Medical
Computerised system helps NGT placement training
The School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has recently developed a computerised haptic system for nasogastric tube (NGT) placement training, enabling nursing students to practise NGT insertion in computer-simulated virtual environment. The system, supported by General Research Fund (GRF) under Research Grants Council , is the first computerised haptic system developed for training nurses in clinical skills in Hong Kong...
3D biochips could detect bowel cancer at early stages
Researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology (EIMB RAS), the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (IBCh) and a number of other Russian research centers have developed a new method of diagnosing colorectal cancer. The results of the study have been published in Cancer Medicine. The scientists have created a hydrogel-based biochip to help detect bowel cancer i.e. colorectal cance...
Technique captures global activity of the brain in a snapshot
When it comes to measuring brain activity, scientists have tools that can take a precise look at a small slice of the brain (less than one cubic millimeter), or a blurred look at a larger area. Now, researchers at Rockefeller University have described a new technique that combines the best of both worlds: it captures a detailed snapshot of global activity in the mouse brain.
Boosting microRNA levels may restore chemo sensitivity
By increasing the level of a specific microRNA (miRNA) molecule, researchers have for the first time restored chemotherapy sensitivity in vitro to a line of human pancreatic cancer cells that had developed resistance to a common treatment drug. If the miRNA molecules can be delivered to cells in the human body - potentially with nanoparticles - the technique might one day be used to battle the chemotherapy resistance that often develops during ca...
Bioactive macrocycle can be tailored for drug design
Researchers from Cornell University have devised a peptidomimetic macrocyclic compound that is made from an acid-catalysed cascade reaction. Their macrocycles are tunable in their backbone, side-chain composition and sequence, and their overall structure. Using this structural versatility, Mintu Porel, Dana N. Thornlow, Ngoc N. Phan and Christopher A. Alabi designed a macrocycle that mimicked antimicrobial peptides and displayed antibacterial pro...
Customised tablets are the latest advance in medicine
A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a way to make personalised medicine cheaper and easier. Imagine if you could combine the myriad of pills you need to take for your ailment in just one tablet; or if you need only to take the medication once a day and the drug will be slowly released throughout the day at different rates to treat your illness; or if doctors could easily make tablets on the spot that a...
Performance-enhancing drug test provides immediate results
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have developed a prototype analyser for rapid testing of meldonium and other performance-enhancing drugs in competitive athletics. The device is based on an electrochemical method that allows displaying test results immediately. In contrast to similar devices on the market, the analyser is mobile, has a user-friendly interface, and is far cheaper. It is expected to cost up to USD $1500.
Fall-prevention sensors enhance senior care
Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering conducted a survey on falls among the elderly, and discovered that Americans are very worried about their elderly parent falling—and that this worry leads to action. Every 13 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall-related trauma.
Paper filter can remove resistant viruses from water
A simple paper sheet made by scientists at Uppsala University can improve the quality of life for millions of people by removing resistant viruses from water. The sheet, made of cellulose nanofibers, is called the mille-feuille filter as it has a unique layered internal architecture resembling that of the French puff pastry mille-feuille (Eng. thousand leaves).
Portable paper sensor monitors sun exposure
Summer is around the corner—time for cookouts and sunbathing. But too much sun can result in sunburn, which is the main cause of skin cancer. Because the time it takes to get burned depends on many factors, it is not easy to tell when to seek shade. To help people stay safe, researchers report in ACS Sensors the development of a paper-based sensor for monitoring sun exposure given different skin tones and sunscreen levels.