Medical
'Kidney on a chip' could lead to safer drug dosing
University of Michigan researchers have used a 'kidney on a chip' device to mimic the flow of medication through human kidneys and measure its effect on kidney cells. The technique could lead to more precise dosing of drugs, including some potentially toxic medicines often delivered in intensive care units.
3D imaging technique applied to deadly lung disease
Doctors and scientists at the University of Southampton have used advanced 3D X-ray imaging technology to give new insight into the way an aggressive form of lung disease develops in the body. Originally designed for the analysis of substantial engineering parts, such as jet turbine blades, the powerful scanning equipment at Southampton’s µ-VIS Centre for Computed Tomography, has been used to image Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) ...
Theoretical tiger chases statistical sheep
Studying the way that solitary hunters such as tigers, bears or sea turtles chase down their prey turns out to be very useful in understanding the interaction between individual white blood cells and colonies of bacteria. Reporting their results in the Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, researchers in Europe have created a numerical model that explores this behaviour in more detail.
Sensing tool measures lung function over a phone call
Most people in the developing world who have asthma, cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung diseases have no way to measure how well their lungs are functioning outside of a clinic or doctor visit. But many do have access to a phone, though it may be a 10-year-old flip phone or a communal village landline instead of the latest app-driven smartphone.
Sensors suit blood pressure monitoring
PEWATRON has launched the A3 series of gauge pressure sensors from Fujikura. The AG3 and AP3 series are compatible in footprint and pin configuration with the highly successful F and X series, but with better total accuracy performance (<+/-1.5%) and a very low noise output.
Software analyses embryonic development
Sixty years ago, Alan Turing proposed that body patterning is achieved by two types of signaling molecules that spread in the developing tissues to create a spatial pattern. Scientists from the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society in Tübingen have now developed new mathematical approaches and software to systematically analyse realistic pattern forming networks that involve more than two molecules.
Discovery may indicate possible revolutionary antibiotics
An international team including the Lomonosov Moscow State University researchers have determined which enzyme enables Escherichia coli bacterium (E. coli) to breathe. The study is published in the Scientific Reports. Scientists discovered how the E. coli bacterium can survive in the human gut, resolving the mystery of how they breathe. Vitaliy Borisov, senior researcher, explains that E. coli uses special enzymes that are absent in the human bod...
Photoswitchable agents might reduce chemotherapy side effects
So far, PhotoDynamic Therapies (PDTs) have been dependent on oxygen in the tissue. But hardly any oxygen exists in malignant, rapidly growing tumours. A group of researchers of KIT and the University of Kiev has now developed a photo-switchable molecule as a basis of an oxygen-independent method. Their successful laboratory tests on tumours are reported in the journal “Angewandte Chemie” (Applied Chemistry).
A total solution for smart healthcare
With rising populations and life expectancy around the world, countries are all facing the issue of ageing. More and more people are becoming focused on preventive healthcare for disease prevention.
Using plant tissue to combat cancer
A new partnership has been forged between the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Phyton Biotech to help the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease using substances produced by plants.