Uncovering the Neoproterozoic carbon cycle - comments about

In, “Uncovering the Neoproterozoic carbon cycle,” by D. T. Johnston, F. A Macdonald, B. C. Gill, P. F Hoffman, and D. P. Schrag, of Havard University, they examined variance in the carbon isotopes in the 10 to 100 million year bracket. What I think they found was that isotope concentrations of carbon 13 varied significantly with the region the sample came from, and is not uniform like the current dissolved organic carbon reservoir model (DOC). The DOC is used to explain that variance in carbon 13, an isotope of carbon, and others are protected from, “isotopic excursions,” since they are buffered by a large amount of water that has carbon in it.




What I believe this team claims to have found was that carbon 13 varies with region, and that variance is representative of a different type of carbon cycle than we have today, primarily, that shale or something similar significantly impacted the surface carbon isotope values changing their concentration so that in different regions in the world, namely Namibia, Canada, and Mongolia, the carbon has, “isotopic covariance.”

What I think this implies is that carbon 12 dating that has been done in the past, may be inaccurate, in areas where the isotopic variance of carbon is significant because of intrinsic peculiarities of the surface carbon cycle of that region at that time.

I found this article of particular interest because of its connection with radiation, geology, and biology. Knowing the carbon cycle physiologically speaking helps to improve, and suggests models on how it could have been different in the past.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10854.html

Diet Changes May Improve Autism Symtoms

Gastrointestinal problems are a common symptom of autism.  Now, researchers are thinking that gluten and casein-derived peptides can cause an immune response or behavioral and gastrointestinal problems in children with autism.


The research team conducted a survey that involved asking families about the diets and GI or behavioral problems of those with autism.  They found that these more restrictive diets reduced allergy symptoms and social and behavioral problems.  This shows a strong connection between the immune system and the brain.


This article and research was very interesting to me because I know several people with autism and the diet that this research suggests may help their symptoms.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229105128.htm

Cell Research

CELL RESEARCH

Scientists at the University
of Edinburgh are doing some research in using living cells in place of tissues
from deceased donors for patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The use
of these cells will make their studies more accurate. The cells would also help
the researchers make tests that are more relevant to the disease. After growing
these cells in the laboratory, They can study the response the cells have to
different psychiatric treatments and other tests.
I
found this aspect of physiology interesting enough to share with the class
because it is interesting to see the different research opportunities there are
around the world and how they can benefit the society. Learning about how living
cells interact and their reaction to different stimuli.
Reference
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17204910

Brain-Computer Interface Opens New Possibilities

The European Union recently gave funding to further a field of study allowing patients to control different technologies with their thoughts. The goal is to get disabled patients to communicate and interact more effectively. The name of the project is BrainAble, which aims to incorporate brain-computer interface, ambient intelligence, and virtual reality to give the patient more independence than any technology on the market at the moment. Ambient intelligence in these technologies, for instance, detect the awareness of the patient and alter the user interface to meet the needs. If the patient is sleepy, it will simplify the interface in order to make the technology easier to use. Locked-in patients, paralyzed patients, and amputees will benefit greatly from this new brain-computer interface. Not only will this technology benefit disabled people, but in the future it will also create a more intelligent environment in houses and cars.

This kind of article really interests me, because once technology smart accessing our thoughts and the information processes in our brain, the possibilities for biotechnology open up like a flower. Imagine being able to record memories on a computer or being able to remember every dream that you have. This stuff is cool!

Here's the article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120228114203.htm

Using MRI to better detect Kidney diseases and treat Neurofibromatosis

Kevin Bennett, a biomedical engineer and physicist at ASU, does work that focuses on medical imaging, specifically the development and application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For the past five years, he's been using MRI to examine kidney structure and function and to detect early stages of kidney diseases.

He uses "magnetic nanoparticles and super-high field MRI to make very precise measurements of kidney structure and function." A kidney's susceptibility to disease can be determined by examining MRI images and determining the amount of nanoparticles that collect in a kidney's filtering nephrons (regulate the levels of water and soluble substances in the blood).

With an MRI, one can examine the functionality of nephrons in living organisms to assess risk of kidney disease, and can "help measure how well a donor kidney is going to function once it's transplanted."

With Bennett's expertise in MRI's, he is collaborating with Vinodh Narayanan, a pediatric neurologist, to find a drug that can reverse the effects of cognitive deficit symptoms in children with neurofibromatosis.

Neurofibromatosis is an incurable genetic disorder of the nervous system whose symptoms range from tumors to bone disorders. It's been proposed that the cognitive deficits in people with the condition are caused by a "certain kind of molecular transport in cells that is being blocked." Narayanan believes that the axonal transport is what is blocked by neurofibromatosis.

