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Jul 7, 2023

New regenerative stem cell therapy for heart disease shows promise

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension

A stem cell therapy treatment developed by Duke-NUS Medical School researchers for heart failure has shown promising results in preclinical trials. These cells, when transplanted into an injured heart, are able to repair damaged tissue and improve heart function, according to a study published in the journal npj Regenerative Medicine.

Longevity. Technology: The most common cause of death worldwide is ischemic heart disease, which is caused by diminished blood flow to the heart. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, the heart muscle cells die – a condition termed myocardial infarction or heart attack, something that happens to 805,000 people a year in the US [1].

In the Duke-NUS study, a unique new protocol was used where pluripotent stem cells were cultivated in the laboratory in order to grow into heart muscle precursor cells – these cardiomyocyte progenitors can develop into various types of heart cells, through a process called cell differentiation in which dividing cells gain specialised functions. During preclinical trials, the precursor cells were injected into the area of the heart damaged by myocardial infarction, where they were able to grow into new heart muscle cells, restoring damaged tissue and improving heart function.

Jul 7, 2023

The Role Of AI In Social Engineering

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, education, encryption, robotics/AI

Managing Director of Cyber Security Consulting at Verizon.

It’s no surprise firewalls and encryption are instrumental to help defend against cyberattacks, but those tools can’t defend against one of the largest cybersecurity threats: people.

Social engineering—manipulating individuals to divulge sensitive information—is on the rise, even as organizations increasingly implement cybersecurity education and training. While social engineering already poses a challenge for organizations, AI might make it even more of a threat.

Jul 7, 2023

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Now Has a ‘De Facto’ Monopoly on Rocket Launches

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, satellites

The company’s rockets are ferrying astronauts, launching satellites and dominating any competition.

Jul 7, 2023

Doctor AI Will See You Now

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

Tanya Lewis: Hi, and welcome to Your Health, Quickly, a Scientific American podcast series!

Jul 7, 2023

Three Ways Insider Threats Contribute To API Cyber Risk

Posted by in category: futurism

When it comes to APIs and the threats associated with this critical application building block, the human element plays a particularly prevalent role.

Jul 7, 2023

Developing human embryos imaged at highest-ever resolution

Posted by in category: innovation

Non-invasive imaging approach could lead to innovations in embryo screening.

Jul 7, 2023

New Bacterial Structure Helps Overcome Antibiotic Resistance

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

May people worry that infectious pathogens will become resistant to current first-line therapies like antibiotics. Bacteria and other infectious diseases evolve and change to meet the needs of their environment and overcome treatments like these. Cancer is a well-known case in which the tumor cells evolve and become resistant to immunotherapy and other targeted treatments. Cancer is a prime example, because it rapidly divides and the mechanism by which it progresses allows tumor cells to avoid or overcome therapies. However, bacterial diseases are also common infections that can rapidly evolve. The World Health Organization (WHO) has even warned against a time in which antibiotics will not work. If this were the case, minor illnesses such as the common cold, could become fatal. The worry of antibiotic resistance is partly the reason we get yearly vaccinations. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) best predicts which viral infections will persist in the following year. A multitude of data is included in this prediction including the following:

Jul 7, 2023

Tamiflu for preventing flu admissions

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Influenza, or the “flu,” is a viral respiratory infection that commonly affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Some symptoms of flu infection include fever, muscle ache, headache, dry cough, shortness of breath, general malaise, and more. Most healthy people with active flu infections can fight off the infection with their immune systems, however, certain high-risk groups may be prone to developing complications, such as children under 2 years old, adults over 65 years old, those that are pregnant, those with weakened immune systems, those with chronic illnesses, and those with a body mass index of 40 or higher.

The influenza vaccine is a preventative vaccine that reduces the chances of a patient having severe complications from the virus. Even after preventative measures such as the influenza vaccine, some adults remain at high risk for hospitalization following an infection. That is where flu antiviral drugs come in; antiviral drugs are medications that assist your body in fighting viruses.

The most common antiviral for the flu is Tamiflu, generically known as oseltamivir. Oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1999. When oseltamivir is started within two days of flu symptoms and confirmed flu infection, it can shorten length of illness along with a decrease in overall symptoms. This is especially useful in high-risk populations who may be able to prevent a hospitalization after taking oseltamivir.

Jul 7, 2023

Evaluation of Oseltamivir to Prevent Hospitalization in Outpatients With Influenza

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Importance Despite widespread use, summary evidence from prior meta-analyses has contradictory conclusions regarding whether oseltamivir decreases the risk of hospitalization when given to outpatients. Several large investigator-initiated randomized clinical trials have not yet been meta-analyzed.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in preventing hospitalization among influenza-infected adult and adolescent outpatients.

Jul 7, 2023

Revolutionary gel allows metal items to be 3D printed at room temperature

Posted by in categories: 3D printing, materials

Although there are several methods of 3D-printing metal objects, all of them involve the application of heat – which isn’t conducive to producing certain heat-sensitive electronics, among other things. A new gel, however, can be used to print such items at room temperature.

Created by a team of scientists at North Carolina State University, the material starts out as a solution consisting of copper microparticles suspended in water. Microparticles of another metal, known as eutectic gallium indium alloy (EGaIn) are then added, as is hydrochloric acid.

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