Tuesday, April 22, 2025


Your Daily News Update About CALABARZON and Beyond.
ISSN 2799-1911

Home Blog Page 32

Mas mababang PhilHealth contribution, aprubado na sa Kamara

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Mas mababang PhilHealth contribution, aprubado na sa Kamara

MAYNILA. Inaprubahan ng House of Representatives ang panukalang batas na nagtatakda ng pagbaba ng PhilHealth premium contribution rate mula sa kasalukuyang 5% patungong 3.5%.

Ang House Bill 11357, na naglalayong mapalakas ang sistemang pangkalusugan ng bansa, ay lumusot sa ikalawang pagbasa sa pamamagitan ng viva voce o botohan sa pamamagitan ng pagsigaw ng sang-ayon o hindi sang-ayon.

Binabago ng panukalang batas ang Universal Health Care (UHC) Act at isinasaad na anumang pagbabago sa kontribusyon ng PhilHealth ay dapat nakabatay sa actuarial studies na susuriin ng isang independiyenteng organisasyon at kailangang aprubahan ng Kongreso tuwing budget deliberations.

Isa sa mahahalagang probisyon ng panukala ay ang pagbawas ng pasanin ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sa pagbabayad ng kanilang PhilHealth contribution. Sa ilalim ng panukala, ang 50% ng kontribusyon ng mga OFW ay sasagutin ng kanilang employer, habang ang natitirang kalahati ay babayaran ng gobyerno.

Dagdag pa rito, itinakda sa panukalang batas na ang administrative expenses ng PhilHealth, kabilang ang suweldo ng mga empleyado, ay hindi dapat lumampas sa 7.5% ng kabuuang gastusin ng ahensya. Pinuri ni Health Secretary Ted Herbosa ang pagpasa ng panukala at binigyang-diin ang mahalagang papel ni Representative Stella Quimbo sa pagtatanggol sa probisyong ito.

Pinapayagan din ng panukala ang mga lungsod at munisipalidad na magtayo ng Special Health Fund upang mas mapabuti ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan. Ang pondong ito ay pamamahalaan sa ilalim ng gabay ng Department of Health (DOH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), at UHC Coordinating Council.

Nauna nang inaprubahan ng Senado ang kanilang sariling bersyon ng panukalang ito, ang Senate Bill 2620, noong Agosto 2024. Dahil dito, inaasahang isasailalim na ito sa bicameral conference committee upang pag-isahin ang mga probisyon bago tuluyang maisabatas.

NASA’s asteroid samples reveal ingredients for life from a watery world

EDGARDO HERNAL
-
0
NASA’s asteroid samples reveal ingredients for life from a watery world

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Scientists analyzing asteroid samples retrieved by NASA have confirmed that these cosmic remnants contain the building blocks of life, along with traces of an ancient water world, strengthening the theory that asteroids may have played a crucial role in seeding life on Earth.

NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected 122 grams (4 ounces) of dust and pebbles from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, successfully delivering the sample canister to the Utah desert in 2023 before exploring another space rock. This marks the largest extraterrestrial sample haul beyond the Moon, surpassing the previous missions conducted by Japan, which yielded significantly smaller samples.

The newly published studies in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy reveal that Bennu’s samples contain sodium-rich minerals, amino acids, and nitrogen in the form of ammonia—key ingredients in the formation of life. These discoveries suggest that the parent body of Bennu, a larger asteroid that was later fragmented, may have had an extensive underground network of lakes or even oceans before its water evaporated, leaving behind salty deposits.

“That’s the kind of environment that could have been essential to the steps that lead from elements to life,” said Tim McCoy, a meteorite curator at the Smithsonian Institution and one of the lead study authors.

One of the most unexpected findings, according to NASA’s Daniel Glavin, was the high concentration of nitrogen, including ammonia. While similar organic molecules have been detected in meteorites before, the Bennu samples are significant because they were collected directly from the asteroid and carefully preserved, eliminating the possibility of contamination from Earth.

“This discovery was only possible by analyzing samples collected directly from the asteroid and then carefully preserved back on Earth,” noted Yasuhito Sekine of the Institute of Science Tokyo in an accompanying editorial.

McCoy emphasized that the combination of organic materials and sodium-rich salt water, or brines, could be “the pathway to life.” He added, “These processes probably occurred much earlier and were much more widespread than we had thought before.”

