IN BRIEF Scientists were able to elicit a pattern similar to the living condition of the brain when exposing dead brain tissue to chemical and electrical probes. Imagine the infinite human future(s) of mind uploading, life after death, immortality. Would you still be you when we upload your mind? If you’ve ever worked with a...
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Could this prevent heart failure? Tiny robot that ‘hugs’ damaged organs to help them beat could save thousands of lives, experts say
Conventional mechanical heart pump blood through the body using a propeller But the new design fits on the outside of the patient’s heart – like that of a glove The soft silicone device stiffens and relaxes when inflated with pressurised air Many people develop the deadly condition after suffering from a heart attack But in a...
Cancer researchers stumble onto drugs’ fat-blasting powers
The real test will be if the mouse study can be reproduced in humans While the scientific inquiry process is generally linear and highly regimented, every once in awhile, happenstance works its way in. That’s just what happened when researchers at the Mayo Clinic were studying the influence obesity has over cancer treatments and found,...
Vaccines for three deadly viruses fast-tracked
Scientists have named three relatively little-known diseases they think could cause the next global health emergency. A coalition of governments and charities has committed $460m to speed up vaccine development for Mers, Lassa fever and Nipah virus. They are asking funders at the World Economic Forum Davos for another $500m. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness...
Could this jab STOP genital herpes? Scientists create ‘most effective ever’ vaccine to control spread of the STI
More than 500 million people have genital herpes, or HSV2 But no vaccine candidate has ever stood up to pre-clinical trials Now a new three-pronged formula has protected monkeys from transmission It means human trials are likely, paving the way to a publicly-available vaccine The first ever effective genital herpes vaccine has succeeded in...
Severe side effects of approved multiple sclerosis medication
The multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy alemtuzumab can trigger severe, unpredictable side effects. This was the finding by a team led by Prof Dr Aiden Haghikia and Prof Dr Ralf Gold from the Department of Neurology of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum at St. Josef’s Hospital. In the journal Lancet Neurology, the scientists report on two patients for whom...
New Low Cost Therapy May Benefit Stroke Patients With Vision Problems
Stroke patients suffering from decreased vision could have a cost-effective therapy at their disposal soon. This therapy could potentially enhance the lives of stroke patients suffering from eye problems. A study conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia and University of Glasgow, tested the efficiency of the visuomotor feedback training (VFT) when treating...
Millions of people with metabolic syndrome may need more vitamin E
CORVALLIS, Ore. – New research has shown that people with metabolic syndrome need significantly more vitamin E – which could be a serious public health concern, in light of the millions of people who have this condition that’s often related to obesity. A study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also made...
Narcolepsy Drug Helps Improve Memory in People Recovering From Depression
Modafinil, a drug used to treat narcolepsy — excessive daytime sleepiness — can improve memory in patients recovering from depression, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The findings, published today in the journal Biological Psychiatry: CNNI, result from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and offer hope of a treatment for some of the...
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: Tips for Recovery from an MS Attack
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system and the transmission of information between the brain and the body. Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be difficult to predict, making it hard for those with MS to manage the disease. However, there are some changes that people with MS can make to help control the...