by Plataforma SINC French scientists at the Neel Institute have produced a graphene patch that records the condition of chronic wounds, such as ulcers suffered by the elderly or those with diabetes, at any time. The data can be sent from home to the hospital via mobile phone, facilitating a rapid response to possible infections....
How tissues harm themselves during wound healing
by Osaka University Most tissues of the body have the extraordinary ability to heal themselves upon injury. But sometimes something goes awry during the complex process of wound healing and the tissue forms too much connective tissue, also called fibrosis, around the injured area, which can result in the organ not functioning properly. Now, researchers...
Repurposing a drug for blood clots: A stopgap measure to treat respiratory distress in COVID-19
by Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Researchers at MIT and the University of Colorado at Denver have proposed a stopgap measure that they believe could help Covid-19 patients who are in acute respiratory distress. By repurposing a drug that is now used to treat blood clots, they believe they could help people in cases...
Brake on immune activity identified, raising new possibilities for anticancer therapy
by Temple University The immune system is like a carefully regulated machine, complete with its own built-in “brakes” that prevent it from overreacting and causing excess inflammation in otherwise healthy tissues. This preventative safety net, however, is highly vulnerable, particularly in cancer, where tumor cells step on the brakes constantly, because doing so allows the...
Interleukin-1β inhibition linked to reduced incidence of anemia
(HealthDay)—Inhibition of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) with canakinumab is associated with reduced incident anemia as well as improved hemoglobin levels among patients with baseline anemia, according to research published online March 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Mounica Vallurupalli, M.D., from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues conducted an exploratory analysis of a multicenter...
Cellular protein shredders for the fight against cancer
Study by the Universities of Bonn and Ulm investigates how a cellular mechanism can be used for other purposes UNIVERSITY OF BONN An international team of researchers led by the Universities of Bonn and Ulm has investigated how a cell’s own “protein shredder” can be specifically programmed to fight cancer. The researchers were able to...
How trans fats assist cell death
Some trans fats enhance a pathway inside the cell that leads to cell death; drugs targeting this mechanism could help address diseases associated with these fats TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Tohoku University researchers in Japan have uncovered a molecular link between some trans fats and a variety of disorders, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Their findings, published...
For clogged and hardened hearts, a mussel is the solution
POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (POSTECH) Early mortality of myocardial infarction (MI), one of fatal diseases, is about 30%. So, it is critical to have immediate and proactive treatment to prevent a heart attack. Contributing to developing an efficient treatment of this fatal disease, a research team from South Korea recently proposed an effective...
University of Minnesota Develops Simpler, Inexpensive Mechanical Ventilator
CICI ZHOUANESTHESIOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, CRITICAL CARE, MATERIALS, MEDICINE, NEWS, PUBLIC HEALTH With the rise of COVID-19 cases throughout the United States, one of the biggest concerns is the potential shortage of ventilators for patients who have severe viral pneumonia. A team at the University of Minnesota has designed a mechanical ventilator that is inexpensive and made...
Bacterial protein fragment kills lung cells in pulmonary fibrosis, study finds
A bacterial protein fragment instigates lung tissue death in pulmonary fibrosis, a mysterious disease affecting millions of people worldwide, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Mie University in Japan. Led by Illinois microbiology and animal sciences professor Isaac Cann and Mie University immunology professor Dr. Esteban...