The Bennu samples, which date back 4.5 billion years to the formation of the solar system, are currently being analyzed by 60 research laboratories worldwide. The University of Arizona’s Dante Lauretta, the Osiris-Rex mission’s chief scientist, noted that while much of the sample has been set aside for future studies, these initial findings highlight the need for further asteroid and comet sample-return missions.

China is preparing to launch its own asteroid sample-return mission this year, while many scientists advocate for a future mission to the potentially water-rich dwarf planet Ceres in the main asteroid belt. Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus, both of which are believed to harbor subsurface oceans, are also key targets for exploration. Meanwhile, NASA is still determining the best and most cost-effective way to retrieve core samples from Mars, which remain on the planet awaiting transport.

As the search for extraterrestrial life continues, McCoy posed the fundamental question driving these efforts: “Are we alone?”

Palestinians return to Gaza City as ceasefire talks enter next phase

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Palestinians return to Gaza City as ceasefire talks enter next phase

GAZA/CAIRO. Displaced Palestinians returning to Gaza City this week have found the once-thriving urban center in ruins, with the destruction from 15 months of fighting leaving many seeking shelter amid the rubble. As they attempt to rebuild their lives, others search desperately for lost loved ones.

Gaza City, located in the northern part of the enclave, is now a shadow of its former self. Buildings lay destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, and the streets are littered with debris and torn-up concrete. “Look at this scene, there is nothing to say,” said Abu Mohammad, a resident searching for a place to settle. “People will sleep on the ground. There is nothing left.”

Many of those returning had traveled long distances, sometimes 20 kilometers or more, along the coastal highway from the south. “I am waiting for my father, mother, and brother. We lost them on the way,” said Jameel Abed, who trekked from the central Gaza Strip. “We found some lights here and we are waiting for them.”

By Monday evening, Gaza’s Hamas-run authorities reported that over 300,000 displaced individuals, almost half of those evacuated from the north during the war, had made their way back into Gaza City. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of others were still making the journey north, as mediators prepared for the second stage of ceasefire talks scheduled for next week.

As part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, three more Israeli hostages are set to be released on Thursday by Hamas, followed by another three on Saturday. In exchange, a number of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails, with some set to go into exile in countries such as Qatar, Turkey, and Algeria.

In Cairo, Hamas officials, including Mohammad Darwish, head of the group’s leading council, held discussions with Egyptian mediators about potential violations of the ceasefire and efforts to reunify Palestinian factions. One key proposal from Egypt involves forming a committee to manage post-war Gaza.

The current ceasefire agreement, brokered with Egyptian and Qatari mediation and U.S. support, includes the release of 33 hostages over six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. So far, seven hostages and 290 prisoners have been exchanged. A second stage of negotiations, which will focus on the fate of over 60 hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, is set to begin next Tuesday.

The success of these talks could pave the way for a full resolution of the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 47,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities. The violence was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 individuals taken hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced pressure from hardliners in his government, who are unhappy that the agreement leaves Hamas in control of Gaza. Despite this, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri expressed confidence that the second phase of negotiations would proceed as planned, saying, “We are ready to begin negotiations for the second phase at the specified time and are confident that Netanyahu has no choice but to proceed with the second phase.”

What happens after the full implementation of the ceasefire remains uncertain, especially with Israel’s continued insistence that Hamas will not be allowed to retain control of Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians be relocated to Egypt or Jordan has been strongly rejected by both Palestinian officials and residents, further complicating the situation.

Movie review: “Flight Risk” takes off into a dead zone of comedy and thriller chaos

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
-
0
Movie review: “Flight Risk” takes off into a dead zone of comedy and thriller chaos

If you’re looking for a movie this January to leave you scratching your head in confusion and disappointment, Flight Risk might be just what you’re after. Combining a U.S. Marshal, a fugitive, and a dangerously unstable pilot in a small plane might sound like the premise for a joke, but it’s the foundation of a thriller-comedy so forgettable, that it could make you wish for a barf bag before the credits roll.

Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace star in this chaotic ride, which somehow manages to be as nonsensical as it is uncomfortable. The film, which debuts in January, gets a fitting placement among the month’s usual assortment of cinematic disasters. Imagine a slow-motion car crash, but substitute the car with a small plane, and that’s pretty much the essence of Flight Risk.

