What can’t graphene do? You can scratch “detect cancer” off of that list. By interfacing brain cells onto graphene, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have shown they can differentiate a single hyperactive cancerous cell from a normal cell, pointing the way to developing a simple, noninvasive tool for early cancer diagnosis. “This graphene system...
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Living Bandage: Researchers Trial New Stem Cell Therapy For Knee Injuries On Humans
A new treatment for meniscal tears based on stem cells has just been used for the first time on human subjects, with very encouraging results. The new method may help hundreds of thousands of sportsmen each year, easing their recovery and reducing the risk of developing other afflictions. A Widespread Problem Meniscal tears are some of the...
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Want to improve your memory? A morning jog could help – it stimulates your brain and keeps you alert
Keynotes: Part of the brain responsible for alertness is activated during a run, a study found New research also found it helped to improve the senses, like playing the piano Scientists studied 11 runners as well as 11 inactive men to examine brain activity young fitness woman runner running at forest trail Going for an...
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ME & MY OPERATION: The pioneering stem cell procedure that can restore movement after a stroke
Tens of thousands of people each year are left paralysed to some degree by a stroke. Billy Elder, 63, from Renfrew, Glasgow, is one of the first people to receive a new stem cell treatment to restore movement, as he tells OONA MASHTA . . THE PATIENT One day in August last year I was...
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Understanding REM: When dreams and paralysis are uncoupled
During rapid eye movement sleep, most of us slip into a state of paralysis. Individuals with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, however, do not. Breaking research sheds light on the neural mechanisms behind this fascinating yet disruptive condition. What is REM? Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a natural part of the sleep cycle;...
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Artificial leaf copies nature to manufacture medicine
Dutch scientists have developed an artificial leaf that can act as a mini-factory for producing drugs, an advance that could allow medicines to be produced anywhere there is sunlight. The work taps into the ability of plants to use sunlight to feed themselves through photosynthesis, something industrial chemists have struggled to replicate because sunshine usually...
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Running could improvise your memory
Key notes: Part of the brain responsible for alertness is activated during a run, a study found New research also found it helped to improve the senses, like playing the piano Scientists studied 11 runners as well as 11 inactive men to examine brain activity Going for an early morning run could keep you alert...
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Brushing could avoid arthritis
Key notes: An infection can create proteins that cause the immune system to malfunction In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this leads to inflammation and joint pain However, this process was also apparent in sample of patients with gum disease Brushing your teeth could prevent arthritis, new research suggests. Bugs known to cause gum infections also...
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Medical Tricorders Have Made It to the Final Round of XPrize
In Brief: Two teams have advanced to the final round of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE competition to create a medical tricorder inspired by the one in the “Star Trek” television series. A handheld diagnostic device could improve healthcare tremendously, giving people instant access to information about their vital signs, illnesses, and more. A Short History:...
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White fat may have several paths to a healthier brown
Babies get their adorable chubbiness from brown fat, which keeps them warm. However, until 2009, scientists thought we lost this healthy tissue as we age. Since its discovery in adults, brown fat has been studied as potential treatment for obesity and other health-related issues. Now a team at Boston University has sequenced the genes of...