So, Bennett is aiding Narayanan by using MRI to view and record the effects of certain durgs targeted to increase the transport rates of cells. He's introducing manganese ions to cell transport because the ions can brighten MRI images. Manganese ions behave like calcium in cells, and they follow the same transport paths. When paired with MRI, the manganese allows the researchers to track the rate at which axons are transporting matter through cells.

To investigate this, the team will "just squirt" a bit of manganese into the nostrils and "monitor how fast manganese is moved from the nose into the olfactory bulb in the brain."

With this incredible research, the team has received an award of $275,00 from the NIH to continue the work!

I picked this particular article because I ultimately want to work with imaging machines in the medical field. To find promising research using medical imaging is exciting, and hopefully I would get the chance to practice some of these advances in the medical field someday!

To read the full article, go here:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-medical-imaging-expertise-kidney-disease.html

The Only True Theory of Consciousness

Giulio Tononi, a scientist researching at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, may have came to a new realization in terms of the current idea of consciousness. After a bit of quiet time to himself he realized to himself, that every moment that one is aware is a unique experience that is very different from each experience before or after. Tononi’s theory defines consciousness as the capacity a system uses to link and process information. He and his colleagues have used mathematical equations and algorithms to specifically explain how pieces of data flow in the brain. This research has inspired others to branch out and use this theory. With the correct calculations, it may be useful to analyze any feasible object or mass for a degree of consciousness. The article continues to explain the integration of this theory in the modern world, and for the future.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/338663/title/Enriched_with_Information

Possible Cure for Alzheimers

Recent neurological research has found a link between an enzyme known to block the production of new memories called HDAC2, a member of the histone deacetylase family. These enzymes work by changing histone levels to prevent certain genes from being expressed by bundling the chromatin differently. This hormone was found in high levels in the hippocampus region (responsible for memory) of the brains mice affected with Alzheimer's as well as in the brains of dead Alzheimer's patients. When this enzyme was blocked in the mice, the Alzheimer's symptoms disappeared and the mice began to form new memories as well, effectively curing them. The biggest problem with this enzyme is that it blocks a relatively large portion of the genome, keeping the brain from responding appropriately to various stimuli, and is perhaps the explanation for most Alzheimer's symptoms. This seemingly miraculous treatment is currently

in development, but an approved treatment is still at least a decade away.

http://io9.com/5889483/breaking-a-gene-blockade-could-be-the-secret-to-treating-alzheimers-disease

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10849.html

Stem cells to Eggs

So apparently there's stem cells in ovaries. Something new to learn everyday! Anyways, researchers in Massachusetts gathered these stem cells in an attempt to create human egg. The stem cells were placed in a human ovary then transferred to be transplanted under mice skin and then egg cells were created. Despite being created it doesn't necessarily mean these are the the top notch eggs. This is just the beginning of the process and if research continues then over time when the procedure has been perfected then these eggs would be able to fully develop one day.

Research began after it was found that there were egg-producing stem cells in mice. Rather than getting eggs from donors this procedure would be able to provide cells for people undergoing in vitro fertilization. Right now this is all they can hope for in the future but with the rate of how technology develops this may happen sooner than you think.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57385826-10391704/stem-cells-in-ovaries-may-grow-new-eggs-study-shows/

Injectable Gel Could Repair Tissue Damaged By Heart Attack

Researcher at the University of California, San Diego have come up with a new hydrogel that could be a safe treatment for tissue damage caused by heart attacks. There are an estimated 785,000 new heart attack cases in the United States each year, with no treatment for repairing the resulting damage. This new injectable gel could change that.

The hydrogel is made from cardiac connective tissues that goes through cleansing to get rid of the heart muscle cells. the tissue spins in a beaker at the end of the cleansing process that removes all of the cells. The process retains the tissue's structural proteins. The tissue is then frozen and milled into powder, and then liquified into a fluid. Once the fluid is inserted into the heart and reaches body temperature, it turns into a semi-solid, porous gel that encourages cells to come to the area of damage. The gel works as a scaffold to repair the tissues, and could maybe send chemicals that prevent further damage to the surrounding areas.

Work by the research team suggests that the gel can improve heart function in pigs with cardiac damage, which brings this treatment one step closer to humans since a pig's heart is similar in size and anatomy to a human heart. In the experiments done on rats, the gel was not rejected by the body, and it did not trigger arrhythmic heart beating. The gel could be used in clinical trials within next year.

http://www.be.ucsd.edu/news

Artificial Lung Simulation

Previous models of lung interactions have been limited in that they only involve a single tissue. Examples of these models are models of blood vessels, muscle, and other tissues. One research group at the University of Michigan carved microscopic channels (airways) and then stimulated fluid and air flow through them.