In what feels like a bargain-bin version of Con Air, Dockery’s federal agent is tasked with transporting Grace’s fugitive-turned-witness to Anchorage. They need to get there fast, so they enlist Wahlberg’s pilot — a man whose “bro’s bro” demeanor soon shows his true colors. But, as expected, nothing is quite what it seems, and Wahlberg’s character turns out to be a psychopath.

The cast, unfortunately, seems to have landed in completely different films. Dockery attempts to channel Lara Croft as a no-nonsense, action-packed problem-solver under extreme pressure. Meanwhile, Grace is caught up in his sitcom, delivering snarky one-liners from the back of the plane. Wahlberg, on the other hand, channels a sinister version of Hannibal Lecter, delivering creepy lines like “We can play hide the hot dog.”

The result? A mess of inconsistent tones that veers from brutal violence to painfully awkward humor. Shootouts and beatdowns clash with terrible puns and an absurd gag about Spirit Airlines. At least Spirit can land something.

Wahlberg’s character is the film’s most fascinating misfire. When we first meet him, he’s enjoying New Order’s Happy Mondays — an odd musical choice that doesn’t fit his sleazebag persona. Later, we discover he’s wearing a wig, but what the filmmakers are trying to convey with these choices is a mystery. Are they suggesting that even balding sociopaths can enjoy 80s British New Wave music? It’s unclear.

Screenwriter Jared Rosenberg seems obsessed with scatological humor, peppering the script with moments of public urination and cringeworthy lines like “I have a Museum of Modern Art in my pants” after a particularly harrowing flying sequence. Flight Risk may just be the first airborne thriller to reference Jackson Pollock.

The film’s premise could have led to high tension. The idea that killing the murderous pilot might doom everyone on board is ripe for suspense, but instead, we’re served up with flabby dialogue. At one point, Wahlberg quips, “You know the last thing that goes through your mind in a crash? Your ass.”

The third act attempts to maintain any semblance of intrigue as Dockery uncovers a government conspiracy using only her cellphone and natural suspicion while piloting a plane she has no idea how to fly 3,000 feet over Alaska’s icy landscape. If that weren’t enough, she starts a flirtatious radio relationship with a fellow pilot tasked with helping them land — yet again, at the controls of a plane she can’t fly in freezing conditions.

Director Mel Gibson, making his return to the director’s chair after nearly a decade, delivers a film that could have been a tense thriller. Unfortunately, his approach is as erratic as the movie itself. The camera shifts between the cramped interior of the plane and the expansive Alaskan wilderness, sometimes too close for comfort, especially when focusing on Dockery’s increasingly bruised face.

At the end of the day, Flight Risk is a disaster of its own making. Despite the strange slogan, “Y’all Need a Pilot?” the more fitting tagline would be “Y’all Need a Filmmaker.”

Flight Risk, a Lionsgate release, opens in theaters this Friday. It’s rated R for violence and language, with a runtime of 91 minutes. Verdict: Zero stars out of four.

DA posibleng magpatupad ng max SRP sa pork laban sa overpricing

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
DA posibleng magpatupad ng max SRP sa pork laban sa overpricing

MAYNILA. Pinag-aaralan ngayon ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang posibilidad ng pagpapataw ng maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) sa baboy upang mapigilan ang labis na pagtaas ng presyo sa mga pamilihan.

Ayon kay DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, kasalukuyang isinasagawa ang pagsusuri upang matukoy ang tamang MSRP para sa baboy bilang tugon sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo nito sa merkado.

“Tinitingnan natin ang tamang presyo na dapat ipataw bilang MSRP upang maiwasan ang overpricing. Kasabay nito, titiyakin natin na ang markup mula sa farmgate price hanggang sa retail price ay nasa katanggap-tanggap na antas,” ani De Mesa.

Binalaan din ni De Mesa ang mga negosyanteng mapapatunayang sangkot sa profiteering, na maaari silang kasuhan sa ilalim ng Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

Mataas na Presyo sa Kabila ng Matatag na Suplay

Ipinunto ni De Mesa na hindi dapat lumagpas ng PHP100 ang dagdag-presyo mula sa farmgate price hanggang sa retail price. Gayunman, lumalabas na mas mataas pa rito ang kasalukuyang presyo ng baboy sa merkado.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang farmgate price ng baboy ay nasa PHP220 hanggang PHP250, ngunit ang presyo nito sa pamilihan ay umaabot sa mahigit PHP400 kada kilo.

