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Category: biotech/medical – Page 283

Noninvasive stent imaging powered by light and sound

In a new study, researchers show, for the first time, that photoacoustic microscopy can image stents through skin, potentially offering a safer, easier way to monitor these life-saving devices. Each year, around 2 million people in the U.S. are implanted with a stent to improve blood flow in narrowed or blocked arteries.

“It is critical to monitor for problems such as fractures or improper positioning, but conventionally used techniques require invasive procedures or radiation exposure,” said co-lead researcher Myeongsu Seong from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China. “This inspired us to test the potential of using for monitoring stents through the skin.”

In the journal Optics Letters, the researchers show that photoacoustic microscopy can be used to visualize stents covered with mouse skin under various clinically relevant conditions, including simulated damage and plaque buildup.

New software simulates cancer cell behavior using genomics and computational models

In the same vein as weather forecast models that predict developing storms, researchers have now developed a method to predict the cell activity in tissues over time. The new software combines genomics technologies with computational modeling to predict cell changes in behavior, such as communication between cells that could cause cancer cells to flourish.

Researchers demonstrate first bidirectional asymmetric frequency conversion in a single system

A research team in Korea has experimentally demonstrated, for the first time in the world, a nonlinear wave phenomenon that changes its frequency—either rising or falling—depending on which direction the waves come from.

Much like Janus, the Roman god with two faces looking in , the system exhibits different responses depending on the direction of the incoming wave. This groundbreaking work opens new horizons for technologies ranging from medical ultrasound imaging to advanced noise control.

The joint research team, led by Professor Junsuk Rho of POSTECH’s Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, along with Dr. Yeongtae Jang, Ph.D. candidate Beomseok Oh, and Professor Eunho Kim of Jeonbuk National University, has experimentally demonstrated a phenomenon of bidirectional asymmetric frequency conversion within a granular phononic crystal system.

Research brings hope for new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy, autism

Ancient bacteria that have evolved to become integral to our cells—converting nutrients from food into energy—may also contribute to neurologic disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and autism, according to research in the lab of Yongchao Ma, Ph.D., from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Called mitochondria, these mysterious parts of the cell have even retained their own DNA. Traditionally they are known as the “powerhouse of the cell.”

In recent years, however, mitochondria have been recognized as regulating many functions, including and how cells communicate. Dr. Ma’s research focuses on how dysregulation by mitochondria may lead to motor neuron degeneration in SMA or improper neuron connections in .

Scientists advance efforts to create ‘virtual cell lab’ as testing ground for future research with live cells

Using mathematical analysis of patterns of human and animal cell behavior, scientists say they have developed a computer program that mimics the behavior of such cells in any part of the body. Led by investigators at Indiana University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Oregon Health & Science University, the new work was designed to advance ways of testing and predicting biological processes, drug responses and other cell dynamics before undertaking more costly experiments with live cells.

With further work on the program, the researchers say it could eventually serve as a “digital twin” for testing any drug’s effect on cancer or other conditions, gene environment interactions during brain development, or any number of dynamic cellular molecular processes in people where such studies are not possible.

The new study and examples of cell simulations are described online July 25 in the journal Cell.

Self-Assembled Nanoparticles from Xie-Bai-San Decoction: Isolation, Characterization and Enhancing Oral Bioavailability

Natural nanoparticles have been found to exist in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions. However, whether natural nanoparticles can influence the oral bioavailability of active compounds has not been elucidated. Using Xie-Bai-San decoction (XBSD) as an example, the purpose of this study was to isolate, characterize and elucidate the mechanism of the nanoparticles (N-XBSD) in XBSD, and further to explore whether the bioavailability of the main active compounds could be enhanced by N-XBSD.

N-XBSD were isolated from XBSD, and investigated its characterization and study of its formation mechanism, and evaluation of its ability to enhance bioavailability of active compounds.

The N-XBSD was successfully isolated with the average particle size of 104.53 nm, PDI of 0.27 and zeta potential of −5.14 mV. Meanwhile, all the eight active compounds were most presented in N-XBSD. Kukoamine B could self-assemble with mulberroside A or liquiritin to form nanoparticles, respectively. And the FT-IR and HRMS results indicated the possible binding of the ammonium group of kukoamine B with the phenolic hydroxyl group of mulberroside A or liquiritin, respectively. The established UPLC-MS/MS method was accurate and reliable and met the quantitative requirements. The pharmacokinetic behaviors of the N-XBSD and decoction were similar in rats. Most notably, compared to that of free drugs, the Cmax, AUC0-∞, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT0-∞ values of index compounds were the higher in N-XBSD, with a slower plasma clearance rate in rats.

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