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Archive for the ‘health’ category: Page 7

Jun 7, 2024

How psychedelics could help silence chronic pain

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health, neuroscience

What if symptoms of chronic pain were sometimes just echoes of a past injury, and your brain could “snap out of it” with the help of psychedelics? It’s a surprising theory that several labs around the world are beginning to investigate. While there have been few double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of psychedelics for treating chronic pain, preliminary evidence is beginning to emerge — with promising results.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists beyond the usual recovery period or occurs with another condition. It may occur continuously or happen off and on. The most common manifestations of chronic pain are lower back pain, headache disorders, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain. People treated for chronic pain often undergo “pain management programs” that combine approaches from different fields to customize treatments.

Although it may be a reflection of ongoing physical health issues, chronic pain can also have deeply psychosomatic origins, reflecting the close relationship between mind and body.

Jun 5, 2024

Dr. Eliah Overbey, Ph.D. — Assistant Prof., Bioastronautics, UATX — Making Humanity Multi-Planetary

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, health, space travel

Making Humanity A Multi-Planetary Species — Dr. Eliah Overbey, Ph.D. — Assistant Professor, Bioastronautics, University of Austin; CSO, BioAstra.


Dr. Eliah Overbey, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Bioastronautics at The University of Austin (UATX — https://www.uaustin.org/people/eliah–…) where she is involved in pioneering research in the field of astronaut health, specializing in spaceflight-induced genomic changes. Her work focuses on mapping changes in the human body during spaceflight and developing Earth-independent laboratories to make humans a multi-planetary species (https://www.eliahoverbey.com/).

Continue reading “Dr. Eliah Overbey, Ph.D. — Assistant Prof., Bioastronautics, UATX — Making Humanity Multi-Planetary” »

Jun 4, 2024

Health records system restored after Ascension hospitals cyber attack in the Austin area

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, cybercrime/malcode, health

Some systems are still down, but medical staff can now use the computer system for patient care after almost four weeks.

Jun 4, 2024

Impossible is nothing: Spanish engineers build combustion engine with no exhaust emissions

Posted by in categories: health, sustainability, transportation

Spanish scientists are working on an internal combustion engine that does not pollute the environment. Will the new technology change the future of emission-free transport, which until now has been associated with electrification? Two prototypes will soon be presented.

Until recently, it seemed that combustion vehicles, alongside EVs and vehicles that use biofuels, were not participating in the ongoing ‘race’ for sustainable transport. But this has changed, thanks to Spanish scientists from the Technical University of Valencia (Universitat Politècnica de València, UPV) who are working on an emission-free internal combustion engine.

The Spanish scientists have designed a ‘revolutionary’ internal combustion unit that does not generate gases that are harmful to health or carbon dioxide (CO2), and which also stands out for its high efficiency and complies with the emission regulations planned for 2040. According to the Valencian Innovation Agency, which co-financed the project, the first two prototype engines will come to light in the coming months.

Jun 4, 2024

New Study Unveils Serotonin’s Key Role in Fertility and Depression

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health, neuroscience

Scientists from Nagoya University in Japan have identified the role of serotonin neurons in linking glucose availability to reproductive health. Their research demonstrates how elevated glucose levels stimulate serotonergic neurons, leading to the release of serotonin, which in turn activates kisspeptin neurons responsible for reproductive hormone release. These findings explain why poor nutrition affects fertility and suggest potential treatments for depression-induced infertility through the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Credit: SciTechDaily.com.

Scientists from Nagoya University in Japan have clarified the connection between energy levels and fertility in both animals and humans. They discovered that signaling from serotonin neurons plays a crucial role in maintaining reproductive function by detecting glucose availability, which in turn enhances the release of the reproductive hormone gonadotropin. These findings also offer an explanation for the reduced fertility seen in individuals with depression and suggest potential treatments. The study was published in Scientific Reports.

People who lack sufficient nutrition encounter problems with their reproductive health. For example, ballet dancers can experience menstrual disruptions, and women who fast can struggle to conceive. According to a new study led by Designated Associate Professor Sho Nakamura and Professors Hiroko Tsukamura and Satoshi Ohkura, one of the main factors that affect a person’s reproductive health is glucose availability.

Jun 1, 2024

Cesarean Section Reduces Measles Vaccine Efficacy

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health

Cesarean section or C-section is a surgical procedure that delivers a baby through an abdominal incision. It is commonly used when the physicians believe it is a safer route for the parent, baby, or both. Cesarean section has appeared throughout history including Ancient Greece, India, Egypt, and Rome. There are even passages on cesarean section in different religious texts. It is believed that the name was attributed to the way Juluis Caesar was born. However, in Ancient Rome a cesarean section was only performed if at the time of birth, the mother was fatally ill and could not deliver naturally. It has been recorded that Julius Caesar’s mother was present during his life, therefore, historians believe he was not delivered through a cesarean section. Medical historians now believe the term originated from a decree in which Julius Caesar ordered women fated by birth to have a cesarean section which in Latin is “Caesones”. To this day, it is still incompletely understood where the name originated.