However, researchers at the University of Michigan, led by Donald Ingber, have recently produced a model of the boundary between the alveolar and the capillary in the lung. This is the first time that a model has been produced incorporating two different tissues (respiratory and vascular) and this is the first model to incorporate the rhythmic pressure changes in our chest as we breathe. In order to accomplish this, the researchers utilized pieces of human lung and vascular cells. These cells helped stimulate the interactions between the alveolus and the capillaries.

In order to replicate this boundary, Dongeun Huh at Harvard fashioned two microscopic channels in a small chamber of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is an elastic material. A 10-micron thick porous barrier was placed in between the two channels to separate them. Human cells were grown on both sides of the barrier: respiratory tissue on one and vascular tissue on the other. Next, fluid was run through the vascular channel and air flow was started in the respiratory tissue. In order to stimulate breathing, the researchers applied vacuum pressure to both sides of the chamber, which caused the tissues to stretch similarly to in vivo.

This research group made great strides by producing the first model that allows us to observe the interactions between two tissue boundaries in real time. This will be truly helpful in the future in regards to experiments such as drug and engineering testing. In this way, testing on animals would be significantly reduced. This article interested me because of the great technological contributions that this device will lend to the future. By bypassing animal testing, we will be able to produce more respiratory drugs at a faster rate.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/lung-on-a-chip-medicine

Sex Differences in Cardiac Stresses and CVD Implications

CVD, or cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. However, the incidence of fatal cardiac events is not equal between the sexes. In the last thirty-five years, more women have died of cardiovascular disease than men, a result of women being more likely to die after a first heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgeries, and more prone to sudden death. There has been recent research done in an attempt to determine the cause of such differences in regards to physiological mechanisms.

One particular study involved 60 subjects (28 men and 32 women) of relatively similar age and blood pressures. The actual analysis included taking sequential MRI images throughout the contraction cycle of the heart, strain calculations, and statistical analysis. This is the first study fully accounting for 3D data collection and analysis. It was found that men had lower circumferential and longitudinal strains compared to women (in the area of 10-13%). This image (a left ventricular contour plot) graphically illustrates the discrepancy of circumferential strain between men and women. The area shaded blue indicates greater strain values in women, while that in yellow or red indicates higher values for men. Using myocardial systolic strain as indicator of myocardial contractile function, this data shows that there exists a fundamental difference in this function between men and women.

The implications of this research are pretty substantial in regards to explaining the difference in symptomology and fatality of cardiovascular diseases in the two genders. By taking another step toward understanding the contributing factors to the behavior of CVD, researchers come one step closer to finding treatment methods to combat it. This study also reveals the diagnostic and therapeutic danger of comparing a diseased patient’s cardiovascular function to average values taken of the entire population as opposed to that of his or her respective gender. With a better understanding of the underlying factors of CVD, hopefully steps can be taken so that one day it is no longer the single greatest killer in the United States.

http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/10/1/76

How to Make Your Brain Forget Pain

Researchers have long known that the central nervous system will create a memory trace of pain in order to “remember” painful experiences. This memory trace will even magnify the feeling of the pain if it is experienced again. This system has plagued people with chronic pain caused by countless diseases and injuries. In fact, according to Terence Coderre of McGill University, “there’s evidence that any pain that lasts more than a few minutes will leave a trace in the nervous system.”

However, Coderre and his team of researchers have at long last found the key to the mechanism by which these traces are formed. They found that the levels of the protein kinase PKMzeta increases persistently in the brain upon painful stimulation. PKMzeta has been shown to play a critical role in forming and maintaining memory by strengthening neuronal connections. Coderre and his team were able to reverse the hypersensitivity to a pain that was developed by blocking the activity of PKMzeta. In addition, after erasing the pain memory trace, they discovered that persistent pain was reduced and sensitivity to touch was heightened. Coderre’s team is hopeful that pain medications in the future will be able to focus on blocking pain at the neuronal level.

I decided to cover this article because I believe that pain management research is not something most people think about, and this also highlights our ever increasing understanding of how the brain functions.

The Next Step of Artificial Blood: Plastics

Artificial blood, or hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, has been a dream of the medical research community since the HIV scare of the 1980’s lead to fears that the blood supply was contaminated. Since then, despite all the money and research dedicated to artificial blood not much has been accomplished. While donor blood will always be the preferred treatment for the foreseeable future a potential breakthrough could lead to an approved blood substitute for use in war or natural disasters.

Chemists at the University of Sheffield have created a plastic structure that has been found to mimic the characteristics of hemoglobin. It is made of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a branched structure of similar size and shape to that of hemoglobin. The PEG also contains iron, necessary for the nonreactive binding of oxygen. Besides the ability to carry oxygen, the most important characteristic is that it can squeeze through the smallest of capillary vessels. Another important quality is the stability of the plastic blood. Donor blood can only be stored for 35 days and then has to be disposed of, it also requires expensive refrigeration. Plastic blood on the other hand is stable at room temperature and can be stored for more than 35 days. Plastic blood is also O-negative, a type that only 7% of the population has, which means that it can be successfully donated to over 98% of patients.

