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Category: biotech/medical – Page 1,955

Spaceflight makes the body kill red blood cells and it doesn’t get better after landing

Space anemia is more serious than we thought.

Being in space causes the human body to destroy about 50% more red blood cells, leading to a potentially dangerous condition known as anemia. The effects persist even after astronauts return to Earth, according to a new study.

The study, led by researchers at the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, analyzed breath and blood samples of 14 astronauts before, during, and after their six-month missions aboard the International Space Station. The researchers found that the astronaut’s bodies destroyed about 54% more red blood cells than they would on Earth.

World’s First 3D-Printed Prosthetic Eye

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A London patient, Steve Verze, became the first to use a 3D-printed prosthetic eye in November 2021. Its advancements in aesthetics, durability and production process allude to an auspicious future for prosthetics. Yet, developing countries struggle regarding prosthetic accessibility and affordability. Losing a limb or organ in poverty is extremely impactful since access to prosthetic devices or assistance is rare.

A 3D Difference

Steve Verze made history by replacing his acrylic eye with a 3D-printed prosthetic. Since he was 20 years old, he has worn a prosthetic and expressed that he was always self-conscious wearing it. The difference between his previous eye and the 3D counterpart is wider than expected. Traditional prosthetic eyes take six weeks to finish due to hand painting acrylic. The 3D printing prosthetic takes two to three weeks in comparison. Acrylic eyes require an anesthetic for children due to the challenge of molding them to the eye socket. The 3D eye only uses digital scans and “is a true biomimetic and a more realistic prosthetic, with clearer definition and a real depth to the pupil.” The world’s first 3D-printed prosthetic eye shows advancements that expand the possibilities of prosthetics forever.

Cyborgs in the streets

I don’t know how about you… But I’m meeting cyborgs in the streets regularly. If you observe carefully you can find people with artificial legs and arms. So next time watch more carefully. Its most common seen artificial body part. On other hand there are other parts you can’t see, like artificial joints, dental implants, breast implants, pacemakers, insulin pumps and so on. We are unable to see them but they are very common. Millions people use them. Nowadays very common trend is biohacking where people implant magnets and chips to their bodies. We think our bodies are born complete but we are wrong. We can upgrade and modify them. What if we can use brain implants to be smarter, to think and focus sharper.

First real cyborg I have met was Prof. Kevin Warwick. We met in Pilsen at conference about artificial intelligence. He is known for his studies on direct interfaces between computer systems and the human nervous system, and has also done research concerning robotics.

Link: Big Pharma loses top scientist to anti-aging research

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/2b869472&#45…28788e8dd4

“GlaxoSmithKline’s chief scientific officer Hal Barron will step down in August as he moves to lead a Silicon Valley anti-ageing start-up, dealing a blow to the pharma group as it races to rebuild its pipeline of drugs.”

GSK loses top scientist to anti-ageing start-up

Link: Big Pharma loses top scientist to anti-aging research.

GlaxoSmithKline’s chief scientific officer Hal Barron will step down in August as he moves to lead a Silicon Valley anti-ageing start-up, dealing a blow to the pharma group as it races to rebuild its pipeline of drugs.

Hal Barron, a veteran drug developer, helped shape GSK efforts when some shareholders raised concerns that chief executive Emma Walmsley’s lack of a scientific background was a hindrance. He will be replaced by internal candidate Tony Wood.

Barron is leaving GSK to take up the top job at Altos Labs, a start-up reportedly backed by billionaires including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He will remain on GSK’s board as a non-executive director and continue to provide scientific advice.

New Virus-Like Particles Can Deliver CRISPR to Any Cell in the Body

One critical difference? Unlike a Mars mission’s “seven minutes of terror,” during which the entry, descent, and landing occur too fast for human operators to interfere, gene therapy delivery is completely blind. Once inside the body, the entire flight sequence rests solely on the design of the carrier “spaceship.”

In other words, for gene therapy to work efficiently, smarter carriers are imperative.

This month, a team at Harvard led by Dr. David Liu launched a new generation of molecular carriers inspired by viruses. Dubbed engineered virus-like particles (eVLPs), these bubble-like carriers can deliver CRISPR and base editing components to a myriad of organs with minimal side effects.

Google’s $1.5 billion research center to “solve death”

Google has been developing what is perhaps the company’s most ambitious project to date: a science startup that will pursue ‘solutions for aging’ with the intended goal of “solving death”.

Calico, a company directed by futurists to explore the concept of “singularity”, has partnered with pharmaceutical giants to research and trial new market drugs that target aging and development.

What is this new audacious project? Who is behind it? In the following feature, Ethan Nash explores.

To Elon Musk, on the Future of Our Brains

By: alfonso fasano & benjamin stecher.

The following was written out of a shared belief that there are only two things that can change the world. A big army and a big idea. This is a distillation of our big idea.

Dear Elon Musk.

We are writing out of concern. Concern for ourselves, our patients, and the tens of millions of minds around the world you reach. You see, we have a problem. Patients and physicians in the neuromodulation community consistently misinterpret your public comments. It is very important to us that we do not overinflate expectations or unnecessarily hype these products beyond what is possible.

Commentary: To avoid the superbug pandemic, we must fix the antibiotics business

Doctors must be careful when they consider treating their patients with the newest antibiotics, because every time these drugs are used, bacteria have a chance to build resistance. As a result, new antibiotics are generally used sparingly–leaving antibiotic companies with little chance of selling enough doses to recoup their investment.

If scientists don’t discover new antibiotics soon, the world will eventually return to the pre-antibiotic era when simple cuts could kill.

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