Reprogramming Cardiac Scar Tissue into Working Cardiomyocytes

A group of researchers have been looking into a way to permanently repair the heart after a heart attack and they believe they have found the solution. 50% of the cells in the heart are cardiac fibroblasts. The fibroblasts provide structural support for the heart, but after heart attacks the number of them increase due to formation of scar tissue. Through in vivo experiments with mice, the research has proven that a concoction of three transcription factors; Gata4, Mef2c and Tbx5 (GMT) will reprogram the fibroblasts in cardiomyocyte-like cells with cardiomycoyte-like gene expression, action potential, beating upon electrical stimulation, and electrical coupling. This concoction has also reduced the infarct size. The technology has not been tested in humans yet, but researchers are hopefully that the mix of transcription factors will prove to have similar affects in the human body.

This is a very interesting article to me because of the huge prevalence (increasingly so) of heart attacks. In the US alone, someone has a heart attack approximately every 25 seconds. Consequently, there is a growing number of people suffering from the post heart attack complications such as a poorly contracting heart due to scar tissue which has many health problems. The scar tissure makes your heart work harder to contract increasing the risk of another heart attack. Technology like this is very exciting because it would increase the patients outlook greatly and would have a large reach due to the amount of people that have this problem including members of my own family.

Left: normal heart  right: Scar Tissue on the heart after myocardial infarction

Article URL: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v485/n7400/full/nature11044.html

FDA approves first medical robot

The Food and Drug Administration just approved the first medical robot that is free-moving for use in hospitals. The robot, called RP-VITA, was created by InTouch Health and iRobot and includes the ability of autonomous navigation and health record integration. Using an iPad interface, doctors can communicate beside with patients while having all of the patients medical records at their fingertips, allowing them to make accurate and rapid decisions regarding their health. The robot uses sensing technology to map out its environment before deciding where to move, so that it is never in the way of other people. This is considered a giant step in robotics to have the software cleared by the FDA for movement through a fast-paced and crowded landscape such as a hospital.

This article was particularly interesting to me because of the practical uses by doctors. To be able to order tests and diagnose patients from outside the hospital is a great leap for the quality of life of many doctors. I think I would personally would enjoy being a hospital doctor, but the sleep deprivation and hours required by many hospital physicians drags me away from such a profession. This new device may remedy some of the issues associated with that life style.