X-Message-Number: 8968
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 09:12:03 -0500
From: "Stephen W. Bridge" <>
Subject: BioTime Experiments

To CryoNet
From Steve Bridge
January 5, 1998
 
In response to:    Message #8966
                   From:  (Randy Smith)
                   Subject: Anyone know about this?
                   Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 02:10:06 GMT
 
 
Thanks for posting this Randy.  It was a combination of truth, fantasy,
and lies, very common especially in British publications.  The title of
the article alone is wrong:
 
>Frozen baboons returned to life
 
They weren't "dead" and they weren't "frozen."  Paul Segal and and Hal
Sternberg of BioTime spoke about these experiments at the Alcor
Conference in February, 1997. These experiments were in blood washout
and blood thining with Hextend at low -- but not freezing --
temperatures.  BioTime has indeed extended these techniques to baboons
in anticipation of human experiments. The clinical use of these
techniques and chemicals will be to prolong surgical times, provide
blood substitutes at times of low blood supply or for people whose
religion prevents them from receiving blood transfusions.
 
>>SCIENTISTS have unlocked the secret of suspended animation by
>>successfully reviving baboons hours after their bodies were packed into
>>crates of ice.
 
>Yes, but at what temp? This has already been done, hasn't it?
 
Yes.  This is not what WE would call "suspended animation," but the press
routinely uses that term for anything similar.
 
>>The breakthrough, which holds huge implications for the battle against
>>disease and ageing, will allow humans to preserve their ice-cold bodies
>>in suspended animation and wake up years later in the same physical
>>condition.
 
Biotimes scientists are certainly interested in suspended animation, but
this "breakthrough" is a long way from suspended animation.  This is just
sloppy, sensationalistic reporting.
 
>>Sternberg and his colleagues expect to use their new techniques to put
>>themselves into long-term hibernation while they await the development
>>of life-extending techniques to cure and prevent cancer, heart failure
>>and Alzheimer's disease.
 
No, I don't think Hal and Paul are ready to head off into hibernation.
The writer has accidentally or purposely confused this with cryonics.
 
>>Doctors believe the technique can immediately be used in complex
>>surgery, where best results can be obtained by cooling the body to a
>>level which would otherwise cause brain damage.
 
This is true and is what is really going on.
 
 
Steve Bridge
Chairman of the Board
Alcor Life Extension Foundation

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