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Category: biotech/medical – Page 956

Australian Researchers Create Technique for Engineering Blood Vessels Using Natural Tissue

Blood vessels form the transportation network within our bodies. They are streets where red and white blood cells drive. They are the delivery system to oxygenate our brain and other vital organs and muscles. There are other highways in our bodies such as our nervous and lymphatic systems, but blood vessels are the ones that are central to healthy heart function and keeping our brain supplied with oxygen. When blood vessels are compromised we can suffer a stroke, heart attack, aneurysm or die.

When usual causes of heart attacks are blocked coronary arteries. The coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart. When partially blocked people experience symptoms like angina. When blocked they can suffer a myocardial infarction, the fancy name for a heart attack.

Today, harvested blood vessel grafts from human donors or the patient are used for bypassing coronary blood vessel blockages. But researchers at the University of Melbourne believe that fabricated blood vessel tissue that can be shaped to any need would be an effective substitute for existing grafts. The team in its search for a graft alternative has combined a variety of materials and living tissue with a fabrication technique to create complex blood vessels that can serve multiple purposes.

Scientific Proof We Can Reverse Aging | Raj Agni Podcast

Scientist, longevity expert and biotechnology patent holder Raj Agni (aka Steven Schorr) beams in to discuss age deceleration, telomere extension and revolutionary plant-based anti-aging supplements on episode 114 of the Far Out with Faust podcast.

Raj Agni, also known as Steven M. Schorr, is a metaphysician, author, inventor, healer, alchemist, artist, musician, entrepreneur, and creator of Extended Longevity products designed to rebuild your telomeres. His clinics have operated for 14 years on Maui, Hawaii and he has treated over twenty thousand people.

Raj has authored 20 U.S. and International Patents, including his patent on the aeroponic technology, and four patents for innovations in the Airponic™ process and product design. Raj is a published author whose books include “Keeper of Secrets, 1997, a translation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, ” Perceptions of Truth”; 2013, and ” The Path to an Illuminated Awakening”, published in 2014. These books are currently available on Amazon.com.

In this episode, Raj catches Faust up on the anti-aging and age reversal insights and results he’s found since his first appearance on episode 18. He delves into these topics, and more:

-Can you stop, or even reverse, aging?
–How does aging work?
–What are telomeres?
–Are there supplements that can reverse aging?
–How can you test to see what your biological age is?
–What should you do if you have lingering side effects from the past three years?

This is Raj’s second appearance on the show. Link to episode 18: https://youtu.be/gxkGbO-jhY4

Continue reading “Scientific Proof We Can Reverse Aging | Raj Agni Podcast” | >

Scientists develop efficient spray technique for bioactive materials

Rutgers University scientists have devised a highly accurate method for creating coatings of biologically active materials for a variety of medical products. Such a technique could pave the way for a new era of transdermal medication, including shot-free vaccinations, the researchers said.

Writing in Nature Communications, the researchers described a new approach to deposition, an industrial spray-coating process. Essentially, the team developed a way to better control the target region within a spray zone as well as the electrical properties of microscopic particles that are being deposited. The greater command of those two properties means that more of the spray is likely to hit its microscopic target.

In electrospray deposition, manufacturers apply a to a flowing liquid, such as a biopharmaceutical, converting it into fine particles. Each of those droplets evaporates as it travels to a target area, depositing a solid precipitate from the original solution.

Genetics: how they impact disease risk, what you can do about it, testing & more [AMA 50 sneak peek]

Watch the full episode and view show notes here: https://bit.ly/3Oo9mE5
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In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter delves into the realm of genetics, unraveling its connection to disease and emphasizing the value of understanding one’s genetic risks. He elucidates essential background knowledge on genetics before delving into the myriad reasons why individuals might consider genetic testing. Peter differentiates scenarios where genetic testing provides genuine insights from those where it may not be as useful. From there, Peter explores a comprehensive comparison of commercial direct-to-consumer genetic tests, providing insights on interpreting results and identifying the standout options for gaining insights into personal health.

In this sneak peek, we discuss:
00:00 — Intro.
02:09 — Defining the term “genetics” and why it’s important.
04:03 — What is DNA, and how does it impact our biology and traits?
07:13 — How are genetics passed down from parent to child?
11:44 — How much do genes vary across individuals?
16:22 — Which traits are determined by genetics versus experience or environmental factors?
22:30 — Reasons for genetic testing.

In the full episode, we also discuss:
–What exactly is being measured by a genetic test?;
–Testing for monogenic disorders;
–Understanding polygenic risk;
–Is genetic testing more important for someone who doesn’t know their family history?;
–What does it mean to be positive for a particular variant?;
–What does it mean to be negative for a particular variant?;
–How does someone get genetic testing through their healthcare provider, and how are these tests performed?;
–The financial cost of various genetic tests;
–Could having a risk allele for a disease result in an increase in one’s insurance premium?;
–Other risks associated with genetic testing;
–How do commercial, direct-to-consumer genetic tests compare to the information one might receive from clinical genetic testing?;
–Are certain direct-to-consumer tests better than others?;
–How long until whole genome sequencing becomes genuinely useful?;
–How useful are personalized dietary recommendations based on genetics?;
–Final thoughts and advice regarding genetic testing; and.
–More.