Cesarean sections are now routinely performed, and the procedure is well established. Interestingly, long-term effects of cesarean sections are not well known. Previously physicians noted no difference in health outcomes between children born through vaginal birth or cesarean section. Recently, however, a research group at the University of Cambridge found that a single dose of the measles vaccine is 2.6 times more likely to not be effective in children born through cesarean section. Unfortunately, a lack of vaccine efficacy leads to weakened immunity due to an inadequate number of antibodies produced to fight infection. While the first vaccination produced little efficacy, researchers demonstrated that a second measles vaccine was comparable to vaginally born children. More specifically, the vaccine was effective and produced the necessary antibodies to fight infection.

The recent paper published in Nature Microbiology by Dr. Henrik Salje, concluded the long-term effects of cesarean section delivery. Researchers suggest an increased risk of measles outbreak among children that were born through cesarean section and had only one measles vaccination. Salje and others explain that lack of vaccine efficacy is linked to the infants’ gut microbiome. It is well established that children receive great exposure to healthy microbes through vaginal birth, which boosts their immune systems. By avoiding microbe exposure through cesarean section, the infant loses critical immune protection.

Jun 1, 2024

Dr Paul Friedrichs MD — Director, Office Of Pandemic Preparedness & Response Policy, The White House

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health, military, policy

Maj. Gen. Dr. Paul Friedrichs, MD is the Inaugural Director of the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, at the White House (OPPR — https://www.whitehouse.gov/oppr/), a permanent executive office aimed at leading, coordinating, and implementing actions to prepare for and respond to pathogens that could lead to a pandemic or significant public health-related disruptions in the U.S., and principal advisor on pandemic preparedness and response, appointed by President Biden.

Dr. Friedrichs was previously the Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon where he provided medical advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff and the Combatant Commanders, coordinating all issues related to health services, including operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among the combatant commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the services. He also led the development and publication of the initial Joint Medical Estimate and served as medical advisor to the Department of Defense COVID-19 Task Force.

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May 31, 2024

Thousands of Patients to Be Given World’s First Cancer Vaccine

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health

The UK’s National Health Service is fast-tracking patients for its new cancer vaccine trials that customize each jab to each patient.

May 31, 2024

Precision’s Brain Chip Sets Record with 4,096 Electrodes on Brain, Better Than Neuralink?

Posted by in categories: computing, health, neuroscience

In this new standard set by Precision Neuroscience, the rising brain chip industry is seeing significant growth, especially with Neuralink, also known for its first successful implant in the past.

Precision’s Brain Chip Sets Record With 4.096 Electrodes on Brain

Precision Neuroscience shared its latest milestone on its brain-computer interface (BCI), which it recently placed on a human brain in collaboration with the Mount Sinai Health System, successfully placing 4,096 electrodes on cerebral matter.

May 30, 2024

Maximizing DNA Yield for Biobanking Applications

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, health, robotics/AI

With advances in genomics research, personalized medicine, and sequencing-based technologies, there is a necessity for purification of high-quality genomic DNA from large volumes of blood. The rapidly growing landscape of biorepositories that store large amounts of DNA from an enormous number of biospecimens further fuels this need to find optimized solutions for reliable purification of DNA. The information derived from the purified DNA is crucial to health science research and facilitates drug discovery, biomarker discovery, clinical implementation projects, etc. For the success of these analyses and to derive relevant information, DNA extraction is the most critical step and must meet the criteria of extraction speed, yield and quality, as well as reproducibility. Many nucleic acid purification kits and automation workflows for processing blood samples in the volume range of 100–250 μL exist, but not many convenient, automated options exist for volumes as high as 2 mL without sample splitting. To fill this opening, Omega Bio-tek has developed a semi-automated solution on the MagBinder® Fit24 to extract DNA from large volumes of fresh or frozen blood. Here, we provide background information on biobanks, as well as present the solution Omega Bio-tek has developed for DNA extraction from large volumes of whole blood.

A biobank is a specialized repository that systematically collects, processes, stores, and manages biological samples for use in medical research and treatments. The primary purpose of a biobank is to provide a centralized and organized resource of high-quality biological materials, such as blood or tissue, along with relevant clinical and demographic data1. These invaluable assets are at the center of advancements in cancer treatments, biomarker discovery, and understanding genetic factors for disease. At a high level, biobanks can be classified by two categories1:

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