While this plastic blood would probably not be as good as donor blood it could save countless lives in a warzone or shortly after a natural disaster. Both of these events can lead to a severe strain on an already short supply of blood resources. Plastic blood could be carried in the packs of medics or first responders because of its stability at room temperature, and as an o-negative substitute it would eliminate the need to know a patient’s blood type. When push comes to shove plastic blood might be a whole lot more desirable than no blood. Also, in the case of another AID’s like blood supply scare plastic blood could be used as a stop gap in till a reliable screening method was selected.

While plastic blood is still years, and countless FDA hoops, away from seeing widespread clinical trials. One day this breakthrough creation could reduce the lives lost during a natural disaster or war, and could make many patients breathe easier knowing that their transfusion is not contaminated.

Sources:

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2010/October/ArtificialBlood.asp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/may/10/insideit.guardianweeklytechnologysection1
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070512113724.htm

The Empire Strikes Back: HIV Style

HIV is the disease of our generation.  Past generations have dealt with plagues, childhood disease, and more.  However, in the US most of these have been eradicated.  We are not free from disease though.  Many still run rampant among the population, including AIDS.

AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is characterized by a weakened immune system.  Much research has been done to find a cure or vaccine, but up until now no cures have been presented.  A group out of Simon Frasier University seems to have found a promising lead on developing a vaccine: the Rhizobium radiobacter bacteria.

The main problem with HIV is that the outside is coated in sugar-like molecules, deceiving the body’s immune system until it is too late to fully iradicate the virus.  The Rhizobium radiobacter bacterial has a similar coating on the outside.  These bacteria can cause tumors on plant roots but is essentially harmless to humans.  The researchers are trying to bind a protein to the outside of these bacteria that would trigger the immune response and train a person’s immune system to respond to pathogens with this sugar-like coating.  This same idea is used in other vaccines such as meningitis and childhood pneumonia.  While the idea is promising, this potential vaccine is still undergoing research but looks promising.

This research is exciting, as right now AIDS is one of those diseases that humans are essentially helpless against.  AIDS is silent but deadly and the HIV pathogen can be easily transmitted from person to person.  Modern medicine has been able to cure many diseases in the past, and HIV/AIDS is just another hurdle that must be overcome.  It is interesting to watch as medicine innovates to overcome even more challenges.  Also it is interesting to see how the body can be tricked despite all of the mechanisms in place to keep it in homeostasis.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120229/Breakthrough-discovery-about-Rhizobium-radiobacter.aspx?page=2

New composite material may restore damaged soft tissue

A promising liquid material that can restore damaged soft tissue has been discovered by biomedical engineers at Johns Hopkins. This material is injected under the skin and then put under light to form a solid structure. This promising innovation is composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) , which are components that confer elasticity and serve as surgical glue. In addition, polyethylene glycol is known to form chemical bonds between many individual molecules by using light energy.

The bioengineers performed a series of experiments with rats in order to compose the most effective and long-term stable PEG-HA composite. They found out that the implants created from HA shrank over time compared to the ones created from high tested concentration of PEG and HA which remained the same size over a period of time. The implant proved to be successful when three volunteers undergoing tummy tucks were injected with the PEG-HA. The implants proved to have no effect in size, and only appeared to have mild to moderate inflammation due to the presence of white blood cells.

Researchers are still trying to evaluate the safety of the material in different types of human tissues. Their goal however, is to develop a product for individuals who are in need of extensive facial reconstruction; like war veterans.

http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=10260

Application of microtechnologies for the vascularization of engineered tissues

While in class we discussed angiogenesis and how stopping it is a new area of research to kill cancer, I started to think in the other direction. I wondered what research is being done to promote it, and how it can be used to help people. I found the following article on promoting vasculature during tissue engineering using microscale components. One of the major limiting factors in the field of tissue engineering is the difficulty to generate functional 3D tissues due to the inability to integrate vascular structures into scaffolds. Building networks of vessels branched together into a complex interconnected structure connecting across multiple length scales remain one of the greatest challenges in tissue engineering. Most cells in the human body are within a few hundred microns from a capillary, allowing the delivery of adequate nutrients and supplies to the tissues and organs. Since most tissue engineering scaffolds are unable to provide such proximity for continuous solutes and oxygen flow, the engineering of large tissues severely lacks from diffusion and transport properties. The methods currently investigated to generate vasculature in scaffolds mainly involve the use of proangiogenic growth factors and cell-based approaches, which have shown promising results in vivo, but still cannot provide inlet and outlet vessels for in vitro perfusion. Despite all the advances in microfluidics, the use of microengineered 3D structures comprised of rationally designed and microfabricated channels offer limited functionality. These platforms do not provide a parenchymal space for cell types other than endothelial cells to grow within the constructs and present an integration problem with the host tissue. Modular and bottom-up approaches have recently emerged as promising biofabrication approaches in which functional microscale tissue building blocks can be assembled into 3D macroscale tissue constructs. These are relatively simple methods that allow the production of perfusable tissue, with precise control over the microscale features in a 3D construct. They are particularly promising in the case of organ engineering, where tissue requires perfusion and needs to perform a specialized physiological function. The precise design of microscale components in a high-throughput fashion combined with the capability to link these components together to generate larger structures represents a promising way to build vascularized 3D structures. Therefore, combining modular assembly methods with microfabrication technologies to engineer tissues and organs represent an effective method to control tissue architecture both at the micro and macroscale.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3236112/

