Researchers at MIT have developed an ingestible chip containing genetically engineered E. coli. When swallowed, the bacteria can detect blood in the stomach, and produce light. The chip contains components that measure the amount of light produced and relays this information to a nearby smartphone, allowing a simple and non-invasive diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding. In the past...
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Swallowable ‘bacteria on a chip’ could help diagnose colon cancer, bowel disorders and gut ulcers
The capsule made by MIT scientists is packed with tiny electronics Unlike other ingestible chips, it contains millions of genetically engineered living cells to act as sensors These cells are designed to light up when they detect bleeding The chip might someday be used to spot health problems from inside the gut Scientists have developed...
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Study reveals gaps in follow-up care after concussion
NIH/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE Being discharged from a hospital trauma center after receiving treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) does not necessarily mean that a patient has fully recovered. TBI can lead to long-lasting physical and cognitive symptoms, but a new study in JAMA Network Open suggests that many patients may not be...
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Heart failure patients with a higher protein intake live longer
Heart failure patients who consume more protein live longer, according to research presented today at Heart Failure 2018 and the World Congress on Acute Heart Failure, a European Society of Cardiology congress. Elderly adults need to maintain muscle mass for optimal health. However, most lose muscle mass as they age and are less efficient at using dietary protein to build muscle....
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No link between HPV vaccination and risk of autoimmune disorders—study
A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) found no increased risk of autoimmune disorders in girls who received quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV4) vaccination, adding to the body of evidence for the safety of the vaccine. Electron micrograph of a negatively stained human papilloma virus (HPV) which occurs in human warts. Human papillomavirus is the most...
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A paradigm shift in heart failure treatment?
A small, preliminary study could trigger a paradigm shift in the treatment of heart failure. The late-breaking research is published today in Circulation and presented at Heart Failure 2018 and the World Congress on Acute Heart Failure, a European Society of Cardiology congress. The study suggests that heart failure may be caused by inappropriate fluid shifts in some patients...
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New method for finding disease-susceptibility genes
A new study has resulted in a novel statistical algorithm capable of identifying potential disease genes in a more accurate and cost-effective way. This algorithm is a possible approach for the identification of candidate disease genes, as it works effectively with less genomic data and takes only a minute or two to get results. Comparison...
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New drug target to combat prostate cancer
A study by an international team of researchers from University Children’s Hospital Bern and the Autonomous University of Barcelona has discovered how the production of specific human sex hormones known as androgens is interrupted. These findings can help in the development of new therapeutic approaches, as the overproduction of androgens is associated with many diseases including prostate...
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Potent new mechanism of action for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease revealed
Through research on the small molecule analogue of E6007 which is under clinical development as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, a novel mechanism of action was revealed in which this analogue inhibited the adhesion and infiltration of various leukocytes through the blockade of the interaction between calreticulin and the leukocyte adhesion molecule integrin α by associating...
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Aggression neurons identified
High activity in a relatively poorly studied group of brain cells can be linked to aggressive behaviour in mice, a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows. Using optogenetic techniques, the researchers were able to control aggression in mice by stimulating or inhibiting these cells. The results, which are published in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience, contribute...