Scientists Stealing Thoughts

Scientists Stealing Thoughts

Recent studies and clinical trials conducted by researchers from the University of California at Berkeley, indicate that the ability to "map out" thoughts based on changes in brain activity. They conducted these clinical trials using a network of electrodes (similar to an EEG or ECoG) implanted within the brains of 15 epileptic patients, initially used by surgeons to discover the origin of seizures within these patients brains. However, the data collected allowed researchers to analyze brain pattern data based on the patient's reaction to specific sounds. The researchers introduced a large variety of words and sounds (different frequencies, tones, intonations, etc.). The researchers then used then constructed 2 separate computer programs to analyze and reconstruct the brain activity readings. From this data, the researchers were able to begin to deduce and compile data concerning different locations of activity within the brain associated with specific words and sounds. The researchers believe that, through this technique, they may one day be able to utilize this data to decode and read a person's brain.

This article is quite relevant towards last semesters design team project. If this technology is further developed, doctors may be able to not only communicate with those incapable of speech or response (in a comma, etc.), but also for measuring the level of brain function within an alleged brain dead person, ideally as a diagnostic tool. In addition, this technology may facilitate researchers ability to truly understand the "thought process" within a persons brain, furthering the decoding of the brain.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-01/decoding-brain-waves-could-let-doctors-hear-what-we-hear-%E2%80%94-and-maybe-what-we-think

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/01/scienceshot-a-brain-wave-worth-a.html

Improving Vision with Stem Cells

So doctors have recently shown the results of their research on using stem cells to help improve the vision of two women. Both women had different reasons for being legally blind and unable to recognize faces but they both underwent the same procedure to see if the treatment would help. These tests were previously only tested on animals but these the FDA allowed these two women to be the first to undergo this treatment. Doctors implanted stem cells into one eye and monitored their progression. Both women have significantly improved their vision and have started to go out on their own. It was even reported that one of the ladies was able to thread a needle. However, despite these vast improvements doctors have said that it is early into the therapy and there is always the possibility for something to happen.

This article is interesting because it reminded me of the device design last semester. Although it had nothing to do with the eyes, it seems that an early idea (well of our group at least) involved stem cells. It's amazing that these cells are able to do so much and be so useful.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/embryonic-stem-cells-appear-to-restore-some-vision-to-legally-blind-patient/2012/01/23/gIQAoHMPLQ_story.html

Tissue Engineering to Repair Damaged Cartilage in Osteoarthritis

Because of its lack of blood supply, cartilage tissue regrowth is one of the most significant and challenging problems in tissue engineering. Particularly in the knee joints, wear and tear on cartilage builds up over the years, which results in conditions such as Osteoarthritis. Tissue with proper blood supply can heal, but cartilage does not heal properly. In a person with Osteoarthritis, cartilage tissue has worn down over the years, and the knee bones are often rubbing against each other. This can cause inflammation and a significant amount of pain. Because of the world's aging population and the growing cases of obesity, Osteoarthritis is becoming a bigger problem than ever before, so the focus on medical treatment via tissue engineering has grown as well.

New tissue engineering methods, such as "scaffolding", are being researched as possible treatment options. Scaffolding involves the use of a biomaterial cartilage-like matrix to provide structure and manipulate cell response for the production and recruitment of chondrocytes. With the recent development and research of cartilage regeneration methods, the future of cartilage regeneration and repair looks bright.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110608122815.htm

Dead to rights

I am sure that most of you have heard about artificial hearts and are familiar with how they work, which is essentially by mimicking the heart, beat, chambers and all. Some of you may also be familiar with ventricular assist devices or VAD's, which are typically implanted into the left ventricle as an L-VAD, or the right as an R-VAD, and sometimes even both (a dual-VAD) if the case is particularly severe but these, as it says in their name, are merely assist devices and though they do essentially take on all of the pumping responsibilities of the ventricle that they are attached to or implanted in and the heart is still present, at least until recently that is. Two doctors, from Texas no less, recently attached two centrifugal VAD pumps together rather than implanting them separately on either side of the heart and implanted them as a full heart replacement in a terminally ill amyloidosis patient with less than 12 hours to live, the surgery was a totall success and kept him alive for a month before his liver and kidneys shut down due to his disease. An interesting consequence of this is that he was living with no normal heart function, namely a pulse, which the doctors described in referring to one of their animal subjects as not living by every metric they have to analyze patients. This is being called the first continuous flow artificial heart and the doctors are hoping that it will revolutionize the current approaches to heart replacement technology.

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/13/137029208/heart-with-no-beat-offers-hope-of-new-lease-on-life

Exercise Extends Life in Mice with Ataxia

Research done by Dr. John Fryer and Dr. Huda Zoghbi shows that exercise extends the lives in mice with ataxia.  This was found when the researchers from Texas Childrens' Hospital prescribed exercise for a deadly neurodegenerative disease called ataxia, which involves a lack of coordination with voluntary muscle movement.