Novel Cryo-Imaging to Uncover the Spread of Deadly Cancer

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers were able to create the above picture using a new imaging technique involving cry0-imaging. The tumor is shown in green, the feeding blood vessels in red, and the migrating cells in yellow. The cryo-imaging (cold temperature) technique, along with custom algorithms, was used to disassemble the brain layer by layer and reassemble it into a 3D image. The study involved imaging glioblastoma multiforme in a mouse model. Detailed images of the pathways of single cancer cells resulted, allowing scientists to track tumor metastasis at the molecular level.

The problem with current molecular imaging techniques is their low resolution and difficulty imaging though the skull. However, this technique allows viewing of single cancer cell migration in fine detail. The conclusion of the study was that this novel cryo-imaging technique is a valuable resource to look at the effects of different therapy methods in limiting tumor cell invasion and dispersal. This is important to the future of biomedical engineering because imaging plays a central role in the study of disease treatment, as well as diagnosis. In cancer, cells take often unpredictable pathways as they spread and recruit blood vessels. Cryo-imaging shows scientists exactly what these rogue cells are doing, and the pathways they are taking.

Source: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/19/0008-5472.CAN-11-1553

Scientists Demonstrate Immortal Flatworm's Method of Overcoming Aging Process

Aging is a process common to all living cells, where imperfections accumulate ant the cell grown less efficient over time, but the aging of a macroscopic organism is specifically concerned with the degradation of the protective ends of DNA called telomeres across many cell divisions. The telomeres grow progressively shorter with every cell division, and the cell loses the ability to renew and divide itself when the telomeres grow too short. Telomeres are theoretically maintained by an enzyme called telomerase, but the enzyme is only active in most organisms during early development. Study of a certain species of flatworm that is known for being able to endlessly regenerate lost parts has conclusively proven the previously theoretical knowledge that the flatworms dramatically increase the activity of the gene responsible for telomerase when regenerating, thus removing the degradation of the telomeres during this phase. This study builds foundations for the potential to increase lonevity in humans in the future.
















article source

Nanoparticles Mimic Particles Released by Mast Cells

Inspired by mast cells, researchers at Duke University have developed nanoparticles that act as lymph-node targeting vaccine adjuvants capable of boosting antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in mice. An adjuvant is a pharmacological or immunological agent that acts on other agents, such as a vaccine heightening an immune response. The team has previously shown that particles released by mast cells mediate inflammation, heighten immune response in lymph nodes, and support production of antibodies.

The team found that nanoparticless loaded with tumor necrosis factor resulted in increased production of antigen-specific antibodies when injected alongside a flu antigen. Nanoparticles loaded with IL-12 injected alongside antigen ovalbumin resulted in a significant increase in lymph node T-cells producing IFN-y.
The team's research demonstrates that their nanoparticles, loaded with different cytokines depending on the vaccine candidate, successfully modulates the immune response in the appropriate direction. Indeed, the nanoparticles replicate the structure, biochemical attributes, and functional capabilities of mast cell granules.
Mast cells are effective because the granules they release are transported to lymph nodes, where they influence immune response, without being diluted or degraded. The nanoparticles created by the researchers are the first man-made adjuvant to mimic this process, which makes them a much more effective adjuvant than previous vaccine methods.

Natural mast cell particles are rich in carbohydrates--specifically heparin--and proteases, so the researchers designed particles containing heparin with a carbohydrate chitosan shell, which provokes an immune response. The particles were confirmed to effectively bind tumor necrosis factor, which the particles then slowly released. Fluorescence labelled particles injected into mice were observed in the lymph nodes in minutes, and were observed in "striking quantities" in 45 minutes. The fluorescent particles were observed to be taken up in macrophages and dendritic cells within the lymph nodes. Injection with a low dose of antigen stimulated formation of lymph node germinal centers, while injection with antigen alone did not. Germinal centers signify lymph node swelling and remodeling in response to infection, and "contain activated B cells, as well as some dendritic cells and T cells, and are highly consequential to the development of adaptive immune responses and to the production of high-affinity antibodies of multiple subclasses."

