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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 44: October 13, 2005
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
[TJ], Mike Perry [MP], Steve Van Sickle [SVS], Website
Working Group [WWG].
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In this issue:
* Financial Matters
* M22 Implementation
* Whole-Body Engineering Improvement
* Very Recent Cryopreservation
* Training Matters
* Construction Update
* Florida and California CryoFeasts
* Alcor to Attend Immortality Institute Conference
* Hurricane Katrina
* Announcing Alcor United
* Membership Statistics
* Texas CryoFeast
* Website Update
* Media Update
* Employment Opportunities
* Next Board Meeting
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Financial Matters
The Board appropriation of last month allowed us to catch
up on almost all current and past due account payables.
The arrival after the board meeting of further invoices, in
this case for perfusate components that had been ordered
previously, totaling about $54,000, means that the
appropriation did not go as far as was hoped.
The PCT has been billed for all expenses through the end of
last month, and the most recent payment had part of the
amount owed them subtracted. The remaining amount owed
($70,000 for two cases) will be subtracted from this
billing, bringing us current with the PCT. The CMS fund is
still owed $22,000, and has been billed for one case.
Another case that still needs to be billed should cover
this amount.
Further upcoming expenses that the appropriation will not
cover is the $7,000 still owed for perfusate, about $25,000
in upcoming construction costs not covered by the PCT,
upcoming attorney fees, and an air conditioning repair that
may be as much as $9,000. We are not asking for further
disbursements at this time. [SVS]
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M22 Implementation
Alcor has implemented a new whole-body cryopreservation
procedure which uses a new cryoprotectant solution, M22,
licensed from 21st Century Medicine. The new cryoprotectant
is perfused throughout the entire body using the same
procedures required for glycerol cryoprotection; but while
it cryoprotects the torso, arms, and legs, we are confident
that it is also vitrifying the brain. The main difference,
beyond the composition of the solution, is that
neurovitrification can be done without separating the brain
from the rest of the body.
This new whole-body procedure will now be standard for all
members currently signed up as whole body, as well as for
those whole body members who have executed an open option
contract.
The important thing to realize about this process is what
it cannot do. This is not whole-body vitrification, in the
sense that the entire body is vitrified. Significant
portions of the body do not cryoprotect sufficiently to
vitrify, mostly because things like fatty tissue and
skeletal muscle are not well-vascularized. This new
procedure may not be as optimum for brain cryoprotection as
a simple neuro procedure would be, because of the somewhat
longer cryoprotection and cooling times. Conversely,
compromises needed to protect the brain may lead to under-
cryoprotecting the body, in less ideal cases. But the good
thing to remember is that brain vitrification is now
available to those who wish to remain strictly whole-body,
and that the entire body is cryoprotected intact.
A significant amount of engineering work was done here at
Alcor to ensure the proper use of M22. A new circulating
chiller and perfusion circuit were needed, as were
controlled-temperature enclosures for both the patient and
the perfusion circuit to allow safe perfusion at
temperatures well below the freezing point of water. The
patient enclosure allows further cooling after
cryoprotection, to at least -30 or -40 Celsius, reducing
the hazards of temperature fluctuations while moving the
patient into the next stage of cooling. The credit for this
engineering work belongs to Hugh Hixon and Tanya Jones, who
have done a wonderful job implementing the new procedure.
Those interested in neurovitrification and whole body
cryoprotection will no longer have to face the sorts of
compromises they did in the past, and we believe this is a
significant advance in our capabilities. For those who
would like to know more about M22, the composition and
effects have been published in the scientific literature
listed below [reference 1]. Electron micrographs of the
ultrastructure of brain tissue vitrified with M22 have also
been published [reference 2] and are available on the Alcor
website at http://alcor.org/Library/html/annals.html.
Further information and micrographs explaining the switch
to M22 technology for all Alcor cases can be found on our
website at
http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/newtechnology.html.
