X-Message-Number: 13370
From: Brent Thomas <>
Subject: speculative affirmative action
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 17:04:35 -0500 

We know that despite recent advances in vitrification protocols (ala 21st
cent medicine) that there are still substantial problems with applying
cryoprotectant solutions
and tissue cooling rapidly enough to achieve minimal damage to large organ
tissue. Its been on my mind that there might be actions, although prohibited
by law to suspension teams (it seems there are laws about beginning
suspension procedures before clinical death -- silly I know but that's a
whole other debate), which an individual could
perform which might enhance the success of the suspension protocols.

It seems that some of the obvious problems are:

  - cryprotectant perfusion into cells rapidly
  - cooling without ice formation

What I'd like to see (both here in discussion and at the major cryocare
sites in the form of a FAQ and/or ongoing bulletin) is some thoughts as to 
actions that an individual could undertake to minimize the known problems
before clinical death. Granted its unusual for someone to have this kind of
notice but consider the situation where you are 1) a paid up member with
perfusion teams standing by and 2) are informed by a doctor that you have a
month to live (its a hypothetical situation...very unlikely but hey you've
got to start somewhere). What actions could the individual take, leading up
to the moment of clinical death, which would enhance the ability of the
suspension to be successful? (obviously these are not things a healthy 30
(or for that matter 80+) year old would do but only apply to the special
situation described above -- or to future preparations for de-animation
which are pre-clinical death if laws were changed)

- The first thought that comes to me is some kind of loading of the vascular
system with non-toxic cryoprotectants before death. This could be done
through:

   1) ingestion
       - are there cryoprotectant chemicals that can safely be added to the
food/digestion system and that will be retained in the body by doing this?
       - possible beneficial effects in loading the system with vitamins (if
so which ones?)
   2) injection
       - again are there compounds which will provide a beneficial
cryoprotectant effect that while maybe "bad" for long term exposure could be
"loaded" into the body
         and given time to incorporate into cells without imposing a toxic
effect that would be unacceptable?
       - could the blood even be fully or partially replaced with some other
material which would still provide oxygen but also disperse cryoprotectants
for any amount
         of time while the subject was still alive and functional?
   3) genetic manipulation
       -- many cold water fish have blood and cells which are effectively an
"anti-freeze" compared to our blood, with the upcoming ability to insert
genetic sequences
          into in vivo cells and have them produce chemical compounds could
the cells of the body itself be changed to produce biologic "anti-freeze" or
cryoprotectants?
   
  (bottom line here is rather than force non-functional cells sometime after
death to uptake the protectants can they be pre-loaded while still
functional without overwhelming effects to the organism? Has any research
been done to see what levels of desired chemicals might be absorbed (or
manufactured) in vivo?)

anyway these were just some of my thoughts and will hopefully spark some
thought and discussion (and perhaps generate a FAQ that might be useful to
people as the laws are changed to be more understanding of the goals of
suspension) and some of the ideas might even be useful to persons expecting
to undergo suspension in today's near-term timeframe.

please comment as I know my background is lacking in some of the medical
aspects of this kind of discussion.

Brent Thomas

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