The researchers also tested to show that particulate TNF was effectively expressed adjuvant activity, while soluble TNF did not when they were injected alongside a flu antigen. This adjuvant system was proved effective when the researchers injected mice with lethal doses of flu. The group that had been vaccinated with particulate TNF prior to recieving the flu had significantly higher survival rates. The researchers also showed that nanoparticles loaded with IL-12 stimulated production of IFN-y by T cells in the lymph nodes, demonstrating that the nanoparticles could be loaded with different cytokines to address specific issues. This cytokine loading need not conform to the template followed by mast cell granules.

This article is interesting because it attests to the ability of researchers to create products that mimic the natural system, and whose application may supplement the natural system. After learning to mimic the natural system, the product can be further tailored to address specific needs, unbounded by the template of the natural system. In addition, this particular development is also interesting as research in nanoparticles becomes more prevalent, and it may have potential to become an important form of adjuvant administration.
article: http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/mast-cells-inspire-development-of-cytokine-loaded-nanoparticle-vaccine-adjuvants/81246251/

Gene-based skincare?

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common skin cancers. Researchers have discovered a gene that is supposed to turn of the multiplication of the squamous cells and this gene was missing in almost all cases of people that had SCC. Knowing this if they could get the exact genetic sequence that is missing in this cells they can formulate a skincare treatment that could react with the cells or alter the genetics so that the "anti-multiplication" gene could turn on and stop the tumor from forming.

I was interested in this article because skin cancer affects many people all over the world and who knows I might one day get it too so knowing that there is a cure up-head is a relief and being informed about information regarding cancer is never bad. 

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-11/discovery-stop-signal-gene-common-skin-cancer-puts-treatment-within-reach

Human Dental Pulp- Derived Stem Cells Restore Movement in Rats with Spinal Cord Injuries

There are over 250,000 Americans affected by spinal cord injuries. Being that these injuries are widespread problems, research on these injuries is an ongoing process. Research is strongly concentrated on stem cell lineages to repair damaged nueral spinal tissue.

The Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has tested neural capabilities of human dental pulp-derived stem cells from wisdom teeth. They got these stem cells and placed them into rats with spinal cord injuries and they were surprised to notice that they soon after began to express nueral markers needed to regrow Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, which are needed for spinal cord regeneration. Researchers also noticed a recovery in locomotor functions of the hind limb, something not visible when inputting other types of stem cells.

Researchers found that these dental pulp-derived stem cells specifically: inhibit the apoptotic nerve cells, promote axonal regeneration, and replace lost oligodendrocytes. These results show a promising future in using these type of stem cells for spinal cord injuries.

Polymer Device Brings Hopeful Future for Cancer Detection

Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the body, forming malignant tumors and invading neighboring tissue. As the disease progresses, affected cells can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and spread to more distant parts of the body leaving permanent global marks on various tissues and providing little hope for recovery to the patient.

Although the chances of surviving the disease vary greatly depending on the type and location of cancer, timing of cancer identification and treatment is critical for all cancer types. Metastatic activity is relatively difficult to detect immediately, however, since the circulating tumor cell concentration can be exceptionally low (one in every billion blood cells). As a result, malignant cancer often remains unnoticed until considerable tissue damage has already been done.

Recent research led by scientists at the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute investigates a new method of monitoring metastatic activity using a polymer film loaded with antibodies that can capture free tumor cells. This device is constructed using a 2-centimeter-square glass base connected to a conducting polymer film of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) containing carboxylic acid groups. In the presence of specific voltages, tiny bumps or “nanodots” form in this material that alter the surface area of the film and facilitate its ability to capture specific cells. Additionally, a chemical linker is added to the film that “allows it to bind a protein called streptavidin; this protein then joins to an antibody. In turn, the antibody could latch on to an antigen called epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), which is produced by most tumor cells” (ScienceDaily). Using this device, accurate cancer readings can be achieved from very small samples of blood.

Currently the effects of tailoring the film’s nanodot size and arrangement as well as antibody concentration are being examined to identify the optimal detection design. With further development, this device would not only make cancer diagnosis more convenient, but could also provide a more accurate means for doctors to assess treatment effectiveness and efficiency in the future.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120224152751.htm

Hyperactivity in the Depressed Brain

Major depression affects an estimated 19 million American adults and often leads to suicide. It is also known to cause a number of symptoms such as: anxiety, poor attention and concentration, memory issues, and sleep disturbances. Needless to say, this is a serious condition that researchers are constantly studying in order to unravel the mystery of how it can cause so many symptoms.

UCLA researchers have suggested that perhaps the multiple symptoms of depression could be linked to a malfunction involving brain networks (connections that link different brain regions). UCLA researchers have shown that people with depression show increased connections throughout areas in the brain compared to “healthy” brains. The brain must be able to regulate its connections in order to function properly. This includes not only the synchronizing, but also the desynchronizing of areas in the brain. The depressed brain loses its ability to turn connections off. This inability of the brain to regulate connections could be the underlying cause of the many symptoms of depression.

