Washington University Medical School detailed brain map unveiled

Posted on October 19, 2016 by

For years, doctors have had reliable charts of the body and its organs -- blood circulation, digestive system, nerves and the like -- but always with one frustrating grey zone: the brain. On Wednesday, a team of neuroscientists, computer specialists and engineers said they had compiled what "could be the most accurate map yet" of the mysterious expanse between our ears. In the process, they discovered nearly 100 previously unreported regions of the organ's wrinkly outer layer -- called the...

NASA – Electroactive Material for Wound Healing

Posted on October 15, 2016 by

This technology is a device that uses electrical activity to facilitate the wound healing process while protecting the wound. The bandage is made of an electroactive material (pictured above) that is stimulated by the heat of the body and the pressure of cell growth, thus no external power source is required. NASA has developed a high-tech electroactive bandage that creates an electric charge to help promote the healing process of wounds. Electroactive material is so sensitive that a push ...

Eyeglasses-free Display

Posted on October 15, 2016 by

Millions of people worldwide need glasses or contact lenses to see or read properly. We introduce a computational display technology that predistorts the presented content for an observer, so that the target image is perceived without the need for eyewear. By designing optics in concert with prefiltering algorithms, the proposed display architecture achieves significantly higher resolution and contrast than prior approaches to vision-correcting image display. We demonstrate that inexpensive ligh...

SLEEP DRIVE AND YOUR BODY CLOCK

Posted on October 15, 2016 by

Most people notice that they naturally experience different levels of sleepiness and alertness throughout the day, but what causes these patterns? Sleep is regulated by two body systems: sleep/wake homeostasis and the circadian biological clock . When we have been awake for a long period of time, sleep/wake homeostasis tells us that a need for sleep is accumulating and that it is time to sleep. It also helps us maintain enough sleep throughout the night to make up for the hours of being awake...

Nasa’s ‘LifeWrap’ saving life on earth

Posted on October 14, 2016October 14, 2016 by

NASA Ames Research Center received an unusual call for help: a local woman was still bleeding weeks after giving birth, despite every attempt to halt it — including nine surgeries. Her condition, known as postpartum hemorrhage, can result from a number of different complications during childbirth. Left untreated, it can prove fatal. Ames researchers and engineers proposed applying pressure to the woman’s entire lower body using an inflated anti-gravity suit, or G-suit — like tightly wrapping ...

Nanoparticles known as Cornell dots, or C dots, have shown great promise as a therapeutic tool in the detection and treatment of cancer.

Posted on October 12, 2016 by

Nanoparticles known as Cornell dots, or C dots, have shown great promise as a therapeutic tool in the detection and treatment of cancer. Now, the ultrasmall particles – developed more than a dozen years ago by Ulrich Wiesner, the Spencer T. Olin Professor of Engineering – have shown they can do something even better: kill cancer cells without attaching a cytotoxic drug. A study led by Michelle Bradbury, director of intraoperative imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and associ...

Culprit found in breast cancer resistance to tamoxifen

Posted on October 12, 2016 by

Researchers have discovered that a protein found naturally in cells that provides some protection from viruses is responsible for creating mutations that drive resistance to tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer. Because the protein, known as APOBEC3B, is found in elevated quantities in other kinds of cancer cells, the finding explains differential responses to treatment and opens the door to boosting the effectiveness of tamoxifen and related breast cancer therapies that inhibit the ability of e...

White House’s precision medicine initiative

Posted on October 12, 2016 by

Far too many diseases do not have a proven means of prevention or effective treatments. We must gain better insights into the biological, environmental, and behavioral influences on these diseases to make a difference for the millions of Americans who suffer from them. Precision medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person. While some advances in precision medicine have be...

Photoswitch Biosciences forms the basis for new platform for identifying and testing novel drug candidates

Posted on October 12, 2016 by

Photoswitches are a family of small-molecules designed to photo-modulate the activity of specific signaling proteins: One color turns the protein ‘on’; a different color turns it ‘off’. Photoswitches were conceived at the Nanomedicine Development Center for the Optical Control of Biological Function at UC Berkeley Light-sensitive proteins are changing the way scientists study how new drug candidates affect critical properties of heart and nerve cells. The proteins, discovered by Max Planck re...

Nanoscale chemical mapping by local infrared fingerprint spectroscopy

Posted on October 9, 2016 by

Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS or nano secondary ion mass spectrometry) is a nanoscopic scale resolution chemical imaging mass spectrometer based on secondary ion mass spectrometry. It works based on a coaxial optical design of the ion gun and the secondary ion extraction, and on an original magnetic sector mass spectrometer with multicollection. NanoSIMS not only refers to the technique used, but also the mass spectrometer specialized for this method. There are currently...

