Health News related to Simple Blood Test – Neurodegeneration, Stem Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes, Preventing HIV Infection in Monkeys, 3D Bioprinter, Reversing Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sudden Cardiac Death, Devastating Childhood Brain Cancer, 3D-Printing Custom Medical Devices
Note: I do not write/own any of the health news bits (and cover picture) given here. The links on each of the news bits will redirect to the news source. Content given under each headline is a basic gist and not the full story.
1. Simple Blood Test Can Accurately Reveal Underlying Neurodegeneration
Source: King’s College London
7 Jun 2021
A new study has shown for the first time that a single biomarker can accurately indicate the presence of underlying neurodegeneration in people with cognitive issues. The study examined 3138 samples from King’s College London, Lund University, and Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, including people with no cognitive impairment, people with neurodegenerative disorders, people with Down syndrome and people with depression.
2. Research Advances One Step Closer to Stem Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes
Source: Salk Institute
7 Jun 2021
Scientists are developing a promising approach for treating type 1 diabetes using stem cells to create insulin-producing cells (called beta cells) that could replace nonfunctional pancreatic cells. In a study, the investigators reported that they have developed a new way to create beta cells that is much more efficient than previous methods. Additionally, when these beta cells were tested in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, the animals’ blood sugar was brought under control within about two weeks.
3. Monoclonal Antibody Prevents HIV Infection in Monkeys, Study Finds
Source: Oregon Health & Science University
7 Jun 2021
An experimental, lab-made antibody can completely prevent nonhuman primates from being infected with the monkey form of HIV, according to new research. The results will inform a future human clinical trial evaluating leronlimab as a potential pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, therapy to prevent human infection from the virus that causes AIDS.
Original written by: Franny White
4. Super Productive 3D Bioprinter Could Help Speed Up Drug Development
Source: University of California – San Diego
8 Jun 2021
A 3D printer that rapidly produces large batches of custom biological tissues could help make drug development faster and less costly. Nanoengineers have developed the high-throughput bioprinting technology, which 3D prints with record speed—it can produce a 96-well array of living human tissue samples within 30 minutes. Having the ability to rapidly produce such samples could accelerate high-throughput preclinical drug screening and disease modeling, the researchers said.
5. Microgel Coating Gives Donor Cells A Boost in Reversing Pulmonary Fibrosis
Source: University of Illinois at Chicago
8 Jun 2021
Researchers have shown that even after lung tissue has been damaged, it may be possible to reverse fibrosis and promote tissue repair through treatment with microgel-coated mesenchymal stromal cells. The researchers engineered a thin microgel that, when designed in a specific way, can boost the therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to degrade scar tissue and regenerate healthy tissue in mouse models of fibrosis.
6. Nearly One in Five Patients Who Die from Unexplained Sudden Cardiac Death Have Suspicious Gene, Study Finds
Source: University of Maryland School of Medicine
8 Jun 2021
Researchers have found that nearly 20 percent of patients with unexplained sudden cardiac death – most of whom were under age 50 – carried rare genetic variants. These variants likely raised their risk of sudden cardiac death. In some cases, their deaths may have been prevented if their doctors had known about their genetic predisposition to heart disease.
Original written by: Deborah Kotz
7. Study Sheds Light on Treatment Options for Devastating Childhood Brain Cancer
Source: Washington University School of Medicine
10 Jun 2021
A study suggests that children with “average risk medulloblastoma” can receive a radiation “boost” to a smaller volume of the brain at the end of a six-week course of radiation treatment and still maintain the same disease control as those receiving radiation to a larger area.
Original written by: Julia Evangelou Strait
8. New Way To 3D-Print Custom Medical Devices to Boost Performance and Bacterial Resistance
Source: University of Nottingham
10 Jun 2021
Using a new 3D printing process, researchers have discovered how to tailor-make artificial body parts and other medical devices with built-in functionality that offers better shape and durability, while cutting the risk of bacterial infection at the same time.
That’s all the health news for this week! Maybe you can help me provide news better. Leave a comment below if you have any suggestions or send me a message via the contact form! Have fun!