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About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 70 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Continue reading “Genetics: how they impact disease risk, what you can do about it, testing & more [AMA 50 sneak peek]” | >

We Just Got An Unprecedented Look At The Details of Cell Division

The innovative tweak will allow scientists to directly observe molecular behavior over a much longer period, opening a window onto pivotal biological processes like cell division.

“The living cell is a busy place with proteins bustling here and there,” explains University of Michigan biomedical engineer Guangjie Cui. “Our superresolution is very attractive for viewing these dynamic activities.”

Stem cells used to create organoids that secrete dental enamel proteins

Organoids have now been created from stem cells to secrete the proteins that form dental enamel, the substance that protects teeth from damage and decay. A multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle led this effort.

Organiods are the new thing, when you think about how AI, and nanotechnology changed the worldnwe live in, but years from now you will realize it, like all I have predicted since I played with a Kurzweil Keyboard when I was a child.

A new kind of brain organoid offers possibilities in neuroscience research

University of Michigan researchers published a study detailing a new method for making brain organoids, or miniature lab-grown brains used in neuroscience research, last June. Previously, the most common method for creating human brain organoids relied on Matrigel — a substance made of cells from mouse sarcomas — to provide structure for the organoids, but the new method uses an engineered extracellular matrix composed of human-derived proteins.

The lack of cells from other species in the new organoids means they more closely resemble actual human brains, opening up research possibilities on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. U-M alum Ayse Muñiz, who worked on the research as part of her Ph.D. thesis while at the University, said in an interview with The Michigan Daily that having organoids with only human cells is advantageous for translational research — the process of turning knowledge from lab research into something with real-world applications.

“When you’re doing translational research, having contamination from other species will limit your ability to translate this into the clinic,” Muñiz said. “The presence of other species basically elicits immunogenic responses, and can just be a limitation for scale and other things like that. And so here now that you’ve taken that out, it makes the path to translation a lot easier.”

The organoid revolution: From a breast in Jello to a synthetic embryo

I first posted about Orgaanoids for the heart, beause I have a family member with heart problems, and I know how the innovation is a game changer. I like to think of myself as a futurist, and being ahead of most everyone. My post about Mastodon proves such…oh wait someone else posted it and threads uses the same ActivityPub protocol that is Mastodon. I should get Him to repost it if I know Him 🙄, while as if I thought it. Let us always embrace the future, and futurists. 😁

For over a century, scientists have dreamed of growing human organs sans humans. This technology could put an end to the scarcity of organs for transplants. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The capability to grow fully functional organs would revolutionize research. For example, scientists could observe mysterious biological processes, such as how human cells and organs develop a disease and respond (or fail to respond) to medication without involving human subjects.

As described in the aforementioned Nature paper, Żernicka-Goetz and her team mimicked the embryonic environment by mixing these three types of stem cells from mice. Amazingly, the stem cells self-organized into structures and progressed through the successive developmental stages until they had beating hearts and the foundations of the brain.

“Our mouse embryo model not only develops a brain, but also a beating heart [and] all the components that go on to make up the body,” said Żernicka-Goetz. “It’s just unbelievable that we’ve got this far. This has been the dream of our community for years and major focus of our work for a decade and finally we’ve done it.”

If the methods developed by Żernicka-Goetz’s team are successful with human stem cells, scientists someday could use them to guide the development of synthetic organs for patients awaiting transplants. It also opens the door to studying how embryos develop during pregnancy.

Gene Therapy Rewired Monkey’s Brains to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder, Study Finds

The GDNF gene therapy is currently used to treat Parkinson’s disease but could now be a major breakthrough in substantially reducing alcohol use disorder. “Drinking went down to almost zero,” Grant told OHSU News. “For months on end, these animals would choose to drink water and just avoid drinking alcohol altogether. They decreased their drinking to the point that it was so low we didn’t record a blood-alcohol level.”

Grant and her team said in the study that the resounding efficacy of GDNF gene therapy is promising for those who struggle with alcohol use disorder, and believe it could be effective in treating other substance abuse disorders. However, the therapy treatment would not be widely accessible and with other options on the market, it should be used as a last resort form of treatment.

Source of Hidden Consciousness in ‘Comatose’ Brain Injury Patients Found

Columbia researchers have identified brain injuries that may underlie hidden consciousness, a puzzling phenomenon in which brain-injured patients are unable to respond to simple commands, making them appear unconscious despite having some level of awareness.

“Our study suggests that patients with hidden consciousness can hear and comprehend verbal commands, but they cannot carry out those commands because of injuries in brain circuits that relay instructions from the brain to the muscles,” says study leader Jan Claassen, MD, associate professor of neurology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and chief of critical care and hospitalist neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

The findings could help physicians more quickly identify brain-injured patients who might have hidden consciousness and better predict which patients are likely to recover with rehabilitation.

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