These researchers have conducted one of the largest studies of its kind, on 121 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder. They measured the synchronization of electrical signals from the brain using a new method called “weighted network analysis”. The results showed that depressed brains had increased synchronization across all frequencies of electrical activity. This means depressed brains have abnormalities in numerous different brain networks. The area of the brain that showed the most abnormal connections was the prefrontal cortex (area of the brain that controls mood and solves problems). The image above shows a depressed brain (left) and a normal brain (right). The increased red in the prefrontal cortex of the depressed brain represents hyperactivity within this area. This new study is pertinent to the treatment and reversal of depression. Researchers say that the next step is to determine how to return brains back to their normal level of connectivity.

I think this article is very interesting because it looks at the problem of depression in a completely new way. It shows how even if you have all the correctly functioning components of a system, if it’s not wired properly it won’t function correctly.

This article can be accessed at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120227162656.htm

RNA Interference Cancer Treatment? Delivering RNA With Tiny Sponge-Like Spheres

For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA.

"It's been a real struggle to try to design a delivery system that allows us to administer siRNA, especially if you want to target it to a specific part of the body," says Paula Hammond, the David H. Koch Professor in Engineering at MIT.
Hammond and her colleagues have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations.
Such particles could offer a new way to treat not only cancer, but also any other chronic disease caused by a "misbehaving gene," like neurological disorders and immune disorders says Hammond, who is also a member of MIT's David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.
Genetic information is normally carried from DNA in the nucleus to ribosomes, cellular structures where proteins are made. siRNA binds to the messenger RNA that carries this genetic information, destroying instructions before they reach the ribosome. Scientists are working on many ways to artificially replicate this process to target specific genes, including packaging siRNA into nanoparticles made of lipids or inorganic materials such as gold. It's difficult to load large amounts of siRNA onto those carriers, because the short strands do not pack tightly.
To overcome this, Hammond's team decided to package the RNA as one long strand that would fold into a tiny, compact sphere. The researchers used an RNA synthesis method known as rolling circle transcription to produce extremely long strands of RNA made up of a repeating sequence of 21 nucleotides. Those segments are separated by a shorter stretch that is recognized by the enzyme Dicer, which chops RNA wherever it encounters that sequence.
As the RNA strand is synthesized, it folds into sheets that then self-assemble into a very dense, sponge-like sphere. Up to half a million copies of the same RNA sequence can be packed into a sphere with a diameter of just two microns. Once the spheres form, the researchers wrap them in a layer of positively charged polymer, which induces the spheres to pack even more tightly (down to a 200-nanometer diameter) and also helps them to enter cells.
After the spheres enter a cell, the Dicer enzyme chops the RNA at specific locations, releasing the 21-nucleotide siRNA sequences. Guo, who was not part of the research team, adds that the particles might be more effective at entering cells if they were shrunk to an even smaller size, closer to 50 nanometers.
The researchers tested their spheres by programming them to deliver RNA sequences that shut off a gene that causes tumor cells to glow in mice. They found that they could achieve the same level of gene knockdown as conventional nanoparticle delivery, but with about one-thousandth as many particles.
The microsponges accumulate at tumor sites through a phenomenon often used to deliver nanoparticles: The blood vessels surrounding tumors are "leaky," meaning that they have tiny pores through which very small particles can squeeze.

Advancements in cancer treatments is always improving in different ways. This could be another lead to improving the lives of patients with cancer and determining a cure for it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120227094331.htm

Biologists grow beating heart cells from mice cells

Using a combination of science and magic, I'm sure, biologists in La Jolla, CA have transmogrified connective tissue cells into heart cells that can actually beat. They still aren't sure if the cells being created are cancerous in some way or can be transplanted, nor are they sure if their new discovery will survive long enough in a host body to be considered. Still, kudos.

They have achieved this by changing the connective tissue cells back into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, or iPSC. Instead of going a step further to change them into full-blown stem cells, they treated their payload with a complex set of chemicals known to change stem cells into cardiac cells. It worked! What's more, it only took 11-12 days for this to take place, with a yield of up to 90% of the original cells transforming.

For more details, click the link:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/01/heart-cells-created-mouse/1#.T0vx0fEgdbE

Deciphering Mechanics of Chaperonin

Deciphering Mechanics of Chaperonin

Chaperonin II is the eukaryotic protein (Chaperonin I is for prokaryotes), whose primary purpose is to aid and promote the correct folding of newly translated proteins and proteins that

have been denatured, also acting as a barrier to "protect" the protein from non-ideal environmental situations.