As explained in reference 1, M22 has been shown to be
compatible with high viability of tissue slices and with
consistent survival of kidneys after transplantation. This
allows the unprecedented vitrification of the human brain
within the intact human body using a solution that is in
principle capable of preserving tissue viability as
measured by present-day methods. However, to be sure that
the brain will vitrify in compromised human patients, Alcor
currently must perfuse M22 for longer periods of time than
those shown to preserve viability in model systems. In
addition, M22 has not yet been shown to preserve the
viability of the brain in model system studies.
Nevertheless, the use of M22 allows Alcor to come closer
than ever to achieving the goal of in situ brain
vitrification using perfusion conditions that preserve
tissue viability by current standards. It keeps Alcor on
the road to the possible, eventual attainment of this goal.
[SVS/TJ]
(1) Fahy GM, Wowk B, Wu J, Phan J, Rasch C, Chang A,
Zendejas E. Cryopreservation of organs by vitrification:
perspectives and recent advances. Cryobiology. (2004)
Apr;48(2):157-78.
http://www.21cm.com/pdfs/cryopreservation_advances.pdf
(2) Lemler J, Harris SB, Platt C, Huffman TM. The arrest of
biological time as a bridge to engineered negligible
senescence. Ann N Y Acad Sci. (2004) Jun;1019:559-63.
Review. http://alcor.org/Library/html/annals.html
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Whole-Body Engineering Improvement
As was previously reported, we had a visibility problem
with the vapor cooling environment for whole-body patients.
The nitrogen vapor was being circulated around the patient
with such vigor that the surgeons' vision was obscured. Our
controls have now been modified so that the three fans
pushing the vapor through the enclosure can be turned on or
off individually. The reduction in vapor circulating should
allow environmental cooling to continue without impairing
the surgeons' progress. [TJ]
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Very Recent Cryopreservation
An Alcor Member in Louisiana deanimated and his
cryopreservation was started Oct. 11. This brings the Alcor
patient total to 70. Further details will appear in the
next Alcor News and in a future issue of Cryonics. [MP]
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Training Matters
Our last regional training session for the year was held
Sept. 24-25 in southern California. The team learned to
operate their newly-delivered Michigan Instruments Thumper
(Model 1007). On the completion of the Thumper module, the
team dove into a transport simulation, which went smoothly.
I'd like to commend both Bill Voice and all the transport
team members who participated in the more vigorous training
program implemented this year for regional groups. Everyone
has worked hard throughout the course of this year, and the
improvements in competence and skill are obvious. We'll
continue the training program next year, and we hope to
attract more medical professionals, cryonicist volunteers
and other qualified individuals to the teams. [TJ]
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Construction Update
Progress continues on the construction at Alcor. We have
accepted delivery on the second set of operating room
lights. More of the extensive electrical and ducting work
has been completed, and the large door for moving dewars
has been framed. The new door is ready to be installed.
A new lab has also been carved out of the existing space
for Dr. Sheleg. He and Bill Voice worked to create an
environment for Dr. Sheleg's research that includes
improved ventilation and air circulation, a surgical
station, and an operating microscope. Dr. Sheleg has begun
the projects approved by the Research Committee. [TJ]
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Florida and California CryoFeasts
In the past month, two CryoFeasts were held and attended by
several Alcor staff members. Both of these events were well
attended by the general public and Alcor members. We spent
a fair amount of time responding to questions on the
deployment of the transport vehicle and whole-body partial
vitrification system. Even the prospective members at these
events were excited. We hope to capitalize on the interest
in the months to come and have already received multiple
applications from the Florida event. [TJ]
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Alcor to Attend Immortality Institute Conference
You are invited to join Steve Van Sickle, Executive
Director, and Tanya Jones, Director of Technical Operations
at the Immortality Institute Conference on November 5,
2005, in Atlanta. Enjoy this rare opportunity to listen to
their comments about cryonics in a panel discussion. [JC]
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Hurricane Katrina
Anyone affected by Hurricane Katrina is urged to contact
Alcor. We need your current contact info and want to ensure
you are in a safe area that is accessible by aircraft. [TJ]
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Announcing Alcor United
Alcor members have a new forum where they can meet and chat
with other members. Please visit Alcor United
(www.alcorunited.org), an Internet forum for Alcor members
created and moderated by James Conaway, a nine-year member
of Alcor. Conaway says, "I have two main goals for the
forum. (1) Create an easy-to-reach meeting place for Alcor
members to share experiences, thoughts and ideas. (2)
Introduce the world and potential new members to Alcor's
community and culture. The forum is a community building
project. The categories of discussion range from philosophy
and technology to general questions about cryonics and
Alcor. Users are required to register to post in the
majority of the forums, but I have added an anonymous forum
for those who wish to remain anonymous."
