and he's back at his 9-5? (in which case he may be pissed but ya know...)

VERY interesting. Whodathunkit?

I'm curious as to where this is going.

 

[Gig 'Em Ags]

Howdy G.O.!!! It's refreshing that you demonstrate an interest in science---kudos for you!!! Within the near future, employing hypothermic stasis at the cellular level shall be quite the norm both in a clinical setting, and soon afterwards, in the field via paramedics. Development(s) of an injectible microparticulate ice slurry (based on perflurocarbons) with the ability to effectively cool the cells is meeting with great success during non-clinical trials. Many of my peers and I have utilized hypothermia, albeit external, during resuscitative efforts via cooling blankets and ice applied to the head (brain cells are particularly sensitive) for many, many years. Mind, this is grand for those patients who DON'T have an underlying end stage disease or have suffered extensive, inoperable trauma. In such cases, provide comfort for the patient and loved ones, not heroics. Best of success with your academics and life!!! Whoop!!!

 

[deardoggy.com]

Very interesting article. Shows you that we still have a lot to learn, even when we "know everything"

 

[Tracer Tong]

Yes, very interesting. I'm glad that people are still thinking these days.

 

[Fruit bat]

Thanks for posting. If this is true then how does the oxygen bottle affect the cancer patient? wait I'm going back to reread.

 

[~Jessie~]

I'm also curious how the patients will wake up... I know that when my grandmother was recussitated after only minutes, it caused brain damage =/

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

That was really interesting GO. There's so much out there for us to learn!! Wow!!

 

[GlassOnion]

I'm also curious how the patients will wake up... I know that when my grandmother was recussitated after only minutes, it caused brain damage =/

I'll bet it's due to a slow acclimation over time. Cells can go without oxygen and function under anaerobic conditions and still produce energy. Death in the new light is most likely what happens when the energy in the body that was stored pre-death and the energy produced by the cells under anaerobic conditions (because they can't produce near as much without oxygen) is just not enough to keep the cells alive and THEN they start dying off.

But when you flood those cells with oxygen something must happen. It seems that it's a one way switch you know? They can go to anaerobic production of energy (glycolysis) quickly but not from anaerobic to aerobic.

So you'll most likely have to introduce oxygen back into the system over a period of time. A trickle instead of a flood.


I'm no doctor/biologist mind you but it makes sense to me. I hope they publish more about it.


One flaw with that is if your body is using all this stored energy, wouldn't fat people just lose a lot of fat under death? I could see it now "kill me! I have to lose 40 pounds before next week!"

Unless the energy stored in fat isn't accessible without oxygen, which may be the case. So it might just be your body living off what ATP it already has in it and what ATP it can produce without oxygen and once the ATP you had pre-death wears out and your body can't keep up with the demand while under anaerobic conditions, your cells - and you - die for good.

 

[joce]

there was a show on tlc/discovery health maybe? years ago about this. there have been children who have been under water for at least 30 min and some claim hours who have come out of it just fine. I think thats were the research started. there is an articel in one of my med books at home to but I need to fine it.

No time to write now but I ahve lots more to say

 

[Zoom]

Very, very interesting...I will definitely keep my ears open.

 

[~Jessie~]

So you'll most likely have to introduce oxygen back into the system over a period of time. A trickle instead of a flood.

This is what I was thinking, as well. It's going to be crazy to see how things pan out over the next 50 years. I've done a good bit of reading on cryo as well, as I went through a 'terrified of death' stage about a year ago. I hope that eventually you can be 'brought' back if you are well preserved after death. Although, this is a double edge sword... because of the issue of overpopulation.