〔編譯張沛元／綜合十三日外電報導〕十三日發表於英國「自然醫學」期刊上的一份研究指出，美國科學家已成功在實驗室中，透過對取自動物屍首的回收心臟注入活細胞，讓這些心臟恢復跳動。此舉若能應用於人類器官，無數罹患絕症的病人將可享受幾乎源源不絕的心臟或甚至其他器官的供應。

該研究負責人、明尼蘇達大學心血管修復中心主任泰勒說，該實驗構想在於利用病患自己的細胞，發展出可移植的血管或整個器官。儘管醫界在製造活心臟細胞上已有長足進步，但上述實驗是讓一整個生物性人工心臟重新恢復跳動的首例。攸關該實驗成敗的最主要程序，在於「去細胞化」（decellularisation），也就是使用化學藥劑剝除器官裡的所有細胞（本實驗中為死老鼠的心臟），只留下被漂白、細胞蛋白質組成的支架。

第八天 心臟開始跳動

研究人員接著將取自新生老鼠心臟細胞的混合物，注入細胞已被去除的死老鼠心臟，然後將心臟置於無菌實驗室環境下，以期心臟裡的細胞能生長。四天後，死老鼠的心臟開始收縮；第八天，心臟開始跳動，令研究人員深為震驚。

此一程序若應用於人類，捐贈器官將被注射直接取自受贈者的幹細胞，以避免新心臟遭受贈者的免疫系統排斥。

器官移植 革命性突破

麻薩諸塞州綜合醫院外科醫生歐特說，許多目前並未被列名潛在受贈者的病患，未來可望受惠於移植這種生物性人工心臟；倘若利用病患本身幹細胞製造出來的移植器官能大量供應，甚至可能就像是現成產品，無數飽受器官衰竭之苦的病患將可受惠。估計美國一年有約五萬名換心病患因苦等不到心臟而死亡，全球則有約兩千兩百萬名病患有心臟衰竭之虞。

在本實驗中，實驗室培育的生物性人造老鼠心臟八天後開始跳動，強度約相當於成年老鼠心臟的二％。泰勒及其團隊目前正致力打造效率更好的回收器官，甚至已將若干生物性人工心臟移植到老鼠腹部並連結到老鼠的主動脈——此為確認捐贈器官能否讓受贈者活命的標準測試方式。至於「去細胞化」則開啟以人工方式打造任何器官，如腎臟、肝臟、肺臟、胰臟的大門。此外，儘管研究報告中並未提及，但這支明尼蘇達研究小組已成功將上述技術，應用於與人類心臟類似的豬心上。

Riverdance　大河之舞

11/21
　　On April 30, 1994, a troupe of traditional Irish dancers took to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, Ireland. For seven minutes, almost 300 million mouths fell open in awe, as television viewers were mesmerized by a spectacle that they had never seen before. This was the beginning of Riverdance.

　　A theatrical show made up of traditional Irish step dancing, Riverdance has taken an aspect of Irish culture and exposed it to the world. Step dancing, where the feet move in a rapid succession of kicks and taps while the upper body remains mostly stationary, had long been performed only in competitions. The style of dancing was mostly popular in Ireland and Scotland as well as in predominantly Irish areas in the United States. Upon the debut of Riverdance, its popularity grew tenfold.

　　A typical number from a Riverdance performance might find 30 svelte dancers with their arms linked in the middle of a dimly lit stage. In perfect unison, their legs kick out tightly around them, while their feet rhythmically tap out a music that can't be duplicated by any instrument.

Strawberry Generation　　草莓世代

We've all heard about Taiwan's "strawberry generation" and the mainland Chinese "little emperors and empresses." _(1)_ only one or two children being the norm for most families these days, parents and grandparents _(2)_ to dote on these kids, giving them everything imaginable. Why, then, is this generation of youngsters so unhappy and unmanageable, as _(3)_ by their selfish, self-centered behavior, and ever-increasing rates of suicide?

The answer is _(4)_ simple. Most adults refuse to say "No!" to their child or children. Acting out of good intentions to _(5)_ life comfortable and pleasant for their offspring, they instead create an unrealistic life situation _(6)_ will harm the kids in the future. These spoiled children will have increasing difficulty _(7)_ with their peers and later with their colleagues and bosses. Saying "No!" imposes limits on children, which they will have to _(8)_ with later in life. Constant showering of gifts and goodies _(9)_ children an inability to set limits on their spending and on their expectations of friendships and other relationships.

Perhaps it is time for parents to _(10)_ children some space to fend for themselves and face life as it really is. There is no dignity in being given everything. We know best what we learn for ourselves, and we appreciate most what we earn for ourselves.
--by Bruce Bagnell

Inside the Labyrinth　牛魔王的迷宮

Greek mythology has fascinated mankind for more than two thousand years. The stories are rich _(1)_ originality and many of the legends are known all over the world. Many Greek myths have survived and the stories will continue to be told for years to _(2)_.

　　One of the most renowned legends is _(3)_ of the Minotaur. The Minotaur was a hideous monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Every year, in order to _(4)_ the Minotaur, the Athenians sacrificed seven young men and seven young women to him. The _(5)_ were thrown into the home of the Minotaur called the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was a huge maze that was virtually impossible to escape from. There were hundreds and hundreds of winding passages within the Labyrinth. No one had _(6)_ escaped from the Labyrinth because it was impossible to find the way out.

　　After the fourteen young boys and girls were thrown in, they would try _(7)_ the Minotaur while at the same time, looking for a way to escape. The Minotaur would search the Labyrinth for his victims. Upon finding them, he would eat them alive.

