美国科学家研究“起死回生术”

 A groundbreaking trial to see if it is possible to regenerate¹ the brains of dead people, has won approval from health watchdogs.

探究死者大脑能否重获新生的开创性实验已获卫生监管部门批准可以开展。

A biotech company in the US has been granted ethical² permission to recruit 20 patients who have been declared clinically dead from a traumatic brain injury, to test whether parts of their central nervous system can be brought back to life.

美国一家生物科技公司获得伦理许可，将招募20位因脑创伤被宣布临床死亡的病人，用于测试他们的部分中枢神经系统能否被复苏。

Scientists will use a combination of therapies, which include injecting the brain with stem cells and a cocktail⁴ of peptides, as well as deploying⁵ lasers and nerve stimulation⁶ techniques which have been shown to bring patients out of comas⁸.

科学家们将合用多种治疗方法，包括给大脑注入干细胞和混合多肽，以及利用激光和神经刺激技术等等。激光神经刺激技术此前被证实能让病人从昏迷中苏醒。

起死回生术

The trial participants will have been certified⁹ dead and only kept alive through life support. They will be monitored for several months using brain imaging equipment to look for signs of regeneration, particularly in the upper spinal¹⁰ cord - the lowest region of the brain stem which controls independent breathing and heartbeat.

接受试验者必须已经被确认为死亡，只靠生命维持设备维持生命体征。研究者将通过大脑成像设备进行几个月的监测，寻找重生信号，特别是在高位脊髓区域。高位脊髓是脑干的最低部位，它控制着独立呼吸和心跳。

The team believes that the brain stem cells may be able to erase¹¹ their history and re-start life again, based on their surrounding tissue – a process seen in the animal kingdom in creatures like salamanders who can regrow entire limbs.

研究团队相信，基于周围组织，脑干细胞也许可以抹去历史，重启生命。这样的过程经常见于动物王国，比如像娃娃鱼这样的生物就可以重新长出完好的肢干。

Dr Ira Pastor¹², the CEO of Bioquark Inc. said: “This represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual¹³ reversal of death in our lifetime.

“Bioquark”公司执行总裁艾拉·帕斯特博士说：“这是人类首次进行此类实验，是我们在有生之年逆转死亡的又一次尝试。

"We just received approval for our first 20 subjects and we hope to start recruiting patients immediately from this first site – we are working with the hospital now to identify families where there may be a religious or medical barrier to organ donation.

“我们刚得到批准，可以先对20位受试者进行试验，我们希望能立刻开始招募病人，就从这里的第一个试验地点开始着手——我们现在正与院方携手，看看哪些家庭可能由于宗教或医疗限制不能捐献器官。

"To undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders¹⁴ of consciousness.

“为了开展如此复杂的试验，我们将运用生物再生医学方法，并结合其它通常用于刺激中枢神经系统的医疗手段，治疗患有其它严重意识障碍的病人。

"We hope to see results within the first two to three months."

“我们希望在两三个月内看到结果。”

The ReAnima Project has just received approval in India, and the team plans to start recruiting patients immediately.

这项重生计划也刚在印度获得批准，研究团队计划立即开始招募病人。

The first stage, named 'First In Human Neuro-Regeneration & Neuro-Reanimation' will be a non-randomised, single group 'proof of concept' and will take place at Anupam Hospital in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand India.

此研究的第一阶段——“人类首次神经复苏和再生”，将会是一组非随机的“概念验证”，试验将在印度北阿坎德邦卢德拉普尔的安努帕姆医院进行。

The peptides will be administered into the spinal cord daily via a pump, with the stem cells given bi-weekly, over the course of a 6 week period.

在长达六周的疗程里，研究人员每天都会通过泵送的方式往病人脊髓里注入多肽，每两周注入一次干细胞。

Dr Pastor added: "It is a long term vision of ours that a full recovery in such patients is a possibility, although that is not the focus of this first study – but it is a bridge to that eventuality."

帕斯特博士补充说：“我们认为，从长远来看，这样的病人是有可能完全复苏的。尽管我们第一次试验还达不到这样的目标，但却是最终实现这一目标的桥梁。”

Brain stem death is when a person no longer has any brain stem functions, and has permanently¹⁵ lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe.

如果一个人的脑干不再有任何功能，并永久失去了恢复意识和恢复呼吸的可能，就算脑干死亡。

A person is confirmed as being dead when their brain stem function is permanently lost.

如果一个人永久丧失了脑干功能，就被临床确认为死亡。

However, although brain dead humans are technically¹⁶ no longer alive, their bodies can often still circulate blood, digest food, excrete waste, balance hormones¹⁷, grow, sexually mature, heal wounds, spike¹⁸ a fever, and gestate and deliver a baby.