Recently, a largely collaborative research project between DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MIT, and Stanford successfully identified a new region that they termed "the nucleotide-sensing loop" that acts as a detector on the chaperonin for the presence of ATP, which activates the chaperonin protein to perform its duties. This region is a critical control element in the functions of the chaperonin, and was previously unrecognized.

The researchers utilized the laboratory's Advanced Light Source (ALS), using x-ray crystallography to visualize and determine the structure of the nucleotide-sensing loop of the chaperonin. In this study, the team performed these experiments on archaeon chaperonin, however, they are now working to perform similar feats TRiC, human chaperonin.

Chaperonin II consists of 3 domains, that when the "lid" of the chaperonin opens to accommodate the protein to be folded, the 3 domains all shift in conformation. Evidence from this study indicates that the nucleotide-sensing loop (itself just a subunit) acts as the communicator, dictating for the 3 domains to move.

This article is particularly relevant because of the absolute necessity of chaperonin in all aspects of the body, making knowledge about this protein even more essential. Misfolding of proteins directly correlates with pathological results, and studying whether chaperonin is fully responsible for these misfoldings and if so, why this occurs is very important. Many diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and certain cancers have been attributed to these misfolding proteins. Further research in this field can also help for the manipulation of these chaperonin molecules which can be an essential tool in protein engineering. The relevance to this class mostly involves the fact that we have studied this protein and some of the diseases associated with its malfunction, including those listed above. Learning and understanding more about the mechanisms behind the body's working seems the primary goal of physiology, making this even more relevant.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120224140514.htm

The Continuing Future of Biomedicine

I recently stumbled upon a TED talk video which discusses future applications of biomedical engineering in the medical world. In this video, Richard Satava MD, Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Centre and Senior Science Advisor at the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in Ft. Detrick, MD) discussed his experiences of simulation in surgery and advocated the use of simulation in both the training and assessment of surgeons.

This video does not necessarily utilize new gadgets and devices, but new applications to improve on current technology. Many medical schools currently utilize current biomedical technology to have simulated patient situations such as seizures, sudden heart attack, or any crazy situation that you see on House, M.D., but Dr. Satava wants to make this common practice for every possible medical situation and surgery, which I am 100% behind.

Source: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vxg0rz3OK3I

iLimb Prosthetic Hand offers fully articulating, high precision prosthetic to amputees

iLimb Prosthetic Hand offers fully articulating, high precision prosthetic to amputees

In the Star Wars Episode 5, The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker has his hand sliced off by the evil Darth Vader just before Luke finds that Darth Vader is actually his father. Luke narrowly escapes and is shown receiving a prosthetic hand that almost perfectly mimic the functionality of a real hand. For a long time a hand this advance was merely the stuff of science fiction. Recently however huge strides have been taken to make this technology a reality. One of the foremost examples of these advanced prosthetics is the i-Limb ultra developed by touch bionics.  The realism of this prosthetic as well as the dexterity and range of motion are astounding. The prosthetic is capable of holding and manipulating delicate objects and performing very fine motor control. Signals for the device are derived from neuro impulses in the remaining stump of the amputee. A computer interprets these signals and transforms them into instructions for the motors in the hand. Learning how to use the hand takes a lot of practice and instruction but once mastered enables the wearer to perform an incredible range of motions almost identical to a real hand. The company has also developed silicon based covering that match the color and texture of real skin so well that when given only a cursory glance it is difficult to tell whether a limb is real or a prosthetic. This prosthetic stands to drastically improve the quality of life of amputees. Unfortunately technology this advanced does not come cheaply. A new i-Limb prosthetic runs about $18,000 which though not cheap is well worth the price for the degree of freedom it offers to patients who can afford it. The biggest current limitation is that communication is only one way. The device can receive and process signals from the brain but has no way of sending information back. Without any feedback, there is no sensation of touch nor feeling of pressure when an object is grasped. The i-Limb is an incredible advance in prosthetic technology that enables an amputee to regain use of an almost lifelike artificial hand. An article about the i-Limb can be found here: http://singularityhub.com/2009/03/26/i-limb-revolutionizes-the-commercial-prosthetic/

Treating cancer with Electric Fields

In this TED lecture, Bill Doyle talks about using a low power electric field to treat tumors. In cancer, cells rapidly divide and lead to uncontrolled tumor growth. Taking advantage of the charged proteins that guide cells through mitosis, the electric field misaligns the guiding proteins and prevents the cell from dividing. The cells eventually go through apoptosis after spending several hours unable to divide.

Novocure, the company capitalizing on the research, has developed two systems. One for cancers in head  and another for the trunk of the body. The head system was specifically designed for a type of brain cancer call Glioblastoma Muiforme (GBM). The system was recently approved by the FDA. In addition, the system is portable and mobile.

The other system is currently working on lung cancer, and is due for clinical trials soon.

See the Lecture Here
Company Website Here