——by Thomas M. Walk

Life in the Fast Lane　禁食之道

Fasting is abstaining from all food and drink, save for water, for a short period of time. While _(1)_ energy, food also introduces toxins into the body. By not eating, the body has time to heal itself naturally. The first day or two of a fast are _(2)_ painful because toxins are being pushed out of the body. Also, a person misses the _(3)_ of eating.

　　Twenty years ago, an Olympic ice-skating hopeful injured his leg in a car accident. After a year of tests, the man still could not walk. His doctor informed him his only hope of walking again was experimental surgery. The man angrily grabbed his _(4)_ and hobbled out of the hospital. As he _(5)_ to get home, he remembered his arthritic father, who had healed himself some years ago by fasting. He decided that this was his only chance to _(6)_. After fasting for a month, the man was able to walk again. Within three years, he _(7)_ third in the World Professional Figure Skating Championships.

　　Fasting is _(8)_ new. It was written about in the times of the great _(9)_, Plato and Aristotle, and even Jesus went into the woods and _(10)_ food for 40 days. If you have a nagging injury or are just interested in giving your body a natural tune-up, fasting might be for you.

──by Marcus Maurice

Deep into Depp　強尼戴普──狂放不羈的演技派男星

In the movie industry, good looks can go a long way. Even though some stars lack talent, they make it to the top based solely on their appearance. One man who can make hearts melt as well as enthrall audiences with his acting ability is Johnny Depp.

　　Just a look into his perfectly sculpted face and it is apparent that there's more to this actor than meets the eye. For over two decades, the enigmatic star has graced the screen, charming millions of fans along the way. The rise to fame hasn't been an easy one for the heartthrob turned thespian, but it has been one well worth watching.

　　At 42, the Kentucky-born actor, director, and musician is just now coming into his own. For years he was seen as the bad boy of Hollywood. Drinking, doing drugs, and trashing hotel rooms were his forte and his name was often splashed across the tabloids. His off-screen antics were infamous and within the film industry, his reputation negatively preceded him. Depp't films, though critically acclaimed, weren't always box office hits. He often chose roles that were off the beaten path and mentally challenging. Ranging from a Frankenstein-esque creation in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands to a cross-dressing Cuban in Before Night Falls, Depp's characters have stretched him as a performer. Never one to shy away from controversy, he didn't portray characters that were always likable. His performances can be edgy and often make viewers feel uneasy.

單字

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珍饌一品豬肋排

• 作者：朗達．拜恩
• 原文作者：Rhonda Byrne
• 譯者：謝明憲
• 出版社：方智
• 出版日期：2007年06月25日
• 語言：繁體中文 ISBN：9789861750675

在你手上的，是一個至大的祕密……

★創下美國賽門．舒斯特出版史單月再版破200萬本、四個月銷量破500萬本紀錄。《出版人週刊》預測《祕密》將成為史上最暢銷的勵志書。
★橫掃美國、加拿大、英國、愛爾蘭、澳洲……各大排行榜第一名，並發行30國語言。
★美國最有影響力的電視節目主持人歐普拉、賴利．金強力推薦。
★榮獲「諾提勒斯書獎」（Nautilus Book Award）。

　　一位澳洲電視工作者，有一年，父親突然身故、工作遭遇瓶頸、家庭關係也陷入僵局，就在人生跌落谷底、生活即將崩潰時，偶然間讀到一本百年古書，發現了一個生命中的重大祕密，而過去知道這個祕密的，竟然都是歷史上的偉大人物：柏拉圖、莎士比亞、牛頓、雨果、貝多芬、林肯、愛默生、愛迪生、愛因斯坦。她不禁要問：「為什麼不是每個人都知道呢？」

　　於是，她開始組織一個工作團隊，尋找當世知道這個祕密的人。他們都是各行各業的佼佼者，並且現身說法告訴你：
了解這個祕密，就沒有做不到的事；不論你是誰，你想要什麼，這個祕密都能給你！

這個時代最令人振奮的一本書！
是要花時間尋找過錯，專注過失？還是要花時間創造建設，正面行動？

　　在不信任氣氛的瀰漫中，本書證明了我們能完全的信任自己，還原本以幸福為基礎的生命原貌。

我認為是小至個人家庭、大至社會國家都迫切需要的甜美甘霖。

Bad Luck　別觸我霉頭！

Different cultures have different concepts of what is and isn't considered bad luck. Yet there are superstitions that are similar no matter where you roam. Whether you believe them or not is entirely _(1)_ you.

　　Seven years of misfortune would be a nightmare for practically anyone, but according to legend, this is _(2)_ what you get when you break a mirror. To stave off ill fate, immediately take the pieces outside and bury them while the moon is shining. That evening, it may be raining cats and dogs, but no matter _(3)_, don't open your umbrella before stepping outdoors. In the West, opening an umbrella indoors would lead to the death of a member of your family. Once you go back in, you're not _(4)_ just yet. Chinese believe that closing an umbrella indoors is a source of problems _(5)_ it draws bad luck close to you.

　　Animals, whether they are black cats or hooting owls, have also _(6)_ a place in the world of superstitions. Hearing a rooster crowing _(7)_ the middle of the night is a sign of impending doom for many Westerners. In Asia, a continually howling dog is a precursor to death.

　　People aren't usually superstitious, for the most part. Even though this is the case, most people won't run around opening and closing umbrellas while they throw mirrors on the ground, either.