Berkeley Labs researchers have shown that when parts of a genome known as enhancers are missing, the heart works abnormally

Posted on October 8, 2016 by

Researchers have shown that when parts of a genome known as enhancers are missing, the heart works abnormally, a finding that bolsters the importance of DNA segments once considered “junk” because they do not code for specific proteins. On the left, a mouse embryo showing enhancer activity (blue staining) in the developing heart. On the right, a closeup of this heart, showing that the enhancer is active in the left ventricle, left atrium, and right atrium of the heart. (Credit: Mammalian Func...

Eating high-glycemic load diet could increase depression and fatigue

Posted on October 8, 2016 by

A high-glycemic load diet is linked to higher depression symptoms, fatigue and mood disturbance compared to a low-glycemic load diet, a new study finds. The glycemic load (GL) helps people assess how food portions affect blood sugar levels, and can be useful for people with diabetes who may be unsure about how a meal could affect their management. Foods with a high GL are those with a high carbohydrate value that influence blood glucose levels quickly. Bread, rice and many breakfast cereal...

Northwest University Researcher Guillermo Ameer Has Developed Regenerative Bandage That Heals Diabetic Wounds Faster

Posted on October 8, 2016 by

At some point in their lives, 15 percent of people with diabetes will develop a painful and hard-to-treat foot ulcer. Twenty-four percent of those affected will require a lower-leg amputation because of it. And, in some instances, what seems like a harmless sore might even lead to death. A Northwestern Engineering team has developed a new treatment for this severe and potentially deadly complication of diabetes. Called a “regenerative bandage,” the novel material heals diabetic wounds four ti...

Saver Emergency Breath System is a personal life saving device that allows you to breathe clean air in the event of a fire.

Posted on October 4, 2016 by

The Saver Emergency Breath System is a personal life saving device that allows you to breathe clean air in the event of a fire. Saver helps prevent smoke inhalation which is the leading cause of fire fatalities. Saver filters chemical substances and removes carbon monoxide and toxic gases giving you up to 5 minutes of breathable air—Enough to get you and your family safely out of the house during a fire. https://youtu.be/XAaZjtjcHZA Triple Filter Technology Saver is designed with a tripl...

Northwestern Medicine Scientists Have Found That RNA Test Helps Identify Bacterial Infections in Infants

Posted on October 4, 2016 by

Northwestern Medicine scientists, working with the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), recently assessed whether an RNA biosignature of the body’s response to infection could distinguish if infants 60 days or younger with fever were experiencing a serious bacterial infection. The results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show how RNA biosignatures may be an alternative – and more accurate – method to identify infants with bacterial infectio...

Motion-directed robots on a micro scale. – Microswimmers capped with carbon on one side can be propelled and steered by light

Posted on October 4, 2016 by

Phototactic behaviour directs some bacteria towards light and others into darkness: This enables them to utilize solar energy as efficiently as possible for their metabolism, or, otherwise, protects them from excessive light intensity. A team of researchers headed by Clemens Bechinger from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the University of Stuttgart, as well as colleagues from the University of Düsseldorf have now found a surprisingly simple way to direct synthetic microswimm...

The MolecuLight Imaging Device can instantly visualize potentially harmful bacteria at the point of care

Posted on October 2, 2016October 2, 2016 by

MolecuLight i:X uses the principle of fluorescence to capture and document either still images or videos of wounds as well as their surrounding areas where potentially harmful bacteria may be present, without the need of contrast agents. MolecuLight’s first product, the i:X, is a handheld fluorescence imaging device that allows clinicians to quickly, safely, and easily visualize and precisely target bacterial presence and distribution in and around wounds, in real-time at the point-of-care. T...

Augmedix uses Google Glass to help doctors take notes as they examine patients

Posted on October 2, 2016 by

San Francisco-based digital health startup Augmedix is now trying to establish a mass market for Google Glass in the healthcare industry. Augmedix, which adapted Google Glass to help doctors take notes as they examine patients, is earning revenues from hundreds of physicians who subscribe to the company’s service, CEO Ian Shakil says. Augmedix, founded in 2012 by Shakil, now counts users in almost all U.S. states. Every day, the company says, about 5,000 patients see a doctor who wears a G...

Purdue University Research mid-infrared photothermal microscope, an innovation that could bring insights into drug delivery and cancer treatment.

Posted on October 1, 2016 by

Chemical contrast has long been sought for label-free visualization of biomolecules and materials in complex living systems. Although infrared spectroscopic imaging has come a long way in this direction, it is thus far only applicable to dried tissues because of the strong infrared absorption by water. It also suffers from low spatial resolution due to long wavelengths and lacks optical sectioning capabilities. We overcome these limitations through sensing vibrational absorption–induced photothe...

3-D printable ink produces synthetic bone implant with properties that induce bone regeneration

Posted on October 1, 2016 by

Northwestern University research team has developed a 3-D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly induces bone regeneration and growth. This hyperelastic “bone” material, the shape of which can be easily customized, one day could be especially useful for the treatment of bone defects in children. Bone implantation surgery is never an easy process, but it is particularly painful and complicated for children. With both adults and children, often times bone is harvested...