Narito ang kasalukuyang presyo ng baboy sa Metro Manila:

  • Pork liempo – PHP426/kg
  • Pork kasim – PHP330-400/kg

Mas mura naman ang frozen na produkto ng baboy:

  • Frozen liempo – PHP280-350/kg
  • Frozen kasim – PHP230-280/kg

DA Mag-iimbestiga sa Posibleng Profiteering

Ayon sa DA, kinakailangan pa nila ng dalawang linggo upang malaman ang tunay na sanhi ng pagtaas ng presyo ng baboy, sa kabila ng matatag na suplay nito. Kabilang sa imbestigasyon ang pagbusisi sa posibleng profiteering ng ilang negosyante sa merkado.

Patuloy namang nakikipag-ugnayan ang DA sa iba’t ibang stakeholders upang matiyak ang sapat at abot-kayang suplay ng baboy para sa publiko.

Multiple dead in stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh festival

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Multiple dead in stampede at India’s Maha Kumbh festival

PRAYAGRAJ, India. A deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of more than seven people and left around ten others injured, according to an official source. The incident occurred as tens of millions of Hindu devotees gathered in Prayagraj to take a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week festival.

Drone footage captured an overwhelming sea of pilgrims arriving in the pre-dawn hours, moving shoulder to shoulder as they made their way toward the river. However, chaos erupted around 1 a.m. local time (1930 GMT) when an initial stampede broke out. While officials initially dismissed it as “not serious,” witnesses reported that panic spread when devotees trying to escape found exits blocked by authorities, leading to a second and more devastating stampede.

A Reuters journalist on the scene described seeing several dead bodies as ambulances rushed toward the riverbanks. Shocking images showed bodies being carried away on stretchers, while others sat weeping amid a chaotic landscape littered with discarded belongings.

“I saw many people falling and getting walked on by the crowd… many children and women getting lost, crying for help,” said a devotee named Ravin, who had traveled from Mumbai to attend the festival.

Authorities deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialized crisis response unit, to bring the situation under control and conduct rescue operations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging for “immediate support measures,” according to news agency ANI.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, regarded as the world’s largest religious gathering, had already drawn staggering numbers, with approximately 148 million attendees recorded in just two weeks. Devotees believe that bathing at the confluence of three rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—washes away sins and grants salvation from the cycle of rebirth.

This year’s festival holds exceptional significance due to a rare celestial alignment occurring after 144 years. Officials had anticipated a record 100 million people to participate in the holy dip on Wednesday, making crowd control a major challenge.

The festival attracts not only religious leaders but also high-profile figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and international celebrities like Coldplay’s Chris Martin and actress Dakota Johnson, who reportedly arrived in Prayagraj on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit the festival next month.

Following the tragedy, ascetic leader Ravindra Puri announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated ‘royal bath’ of saints and seers. “All of our saints and seers were ready for the ‘snan’ (bath) when we were informed about this incident. That is why we have decided to call off our ‘snan’,” he stated.

Authorities had implemented numerous safety measures, including increased security, additional medical personnel, special transport arrangements, and AI-powered crowd management systems. However, this incident has raised concerns about the adequacy of such measures, particularly given the precedent set in 2013, when a stampede on the festival’s most auspicious day claimed at least 36 lives, mostly women.

As investigations into the cause of the stampede continue, officials have urged devotees to follow safety protocols and avoid overcrowding at the riverbanks. “All of you should follow the administration’s instructions and cooperate in making arrangements. People are bathing peacefully at all the ghats of Sangam,” Adityanath reassured on messaging platform X.

With millions still expected to attend in the coming days, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure that history does not repeat itself at this sacred yet perilous event.

Binawi ng DOJ ang Dengvaxia cases laban kina Garin, 2 iba pa

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Binawi ng DOJ ang Dengvaxia cases laban kina Garin, 2 iba pa

MAYNILA. Inatras na ng Department of Justice (DOJ) ang mga kasong isinampa laban kay dating Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin at dalawang iba pang opisyal kaugnay ng kontrobersiyal na Dengvaxia vaccine.

Sa resolusyong pirmado ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla noong Enero 10, 2025, iniutos ang pag-withdraw ng 98 counts ng kasong reckless imprudence resulting in homicide laban kina Garin, Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, at Dr. Ma. Joyce Ducusin sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Ayon kay Remulla, matapos ang masusing pagsusuri sa mga dokumento, wala silang nakitang prima facie case o sapat na basehan para sa kasong may “reasonable certainty of conviction” laban sa mga respondent.