When a coresearcher found the gene that caused the disease, they thought the exercise may improve the gait of the mice and were discouraged to find their hypothesis was incorrect.  However, as the research continued, it was discovered that the lives of the mice were extended by the exercise, which occurred early in life.

Exercise increased a growth factor that lessened the intensity of a certain pathway involved with ataxia.  This decreased the production of capicua, a protein that decreases muscle coordination and causes other symptoms associated with atacia.  The decreased levels also spared some neurons in the cerebellum.  The researchers are not sure yet how these results can be applied to humans, but they will look more into this.

http://www.nri.texaschildrens.org/news_events/press_releases/fryer_ataxia.aspx

Skin Cells Turned Into Neural Precusors, Bypassing Stem-Cell Stage

Researchers at the Stanford University of Medicine has recently found that mice skin cells have the potential to be converted into three different cells that are directly related to the nervous system.Induced pluripotency has been used to transform skin cells directly into neural precursor cells, which can differentiate into not only neurons, but oligodendrocytes and astrocytes as well. The main usefulness of this process is the ability to make large amounts of these cells within the lab. The link below goes on to explain that one day it is possible to transplant these cells into humans, but may be an issue due to other factors.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130171907.htm

Further Evidence Suggests Aspirin Reduces Cancer Risk

Chronic inflammation is believed to be one of the many causes of cancer. Inflammation is an immune response when there are foreign particles attacking the body. This area becomes invaded by immune cells in order to kill the intruders. They release oxidative chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to get rid of the foreign particles. If the immune cells continue to proceed with this process, inflammation may continuously occur, causing irritation and therefore resulting in chronic inflammation.
As the number of immune cells increases, and there is continuous secretion of oxidative chemicals, tissues surrounding the area can begin to deteriorate and result in cellular death. With many cells dying, others begin to multiply in order to be able to heal the affected area. This mutation of cells augments the probability of tumor formation.
A study published in the 2011 article The Lancet demonstrated how many individuals who took Aspirin daily for various years showed a decreased risk of acquiring cancer. The areas of decreased cancer risk are lung, brain, pancreas, and esophagus. Aspirin is most effective where it is absorbed (GI tract), therefore it has the greatest effect on cancers in the digestive tract.

http://www.biomedicalblog.com/further-evidence-suggests-aspirin-reduces-cancer-risk/108500/

Fantastic Voyage: Endoscope Technology

Endoscopes are currently used in vitro to take pictures of tissue within the body, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.  These devices, while useful, can be invasive and painful to the patient while in use, requiring sedation.  A researcher out of Tel Aviv University has furthered endoscope design and developed one that will make the overall process easier and even more useful to doctors. 

The new device uses a combination of an MRI magnetic field and a vibrating copper tail to power the device as it moves through the digestive tract. This allows for a doctor to directly manipulate the direction of the device within the intestine with much accuracy.  The researchers are still working towards enhancing the device’s signal power, but this is a step in the direction of making these sorts of operations easier on both patients and doctors.

This is of interest to me as a bioengineer in that it is part of our job to not only fix patients, but also make sure we do not cause any more harm.  Right now many procedures to even get an image of a tumor, such as using an endoscope, are painful, can be harmful to the patient, and may not provide useful information back to the doctors.  I think medicine should work to develop accurate and minimally invasive procedures, and this device is a step in that direction.  

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215135851.htm

Function of Oligomers in Storing Memories in the Brain

The human brain stores memories at a rapid rate, but over time, these memories fade and become no longer useful. Based on the research conducted by Dr. Kausik Si, the method of consolidating such short term memory into long term memory highly involves the oligomers in the brain. Oligomers are self-sustaining polymers located at the synapses between neurons maintained by a protein called Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding protein (CPEB).
This protein exists partly in the form of oligomers, more specifically the Orb2 oligomers, which increase when the synapses strengthen. The idea of CPEB working during times of consolidating short term memory into long term memory was always assumed by several scientists but was never actually proven till the experiment conducted by Dr. Si.
Dr. Si's experiment proved that the disruption of the Orb2 oligomers inhibited their function of stabilizing the memory. To do so, the researchers generated a mutant fruit fly with the inability to oligomerize while maintaining the level of the neurons in the brain. The studies showed that the mutant fruit flies were not able to do functions they learned 48 hours past but the normal fruit flies were functioning fine and were able to remember tasks they learned 48 hours after the experiment. This proves that the oligomers do play a much larger role than previously expected and the increase in numbers of them correlates partly to the consolidation process of remembering.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162409.htm