New study from Duke University suggest oxytocin enhances spirituality

Posted on September 25, 2016 by

Oxytocin has been dubbed the “love hormone” for its role promoting social bonding, altruism and more. Oxytocin occurs naturally in the body. Produced by the hypothalamus, it acts as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter, affecting many regions of the brain. It is stimulated during sex, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Recent research has highlighted oxytocin’s role in promoting empathy, trust, social bonding, and altruism. In a new study from Duke University, men reported a greater sense of...

‘Quell’ – drug free wearable technology for widespread relief from chronic pain.

Posted on September 25, 2016 by

One in three Americans suffers from chronic pain. 1 Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months, and it can interfere with your daily activities, impact your mood, and prevent you from sleeping soundly. Quell can provide widespread relief from chronic pain, and may be right for you. Living with chronic pain can be devastating. Even getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult. Pain affects all aspects of your life – your ability to work, to be in relationships with ot...

Livi’s adaptable pill-delivery system that is Internet-enabled and can provide remote oversight and comprehensive medication-adherence reports

Posted on September 24, 2016 by

Porticos engineers combined technical expertise with practical specifications to develop Livi™, the advanced precision medication-dispensing device. It delivers prescription-specific dosages of multiple medications for advanced patient home care. Direct-loading by a retail pharmacy will ensure precise, controlled medication dispensing for up to three months. Livi™ dispenses medicines as scheduled. Internet-enabled remote oversight and comprehensive medication-adherence reports improve coord...

MIT researchers have created a way to recognize basic emotions with signals transmitted from the wireless router.

Posted on September 22, 2016 by

Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) have found a way to detect human emotions purely through radio signals. Using a device called the EQ-Radio, which emits and captures reflected radio frequency (RF) waves, the researchers bounced waves off subjects to measure their breathing patterns and heart rates. As Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) researchers Mingmin Zhao, Fadel Adib and Dina Katabi describe in their paper, "Emotio...

FDA Cleared PKG Watch for Tracking Movement Disorders

Posted on September 22, 2016 by

Global Kinetics Corporation with researchers from the Florey Neuroscience Institute, presents the Personal KinetiGraph™ (PKG™) movement recording. The PKG™ Data Logger is a wrist worn device, that looks like a wristwatch, that automatically records movement data to assist Doctors in their diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms of movement disorders. The PKG™ Data Logger is worn like a wrist watch and features a vibrating reminder of when patients should register that they have taken their le...

The First Swallowable, Gas-Filled Weight Loss Balloon approved by FDA

Posted on September 20, 2016 by

Obalon Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Obalon Balloon System, a novel, nonsurgical, fully-reversible device for weight loss. The Obalon Balloon System is a swallowable intragastric balloon system indicated for temporary use to facilitate weight loss in adults with obesity (BMI of 30 – 40 kg/m2) who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise. The System is intended to be used as an adjunct to a moderate i...

Researchers Discover a Link Between Microbes in Airways and Lung Disease

Posted on September 10, 2016 by

Although it is widely believed that infants’ airways are sterile before birth, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have discovered microbes (or bacterial DNA) have already colonized when a baby is born, even as early as 24 weeks gestation. Researchers have not yet identified how the bacteria come into the airway or what benefits are derived from the pre-birth colonization. It is suspected that the transmission of bacteria or bacterial DNA to the in-utero infant could be via blood ...

Novel Regenerative Bandage Heals Diabetic Wounds Faster

Posted on September 9, 2016 by

Northwestern researchers have come up with a novel approach to treat foot ulcers. Their development, a regenerative bandage, heals diabetic wounds four times faster than standard bandages without additional side effects. Experienced by 15% of people with diabetes, foot ulcers can lead to serious health complications. What seems like a harmless sore could result in, for 24% of those affected, a lower-leg amputation and in certain cases, even death. These sores are particularly a problem for...

Complementary Health Approaches Proven to Be Effective at Managing Pain

Posted on September 9, 2016 by

Did you ever consider yoga, acupuncture, or tai-chi as forms of pain relief? A review of U.S.-based clinical trials conducted by a group of scientists at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health concluded that these complementary health approaches can effectively manage common pain conditions. Pain cannot always be fully relieved by medications, complicating the lives of millions of Americans. These complementary health approach...

Researchers Use GPS Technology to Predict Footballers’ Injuries

Posted on September 9, 2016September 9, 2016 by

Researchers at the University of Birmingham partnered with Southampton Football Club and, using GPS technology, were able to show that footballers (i.e. soccer players) injuries could be predicted by looking at players’ workloads during training and competition. They discovered that the greatest injury risk was correlated with a significantly high number of short bursts of speed during training over a three-week period. The scientists are the first to look into and actually monitor injury ri...