“Walang Malisyosong Intensiyon”
Ipinahayag din sa resolusyon na walang malisyosong intensiyon ang mga nasasakdal at hindi rin sila maaring panagutin sa umano’y pagsasabwatan.
“In the scheme of things that transpired involving Dengvaxia, we found that the step-by-step procedures undertaken by respondents-appellants, leading to the implementation of the program, do not exhibit inexcusable lack of precaution to hold them liable for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide,” ayon sa resolusyon.

Sinabi rin ng DOJ na ang mga opisyal ay may sapat na batayan para umasa sa Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) na inisyu ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para sa Dengvaxia, kabilang na ang resulta ng mga clinical trials.

Dagdag pa nito, “Plus, before the Dengvaxia was purchased and distributed, a rigorous bidding process in accordance with existing laws for its procurement was undertaken by the concerned parties.”

Walang Koneksyon ang Bakuna sa Mga Kaso ng Pagkamatay
Inihayag din ng DOJ na wala silang nakitang direktang kaugnayan sa pagitan ng pagbabakuna ng Dengvaxia at sa pagkamatay ng mga mag-aaral na iniulat sa mga complaint-affidavit.
“Rigorous scientific studies conducted by the World Health Organization and other respected experts clearly point to a contrary conclusion that there is causal link between them,” dagdag pa ni Remulla.

Mga Biktima, Nananawagan ng Hustisya
Samantala, dumagsa sa DOJ ang mga kaanak ng mga biktima, kasama ang Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), upang apela­han ang naturang resolusyon.

Patuloy na nananawagan ang mga pamilya ng hustisya para sa mga biktima ng kontrobersiyal na bakuna.

Maharlika investment secures 20% stake in SGP, gains influence in NGCP

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
-
0
Maharlika investment secures 20% stake in SGP, gains influence in NGCP

The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) has acquired a 20% stake in Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP), granting it significant influence with two board seats each in SGP and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) highlighted the strategic importance of this investment, describing it as an opportunity for the government to strengthen its oversight and influence over the country’s vital power infrastructure. “This aims to guarantee that every Filipino has access to reliable and affordable power,” the PCO stated.

Since January 2009, the NGCP has held full authority over the management and operations of the national transmission system under a franchise granted by Congress.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. presided over the signing of the binding term sheet between MIC and SGP at Malacañang Palace on Monday afternoon. During the ceremony, the President acknowledged the challenges that had been overcome in finalizing the agreement. “Congratulations, everyone. I know it wasn’t easy. I think, in the end, we found a good solution to everyone’s concern,” he said.

MIC President and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. signed the agreement alongside SGP Chairman Henry Sy Jr. Consing emphasized the representation this deal secures for the government. “Once the acquisition is completed, we shall be entitled to two out of nine seats in the SGP board, after the total seats are increased from seven to nine. At NGCP, the government gains representation through two out of 15 board seats, following an increase in the total seats from 10 to 15,” Consing explained.

The MIC investment involves subscribing to preferred shares offered by SGP, which holds a 40.2% effective ownership interest in NGCP, the country’s power grid operator.

Meanwhile, SGP shares closed at PHP 10.98 apiece on Monday, January 27, down by PHP 1.02 or 8.50% from the previous session’s close of PHP 12.00.

This development underscores the administration’s commitment to securing the country’s energy infrastructure and ensuring sustainable power for the Filipino people.

Hamas reveals 8 hostages among remaining 26 are dead

Venus L Peñaflor
-
0
Hamas reveals 8 hostages among remaining 26 are dead

TEL AVIV. Hamas has informed Israeli officials that eight of the remaining 26 hostages expected to be released as part of the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire are deceased, according to a Middle Eastern official briefed on the matter. This marks the first time Hamas has disclosed exact numbers regarding the status of hostages.

A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the numbers provided by Hamas align with intelligence gathered by Israeli authorities.

Earlier, three hostages — Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, a dual British citizen — were freed in exchange for 90 Palestinian detainees, primarily women and children. On Saturday, four female Israeli soldiers were released in a separate exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, many serving life sentences for deadly attacks.

The ceasefire’s initial phase, expected to last until early March, involves the release of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for the second phase remain unresolved.

Tensions rose Saturday when Israel barred Palestinian civilians from returning to northern Gaza, alleging that Hamas violated the truce by failing to release hostage Arbel Yehoud as agreed. In turn, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the agreement.