Conaway felt a need recently to talk with other Alcor
members and could not find an easy way to do so. He has
attended Alcor events and knows we have a large group of
good people. Alcor United creates a new opportunity for
members to connect with each other and strengthen our
community. [Submitted by James Conaway/JC]
www.alcorunited.org
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Membership Statistics
On September 30, 2005, Alcor had 773 members on its
Emergency Responsibility List. One membership was approved
during this month, one membership was reinstated, and two
memberships were cancelled. Overall, there was a net gain
of zero members this month. We have an average net gain of
6.7 members per month in 2005, which compares favorably to
the average net gain of 4.3 members per month last year.
At the end of this month, Alcor had 68 applicants for
membership. With twelve incoming applicants, one membership
approval, and two people withdrawing from the application
process, there was a net gain of nine applicants.
During the month of September, 183 information packs were
distributed. Of those, 176 were mailed, and 6 were handed
to facility tour participants. Our average for 2005 has
grown to 111 per month, compared to 50 in 2004. There were
775 subscribers to Alcor News as of the September issue.
[DC]
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Texas CryoFeast
Natasha Vita-More is hosting the San Antonio, Texas,
CryoFeast on November 12. Texas members and applicants,
watch for your invitation in the mail soon! [JC]
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Website Update
An estimated 25,514 distinct computers visited Alcor's
website in September. There was a small access spike on
Sept. 5 coincident with the New York Times article on the
Ted Williams "death mask" art exhibit. There was a large
access spike (triple normal traffic) on Sept. 15, the same
day that an Israeli company announced success freezing
sheep ovaries. [WWG]
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Media Update
- FuJi TV: This crew did a 15-minute spot about Alcor on a
news program that is similar to 20/20.
- Red Back Films: This crew is doing a one-hour documentary
about therapeutic hypothermia and cryonics as a logical
extension of treatments involving reduced body temperature.
It will air on Channel 4 in the UK and The Learning Channel
in the US in spring of 2006.
- Zig Zag Productions: Alcor signed an Exclusivity
Agreement with this UK production company licensing them
exclusive rights for up to 12 months of footage of a yet-
to-be-filmed cryopreservation case. The film crew will be
headed by Deb Johnson of WalshCOMM and the footage will be
Alcor's property, with Alcor given full editorial control
prior to releasing the footage to Zig Zag.
- Alcor declined to participate in another reality-based TV
series program.
- The Arizona Capital Times published Alcor's response to
an editorial letter written by Jack Polidoro, a fiction
writer from New Hampshire. Polidoro's original letter,
"Rep. Stump Deserves Praise For Efforts To Oversee Cryonics
Industry":
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=
2531&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=&S=1
Alcor's response, "Letter writer off the mark; Alcor has
stringent financial oversight":
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSect
ionID=5&ArticleID=2623[JC]
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Employment Opportunities
Have you ever thought about joining the Alcor team? We have
immediate needs for licensed Paramedics, Emergency Medical
Technicians, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians and more to
join our nationwide Transport Team. Participation would be
on a contractual basis.
You'll be given cryonics training that will enable you to
participate in our patient rescue and transport cases.
Licensed professionals do not have to be Alcor members to
work with us. We welcome your expertise and interest. If
you're interested, send your resume to:
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Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November
12, 2005, at 11:00 AM (MST).
Board meetings are typically held on the first Saturday of
the month at the Alcor facility (7895 East Acoma Drive in
Scottsdale, AZ). Members and the public are encouraged to
attend.
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End of Alcor News bulletin #44 dated October 13, 2005.
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