Infants born before 29 weeks of pregnancy appear to have a bigger risk of high blood pressure in young adulthood

Posted on November 21, 2016 by

Very preterm infants -- those born before 29 weeks of pregnancy -- appear to have a bigger risk of high blood pressure in young adulthood, two small, preliminary Canadian studies suggest. In one study, researchers found that the risk for high blood pressure was tied to smaller-than-normal kidneys at birth. A second study by the same researchers found a link between high blood pressure and impaired function in the cells that line blood vessels. "These studies highlight how important it is for t...

Researchers in Singapore have artificially generated new mouse blood and immune cells from skin cells.

Posted on November 21, 2016 by

Researchers in Singapore have artificially generated new mouse blood and immune cells from skin cells. This is a significant first step towards the eventual goal: the engineering of new human blood cells from skin cells or other artificial sources. One of the major challenges of regenerative medicine is to manufacture new blood and immune cells for patients in need. This development could lead to a robust source of new blood or immune cells becoming available to treat patients with immune dis...

Researchers from Caltech and UCLA have developed a new approach to removing cellular damage that accumulates with age. Turning Back the Aging Clock.

Posted on November 21, 2016 by

Researchers from Caltech and UCLA have developed a new approach to removing cellular damage that accumulates with age. The technique can potentially help slow or reverse an important cause of aging. Led by Nikolay Kandul, senior postdoctoral scholar in biology and biological engineering in the laboratory of Professor of Biology Bruce Hay, the team developed a technique to remove mutated DNA from mitochondria, the small organelles that produce most of the chemical energy within a cell. A paper...

Max-Planck Germany -Carbohydrate-based agent should make vaccinations against bacterial infections cheaper in the future

Posted on November 20, 2016 by

Under the motto “Building bridges, transcending borders”, 23 start-up companies presented their research projects at the Falling Walls Venture science competition on 8 November in Berlin. The company nominated by Max Planck Innovation, Vaxxilon, emerged as the winner and was proclaimed the “Science Start-Up of the Year 2016” for its development of a carbohydrate-based agent. The new agent should make vaccinations against bacterial infections cheaper in the future and thereby also improve a...

Researchers have found associations between self-reported sleep duration and drinking of sugar-sweetened beverages

Posted on November 20, 2016November 20, 2016 by

A growing body of research has linked sugary beverage consumption to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood sugar and excess body fat, which can lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Lack of sleep is also associated with a higher risk for metabolic disease. Recently, several studies have linked the two factors in school-age children, showing that children who get less sleep are more likely to drink soda and other sugary beverages during the day, said Prather, who is also...

Family research suggest relationships during childhood are related to risk-taking by young adults

Posted on November 20, 2016 by

Oklahoma State University, used the domain-specific risk-taking scale (DOSPERT) to assess five areas of risk-taking, namely ethical, social, financial, recreational and health. The research tested the hypothesis that childhood relationships with parents were related to risk-taking by young adults. Prior research has shown that risk-taking by young children is related to their interactions with mothers and fathers. What makes some young adults behave in ways that have the potential to harm ...

Power outage in the brain may be source of Alzheimer’s

Posted on November 19, 2016 by

A 51-year-old woman is admitted to a hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, displaying a bizarre constellation of symptoms. Her behavior is erratic. She shows signs of paranoia as well as auditory hallucinations, disorientation, and severe memory impairment. Asked to write her own name, she manages “Mrs.,” then lingers over the page, unable to remember the rest. “I have lost myself,” she tells the attending physician. Over time, she will withdraw into her own inscrutable universe, before dying on Ap...

Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji researcher at Nova Southeastern University is working to develop pill that may soon replace the costly EpiPen

Posted on November 19, 2016 by

Studies have shown that the United States has one of the highest incidences of fatal anaphylaxis in the world. For anaphylaxis treatment in community settings, epinephrine intramuscular injection using an auto-injector, e.g. EpiPen®, in the thigh is universally recommended. Despite this, many people at risk of anaphylaxis in community settings do not carry their prescribed auto-injectors consistently and hesitate to use them when anaphylaxis occurs. Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji, B. Pharm., Ph.D., ass...

Ahmad “Mo” Khalil, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the Boston University has been awarded a New Innovator Award for techniques in diagnosing antibiotic resistance

Posted on November 18, 2016 by

The improper and excessive use of antibiotics has led to the rise of “superbugs,” treatment-resistant bacteria causing a public health crisis of global proportions. To help combat this problem, Ahmad “Mo” Khalil, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the Boston University College of Engineering (ENG), has been awarded a New Innovator Award under the High-Risk, High-Reward program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His proposed project will focus on developing new...

Washington University School of Medicine research found excess weight increases the risk that a benign blood disorder will progress into multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood

Posted on November 18, 2016 by

New research shows that excess weight increases the risk that a benign blood disorder will progress into multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood. The study, by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Carrying extra weight increases a person's risk that a benign blood disorder will develop into multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. This is particularly true for older, African-American men. Being overweight...