Qatar, a key mediator in the talks, announced Monday that Yehoud and two other hostages are slated for release before Friday. Additionally, three more captives are expected to be freed Saturday. Many Israelis remain hopeful that Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage still held in Gaza, will be among them.

Kfir Bibas was just shy of 9 months old when he, his 5-year-old brother Ariel, and their parents Yarden and Shiri were abducted during Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Kfir turned 2 earlier this month, marking his second birthday in captivity.

While other child hostages were released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023, the Bibas family remained in captivity. On one of the truce’s final days, Hamas claimed in a statement that Kfir, his mother, and his brother were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The Oct. 7 attack resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and around 250 hostages being taken. Following Israel’s subsequent military response, Gaza’s health authorities report that over 47,000 people have died.

The world’s sole recipient of a functioning pig organ is thriving two months after the transplant

EDGARDO HERNAL
-
0
The world’s sole recipient of a functioning pig organ is thriving two months after the transplant

NEW YORK. Towana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, has become the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant, thriving two months after receiving a genetically engineered pig kidney. Her vibrant recovery marks a significant step forward in the experimental field of xenotransplantation, offering hope for the thousands waiting for organ transplants.

“I’m superwoman,” Looney said, laughing as she described her newfound energy. She told The Associated Press she’s been outpacing family members on walks around New York City during her recovery. “It’s a new take on life.”

Looney’s progress is a morale boost for scientists striving to make animal-to-human transplants a reality. To date, only four other Americans have received gene-edited pig organ transplants—two hearts and two kidneys—but none survived beyond two months.

“If you saw her on the street, you would have no idea that she’s the only person in the world walking around with a pig organ inside them that’s functioning,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant team at NYU Langone Health.

A Record-Breaking Transplant

Looney’s transplant has been successful so far, with her kidney functioning “absolutely normal,” according to Montgomery. She is expected to return to her Gadsden, Alabama, home in about a month after completing her post-surgery checkups in New York.

“We’re quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work well for a significant period of time,” Montgomery added.

Scientists are genetically modifying pigs to make their organs more compatible with humans, addressing the critical shortage of transplantable human organs. Over 100,000 people in the U.S. are on the organ transplant list, with many requiring kidneys. Thousands die annually while waiting.

Pig organ transplants are currently limited to “compassionate use” cases, permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in extraordinary circumstances. Hospitals are sharing their findings to prepare for the first formal studies of xenotransplantation, which could begin this year.

Learning from Looney’s Journey

Looney’s case provides invaluable insights for researchers. She had developed exceptionally high levels of antibodies that made her body prone to rejecting human kidneys after she donated one of her kidneys to her mother in 1999. When her remaining kidney failed years later, she spent eight years on dialysis before seeking the pig organ experiment.

Discharged just 11 days after the November 25 surgery, Looney has been closely monitored by Montgomery’s team. Early signs of rejection were detected about three weeks post-surgery, but doctors successfully treated the issue using lessons learned from previous research.

Her case is now guiding ongoing research. “How Looney fares is very precious experience,” said Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital, who performed the world’s first pig kidney transplant in 2022.

A Personal Mission to Inspire Others

Looney has taken on a role as an advocate, sharing her experience with others struggling with the long wait for organ transplants. Through social media, she has offered support to individuals considering pig organ transplants, encouraging them to make decisions based on their faith and personal convictions.

“I love talking to people, I love helping people,” Looney said. “I want to be, like, some educational piece” to aid scientists in their mission to help others.

Looking Ahead

While it is uncertain how long her new kidney will function, Looney’s case is a pioneering success that may pave the way for more advanced xenotransplantation techniques.

“The truth is we don’t really know what the next hurdles are because this is the first time we’ve gotten this far,” Montgomery said. “We’ll have to continue to really keep a close eye on her.”

Looney’s recovery serves as a beacon of hope for the medical community and the countless lives that could one day benefit from such groundbreaking advancements.

1...313233...633Page 32 of 633




Tutubi Digital News will shape up the way you stay up to date with the goings-on around Calabarzon, and the world. Tutubi is committed to keep you socially active. Tutubi updates on the Go!


Contact us:

info@tutubi.ph

Popular Posts

Popular category

World News2630PH News2577Curiosity558Opinion345Science331

Developed by Tutubi Digital Marketing Solutions | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions of Use | Cookie Policy | All rights reserved