然而，尽管从技术上讲，脑死亡的人已经死了，但他们的身体通常还能进行血液循环、消化食物、排泄废物、平衡荷尔蒙、生长、性成熟、愈合伤口、抑制发烧、怀孕和生小孩。

Recent studies have also suggested that some electrical activity and blood flow continues after brain cell death, just not enough to allow for the whole body to function.

最近的研究也表明，脑细胞死亡后，脑电活动和血液流通仍在继续，只不过还不足以作用于整个身体。

And while human beings lack substantial regenerative capabilities¹⁹ in the central nervous system, many non-human species, such as amphibians²⁰ and certain fish, can repair, regenerate and remodel²¹ substantial portions of their brain and brain stem even after critical life-threatening trauma³.

尽管人类中枢神经系统中缺少强劲的重生能力，但很多非人类物种，比如两栖动物和某些鱼类，甚至在大脑受到威胁生命的严重创伤之后，仍然可以自我修复、新生并重建大脑和脑干的很多部分。

“Through our study, we will gain unique insights into the state of human brain death, which will have important connections to future therapeutic²² development for other severe disorders of consciousness, such as coma⁷, and the vegetative and minimally²³ conscious states, as well as a range of degenerative CNS conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease,” added Dr Sergei Paylian, Founder²⁴, President, and Chief Science Officer of Bioquark Inc.

“Bioquark”公司创始人、总裁兼首席科学官谢尔盖·佩林博士说：“通过这项独特的研究，我们可以深入了解人类大脑死亡的状况，对今后治疗其它严重意识障碍有重要影响，比如昏迷、植物状态、阿尔兹海默和帕金森等一系列中枢神经系统退化问题。”

Commenting on the trial, Dr Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist at the Cardiff University’s Centre for Medical Education said: “While there have been numerous demonstrations²⁵ in recent years that the human brain and nervous system may not be as fixed²⁶ and irreparable as is typically assumed, the idea that brain death could be easily reversed seems very far-fetched, given our current abilities and understanding of neuroscience.

卡迪夫大学医学教育中心神经科学家迪恩·伯内特博士这样评论此次试验：“近年来，尽管很多证据都表明人类大脑和神经系统也许不像人们通常设想的那样不可更改、难以修复，但是，鉴于我们现有的能力和对神经科学的理解，‘大脑死亡能被轻易扭转’的这个想法仍然是非常不着边际的。”

"Saving individual parts might be helpful but it's a long way from resurrecting a whole working brain, in a functional²⁷, undamaged state."

“修复某几个部分也许还有可能，但要复活整个大脑，使其功能运转正常、完好无损，还有很长的路要走。”

Vocabulary

traumatic: 创伤的

cocktail: 鸡尾酒：混合物

spike: 以尖物刺伤；阻止

gestate: 孕育

degenerative: 退化的

1 regenerate   

vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的

参考例句：

• Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
• Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易，但你有使生活重获新生的能力。

2 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

3 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

4 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

5 deploying   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的现在分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Provides support for developing and deploying distributed, component-based applications. 为开发和部署基于组件的分布式应用程序提供支持。
• Advertisement, publishing, repair, and install-on-demand are all available when deploying your application. 在部署应用程序时提供公布、发布、修复和即需即装功能。

6 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

7 coma   

n.昏迷，昏迷状态

参考例句：

• The patient rallied from the coma.病人从昏迷中苏醒过来。
• She went into a coma after swallowing a whole bottle of sleeping pills.她吃了一整瓶安眠药后就昏迷过去了。

8 comas   

n.昏迷( coma的名词复数 )

参考例句：

9 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

10 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

11 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。

12 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

13 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

14 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

16 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

17 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

18 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

19 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

20 amphibians   

两栖动物( amphibian的名词复数 )； 水陆两用车； 水旱两生植物； 水陆两用飞行器

参考例句：

• The skin of amphibians is permeable to water. 两栖动物的皮肤是透水的。
• Two amphibians ferry them out over the sands. 两辆水陆两用车把他们渡过沙滩。

21 remodel   

v.改造，改型，改变

参考例句：

• Workmen were hired to remodel and enlarge the farm buildings.雇用了工人来改造和扩建农场建筑。
• I'll remodel the downstairs bedroom first.我先要装修楼下那间房间。

22 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

23 minimally   

最低限度地，最低程度地

参考例句：

• Food spoilage problems occur with minimally processed, concentrated frozen citrus products. 食品的变质也发生在轻微加工的、浓缩冷冻的柑橘制品中。
• So, minimally, they are responsible for such actions and omissions. 所以，至少来说，他们要对这样的行为和忽略负责。

24 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

25 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

26 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

27 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。