Propeller – Bluetooth-connected inhaler sensors and patient apps

Posted on November 17, 2016 by

Propeller Health offers solutions, such as Bluetooth-connected inhaler sensors and patient apps, to help enhance compliance and treatment outcomes for respiratory patients, such as those with asthma or COPD. The system monitors how often patients take their medication and can send alerts to caregivers if the disease is considered poorly controlled. FDA approved the Propeller platform for use with GSK’s Ellipta inhaler.” David Van Sickle, CEO and co-founder of Propeller said, “Inclusion of GSK...

Fast-cooking dry beans provide more protein, iron than ‘slower’ cooked

Posted on November 17, 2016 by

Beans are a versatile, inexpensive staple that can boost essential nutrients in a diet, especially for people in low-resource areas where food options are limited. To get the most out of these legumes, new research suggests choosing fast-cooking dry beans could be the way to go. A study in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that fast-cooking beans retained more protein, iron and other minerals than “slower” dry beans. According to the World Health Organization about 2 billi...

Alcohoot – Smartphone based portable breathalyzer

Posted on November 16, 2016 by

Alcohoot is a Smart Alcohol tracker designed to take the guesswork out of how your body responds to alcohol over the course of a night out with friends, or even a year. You’re in control with Alcohoot, our palm -sized alcohol tracker with police grade technology and our iOS and Android app. https://youtu.be/GrEEDEh8OjA Small in size. Serious technology inside. Leveraging Police grade technology, Alcohoot uses Platinum Electrochemical Fuel Cell Technology to ensure you have the most accura...

Three-dimensional computer model of the human genome

Posted on November 16, 2016 by

A group coordinated by the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste has built a three-dimensional computer model of the human genome. The shape of DNA (as well as its sequence) significantly affects biological processes and is therefore crucial for understanding its function. This new study has provided a first three-dimensional, approximate but realistic, identikit of the human genome. Thanks to the characteristics of the new method, the structural reconstruction based on...

California Institute Of Technology researchers have genetically altered bacteria that release medicines to tumors

Posted on November 15, 2016 by

A new helper in the fight against cancer and other diseases of the gut may be genetically altered bacteria that release medicines to tumors or the gut. Now, a new study performed using mice demonstrates how doctors might one day better regulate those therapeutic microbes by engineering them to respond to temperature. For instance, if engineered bacteria were administered to a patient with a disease, doctors could, in theory, instruct the bacteria to release medicine to just the site of intere...

Turn your smartphone into a gold-standard DNA analysis tool

Posted on November 14, 2016 by

Turn your smartphone into a gold-standard DNA analysis tool. No lab necessary. Biomeme's platform transforms your smartphone into a mobile lab for advanced DNA diagnostics and real-time disease surveillance. The system includes a docking station for real-time PCR, a mobile app to control the system and analyze results, and targeted test kits for preparing samples and identifying pathogens or diseases by their specific DNA or RNA signatures. The cutting edge platform performs to the gold stand...

Dario – pocket-sized smartphone based all-in-one glucose meter

Posted on November 14, 2016 by

Dario is a personalized, pocket-sized, all-in-one glucose meter coupled with a robust real time mobile app to manage diabetes quickly, efficiently and accurately. The Dario Smart Meter lets you test blood glucose levels in seconds, directly on your smartphone. Once connected to your mobile device, easily track, monitor and manage diabetes with a simple to use mobile app – when you need it, where you need it! The Dario mobile app delivers accurate results in real-time and actionab...

Research suggests the brain uses color to help us choose what to eat

Posted on November 14, 2016 by

Red means "Green light, go for it!" Green means: "hmm, better not!" Like an upside down traffic light in our brain, color helps us decide whether or not to eat something. This, according to a study at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste and recently published in the journal Scientific Reports stating that vision is the main sense we use to guide us in food choices. To evaluate calorie intake, we rely on a "color code." Non-human primates evaluate food quality base...

Vegetables, fruits, and disease

Posted on November 14, 2016 by

Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, and variety is as important as quantity. No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. Eat plenty everyday. A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar which can help keep appetite in check. Eat a variety of types and c...

University of Nebraska-Lincoln research shows that Predators can drive increase in virus populations.

Posted on November 13, 2016 by

The transparent belly of a tiny beast has revealed how algae-infecting chloroviruses bloom in freshwater around the world, says a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Millimeter-sized crustacean known as a copepod excretes partially digested paramecia and the green algae living inside those paramecia. A new study has shown that this partial digestion exposes the otherwise-protected algae to chloroviruses, allowing the viruses to replicate and bloom in their freshwater habitats. ...

Wireless Brain and Spine Implant allows primates with spinal cord injurie to walk

Posted on November 11, 2016 by

The research is a step toward the development of a system that might help in rehabilitating people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. An international team of scientists has used a wireless “brain-spinal interface” to bypass spinal cord injuries in a pair of rhesus macaques, restoring intentional walking movement to a temporarily paralyzed leg. The researchers, who describe their work in the journal Nature, say this is the first time a neural prosthetic has been used to restore walking m...

Green City Solutions has engineered a street installation that uses biotech moss to combat pollution in urban cities

Posted on November 10, 2016November 10, 2016 by

University of Dresden is supporting the City Tree developers Victor Splittberger and Peter Sänger by using a special programme to research how pollution could be most effectively filtered from the air. The programme can be employed to numerous locations worldwide. The CityTree structure is an amalgamation of sorts: a green, free-standing contraption that’s seemingly part tree sculpture, part park bench and part skate ramp. Its verdant wall stands about 13 feet high, and its square face st...

Vacuum-Operated Auto Retractable Safety Syringe that retract the used needle into the barrel of the syringe

Posted on November 9, 2016 by

Vacuum-Operated Auto Retractable Safety Syringe - 2010 Award Winner The purpose of this safety syringe is to prevent needle stick injuries. The Vacuumed Auto Retractable Safety Syringe is a patented disposable syringe that is designed for one-handed operation and incorporates vacuum-operated automatic retractable technology. It is the ONLY Syringe that uses vacuum force (instead of spring) to retract the used needle into the barrel of the syringe after an injection is administered. Th...

Northwestern Longitudinal Study Links Air Pollution With Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Posted on November 9, 2016 by

An increased concentration of air pollution within metropolitan areas is associated with progression in coronary calcification and with acceleration of atherosclerosis, according to a study published in The Lancet. In the prospective, 10-year cohort study, Northwestern Medicine scientists and collaborators at other institutions repeatedly measured coronary artery calcium by CT scan in 6,795 participants aged 45 to 84 years, who were enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Ai...

PIEZO1 Sensor for blood flow discovered in blood vessels

Posted on November 9, 2016 by

Physical forces like blood pressure and the shear stress of flowing blood are important parameters for the tension of blood vessels. Scientists have been looking for a measurement sensor for many years that enables the translation of mechanical stimuli into a molecular response, which then regulates the tension in blood vessels. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim have now discovered just such a sensor in the inner layer of the blood vessel wall: t...

BioTrace Medical has received FDA clearance for Tempo cardiac pacing lead

Posted on November 8, 2016 by

BioTrace Medical, Inc. today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the company’s Tempo® Lead, an innovative temporary pacing lead designed for use in procedures in which temporary pacing is indicated, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and electrophysiology (EP) procedures. BioTrace Medical’s Tempo® Lead incorporates innovations designed for secure and stable cardiac pacing with the goal of reducing complications and allowing patients to a...

Mouse experiments with Zika antibody suggest protection for fetuses

Posted on November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 by

In early studies on mice, a research team has found a Zika virus antibody that when given to pregnant animals protected their fetuses, and also protected adult mice from the disease. The findings raise hope for a potential treatment to prevent maternal-fetal transmission of the virus to prevent microcephaly and other devastating birth defects until a vaccine is available and also may help guide vaccine development. The team, based at Washington University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt Uni...

Cardiocity limited has developed ‘RhythmPad’ that screens hypertension through simple hand placement.

Posted on November 7, 2016 by

Lancaster (UK) based Cardiocity Limited have developed their second variant of the RhythmPad product range to successfully screen from Hypertension through simple hand placement. The RhythmPadGP is a simple USB connected lead1 and 6 lead screening tool. In under 30 seconds the subject’s lead1 and 6 lead ECG may be obtained and analysed giving instant outputs ranging from Sinus Rhythm to Atrial Fibrillation through to Right Bundle Branch Block. The RhythmPadGP makes screening for cardia...

Arterys 4D Blood Flow MRI Imaging System Cleared by FDA

Posted on November 7, 2016 by

Arterys, a pioneer in cloud-based medical imaging software, announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Arterys Software. This clearance allows the Arterys product to be used in clinical settings for the quantification of cardiac flow, which includes 4D flow and 2D Phase Contrast workflows, and cardiac function measurements. The product seamlessly integrates into clinical practice to provide comprehensive, simple and quick Cardiac MR i...

Fraunhofer researchers are developing 3D printed bespoke insoles for diabetes patients

Posted on November 6, 2016 by

The importance of foot comfort cannot be overstated, especially for those suffering from conditions such as diabetes. That is, while ordinary discomfort in shoes can be frustrating to anyone, it can actually be dangerous for those with diabetes, as atrophied nerve endings in the foot caused by the disease can dull or eliminate the sensation of pain, which can in turn result in serious foot injuries or wounds. Custom padded insoles have been an important part in curbing this problem, though un...